BB: Top Teams in West Region

[Piobark]

First, let me point out my user name - Piobark - my son is a pioneer e.g. L&C. so no ax to grind here (other than beating Willamette today which was sweet).

Secondly - OK - now Whitworth has taken a series from Oxy (at Oxy) - who leads the SCAIC, from #8 Linfield (at Linfield) and from PLU at home.

Still no love? 

I guess the NWC isn't going to be getting any votes this week along with the SCAIC - cause I sure don't see how anyone can vote for Linfield and not throw a 10th place vote towards Whitworth.

[108 Stitches]

Oxy is 14-12, PLU is 14-7, Linfield is 13-6.

They have beaten some decent teams, but no real powerhouses, and overall their schedule is somewhat weak. Oxy is on top of what is becoming a mediocre SCIAC bunch. I think the jury is still out on them. Taking 2 of 3 from Linfield this weekend is a plus

OK so they can get a little love.... but I think they will have to consistently beat some better teams before they get much move love.  I would imagine they will get some top 25 votes next week. I am not sure what their schedule is going forward, but I don't think it is that tough. I think the jury is still out on them.

Do they play a conference tournament?

[Ralph Turner]

Oxy is 14-12, PLU is 14-7, Linfield is 13-6.

They have beaten some decent teams, but no real powerhouses, and overall their schedule is somewhat weak. Oxy is on top of what is becoming a mediocre SCIAC bunch. I think the jury is still out on them. Taking 2 of 3 from Linfield this weekend is a plus

OK so they can get a little love.... but I think they will have to consistently beat some better teams before they get much move love.  I would imagine they will get some top 25 votes next week. I am not sure what their schedule is going forward, but I don't think it is that tough. I think the jury is still out on them.

Do they play a conference tournament?

Yes.

Wait for the Regional Rankings in about 3 weeks.  Let's see how they do in the Regional Rankings.

[dahlby]

Although the SCIAC has a softball tourney at the end of the season, to the best of my knowledge they have not held a post season tourney for baseball in the past, and I find no reference to one this year on the SCIAC Conference web site.

[Piobark]

NWC doesn't have a post season tourney... I'm not trying to suggest these guys are headed off to the World Series - just that they deserve recognition. They won't play anyone of any note from here on in...

[108 Stitches]

I think if they keep playing the way they are they will. Congrats to them for the start on their year.

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity  ... did not do anything IMO to take them out of the number 1 slot, but I have not looked at any of the other results from the weekend.

#1 Trinity 3-0
W/W/W UDallas 9-1, 9-8, 7-5

#2 Marietta 1-0
W Montclair State 5-0

#3 Kean 3-1
L @ Pomona-Pitzer 2-4
W @ Chapman 9-4
W @ Cal Lutheran 4-3
W @ La Verne 16-7

#4 CNU 3-0
W Tufts (RV, "26th") 9-4
W NC Wesleyan 11-4, 10-2

#5 Piedmont 3-1
W Centre 12-5
W/W/L Covenant 3-2, 15-6, 8-13

#6 UWSP 3-2
W @ Fontbonne 14-3
W @ Ramapo (24th) 5-2
L @ St Olaf 2-3
W St Olaf 3-2 (not a typo)
L W&J 2-5

#7 Salisbury 2-0
W/W St Mary's (MD) 7-1, 8-7

#8 Linfield 1-2
W/L/L Whitworth 15-3, 2-8, 2-4

#9 E Connecticut 3-1
W Luther 13-1
W @Carleton  7-1
W Carthage (13th) 7-6
L @Hamline 8-14

#10 Wheaton 6-0
W Suffolk 12-6
W Endicott 8-7
W @ Coast Guard 2-1
W/W Coast Guard 3-0, 7-5
W @ Westfield State 8-3

None of the teams Wheaton played are over .500, but 6Ws in a week is pretty impressive.

[CrashDavisD3]

Although the SCIAC has a softball tourney at the end of the season, to the best of my knowledge they have not held a post season tourney for baseball in the past, and I find no reference to one this year on the SCIAC Conference web site.

Which conferences in the West have a Conference Tourney to determine their Pool A team for the Regionals

ASC - Yes
SCAC - Yes
SCIAC - NO
NWC - NO
Independents - No (Prior to 2012)

I know things may change in 2012 but when was the last time the SCAC or the ASC send a team to the World Series? Do they run out of gas with both their conference tourney and then the regionals?

Chapman, George Fox, Linfield all did not play in end of year conference tourneys.

