BB: Regionals (West) 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

[infielddad]

Bronson is without a doubt one of the best pitchers in the west division.  He has shut down several great teams.  He has a hard and heavy fastball and an amazing slider that breaks hard late.  Dont forget about his change which he will sometimes pitch backwards starting you out with that.  I would say that even though chapman can hit Bronson definately has the ability to shut them down the first game of the tourney if that is the matchup.  Hmmm!

Hum.... Sounds like this Bronson kid can really pitch. If by any chances he does face the Panthers in the first round, i am sure he will do fine pitching against them.
But to be honest with you, in keeping up with the panthers for the past 8 years, Coach T. and co. will expose this kid's weakness and find ways to prevail against him.
For instance, the reason why the Leo's were close in beating the SCIAC co-champs during the season was because they sent in their best pitching and clearly found ways to keep the panthers in check. However, these guys will methodically break every pitch down, their pitchers will know what type of batter the face (by the 4th/5inning) and will then combine their offense and defensive talents to let the flood gates open by the 5inning and take the game over.
Expect them to start off a bit slow, but by the end, you will be surprised at how good this team is. 

"Bravo Eagle" finally someone who is talking sense. All these Texas teams are having a feeding frenzy off each other and finally someone who knows the Panthers caoching staff. You don't have a winning percentage like coach T and Coach Edwards by letting the sharks taking knips off your heels and keep on winning year after year. I do believe that they are hungry and they want to dethrone the Panthers but I don't see it. Kitchens who has only 2 loses n the past 2 years as infield dad put it was beat by MCM but they forget that he has had a year to mature and just get better and you don't have a .31 ERA #1 in the country by giving up runs, I think that runs are going to be hard to come by for anyone against him and remember you have Yacko in the wings with a .79 ERA # 2 in the country. Then you have that Offense to deal with scoring in the double digits the majority of there games

Chapman will probably just run up the score if they get Trinity and Bronson in the first round. Certainly, Chapman will make those adjustments after the first time through that Bronson, for instance, just won't make.  And of course, Trinity will be out coached by Chapman.
Assuming this is a first round match up, the only thing to raise any doubt, I guess, about the Chapman dominance will be the way Trinity sends  players to top Summer League teams where they do so well against top DI players.  While I am sure Chapman would end up dominating Bronson the way no one else has done, that  glimpse of success he had last summer dominating in the Texas Collegiate league season and All Star game might create some "hope"  he won't be Chapman "fodder."

[Jack Parkman]

Bronson is without a doubt one of the best pitchers in the west division.  He has shut down several great teams.  He has a hard and heavy fastball and an amazing slider that breaks hard late.  Dont forget about his change which he will sometimes pitch backwards starting you out with that.  I would say that even though chapman can hit Bronson definately has the ability to shut them down the first game of the tourney if that is the matchup.  Hmmm!

Hum.... Sounds like this Bronson kid can really pitch. If by any chances he does face the Panthers in the first round, i am sure he will do fine pitching against them.
But to be honest with you, in keeping up with the panthers for the past 8 years, Coach T. and co. will expose this kid's weakness and find ways to prevail against him.
For instance, the reason why the Leo's were close in beating the SCIAC co-champs during the season was because they sent in their best pitching and clearly found ways to keep the panthers in check. However, these guys will methodically break every pitch down, their pitchers will know what type of batter the face (by the 4th/5inning) and will then combine their offense and defensive talents to let the flood gates open by the 5inning and take the game over.
Expect them to start off a bit slow, but by the end, you will be surprised at how good this team is. 

"Bravo Eagle" finally someone who is talking sense. All these Texas teams are having a feeding frenzy off each other and finally someone who knows the Panthers caoching staff. You don't have a winning percentage like coach T and Coach Edwards by letting the sharks taking knips off your heels and keep on winning year after year. I do believe that they are hungry and they want to dethrone the Panthers but I don't see it. Kitchens who has only 2 loses n the past 2 years as infield dad put it was beat by MCM but they forget that he has had a year to mature and just get better and you don't have a .31 ERA #1 in the country by giving up runs, I think that runs are going to be hard to come by for anyone against him and remember you have Yacko in the wings with a .79 ERA # 2 in the country. Then you have that Offense to deal with scoring in the double digits the majority of there games

Chapman will probably just run up the score if they get Trinity and Bronson in the first round. Certainly, Chapman will make those adjustments after the first time through that Bronson, for instance, just won't make.  And of course, Trinity will be out coached by Chapman.
Assuming this is a first round match up, the only thing to raise any doubt, I guess, about the Chapman dominance will be the way Trinity sends  players to top Summer League teams where they do so well against top DI players.  While I am sure Chapman would end up dominating Bronson the way no one else has done, that  glimpse of success he had last summer dominating in the Texas Collegiate league season and All Star game might create some "hope"  he won't be Chapman "fodder."

infielddad-   I agree that saying Chapman will blow them out of the water is a little premature but the argument about the summer leagues is pretty irrelevant.  Chapman has dominated the West region since 2000 and Trinity has barely made a dent.  I realize you are a Trinity dad and your son was very good there but people often talk about how Chapman's time is up and they probably won't win again but they do win year in and year out.
Do not get me wrong here, I think Trinity is a good program but they have a ways to go to match up with some of the dominant programs in D-III.  I am very interested to see how the seeds are and see who gets who first round.  Bronson has good numbers, but they are nowhere near what Kitchens has done.  Again, I am not knocking Trinity at all but if they want to get the respect of everyone they are going to have to knock Chapman off the top of the mountain.

