BB: Regionals (South) Danville '08, Salisbury '09, Methodist '10, Rhodes '11

[Will2Win]

Wow...Piedmont has issued almost as many walks as they have hits...10 BB's 11 SU hits thru 7 complete....hard for any team to win a ball game under those circumstances,unreal stat...

SU in control again

[Hound Dog]

Who is RMC?  I believe Webster is the only team not mentioned here.  If you meant to put Webster, then your prediction would be impossible because Wabash and Webster will play each other if they both lose their openers.

rmc is randolph macon college, a south region team from the odac which many have talked about being in this region for the last few weeks...obviously, they aren't in this regional, though thanks for keeping me straight - i meant webster, but hadn't looked at the second round match-ups yet to see that regardless of who the 5 and 6 seeds are, they won't be done in 2 games - either way, i don't think that either of these teams will be around long and i don't think either will present much of a challenge to win this regional tournament

You'll have to forgive Narch. Unless it deals with numbers, percentages, isn't highlighted or color coded he has some difficulty comprehending it.

pauperboy - it seems to me that this is a bit personal to you - i'm sure you're the dad of a senior player at rhodes who desperately wants to see his boy to play another game, but if you really think that my color coded charts have anything to do with a 24-20 team being left out of the ncaa tournament...let's just say that the apple fell a long way from the tree

Narch's predictions are pretty laughable thus far.

Looks pretty decent so far. Webster got beat 10-1 today with their #2 and Randolph-Macon lost their first game.

His post was actually referring to the #5 and #6 seeds which are Wabash and Webster.  He was making a point that neither of them would play much of a role in this regional (There is more in his previous posts which I didn't copy).  In any case, Wabash and Webster combined to send home the #1 team in the nation today.

[narch]

Narch's predictions are pretty laughable thus far.

isn't that the beauty of tournament baseball, though?

i don't recall seeing your predictions, but it's easy to sit back and predict games after the fact, isn't it

[Back2Back!!]

I've been reading this board all year, but I've stayed away from it...primarily because I find message board "arguments" silly and pointless. However, I'm not going to allow the SU peeps to get on here and beat their chest about 3 years of success. Much like PNeal7 I'm friends with a couple former SU players and I think the world of them and their accomplishments. So with all due respect to those players...this is ridiculous...

When I first transferred CNU, we didn't give a crap about Shenandoah: we disliked Greensboro because, well, who does like Greensboro...playing Methodist was always annoying because you always felt they didn't 'beat' you but they won all the time...Averett college had an outstanding coach but his players had some busch-league antics...and the big rivalry was with NC Wesleyan because we were always seemingly competing against them for the top spot (and they were fun to have a couple cold ones with)...then SU and Ferrum were just long road trips that always seemed cold. I have no clue where the hatred/rivalry with SU came from. Maybe you were so tired of staring up at our a**es from the bottom of the standings you decided to dislike us.

10 years from now, will anybody know who SU is? Will they remember what they've done and what these current classes have worked so hard to accomplish? That depends on what the next generation of SU baseball does. You see, people defend schools like CNU because we've been there, done that (and yet we're still apparently fighting to get over the hump, but that's a different issue in my opinion). SU isn't respected that way yet and 3 years of success won't bring it. People view CNU/Methodist/NC Wesleyan in a different light because those 3 schools have experienced success for a sustained period of time.

"Coming to play" for the better part of a decade will bring that.

Baring some unforeseen event, it's known that in 2020 CNU will still be near the top of whatever conference they're in (provided it's still DIII) and still competing for regional championships (and hopefully more). The same bold statement can't be said for a school like SU.

Hats off to my Captains for a record-breaking season, and best of luck to the remaining schools in Tennessee.

