BB: General New England Discussion

[ECSUalum]

Hobbesy,

I like your keen insight WRT ECSU 6'5" big guy, Mike Hepple.  Last year he seemed to have gained the confidence to pitch well, and if he can keep his fast ball near the strike zone, he could very well have a standout year in 2012. 

Has anyone ever looked historically at the D-III CWS to see if two New England teams could have played one another for the title??  I  briefly scanned the ncaa.com D-III CWS finalists list to see which two teams were the closest geographically.   In 1991 USM won over TCNJ, (376 miles) in 2008 Trinity over Johns Hopkins, (312 miles), in 1998 ECSU won over Montclair St, (163 miles), and in 1983 Marietta won over Otterbein , (133 miles).

[Hobbesy]

Just posted my prediction for the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC).

Tough loss for Mitchell, losing All-American John Apostolo. Not sure where he went.

http://ned3baseball.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/necc-prediction-nighthawks-soar-to-first-ncaa-tournament/

[ECSUalum]

Here isthe article about the Holowaty vs Holowaty matchup, 4 game set with ECSU vs Whitman College in Walla Walla WA starting this Friday.


http://nutmeg.easternct.edu/mt-static/athletics/2012/02/father-son-college-baseball-coaches.html

[KSCfan]

Is there any chance that the Darth Holowaty will throw the emperor over a railing to save his son, because he can feel the force following through him?  Will this bring peace to the galaxy?  And will thier be three not as good prequels in response to this?

In all seriousness a cool story, and it will be good to see Eastern start the season, and get an idea of what they have, and what kind of lineup Darth Holowaty will use.  Usually spring trips are kind of the week where coaches work out thier line up and have a good idea of what the saturday line up will look like.  This is not the spring trip, but a chance to get 4 games under the belt.

[Hobbesy]

My predictions for the NEWMAC in 2012.

I think Wheaton takes it again.

And I am still deciding whether to root for my uncle or my cousin. Tough decision.

http://ned3baseball.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/newmac-prediction-lyons-grab-their-12th-title/

[ECSUalum]

From D3 Baseball.com:

February 28, 2012

2012 Regional Playoff Sites

•Central – USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. (Rhodes College, host)
•Mid-Atlantic – First Energy Park in Lakewood, N.J. (Kean University, host)
•Mideast – Don Schaly Stadium in Marietta, Ohio (Marietta College, host)
•Midwest – Prucha Field in Whitewater, Wis. (University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, host)
•New England – Mansfield Complex in Mansfield, Conn. (Eastern Connecticut State University, host)
•New York – Baseball Complex in Farmingdale, N.Y. (State University of New York at Farmingdale, host)
•South – Captains Park in Newport News, Va. (Christopher Newport University, host)
•West – Roy Helser Field in McMinnville, Ore. (Linfield College, host)

[WNECalum222]

From D3 Baseball.com:

February 28, 2012

2012 Regional Playoff Sites

•Central – USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. (Rhodes College, host)
•Mid-Atlantic – First Energy Park in Lakewood, N.J. (Kean University, host)
•Mideast – Don Schaly Stadium in Marietta, Ohio (Marietta College, host)
•Midwest – Prucha Field in Whitewater, Wis. (University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, host)
•New England – Mansfield Complex in Mansfield, Conn. (Eastern Connecticut State University, host)
•New York – Baseball Complex in Farmingdale, N.Y. (State University of New York at Farmingdale, host)
•South – Captains Park in Newport News, Va. (Christopher Newport University, host)
•West – Roy Helser Field in McMinnville, Ore. (Linfield College, host)

As long as WNEC makes it to the regional ill be there. I live about 15 minutes from ECSU

[Hobbesy]

WNEC Alum-

I guess I did miss that one. I had Clark as the starting first baseman and Rubino as the starting third baseman. With that logic the entire infield returns... haha. As I look over some boxscores from the season it looks like Clark, Rubino and Trubia rotated around between first, second, third and DH. Sorry about that mixup.

[WNECalum222]

WNEC Alum-

I guess I did miss that one. I had Clark as the starting first baseman and Rubino as the starting third baseman. With that logic the entire infield returns... haha. As I look over some boxscores from the season it looks like Clark, Rubino and Trubia rotated around between first, second, third and DH. Sorry about that mixup.

lol no big deal, Do you think WNEC has a good chance of repeating as NE champs? I know they have the lineup to do it, but do they have the pitching staff?

[ECSUalum]

From D3 Baseball.com:

February 28, 2012

2012 Regional Playoff Sites

•Central – USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. (Rhodes College, host)
•Mid-Atlantic – First Energy Park in Lakewood, N.J. (Kean University, host)
•Mideast – Don Schaly Stadium in Marietta, Ohio (Marietta College, host)
•Midwest – Prucha Field in Whitewater, Wis. (University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, host)
•New England – Mansfield Complex in Mansfield, Conn. (Eastern Connecticut State University, host)
•New York – Baseball Complex in Farmingdale, N.Y. (State University of New York at Farmingdale, host)
•South – Captains Park in Newport News, Va. (Christopher Newport University, host)
•West – Roy Helser Field in McMinnville, Ore. (Linfield College, host)

As long as WNEC makes it to the regional ill be there. I live about 15 minutes from ECSU

Eastern's facility and organization, and with LECTV/BridgewaterTV, they do a better than first class job with the NE Regional!!
Nice to see it return to Mansfield/Willimantic

[Hobbesy]

WNEC Alum-

I think they have a more than adequate lineup that will put up runs in bunches against conference opponents. As for pitching, they have two or three guys that return that could be the No. 1 pitcher on nearly every team in New England. If Mark DiTommaso and Kevin Jefferis pitch like they can, they can't be beat. Having Mike Lawlor at the back of the bullpen is always nice.

I think they will get tested much more during the conference season this year and, as always, their tough non-conference schedule should give the young and inexperienced pitchers a chance to face real quality competition.

A repeat? I don't think so. It's very hard to repeat and I think there are several teams in the region that can beat the Golden Bears in a game that pits No. 3 starters against each other.

[HBPme]

a few new england teams start tomorrow down in long island. love that farmingdale does this tournament every year now. it is nice to see the kids get out there for the first time before they go down on their spring break. speaking from a former player, it was always tough stepping on the field for the first time on spring break against a national powerhouse. does wnec look like the best team this weekend?? that would be my guess but i would love to hear other opinions.

[WNECalum222]

a few new england teams start tomorrow down in long island. love that farmingdale does this tournament every year now. it is nice to see the kids get out there for the first time before they go down on their spring break. speaking from a former player, it was always tough stepping on the field for the first time on spring break against a national powerhouse. does wnec look like the best team this weekend?? that would be my guess but i would love to hear other opinions.

Come from behind win for WNEC yesterday. 6-4 I beleive. First step towards a repeat in the NE region.

[KSCfan]

Hobbsy or anyone else for that matter....

When do the new england polls come out?  Who is the best team in New England so far??

Some records of teams that traditionally do well

Eastern 4-0 (though all 4 wins over winless team)
Keene State 2-1
WNEC 2-1  (like Keene State beat ST Joes of Long island and MIT and lost to Farmindale in mini tourny)
Southern Maine 1-1
Trinity yet to play
St Joes of Maine yet to play
Amherst yet to play
Williams yet to play

Who has played that is off to a good start?  Did i miss anyone?

[KSCfan]

Oh i missed colby sawyer college... Off to a 4-1 start!!! good start for the chargers