BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[JAF]

Sorry to break up this love-fest, fellas...but I thought the NCWC fans on board would like to know the Fri DH at LC is now a single game at 3 PM.

WOW it looks like NCWC is ducking the second game. What's the matter are they scared. Let's have a full scale investigation into why NCWC will not play this game!!! Something just sounds fishy about this to me!!!!

[A.G.]

Now that thar's funny....I don't care who ya are!

[narch]

the monarchs got redemption in a big way today for a one-run loss to guilford earlier in the season, winning 10-0 -jordan goes 7, giving up 3 hits and strikes out 4 - quinn had a 4 rbi day - the monarchs are now 22-10-1

box score

[WHEELIN WES]

Just found out NCWC will take on Bridgewater Monday in a weather induced make up game (April 3rd) after a long road trip against Lynchburg Friday and York on Sunday. It doesn't look like they are dodging anybody.

[Falcon2720]

CNU lost to RMC 4-2.

They have lost their last 3 non-conference games to ODAC teams HSC, Bridgewater, and now RMC.

Seems they have no number 3 pitcher.

[hokieone]

    Actually the number 2's and 3's have struggled a little lately but yesterday the pitching was fine. The bats were unfortunately kind of cool; CNU has been hitting the daylights out of the ball all spring, but some bats cooled at the same time some pitchers struggled, and as any baseball guy knows, it doesn't take much to douse the 'mo.   4 runs shouldn't have won yesterday's game,  but RMC hit the ball  very well, played good defense, and got good pitching when they needed it.  Tip the hat to Coach Hedrick and his guys for a well-played game.

  Our Captains simply need to realize their tournament starts this weekend with Ferrum, a very capable squad despite their record, and play the game one pitch, one at bat, one inning, and one game at a time.   When post-season discussion starts before the regular season ends, focus can inadvertently shift away from the job directly in front of you, not a good thing. (I like how Frank Beamer handles "expectations" with his Hokie football team-the only game is the next game, and it's game 1, game 2, game 3, etc.  The opponent doesn't matter.  A very good philosophy by Sir Frank.)

   CNU has the talent to play for a long time yet, but so do some other USAS teams and they won't all get the chance.  Next week should be fun to watch. There should be some great baseball in Burlington. Let's hope the weather cooperates, starting with this weekend. Early forecast says weather at Ferrum  might be a little dicey on Saturday, but with lights, and that gazillion dollar field over there, both games will get played.

   I love the spoof on NCWC "ducking" a game with Lynchburg, a very good ODAC team.     

[A.G.]

This is a key time for the OOC games for both leagues.  The upcoming games for NCWC are key for them, if they want to be considered for an at-large bid...as well at Methodist.  I suspect Monday's game between MU and LC will be rather ugly, with both teams thin on pitching.

[NCWC]

Sorry to break up this love-fest, fellas...but I thought the NCWC fans on board would like to know the Fri DH at LC is now a single game at 3 PM.

WOW it looks like NCWC is ducking the second game. What's the matter are they scared. Let's have a full scale investigation into why NCWC will not play this game!!! Something just sounds fishy about this to me!!!!

At the time of the cancellation Lyncburg had two games against NCWC on Friday, two games against Roanoke on Saturday, 2 games against VWC on sunday and then a game against Methodist on Monday.  Now I wonder which coach called and played the whole "I got a lot of games to play in 4 days card"?  Go back to sleep.

Last time these two played Wesleyan won 9-4.




11 (Fri.)
vs. North Carolina Wesleyan
Fox Field
3 pm

12 (Sat.)
at Roanoke College (DH)*
Roanoke, VA
noon

13 (Sun.)
Virginia Wesleyan College (DH)*
Fox Field
1 p.m.

14 (Mon.)
Methodist University

[Catfishncwc]

What are the chances the South Region gets another 7 team bid this year. 

[A.G.]

What are the chances the South Region gets another 7 team bid this year. 

We can only hope.  You almost have to figure Emory and Piedmont are locks, as is Salisbury.  A key is going to be SSU not getting upset in its tournament, b/c that will take away another bid.  If that happens, you have Piedmont, Emory, SSU, Capital Conf winner, ODAC, winner, USAS winner.  That would leave ONE at-large bid if the South gets 7.  Even with the good records, LC, CNU, and NCWC would probably scramble if they do get the automatic. 

(corrected to replace LaGrange with Piedmont)...I messed that up.

