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

[Hobbesy]

Regional picture getting a bit clearer as more tickets are punched...

Here is what I think the eight team tournament will look like at this point if Worcester wins MASCAC

1. Tufts (NESCAC)
2. Wheaton (NEWMAC)
3. Western New England (TCCC)
4. Eastern Connecticut (LEC Champ)
5. Westfield (Pool C)
6. St. Joe's (GNAC)
7. Worcester (MASCAC)
8. Castleton St. (NEAC)


If Westfield wins twice

1. Tufts
2. Wheaton
3. WNEC
4. ECSU
5. Westfield
6. Keene St.
7. St. Joes
8. Castleton

Bowdoin made a good push for a pool C bid by making it to the NESCAC championship game but I still think Keene has the upperhand especially if they can get to the LEC semi-final or final.

[RSSmith]

Castleton has the NEAC/NAC automatic bid.  Westfield losing puts a lot of pressure on Keene State and ECSU.

[Hobbesy]

yes it does RSS!

It appears Westfield now has first crack at an at-large bid based on the rankings and all that.  But going by other things I still think Keene and Eastern are stronger teams regardless of records or what not.  I think that will come in play when final decisions are made.

So now with Worcester in here is what I think:

1. Tufts (NESCAC)
2. Wheaton (NEWMAC)
3. WNEC (TCCC)
4. LEC Winner
5. Westfield St. (MASCAC Runner-Up)
6. LEC Runner-Up
7. Worcester St. (MASCAC)
8. St. Joseph's (GNAC)

Castleton gets shipped to New York.

[KSCfan]

What if Keene and or Eastern dont make the finals.  What if say Umass boston wins it and Eastern and Keene dont make it to the final game.  Who is the Pool C long shot with thier upset hats on for the LEC tournament this weekend

[ecfaninri]

Hobbesy
If either Eastern and Keene St wins the tourney but the other isn't the runner-up, do you really think the LEC deserves an at large bid?

[Hobbesy]

Ecanfan-

Well I guess you are right.  I guess I figure Keene and Eastern will be in the LEC final.  If not I still think Keene and Eastern have a good shot of getting into the tournament as at-large teams.

If either keene or eastern doesnt win and dont make it, I think Eastern gets the nod over Keene KSCfan.

[YA, Boy]

How close will the determination between the 1 and 2 seeds be with Tufts and Wheaton?

[OshDude]

Didn't see the ECAC NE tourney linked anywhere. If you have not seen it, here it is.
http://www.ecacsports.com/championships/2010_Spring_Championships/new_england_baseball_release.pdf

[Rick Vaughn]

How close will the determination between the 1 and 2 seeds be with Tufts and Wheaton?

Close, but the top seed should be set as Tufts...They were the top seed going into this week and did nothing to hurt their resume (in fact they improved it).  Therefore, #1 seed in NE.  I think the Jumbo's impressive winning percentage is likely what puts them over Wheaton.  There is no difference in their record's against common opponents (Both 5-1), so it's tough to swap them. 

[GBearsAlum15]

If Keene does not win the LEC, I still think they will be sweating bullets come selection time. It is very difficult to get an at-large bid, especially when you have 13 loses (possibly one more). I know that Keene has the #3 strength of schedule and has quality wins, but I just feel like they have to win the LEC to get in the regionals. Westfield St losing in the MASCAC really hurt Keene because I feel that Westfield St has a much better shot to get an at-large. I mean look at Wheaton and Curry last year, they were 30-12 and 34-7 overall respectively and neither received an at-large bid. I think that ECSU should also do their best to win the LEC because an at-large would not be a given for them either. ECSU has a better shot than Keene of getting an at-large bid because they are hosting the tournament and they have the history. Since Cortland St lost in their conference tournament, I actually think that there is a better chance that a NE team does not get shipped out.

Here are my seedings as of now...

1. Tufts
2. Wheaton
3. WNEC
4. LEC Winner
5. St. Joes
6. Westfield St
7. Worcester St
8. Castleton St

[fotoguy]

does the long layoff hurt or help teams?