Case in Point...."SU ISNT RESPECTED".......That is why former SU players take this subject personal.......We feel that what we did the last two years and what they have done so far this year DESERVES that respect. We have been talked down apon on this board the last three years by many. "Our weak scheduales and inflated numbers" yet we won the region two years in a row. Yes, Bridgeforth is a short porch compared to most but what people dont realize 90% of the time the wind there is blowing across the field and knocks the ball down. I saw alot of balls that were crushed that would have been out of any ballpark but because of the wind they were caught. The other 10% of the time the wind is calm or like the 09 series with Methodist blowing straight out. In the end it all evens out. The deminsions of that field do not effect batting averages. Exactly how many regionals in a row does a team have to win to get that respect that you are speaking of? ONE MORE WIN BOYS!!!!!!!

[forheavendial4999]

Who is RMC?  I believe Webster is the only team not mentioned here.  If you meant to put Webster, then your prediction would be impossible because Wabash and Webster will play each other if they both lose their openers.

rmc is randolph macon college, a south region team from the odac which many have talked about being in this region for the last few weeks...obviously, they aren't in this regional, though thanks for keeping me straight - i meant webster, but hadn't looked at the second round match-ups yet to see that regardless of who the 5 and 6 seeds are, they won't be done in 2 games - either way, i don't think that either of these teams will be around long and i don't think either will present much of a challenge to win this regional tournament

You'll have to forgive Narch. Unless it deals with numbers, percentages, isn't highlighted or color coded he has some difficulty comprehending it.

pauperboy - it seems to me that this is a bit personal to you - i'm sure you're the dad of a senior player at rhodes who desperately wants to see his boy to play another game, but if you really think that my color coded charts have anything to do with a 24-20 team being left out of the ncaa tournament...let's just say that the apple fell a long way from the tree

Narch's predictions are pretty laughable thus far.

Looks pretty decent so far. Webster got beat 10-1 today with their #2 and Randolph-Macon lost their first game.

His post was actually referring to the #5 and #6 seeds which are Wabash and Webster.  He was making a point that neither of them would play much of a role in this regional (There is more in his previous posts which I didn't copy).  In any case, Wabash and Webster combined to send home the #1 team in the nation today.

That's not what I read. I read that neither team would be much of a threat to win the tournament. Webster had a very solid freshman ace that I think most people saw being a threat, albeit not an 11-1 win threat.

[CafeBordeaux]

Well, cnuball25, you can say what you want, but Piedmont decided to walk Van Sickler to load the bases to get to Nelson, who proceeded to hit a grand slam so say what you want, but Nelson puts up legit numbers.  And in no way, shape, or form was Delauter a stud, but he did hit over .400 in the season in 2010 with mid 30's in RBI's from the 9 hole and also was key in that DEMORALIZING 14th inning walkoff win against you guys.  Delauter was 2nd team all conf last year if I remember correctly, and would've been 1st team had Brashears not exploded in the final weekend.  Not a stud in anyone's eyes, but a team guy who bought into Kevin Anderson's system, hence the reason they were able to win a 2nd straight region title last year. 

And how can you sit there and say about CNU still being competitive in 2020???   How do u know what CNU will or will not be doing then??? How do u know what SU will or will not be doing then???   What if SU wins the region title for the next 9 years???  What if CNU/SU alternate region titles for the next 9 years???   You have no idea what the future holds, Nostradamus, so I'll go ahead and retract that asinine statement for you. 

As far as continued success, I just looked up CNU history and under Coach Harvell, they were national runners up (congrats on that, well deserved) and a third place finish (congrats on that as well) other than that, there isn't much else to ride home about as far as regional/national competition is concerned.  A conference title here and there, but like I said before, SU has turned that page and has shown we can play with the best.  I expect nothing but greatness from SU here on out.  People are starting to realize and see how great of a Coach Kevin Anderson is and they will start wanting to play with a Coach who knows how to prepare his players for big time series'. 

[forheavendial4999]

As far as continued success, I just looked up CNU history and under Coach Harvell, they were national runners up (congrats on that, well deserved) and a third place finish (congrats on that as well) other than that, there isn't much else to ride home about as far as regional/national competition is concerned. 

Hopefully after reading this, everyone knows not to listen to you about anything.

I mean really, what a dumb statement. "Aside from playing on the last day of the championship tournament twice, you haven't really done much."

