BB: IIAC: Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[doolittledog]

Some more posters will drift over here eventually.  Most are still on the football and basketball boards this time of year. 

I'm just hoping Dubuque can climb their way out of the conference cellar this year.  They are seeing more success in football, soccer, and basketball recently than they have in the past.  So hopefully that will start to translate onto the baseball diamond. 

[Maverick4004]

I myself don't see that happening any time soon haha. Sorry. Any predictions on what players will step up this year? Plenty of returning all-region players and an all-american in Pietryk from BV

[CaliRamRL6]

I haven't really followed IIAC baseball that close. And it's a shame since I'm a quick drive away from catching a Cornell or Coe game. I don't know which players to look out for but I hear some Coe chatter talking about Raisch and Richmond.

[CaliRamRL6]

Doolittledog, do you travel for Dubuque baseball games? We'll have a group of young alums chillin and grillin during the weekend series at Cornell in March. Let me know if you're making the drive down and I'll save you a plate... and maybe a cold one.

[doolittledog]

Doolittledog, do you travel for Dubuque baseball games? We'll have a group of young alums chillin and grillin during the weekend series at Cornell in March. Let me know if you're making the drive down and I'll save you a plate... and maybe a cold one.

I've never travelled for a DBQ baseball game in the past...but if dogs and a cold one are offered I think I could find a way to make a trip down to Mt. Vernon.  Thanks for the offer!!!

[Maverick4004]

Coe has a solid group of returners with Richmond returning as an all-region first baseman, Cody Raisch (there is another Raisch there too) as an all-region pitcher, and Ryan Velvick as an all-region player as well. Both player of the year and pitcher of the year have graduated so we will see who steps up this spring

[Swing4theFences]

I see Richmond and Velvick (Coe), Grau (Wartburg), Reynolds and Schott (Luther), Pietrykz, Blum and Kloewer (BV) to step up and be the big offensive guys this year

[youcantseemestill]

Finally! Some baseball talk! 

Based on who is coming back BV and Coe have to be the favorites.  BV did not graduate a single player last year and Coe returns all but two out of their line-up and lost only one pitcher of real significance. 

Coe does also return the top offensive and defensive players from last season.  Richmond was the second leading vote-getter for conference MVP and Cody Raisch was the second leading voter getter for Pitcher of the Year.........although I would throw Mr. Pietrykz, Grau, Mike Furlong and Chris Reynolds into the offensive player talk.

The interesting thing, as always, will be what new faces spark different teams.  I have heard that the Knights have retooled big time with more than a couple transfers, and that Simpson and Central have brought in big classes as well.

My opinion on Dubuque is that they are not going to really make a step forward until they are able to recruit some local kids for baseball.  Their team has way too many kids with warm climate home states.  The formula hasn't worked so far...........

Loras is my sleeper team (if you can be a sleeper after winning the conference).  They have all of their pitching back and that can minimize the loss of Olberding, Egdorf,  Gross and Miklo.

Other opinions are welcome!

[TheSportsFan]

What are some of the other reports from around the IIAC preseason?  Who are some of the freshmen impact players or transfers from around the conference?  Which team will be most benefited from their freshmen?

I'm interested in hearing what is going on around the league!  Seems like a pretty balanced year in the IIAC with a couple teams capable of being great.

Thanks for the post youcantseemestill............Very interested in hearing from others!

Only 9 days from the IIAC season opener (Simpson @ University of the Ozarks)

[doolittledog]

Finally! Some baseball talk!  

My opinion on Dubuque is that they are not going to really make a step forward until they are able to recruit some local kids for baseball.  Their team has way too many kids with warm climate home states.  The formula hasn't worked so far...........

Other opinions are welcome!

Dubuque roster...
11 - Iowa
9   - Illinois
5   - Wisconsin
4   - California
2   - Colorado
1   - Ohio
1   - Texas
1   - Puerto Rico
1   - Germany

35 man roster.  

25 from Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.  25 of 35 are local kids.  

4 from Cali, 1 from Texas, 1 from Puerto Rico.  6 of 35 from warm weather locales.  

The 4 Cali kids include 3 seniors and 1 junior. 

Apparently the UD coaches listened to you and changed their recruiting practices

[youcantseemestill]

Its interesting you pointed that out because that is something I noticed when I looked at the updated rosters yesterday.  I think you can agree Doolittle, that this is a nice change in the roster for UD. 

5 of the 9 conference teams already have their 2010 rosters up with the exceptions being Central, Luther, Simpson and Wartburg. 

[doolittledog]

Its interesting you pointed that out because that is something I noticed when I looked at the updated rosters yesterday.  I think you can agree Doolittle, that this is a nice change in the roster for UD. 

5 of the 9 conference teams already have their 2010 rosters up with the exceptions being Central, Luther, Simpson and Wartburg. 

Yes it is, and it is something you are seeing across the board at UD.  Though, I am not against UD finding kids from wherever they can.  It's just nice to find local kids.  Not only are they prepared for our weather, it just puts UD more into the minds of the local population. 

[youcantseemestill]

Right!  And no offense intended to any of the kids, but the retention rate of those individuals from way out of state has been bad...........making it hard to have a consistent level of success.

[upandin]

The problem is not recruiting out of state kids the problem is recruiting quality out of state kids.  There are plenty of kids from out of state that are very successful at schools in the Midwest.  Recruiting ONLY Iowa kids will not win you any national titles. 

2009 All IIAC honors  23 Iowa Natives, 19 out of state players

By the way UD had no players earn All IIAC honors, in or out of state.

[Maverick4004]

youcantseemestill   you gave a very good preview to the season! seems like you know your players. I have the same opinions as you do with Coe and BV being outfront. I think that that will be a heck of a battle this spring when the two meet at BV's place.