BB: CCC: The Commonwealth Coast Conference

[GBearsAlum15]

straightheat i agree with you. pitching could be an issue because next week may get busy for everyone trying to get their final conference games in. if this is the case and teams are playing a lot of games in a few days, then i feel that once again WNEC and Curry will be in the best shape. Both teams have pretty good depth in their pitching staffs and have enough quality bats to overcome possible mishaps by each respective staff. Endicott and Wentworth should still be in a good shape, but could drop some games if that type of situation arises, especially with Endicott sill having to play WNEC and Curry on the road and Wentworth still having to play WNEC on the road. Wentworth has a favorable schedule and i wouldn't be surprised if they finished ahead of Endicott in the final standings.

[straightHeat3]

Today will be the first test for Endicott taking on curry @ curry. I think Curry has the edge in this matchup by having rain-outs this weekend allowing the pitching staff some extra rest; not playing in last 5 days. Endicott is coming off a split of Nichols yesterday... (Nichols seem to play the top teams well... splitting with both Endicott and WNEC this season...watch out Curry )  Looks like the gulls threw their 1 and 2 yesterday so will have to rely on their 2 and 3 to set the table against curry.

I see Curry sweeping, putting WNEC in first and Curry and Endicott tied for second... at least until the weekend.

[Hobbesy]

Tough loss today for Curry as they probably lose out on a chance to be the regular season champion

That means Endicott-WNEC doubleheader on Saturday is for all the marbles!!  Should be a good one! or two!

I would say WNEC easily wins both but should we be concerned after today's shilacking at the hands of Westfield St???

http://ned3baseball.wordpress.com/

[Zipball]

Starter Evan Michaud and WNEC were cruising with a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the 5th against a very good Westfield State team when two huge errors including a three base throwing error changed the complexion of the game bigtime. WNEC's 11 game win streak ends ugly. WNEC- Endicott Saturday should be a classic.

[Stump]

Starter Evan Michaud and WNEC were cruising with a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the 5th against a very good Westfield State team when two huge errors including a three base throwing error changed the complexion of the game bigtime. WNEC's 11 game win streak ends ugly. WNEC- Endicott Saturday should be a classic.

Have seen a lot of those games this year. A good ballgame. pitcher cruising, then an error and next thing you know the score is completely out of control. Kids can hit the ball but they can't seem to catch the ball or throw the ball.

[straightHeat3]

Wasn't able to go check this one out but after looking at an ugly box score seems like WNEC really let a good opportunity slip away from them against a good in region team on the road (really a couple towns over but still a road game). Both teams combined for 24 runs and 30 hits! I don't think this is too much of a worry for the bears, just one of those games that just got out of control. They have the hitting and starting pitching to stay with any team but how the bullpen holds up is something to keep an eye out for. Yesterday giving up 11 hits; 10 earned runs in just 3 1/3 innings, while Westfield's bullpen did its job allowing just 3 hits and 0 runs over 4 innings of relief.  These tournament games will come down to who can close out games in the late innings.

As for Saturday I feel the Bears will bounce back and take care of Endicott at home to take their first regular season TCCC title. Should be two close games regardless.

[Zipball]

The WNEC -Endicott Saturday Doubleheader at Trelease Park (WNEC) ended with a split with WNEC almost sweeping. In the first game WNEC with Matt Rogers pitching jumped out to a 8-0 lead settling for an 8-4 victory. WNEC had a 5-2 lead in the 7th inning of the second game with closer Mike Lawlor on the mound when a combo of key Endicott hits and poor WNEC infield defense allowed 5 runs to score. Endicott wins a comeback 7-6. WNEC is a very good team (earlier beat #1 Johns Hopkins) that occasionally struggles with infield errors. With Saturday's results, the TCCC ends with WNEC, Curry, and Endicott sharing the regular season title, but by tiebreaker Curry will be top seed in the playoffs starting Tuesday. Should be a great week of baseball in the TCCC.