[wordsmith]

If Keene does not win the LEC, I still think they will be sweating bullets come selection time. It is very difficult to get an at-large bid, especially when you have 13 loses (possibly one more). I know that Keene has the #3 strength of schedule and has quality wins, but I just feel like they have to win the LEC to get in the regionals. Westfield St losing in the MASCAC really hurt Keene because I feel that Westfield St has a much better shot to get an at-large. I mean look at Wheaton and Curry last year, they were 30-12 and 34-7 overall respectively and neither received an at-large bid. I think that ECSU should also do their best to win the LEC because an at-large would not be a given for them either. ECSU has a better shot than Keene of getting an at-large bid because they are hosting the tournament and they have the history. Since Cortland St lost in their conference tournament, I actually think that there is a better chance that a NE team does not get shipped out.

Here are my seedings as of now...

1. Tufts
2. Wheaton
3. WNEC
4. LEC Winner
5. St. Joes
6. Westfield St
7. Worcester St
8. Castleton St

GBears,

Not sure I agree with your assessment, but it does not matter because as they say some votes are weighed and some votes are counted. My votes are neither weighed nor counted in the grand scheme of things. But I do have an opinion. Thus...

KSC played a more difficult schedule than Westfield; KSC had 4 more losses than Westfield with that tougher schedule. Other than the WNEC win I don't see any really strong/quality wins for Westfield, yes they beat Castleton (Yawn), and Amherst (OK) and even WPI (before WPI remembered that they were WPI). They could not, absolutely could not get past Worcester St. losing 4 times to them. Oh and by the way ladies the Westfield team also lost to one Keene State.

KSC on the other hand had losses to Babson, Wheaton Amherst, EConn, WNEC, RIC, & UMB among others. With some quality wins over EConn, Wheaton, UMB, Suffolk, Curry,  RIC, and oh, did I mention, Westfield state?

So if KSC has a deep run in the LEC tourney and does not win then I feel they should get an at-large; will they? dat be da question - the answer is go out and win the LEC and don't leave it in the hands of the voters.

Word

[Hobbesy]

GBears-

I think Eastern and Keene have an edge because of the conference they play in as well as past history.  Westfield is not a lock just because they were ranked third in the first two NCAA polls.  They play in a very subpar conference (MASCAC) that hurts them.  Yes they had some good wins this year but I can very easily see them not getting a bid.  

Like I said I think if Keene or Eastern dont make the final, then Eastern will have the edge.  If I am Keene, I need to make it to the championship game, win or lose, to have a chance at an at-large bid.  I also think Eastern needs to make it out of the first day (they could lose twice day one) to have a shot.  

Honestly, I just dont see any other team in the LEC making it to the championship game.  

Foto-

As for the layoff helping or hurting, I think its a wash.  It helps because teams can rest their pitchers but it hurts because you get rusty and lose any momentum you would have built while winning your tournament.  WNEC is a great example.  They got a week and half off to rest their staff that threw alot of innings but they also lost the momentum they gained from winning five games in four days.  

[GBearsAlum15]

Hobbesy and Word--

I agree with you guys completely. I am not saying Westfield St is a lock, I just have a feeling they will get in if say Keene doesn't get to the finals. Eastern should be alright no matter what, unless like you said Hobbesy, they go out on day one (very unlikely). I compare the Westfield St situation this year to the Curry situation last year. However, Curry does play in a tougher conference than Westfield St, and they still got left out at 34-7. I just think that the way things have gone this year that Westfield St has a decent shot. Hard to argue a 30-9 record, but I think you guys are right that their MASCAC and non-conference schedule aren't anything to brag about. I just know that at-large bids are hard to come by, which is why I believe that Keene has to win the LEC (automatic bid) or be in the championship game to even have a chance.

[ecfaninri]

Hobbesy,
I agree that Eastern should have an edge, but I am biased. Westfield lost four times to Worcester. Enough said. Eastern did lose to Plymouth St., West Conn, Roger Williams but did have wins over Tufts, Trinity, and Wesleyan late in the season. I like the strength of schedule setup. There is no arguing of how wins are interpreted.

Layoffs... I like how the LEC is this week. Momentum is a good thing. Sunday's must wins to host for Eastern surely came at a good time for the slumping Warrior hitters. Those two wins could carry the team past the first day.


ECSUalum and TEEfan where are you guys?