BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

New poll is out.  If anyone needed more proof that just looking at a team in isolation doesn't work, despite going 1-2 since the previous poll, NCC ROSE one slot to 18th.  As expected, Elmhurst lost their five points and no other team from the CCIW replaced them.

[Chantastic]

Wheaton does have the horses on the mound - Kaufman, Moran, Schmitz - these are all experienced pitchers who have been all-conference in the past.

They appear to have a good offense this year as well, but that may still be an open question.

[BigPoppa]

Wheaton does have the horses on the mound - Kaufman, Moran, Schmitz - these are all experienced pitchers who have been all-conference in the past.

They appear to have a good offense this year as well, but that may still be an open question.

I really like Wheaton in the preseason based on what they had coming back.

[BigPoppa]

Anyone have any early predictions for the CCIW in 2016?

Based on my own scientific algorithm of looking at returning All-CCIW players and awarding points as follows; First-team pitchers (5) First-team hitters (4) Second-team pitchers (4) and Second-team hitters (3)... and rewarding UTL guys as pitchers I have come up with the following prediction:(Note that I place a higher value on pitching than hitting)

School (returning pts)
1. Wheaton (17 pts)
2. North Central (16)
3. Carthage (12)
4. Augustana (11)
5. Ill Wesleyan (6)
6. Elmhurst (4)
7. Millikin (3)
8. North Park (0)

I am sure the NPU and IWU faithful will not be happy with the results, but it is something to help pass the time as the cold settles in. Also, I am not certain I agree with the results 100%, but I think it at minimum gives us a baseline for what is returning in the CCIW. It does not take into account any of the new recruiting added by each program.

It will be interesting to see how my preseason prediction pans out as CCIW play is finally underway.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Close (though not necessarily well-played) first game in Bloomington.  After three innings, NPU has 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and two Titan errors; IWU has 4 runs (all earned) on 6 hits, an error, and two wild pitches.  A very important DH for both teams if they want to contend. (Yeah, I'm aware it is VERY early, but you don't want to dig TOO deep a hole - runs like IWU had in 2010 are EXTREMELY rare.)

[izzy stradlin]

Anyone have any early predictions for the CCIW in 2016?

Based on my own scientific algorithm of looking at returning All-CCIW players and awarding points as follows; First-team pitchers (5) First-team hitters (4) Second-team pitchers (4) and Second-team hitters (3)... and rewarding UTL guys as pitchers I have come up with the following prediction:(Note that I place a higher value on pitching than hitting)

School (returning pts)
1. Wheaton (17 pts)
2. North Central (16)
3. Carthage (12)
4. Augustana (11)
5. Ill Wesleyan (6)
6. Elmhurst (4)
7. Millikin (3)
8. North Park (0)

I am sure the NPU and IWU faithful will not be happy with the results, but it is something to help pass the time as the cold settles in. Also, I am not certain I agree with the results 100%, but I think it at minimum gives us a baseline for what is returning in the CCIW. It does not take into account any of the new recruiting added by each program.

It will be interesting to see how my preseason prediction pans out as CCIW play is finally underway.

I think you're allowed to take 4 pts away from Wheaton and drop them a slot since Peltz didn't return. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Well, a pitching duel it ain't.  After 5 innings in B'town, NPU has 11 runs on 14 hits and three Titan errors; IWU has 12 runs on 15 hits and four Viking errors.  Unless things change, this game will do wonders for both teams' hitting stats, not so much for either team's pitching or fielding stats!

[Mr. Ypsi]

It is still close and exciting (like a trainwreck is exciting ): after 7 in B'town, NPU 14 runs on 19 hits and five Titans errors, IWU 15 runs on 19 hits and 4 Viking errors. 

It appears that both teams have the hitting to contend; does either have the pitching or fielding?

[Gregory Sager]

Close (though not necessarily well-played) first game in Bloomington.  After three innings, NPU has 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and two Titan errors; IWU has 4 runs (all earned) on 6 hits, an error, and two wild pitches.  A very important DH for both teams if they want to contend. (Yeah, I'm aware it is VERY early, but you don't want to dig TOO deep a hole - runs like IWU had in 2010 are EXTREMELY rare.)

