BB: Midwest Region

[OshDude]

Wondering if we'll see a DH sweep between two regional powers this year ... Whitewater and St. Thomas split in the wee hours at the dome. Matt Schuld was great once again.

[BaseballFan]

Wondering if we'll see a DH sweep between two regional powers this year ... Whitewater and St. Thomas split in the wee hours at the dome. Matt Schuld was great once again.

St. thomas is probably disappointed they let game 1 slip away to miss out on the sweep. It is not easy for midwest powers to sweep each other since the top 5-6 are pretty even. I am looking foward to when Oshkosh plays St thomas 4 times in 4 days with games in between in florida, it will really show what they have for bullpen depth.

[BaseballFan]

St. Scholastica sweeps Hiram College 8-0, 10-5 yesterday.

Beats NCAA tourney Penn St. Behrend 13-12 in a shootout today. Peter Burg improves to 4-0, Adian Kummet gets his 3rd save

6-1 overall now

[BaseballFan]

My midwest rankings--just to get things going and know these will get shuffled up pretty quickly.

1. Scholastica 8-1---have to be here for playing games and playing well. Key wins: St. Thomas, Penn State Behrend. Burg and Claugherty putting up good numbers
2. St. Thomas 2-2--2 good splits. Matt Schuld putting up AA numbers. Key wins: CSS, UWW
3. UWO 0-0. Didnt know where to stick them since they havent played, I have them as the best team but i think their tight schedule will create more losses than they should lose.
4. St. Olaf 3-1  split with point, swept Wartburg
5. UWW 1-2. Saved a split with Thomas
    Stevens Point 1-1 Split with olaf
7. Benedictine 0-0 Just think they may win NATHCON

Others:
Gustavus 3-1
Hamline 4-2
UWS 2-1
Rockford 3-2

[OshDude]

Mine. Same as it was Feb. 24 (in-region record).
1. Oshkosh (0-0)
2. St. Scholastica (2-1)
3. St. Olaf (3-1)
4. St. Thomas (2-2)
5. Stevens Point (1-1)
6. Whitewater (1-1)
7. Benedictine (0-0)
8. Concordia-Moorhead (0-1. And yes, despite the loss to Edgewood)

HM: Every other team at this point.
Shoutout to Bethany (5-2) for beating RPI.

[BigPoppa]

Big Poppa's Top 25 (Week 4):

An intersting week to say the least... a lot of teams faring the same that were tightly bunched to start with.

01 Trinity (Conn.) 4-0
02 Millsaps 19-2
03 Salisbury 14-2
04 Texas-Tyler 17-4
05 UW-Whitewater 1-2
06 Wooster 9-2
07 Kean 10-3
08 St. Scholastica 11-2
09 Heidelberg 10-2
10 Johns Hopkins 3-3
11 Southern Maine 2-1
12 Eastern Connecticut 4-0
13 Chapman 16-5
14 Cal Lutheran 15-3
15 Linfield 13-3
16 Adrian 4-3
17 Christopher Newport 10-2
18 Thiel 11-3
19 Pomona-Pitzer 16-2
20 Augustana 11-3
21 Carthage 3-0
22 Wheaton (Mass.) 9-1
23 Marietta 5-2
24 UW-Oshkosh 0-0
25 UW-Stevens Point 3-1

*Just missing my Top 25 (no particular order): Shenandoah (15-3), George Fox (12-3), Penn State-Behrend (7-1), Oneota (11-1), Redlands (12-4), Beloit (6-2), Illinois Wesleyan (4-3), Pacific Lutheran (10-5)

** Please feel free to let me know if you feel there is someone I am missing. While I spend hours a day perusing scores and websites, in addition to attending games if I can, it is nearly impossible to keep an eye on all of the D3 teams. There were some teams with great records that I left out as they have not played any competition that really proves their quality yet. Let me know if there is someone I should watch for next week.

[OshDude]

Big Poppa's Top 25 (Week 4):

An intersting week to say the least... a lot of teams faring the same that were tightly bunched to start with.

