BB: Midwest Region

[BaseballFan]

Pat, Ralph, Jim, other smartypants folks,
OOWP is the average of all winning percentages and not the quotient of all the raw numbers, correct? That's how I understood the Handbook's "averaging the percentages."

Ex: Whitewater had 12 in-region opponents. I figured each opponent's OWP, added all 12 OWPs, and then divided that number by 12.
I didn't take Oshkosh's 199-140 opponent record, add Point's 175-109, etc., and then find the quotient.

Sorry cant help you out on that

[Gustie13]

MIAC
1 UST vs 4 Gustavus Lonnie Robinson vs Dave Wold
2 Olaf vs 3 Hamline Todd Mathison vs Josh Roiger

WIAC
1 UWW vs 4 LaCrosse Mike Jacobson/Aaron Dott vs Ross Benitz
2 Oshkosh vs 3 Point Demmin vs Who wants the ball have to have the win Mike Thrun

UMAC
1 CSS vs To be determined
2 Bethany Lutheran vs To be determined
CSS will go 3-0 throw Peter Burg, Adian Kummet, Steve Gerten, others

MWC
2N Ripon vs 1S Knox Mike Lloyd/Matt Dwyer vs Jordan Ball
1N Norbert vs 2S Monmouth Jake Gasser vs Michael Reed

So I included probable game 1 starters IMO. Its hard to actually pick because some teams might throw off in their 1st game. So in that situation I tried to guess a number 3-4 starter. For example, what does UWW do? Do they throw Dominick or Dott in the first game to assure a win or do they take a chance with a 3 or 4 and then have your 2 guys for the last 2 games. So obviously my starters wont be correct on some cases.

Projected winner IMO

WIAC
UWW-have the benefit of not having to throw 1 or 2 in the first game unlike UWO and STP

MIAC
St. Thomas--Olaf needs to be Roiger or they could be sitting at home during the regional. Thomas wins it though

UMAC
CSS--will outscore their opponents 39-4

MWC
St. Norbert--will finally win it

Feel free to throw out your projections gives us something to discuss prior to these tourneys

I think the MIAC pitching matchups are VERY tough to guess. Does USt go with Robinson against GAC, or do they throw a Fahey/Kramer/Schuld and save Robinson? Denning saved Robinson until the 4th playoff game last year. Does GAC go with the senior, Wold, with his 6+ conf era or the soph, Bren? Does StO go with Mathison, Johnson, or Dimick? Does Verdugo try to save Roiger for USt?

Should be interesting.

[Bronko7]

I know St. Olaf has an impressive record but let's be realistic here.  Point would 10 run rule them as would Oshkosh and Whitewater.  Point probably had the toughest schedule in D3.

I would not count Olaf out of any game. And believe me, if Mathison pitches there are not going to be a lot of runs scored. He really has only had about 3 bad outings in career.

[Gustie13]

Don't forget that they lost the first 4 hitters in their lineup from last year (3 to graduation, 1 to the draft) but are actually averaging more runs/game

[ShineTime]

I know their good but I still think in a game that matters such as regionals I would take Whitewater, Oshkosh, or Point over St. Olaf this year. 

[Just Bill]

Here's a nice little summary of Midwest/Central regionals that involve teams from Wisconsin.  (It came off of a web page about Wisconsin sports.)  If I can this weekend, I'll see if I can keep it updated.

WIAC (http://www.uwsa.edu/wiac/baseball/08tournament.html)
at Wisconsin Rapids (Witter Field)
Friday, May 9
Game #1--UW-Whitewater (#1) vs. UW-La Crosse (#4), 10 a.m.
Game #2--UW-Oshkosh (#2) vs. UW-Stevens Point (#3), 1 p.m.
Game #3--Loser of Game #1 vs. Loser of Game #2, 4 p.m.
Game #4--Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2, 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 10
Game #5--Winner of Game #3 vs. Loser of Game #4, Noon
Game #6--Winner of Game #4 vs. Winner of Game #5, 3 p.m.
Game #7--If necessary (same teams as Game #6), 6 p.m.

NAC (http://www.edgewoodcollegeeagles.com/nacbaseball/2008/)
at Rockford, Ill. (Road Ranger Stadium)
Friday, May 9
Game #1--Benedictine Univ. (#1) vs. Concordia Chicago (#4), 9 a.m.
Game #2--Rockford College (#2) vs. Marian College (#3), 12:30 p.m.
Game #3--Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2, 4 p.m.
Game #4--Loser of Game #1 vs. Loser of Game #2, 7:30 p.m. 

Saturday, May 10
Game #5--Winner of Game #3 vs. Loser of Game #4, 10:00 a.m.
Game #6--Winner of Game #4 vs. Winner of Game #5, 1:30 p.m.
Game #7--If necessary (same teams as Game #6), 5:00 p.m.
 
MWC (http://www.midwestconference.org/baseball/)
at Galesburg, Ill. (Knox and Monmouth, hosts)
Friday, May 9
Game #1--Ripon College (#2N) at Knox College (#1S), 11 a.m.
Game #2--St. Norbert College (#1N) at Monmouth College (#2N), 11 a.m.
Game #3--Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2, 3 p.m. (at Knox)
Game #4--Loser of Game #1 vs. Loser of Game #2, 3 p.m. (at Monmouth)

Saturday, May 10 (all at Knox)
Game #5--Winner of Game #3 vs. Loser of Game #4, 9:30 a.m. 
Game #6--Winner of Game #4 vs. Winner of Game #5, 12:30 p.m.
Game #7--If necessary (same teams as Game #6), 3:30 p.m.

