BB: E8: Empire 8

[John McGraw]

Sunday scores

St. John Fisher 9 Utica 2
St. John Fisher 13 Utica 5

Standings..

Ithaca 7-1 (14); St. John Fisher 7-5 (14); RIT 5-3 (10); Utica 1-11 (2)

[John McGraw]

Tough start to the week for Ithaca

Oswego 4 Ithaca 3

[John McGraw]

Tuesday....

Ithaca 2 St. Lawrence 0

Wednesday...

Ithaca 12 Oswego 6

Coach Valesente earns his 800th career win as the head coach of the Bombers. Overall, he has won 870 games.

Next up, a four-game series at Rochester Tech.

[John McGraw]

Just in from Rochester....

Rochester Tech 6 Ithaca 2

*Game two in progress. IC and RIT will play another doubleheader tomorrow as well.

Standings

Ithaca 7-2; St. John Fisher 7-5; RIT 6-3; Utica 1-11

[John McGraw]

Game two

Ithaca 9 RIT 5

*An IC six-run sixth inning helps erase a three-run deficit and gives the Bombers a share of the Empire 8 title. Ithaca can take the title outright with one victory tomorrow.

Standings
Ithaca 8-2; St. John Fisher 7-5; RIT 6-4; Utica 1-11

[John McGraw]

Ithaca Clinches Empire 8 Title

RIT 4 Ithaca 1
Ithaca 11 RIT 5

*Well, not the prettiest way to get it done, but good enough. No AQ with the league title. Ithaca will have to hope its wins over Brockport, Rochester and St. Lawrence over the last few weeks will overshadow the two losses in four games to RIT. Obviously I'm biased, but I think they'll be alright.

Final Standings

Ithaca 9-3; St. John Fisher 7-5; RIT 7-5; Utica 1-11

[Spree]

Ithaca will get in.  Their reputation alone will get them in.  The committee knows they can safely add them to the mix because they can put up a fight with everyone.  They wouldnt put someone in who gets embarrassed every year.

I think the 4 game series is a joke.  Gives teams like Fisher and RIT a chance to get a win over Ithaca.  In my mind winning 3 of 4 is essentially a sweep.  But then again, the Empire 8 with 4 teams is also a joke.  i think a 3 game series is the way to go.  The addition of Stevens Tech next yr will definately improve the conference, if you can call it a conference.

[scuba16]

3 games series definately gives a good indication of who is the better TEAM.
In a 4 games series, winning all 4 games is tough and boring, seeing the same team 4 times in 2 days. Maybe the games should be broken up a little, home and away double headers, early and late instead of 4 game sets. 4 games gives the worst team a better chance to win, especially if they are smart and throw their #1 and #2 the 3rd and 4th game. u know the best team is going to throw #1 and #2 the first day. strategy comes into play in 4 game series.

[baseballisneat]

I am a Rochester community member and I attended the RIT vs. Ithaca series. I just wanted to say that RIT is not a bad baseball team. They did give Ithaca a run for their money (minus the last game where costly errors killed them early). RIT won the 1st and 3rd games, and were leading the 2nd game until a huge Ithaca inning.

If they had played only the first 3 games rather than 4, RIT would have taken it 2 of 3 (in this series -- Ithaca won games 2 and 4).

I believe a 4 game series is great for the Empire 8 conference. It really shows the true depth of a team rather than relying on them throwing a 1 and 2 guy all the time.

Also, in RIT's defense, they have won a against Pomona-Pitzer, Wartburg, 2 vs Brockport, 2 vs Ithaca, and 2 vs St. Lawrence. However they did lose 3 of 4 to Fisher, and 2 to Rochester. (looking at their schedule)

[Spree]

I definately agree that RIT is the 2nd best team in the Empire 8.  They are much improved over the last couple of seasons.  Obviously, as you pointed out, they have some quality wins (Ithaca, Brockport, Pomona, etc.)  I'm not trying to take anything away from them.  Plus they beat Ithaca's #1 Sottung in the 3rd game which is something to be proud of.

I still think a 4 game series is a joke though.  Originally, i thought the 4 game set would create more of a rivalry.  But i think it has turned out to be boring.  You dont need to see the same team 4 times.  I dont think it proves much.  I think 2-3 games should be the max.  I think they threw in the 4th just to get their money's worth on travel expenses. 

The Empire 8 conference is a joke as it is with 4 teams.  I would like to see more teams added to the point where the winner gets an automatic bid.  Until then, I dont see anyone coming out of the E8 besides Ithaca.

[07FroshYear]

Son going to MSMC next year, will be playing baseball.
Been reading these threads and have read that the Skyline is moving to the Empire 8 and that Metal Bats will be used  .
Can someone confirm this...
He/We liked the idea of wooden bats in College....
Thanks,

[Pat Coleman]

Only Stevens is moving to the Empire 8.

[07FroshYear]

Thanks Pat.. Any truth to the message about Skyline using metal bats...
Spend summers on the Cape and like watching baseball with wooden bats...
Thanks, look forward to the up-coming season...

[Bob Maxwell]

I wish everyone would use wood... but don't know of any conference that does.  And if they did, would put themsleves at a disadvantage in non-league games as the opponents would most likely be using aluminum...

I don't have first hand knowledge of what the Skyline does, but can't imagine they would if no one else does.

And again, I wish everyone would use wood...

[John McGraw]

The Skyline is back to using aluminum.