BB: Top Teams in West Region

[CrashDavisD3]

Preseason TOP 10 in the WEST....

Whitworth
Pomona-Pitzer
Trinity-Texas
Concordia-Texas...

Who would you put in a top 10 in the West.
http://www.d3baseball.com/teams/region/west

[Whatagame]

From the Northwest Conference, besides the obvious selection Whitworth, I would propose Pacific as a PRE-SEASON selection, given they earned a share of the conference title in 2012.  I think they have more impact players overall returning versus Pac Lu.  Pac Lu has Beatty returning from cancer as one of the top P's in the conference, but they are losing a lot of offense to graduation, particularly Gates, plus an outstanding shortstop, S. Davis.  Personally, though, I think Linfield will bounce back in a big way, but given last season, they don't deserve a PRE-season top 10 ranking.  But, I think at the end of the season, they will be there.

I will predict a rarity - I say 2 teams from the NWC will make the regional this year.  There, I threw down my bet!  Whitworth and Linfield in the regional.

[CrashDavisD3]

More 2013 Pre-Season Picks

West Regional Teams

2 from NWC
1 from ASC
1 from SCAC
2 from SCIAC

[BBFan62]

More 2013 Pre-Season Picks

West Regional Teams

2 from NWC
1 from ASC
1 from SCAC
2 from SCIAC

I predict that at least one of the predictions will be the closet to being accurate!

We don't open practice until Jan. 29 and our first game is March 1. We open up full play March 10 in Florida. Weather permitting, we will have but 3 games under our belt when we enter the UAA tournament; all the other teams will have at least 12. The stadium (Sanford Memorial) is the old NY Giants spring training facility, which is a nice park to play in. Good luck to all of your teams; I usually follow quite a few conferences. Enjoy!

[infielddad]

I looked at Trinity's schedule and they have 36 games scheduled prior to their conf tournament. Last year they played 40. They have a 10 day break in their schedule after the Chapman series and then get into the normal rhythm of weekend-midweek games. They will likely use the Chapman games as a preseason-find-your-weaknesses, then go work on them for 10 days and get ready to play. Their schedule looks easier than last year and the only thing I think that will hurt them is playing lesser competition. This is just my conjecture as these other programs will be gunning for them and are making inroads on recruiting and hiring quality coaches, etc. I expect that the SCAC will continue to develop into a high quality conference, they are just in a transition phase right now. I would really like to see them throw in a home/away with Millsaps, and/or BSC to keep up those rivalries and quality games as well as getting out of their region a bit.

It is great to be talking baseball!!!!!

Trinity now has 40 games scheduled.  While not playing Millsaps or BSC could impact the SOS, I would be paying attention to Southwestern as being a very solid opponent and not what they have been recently, While Coach Thomas might not do it in year one, he just might make a major difference and the Trinity/Southwestern series can  end up having conference and post-season considerations, as they did up to 2004.

[108 Stitches]

I also liked what I saw in UofDallas. They have a solid coach and the makings of a very competitive program. Will be interesting to see if they can build on the past two years.

[CrashDavisD3]

Chapman has been one of the dominant top teams in the West for many years. They had a disappointing 20-20 season in 2012 to miss the playoffs for only the 2nd time since 1996. They had 11 1 run losses in 2012 and 3 2 run losses. To return back to the playoffs in 2013 many new players will need to step up to return Chapman to the West Regionals.  Good defense and timely hitting will be the key for them in 2013.

[108 Stitches]

I think we will get a very good idea on where Chapman is from the "git go" with the Trinity series. Trinity only lost two position players and has seasoned replacements already groomed for those two spots. They have 4 solid returning starting pitchers, plus what I have been told two very promising freshmen, all fighting for the top three starting slots, plus a full bull pen. I also hear they have a couple of other position playing freshmen who will be in the mix so they should come in with a very competitive team that last year was one game shy of getting to Appleton. Loosing a pitcher like Klimesh is a big deal, but if Lucero is healthy he should step right into the number 1 slot.  Chapman should figure out where they are real quick.

[CrashDavisD3]

I think we will get a very good idea on where Chapman is from the "git go" with the Trinity series. Trinity only lost two position players and has seasoned replacements already groomed for those two spots. They have 4 solid returning starting pitchers, plus what I have been told two very promising freshmen, all fighting for the top three starting slots, plus a full bull pen. I also hear they have a couple of other position playing freshmen who will be in the mix so they should come in with a very competitive team that last year was one game shy of getting to Appleton. Loosing a pitcher like Klimesh is a big deal, but if Lucero is healthy he should step right into the number 1 slot.  Chapman should figure out where they are real quick.

Chapman lost their #1 pitcher in Rauh and I am not sure who will be pitching for 2013. I am not sure the Trinity series will be a real indication of the season for Chapman. I think the Trinity series could be a very difficult series for Chapman to start out the season with so many new players and pitchers.

I do think they will play to well enough to get into the SCIAC tournament by finishing in the TOP 4 in the SCIAC.

By that time of the season Chapman should be playing well enough to have a shot at making the regionals. They may be a year away with a very young team in 2013.

[108 Stitches]

Your probably right in that good coaches know how to develop a young team as the season wears on. I would expect nothing else than them making the SCIAC tournament.

It will be a good barometer for him in figuring out who can compete for key positions. Being in a talent rich location as well as a premier school helps in bringing freshmen who can compete right off the bat, so we will see.

[CrashDavisD3]

http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2013/2013week-1

Top Teams in the West in the polls
Trinity
Linfield
Pomona-Pitzer
Concordia TX
Cal Lutheran
Texas-Tyler
Whittier
La Verne

[Whatagame]

Whittier?

[108 Stitches]

Whittier?

Yep right over there by Hacienda Heights, and Pico Rivera. One of my old hangouts Northwoods Inn is up the road.

[Jack Parkman]

Whittier?

Seriously...Whittier?

They are 7-5 and 5 of their wins are against 1-10 Cal Tech (3 wins) and 2-8 Claremont (2 wins).  They did beat George Fox who started off very hot, but it was also the 4th game of the weekend for both....of course GF played CLU and Whittier played Cal Tech.  I don't think this will last long.

[wildcat11]

http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2013/2013week-1

Top Teams in the West in the polls
Trinity
Linfield
Pomona-Pitzer
Concordia TX
Cal Lutheran
Texas-Tyler
Whittier
La Verne

Whitworth is currently ranked 15th at 4-3-1