BB: Regionals (Central) Rock Island '08, '10, Moline '09, Bloomington IL '11

[BigToughGuy]

Webster's Victor Valdez is having the game of a lifetime.  A solo shot in the first, and now a 3-run tater in the 8th!  Webster now up 7-1 with just the ninth to go.

"Game of a lifetime" may be a little of an overstatement.  If he had 1 or 2 HR's on the seaon, it would be a little more surprising.  Valdez had 14 HR's coming into today's game.

[Pat Coleman]

Not quite the same as two homers in a postseason game.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Webster wins, 7-1.

Webster and IWU face off tomorrow at 11 for the 'driver's seat' (last remaining undefeated team, needing only one win on Sunday to head to Appleton, while everyone else needs three wins).

[JohnnyU]

Picks for tomorrow..

Game 1- Webster (This really goes against all my common sense (IWU is much deeper in pitching) but I picked Webster to the win the tournament and they really need this win if they want to win the whole thing.)
Game 2- Buena Vista
Game 3- BV over IWU (Again this goes against common sense, but I picked BV to finish 2nd.)

[BigPoppa]

Two things:

1. Webster is for real. My Cinderella is still dancing.

2. What the hell IS a Gorlok? It sounds like something you might face while in a haunted swamp.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I have no idea who Webster's #3 is, but I'd bet the ranch that he ain't equal to Kulavic.

I am NOT taking the game for granted (even the best pitchers get 'lit up' now and then), but I like our chances.

[mr_b]

2. What the hell IS a Gorlok? It sounds like something you might face while in a haunted swamp.

Here is the explanation of the mascot name Gorlok.   It's the combination of two streets that intersect on campus -- Gore and Lockwood.

I wonder what North Park's mascot would be if we used the same logic (Foster & Kimball Avenues) -- the Foskims?  The Fosballs?  I'll stick with "Vikings," thank you very much.

[Titan Q]

I have no idea who Webster's #3 is, but I'd bet the ranch that he ain't equal to Kulavic.

* John DuHadaway (Webster #3) - 4-1 (8 starts), 6.16 ERA, 38 IP/36K, .270 BAA

* Brent Kulavic (IWU #3) - 4-2 (10 starts), 5.37 ERA, 68 IP/73K, .330 BAA

(Both are seniors.)

http://www.websterathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=666&path=baseball

http://www.iwusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1172&path=baseball


Webster is coming off 2 complete game pitching performances.  Their entire bullpen is fresh, including their best reliever, Bryan Stanley.  He has great numbers:

8-2 (0 starts), 2.08 ERA, 43 IP/52 K, .192 BAA


DuHadaway does not pitch deep into games at all.  It's probably safe to say the Titans will see a lot of Stanley.  On paper, I really don't see a pitching advantage for IWU (Kulavic pre-Tommy John surgery, absolutely).  Seems like the starters are pretty even, but Stanley could be the X factor for Webster.  I'd bet IWU has more bullpen depth, but Stanley might be the best bullpen arm of the two teams.

[Titan Q]

Good luck tomorrow, Titans!  What a run...keep it rolling.

[theoneandonly]

Bigpoppa good to see you FINALLY cheering for a SLIAC team.. You cant honestly say they were your cinderella.. Espically with a CCIW team still in it. and Ypsi, I would take Kulavic pre tommy john. POST TJ will hands down go to DuHadaway.. I will tell you right now he will not throw websters 3rd complete game, but count on stanley to come in and slam the door shut.  I would also like to say, I called Webster destroying the competition in this tourney.. COUNT on them making their first appearance in appleton.

[CCIWFAN6]

Bigpoppa good to see you FINALLY cheering for a SLIAC team.. You cant honestly say they were your cinderella.. Espically with a CCIW team still in it. and Ypsi, I would take Kulavic pre tommy john. POST TJ will hands down go to DuHadaway.. I will tell you right now he will not throw websters 3rd complete game, but count on stanley to come in and slam the door shut.  I would also like to say, I called Webster destroying the competition in this tourney.. COUNT on them making their first appearance in appleton.

We should probably just give them the National Championship too.

[theoneandonly]

Bigpoppa good to see you FINALLY cheering for a SLIAC team.. You cant honestly say they were your cinderella.. Espically with a CCIW team still in it. and Ypsi, I would take Kulavic pre tommy john. POST TJ will hands down go to DuHadaway.. I will tell you right now he will not throw websters 3rd complete game, but count on stanley to come in and slam the door shut.  I would also like to say, I called Webster destroying the competition in this tourney.. COUNT on them making their first appearance in appleton.

We should probably just give them the National Championship too.

is it against the rules to cheer for a team you like on these boards? Why dont you just give them the national championship too? Well that would be great but there will be some good competition at the world series.. sorry that webster is doing work in the region and all the cciw teams have CHOKED except IWU... get over it.

[Mr. Ypsi]

And they're underway in Moline.  Kulavic went 1,2,3 in the top of the first (well, he walked the lead-off man, but he was promptly erased trying to steal second).

[BigPoppa]

I wouldn't say the CCIW teams choked. Carthage was beaten twice by the defending national champ and NCC just ran out of gas three weeks ago.

As for the cinderella of mine being Webster, if you'd read the Central region previe, I picked Webster to be the Cnderella (and also IWU to disappoint).

Webster is playing like they have all season and IWU is FINALLY playing to its potential.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Webster draws first blood in what is looking like a pitchers' duel.  4 singles in the top of the 4th (after only a lonely single in the first 3) produced 2 runs.  IWU has but three singles in the first 3 innings.

Going to the bottom of the 4th, Webster 2, IWU 0.