Wow, twelve whole days went by without a mention of 2010 by you, Chuck. That's an impressive display of self-restraint.

[Gregory Sager]

Illinois Wesleyan beats North Park in game one, 20-16. The two teams combined for 45 hits and 11 errors. It was like a freakin' Little League game.

I don't think that the unspectacular overall W-L records of both NPU and IWU are mirages. Both of these teams look pretty flawed.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Close (though not necessarily well-played) first game in Bloomington.  After three innings, NPU has 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and two Titan errors; IWU has 4 runs (all earned) on 6 hits, an error, and two wild pitches.  A very important DH for both teams if they want to contend. (Yeah, I'm aware it is VERY early, but you don't want to dig TOO deep a hole - runs like IWU had in 2010 are EXTREMELY rare.)

Wow, twelve whole days went by without a mention of 2010 by you, Chuck. That's an impressive display of self-restraint.

Yeah, that degree of self-restraint is difficult!

IWU wins game one, 20-16, in a game I'm kinda glad I didn't see.  I love baseball; I'm not sure I'd enjoy whatever it was they were playing today!  Final tally: NPU 16 runs on 21 hits and SEVEN Titan errors; IWU 20 runs on 24 hits and four Viking errors.

I'll repeat - both teams seem to have the hitting to contend; does either team have the pitching or defense?  (Greg, when was the last time the Vikings scored 16 runs and lost?)

I assume Horenberger Field has lights?  Otherwise I doubt they can do game two.

[mr_b]

Illinois Wesleyan beats North Park in game one, 20-16. The two teams combined for 45 hits and 11 errors. It was like a freakin' Little League game.

I don't think that the unspectacular overall W-L records of both NPU and IWU are mirages. Both of these teams look pretty flawed.

While the game was no doubt a nightmare to watch, there will be some scoring changes to clean up once we get the file.  For one play, Strachota reached on a bunt, which was scored as a hit and a sacrifice -- leading to the impossible batting line of six hits in five at-bats.  I can't remember the last time a Viking batter had six hits in a game, but if it ever happened, it took him at least six at bats. On another play, a Titan runner moved up from second to third on a flyball out, and the batter was credited with a SAC fly.  That's also wrong -- a SAC fly happens only when a runner on third comes in to score.  Finally, there was a wild play during which the Titan first baseman was charged with two throwing errors -- possible, but it looks strange.  Sorry to be nitpicky but I do like to get the scoring accurately recorded.

[Mr. Ypsi]

OMG!!  The FIRST batter of the second game and he reaches on a Titan throwing error!  I think I'm packing it in for a couple hours!

[Gregory Sager]

Yeah, Strachota's line score had me scratching my head, too.

I'll repeat - both teams seem to have the hitting to contend; does either team have the pitching or defense?

Pitching and defense are much too important to do without if you want to contend.

[mr_b]

I'll repeat - both teams seem to have the hitting to contend; does either team have the pitching or defense?  (Greg, when was the last time the Vikings scored 16 runs and lost?)

I checked the archived results and found two donnybrooks between North Park and Carthage in which the Vikings came out on the short end: 16-15 (10 innings) in 2013 and 15-14 in 2010.  There was also a 15-14 loss to Wheaton in 1997 and a 20-15 defeat to National Christian College, an NAIA outfit from Texas, back in 2000.  But the wildest result of all was against Concordia-Chicago in 1996, a 28-26 loss.  That's as far back as I looked, but if you are dying to see more, here is the historical website I have put together.

My favorite crazy game, which I couldn't be at because I was teaching, was the 31-18 win over the University of Chicago in 1999.  The Maroons were up 12-0 after three and the Vikings stormed back to take a 21-18 lead going into the 8th.  Andrew Postek came in as a reliever and retired the side, then the Vikings exploded for 10 in the bottom of the 8th. Postek worked a scoreless ninth and picked up a save.