BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[mwunder]

Carthage's 5 errors (3 in 1st inning) did not help in any way.

Neither did their lack of hitting or lack of patience.  In game one, they recorded at least 5 first pitch outs against Klemm who pitched a heck of a game.  (Lock for CCIW pitcher of the week)

NCC can flat out hit.  They lead the conference in BA (.335), Slugging % (.477) and OBP (.433).  They constantly put pitchers in pressure positions.  It seemed like they always had guys on base over the weekend. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Shhh, Mark. He's one step away from posting about opera.

Nah, only the other Mark posts about opera.  I'm very proud of the music and drama departments at IWU, but opera is outside my expertise.  IWU softball DID 75% take down UWW today, but I guess you guys don't want to hear about it.

[Jim Dixon]

Shhh, Mark. He's one step away from posting about opera.

Nah, only the other Mark posts about opera.  I'm very proud of the music and drama departments at IWU, but opera is outside my expertise.  IWU softball DID 75% take down UWW today, but I guess you guys don't want to hear about it.

I thought they were doing an opera about the IWU national championship. For them it was never over til the fat lady sang.

[BigPoppa]

Shhh, Mark. He's one step away from posting about opera.

Nah, only the other Mark posts about opera.  I'm very proud of the music and drama departments at IWU, but opera is outside my expertise.  IWU softball DID 75% take down UWW today, but I guess you guys don't want to hear about it.

I thought they were doing an opera about the IWU national championship. For them it was never over til the fat lady sang.

Still too soon for me, Jim... still.too.soon.

[Gregory Sager]

Shhh, Mark. He's one step away from posting about opera.

Nah, only the other Mark posts about opera.  I'm very proud of the music and drama departments at IWU, but opera is outside my expertise.  IWU softball DID 75% take down UWW today, but I guess you guys don't want to hear about it.

I thought they were doing an opera about the IWU national championship. For them it was never over til the fat lady sang.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Always fun to take on Illinois State, one mile up the road.  In 1970 they declared they would no longer play against IWU since they were D2 and moving to D1 and we wouldn't be competitive.  So we beat them that year in basketball in (so far at least) the last bball game ever between them.  But we still tangle in some sports, and poor "uncompetitive" IWU comes out on top more often than not.  Today it is baseball - they scored one in the top of the first, have not scored since.  We got six in the 4th (Nick Figus's 3-run homer was the big blow), and so far 4 in the 5th (two men on and STILL no outs!).  I may find out if they play "mercy rule"!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Right after I made the above post, IWU hit into a DP, killing the inning.  But the 10-run outburst apparently took the competitive fire out of both teams, as the Titans coasted to a 10-4 win.

I don't know if anyone tracks D1 vs. D3 in baseball, but at least for today it was D3 1, D1 0.

Some BIG conference games tomorrow, as NPU plays two in Bloomington, NCC plays two at Augie, and Carthage plays two at Elmhurst.  By the end of the afternoon, things will be either more clarified or more hopelessly muddled!

[titanalum94]

For what it's worth, ISU did not pitch any of their "best" arms during the game, mostly using freshman with very little game experience.

Credit to Titan pitcher Jim O'Brien though, who looked the best he or really any other IWU pitcher has all season, against what appeared to be the usual ISU starters.

Also an IWU injury update, John Bosco took a foul ball to the head while in the dugout during game two against Augie on Saturday. Brandon Skopick also seems to be injured again as he hasn't played in the last five games. Those are two of the best three hitters on the team this season.

[Jim Dixon]

Still too soon for me, Jim... still.too.soon.

I still think that Coach Schmidt is the best interview

[BigPoppa]

Still too soon for me, Jim... still.too.soon.

I still think that Coach Schmidt is the best interview

And I don't think it's even close. Guy is hilarious and 100% honest. You never have to worry about what he is thinking because he wears it all on his sleeve.

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU and NPU headed for extra innings in B'town, tied at 3.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Pitching depth is apparently not a strong point for IWU.   NPU got a run in the top of the 10th before they got a hit!  3 walks and a wild pitch produced run #1; a single then brought in two more.  The Titans used FOUR pitchers in the top of the tenth.   East Vikings win in ten, 6-3.

The Titans drop to 9-9, and are definitely on life-support for the conference tourney.

Game two of NPU @ IWU starts soon.

[Gregory Sager]

Game two of NPU @ IWU is going into the tenth tied at 5-5.

[Gregory Sager]

The Vikings win in ten, 6-5, sweeping the doubleheader and the season series. Andy Robbins picked up saves in both games.

North Park improves to 10-6, while the Titans drop to 9-10.

[Mr. Ypsi]

And, again, NPU wins in the tenth: 6-5.

Titans would need some miracles to make the post-season.