BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[narch]

here is my crack at an all-conference team, with full disclaimer that this weekend could change things - i looked at conference only stats first, and used overall numbers only in the case that i felt the conference numbers didn't produce a clear winner

c - proctor - mu...the sb's and overall power numbers lifted him over batts - there conference only stats are similar, but proctor has played 4 fewer conference games - both are solid defensive backstops, although batts probably gets a slight nod there
1b - Van Sickler - su...trey such for mu actually has slightly better conference only numbers, but van sickler's overall numbers are too much to ignore
2b - jaglowski - fc...over halpin (mu)...higher fld%, more rbi's and sb's in fewer games
3b - woodlief - ncwc...one of my toughest decisions - vanduseldorp (su) fell off significantly in conference games, so i eliminated him and it was between woodlief and lovette...their games are so different with lovette being a top-of-the-order guy and woodlief being a guy who drives in runs...i couldn't decide based on offensive numbers, so i looked at fld%, and woodlief's .917 fld% vs. lovette's .868 made the decision
ss - inghram - mu...leads all players in conference only rbi's, is second in conference only hr's and has more sb's than any other top infielder in conference games - loye, henry and bailey were all strong candidates
of - williford - ncwc...the only one i'm completely settled on...might be the best clutch player in the conference
of - lancaster - mu...leads giarrizzi in almost every statistical category in both conference and overall numbers
of - davis - mu...the last spot came down to davis and brashears, for me, and davis' overall numbers are better and he has more hr's (3) and rbi's (10) in 4 conference games than brashears has in 8 conference games

i'm waiting on my pitcher evaluation...i simply don't think a guy who doesn't start on the weekends can be a first-teamer...right now no regular weekend starter has a sub 4 era in conference only games - jordan and giarrizi have the most impressive conference numbers...jordan will get a chance to go against cnu this weekend...if he is impressive, i could give him a nod - hildreth is 3-1 in conference, van sickler is 2-1 and wilson (fc) is 3-1, but all have era's in the 4.03 - 4.50 range in conference games...not exactly overpowering numbers

i think child from ncwc deserves a spot here, though...he has appeared in 7 of ncwc's conference games with a 2.19 era and 3 saves

[narch]

inghram hits a grand slam to top off a 5 run 4th for the monarchs, who lead 7-2

through 5 1/2, the monarchs are leading 10-3...jordan hasn't been great, giving up 6 hits (3 hr's) and 4 walks, but he's been effective enough

[vabaseball]

Yep, that's about the size of it.... Grand slam was really a bummer.

[LTBB1971]

With MU beating CNU 10-6, and NC Wesleyan beating Shenandoah 16-3, it comes down to Methodist and NCWC tomorrow. Methodist needs to sweep CNU and hope for a Bishops lost.  Should be interesting...that's why they play the games!

[NCWC]

Thru 2/3 of the season gone, here is my favorites for First Team All Conference

1B - Greg Van Sickler (Shenandoah) -     .402, 5 HR, 47 RBI, 13 doubles, 4 triples
2B - Paul Jaglowski (Ferrum) -                 .415, 1 HR, 23 RBI, 21 R, 11 SB
SS - Brian Inghram (Methodist) -             .377, 7 HR, 46 RBI, 39 R, 23 BB, 13 SB
3B - Shawn Lovette (Methodist) -           .414, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 41 R, 12 doubles, 18 BB, 12 SB
C - Dustin Proctor (Methodist) -              .389, 10 HR, 37 RBI, 44 R, 11 doubles, 12 SB
OF - Kevin Brashers (Shenandoah) -      .378, 4 HR, 30 RBI, 51 R, 10 doubles, 10 SB
OF - Scott Lambert (Shenandoah) -       .429, 1 HR, 39 RBI, 41 R, 20 BB, 11 SB
OF - Luke Williford (NC Wesleyan) -       .373, 3 HR, 29 RBI, 31 R, 9 doubles, 23 SB
UTIL - Scott Van Dussel (Shenandoah)- .387, 8 HR, 36 RBI, 34 R, 9 doubles

SP - Max Knowles (NC Wesleyan) 5-1, 3.99 ERA, 47.1 INN, 44 HITS, 49 K's, OPP BA .243
SP - Josh Brinkman (CNU) 4-0, 3.10 ERA, 40.2 INN, 36 HITS, 33 K's, OPP BA .245

I would like to see Max up there as well but alot of his solid stats are non conference.  If they keep going he could possibly make an all tournament team or south region.  IF THEY KEEP IT UP.

