BB: Pool B

[bbnag101]

Many out there doubt Chapman belonged this year. Chapman just played Chapman baseball when it had to and overcame some key major injuries to have a outstanding post season run.

Congrats to a great 2009 season.

"Oh ye of little faith" 
I had my doubts about Chapman... I really did not think that they could get past Pomona Pitzer.  They rallied, dug deep, and fought hard to make it to the World Series.  They came into Appleton limping and it was a true miracle that they went as far as they did.  BUT THEY BELIEVED!!!

You see, they lost  KEY players half way through the season.  Their ace pitcher and their starting catcher both went down.  At the same time, their backup catcher injured his knee.  He finished the season playing in a brace with a torn ligament.

Believe me, most of you thought Farmingdale was the Cinderella team, but in our eyes this Chapman team was. 

Good job guys, we are all so proud of you...... I will miss watching you play..    remember "strike, strike, strike", "hit, hit, hit",  "third",  keep it going

[hickory_cornhusker]

Potential big shakeup in Pool B. UW-La Crosse is talking about cutting baseball.

http://lacrossetribune.com/articles/2009/06/05/newsupdate/13uwlcuts.txt

If they do that will drop the WIAC down to six teams.

[Ralph Turner]

Potential big shakeup in Pool B. UW-La Crosse is talking about cutting baseball.

http://lacrossetribune.com/articles/2009/06/05/newsupdate/13uwlcuts.txt

If they do that will drop the WIAC down to six teams.

My first impression is that the first two WIAC schools are strong enough to earn two Pool B bids.

That means that some other school gets a Pool C bid that would go to the WIAC runner-up.

The WIAC would have two years to return to Pool A.

If UWL dropped baseball in 2010, then the WIAC would enter Pool B in 2012.

That would leave Chapman.

(I wonder if Ithaca would be in the Liberty League in 2012.)

The Capital AC and the UMAC will be Pool A in 2012.

That leaves the UAA powerhouses (WashU and Emory) in Pool B.

I recommend that the New England Collegiate Conference and the CUNYAC either add members or reach an affiliation agreement as the NAC and the NEAC have to earn a Pool A bid after 2 years.

[hickory_cornhusker]

What was mentioned on wissports.net's message board was the WIAC finding an associate member. I would say their best option is Finlandia. It isn't as much of a long shot as it appears. Finlandia will be an associate member in men's soccer this year for the WIAC. I could see the WIAC trying to get Finlandia to join for baseball as well if it is needed to protect the Pool A bid. Finlandia would benefit by getting a stable schedule and more home games than they had this year, two. On Finlandia's website it mentions how they are looking for a conference for their sports teams.

The next closest Pool B team is I believe Wash U, which will never happen. The WIAC is strong enough they will always get at least one team in going the Pool B route but with the size of Pool B dwindling by the year I think the WIAC would prefer to hang on to that guaranteed bid.

[OshDude]

I think there would have been three Pool B bids from the WIAC this year.

But I really hope the WIAC finds another member or I hope La Crosse finds a big box of money (hint: look in Dr. Gow's desk). And I really, really hope the associate member is not Finlandia.

There may be some very good players looking for a team. La Crosse is/was a solid program with some studs.

Interesting that La Crosse is the only WIAC school to announce sports cuts. I'll leave it at that. I feel for the players and staff caught up in this. The La Crosse chancellor is a blues singer. I have an idea for a new tune.

[BaseballFan]

Wisconsin LaCrosse was force to drop their baseball program THIS MEANS:

The WIAC drops to 6 teams

Automatically WIAC loses their automatic qualifier and drops to a pool B because conferences need 7 teams to be automatic qualifiers.

They need to find someone to join their conference, which will be hard because teams dont want to leave a conference and join a really good conference, but one team that I think could be a possibility would be Finlandia

This is huge for the WIAC!

[hickory_cornhusker]

Wisconsin LaCrosse was force to drop their baseball program THIS MEANS:

The WIAC drops to 6 teams

Automatically WIAC loses their automatic qualifier and drops to a pool B because conferences need 7 teams to be automatic qualifiers.

