BB: Central Region Rankings

[wustlfan37]

I just want to throw this out there, Webster plays AT WashU tomorrow. Should be a great regional matchup and possibly mix up a few of your rankings, but only a little bit 

WashU beat Webster 5-4 today in a key regional matchup.  In a very well pitched baseball game on both sides.  WashU's Stephen Bonser earned the complete game victory with 9 Ks.  The two teams have a doubleheader Monday, also at Kelly Field in St. Louis.

[theoneandonly]

I just want to throw this out there, Webster plays AT WashU tomorrow. Should be a great regional matchup and possibly mix up a few of your rankings, but only a little bit 

WashU beat Webster 5-4 today in a key regional matchup.  In a very well pitched baseball game on both sides.  WashU's Stephen Bonser earned the complete game victory with 9 Ks.  The two teams have a doubleheader Monday, also at Kelly Field in St. Louis.

Webster seems to have a great pitching staff this year, but the bats arent what they used to be... in my opinion of course...  it sounds like it was a good game to be at either way..

[TheSportsFan]

My updated rankings after the weekend:  (Overall/record against teams with winning record in parentheses)

1. Augustana.....................(19-5, 10-3)
2. Illinois Wesleyan............(16-8, 8-6)
3. Carthage.......................(16-6, 5-6)
4. Coe................................(19-8, 13-5)
5. North Park.....................(21-7, 5-6)
6. North Central.................(14-7, 3-7)
7. Webster.........................(19-6, 8-2)
8. Wash U..........................(23-13, 9-10)
9. Simpson.........................(19-8, 5-4)
10. Luther..........................(18-8, 3-7)

Just Missed: Beloit, Buena Vista, Spalding

Biggest Disappointment:

Buena Vista --- sitting at 15-11 and 6-6 in the IIAC, how can't they be?  Let's not forget, this is a team predicted by some/many to contend or win the Central Region.  Honestly, I still think they are one of the top-tier teams in the Central.  This just speaks to the depth of the IIAC this year.

(Note: Central is not yet out of the doghouse in this category.  Good chance to prove what they have with their next 4 games at Coe (3) and at Buena Vista (1).

[theoneandonly]

All,
How do you rank Spalding in the Region? They are currently 19-7 and 11-0 in the sliac. They are almost unbeatable at home with a 10-1 record and have a pretty solid pitching staff. I think their only weakness is their team B.A. which his at .286 which isint terrible, espically since it seems like they are getting it done, but it still throws up a small red flag. They are also a speedy team that doesnt make a lot of errors. Anyways, interested in your guys' feedback.

[CCIWFan]

I believe that Spalding is not a Central Region team. If they played anyone outside the SLIAC, like Augustana for example, it would not count as an in-region game.

[BigPoppa]

All,
How do you rank Spalding in the Region? They are currently 19-7 and 11-0 in the sliac. They are almost unbeatable at home with a 10-1 record and have a pretty solid pitching staff. I think their only weakness is their team B.A. which his at .286 which isint terrible, espically since it seems like they are getting it done, but it still throws up a small red flag. They are also a speedy team that doesnt make a lot of errors. Anyways, interested in your guys' feedback.

I like Spalding and really wish they were post-seaosn eligible this year to challenge Webster. My pre-season preview listed Spalding as a team to upset the cart in the region (this was prior to me knowing they were not eligible.... I was off by one year). I'd certainly place them in the top ten region teams if it mattered this year.

[TheSportsFan]

Clearly, Spalding is a good team.

Besides being inelgible, they have yet to play any good/great teams to prove how good they are.

They have yet to play Webster, the one true test in the SLIAC.  (Teams other than Webster/Spalding are a combined 62-120).

Don't get me wrong, Spalding appears to be a very good ball club.  Just because they aren't considered a top 5 or top 10 team in the Central does not mean they are not good.  Show me a signature win on the Spalding schedule?

[metaljacket]

Don't get me wrong, Spalding appears to be a very good ball club.  Just because they aren't considered a top 5 or top 10 team in the Central does not mean they are not good.  Show me a signature win on the Spalding schedule?

I do not have a dog in this fight but to answer the question...

Brockport St, they lost to them 2-1 and beat them 7-3...they currently have a record of 18-8 and have received votes in the latest top 25 polls.

[BigPoppa]

After being swept by Augustana on Sunday, Carthage is up 6-0 on Augie in the 4th inning on game #3 of the series.

[wustlfan37]

WashU sweeps Webster today, 4-2 and 5-4, bringing their regional record to 25-12

[OshDude]

I believe that Spalding is not a Central Region team. If they played anyone outside the SLIAC, like Augustana for example, it would not count as an in-region game.

The NCAA has been consistent in placing a team in the natural region of its conference, assuming the conference has a base of teams in one region, the outlier isn't something like 1,500 miles away, and the team didn't move from one D-III conference to another. When there's one (or two) outliers in the conference, those teams are often lumped with the others.

For example, York (Pa.) is in the South, Elms/Hamilton (NY) are in New England, etc.

Another possible reason for Spalding being in the Central is the current allocation of teams. The South and Central both have 37 teams. The Central number includes NWU while the South doesn't include early provisionals Berry and Covenent.

We don't know for sure what the NCAA will do with Spalding, but my hunch is that precedence will place it in the Central Region. If that's true, Spalding will have an array of regional nonconference options. It already does have a lot of options just by being in the wide-ranging Admin Region 3.

Getting facts straight is worth a lot to me, Pat. Thanks for the correction. Speaking of, Elms's location on the site is now correct.

[metaljacket]

Looking forward to seeing your opinions on the rankings...things will be shook up this week.

Augustana takes on North Park
IWU has already lost this week and squares off with Carthage
Coe will have to take care of Central, could be a stumbling block
North Central needs to take care of a tough Wheaton team
Webster dropped two to Wash U this week already
Wash U beat Webster twice this week already
Conference leader Simpson will be challenged vs. BV
Luther should jump in the polls if they can sweep Dubuque
Beloit lost one to Ripon but could sweep Carroll easily and find themselves in the top 10
Spalding has the chance to be 25-7 by Sunday night

[BigPoppa]

NPU/Augustan and Carthage/IWU series this weekend will help sort out a lot in the rankings this week.

[TheSportsFan]

1. North Park.....................(24-7)
2. Illinois Wesleyan...........(18-10)
3. Coe................................(20-9)
4. Carthage.......................(18-8)
5. Spalding........................(21-7)   (Not sure if they are considered for Regional Rankings or not)
6. Augustana.....................(19-9)
7. Webster.........................(20-8)
8. Buena Vista....................(18-11)
9. North Central..................(16-8)
10. Wash U.........................(25-16)

Dropped Out: Simpson, Luther

Next Tier
----------------
Chicago...........(14-7)   --- took 3 games from Wash U this weekend!

Simpson..........(18-11) --- lost all 3 to Buena Vista, who looks to be back in IIAC striking distance

Luther.............(19-12) --- 1-2 vs. Dubuque, losing both games on Saturday turns them back into the "middle of the pack" team they were expected to be.

Beloit..............(16-8)

[Gregory Sager]

The first regional rankings were released today by the NCAA:

Central Region
1 Coe 18-9 20-10
2 Carthage 11-5 18-8
3 Buena Vista 17-9 18-11
4 Illinois Wesleyan 17-7 19-10
5 Augustana 12-9 19-9
6 Washington U. 25-15 25-16