BB: 2012 West Regional

[BamColt]

I was surprised by Hernandez as well. Concordia ends the threat and closes the game out with a 6-3 win.

[Ralph Turner]

I have faith in the West Region teams.
Here's to victories for Concordia and Trinity tomorrow!

Remember the Alamo!

Did Davy Crockett pitch for the Texians?

Yes, and I think that Phil Collins has the original 1836 Davy Crockett baseball card.

[infielddad]

As I am writing this Concordia yanked Hays with bases juiced up 6-1...I am kind of perplexed at bringing in Bryant Hernandez. Only 8 appearances on the year, and one of the highest ERA's on the team.

No way to know other than sheer speculation.
One thought is the coaches know they might need to go deep into the pitching staff as the games progress.
Rather than put a little used pitcher into a big game later in the Regional, some will try it early in the Regional, with a pretty safe lead, with the pitcher on a short rope, to get out the nerves and see if he can have success and gain confidence, which could be welcome in later games.
Appears not to have worked here and clearly there was a very short leash.

[Ralph Turner]

As I am writing this Concordia yanked Hays with bases juiced up 6-1...I am kind of perplexed at bringing in Bryant Hernandez. Only 8 appearances on the year, and one of the highest ERA's on the team.

No way to know other than sheer speculation.
One thought is the coaches know they might need to go deep into the pitching staff as the games progress.
Rather than put a little used pitcher into a big game later in the Regional, some will try it early in the Regional, with a pretty safe lead, with the pitcher on a short rope, to get out the nerves and see if he can have success and gain confidence, which could be welcome in later games.
Appears not to have worked here and clearly there was a very short leash.

I like the strategy.  He got away with it.

[dp643]

He didnt necessarily get away with it. Hernandez walked in a run and then was yanked. I assume he was brought in just for that one hitter matchup. He has a high strikeout ratio and a low opponents batting average, so its not like he is chopped liver. He might be a splitter or curveball guy who can induce a double play and it was the right matchup. Anyways, kudos to CTX for setting themselves up nicely in the tournament.

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity's Ben Klimesh (13-2) scatters six hits and strikes out 12 in a complete-game victory over Coe, 2-0.   Ben Morris (7-3) only allowed five hits for the Coehawks, but Trinity was able to score twice with two outs in the third thanks to timely hitting by Kevin Clements and Christian Muscarello, who was the only Tiger with either an extra base hit (his double in the third) or more than one hit on the day.  Coe had runners on second and third with one out or less twice but was unable to score either time.  The leadoff runner doubled in the ninth but Klimesh responded by striking out the side. 

[CrashDavisD3]

No surprises  CTX and Trinity both win. No box scores up yet.

[hsusid]

http://www.linfield.edu/sports/2012mcminnvilleregional.html

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth wins 5-0

Scheibe threw 9 innings of scoreless baseball. Struck out 9, gave up 6 hits.

[108 Stitches]

I heard CTX looked good, similar to TU in stature but hit the ball better today even though the box only had them for 6 hits. TU hit the ball hard but the Coe coaching staff did a superb job in positioning their fielders and TU kept hitting it to guys.

All teams should have the jitters out now, and for TU it was first game after a long lay off out of the way, but they will have to do better with their bats. Klimesh was spectacular, hung a couple of sliders that got hit, plus a couple of flairs, but I don't think those boys from Iowa had seen anything like him this year. He worked his way out of 3 jams just like he has done all year. This was Klimeshes game.

The dream continues for Whiworth.

Great weather, beautiful place. Hotels spead all over the valley - up to an hour drive for some.

Tomorrow.

Saint John's vs. Coe, loser out, Noon

Concordia vs. La Verne, 3:30 p.m.

Trinity vs. Whitworth, 7 p.m.

[CrashDavisD3]

Theme for day 1 was good pitching, good defense, timely hitting. 2 shutouts. 3 errors total for the winners vs 5 errors for losers.