About the only thing more they could do is win the championship, which I have a feeling still wouldn't shut you up.

God I miss Wesleyan and Methodist being really good in the South. Class programs with classy and knowledgeable fans who don't think D-III baseball started in 2007.

[Back2Back!!]

As far as continued success, I just looked up CNU history and under Coach Harvell, they were national runners up (congrats on that, well deserved) and a third place finish (congrats on that as well) other than that, there isn't much else to ride home about as far as regional/national competition is concerned. 

Hopefully after reading this, everyone knows not to listen to you about anything.

I mean really, what a dumb statement. "Aside from playing on the last day of the championship tournament twice, you haven't really done much."

About the only thing more they could do is win the championship, which I have a feeling still wouldn't shut you up.

God I miss Wesleyan and Methodist being really good in the South. Class programs with classy and knowledgeable fans who don't think D-III baseball started in 2007.

I believe what he was trying to say is that CNU has been to the world series twice under Harvell and SU has been to the world series twice under Anderson. I dont think he was downplaying the two world series appearances by CNU even though it could easily be taken that way. As far as Shenandoah fans and players not having any class, you couldnt be more wrong. I think this had kinda been building up on the former players and now that we are no longer playing we can actually get on here and debate. CNU historically has a better track record than Shenandoah. There is no arguement there. So I can see where CNU25 was coming from all except the comment on SU not deserving the respect. Anyone who personally knows the Shenandoah fans, players, and coaches know that we are a class act.

I think I just realized who CNU25 is...........perhaps this should be taken up on softballmania?? haha

[forheavendial4999]

As far as continued success, I just looked up CNU history and under Coach Harvell, they were national runners up (congrats on that, well deserved) and a third place finish (congrats on that as well) other than that, there isn't much else to ride home about as far as regional/national competition is concerned.

Hopefully after reading this, everyone knows not to listen to you about anything.

I mean really, what a dumb statement. "Aside from playing on the last day of the championship tournament twice, you haven't really done much."

About the only thing more they could do is win the championship, which I have a feeling still wouldn't shut you up.

God I miss Wesleyan and Methodist being really good in the South. Class programs with classy and knowledgeable fans who don't think D-III baseball started in 2007.

I believe what he was trying to say is that CNU has been to the world series twice under Harvell and SU has been to the world series twice under Anderson. I dont think he was downplaying the two world series appearances by CNU even though it could easily be taken that way. As far as Shenandoah fans and players not having any class, you couldnt be more wrong. I think this had kinda been building up on the former players and now that we are no longer playing we can actually get on here and debate. CNU historically has a better track record than Shenandoah. There is no arguement there. So I can see where CNU25 was coming from all except the comment on SU not deserving the respect. Anyone who personally knows the Shenandoah fans, players, and coaches know that we are a class act.

I think I just realized who CNU25 is...........perhaps this should be taken up on softballmania?? haha

Shenandoah is one of 35 teams to have at least one World Series win in 2001-2010. They're also the only team that has been to more than one series that doesn't have at least two wins.

Hopkins, 2 trips, 5-4 record and a runner up plaque
Linfield, 2 trips, 3 wins
Illinois Wesleyan, 4-3 in 2 trips and a title
St. Thomas 9-2 in 2 trips and 2 titles
Wooster 6-4 in 2 trips and a runner up
Emory 5-4 in 2 trips and a runner up
Montclair State 5-4
Aurora 2-4
Rowan 2-4
Salisbury 2-4
Christopher Newport 7-4 in 2 trips and a runner-up

But according to Cafe, CNU's postseason record is nothing to write home about. Nah, they're only 7th in Appleton wins in the past decade, 3rd among teams with 3 trips or fewer. And they've got a plaque from the NCAA from one of their trips.

For the record, I'm able to find 6 schools that opened their  ledger in the championship round with back to back appearances (or more) but didn't place in the top 2 in any of them.