01 Trinity (Conn.) 4-0
02 Millsaps 19-2
03 Salisbury 14-2
04 Texas-Tyler 17-4
05 UW-Whitewater 1-2
06 Wooster 9-2
07 Kean 10-3
08 St. Scholastica 11-2
09 Heidelberg 10-2
10 Johns Hopkins 3-3
11 Southern Maine 2-1
12 Eastern Connecticut 4-0
13 Chapman 16-5
14 Cal Lutheran 15-3
15 Linfield 13-3
16 Adrian 4-3
17 Christopher Newport 10-2
18 Thiel 11-3
19 Pomona-Pitzer 16-2
20 Augustana 11-3
21 Carthage 3-0
22 Wheaton (Mass.) 9-1
23 Marietta 5-2
24 UW-Oshkosh 0-0
25 UW-Stevens Point 3-1

*Just missing my Top 25 (no particular order): Shenandoah (15-3), George Fox (12-3), Penn State-Behrend (7-1), Oneota (11-1), Redlands (12-4), Beloit (6-2), Illinois Wesleyan (4-3), Pacific Lutheran (10-5)

** Please feel free to let me know if you feel there is someone I am missing. While I spend hours a day perusing scores and websites, in addition to attending games if I can, it is nearly impossible to keep an eye on all of the D3 teams. There were some teams with great records that I left out as they have not played any competition that really proves their quality yet. Let me know if there is someone I should watch for next week.

I still think Adrian is too high and Wheaton too low.
EDIT: Still no Cortland, huh? Of the teams you didn't list, I like two MIAC reps.

[BigPoppa]

Big Poppa's Top 25 (Week 4):

An intersting week to say the least... a lot of teams faring the same that were tightly bunched to start with.

01 Trinity (Conn.) 4-0
02 Millsaps 19-2
03 Salisbury 14-2
04 Texas-Tyler 17-4
05 UW-Whitewater 1-2
06 Wooster 9-2
07 Kean 10-3
08 St. Scholastica 11-2
09 Heidelberg 10-2
10 Johns Hopkins 3-3
11 Southern Maine 2-1
12 Eastern Connecticut 4-0
13 Chapman 16-5
14 Cal Lutheran 15-3
15 Linfield 13-3
16 Adrian 4-3
17 Christopher Newport 10-2
18 Thiel 11-3
19 Pomona-Pitzer 16-2
20 Augustana 11-3
21 Carthage 3-0
22 Wheaton (Mass.) 9-1
23 Marietta 5-2
24 UW-Oshkosh 0-0
25 UW-Stevens Point 3-1

*Just missing my Top 25 (no particular order): Shenandoah (15-3), George Fox (12-3), Penn State-Behrend (7-1), Oneota (11-1), Redlands (12-4), Beloit (6-2), Illinois Wesleyan (4-3), Pacific Lutheran (10-5)

** Please feel free to let me know if you feel there is someone I am missing. While I spend hours a day perusing scores and websites, in addition to attending games if I can, it is nearly impossible to keep an eye on all of the D3 teams. There were some teams with great records that I left out as they have not played any competition that really proves their quality yet. Let me know if there is someone I should watch for next week.

I still think Adrian is too high and Wheaton too low.
EDIT: Still no Cortland, huh? Of the teams you didn't list, I like two MIAC reps.

OshDude- thanks for the feedback. I was close to adding both St. Thomas and St. Olaf. Not sure what it is about Cortland, but I am not sure if they are as good as everyone else thinks. If they can keep rolling they will be back in no time. I agree with both Adrian and Wheaton, but I am letting their play on the field move them up or down in my poll. Expect them both to continue their recent movements in the next few weeks.

[OshDude]

Of course I'd also flip Whitewater and Oshkosh, but I realize the wait-and-see approach with UWO and the fascination with last year's UWW. I hope for the Midwest's sake that UWW is better than I think they are. I and many other posters have DubDub third (after roster posting) in the WIAC, but you may be correct. I just don't see it.

[BaseballFan]

I would agree with oshdude, UWW a little high considering they barely saved a split with St. Thomas and dont see them nearly as good as last year.  Also, Thomas and Olaf should be up there somewhere probably in the consideration area.

[BaseballFan]

Been almost 2 weeks since I updated these. Just overall records for now since teams havent played enough in-region games.

1. Scholastica 11-2--Best 1-2 combo in Burg/Kummet
2. St. Thomas 4-2 Schuld looking good
3. UWO 1-0 This week will say a lot about them
4. Stevens Point 8-2 Good Florida trip
5. UWW 5-3. Playing some tough games in Florida
6.  St. Olaf 5-3 Doesnt ever look good getting swept easily by any team

Others:
Gustavus 3-3 Bad sweep at the hands of Buena Vista
Hamline 5-4
UWS 6-2
Rockford 7-3
Aurora 9-3
Stout 9-3
LaCrosse 5-1
Bethany Lutheran 8-4

[OshDude]

Been almost 2 weeks since I updated these. Just overall records for now since teams havent played enough in-region games.