They need to find someone to join their conference, which will be hard because teams dont want to leave a conference and join a really good conference, but one team that I think could be a possibility would be Finlandia

This is huge for the WIAC!

WIAC has a two year grace period to find a 7th member so they will still have their Pool A bid for at least 2010 and 2011.

[BaseballFan]

Wisconsin LaCrosse was force to drop their baseball program THIS MEANS:

The WIAC drops to 6 teams

Automatically WIAC loses their automatic qualifier and drops to a pool B because conferences need 7 teams to be automatic qualifiers.

They need to find someone to join their conference, which will be hard because teams dont want to leave a conference and join a really good conference, but one team that I think could be a possibility would be Finlandia

This is huge for the WIAC!

WIAC has a two year grace period to find a 7th member so they will still have their Pool A bid for at least 2010 and 2011.

ok, i heard differently...still this makes things interesting in the WIAC because now those teams have to go out and play 4 other games and some teams may land some lacrosse players/recruits...and it will be intesting to see where those lacrosse baseball players transfer to, im sure any of the WIAC teams wouldnt mind Jay Fanta on their team for another 3 years

[Jim Dixon]

I suspect that Oshdude is right, the WIAC does better in Pool B.  Chapman has made the Pool B route an automatic bid for years.

[RSSmith]

Wisconsin LaCrosse was force to drop their baseball program THIS MEANS:

The WIAC drops to 6 teams

Automatically WIAC loses their automatic qualifier and drops to a pool B because conferences need 7 teams to be automatic qualifiers.

They need to find someone to join their conference, which will be hard because teams dont want to leave a conference and join a really good conference, but one team that I think could be a possibility would be Finlandia

This is huge for the WIAC!

I'd take Fanta, freshman Corey Geary (5 hits in 10 at bats with a triple) and freshman Zach Lauersdorf (1.85 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, .234 OBA) in a heartbeat.

WIAC has a two year grace period to find a 7th member so they will still have their Pool A bid for at least 2010 and 2011.

ok, i heard differently...still this makes things interesting in the WIAC because now those teams have to go out and play 4 other games and some teams may land some lacrosse players/recruits...and it will be intesting to see where those lacrosse baseball players transfer to, im sure any of the WIAC teams wouldnt mind Jay Fanta on their team for another 3 years

[BigPoppa]

This will Never happen, but how about St. Scholastica leaving the UMAC and joining the WIAC?

[Ralph Turner]

This will Never happen, but how about St. Scholastica leaving the UMAC and joining the WIAC?

Why?

They can earn a Pool A bid in 2011.

If they don't win the WIAC they would have to fight for a Pool C bid, if they become the 7th WIAC member thru affiliation.

[Just Bill]

I doubt the UMAC would allow a member to become an affilliate in another league in a sport that they sponsor.  Why would they permit that?

The WIAC would never admit them as a full member since they are not of the same profile.  All WIAC schools are part of the UW System.

Do you think CSS would throw away the time they've spent in the UMAC and thrust all of their other sports into Independent status so that one sport could play in the WIAC?  Doesn't seem very likely.

The UMAC will eventually have an automatic bid (and that will be easier to win than the WIAC's), so leaving to get access to it one year earlier doesn't make much sense.

[OshDude]

La Crosse saved by supporters?
http://perth.uwlax.edu/Athletics/

Talk about a nearly impossible scenario ... good luck, LAX. Sincerely. If they make this happen, it could become legend. Wonder if Dr. Gow is offering $1k to all four major areas of the university involved in the cuts. If so, his salary could be dangerously close to $200k. That salary is for being the only WIAC chancellor to propose sports cuts while Oshkosh is soon to break ground on new buildings? Interesting.

[Ralph Turner]

Lesley to add baseball in 2011.  NECC should earn AQ in 2011.

Pool B just got smaller as 7 NECC schools leave the pool.