BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

CCIW strikeout champion Connor Gross, who came into the game ranked sixth in the league in ERA and second in WHIP in league play, had shut down North Park back on April 13, striking out ten Vikings in seven innings en route to Millikin's 12-2 romp over NPU.

Gross started again for the Big Blue today, and this time the Vikings were ready for him. In five and a third innings pitched, Gross gave up nine runs (eight of them earned) on eight hits and four walks. He needed six strikeouts to pass Wheaton's Michael McCraith for the league title in overall-games K's. He got two.

Add that to what the Vikings did to some really strong NCC starters (Charles Klemm and John Clifford saw their respective ERAs go up by about two runs this weekend, while Gross's went from 3.41 to 4.11 overall and from 2.98 to 4.15 in CCIW play), and you can see how sharp the Vikings were at the plate over the past three days. They turned it up a notch (or three) when they had to.

[AndOne]

With today's split with NPU, North Central finishes the CCIW slate with a record of 20-4, and captures the conference crown for the fourth straight season. The Cardinals will host the CCIW Tournament beginning next Thursday in Naperville. With their 20 wins, NCC becomes just the second team in CCIW history to win 20 games.

The Cardinals Mike Wisz finished the doubleheader with 10 RBI. In so doing, he finished wth 47 RBI over the 24 game conference schedule, breaking the all time NCC season record of 42. With one non-conference game left he has a total of 64 on the season, fifth best in single season history.

How does the .833 winning percentage (20-4) compare with previous "bests"?

The .833 doesn't compare with IWU's .952 in 2007. And, of course, with 3 extra conference games now, its that much easier to reach the 20 mark. However, all the other teams in the conference had the same chance, and none of them could come within 3 of the Cardinals win total of 20.

North Park should be feeling good right now. They finished strong, and they're the only team in the conference that won the season series over North Central.

[mwunder]

CCIW is a 1 team league this season if NCC wins the CCIW tourney...discuss.

Carthage late season losses to Elmhurst and IWU have to hurt them in the regional rankings.  They should have been up for discussion early, but I don't believe they have done enough at this point.  Their only hope is that teams above them win their conference playoffs and they win at least 2 more games (preferably the first 2) in CCIW tourney.

Augie and NPU have too many losses as well, but Augie was ranked #7 last week, so if they get to the finals, they may have a shot.  NPU may sneak into rankings this week by virtue of their series win over NCC, but I think winning the tourney is their only path going forward.

[BigPoppa]

Carthage has to make it to the CCiW final to have any chance... and that final would be best for them if it were vs NCC.

[Gregory Sager]

A little CCIW tourney historical information (# of appearances includes 2018):

school	apps (first/latest)	W-L (.pct)	chips
Augustana	23 (1989/2018)	29-34 (.460)	3
Carroll	0		0
Carthage	27 (1985/2018)	50-29 (.633)	12
Elmhurst	13 (1985/2012)	17-25 (.405)	1
Illinois Wesleyan	32 (1985/2017)	50-51 (.495)	6
Millikin	2 (1986/1990)	1-3   (.250)	0
North Central	24 (1985/2018)	42-31 (.575)	8
North Park	14 (1987/2018)	12-20 (.375)	3
Wheaton	5 (2008/2017)	2-10 (.167)	0

Head-to-head:

Carthage 12 wins, Augustana 8 wins
North Central 11, Augustana 4
Augustana 3, North Park 2
Carthage 9, North Central 3
Carthage 6, North Park 0
North Central 4, North Park 2

This same configuration of four programs has constituted one prior tournament, 1993, which was also played at North Central as well. Carthage won that tournament, beating NCC 12-5  in the championship game.

[mwunder]

A little CCIW tourney historical information (# of appearances includes 2018):

school

apps (first/latest)

W-L (.pct)

c'hips

Fixed it for you...only because I'm dumb.

[mwunder]

No live stream again for the CCIW tourney?  Come on NCC...AndOne, get that taken care of!

[Gregory Sager]

Yeah, that ticks me off, too.

[BigPoppa]

No live stream again for the CCIW tourney?  Come on NCC...AndOne, get that taken care of!

Frustrating.

[AndOne]

No live stream again for the CCIW tourney?  Come on NCC...AndOne, get that taken care of!

Unfortunately, my "influence" does not extend to the conference office. ⚾️ ☹️

[mr_b]

Video feed on Twitter

[mwunder]

Thanks Mr. B!

[AndOne]

Nice play Mr. B.
+1

[mwunder]

Nice play Mr. B.
+1

Too bad you have two clowns doing the play by play.

[AndOne]

Not sure they're clowns, but they are inexperienced student announcers whose analysis and broadcasting style obviously need polishing.
Address your complaints to WONC.