BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[NCWC]

freddy g comes through for the monarchs with a cg w over the bishops, kivett hits another bomb and betterly has a 3 rbi day - mu also gets 5 steals on the day - the monarchs are now 16-6/4-1 - they should have toth and kisiah, at the very least, available sunday with the full bullpen ready to rock if needed - nice win, boys

box score

Good job by Methodist today coming into to Bauer and silencing the Bishops.  One question that came to mind was where is Kyle Robertson, I understand he has had a couple rough starts, but he is a senior.  I understand that Diener is a good pitcher but throwing him into the fire is kinda bad.  From day one you show up to Wesleyan you here about Methodist, I guess he wasn't quite ready for the challenge this year.  Hopefully, the MANIMAL Ben Moore comes through tomorrow.

[Rikki_Tikki_Tavi]

Captains sweep Shenandoah today as the two teams decided to play twice because of rain expected in the area tonight and tomorrow. CNU won 7-1 behind another dominant performance from Kenny Moreland. He pitched a CG, allowed one run on four hits, walked none and struck out eight. He had a no-no thru 5 1/3 ip. Despins hit his fifth HR in game one.

In game two, CNU blew a 6-2 lead giving up a three-run homer and then a solo shot to the very next batter but Alex Owen hit a two-run shot in the top of the ninth to win it.

[NCWC]

Wesleyan locked up their third split of the season.  13-4 over Methodist in game two.  Ben Moore stepped up along with Justin Batts.  Ferrum is next on the list.

[Catfishncwc]

NCWC needs to stop these spilts if they want to make it regionals. 

[NCWC]

Its starting to ruin my weekends.  The way the schedule was set up it looks like they played the hardest teams this year already.  Ferrum, Shenadoah, and Averett left.  I dont think CNU will keep up that 5-1 pace.  From talking to some of the guys I think they think they are going to try and run the gauntlet in the tourney. 

[Rikki_Tikki_Tavi]

If the Captains go 4-2 over their final 6 conference games, I think they will be pretty satisfied with that, sitting at 9-3 is a good spot to be one. But one thing is certain, whoever is on fire at the right time in Burlington will be the team to beat. Doesnt matter if you are the 1 or 7 seed.

[narch]

From talking to some of the guys I think they think they are going to try and run the gauntlet in the tourney. 

well, then we should just crown ncwc tourney champs now, 'cause i don't think any other teams in the usasac will really try to run the gauntlet in the tourney

looks like ncwc brought their batts today...ok, bad pun, but they sure did pound the monarch pitching - seems like moore always pitches well against mu

[NCWC]

From talking to some of the guys I think they think they are going to try and run the gauntlet in the tourney. 

well, then we should just crown ncwc tourney champs now, 'cause i don't think any other teams in the usasac will really try to run the gauntlet in the tourney

looks like ncwc brought their batts today...ok, bad pun, but they sure did pound the monarch pitching - seems like moore always pitches well against mu

I think Ben and Matt Smith are friends with a lot of the guys on the MU team...

[WHEELIN WES]

The Bishops came out Sunday and knew they were on the ropes and about to be knocked out but really stepped up. Ben Moore was sharp the whole game really hitting his spots and the bats drove the ball hard all over the yard with the MU defense making some excellent plays to rob some hits.
Geisinger pitched well for Methodist Saturday keeping the Bishop hitters off stride for the biggest part and was successful in limiting NCWC runs with the help of outstanding play of MU's center fielder. Wesleyan hitters laced some shots to the big part of field 4 or 5 times in key situation and the CF  tracked them down and made great plays. IF several of those balls had been hit in the alleys they would have been HR's but they weren't, that's baseball, and I credit MU for making plays.
Great weekend to watch two very good teams square off against each other. Wesleyan still has their heads above water, barely, with a lot of work to do, but I believe they can and need to win out in the conference and hope for help from some others.

[NCWC]

The Bishops came out Sunday and knew they were on the ropes and about to be knocked out but really stepped up. Ben Moore was sharp the whole game really hitting his spots and the bats drove the ball hard all over the yard with the MU defense making some excellent plays to rob some hits.
Geisinger pitched well for Methodist Saturday keeping the Bishop hitters off stride for the biggest part and was successful in limiting NCWC runs with the help of outstanding play of MU's center fielder. Wesleyan hitters laced some shots to the big part of field 4 or 5 times in key situation and the CF  tracked them down and made great plays. IF several of those balls had been hit in the alleys they would have been HR's but they weren't, that's baseball, and I credit MU for making plays.
Great weekend to watch two very good teams square off against each other. Wesleyan still has their heads above water, barely, with a lot of work to do, but I believe they can and need to win out in the conference and hope for help from some others.

