BB: Midwest Region

[badgerwarhawk]

http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20131216/WRT0101/312160311/?nclick_check=1

Nasty

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Looks like vikings stadium is going to be stalled.

http://ballparkdigest.com/201401136947/college-baseball/news/vikings-stadium-bond-sale-delayed

[CrashDavisD3]

Looks like vikings stadium is going to be stalled.

http://ballparkdigest.com/201401136947/college-baseball/news/vikings-stadium-bond-sale-delayed

Where will DIII schools play their early season games if a indoor facility is not available like the Metrodome was. Is Miller park available located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin ?

[Just Bill]

Looks like vikings stadium is going to be stalled.

http://ballparkdigest.com/201401136947/college-baseball/news/vikings-stadium-bond-sale-delayed

Where will DIII schools play their early season games if a indoor facility is not available like the Metrodome was. Is Miller park available located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin ?

Yes and no. The Brewers do allow some HS and college games, but it's always tied to selling a certain allotment of Brewers tickets. High schools do it for a one-time experience, but it's not a great model for a college program to get 8-10 games in. Miller Park also has natural grass which they are trying to regrow every spring, so they are very protective about how many games they permit at that particular time of year. UW-Milwaukee used to play a significant portion of their home schedule there as part of a sponsorship package, but over the years, the Brewers have reduced that to just one game.

Most schools have added a "short" southern trip in addition to their longer spring break trip. Schools with artificial surfaces in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, etc. are hosting more games than usual. Others are squeezing in more midweek games in April or a combination of both.

[CrashDavisD3]

I forgot the Brewers had grass and not turf 

How many weeks of baseball does the cold winter teams have available at their home area fields given the regional playoff start in Mid May?

[Just Bill]

At best, six. Some conference schedule games the final weekend of March, but those rarely get played as scheduled.

[BigPoppa]

Not sure if anyone is noticing, but Concordia-Chicago is quietly putting together a spectacular season. Now sitting at 18-2 and ranked #5... thought there might be a bit more conversation about the Cougars and the job that Adam Smith (Carthage grad... had to slide that in) has done since taking over that program.

Where do we see them in the regional rankings? I'd assume Whitewater, Point and St. Thomas are all in the conversation with CU-C for the top 4 slots.

[BigPoppa]

It will be interesting to see where the NCAA places #3 Concordia-Chicago. I'd guess that #2 Webster will land at Augustana, while #4 Whitewater will stay at it's own host site. Could the NCAA ship #3 Concordia-Chicago to another region?

...or would they do the unthinkable and place all three in the SAME regional at Whitewater?

[Just Bill]

Whitewater will stay in Whitewater. The NCAA committee won't ship a host to a different region. That's one of the hooks to get schools to host, which is actually quite a challenge in a lot of regions.

[badgerwarhawk]

I think Concordia-Chicago will end up in the WHITEWATER regional.  But isn't Webster a Central Region team?  As such I don't really see them being shipped to WHITEWATER.
   

[BigPoppa]

I think Concordia-Chicago will end up in the WHITEWATER regional.  But isn't Webster a Central Region team?  As such I don't really see them being shipped to WHITEWATER.
   

Teams get shifted all the time. Point went to the Central a few years ago, so did Linfield. Concordia and IWU went to other regions a year or two ago as well.

[Just Bill]

Sometimes teams have to be shipped depending on who qualifies. You may get 7 qualifiers from one region and 5 from another. In those cases, they usually move a lower ranked team, but geography is always the biggest factor. (500 miles!)

Occasionally, they have moved some higher ranking teams around for competitive balance's sake, which is nice to know they tried to make an effort.

It might be helpful to see which schools are located within 500 miles of both Whitewater and Augustana. That would give you a preliminary list of schools that can be moved most easily.

I don't have the time (not true, I just don't want to), but here's the official mileage tool you need: https://web1.ncaa.org/TES/exec/miles

[badgerwarhawk]

I think Concordia-Chicago will end up in the WHITEWATER regional.  But isn't Webster a Central Region team?  As such I don't really see them being shipped to WHITEWATER.
   

Teams get shifted all the time. Point went to the Central a few years ago, so did Linfield. Concordia and IWU went to other regions a year or two ago as well.

WHITEWATER was shifted to Augustana a few years ago as well so I'm aware of that.  If my memory serves me that was the year that Carthage beat us and went to the WS.

[Cubbieboy]

Surprised to see CU-C drop 2 to IBC....  Any insight on the game.   CU-C plays a tough NorthPark today then IWU tomorrow --- really beefed up the schedule the last 3 days of regular season

[ShineTime]

Point handled Benedictine down in Florida which surprised me at the time given what Benedictine had back.  I think Benedictine finally hit their stride at the right time.