[wordsmith]

The WNEC -Endicott Saturday Doubleheader at Trelease Park (WNEC) ended with a split with WNEC almost sweeping. In the first game WNEC with Matt Rogers pitching jumped out to a 8-0 lead settling for an 8-4 victory. WNEC had a 5-2 lead in the 7th inning of the second game with closer Mike Lawlor on the mound when a combo of key Endicott hits and poor WNEC infield defense allowed 5 runs to score. Endicott wins a comeback 7-6. WNEC is a very good team (earlier beat #1 Johns Hopkins) that occasionally struggles with infield errors. With Saturday's results, the TCCC ends with WNEC, Curry, and Endicott sharing the regular season title, but by tiebreaker Curry will be top seed in the playoffs starting Tuesday. Should be a great week of baseball in the TCCC.

it was the best of times and it was the worst of times.....Tough loss for WNEC. Was on the WNEC Campus yesterday.....Had this game in hand...Now the boys will have probably have to head, eventually, head off to Curryland.



Go WNEC

Word

[Zipball]

Word, WNEC if they can overcome the tough Westfield State + Endicott losses by improving infield defense can be a dangerous opponent going forward. Their strength of schedule especially non conference has to be one of the tougher ones in the Northeast. Noticed some ranked teams don't play very difficult non- conference schedules to keep down the losses. Several TCCC teams improved themselves this year with incoming freshmen esp. Endicott.

[GBearsAlum15]

Among WNEC's non-conference schedule was Farmingdale State, Johns Hopkins, USM, Keene St (2), ECSU, Westfield St, and they will play Wheaton next week. Victories over current #1 Johns Hopkins, last years world series participant Farmingdale State, Keene St, and d3 power ECSU should go a long way in determining a potential at-large bid for the Golden Bears. That said, ugly losses to Keene St, USM, and Westfield St could hurt them if they do not get the automatic bid. Infield defense and a lackluster bullpen has really hurt WNEC in its losses and those areas need to be improved come playoff time.

Question for all of you: If WNEC gets to the TCCC Championship game and loses, do you think that will be enough to get them an at-large bid? Remember Curry last year getting to the championship game and losing to WNEC, then being left out of the regionals despite a 34-7 overall record.

[Hobbesy]

GBears-

Great question and one I have been asking myself lately.  In my opinion, the answer is yes.  If both Curry and WNEC make the championship game and Curry prevails, I think WNEC is in great position to earn an at-large big. 

I think the people that are the decision makers like WNEC more than Curry and WNEC has proven themselves against some very good teams.  And when you look at the rest of New England, as far as possible at large bids, they are the at the top, if not the top.

WNEC has to be happy with Wheaton winning the NEWMAC and should be pulling for Tufts and Eastern to win their respective tournaments because those are two possible at large bids gone if those two teams dont win the automatic. 

I saw Curry for a couple innings the other day and I have heard from numerous people that Curry doesnt have much depth after their ace Moore.  I dont know how accurate that is but will Curry hold him off until the winners bracket final?

[wordsmith]

Among WNEC's non-conference schedule was Farmingdale State, Johns Hopkins, USM, Keene St (2), ECSU, Westfield St, and they will play Wheaton next week. Victories over current #1 Johns Hopkins, last years world series participant Farmingdale State, Keene St, and d3 power ECSU should go a long way in determining a potential at-large bid for the Golden Bears. That said, ugly losses to Keene St, USM, and Westfield St could hurt them if they do not get the automatic bid. Infield defense and a lackluster bullpen has really hurt WNEC in its losses and those areas need to be improved come playoff time.

Question for all of you: If WNEC gets to the TCCC Championship game and loses, do you think that will be enough to get them an at-large bid? Remember Curry last year getting to the championship game and losing to WNEC, then being left out of the regionals despite a 34-7 overall record.

A qualified yes to your answer IMHO. That qualification would be that the weiners of the Big 3 or 4 Conferences in NE hold to form i.e LEConn Trinity maybe even St. Joe's??

Word

[straightHeat3]

The number 1 seed hasn't won the tournament in the past two years.. (WNEC both as a 2 and 3 seed)
Maybe that lost to Endicott saturday was good for the bears 

[Bill Gorman]

First Round Tournament Scores
(1) Curry 5, (8) Gordon 4
(5) Salve Regina 14, (4) Wentworth 6
(3) Endicott 6, (6) Eastern Nazarene 2
(7) Anna Maria 11, (2) WNEC 7

Wednesday Games
Winner's Bracket
(5) Salve Regina at (1) Curry
(7) Anna Maria at (3) Endicott

Elimination Bracket
(8) Gordon at (4) Wentworth (to be played at Gordon)
(6) Eastern Nazarene at (2) WNEC

[Hobbesy]

Uhhhhh...WNEC???

Time to start playing better baseball...that pool c bid is not guaranteed.