BB: E8: Empire 8

[sjfcards]

Beaumont is a D2 transfer and a good one.  Purchase brings in B-port and Fisher for the weekend and takes the collar, 0-4.  Fisher has other arms to go with these two as well, probably needs to make sure they get near the 30 win total if they want the at-large after their experience last year... and they may have the horses to do so.

Beaumont was a conference starter at Division II Lynn which plays in one of the toughest Division II leagues in country. He was second on his team in strikeouts last year. Local kid from the Rochester area, pitched at MCC for two years and then spent one season at Lynn before returning home. Like I said in the New York preview, Fisher's 1-2 punch of Beaumont and D'Amato is perhaps the best in the region.

I am hoping the arms at the top of the rotation can get Fisher back to the regional (and maybe beyond) this year. I love the 1-2 punch and converting their closer to a starter was a good decision IMHO. The runs have been there for Fisher in years past, but the mound is where I have seen Cortland set themselves apart in years past. Here is hoping anyway.

[John McGraw]

Empire 8 Coaches Poll
1 - St. John Fisher (2)
1 - Ithaca (2)
3 - Stevens
4 - Utica

Given what St. John Fisher returns from last season and with the addition of Jason Beaumont, I'm a little surprised to see Fisher and Ithaca splitting the top spot. Maybe the coaches know something we don't. Fisher won the league title last year and narrowly missed an NCAA tournament berth while Ithaca finished 18-14. Not a bad record by any means and a winning one at that though not a record Bomber baseball fans are used to seeing.

Ithaca's incoming class looks pretty good with some All-Area selections from around Albany, one all-state selection from Connecticut and Jeff Mathers, a Division I transfer from Manhattan. Mathers had a strong HS career in Elmira yet didn't really play for the Jaspers. I mentioned this on Twitter and I'll mention it again here - does Tucker Healy remain in the bullpen or is he moved into the starting rotation? I seem to remember one year a closer moving into the starting rotation because he was the best pitcher on the team. Though when that was I honestly cannot remember, this might have even happened when I was a student. Honestly, it's not a bad idea given that if Healy is the top arm, why not use him more? He did make two starts last season so I guess we'll see once the team takes the field.

[airball55]

That is a bit of a surprise.  I don't think though that a coach can vote for themselves obviously so when there are only four teams voting, it can get misleading.  I really think that Ithaca is closer to Stevens then they are to Fisher.  I think the past couple of years pretty much speak for themselves, but, since this "league" is so small, all it takes is one bad weekend and the whole standings can change.  It will be interesting what happens this year when the Empire 8 champ. gets ready for postseason, if this league gets any help for a regional selection.  Bottom line, I think Fisher has to win 30 to get in, I would say the same for the other teams as well.

[jdex]

Don't know if this is final, but gonna guess yes at this time since Penn St. Altoona had 2:30 start vs. Cortland in Winter Haven, FL. The same place had St. John Fisher 18, PS-Altoona 4 in a game started at 10:30 this a.m. Seven innings showing on livestats. Fisher with 18 hits, Altoona nine errors

[jdex]

Fisher 21, PS Altoona 4 looks official. Seven inning game. S. Karnyski 2x5, 4 bi, hr. J. D'Amato works first five innings on the mound, 2r, 2er, 0bb, 13k. R. Messner finishes

[sjfcards]

Fisher won game 1 of their double dip today with MAC 9-1. That improves their record to 5-1. They are struggling so far in game two, so it looks like a 5-2 start for Fisher. Not too bad.

[baseballislife]

Fisher won game 1 of their double dip today with MAC 9-1. That improves their record to 5-1. They are struggling so far in game two, so it looks like a 5-2 start for Fisher. Not too bad.

s
Fisher is one of the best teams in the New York region - no doubt.  Their strength of schedule (the teams they have played are a combined 11-15 so far) continues to be a question, though - given the Empire 8 (or what is left of it) does not get an automatic bid to the tournament.  Brockport had no trouble in dispatching Purchase either and PS Altoona is no match for any decent team.  Surprising loss in game 2 today.

Husson stuck with Cortland for most of the game yesterday.  That one could be interesting.

[baseballislife]

okaayyy....so Fisher had no trouble with Husson
I guess they were upset with the previous result!

[sjfcards]

Fisher beat Aurora today, 11-10 in 7000 innings (more like 15). Aurora is a pretty good team I guess so that is a good win for them. Now 7-2 with one game left in Florida.

[airball55]

That is a good win, Aurora is traditionally a top 15 caliber program.  The Cards are certainly swinging it, and they needed it today.  D'amato gets hit around a bit but kept them close enough to have a chance to win it.  The strength of the schedule isn't bad at all, all of those teams had 25 plus wins last season and they beat Gwenydd Mercy who beat Cortland.  A win against Juniata tomorrow would certainly lead to possible a top regional ranking and a climb in the polls... one would think.

[sjfcards]

That is a good win, Aurora is traditionally a top 15 caliber program.  The Cards are certainly swinging it, and they needed it today.  D'amato gets hit around a bit but kept them close enough to have a chance to win it.  The strength of the schedule isn't bad at all, all of those teams had 25 plus wins last season and they beat Gwenydd Mercy who beat Cortland.  A win against Juniata tomorrow would certainly lead to possible a top regional ranking and a climb in the polls... one would think.

Fisher was able to beat Juniata today to finish the Florida trip 8-2. Fisher had another big day at the plate with 6 home runs in the win. Beaumont was not dominant but settled in after the first 3 innings to get the win. That was a really good road trip for Fisher and sets up the potential for a big season.

[airball55]

The stolen base figures jump out at me!  I can't help to wonder though how big those fields are... or is the wind blowing out constantly.  With the six HR's today, that just about ties them (or does) with last seasons total.

[sjfcards]

The stolen base figures jump out at me!  I can't help to wonder though how big those fields are... or is the wind blowing out constantly.  With the six HR's today, that just about ties them (or does) with last seasons total.

There must be something going on down there because that is a crazy amount of power for any one game. I think one of them may have been an inside the park home run, but still.

[rob]

The stolen base figures jump out at me!  I can't help to wonder though how big those fields are... or is the wind blowing out constantly.  With the six HR's today, that just about ties them (or does) with last seasons total.

There must be something going on down there because that is a crazy amount of power for any one game. I think one of them may have been an inside the park home run, but still.

Check the bats.

[sjfcards]

Does anyone have information on what Fisher will be looking at when they play Westminster? The good news for Fisher is that they can throw those top two starters at them.