[tloc14]

I really want to go see this regional series even if UTT does not make it in (im a UTT guy by the way).  Those 2 pitchers from Chapman sound really good and I'd love to see em throw in person.....probably because i dont have to bat against them.

Though ive never seen the Cali teams play, I have a feeling Chapman's time isnt coming to an end any time soon.  Its likely that their string of great teams will end when the coach leaves.  Usually thats how programs spiral downward (UDallas for example).

It will be interesting to see the good pitching vs good offense matchups.  Im unfamiliar with Trinity, but know enough about McM and Concordia (assuming they make it) to know their success is rooted in their strong lineups.  Their pitching is adequate, but offense is really what wins them games.  Sounds like a classic matchup in the works.

[utilitycat17]

Though ive never seen the Cali teams play, I have a feeling Chapman's time isnt coming to an end any time soon.  Its likely that their string of great teams will end when the coach leaves.  Usually thats how programs spiral downward (UDallas for example).

The interesting thing about that is that Chapman has already gone through a coaching change, and it was the year following the change that they won their national championship.  No one expected much out of that season, but you just never know.  It has far less to do with the change itself, and more about who comes in to replace the coach.  Chapman has been fortunate to have two great coaches at the D3 level.  However, because of the success of the program, I would assume that it would be a very attractive job should it ever became available again.  It is just as likely that they would attract another excellent coach next time around. 

[Jack Parkman]

Though ive never seen the Cali teams play, I have a feeling Chapman's time isnt coming to an end any time soon.  Its likely that their string of great teams will end when the coach leaves.  Usually thats how programs spiral downward (UDallas for example).

The interesting thing about that is that Chapman has already gone through a coaching change, and it was the year following the change that they won their national championship.  No one expected much out of that season, but you just never know.  It has far less to do with the change itself, and more about who comes in to replace the coach.  Chapman has been fortunate to have two great coaches at the D3 level.  However, because of the success of the program, I would assume that it would be a very attractive job should it ever became available again.  It is just as likely that they would attract another excellent coach next time around. 

If you take a look at what the coach did before the current coach came in, you will see the current guy just kept the winning tradition alive.  Rex Peters of UC Davis was there until 2002 and he has done a pretty good job moving Davis into D-I where they will likely be in a regional.

[The U For Life]

I mean it sounds like there is no point in even having this regional,  Chapman's already won it and the tourney hasnt even started yet.  They should just call all the teams and tell them sorry, but there is no reason for showing up because there is no way you can beat Chapman.  Congrats Chapman!!!!!   

[DIIIBASEBALLFAN]

Lets see how close this is tonight. This is based upon current West Regional Rankings, along with those who won their Pool A bids. The question remains is 6 or 8 teams and who is in Pool C ?

Here is my guess

POSSIBLE WEST REGIONAL TEAMS

POOL A
ASC: McMurry TX (29-17)
NWC: Linfield OR (30-10)
SCIAC: La Verne CA (25-14)
SCAC: Trinity TX (32-13)

POOL B
Chapman CA (35-3)

POSSIBLE POOL C
George Fox OR (28-12) 27-11
Concordia-Austin TX (30-16) 26-13
Texas-Tyler TX (36-9) 33-9
Cal State-East Bay (26-14) 20-10

[ILVBB]

I hate to be cynical, but it will be 6 teams. I would be very surprised to see the NCAA fly-in more than the 3 teams that are already in. To bring in a 4th team from the west coast would cost more than $40K. It won't happen.

[Gray Fox]

Isn't East Bay part of pool B rather than pool C?

[TexasBB]

I would hate to see that $40k is the only reason to limit the West to 6 teams. There are 8+ quality teams in the Region. Ozarks is not mentioned and they have over 30 wins. It may be that Ozarks would be assigned to a different region.  Don't take something away from the kids and their schools just becuase you are trying to save a few bucks.

[Ralph Turner]

Isn't East Bay part of pool B rather than pool C?

CSU-East Bay is a Pool B that fell to Pool C.

[Blackcat00]

I think California Div 3 players get quaility non scholorship players. If im correct, Junior Colleges in California do not offer athletic scholorships unlike Texas. COrrect me if im wrong, but thats how it was a few years back. Also is Chapman a state school or private?

[Ralph Turner]

I think California Div 3 players get quality non scholarship players. If I'm correct, Junior Colleges in California do not offer athletic scholarships unlike Texas. Correct me if I'm wrong, but thats how it was a few years back. Also is Chapman a state school or private?

Chapman is private.

[OshDude]

I hate to be cynical, but it will be 6 teams. I would be very surprised to see the NCAA fly-in more than the 3 teams that are already in. To bring in a 4th team from the west coast would cost more than $40K. It won't happen.

I think there were five flights to Orange last year for a seven-team regional: Texas-Dallas, George Fox, Texas Lutheran, Pacific Lutheran and Austin.

Only four flights would be needed this year for an eight-team Abilene regional: La Verne, Linfield, Chapman and George Fox.

A five-flight precedent was set, so I don't think airfare is what will keep Abilene a six-teamer. I think it comes down to the worthiness of Tyler in relation to the Southern Maines, Rochesters and Suffolks of this year's bubble.

[MCM Gangster]

1 Chapman
2 george fox
3 mcmurry
4 cal east bay
5 trinity (tx)
6 la verne

first game is at noon on wed with chapman playing la vern
3:30 gfx and trinity
7 mcm play cal est bay