BB: Midwest Region

[MIACLUV]

At what point does St. Scholastica look to leave the UMAC for baseball? They just won their 19th straight UMAC title. It's not even a contest for them anymore.

The Tommies won their 12th straight MIAC Womens Track & Field title, where should they go? 
I think CSS has a good gig, they get a ton of non-conference games to play whoever they want from the MIAC & WIAC. Looking at their schedule it looks like Carleton was the only soft spot as far as out of conference. Would have been nice to see the matchup against St. John's that got cancelled. Perhaps we'll see it next week.

[ElRetornodelEspencio]

Well, doesn't look like the Tommies figured it out. They have now lost five in a row. Could St. Mary's still get a pool C if they don't win the tournament? They have consistently been in the regional rankings and I'm wondering if there is any chance for two MIAC teams to get in?

I think it is a longshot. St. Mary's is a combined 4-9 vs. Augustana, St. Scholastica, LaCrosse, St. Thomas and St. John's. They have a high overall SOS (smart playing OAC teams, even if they don't play great schedules they get connected to second-level points of those who did), but few if any signature wins.

It's too bad the Two-Tournament rule went away long ago. The Minnesota schools could sponsor a tournament in the new Minneapolis stadium and bring in teams from around the country and play several games in a great facility -- but with only 40 games, it's hard to do that now.

[badgerwarhawk]

At what point does St. Scholastica look to leave the UMAC for baseball? They just won their 19th straight UMAC title. It's not even a contest for them anymore.

Probably not going to happen for many reasons.  Would the conference let them stay in all other sports if they try to opt out in just baseball? Also not in their best interest to go Independent and hope they get picked for a pool B bid, they have been there done that. Why CSS is not in the MIAC has been discussed a lot in the past on here as well. Plus there is a thing called loyalty.

I think the better question is when does the rest of the UMAC in baseball improve? The problem is the bottom of the UMAC has always been so poor. Bethany Lutheran dropping off so much has hurt. Bringing in UWS helps some but North Central really hurts.  Who knows maybe if the MIAC schools continue to have tuition at over $42,000-65,000 per year, it will convince some kids to go play ball somewhere more affordable.

But maybe it will never get much better since Minnesota is oversaturated with the number of division 2 and 3 baseball programs.

I think the WIAC might seriously consider adding CSS as a baseball only affiliate.  But I don't see CSS leaving the UMAC anytime soon. 

[Bishopleftiesdad]

That would be a good move for the WIAC.
But I agree, I do not think CSS will move.

[BigPoppa]

That would be a good move for the WIAC.
But I agree, I do not think CSS will move.

WIAC needs to add SOMEone or risk losing their Pool A bid.

[Just Bill]

That would be a good move for the WIAC.
But I agree, I do not think CSS will move.

WIAC needs to add SOMEone or risk losing their Pool A bid.

Not sure they care so much. Their best team in most years is likely the top Pool B candidate, and a second team would also have a good shot. I imagine only Platteville and Stout would object because they don't have the "one week miracle run" option to make the tournament.

[cubs]

It was announced today that Fox Cities Stadium will no longer be host to the D3 College World Series after the 2018 Championships.

http://wbay.com/2016/10/20/ncaa-baseball-championship-to-leave-fox-cities-after-2018/

Any guesses as to who might put in a bid to host starting in 2019?

[bulk19]

I would not be surprised to see UWL put in a bid...

[Just Bill]

I would not be surprised to see UWL put in a bid...

They might try, but they would have to get a huge favor from the Loggers. The new NCAA calendar in 2019 puts the Finals the week AFTER Memorial Day weekend. The Northwoods League traditionally starts play on the Tuesday following Memorial Day. So the Loggers would have to agree to play their first 6-7 games on the road. Northwoods teams generally don't spend more than 3-4 days in a row in the road.

Not that they can't work it out with the Loggers, but that will be big ask if UWL wants to go for it.

I think the best candidate is going to be a school or league with access to minor league stadium (like Appleton) and probably in a part of the country less prone to spring rain. A minor league team has more ability to vacate for an entire week than a collegiate summer team does. In the Midwest/Central Region, I'd keep an eye on Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They have been a good partner in hosting the IIAC Tournament for years. This seems like something they might want to do.

[Baseball Geek]

Has the Midwest Regional site for this year been announced? It seems like it was the last one announced the past couple of years ... but I may have missed something.

[bulk19]

Good points, Just Bill. Off the top of my head I thought with the upgrades the team (Loggers) has made to its ballpark, it might be an attractive venue...
You, however, point out the logistics of scheduling, which I agree would be a big problem... Now that I think about it, depending upon when NCAA bids are due and determined and when the Loggers schedule is set, they might not even be able to coordinate a week's use...
So, never mind! 

[108 Stitches]

Oldest player in college baseball!

http://www.kare11.com/sports/oldest-player-in-college-baseball-is-making-the-most-of-his-second-chance/415153453

[badgerwarhawk]

Good luck to him. 

[Ralph Turner]

Oldest player in college baseball!

http://www.kare11.com/sports/oldest-player-in-college-baseball-is-making-the-most-of-his-second-chance/415153453

Great article.  That is pure D-3!

[cubs]

Midwest Regional Rankings

1.     Wisconsin Whitewater      
2.   Concordia Chicago
3.   St. Scholastica
4.   St. Thomas (Minnesota)   
5.   Concordia Wisconsin   
6.   Wisconsin-La Crosse   
7.   Benedictine (Illinois)
8.   Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Surprised to see just one MIAC team while three WIAC teams made the list.  Thought Bethel might have done enough to crack the rankings.