BB: Top Teams in West Region

[TexasBB]

I think there are enough tough teams in region to get their SoS up. They just have to schedule the right ones. I would think with the new SCAC there would be enough teams available to schedule a decent schedule without having to go too far.

Once TLU leaves the ASC they become available to schedule. Trinity is available but hard to book since others closer to San Antonio have the same idea. The problem with the West Region and the ASC is how spread it is. East Texas to California is over 1,200 miles. Even going to San Antonio is long way from Tyler (8 hours one way by bus). Who wants to ride in a bus for 8 hours to play one game. The teams in the east don't face that kind of logistical problem.  The best bet is a group of teams coming to a common site for a tournament. Maybe half way, say New Mexico in the early spring.

Texas BB

[TexasBB]

Ralph,

Didn't see your post until after I hit the send button. I fully agree with it. UTT needs to find the money to send its team to such a tournament. Why they have been hesitant thus far puzzels me. Perhaps getting frozen out of the regionals will wake them up. However, the powers that be in the administraion may not care about it. There are of course more pressing needs in running a university than spending money on the baseball team. Once you give baseball money then the other sports will come in looking for equal treatment.

[OshDude]

Besides some smaller roster sports like golf, UTT teams rarely leave Texas outside of ASC play. However, it appears to be a workable model for many of its other highly regarded programs like softball.

Baseball and volleyball schedules of elite teams nationwide tend to feature a good deal of travel. In many sports if you don't travel, your fate is determined by uncontrollable factors like the relative strength of your conference nationally. That relative strength is not yet there in baseball, but I think everyone knows that there are some great baseball teams in the ASC. It doesn't do any good in national selection terms when many of those great teams simply beat up on each other all season.

If you play in one of the country's largest conferences, and few of the conference teams travel in order to vary strength of schedule numbers, you must really stick out among your peers. Then again West Region teams are hamstrung by the fact that their options for better in-region nonconference play is to travel very, very far west; very, very far north; or cross your fingers and hope that those teams come to you instead of going to any number of other places during spring break. Even if the NCAA adopts the "game is a game/70 percent in-region" rule, the situation remains the same for West Region teams. Long-distance travel would still be required to improve strength of schedule numbers.

[El Hombre]

The 1st Regional Rankings have come:

WEST            
1   Trinity (Texas)   29-6   32-8   
2   Concordia (Texas)   31-8   31-8   
3   Whitworth   22-7-1   23-13-1   
4   Pacific Lutheran   21-8   23-11   
5   La Verne   23-11   24-13   
6   Texas-Dallas   24-11   27-13
http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d3/regional_rankings

Crash -
Listed below are the West Region teams ranked by their SOS (as of 4-27).  Also listed is their ranking nationally.

It is interesting to see how the SOS did not seem to affect the Regional Rankings that much. 
Do you think this will impact the rankings in the coming weeks? 
How much will such low SOS affect these teams and their opportunity for Pool C if they fail to win their tournaments?


West Region Teams - Ranked by SOS
(national ranking in parentheses)

     TEAM               SOS        National Ranking:
1.  Chapman:              .575         #  13
2.  LaVerne              .532         #  86
3.  Puget Sound           .526         #120
4.  George Fox      .524         #127
5.  Willamette      .524         #128
6.  Claremont      .522         #136
7.  Hardin Simmons   .517         #152
8.  Redlands      .516         #159
9.  Pomona              .514         #169
10.  Occidental           .514         #170
11.  Whitworth           .511         #181
12.  Cal Lu              .510         #186
13.  Pac Lu              .503         #216
14.  Lewis & Clark   .503         #217
15.  Whittier      .502         #223
16.  Austin              .502         #224
17.  Miss. College           .501         #227
18.  Linfield              .498         #235
19.  Concordia –TX    .495         #242
20.  Whitman      .494         #249
21.  Texas – Dallas   .488         #262
22.  McMurry      .487         #269
23.  Texas – Tyler   .485         #266
24.  TLU              .483         #279
25.  U of Dallas           .481         #284
26.  Mary Hardin-B.   .481         #285
27.  Trinity              .479         #292   

[OshDude]

It's interesting how the teams are clumped by conference essentially. That could play a part in the rankings logic regarding SOS. We all know the unique struggles for West teams in that regard. I'm sure it doesn't escape the regional ranking committee either.