Any word about Kyle?  Did he get hurt or just not producing?  I'd sure like to see those younger guys step up and fill the void.  They make up a majority of that pitching staff.  They will be very key come tourney time.  In my opinion, based on #'s, I wouldn't take Jason Gay out of the lineup.  Peco had a nice week at the plate.  Seems like beauloseil has hit a skid.  I think it will be extremely hard for NCWC to win out in the rest of their regular season conference games. 



Does anyone know if NCWC and VWC are going to play the tie out or just play the one game today?

[WHEELIN WES]

Robertson's arm was shut down for a few days but I believe it will be short term as he was throwing on the side in the bullpen Sunday. Some of the young arms are ready to step up and contribute if they are given the opportunity. I'm looking for them to start receiving more innings over the coming weeks to prepare them further for the tournament. Look for Moore to move into the number 1 spot, he's really got his stuff extremely sharp and working well right now. Gay had been struggling somewhat in the JV and some Varsity games after a hot start, but broke out big time this weekend and I expect him to be in the line up either at 1st or DH from here on out and look for Zach Alexander to be holding down 3rd.
It will be very hard for the Bishops to win out in the conference, but that's their goal, hoping some others beat up on each other. Tournament seeding, as always, will be critical this year and being hot at the right time.

[narch]

this will be the first time i've said this on this board, but part of me misses the short-lived 3 game weekend format - i don't support going back to this system because it puts the usasac at a disadvantage when records are compared to odac, cac and gsac schools for regional rankings, etc. (as established in the early pages of posts on this board), but it sure did feel like you won something at the end of a 2-1 or 3-0 weekend and the end of an 18 game conference season (vs. a 12 game conference season) - maybe if the usasac/gsac merger that has been rumored happens, it will feel a little more satisfying since it could potentially add 8 conference games if lc, hc, pc and m'ville come as a unit

monarchs get tufts on wednesday...the jumbos always have a very solid group - i imagine jordan will get the start, as he seems to have settled into the mid-week starter role, and i think the coaching staff might want to save bisp for the weekend, if needed...but i could be wrong

[GreenJeans]

I agree with Narch about it actually felt like you won something when you play the 3 game series, and the 18 game conference schedule.  But I am not complaining about the shortened 2 game series and 12 game conference.  It is just that 3rd game that either decided the tiebreaker or give a team that 3 game sweep, that is a good feeling.

[NCWC]

this will be the first time i've said this on this board, but part of me misses the short-lived 3 game weekend format - i don't support going back to this system because it puts the usasac at a disadvantage when records are compared to odac, cac and gsac schools for regional rankings, etc. (as established in the early pages of posts on this board), but it sure did feel like you won something at the end of a 2-1 or 3-0 weekend and the end of an 18 game conference season (vs. a 12 game conference season) - maybe if the usasac/gsac merger that has been rumored happens, it will feel a little more satisfying since it could potentially add 8 conference games if lc, hc, pc and m'ville come as a unit

monarchs get tufts on wednesday...the jumbos always have a very solid group - i imagine jordan will get the start, as he seems to have settled into the mid-week starter role, and i think the coaching staff might want to save bisp for the weekend, if needed...but i could be wrong

Narch... I definitely agree with the three game series.  It really shows who is the best team in the conference.  It also shows the depth of the pitching staff and bench.  I don't like the doubleheader idea.  I agree with friday, saturday, and sunday.

NCWC earns a nice regional win over VWC today 4-3.  I went to watch a high school game, came back and sat down to look at the computer and almost fell out of the chair.  Hopefully, NCWC will get back in their winning ways.

[anotherharvest]

The 4-3 ninth inning loss to NCWC was the final nail in the coffin to a miserable road trip.  10 errors in two losses to Piedmont when they were leading the ODAC for least muffs.  Lost three close games with all those bungles.  Longing to get back to winning ways. 

Even so, the NCWC game was just as intense as the 4-4 tie we played you guys at our place.  The reason why we love this game.