[CrashDavisD3]

Trinity  ... did not do anything IMO to take them out of the number 1 slot, but I have not looked at any of the other results from the weekend.

#1 Trinity 3-0
W/W/W UDallas 9-1, 9-8, 7-5

#2 Marietta 1-0
W Montclair State 5-0

#3 Kean 3-1
L @ Pomona-Pitzer 2-4
W @ Chapman 9-4
W @ Cal Lutheran 4-3
W @ La Verne 16-7

#4 CNU 3-0
W Tufts (RV, "26th") 9-4
W NC Wesleyan 11-4, 10-2

#5 Piedmont 3-1
W Centre 12-5
W/W/L Covenant 3-2, 15-6, 8-13

#6 UWSP 3-2
W @ Fontbonne 14-3
W @ Ramapo (24th) 5-2
L @ St Olaf 2-3
W St Olaf 3-2 (not a typo)
L W&J 2-5

#7 Salisbury 2-0
W/W St Mary's (MD) 7-1, 8-7

#8 Linfield 1-2
W/L/L Whitworth 15-3, 2-8, 2-4

#9 E Connecticut 3-1
W Luther 13-1
W @Carleton  7-1
W Carthage (13th) 7-6
L @Hamline 8-14

#10 Wheaton 6-0
W Suffolk 12-6
W Endicott 8-7
W @ Coast Guard 2-1
W/W Coast Guard 3-0, 7-5
W @ Westfield State 8-3

None of the teams Wheaton played are over .500, but 6Ws in a week is pretty impressive.

In my opinion teams that lose should drop. Teams that win should rise. 2 or more losses should drop alot.

[108 Stitches]

Crash I don't really know the reason. I do know that Coach Scannell has said the 3 week layoff from their conf tournament to the Regionals has been a contributing factor. He also said that this was not an excuse. (which I would expect from him) I have not seen any of those teams so I don't really know. I do know that they are not burned out, and in fact I personally would prefer to take a team straight out of a tough conference tournament, with say 5 day break so your pitchers are all rested up ready to go, and head into a tough Regional. I think it is problematic to stay sharp with that kind of layoff, no matter what you do.

Everyone knows there is not a national seeding so this, I think, is a huge factor for the Texas teams. No matter it is what it is.

I agree with you on W/L as far as rankings, but winning 3 of 4 like Kean did against decent teams is at least a push IMO

[Ralph Turner]

The ASC hasn't been to Wisconsin since 2002 because of Chapman.

[CrashDavisD3]

The ASC hasn't been to Wisconsin since 2002 because of Chapman.

In 2012 I see either a ASC or SCAC team getting to Appleton.

Trinity-TX or Concordia-TX are my early favorites BUT there is alot of baseball to play and who knows who will end up in the West Regional in 2012. BBCOR bats favor teams with strong deep pitching and great fielding teams.

[Ralph Turner]

The ASC hasn't been to Wisconsin since 2002 because of Chapman.

In 2012 I see either a ASC or SCAC team getting to Appleton.

Trinity-TX or Concordia-TX are my early favorites BUT there is alot of baseball to play and who knows who will end up in the West Regional in 2012. BBCOR bats favor teams with strong deep pitching and great fielding teams.

Pitching and defense...

I love a fast, low-scoring, defense ball game!

[CrashDavisD3]

From D3baseball Top 25
Games of Sunday, March 25

#   School (1st votes)   Rec   Pts   Prev.
1   Trinity (Texas) (17)   22-3   604   1
15   Linfield   13-6   249   8
17   Concordia (Texas) 21-6   214   21
23   Texas-Tyler   17-7   98   22

Also receiving votes: Pacific 5, Cal Lutheran 2,

*** Linfield is in 4th place in the NWC conference, Cal Lu is in 2nd place behind La Verne in the SCIAC

[Ralph Turner]

From D3baseball Top 25
Games of Sunday, March 25

#   School (1st votes)   Rec   Pts   Prev.
1   Trinity (Texas) (17)   22-3   604   1
15   Linfield   13-6   249   8
17   Concordia (Texas) 21-6   214   21
23   Texas-Tyler   17-7   98   22

Also receiving votes: Pacific 5, Cal Lutheran 2,

*** Linfield is in 4th place in the NWC conference, Cal Lu is in 2nd place behind La Verne in the SCIAC

Linfield is falling fast. They were 8th in the previous week.  If they don't turn their season around in a hurry, then they will be sitting home.

There are a lot of teams from the rest of the country thatare putting good records very quickly.