Some notables
Concordia had 4 sacrifices 
St Johns 3 wild pitches, gave up 2 unearned runs walked 4 hit 2 batters 
Coe struck out 12 times left 8 on base while being shut out 
La Verne struck out 9 times
La Verne starting pitcher had a 2-5 record 5.01 ERA....Why is he a game 1 starter 


http://www.linfield.edu/sports/2012mcminnvilleregional.html
Oregon is a beautiful place when the weather is nice.

Now for Day 2 predictions

2 and Q
Coe and La Verne

Day 2 winners
St. Johns
Concordia
Whitworth

[108 Stitches]

Day 2 predictions.

St. Johns
Concordia
Trinity

Setting up the critical game of the Regional - Concordia vs Trinity on Friday.

[Jack Parkman]

Setting up the critical game of the Regional - Concordia vs Trinity on Friday.

I disagree with this 100%.  The biggest game is Trinity/Whitworth.  Lets be honest, without Klimesh throwing the game he did yesterday I think Trinity would have dropped that game.  That was one hell of a performance and I agree, those Coe guys looked like they had never seen anything close to that.  Whitworth posted a shutout as well but gave themselves a little breathing room after their initial score.  I don't think the same can be said for the Trinity game as it was in doubt until the final strike.

That being said, if your prediction comes through and Concordia and Trinity do meet up, I am going to have to say the winner of that is in mighty good shape. 

Looks like there was some pretty solid baseball played yesterday and the teams that were expected to win, did.  Today is a whole new day and I do think the pressure is on Trinity to show that they can win without Klimesh on the hill.  Since Lucero went down it has been a pretty average team at 7-4.  Lets see what happens.

[dp643]

Setting up the critical game of the Regional - Concordia vs Trinity on Friday.

I disagree with this 100%.  The biggest game is Trinity/Whitworth.  Lets be honest, without Klimesh throwing the game he did yesterday I think Trinity would have dropped that game.  That was one hell of a performance and I agree, those Coe guys looked like they had never seen anything close to that.  Whitworth posted a shutout as well but gave themselves a little breathing room after their initial score.  I don't think the same can be said for the Trinity game as it was in doubt until the final strike.

That being said, if your prediction comes through and Concordia and Trinity do meet up, I am going to have to say the winner of that is in mighty good shape. 

Looks like there was some pretty solid baseball played yesterday and the teams that were expected to win, did.  Today is a whole new day and I do think the pressure is on Trinity to show that they can win without Klimesh on the hill.  Since Lucero went down it has been a pretty average team at 7-4.  Lets see what happens.

I agree with this. If Trinity does manage to win today, they are going to be strapped for pitching in the third game. In my opinion they only have one shot at winning this region, and that would be to win out. If they drop today's game they will be on life support unless Klimesh can throw on 0 and 1 days rest.

[CrashDavisD3]

Setting up the critical game of the Regional - Concordia vs Trinity on Friday.

I disagree with this 100%.  The biggest game is Trinity/Whitworth.  Lets be honest, without Klimesh throwing the game he did yesterday I think Trinity would have dropped that game.  That was one hell of a performance and I agree, those Coe guys looked like they had never seen anything close to that.  Whitworth posted a shutout as well but gave themselves a little breathing room after their initial score.  I don't think the same can be said for the Trinity game as it was in doubt until the final strike.

That being said, if your prediction comes through and Concordia and Trinity do meet up, I am going to have to say the winner of that is in mighty good shape. 

Looks like there was some pretty solid baseball played yesterday and the teams that were expected to win, did.  Today is a whole new day and I do think the pressure is on Trinity to show that they can win without Klimesh on the hill.  Since Lucero went down it has been a pretty average team at 7-4.  Lets see what happens.

I agree with this. If Trinity does manage to win today, they are going to be strapped for pitching in the third game. In my opinion they only have one shot at winning this region, and that would be to win out. If they drop today's game they will be on life support unless Klimesh can throw on 0 and 1 days rest.

I see Concordia and Whitworth battling for West Region title. I don't see Trinity as the same team without Lucero. Winning Regionals is about having enough good pitching, playing good defense and getting timely hits to drive in the runs.

Day 2 Winner Predictions
Concordia-TX 
Whitworth 
St. Johns