BB: SUNYAC

[Big Louie]

looks to be an exciting Sunday of baseball in the SUNYAC'S.......a lot still at stake with a couple big Dh's

[jdex]

From Sunday:

  Cortland 4, St. Joe's 0
  Cortland 9, St. Joe's 0

 

[Humpster]

From Sunday

     Game 1:
              Brockport 11
              Oswego 1

       From Oswego State sports page

[John McGraw]

Sunday scores...

SUNYIT 21 D'Youville 0
SUNYIT 6 D'Youville 2

Brockport 11 Oswego 1
Brockport 7 Oswego 6

Oneonta 6 Fredonia 2
Oneonta 10 Fredonia 1

plus Cortland swept St. Joseph's (LI) but you already knew that

FINAL SUNYAC standings ("Round up the usual suspects")
Cortland          14-0
Oneonta          9-5
Brockport         7-7
Plattsburgh      7-7
Oswego            6-8
Fredonia           5-9
New Paltz         5-9
SUNYIT             3-11

Brockport takes the three seed by virtue of its split with Oneonta. Plattsburgh was swept by Oneonta. Therefore, on Friday, you'll have #1 Cortland vs. #4 Plattsburgh and then #2 Oneonta vs. #3 Brockport. I believe the 2-3 game will be at the crack of dawn (10:00 AM).

[FranElia]

Actually John, different schedule for the SUNYAC tournament this year. First day (Friday) only has two games (12 p.m. - 2 vs. 3; 3:30 p.m. - 1 vs. 4). No one is eliminated on the first day. Day 2 (Saturday) features three games at 10, 1 and 4. Sunday is still noon, with the "if necessary" game to follow.

Fran

[Bob Maxwell]

Fran,

Thanks for the update on the schedule change... I think it is great idea to only play two games on Friday and not have anyone eliminated that first day.  It was always tough for the teams to reach the tournament and then be 2 games and out the first day.  Also, it is good for the Cortland ecomomy, with more people staying overnight.   

And very, nice that the first game doesn't start until noon... 10:00 was pretty early to have to drive all the way out from Buffalo...

[BaseB13]

Well as usual we have the same 4 teams in the conference tournament.  How many years running has this been?  I like the new schedule better as well.. LL does it that way also. 

[Big Louie]

This will be the 6th year running that it has been the same 4 teams making the annual trip to Wallace field.....last time it wasn't these 4 was in 2002 when Plattsburgh was a SUNYAC provisional member and Utica-Rome made the tourney.

Going into it Cortland is by far the favorite to add yet another SUNYAC title to their Trophy case, but is there any thoughts on who might be able to pull an upset. It'll be interesting to see how the pitching matchups set up as well. 

Friday's Matchups

#2 Oneonta vs #3 Brockport    at Noon
#1 Cortland vs #4 Plattsbrugh at 330

[BaseB13]

I have only seen one of the teams play this year.. Brockport.. they looked alright.  I heard Plattsburgh is down a little this year.  I just can't see how any team will be able to knock off Cortland twice.. Anything is possible but I see Cortland running away with this one..

[HotSoupTrio]

I think it is going to be a very interesting tournament. If Plattsburgh throws Kelley, they could beat Cortland. He has some very good stuff. I've got to assume that Cortland is going to throw Ratliff. But Coach Brown has been unconventional before, case in point throwing Bilyk against Brockport two years ago in the #1 vs. #4 games.

The Brockport-Oneonta game is going to be interesting. Does Oneonta throw hard throwing Freshman, Filak or throw Juedes who has been there before? What about Brockport? Who throws for them Mascari, Maxwell or Shannon?

Hopefully it turns out to be a competitive weekend with some good games.

Is there going to be a broadcast of any of these games?

[Big Louie]

baseb13....i also think Cortland will win it again this year, but i dont see it being as easy as you're making it sound.  Cortland played a ton of close conference games this yr even though they went 14-0. They may be most vulnerable at this point riding such a big winning streak going into the tourney.  Not to take anything away from what C-state has accomplished this season, i just dont see them be as unbeatable as they have been in the past 3 years.  Either way hopefully there will be some good baseball played this weekend.

[StarvinMarvin]

Johnny, what makes you think cortland is more beatable this year than previous years?  the fact that maybe you saw them play one or two games and they didn't impress you.  go look on the schedule of any of the top teams in the country and you won't see them blowing out every team they play, that's baseball.  so if you're judging cortland based on close games in the conference then keep this in mind.  for all but one of their conference games, three of the four weekend starters have been freshman (Assman, Mahay, and Ratliff along with soph Tone).  Jweid, Hooper (4 inn.) and Blanco who are three of their best arms haven't pitched at all in conference but are back now and ready to go for the tournament.  Hooper, who is a senior, started one game for cortland in conference and again the rest were by all freshman and a soph.  with these other guys added to the mix we'll see how vulnerable cortland is, good luck it should be an interesting tournament.

[BaseB13]

I've got to agree with Starvin on this one.  Anything can happen, and I'm not saying it's impossible that another team won't win, but I'd be shocked.  Plattsburgh from what I've heard is somewhat down compared to past years.  I've seen Brockport play and they're not a bad club by any means, they've had some tough close losses, but I think they've been better in the past as well.  Not familiar with Oneonta at all this year.  I will say I never like a team riding a big winning streak in to an elimination tournament.  However, I do like the fact that Cortland's conference games have been close.  Conference tournament games are generally dogfights because of the huge stakes so having had many close games in the past is the best practice for high pressure tournament games.  I think that's a good thing in a way.  We'll see though. 

[StarvinMarvin]

I too agree with you BaseB13, to win that many games in a row and knowing how little it takes in the game of baseball to lose a close game regardles of opponent says something about a team.  In years past, Cortland has a had a bad loss somewhere on their schedule as most teams do but this year their losses have come to two NJAC opponents (TCNJ twice and Rowan once) but have also beaten two NJAC opponents (Montclair twice and William Paterson once).  They have beaten some very good teams this year like Wheaton twice and Johns Hopkins and Ithaca for example.  The teams in the SUNYAC tournament this year have had their moments but are all solid and can beat cortland on any given day but it's going to take quite an effort.  Cortland may not have a Dougher this year but they are as deep and balanced on both sides of the ball as you'll find.  They can match up with anyone.  A righty lineup, a lefty lineup, speed off the bench, solid D, excellent starting pitching and the bullpen has really taken form with Potrikus being lights out.  I'm not saying that they're unbeatable but this year's team might be better than last year's.  They have a bunch of contributors instead of three or four guys who they rely on and stand out statistically.  Top to bottom they're just solid.

[Big Louie]

theres no way Cortlands team this year is better than last year.....losing the likes of Maycock, Robinson, Basnight, Dougher, Zgorzelski. Facing that lineup with the likes of a Dougher on the mound is pretty daunting task. 

Starvin i was definately impressed with Cortland, but I just don't think there unbeatable....you make my point for me. They have 3 freshman pitching conference games for them and played a lot of close games. The last few seasons they would have been burrying teams in the conference.  I just don't see Cortland running away with it.  If you read my post i said i think Cortland will win it again this year....either way im excited to see what happens