BB: Midwest Region

[cubs]

Bethany scores a run in the 7th inning, however UWO holds on for a 2-1 victory.

[cubs]

Whose throwing for Bethany?

Hallahan threw all seven innings....

[UMACfan]

Has the second game started? And, is the audio broadcast working for anyone?

[biggio34]

Good day of baseball at the Dome yesterday.  Here are some of my thoughts...

1.  CSS improved during their Florida trip and are a different team since I watched them play Hameline before they left.  Their pitchers looked more poised and confident and competed by pounding the zone with a nice mix.  Gerten looks like he could be stepping it up as a solid #1.  They were solid offensively all through the lineup with alot of contributors, although I would say they were facing an average to below average pitching staff. 

2.  Augsburg has a couple of big boppers and they proved it by pounding a few home runs.  Other than those couple of guys in the middle of their order, they didn't do much at all.  Their pitching staff struggled to throw strikes and that made for a very long game 1 as they walked quite a few, and when they did find the zone it got pounded.  Their game 2 starter settled in and did pretty well though.  I would say this is a very middle of the road MIAC team this year.

3.  Bethany's top two pitchers are very good in Hallahan and Dorris.  I talked to one of the CSS assistants after the game who said they had Hallahan between 84 and 86 most of the game.  He has nice control and is clearly a solid #1.  Dorris pitched very nicely as well, although I didn't stick around for much of the second game.  I was alittle surprised by their lack of offense, as last time I saw this team play (last year) it looked like no one could get them out.  They are a nice squad though, and thats a nice split for them.

4.  Oshkosh is down.  Offensively I was unimpressed, and after Kanenberg, and based on not only what I saw but their results so far this year, I'm not sure they have much pitching.  Might be a long WIAC season for them against Point and Whitewater.

[cubs]

4.  Oshkosh is down.  Offensively I was unimpressed, and after Kanenberg, and based on not only what I saw but their results so far this year, I'm not sure they have much pitching.  Might be a long WIAC season for them against Point and Whitewater.

Couldn't agree more.....  When you have a pair of pitchers starting and getting at-bats, you know things are pretty thin offensively.  Obviously Kannenberg is a dual-threat type of kid, but those guys rarely come around. 

I guess the one positive thing UWO has going for them is that their pitchers have actually thrown the ball fairly decent.  If the defense steps things up a bit (right now one out of every three runs that has been given up is unearned) they could win some games.  Typically UWO's defense is pretty solid (ranked 1st in the WIAC 3 out of the last 5 years) so it's not a stretch to think things will get turned around.  Although I still feel they are quite a bit behind both Point and Whitewater, I think they could still have something to say about which one of thise teams comes out on top.

[MIACLUV]

Very nice split for Bethany and sweep for St. Scholastica. Was a little surprised when I got there light and found out that Ozga was knocked out after the first inning. He has been pretty strong this season, and handled Bethany very well in there meeting. Game 2 was much tighter and I thought it was heading in the same direction as game 1 when St. Scholastica got 2 right out of the gates, but Glasenapp settled in and threw pretty well only giving up 5 runs. Was sitting just above the plate and one guy with the gun had him sitting 86-87 with a few at 89. Not to bad, if that kid locates, the MIAC playoff race could be up for grabs. As for Oshkosh, very unimpressed by that offense. Hallahan and Doris both pitched well, but I could not believe that was an Oshkosh lineup. If I had to give it a grade it would have to be a D! On the otherside of the coin, Bethany's offense didn't exactly light up the sky, I really thought game 1 would be a great game, but it was a snoozer! Both offenses looked overmatched and neither pitcher looked that dominant. Game 2 was Oshkosh running out the Grabig kid to eat those innings while Bethany had Dorris. Sorry Titan fans but Grabig may get eaten for lunch against the likes of Whitwater and Point. Everything he threw was over the middle and not hard, soft lefties have to be around the plate, not on it. A good day for the UMAC's top 2, although I see St. Schlastica's offense being the better of the two and the Hallahan vs Gerten matchup might warrant a trip to Duluth if they aren't getting snow.

[MIACLUV]

Gonna go ahead and try to predict the upcoming regional rankings:
1) UW-Whitewater
2) St. Thomas
3) St. Scholastica
4) UW-Stevens Point
5) Concordia Chicago

I can really only find 5 teams at this point deserving. I thought Bethany Lutheran would make a hard push for the 3rd or 4th Pool B spot, but the loss to Macalaster really threw a wrench into that. I don't see them getting in. I know the Conc-Moor Cobbers are in first in the MIAC, but they have three tough conference series in a row coming up (Olaf, Gusties & Tommies) so look for them to come back to earth shortly. It will be interesting to see how this shakes out come regional time because I still think the MIAC only ends up with 1 bid, same for NAC, WIAC gets 2 and St. Scholastica a B-bid. Can't wait to see the rankings though, always a suprise in there somewhere.