1. Scholastica 11-2--Best 1-2 combo in Burg/Kummet
2. St. Thomas 4-2 Schuld looking good
3. UWO 1-0 This week will say a lot about them
4. Stevens Point 8-2 Good Florida trip
5. UWW 5-3. Playing some tough games in Florida
6.  St. Olaf 5-3 Doesnt ever look good getting swept easily by any team

Others:
Gustavus 3-3 Bad sweep at the hands of Buena Vista
Hamline 5-2
UWS 6-2
Rockford 7-3
Aurora 9-3
Stout 9-3
LaCrosse 5-1
Bethany Lutheran 8-4

Luther swept Hamline. Olaf is still 5-1 in-region.

[BaseballFan]

Thanks didnt catch the Luther sweep, I edited it

[BigPoppa]

BigPoppa's Week 5 Poll: (This is getting harder every week as teams are starting to pile up wins. Thanksfully, the conference seasons are approaching and we can hopefully get a little separation).

I know many of you feel I need to put a MIAC team in here, but I a still a bit leary about it.

01 Trinity (Conn.): 8-2 A bit of a stumble this week, but with everyone stmbling a bit behind them, they still hold on to the top spot.

02 Millsaps: 22-3 A nice victory over Illinois Wesleyan and taking 2 of 3 from Hendrix ove the weekend keeps them in contention.

03 Salisbury: 17-3 Only blemish this week was a loss to a 10-3 Richard Stockton.

04 Texas-Tyler: 21-5 Wins versus East Texas Baptist, UT-Dallas and took 2 of 3 from Ozarks. Tyler is looking better every week.

05 UW-Whitewater: 5-3 A great week for Whitewater down south. Beat Otterbein twice and Wooster once while splitting with Carthage.

06 Wooster: 15-3 Only blemish on their week (6-1) was a loss to Whitewater in Florida. Won 12 of their last 13 games.

07 Kean: 13-4 A 3-1 week was highlighted by a win at Chapman.

08 St. Scholastica: 11-2 Did not play this week.

09 Southern Maine: 7-1 A perfect 5-0 week including a win over Johns Hopkins

10 Eastern Connecticut: 10-0 Quickly climbing the rankings. A quality win over Johns Hopkins highlighted their week.

11 Chapman: 16-6 Suffered a loss to Kean and pounded Occidental. After Wayde Kitchens, pitching seems to be an issue.

12 Linfield: 17-3 Swept four from Puget Sound last week. They continue to pile up wins.

13 Pomona-Pitzer 19-3 One of the hottest teams in the nation. Took two from  Keene State and split with Middlebury.

14 Heidelberg: 11-4 Took one on the chin last week with a 1-3 mark. If they wish to be considered a contender, they need to win the big games.

15 Thiel: 11-3 Swept a three game series from Waynesberg over the weekend, but tripped a bit against Hiram. Need to win all those games if they are to be a top program.

16 Wheaton (Mass.): 12-1 Beat a surprisingly tough Rhode Island and took a pair from Springfield. Expect them to start climbing the chart very quickly if their recent play continues.

17 Augustana: 12-3 A 1-0 week in the chilly Midwest included a win versus Aurora.

18 Johns Hopkins: 7-7 The Bluejays suffered rough 4-4 week. Seeing them at .500 this far into the season is a surprise to me.

19 UW-Stevens Point: 8-2 The Pointers appear to be loaded to contend for another WIAC title.

20 Marietta: 8-3 Took a pair from highly touted Heidelberg as well as a split with LaRoche

21 UW-Oshkosh: 1-0 Just getting out of the gates right now, but the Titans look to be loaded again. We'll have a better feel for them next week as they play a few more games.

22 Cal Lutheran: 17-5 Won two games that they should have, but lost two games to a middle-of-the-road Rutgers-Newark who they needed to beat if they wanted to be considered more than a pretender.

23 York (Pa.): 16-2 Sixteen straight wins finds York in my poll this week.

24 Beloit: 10-2 The Buccaneers are off to good start. 4 wins against a terrible Milwaukee School of Engineering helps, they are beating the teams they are supposed to beat.

25 Cortland State: 11-5 Cortland may have things back on track, but do not expect them to stay here for long if they continue to lose to inferior teams like Farmingdale State.

Dropped out:
Carthage: 6-4 (tough schedule this week knocked them out of the Top 25)

Adrian: 6-7 (another bad week has pushed them from a former top ten team to out of the polls)

Christopher Newport: 13-4-1 (you cannot lose to mediocre teams and expect to stay in the poll)

[BaseballFan]

I dont mind that you dont have a MIAC team ranked yet. I dont think St. Olaf quite deserves it yet. St. Thomas is 6-2 but their 4 games against Oshkosh will say a lot, so even though you dont have them ranked yet i think you will have them soon.