BB: E8: Empire 8

[John McGraw]

according to news on web, he is taking a job as pitching coach at Clemson.

Nice guy - met him while son had official visit -he should do well!

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20091001/SPORTS/91001006/1004/NEWS01

Jeez, not a bad step up going from the Empire 8 to the ACC.

[WrongArm]

Stevens beats ECSU 10-8. Nice win for the Ducks.

Its time for the E8 to get them to play on a real baseball field instead on that matchbox size field. 6 dingers in a nine inning game.

[AlleyCat]

Looks like it could be a long year for the Bombers losing game 2 of their trip 16-4 to Rutgers Newark.

[AlleyCat]

Bombers 0-3 scoring 5 runs in 3 games.

[John McGraw]

Bombers 0-3 scoring 5 runs in 3 games.

No time to worry yet. Two of the first three opponents were Redlands (probably should be ranked) and nationally-ranked Chapman. The loss to Rutgers-Newark is certainly bothersome but it's really early yet and there is a lot of baseball left to be played. Also, remember this is a team replacing its' 1-2-3 hitters in the line-up.

The 2005 team went 2-7 in California but it eventually finished 25-15-2 and made the championship game of the regional in Auburn. A few years ago, the Bombers were 3-6 in California and ended up 30-13.

[AlleyCat]

John,
Thanks for the great info.

[John McGraw]

John,
Thanks for the great info.

Wednesday's result, while a loss, was much better. No shame in dropping a one-run game at Chapman when you're playing your fourth game of the season. From glancing at the box scores, it looks like Coach Val has used a different top of the line-up in each game, mixing and matching to try and find the right combination.

From what I can guess so far, the catching position is still up for grabs with Armstrong, HVCC transfer Sean Weber and freshmen Kevin Primm all having seen time. TC3 transfer Jarred Surrine looks like he's stepped into a starting middle infield spot at second base. Shortstop, like catcher, is still in question. Ahonen has seen a few games at short with a mix of others also playing there.

Again, like I said, it's still early. Pomona-Pitzer won't be a cakewalk on Friday morning but I think CMS is a winnable game in the afternoon. The schedule back home is what it is though I think the addition of roadies with Salisbury and Mary Washington is solid. Plus, while it won't count, the Mayor's Cup game with Cornell always provides an interesting match-up.

[AlleyCat]

John,
With only 4 B Pool bids, and the loses piling up, it could be tough for them to get in if they don't turn it around quickly no matter who you play. I think it's great to play a tough schedule like Cortland and RPI has done, but if you don't win some of those games its not going to matter when all is said and done. Do you agree?

[John McGraw]

John,
With only 4 B Pool bids, and the loses piling up, it could be tough for them to get in if they don't turn it around quickly no matter who you play. I think it's great to play a tough schedule like Cortland and RPI has done, but if you don't win some of those games its not going to matter when all is said and done. Do you agree?

Like I said, it has happened before where the spring trip to California hasn't gone as planned and the team has bounced back upon its' return to New York. And I still believe it will happen again regardless of the final record at the end of the week.

It will certainly be tougher to get into the field with just four Pool B bids available but that's life in a Pool B league. All the B teams know what has to be done coming into the season because you're not guaranteed a spot in the tournament. That said, with the departure of RIT at the end of the year, I'd like to see Ithaca possibly look to another league as an affiliate member or to have the Empire 8 reach out to some others as possible affiliates. The number of B teams and B bids is only going to get smaller. There wouldn't be a problem if the rest of the teams in the conference played baseball because then you would still have four of the current five plus Alfred, Elmira, Nazareth and Hartwick as opposed to just Ithaca, Fisher, Stevens and Utica.

[AlleyCat]

Ithaca drops 2 more today 0-6. They better go 22-6 up north to even think about a bid.

[John McGraw]

Ithaca hammers Stevens, 7-1, in the series opener at Stevens. Game two to follow later tonight.

[John McGraw]

Ithaca hammers Stevens, 7-1, in the series opener at Stevens. Game two to follow later tonight.

Ithaca won the night cap, 4-0, behind six strong innings from Tucker Healy. Good start to the conference season.

[WrongArm]

Andrew Dexter throws a 2 hitter for Utica College against Ithaca in the first game this afternoon. UC wins 2-0. With losses to Stevens and Utica, Ithaca's stranglehold on the E8 may be slipping.

[scuba16]

Andrew Dexter throws a 2 hitter for Utica College against Ithaca in the first game this afternoon. UC wins 2-0. With losses to Stevens and Utica, Ithaca's stranglehold on the E8 may be slipping.

You are not serious are you??? IC lost to UC??? WOW
How far have the Bombers fallen??

[Ron Ron]

With Ithaca now 7-11, and some decent teams to play in the future (Cortland, Rochester, RIT, Clarkson), do they have any realistic chance of getting an at-large bid?  The E-8 has no guaranteed bids right, so is there a possibility zero teams from the E-8 make it?  Is there any possibility a league like the LL or SUNYAC could see 3 teams make it since the E-8 seems to be real down this year?