[Ralph Turner]

The 1st Regional Rankings have come:

WEST            
1   Trinity (Texas)   29-6   32-8   
2   Concordia (Texas)   31-8   31-8   
3   Whitworth   22-7-1   23-13-1   
4   Pacific Lutheran   21-8   23-11   
5   La Verne   23-11   24-13   
6   Texas-Dallas   24-11   27-13
http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d3/regional_rankings

Crash -
Listed below are the West Region teams ranked by their SOS (as of 4-27).  Also listed is their ranking nationally.

It is interesting to see how the SOS did not seem to affect the Regional Rankings that much. 
Do you think this will impact the rankings in the coming weeks? 
How much will such low SOS affect these teams and their opportunity for Pool C if they fail to win their tournaments?


West Region Teams - Ranked by SOS
(national ranking in parentheses)

     TEAM               SOS        National Ranking:    #of non-conference in-region games
1.  Chapman:              .575         #  13              (non-SCIAC 21)
2.  LaVerne              .532      #  86             ( 5; all in Arizona. GFox (2); UTD; PacLU; CTX)
3.  Puget Sound           .526         #120             ( in-region record is 7-22-1)
4.  George Fox      .524         #127             (8; 3 with Chapman and 5 in Ariz; LaVerne (2), CMS CTX and UTD)
5.  Willamette      .524         #128             (one; in-region record 8-14)
6.  Claremont      .522         #136             (4 in Arizona; Linfield; GFox, UTD, McMurry)     
7.  Hardin Simmons   .517         #152            (3; Southwestern; Trinity (2); plus UTD (3) and the crossover series with MssColl (3))
8.  Redlands      .516         #159              (1; Austin College)
9.  Pomona       .514              #169              (3; Whitworth, Puget Sound (2))
10.  Occidental           .514         #170              (6; Whitworth (3); Austin College (3))
11.  Whitworth           .511         #181
12.  Cal Lu              .510         #186
13.  Pac Lu              .503         #216
14.  Lewis & Clark   .503         #217
15.  Whittier      .502         #223
16.  Austin              .502         #224
17.  Miss. College           .501         #227
18.  Linfield              .498         #235
19.  Concordia –TX    .495         #242
20.  Whitman      .494         #249
21.  Texas – Dallas   .488         #262
22.  McMurry      .487         #269
23.  Texas – Tyler   .485         #266
24.  TLU              .483         #279
25.  U of Dallas           .481         #284
26.  Mary Hardin-B.   .481         #285
27.  Trinity              .479         #292

The Arizona series helped some of the teams.  Look at the head-to-head games that the better teams got by going to Arizona.  A result is a result.  The teams that went to Arizona played 4 or 5 games in that long weekend.

[108 Stitches]

Interesting Ricky, I did not think it would be grouped as much regionally as this, but it makes sense. I think it would behoove some of the Texas teams to get out for the Ariz tournament, or do a 4 day trip to Ca for 5 games or so. I like the TU/Chapman home and away and will be curious if TU gets some more games in when they go to Ca next year.

Trinity probably sealed a C bid by beating Dallas yesterday.  A big game today vs Trinity - Birmingham Southern.

[CrashDavisD3]

The 1st Regional Rankings have come:

WEST            
1   Trinity (Texas)   29-6   32-8   
2   Concordia (Texas)   31-8   31-8   
3   Whitworth   22-7-1   23-13-1   
4   Pacific Lutheran   21-8   23-11   
5   La Verne   23-11   24-13   
6   Texas-Dallas   24-11   27-13
http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d3/regional_rankings

Crash -
Listed below are the West Region teams ranked by their SOS (as of 4-27).  Also listed is their ranking nationally.

It is interesting to see how the SOS did not seem to affect the Regional Rankings that much. 
Do you think this will impact the rankings in the coming weeks? 
How much will such low SOS affect these teams and their opportunity for Pool C if they fail to win their tournaments?