[Falcon2720]

A.G.,

Do you mean Piedmont instead of LaGrange as a lock.
Piedmont is more of a lock at 24-8 with two wins over Emory. LaGrange is 18-13.

I don't think the Capital Conference has an automatic bid.

Right Now Here are my regional predictions...

Salisbury
Piedmont
Emory
ODAC Champion (I think Lynchburg will Win it)
USA South Champion (I think NC Wesleyan will Win it)
CNU, Methodist, and Mary Washington fighting for the last spot

[narch]

i don't think it matters what salisbury does in their conference tourney...at 30-1 on the season currently, i just don't see them being left out of the ncaa tournament - their schedule hasn't been great, but they've made up for it with the sheer volume of wins - they're a lock

lagrange has no shot...a 3rd usasac team would make it before lagrange, in my opinion

piedmont will certainly be able to make a strong case, but i wouldn't call them an absolute lock at this point...in my opinion they've got a better chance than any of the teams below, though

rhodes is coming on strong, and at 24-9 (against a pretty good schedule) they have to be in the conversation

if lynchburg doesn't win the odac, i think they have to be in the conversation, as well...they've played a very solid non-conference schedule and they're 21-7 right now - lc is the only odac team with a pool c shot

mary wash is a possibility, and their schedule is back-loaded with rmc, cnu, ncwc and hopkins after the cac tournament (where they'll likely get to play salisbury) - nothing about their schedule to date is overly impressive, though, and at 20-8, they don't look any better than mu, cnu, ncwc or lynchburg, to me

i certainly think that cnu, mu and ncwc will all get long looks if they don't win the usasac - all 3 will NOT get pool c's, though, if none wins the usasac tournament

[narch]

if y'all don't read the weekly blog on the baseball site, you should...this week's blog is an interview with jarrod washburn and he mentions the monarchs and brian ford beating uw-oshkosh twice in the 1995 championships - good stuff - here's the link

and here's the quote:
"Q. How did it feel to win the 1994 D-III Championship?
A. At the time, the best feeling in the world. When you start the season you set out with the goal of winning the championship no matter the level. You want to be the last team standing at the end. We were able to accomplish the goal and win it all that year. It was the greatest feeling in the world.

Q. What about the 1995 Championship?
A. That was a disappointment. I still think we were the best team but we got beat and ended third. There was one lefty [Methodist's Brian Ford] that beat us twice and he had our number. It was a tough loss."

[Catfishncwc]

if y'all don't read the weekly blog on the baseball site, you should...this week's blog is an interview with jarrod washburn and he mentions the monarchs and brian ford beating uw-oshkosh twice in the 1995 championships - good stuff - here's the link

and here's the quote:
"Q. How did it feel to win the 1994 D-III Championship?
A. At the time, the best feeling in the world. When you start the season you set out with the goal of winning the championship no matter the level. You want to be the last team standing at the end. We were able to accomplish the goal and win it all that year. It was the greatest feeling in the world.

Q. What about the 1995 Championship?
A. That was a disappointment. I still think we were the best team but we got beat and ended third. There was one lefty [Methodist's Brian Ford] that beat us twice and he had our number. It was a tough loss."

Wesleyan went in the that 94 Series 42-2 that year with a loss to D1East Carolina and someone else.   They were the team to beat that year.  Coach Fox would always talk about that team and the offense they had that year. 

[A.G.]

LC defeats NCWC 11-10 in 10 innings.  Here is a link to LC's live stats if anyone is interested in seeing how the game transpired:
http://livestats.lynchburg.edu/

Now...my comments:
This was a hard played game  by both teams...and both teams capitalized on the other's miscues.  With the bats up and down both line-ups, you just can't give either an extra out or two.

It appeared to me that NCWC is focused on setting their pitching rotation for next week, and rightfully so.  LC threw mostly freshman, saving its primary pitchers for the back-to-back ODAC DH this weekend.

I was also FINALLY able to really focus on Pecora and Smith.  Those two young man PLAY THE GAME RIGHT...and can flat rake.  Matt got his "hit" to lead-off the game, got the ball, and a nice ovation.  Pecora hit maybe the two hardest balls I've seen hit at LC...one smoked one-hopper almost took our 2B head off (LH)...and he went oppo from the right side about 420+ over our RCF fence (between the 400 and 445 sign.  One thing I wonder, is Peco looks like he's favoring his arm on throws to 3B...but that could be thinking about the difference in the throw compared to the howitzer throws he's used to from the O.F.

Good luck to the Bishops on their major road trip...and in the tourney next week.