They are, in order, Marietta, Oshkosh, NC Wesleyan, Carthage, Bridgewater State and Shenandoah. The latest of the first three was 1983. Carthage and Bridgewater State were not too long after the expansion to 8 teams in 1991 (Carthage was 1993-95, B-State 96-97). Neither of the latter two has yet made a championship game, B-State hasn't even made it back to the Series.

Teams that made the title game in one of their first two back-to-back trips are CS Stanislaus (won the first two titles), Rowan, ECSU, St. Thomas, Christopher Newport, Kean. Only CNU has not made it back since their first two appearances, though it took St. Thomas 8 years to get back after their 2001 title.

All just history, submitted for history's sake.

[Will2Win]

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-spt-cnuadvance-0518-20110517,0,7389309.story

Wishful thinking I suppose, huh CNU25?   

[Joe Wally]

Game On, Salisbury!

[hokieone]

    A bit off subject, but pertinent nonetheless:   I'm a CNU Parent and went to almost every game they played for 6 years. CNU25 pretty well described the rivalries and early on, SU wasn't really a factor, just someone you sure didn't want to lose to for embarrassment's sake. They have come a long long way and deserve a ton of credit, and Anderson is one of the best game coaches I've seen-he gets the most out of his guys and in the past 3-4 years is drawing in some very good talent. I would never have imagined that was possible at SU as the facilities weren't much and school was known for its music programs, not its sports, but SU's baseball program is a bright light and deserves much credit (and more funding ).  And SU as a school is improving by leaps and bounds as well. It won't rank in the top academic schools in Virginia right now, but it's heading up and Rome wasn't built in a day.

  As for fans:  over my 6 years of CNU games, the clearly favorite rival was NCWC. The on field rivalry was intense, but off the field, a lot of the players were friends, they even hung out together at the USAS tournament, and the NCWC fans were just delightful. They'd root their guys on just as loud and faithfully as SU's...well, just as faithfully, maybe not as loud...but the fans of the two schools developed friendships as well. We looked forward to either going to Rocky Mount or having them visit as we enjoyed shooting the breeze with them. There was never any ugliness.     We had some classic on field battles with them, all the more memorable because we genuinely liked their fans too.  If they weren't playing CNU, we pulled for them too.

  I don't know exactly how the CNU-SU rivalry turned ugly. Certainly on the field, they've played some wonderfully competitive games over the past 3 seasons, and it feels like SU is the biggest rival...but certainly not the "favorite".  SU's fans are very faithful, very supportive, and they travel exceptionally well.  If you listen to what they say, it's not vulgar or ugly, not obscene, they just root for their guys.  Not a  thing wrong with that.   While  they may have a fan or two that just seems annoying-you find those sometimes, clean but just for some reason annoying- it's not like that's the only annoying fan in the USAS-every school has one or two of those from time to time.   And while I missed the USAS Tournament this year, I heard nothing but good things from some parents about the SU crowd-one guy said, "Heck, if it wasn't SU, I could almost like them."  Kinda funny...

  So, SU, now 2-0 in the NCAA regional, has regained the bragging rights for this year, however much further they go, and they get to hold those rights until 2012.   CNU baseball will likely always be top notch-they have beautiful DI quality facilities, the school is highly rated academically (now #3 in Virginia among ALL schools for average GPA/SAT entering frosh), it's located in a baseball hotbed, Tidewater, a very personable and successful well-regarded head coach, and not insignificantly, the in state tuition is reasonably priced as it's a state school.  SU could be at the threshold of long record of outstanding baseball-excellent coach, successful program, the school improves yearly, new academic buildings have gone up, and the baseball facilities have improved...but these guys do deserve their own field.       So kudos to SU, they've earned them, and maybe over time, the rivalry will grow a bit "friendlier".  

  A D III college player from New York told me he followed CNU and SU all year as it was "just so cool that two rivals in the same conference could be so highly ranked". Interesting perspective.

 Good luck to the Hornets, and maybe the day will come in the future where all of the rival fans of both schools really mean that.