[biggio34]

Gonna go ahead and try to predict the upcoming regional rankings:
1) UW-Whitewater
2) St. Thomas
3) St. Scholastica
4) UW-Stevens Point
5) Concordia Chicago

I can really only find 5 teams at this point deserving. I thought Bethany Lutheran would make a hard push for the 3rd or 4th Pool B spot, but the loss to Macalaster really threw a wrench into that. I don't see them getting in. I know the Conc-Moor Cobbers are in first in the MIAC, but they have three tough conference series in a row coming up (Olaf, Gusties & Tommies) so look for them to come back to earth shortly. It will be interesting to see how this shakes out come regional time because I still think the MIAC only ends up with 1 bid, same for NAC, WIAC gets 2 and St. Scholastica a B-bid. Can't wait to see the rankings though, always a suprise in there somewhere.

I think you have the teams nailed but I'll bet that Point is ahead of CSS in the rankings.

[MIACLUV]

With Gary Karner & Pat Bloom on the rankings commitee, your probably right!

[OshDude]

I'll throw mine out there for ridicule and scorn. SOS in parens.
1. UW-Whitewater 24-3 (.517)
2. St. Thomas 22-4 (.527)
3. UW-Stevens Point 18-7 (.578)
4. St. Scholastica 23-2 (.506)
5. Concordia Chicago 21-5 (.496)
6. St. Olaf 17-11 (.555)

The next 6: Edgewood 17-11 (.550), Aurora 18-11 (.509), Bethany Lutheran 21-6 (.441), Concordia (MN) 18-9 (.492), Rockford 19-9-1 (.477), Concordia (WI) 13-8 (.531)

[pickleshiner]

I have to say Oshdude my rankings are exactly the same as yours.  Although you have it listed the way it should be I would guess Scholastica will be in front of Point.  I think Point will win their next 9 in a row with 4 home against LaCrosse 4 at Stout and 1 at Lawrence.  Wouldn't be surprised to see them lose once at Stout though especially if Whitewater wraps up conference this weekend.  For some reason I think Superior has a chance to split with Whitewater but I have no idea why.  Superior has a pretty potent offense and hit Williams and Delorit pretty hard at Point so I'm guessing at home vs Whitewater they'll put up some runs.  I'm just not that impressed with any teams pitching in the WIAC this year.  I know Tincher is unbeaten but he's very hittable.  Every time he's on the hill he gets a lot of runs from his offense.

[MIACLUV]

I'll give this a go as well:

1) UW-Whitewater
2) St. Thomas
3) St. Scholastica
4) UW-Steven Point
5) Conc-Chicago
6) Undecided (Olaf or Edgewood--cant seem to give one a nod over the other)

I give the edge to St. Scholastica over Point despite the SOS. Point has lost games that they should not have lost period. Also common opponents include St. Olaf whom Point split with and St. Scholastica swept. The last spot is a coin flip as far as I'm concerned, Edgewood has beaten some real good teams and lost to some bad ones. Up until yesterday I would have gone Olaf, but they could put it in stone with a sweep of Bethany today. It pains me to admit the only way a 2nd MIAC team gets in this year is by getting over the Tommies in the MIAC tourn.

[OshDude]

SOS is huge. Last year UST spotted CSS seven in-region losses and still remained ahead thanks to SOS. CSS had even split with UST.

The difference between UWSP's and CSS's SOS numbers this year are comparable to last year's between UST and CSS. I'm just going with precedence is all.

[biggio34]

SOS is huge. Last year UST spotted CSS seven in-region losses and still remained ahead thanks to SOS. CSS had even split with UST.

The difference between UWSP's and CSS's SOS numbers this year are comparable to last year's between UST and CSS. I'm just going with precedence is all.

Not to mention Bloom is on the committee, so is pretty much undoubtedly going to be Point in front of CSS.  I don't think the order of these rankings matter much, its more important to see who the teams the committee thinks are deserving.  I for one think its going to be Edgewood in the 6 spot, not Olaf.

[OshDude]

SOS is huge. Last year UST spotted CSS seven in-region losses and still remained ahead thanks to SOS. CSS had even split with UST.

The difference between UWSP's and CSS's SOS numbers this year are comparable to last year's between UST and CSS. I'm just going with precedence is all.

Not to mention Bloom is on the committee, so is pretty much undoubtedly going to be Point in front of CSS.  I don't think the order of these rankings matter much, its more important to see who the teams the committee thinks are deserving.  I for one think its going to be Edgewood in the 6 spot, not Olaf.

Might be close, but I like SOC's wins over Buena Vista and Point. Edgewood's loss to WLC tipped the scales in the Oles favor.