BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Ralph Turner]

Former NPU bullpen coach Jeff Hanson, who set the school record for career innings pitched and strikeouts as a Vikings hurler, has been named the pitching coach of the fledgling NAIA program at the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico. This is a great opportunity for Jeff, who will have a free hand at assembling and coaching a pitching staff (including recruiting) for a CSF program that he will help build from the ground up. Congrats, Jeff!

Wow!   

Who will they play?  Wayland Baptist and Lubbock Christian are 5+ hours away, and they are the closest!   

[April]

Wow!  It's gonna be a real downsizing in facilities for Coach Driggers...(McMurry's Walt Driggers Field)   

What, it looks the same to me.   

In as much as there are 90' between bases... 

Ralph, your new nickname is going to be Hoosiers. 

Wheeeeee! Are we finally going to have a great baseball program??? I really loved going to our games, but it would be really nice to win occasionally. I went to a game once in B-N where our guys lost like 5 to 15 in the first part of a double header. 

This is a great deal for everyone. I mean, how can you beat the :free tuition for your kids" job bonus that comes with this switch?

[mr_b]

Former NPU bullpen coach Jeff Hanson, who set the school record for career innings pitched and strikeouts as a Vikings hurler, has been named the pitching coach of the fledgling NAIA program at the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico. This is a great opportunity for Jeff, who will have a free hand at assembling and coaching a pitching staff (including recruiting) for a CSF program that he will help build from the ground up. Congrats, Jeff!

Great choice of coach for the Prairie Dogs.  Jeff brings a lot of coaching experience, an ability to work with players, a competitive spirit, and an even temperment. 

[warrior35]

Ok, call me stupid... but did not Wheaton finish 23-14 and 12-8 in conference this past year?  I now I understand this is not on a yearly basis, but it would be an incorrect statement to say that the next level for this team is competing... 6 of their 14 losses were by 2 runs or less and were just a few wins away from making life even more difficult for the gentlemen that decide who get into the playoffs.

[Gregory Sager]

Former NPU bullpen coach Jeff Hanson, who set the school record for career innings pitched and strikeouts as a Vikings hurler, has been named the pitching coach of the fledgling NAIA program at the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico. This is a great opportunity for Jeff, who will have a free hand at assembling and coaching a pitching staff (including recruiting) for a CSF program that he will help build from the ground up. Congrats, Jeff!

Wow!   

Who will they play?  Wayland Baptist and Lubbock Christian are 5+ hours away, and they are the closest!   

I asked Jeff the same question. He wasn't really sure about CSF's scheduling details when I talked to him a few weeks ago. My guess is that the Prairie Dogs will pick up a lot of games by playing in that big Phoenix tournament every March. Most of CSF's closest neighbors are NCAA D2 programs -- Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands, Western New Mexico, Western State (just over the border in Colorado), Grand Canyon, etc. -- and I would imagine that CSF would play a lot of games against those schools, as well as scheduling those Texas Panhandle schools you mentioned. Wayland Baptist would be an interesting showdown for the Prairie Dogs, since that's the school where Jeff was an assistant coach last season.

I know that everything's supposed to be bigger in Texas, Ralph, but it looks like we've found a school whose teams have bigger travel distances than anybody in the Lone Star State!

[Ralph Turner]

I know that everything's supposed to be bigger in Texas, Ralph, but it looks like we've found a school whose teams have bigger travel distances than anybody in the Lone Star State!

Actually Santa Fe was a part of the Republic of Texas that we gave to the US in the Annexation Treaty in 1845.

That part of Texas is where the future ski slopes would be located.  You know, Aspen Vail, Crested Butte, Steamboat Springs, Taos and Ruidoso. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ok, call me stupid... but did not Wheaton finish 23-14 and 12-8 in conference this past year?  I now I understand this is not on a yearly basis, but it would be an incorrect statement to say that the next level for this team is competing... 6 of their 14 losses were by 2 runs or less and were just a few wins away from making life even more difficult for the gentlemen that decide who get into the playoffs.

Early front-runner for 'understatement of the year'!