CCIW (http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2008bbtournamentpage.php)
at Bloomington, Ill. (Illinois Wesleyan, host)
Thursday, May 8
Game #1--Illinois Wesleyan (#1) vs. Wheaton College (#4), 3 p.m.
Game #2--Carthage College (#2) vs. Augustana College (#3), 6 p.m.
 
Friday, May 9
Game #3--Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2, 11 a.m.
Game #4--Loser of Game #1 vs. Loser of Game #2, 2:30 p.m.
Game #5--Winner of Game #3 vs. Loser of Game #4, 6 p.m.

Saturday, May 10
Game #6--Winner of Game #4 vs. Winner of Game #5, 12 p.m.
Game #7--If necessary (same teams as Game #6), 30 min. after

[supermiac]

I know their good but I still think in a game that matters such as regionals I would take Whitewater, Oshkosh, or Point over St. Olaf this year. 

Well, watch them play this weekend and you may think otherwise.

[OshDude]

If you have a MW baseball jones today, CSS is broadcasting the UMAC tourney. CSS is actually getting a game right now from Martin Luther in the opener, too.

Currently 5-0 CSS in the 7th (Was 3-0 for a long time). CSS even trying to squeeze in a run right now. Gerten started and is still in for CSS.

EDIT: CSS wins 5-0. Gerten CG SHO, 10 K, 0 BB.
CSS to play Northland at 7 p.m.

Follow 560 link at bottom:
http://www.csssaints.com/Sports/gen/2007/Webcast.asp

[BaseballFan]

If you have a MW baseball jones today, CSS is broadcasting the UMAC tourney. CSS is actually getting a game right now from Martin Luther in the opener, too.

Currently 5-0 CSS in the 7th (Was 3-0 for a long time). CSS even trying to squeeze in a run right now. Gerten started and is still in for CSS.

Follow 560 link at bottom:
http://www.csssaints.com/Sports/gen/2007/Webcast.asp

CSS threw off by throwing their number 3 Steve Gerten and Martin Luther threw their #1 Zach Pudlo who actually beat CSS a few weeks earlier.

CSS won 5-0 Steve Gerten threw a complete game 9 inning shutout striking out 10 batters. Play at 7 tonight and im guessing will be on the radio again follow Oshdudes link

[OshDude]

CSS baseball back on the air. Second round of UMAC tourney vs. Northland.

http://www.csssaints.com/Sports/gen/2007/Webcast.asp

[BaseballFan]

CSS baseball back on the air. Second round of UMAC tourney vs. Northland.

http://www.csssaints.com/Sports/gen/2007/Webcast.asp

CSS wins again something like 14-1 in 7.

Peter Burg improves to 10-0 6innings 8Ks
Sean Claugherty had 4 hits including a HR.
Steve Kraushaar had 4 hits, 6 RBIs-2 doubles and 2 HRs one of the HRs cleared the scoreboard in right center probably 40 feet high.
Blake Eller 3-5

CSS is looking good I would take their 1-4 hitters any day and their top 2 pitchers are solid. Plus they can pick it in the field.

[BaseballFan]

A burning question I have at the moment- I just looked at the Midwest regional site and noticed that it starts on Wednesday like it did last year. So I was wondering why do the MIAC and WIAC play thei conference tourneys friday/saturday instead of thursday/friday?

It doesnt make much sense if you ask me because if you throw a guy on that saturday he would be on 3 days rest if he was to pitch on that first day of regionals or 4 days rest if he pitched friday...I think it would be wiser to not have to worry about a pitcher not having enough rest.

[OshDude]

A burning question I have at the moment- I just looked at the Midwest regional site and noticed that it starts on Wednesday like it did last year. So I was wondering why do the MIAC and WIAC play thei conference tourneys friday/saturday instead of thursday/friday?

It doesnt make much sense if you ask me because if you throw a guy on that saturday he would be on 3 days rest if he was to pitch on that first day of regionals or 4 days rest if he pitched friday...I think it would be wiser to not have to worry about a pitcher not having enough rest.

I think the short answer is class time. I'm willing to bet the coaches would like your idea, but I doubt it would fly with administration. Don't know where other schools in the region are in terms of semesters/trimesters, but next week is the last of the term at Oshkosh. Missing three days of finals week is enough.

[BaseballFan]

A burning question I have at the moment- I just looked at the Midwest regional site and noticed that it starts on Wednesday like it did last year. So I was wondering why do the MIAC and WIAC play thei conference tourneys friday/saturday instead of thursday/friday?

It doesnt make much sense if you ask me because if you throw a guy on that saturday he would be on 3 days rest if he was to pitch on that first day of regionals or 4 days rest if he pitched friday...I think it would be wiser to not have to worry about a pitcher not having enough rest.

I think the short answer is class time. I'm willing to bet the coaches would like your idea, but I doubt it would fly with administration. Don't know where other schools in the region are in terms of semesters/trimesters, but next week is the last of the term at Oshkosh. Missing three days of finals week is enough.

Well St. Thomas is done next week the UW schools, CSS was done this week. I think it varies a little some this week but most next week. I understand its hard missing class and everything been there done that, but trust me most of these kids arent thinking about school anyways, they are thinking about making a regional. But it seems my question has been answered.

Its kind of too bad thats how the tourneys are so close together, its not the biggest deal in the world but has to play some type of role

[ShineTime]

Well Oshdude your going to like this.  I had a dream last night that Point won the world series.  Therefore I'm going to make new predictions.

Point over Whitewater in the Championship.  MVP Doug Coe.  Whitewater gets sent out of state for regionals. Oshkosh gets the #1, St. Thomas 2, and Point pulls off the upset at Regionals and makes the world series.  Tyler Lorenz throws a 1 hit shutout in the championship game.