[Catfishncwc]

Bishops win today over SU 16-3.  SU is now 1-4 against the top three teams in the USA SOUTH. 

[narch]

we've discussed all-conference possibilities...what about poty?

i think there are really 3 candidates...inghram, van sickler and williford

perhaps someone can step up on saturday

[Catfishncwc]

we've discussed all-conference possibilities...what about poty?

i think there are really 3 candidates...inghram, van sickler and williford

perhaps someone can step up on saturday

I say no to Van Sickler, conference numbers are weak compared to the bloated numbers he got versus the Little Sisters of the Poor non conference schedule.  And like the SU being 1-4 against the top 3 teams he is 5 for 21 against those same teams.  If you are a POTY candidate you should put up good numbers against the good teams.   

[narch]

I say no to Van Sickler, conference numbers are weak compared to the bloated numbers he got versus the Little Sisters of the Poor non conference schedule.  And like the SU being 1-4 against the top 3 teams he is 5 for 21 against those same teams.  If you are a POTY candidate you should put up good numbers against the good teams.   

i like that method to evaluate a poty candidate

in 5 games vs. ncwc/su/cnu here are inghram's numbers
13-25 (.520), 9 runs, 4 hr, 16 rbi, 3 sb

here are williford's numbers through 5 games vs. su/mu/cnu
12-23 (.522), 5 runs, 0 hr, 10 rbi, 6 sb

saturday could well determine the poty

[Catfishncwc]

I say no to Van Sickler, conference numbers are weak compared to the bloated numbers he got versus the Little Sisters of the Poor non conference schedule.  And like the SU being 1-4 against the top 3 teams he is 5 for 21 against those same teams.  If you are a POTY candidate you should put up good numbers against the good teams.   

i like that method to evaluate a poty candidate

in 5 games vs. ncwc/su/cnu here are inghram's numbers
13-25 (.520), 9 runs, 4 hr, 16 rbi, 3 sb

here are williford's numbers through 5 games vs. su/mu/cnu
12-23 (.522), 5 runs, 0 hr, 10 rbi, 6 sb

saturday could well determine the poty

Looking at those numbers I would give the edge to Inghram

[vabaseball]

NCWC gains the #1 seed, Methodist the #2 after dropping a 12-2 decision to CNU.  Anyone's guess how the rest will shake out.  Games in play should make things a little more clear.

[hokieone]

Okay tie-breaker gurus, answer this one:

1. NCWC
2. Methodist
3. CNU (by tie-breaker)
4. Shenandoah (tied with CNU goes to #4 on tiebreaker)
5. Greensboro (by tie-breaker) (tied Averett and Ferrum, goes to 5 via tiebreaker according to SU's web    site.)
6 and 7 Averett and Ferrum.

Averett and Ferrum split their series and  both went 3-5 against the teams above  them.

  What determines who is 6 and who is 7?




P.S.  Never mind-CNU web site says CNU plays Ferrum

[LTBB1971]

Anyone team can get hot in the upcoming USA SOUTH tournament and win it, but I like to think NCWC, Methodist and CNU are favorites to win it.

Averett - Not enough offense
Greensboro - Not enough pitching
Shenandoah - Too inconsistent in conference play
Ferrum - Erratic pitching

As for NCWC (faults have been an incosistent team all year, that gets hot and cold), Methodist (has some great bats but defense is suspect), and CNU (powerful consistent lineup with erratic pitching)

Let's see come Thursday.  Looks like it may be Shenandoah vs Greensboro to kick things off Thursday 9:30 AM.

[vabaseball]

I would have thought Averett would be the #6 seed since they swept the #1 seed and split with Ferrum. 

Yesterday I was leaning toward NCWC and Methodist being in the tournament championship game.  Today not so sure.

[NCWC]

I would have thought Averett would be the #6 seed since they swept the #1 seed and split with Ferrum. 

Yesterday I was leaning toward NCWC and Methodist being in the tournament championship game.  Today not so sure.

I'm going to say NCWC and Methodist just because they strung a bunch of wins together this season in tournament simulated weekends.

Oh and Narch, I changed a number on the bottom line. Guess which one it is.