BB: E8: Empire 8

[airball55]

Yikes!  Fisher still has Beaumont back, but no D'amato.  Looking forward to tomorrow's games to see how both teams respond to today's outcome.

[WrongArm]

It's always fun to watch the Ithaca sports information guys beat their chests, especially since, at least for baseball, they've had to tuck their tails the last couple of years. I'm lookibng forward to more stories of games where the Bombers "manhandle," "rout," and "batter" their opponents. With a good effort today, maybe Fisher can get them to put the thesaurus back on the shelf.

[jdex]

No crushing blow today .......just a double dose of defeat for Fisher. Ithaca prevails 8-3 and 10-9 ........

[airball55]

Fisher blows 9-2 lead going into bottom of 8th!!  Ithaca pitchers solid, not overpowering but solid.  Fisher now probablly has to return favor at home to get league crown.  D'amato won't miss that series.  Still, a nice weekend for Ithaca and for now a return to the top of the Empire 8.  They better win 30 though if they want an at large.  This league champ is no longer "guarenteed" that at large bid.

[sjfcards]

Fisher responded well to the weekend sweep of Ithaca beating Oneonta, and taking 2 of 3 from Stevens. Fisher was probably one pitch away from sweeping Stevens, but a big 2 run homer was the difference in game one.

[WrongArm]

Fisher had to win 2 of 3 at Stevens just to match Ithaca. If they're going to reel in the Bombers, they really needed all three. Ithaca already has their three wins against Utica in the bank, but Fisher still has to finish a nine-inning tie. That new one inning game is more like a coin toss, and they need that one too. Ithaca gets to play their next three aganst Stevens at home where fly balls to right field aren't Hoboken home runs. They play Utica at home too. Unless Ithaca stumbles badly, Fisher will never catch them.

[sjfcards]

Fisher had to win 2 of 3 at Stevens just to match Ithaca. If they're going to reel in the Bombers, they really needed all three. Ithaca already has their three wins against Utica in the bank, but Fisher still has to finish a nine-inning tie. That new one inning game is more like a coin toss, and they need that one too. Ithaca gets to play their next three aganst Stevens at home where fly balls to right field aren't Hoboken home runs. They play Utica at home too. Unless Ithaca stumbles badly, Fisher will never catch them.

No doubt. I was at the Fisher/IC games and I was really impressed with Ithaca. The pitching was much better than I expected and they looked very strong. Maybe the best team in NY. Is it possible the E8 gets 2 teams in? Fisher needs to win a bunch down the stretch but the win against Cortland can't hurt. If they can take 2 of 3 from IC, and get to like 28 wins it could happen.

[John McGraw]

Fisher had to win 2 of 3 at Stevens just to match Ithaca. If they're going to reel in the Bombers, they really needed all three. Ithaca already has their three wins against Utica in the bank, but Fisher still has to finish a nine-inning tie. That new one inning game is more like a coin toss, and they need that one too. Ithaca gets to play their next three aganst Stevens at home where fly balls to right field aren't Hoboken home runs. They play Utica at home too. Unless Ithaca stumbles badly, Fisher will never catch them.

No doubt. I was at the Fisher/IC games and I was really impressed with Ithaca. The pitching was much better than I expected and they looked very strong. Maybe the best team in NY. Is it possible the E8 gets 2 teams in? Fisher needs to win a bunch down the stretch but the win against Cortland can't hurt. If they can take 2 of 3 from IC, and get to like 28 wins it could happen.

No, just two Pool B bids nationally. It's likely going to be Ithaca or Fisher and not both.

[WrongArm]

No, just two Pool B bids nationally. It's likely going to be Ithaca or Fisher and not both.

If Ithaca got a Pool B bid and Fisher didn't, isn't Fisher still eligible for a Pool C at-large bid just like every other team who didn't win their conference AQ?

[John McGraw]

No, just two Pool B bids nationally. It's likely going to be Ithaca or Fisher and not both.

If Ithaca got a Pool B bid and Fisher didn't, isn't Fisher still eligible for a Pool C at-large bid just like every other team who didn't win their conference AQ?

Well yes, but I can't imagine a conference with four teams will be able to sneak two teams into the tournament. We'll know more when the regional rankings are released. At this point, Fisher is behind both Ithaca and Cortland. Losses to Westminster (Pa.) and Mount Aloysius definitely hurt.

[sjfcards]

No, just two Pool B bids nationally. It's likely going to be Ithaca or Fisher and not both.

If Ithaca got a Pool B bid and Fisher didn't, isn't Fisher still eligible for a Pool C at-large bid just like every other team who didn't win their conference AQ?

At this point, Fisher is behind both Ithaca and Cortland. Losses to Westminster (Pa.) and Mount Aloysius definitely hurt.

Those losses hurt for sure, but some of that has to be trumped by beating Cortland. I haven't seen a ton of teams this year, but Fisher, I would guess, is one of the top 5 teams in the region. I don't think it is that much of a stretch to have two teams in from the E8 if Fisher and IC both finish strong.

[WrongArm]

Well yes, but I can't imagine a conference with four teams will be able to sneak two teams into the tournament.

Conference? What conference?
The E8, at least for baseball, is more like a bizzaro anti-conference. What benefit do any of the four remaining teams derive from playing under that admnistrative umbrella? Ithaca and Fisher, two excellent NY teams, get to beat each other up six times this year. Utica burns nearly a third of their schedule playing those same two teams. Is that in Utica's best interest, or would they be better off facing some teams without NCAA aspirations? Fisher was slammed for a low SOS last year. Do they benefit from having to play so many games against Utica?

No AQ. No second-chance tournament. Stupid schedule. I think Fisher and Ithaca suffer enough as members of the E8 without having one of them dismissed because they happen to find themselves in the same lousy circumstances.

I guess the E8 baseball teams should be grateful that they have a "conference" schedule to play at all.

[sjfcards]

The E8 did have a lot more going for it when Hartwick and RIT were playing, but it does seem to hinder teams more than help. I dont think this is unique to baseball (although that sport has been hit the hardest for sure). Football has seen teams come and go, and now has teams from Maryland replacing teams like Springfield and Norwich. And football is probably the conferences best sport. 

RIT has left in all sports and there are provisional memebers all over the map. What is causing that?

[sjfcards]

Fisher scored two runs in each of the first 3 innings, and two more in the 8th today to beat U of R 8-5. Fisher needs to win a bunch coming down the stretch, and today made it 4 out of the last 5, and 3 in a row.

[Ralph Turner]

Well yes, but I can't imagine a conference with four teams will be able to sneak two teams into the tournament.

Conference? What conference?
The E8, at least for baseball, is more like a bizzaro anti-conference. What benefit do any of the four remaining teams derive from playing under that admnistrative umbrella? Ithaca and Fisher, two excellent NY teams, get to beat each other up six times this year. Utica burns nearly a third of their schedule playing those same two teams. Is that in Utica's best interest, or would they be better off facing some teams without NCAA aspirations? Fisher was slammed for a low SOS last year. Do they benefit from having to play so many games against Utica?

No AQ. No second-chance tournament. Stupid schedule. I think Fisher and Ithaca suffer enough as members of the E8 without having one of them dismissed because they happen to find themselves in the same lousy circumstances.

I guess the E8 baseball teams should be grateful that they have a "conference" schedule to play at all.

A question to inform me and understand the New York Region...

Would the E8 affiliate with the CUNYAC schools and send the Top 4 teams from each division to play for an AQ (after waiting 2 years for the AQ?)

CUNYAC rarely has a team in the Regionals.

E8 has missed Pool B several times.

It looks like a win/win to me.