BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[mr_b]

North Park obliterated Maranatha Baptist, 15-0, this afternoon at Holmgren Athletic Complex. Junior hurler Brad DeJong pitched a two-hitter (with an inning each of relief from sophomores Sean Turnbull and Pat Richards).

Actually, De Jong allowed just one of the two hits (the other came off Turnbull) over five strong innings.  It was encouraging because De Jong hadn't pitched since getting hit in the ankle with a line drive in his last appearance against Calvin in Phoenix.

Should be an interesting barometer for the Vikings tomorrow to see how they're coming along. 

Benedictine always gives the Vikings a good contest.  It's an important tune-up before CCIW action commences this weekend.

[augie28]

Augie is 13-2 overall heading into conference, going 4-0 since their Florida trip.  In the last week they have beaten Monmouth 10-3, Aurora 6-5, Concordia 3-2 and Benedictine 11-9.  Not dominant wins by any means, but a good way to start the conference season. 

They play North Central (4-5) this weekend.  I would expect Augie to take all 3 (anyone have an opinion otherwise).  Engle, Knott and Pagano will most likely get the starts and all three have thrown well over their past few starts.

Looking at the conference standings, 6 of 8 teams are at .500 or better with NC and Elmhurst at 4-5 and 4-6 respectively.  Overall, I would say that is a pretty strong pre-season for the CCIW. 

[BigPoppa]

I am going to take a wild guess and say that Augie, IWU and Carthage run away with the top three spots and that it is a crapshoot for the 4th, and final, post-season spot.

[yank52]

Sat through an entertaining game this early chilly evening in Lisle, NPU vs Benedictine.  There were some interesting innings with NPU jumping on top 6 to 1 after 2 then the Eagles came back down 6 to 5 in the eigth but this year the Vikings win 8 to 5. 
CCIW conference starts this weekend and it will be some easy wins for top tiered teams but the 4th thru 8th spots will be contended for on a more even basis.

[knarocky22]

North Central always gives Augie a tough time.  I wouldn't be surprised if the Cardinals took one from Augie.  I would be surprised if they won the series, though.

[Gregory Sager]

Overall, I would say that is a pretty strong pre-season for the CCIW. 

Regular season, not preseason. Those non-conference games count, too.

Sat through an entertaining game this early chilly evening in Lisle, NPU vs Benedictine.  There were some interesting innings with NPU jumping on top 6 to 1 after 2 then the Eagles came back down 6 to 5 in the eigth but this year the Vikings win 8 to 5. 
CCIW conference starts this weekend and it will be some easy wins for top tiered teams but the 4th thru 8th spots will be contended for on a more even basis.

Mr. B's recap is here. Sounds like it was quite a game. Solid win for the Park, which has been bedeviled by Benedictine in recent seasons.

North Park (8-7) opens up league play on Saturday with a doubleheader at home against Millikin (7-2).

[mr_b]

Mr. B's recap is here. Sounds like it was quite a game. Solid win for the Park, which has been bedeviled by Benedictine in recent seasons.

I believe it's the first Viking win over Benedictine since 1998.  The two teams tied in 1999 when the game was halted (in the 8th inning, as I remember) due to darkness.

[augie28]

Thanks for the correction.  We have seen in recent years how much the "pre-conference" games really do count come tourney time so I didn't mean to downsize them in any way.

[matblake]

Here is the boxscore for the Wheaton/CUC game from 6/26.  Here's the write up from the Wheaton website.  I'm happy the way that Wheaton is at least competing right now.  With a program devoid of success as Wheaton, its good to see a competitive game against better competition.  We'll get to see how they stack up with the big boys from Kenosha this weekend. 

[RedMan1]

I have heard that the Carthage Wheaton game tomorrow has been changed to 3:00 and Legion Field. Also, anyone know if they will actually play tomorrow. We are getting snow up here in Kenosha right now. We might never have a home game this year!!

[BigPoppa]

I have heard that the Carthage Wheaton game tomorrow has been changed to 3:00 and Legion Field. Also, anyone know if they will actually play tomorrow. We are getting snow up here in Kenosha right now. We might never have a home game this year!!

It's a balmy 85 and Sunny in Southern California right now, but oddly enough, I miss the weather in K-town. Nothing wakes you up like that first blast of cold air off Lake Michigan at 7:45 on your way to class.

[knarocky22]

You can tell BigPoppa has not been in CCIW-land this winter.

[BigPoppa]

You can tell BigPoppa has not been in CCIW-land this winter.

I was back for the holidays, but missed the bitter cold of early-January.

[Gregory Sager]

You can tell BigPoppa has not been in CCIW-land this winter.

I was back for the holidays, but missed the bitter cold of early-January.

The bitter cold of early January isn't as much of a stress-inducer, as only the very naive or the very stupid would expect the weather to be anything but bitter cold at that time of year in Kenosha or Chicago. Cold and snow at the end of March is much more likely to make you grit your teeth and want to hit something. It's like being a kid who runs downstairs on Christmas morning in ecstatic anticipation, only to find no presents under the tree and a phone message from Santa in which he says that he has the flu and won't be stopping by for another week or two.

[yank52]

Conference begins!!!!!!!!!!!!

predicitions: ??

Elmhurst  1 game vs Illinois Wesleyan 2games
Carthage 2 games vs Wheaton 1game
North Central 1 game vs Augustana 2games
Millikin  1 game vs North Park 2games