BB: Regionals (New England) Harwich '08, '11, ECSU '09, '10

[hockeyfan77]

After    6      Husson   1    USM   3

[EasternCtFan]

Another thing, a couple yrs ago, Eastern playing in the NE regional decided to pitch their Ace (Gilblair) in game 1 vs the 7 seed st joes maine. Any idea why it is different this year not pitching your ace?

[rbgosfan]

Who to start in the 1 v 8 game is often a tough question. You need to be deep to win an 8 team tournament and you hope your number 2 is good enough to beat the 8 seed. Last year it worked for Trinity as they held Keily out of game 1 and used him in game 2 against WNEC.

[hockeyfan77]

After   7       Husson   2    USM   4

[EasternCtFan]

I don't know I just feel you throw your ace game 1 as I stated in an earlier post before todays game, the other team will be throwing theres. you throw your ace game 1 their is a possibility of throwing him again sunday. If we match up our #3 in the 3rd game vs the other teams #3 ill take ours. Same with game #2 ill take our #2 over WPI's #2 which they would have ended up throwing.

[moc323]

husson with 2 on   1 out top 8th    down 4-2 to USM, but......

[moc323]

husson with 2 on   1 out top 8th    down 4-2 to USM, but......

now 4-3  still 1 out  runners 1st/third for husson!

[moc323]

husson with 2 on   1 out top 8th    down 4-2 to USM, but......

now 4-3  still 1 out  runners 1st/third for husson!

now husson ties it 4-4   2 outs man on `at!

[hockeyfan77]

After   8  1/2    Husson  4    USM   4

[moc323]

After   8  1/2    Husson  4    USM   4

and same   after 9 innings!

[hockeyfan77]

Final  Husson 4   USM   5  in 10

[Rick Vaughn]

I'm exhausted after watching a good chunk of all four of today's games.  I'm not too sure what to think about today.  A good amount of people expected ECSU, USM, and Trin to roll, and none of them did.  Eastern expected a battle with Babson, but what was unexpected was the way Westfield and Husson hung around.  Although they were not pretty in getting there, we will see Therrian vs. Bayer tomorrow (scratch that - later today). 

Some day one awards:

Best Pitcher: Fahey
Guttiest Pitcher: Aizenstadt - harnessed his inner 17 year old Dice-K
Best Hitter: D'Alfonso - the oppo laser when ball was not traveling - WooWee
Most Surprising Hit: Cleary's GS - He also called a great game behind the dish
Best Team Nobody Saw: WNEC - Doing NE proud by slapping Ithaca in NY

A little bit of everything in Day 1 of the NE Regionals!

[KSCfan]

WOW what a day of games.  I watched the WPI Suffolk game, and the end of the USM and Husson game.  I for one was way wrong about yesterday.  I thought that Trinity, USM, would roll over thier competition but clearly not the case.  I stand corrected my friends.  Babson beating Eastern was a bit of a surprise but Eastern has the pitching to come all the way back in the losers bracket.  Couple of questions going into today...
1. After Day 1 who is now the favorite to win it??
2. Babson and WPI play in a winner bracket game today who wins???
3. Did Eastern dig themselves a hole that is too big to get out of?
4. Can WNEC keep it going in NY... i hope so

Another day of blowing off work and watching regional games coming up for today

[NESCAC FAN]

1. I think Southern Maine is the favorite. I think they beat Bayer today.
2. I think WPI has the better #2, but that one seems to be a tossup.
3. Eastern and only Eastern can come out of the losers bracket. If they win today, they'll play the loser of Trin-SMU tomorrow...
4. The NY region is very, very weak. WNEC caught a huge break going there. The could definitely win it.

[moc323]

Yes, an awesome day in Willamantic/ECSU home field...   I was there for the end of WPI/Suffolk and for the entire Babson win over ECSU....(work was "bagged" as KSCFAN stated:)))
BABSON JUMPED ON ECSU'S STARTER FOR 9 RUNS IN 1ST 2 INNINGS, INCLUDING THAT GS BY CLEARY !    Nice time for a freshman's 1st career dinger, to say the least?  hE'S BEEN A GREAT, MIDDLE- LOWER PART OF BATTING ORDER HITTER THIS YEAR for average and many clutch ab's...BUT,   He crushed this one---rising line drive well over left field fence--a no doubter when it left the bat.   ECSU definitely has the team/talent to crawl all the way back, AS KSCFAN suggests..and THE TEAM HITS ended up about 14-13 I think? --but, Babson did what they had to do.  Surpise them a little early-- and get up, big ....then ride Aizenstadt as far as possible--as he is the "real deal" as I HAD HINTED LAST WEEK ON THE NEW ENG DISCUSSION BB.   You have to see him gut games out, to really appreciate him.   Class act also----late in the game a speedy runner for ECSU tripped over 1baseman's leg on a close play at 1st.   he was hobbling for a few min.   The umps said---"play ball" as he looked ready to run at 1b...SHAKING THE LEG STILL...   Aizenstadt could've just gone to the stretch and delivered to next batter as ump had "ok'd"...  but, he stepped back off the mound and asked the runner if he was "ok to go?"   You could see the ECSU kid really appreciate that gesture and he nodded, "thanks"..-----it's what we ALL want to see in D3 baseball---"sportsmanship".   So refreshing in today's somewhat "ugly" world.    That may have gone unnoticed by many---but---just a testament to Aizentadt's "class" as a nice person--never mind a bulldog of a player.     OK--enough saltboxing:)))   back to baseball----

RICK V--- GREAT CALL WITH YOUR:  "GUTTIEST PITCHER" COMMENT....AS, AIZENSTADT wouldn't let coach Noone take him out of this game with a crowbar!
The kid, as a soph....does NOT get rattled.  I think having to face WPI, WHeaton and even MIT and Clark's bats all year helps anyone toughen up quickly---or get beat up badly!!   He started off strong---then gave up 5 in 4th inning, after sitting for 1/2 hour during Babson's 7 run 2nd inning...which he didn't mind doing:))  then, dug deep and only gave up one run the rest of the day---a complete game---pitch count?  maybe 125?  He threw 147 earlier this year, in a complete game!   I don't necessarily condone that stuff, personally---but, his form never faultered---so, with his solid mechanics through all 9 innings---hopefully less/minimal chance of arm probs down the road.   I believe he's been doing this stuff for years at previous levels.   Looks like work needs 1 more "bagging" today- boys---as my nephew (Jeff Wojnar) is scheduled to be on the bump for Babson vs WPI today.   Need another "gutsie" effort.....Jeff also has the guts.   Hopefully his teammates continue to hit also....   This Babson team has no fear of anyone----again, partially due to their rough schedule all year.   Kuodos to coach Noone for that.  

KSC FAN-----as you said---"Babson vs WPI....WHO WINS?"  Tough call--as WPI won regular season title over Wheaton and Babson, etc... then Babson swept through NEWMAC tourney 4-0......(but, Babson did lose both games of the DH to WPI early this year....)  I'm sure Fahey had pitched one of those 2 games...   I'm far too deep into this tourney etc, from a family/heart standpoint to make an unbiased call on "who wins?".....so, I'll leave that prediction to you guys...   I Will be there hoping for the best for the Beavers!     Their recent "roll" at end of season couldn't be timed any better---obviously...SO, I HOPE THAT continues for the boys in green:)))       Cough, cough.....  gotta call work----not feeling so well:)))     NAHHH, kidding------this is what vaca days are for !!!   see y'all back here soon...