Wheaton won their only baseball title 57 years ago.  In 24 years of a four-team conference tourney, last year was their only appearance.

I believe that being competitive IS indeed the next level.

Coach Driggers' first order of business is to prove that last year was not a fluke.  I fear that he will be successful in that, though it may take a few years after such a reign of futility.

[warrior35]

This is my own personal opinion, but I don't think you can call a 23 win season a fluke.  Now I think you mean that it's just one year in the midst of many poor years, but in that case I don't think that you can call a winning percentage of 62% over 37 games just a chance of luck, nor would I call a 60% winning percentage in one of the best conferences in the country a stroke of luck.  I'm inclined to credit the players on that team for working incredibly hard in the off-season and during the season, just as I would credit Augustana, Carthage, and Wesleyan for their commitment to excellence over the course of the year.

[Mr. Ypsi]

warrior35,

I am in no way intending to demean the 2008 Thunder (and 'fluke' may have too much derogatory connotation).  But look at the Wheaton record book: 4 of the top 6 all-time in RBIs were 2008.  The top 3 ever in runs were all 2008.  The top 3 all-time in OBA were 2008.  Brian Kolb in 2008 broke the all-time records for BA and slugging % by nearly 100 points.  While Kolb only improved on a near-record breaking 2007, until the team can repeat (or improve on) 2008, it seems fair to wonder if it was a magical season of everyone simultaneously having a 'career year' (ala the Detroit Tigers of 2006 - this year they were picked by SI to win the WS, but are struggling to reach .500).

For many, many years, Wheaton baseball was somewhat of a joke (especially in contrast to most other Thunder teams).  2008, plus the hiring of Coach Driggers, suggests that that will change, but it hasn't (necessarily) happened yet.

BTW, welcome to the board!  Are you a current player?  If so, please check with Coach Driggers, as some coaches severely frown on players posting - I'd hate to get you in trouble!

[warrior35]

Nah, not a player... just an alum trying to support my alma mater.

[matblake]

Here is one interview with Coach Driggers broken down into 2 parts:  http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/baseball/2008/8/16/tsr-driggers.asp?path=baseball

I really enjoyed the interview which covers his background, how he views recruiting, and the elephant in the room, facilities.......

[warrior35]

So, rumor has it that Coach Driggers is wasting no time making his presence known and drastic changes could be made to Legion Field before next season.  At this point, any changes are welcome changes at Legion.  I don't think any players anywhere in the league would disagree with me that Legion is easily placed somewhere in the bottom 2 or possibly 3 fields in the conference.  We'll see what all comes of it, as Wheaton has had trouble getting things done with the folks in charge in Carol Stream.  From the rumors, it sounds like Wheaton could have an aesthetically pleasing ball park this year and hopefully a nice playing surface, at least on the infield.

[BigPoppa]

Early preseason prediction for the CCIW:

1. Illinois Welseyan- lots of talent returning for the Green Weenies.

2. Carthage- Solid arms returning and does anyone really expect Carthage to NOT be in the top two?

3. Augustana- Great athletes who always find a way to win games.

4. Wheaton- One word... Driggers.

5. North Park- A full cycle of recruiting should finally help Luke Johnson's Vikings as they mature.

6. Elmhurst- How the mighty have fallen. This once proud program has hit the skids in recent years.

7. Millikin- Big Blue just cannot keep up with the big arms in the CCIW.

8. North Central- See #6

Anybody see things differently this year in the CCIW?

[BigG296]

First time poster here but long time CCIW fan

Prediction:

Carthage-always has talent, knows how to win league

Augustana-talent but can never seem to win conference

Illinois Wesleyan-starting SS Cunningham from last 2 years not on roster?

Wheaton-Lots of talent back

North Park-could surprise some teams

Elmhurst-not looking good

Millikin-can't seem to make the jump to upper tier

North Central-don't see a turnaround this year

[CCIWFAN6]

Funny you say that BigG, was wondering the same thing.  That would be a crushing blow IWU.  Cunningham had been the anchor for that defense.  I saw him make some great plays.  Anyone know anything about that?