[BigPoppa]

Ha-ha!   That's all I have to say.  When people berate SU baseball time and time again, and we get short changed year after year in all conference voting, and seedings in tournaments, it makes it that much more invigorating to see a team like CNU get bounced after 2 games.  I have class, "my friend", I just get sick and tired of SU getting owned on the boards and in votings when all we do is win.  Year after year.  Everybody always talks how good CNU is and NC Wesleyan, but never SU, but what do we do other than back-to-back regional champions with a conference championship thrown in there.  

And on a side note, Goldsmith is a hell of a pitcher, I will not deny that, but it just goes to show you how good Van Sickler is cause he allowed ZERO runs to the same Wabash team that put up 8 against Goldsmith.  

I was not berating Shenandoah baseball, I was berating you. I have tons of respect for the SU program, and very little for you. But, at the end of the day, the program is what really matters, right?!

[PNeal7]

Well, Delaughter, or should I say CafeBordeaux, it looks like you just exposed who you were. Congratulations on the .400 BA during your 1 season of success, as that is certainly commendable against any competition. Also, congratulations on your 2b in the 14th inning, which eventually led to the SU victory. I would say the pass ball was more demoralizing than your punching judy double, but it's your story so tell it how you want. Take that same inning, and we can compare true talent. We intentionally walked Brashears, because he truly is an amazing player, one who may have a chance at the next level. While SU truly has had guys who could hit any competition well (Henry, Brashears, Van Sickler, Van Dusseldrop), I would have to say you sir benefited from the "weak" schedule that is so talked about on the board. When you have the lefty from PSU-Nun School pumping it at about 68 (fastball with an arc on it), the majority of collegiate players can hit for a decent average. I'm dome arguing with this. I have some great friends who are SU former players or fans, and I think the world of them. I do not want to contiually write stuff like this and aggrevate them. BUT, as my last comment, I must say that CafeBordeaux, you were the LEAST of anyone's concerns when they played SU. Congratulations on a solid 1 year, and I wish you continued success in the remainder of your professional career.

[Will2Win]

Well, Delaughter, or should I say CafeBordeaux, it looks like you just exposed who you were. Congratulations on the .400 BA during your 1 season of success, as that is certainly commendable against any competition. Also, congratulations on your 2b in the 14th inning, which eventually led to the SU victory. I would say the pass ball was more demoralizing than your punching judy double, but it's your story so tell it how you want. Take that same inning, and we can compare true talent. We intentionally walked Brashears, because he truly is an amazing player, one who may have a chance at the next level. While SU truly has had guys who could hit any competition well (Henry, Brashears, Van Sickler, Van Dusseldrop), I would have to say you sir benefited from the "weak" schedule that is so talked about on the board. When you have the lefty from PSU-Nun School pumping it at about 68 (fastball with an arc on it), the majority of collegiate players can hit for a decent average. I'm dome arguing with this. I have some great friends who are SU former players or fans, and I think the world of them. I do not want to contiually write stuff like this and aggrevate them. BUT, as my last comment, I must say that CafeBordeaux, you were the LEAST of anyone's concerns when they played SU. Congratulations on a solid 1 year, and I wish you continued success in the remainder of your professional career.

PSU Nun School or not...SU doesn't seem to have any trouble come this time of year (I'm pretty sure there aren't any hellen keller type teams that you are describing in this years region, yet SU is still 2 wins away from getting back to Appleton for a 3rd straight year)... Seems like whoever's doing the scheduling knows what he/she is doing...One can make excuses about why SU players have such "inflated numbers," but I dont think you can make up/dismiss the 2 (soon to be 3) regional championship banners hanging on their right field wall. (Maybe the reason the dimensions at The Bridge are soo small is so opposing teams can get a good look at them??...who knows)

What does is matter if Delauter was just an average ball player or a stud...He did everything SU needed him to do to get to Appleton, that was his job and he did it pretty well. Not too sure what ya have against the guy other than his smack talk on here...either way this entire subject is irrelevant to most, there's still a regional title up for grabs for some.

Just my thoughts...