West Region Teams - Ranked by SOS
(national ranking in parentheses)

     TEAM               SOS        National Ranking:
1.  Chapman:              .575         #  13
2.  LaVerne              .532         #  86
3.  Puget Sound           .526         #120
4.  George Fox      .524         #127
5.  Willamette      .524         #128
6.  Claremont      .522         #136
7.  Hardin Simmons   .517         #152
8.  Redlands      .516         #159
9.  Pomona              .514         #169
10.  Occidental           .514         #170
11.  Whitworth           .511         #181
12.  Cal Lu              .510         #186
13.  Pac Lu              .503         #216
14.  Lewis & Clark   .503         #217
15.  Whittier      .502         #223
16.  Austin              .502         #224
17.  Miss. College           .501         #227
18.  Linfield              .498         #235
19.  Concordia –TX    .495         #242
20.  Whitman      .494         #249
21.  Texas – Dallas   .488         #262
22.  McMurry      .487         #269
23.  Texas – Tyler   .485         #266
24.  TLU              .483         #279
25.  U of Dallas           .481         #284
26.  Mary Hardin-B.   .481         #285
27.  Trinity              .479         #292   

SOS is just one of the criteria used to rank teams.

It is not the only criteria .....Notice the West Regional Rankings had the #1 for each conference. Yesterday La Verne won the SCIAC conference and the Pool A bid. Trinity and CTX had the best in region winning percentage and best overall record also

Trinity will get a Pool C if it loses the SCAC conference Tourney. I believe Concordia-TX will also. SCIAC and NWC will not get a Pool C...

[Ron Boerger]

If CTX should lose the first game today against Louisiana ...  31-10 with four losses in their last five games.  OK, so the latter is not a ranking criteria, but it makes you wonder. 

[Ralph Turner]

The 1st Regional Rankings have come:

WEST            
1   Trinity (Texas)   29-6   32-8   30-6    33-8 thru the UDallas game on 4/27
2   Concordia (Texas)   31-8   31-8      31-9   31-9 thru the Miss College loss on 4/27
3   Whitworth   22-7-1   23-13-1    has 3-game series this weekend against Whitman 5-16 and 5-31 ("1/2" game behind Pacific in NWC. Whitworth won the series 2 games to 1.)
4   Pacific Lutheran   21-8   23-11   has 3-game series with Pacific whom they trail by 2 games    
5   La Verne   23-11   24-13   
6   Texas-Dallas   24-11   27-13 24-12 27-14 after loss to McMurry on 4/27.
http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d3/regional_rankings

I don't think that Concordia has a lock, yet.  They need to sweep today, to play a few more games, next weekend.

[Ron Boerger]

Birmingham-Southern defeats Trinity today, 5-3.

Edit:  Trinity faces Millsaps again at 7pm CDT to see who gets to the championship.   Josh Fink is about the only starter they have left that hasn't seen action. 

[Piobark]

Congrats to Whitworth!!! They were a fun team to watch - coming out of nowhere to become champs of the NWC...

[CrashDavisD3]

Wow West Region has fallen off in 2012. Only 3 Texas team in top 25. No SCIAC or NWC Conference Champion teams, NWC has Linfield How/Why did they receive a vote. No other teams received votes. Maybe they fly in 2 teams outside West Region into West Regional.

2012 D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25 week 10

Through games of Sunday, April 29
#    School (1st votes)    Rec    Pts    Prev.
13    Trinity (Texas)    34-10    300    8
16    Concordia (Texas)    33-9    216    14
20    Texas-Tyler    33-10    146    18

Others receiving votes:  Linfield 3,

[Ralph Turner]

Wow West Region has fallen off in 2012. Only 3 Texas team in top 25. No SCIAC or NWC Conference Champion teams, NWC has Linfield How/Why did they receive a vote. No other teams received votes. Maybe they fly in 2 teams outside West Region into West Regional.

2012 D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25 week 10

Through games of Sunday, April 29
#    School (1st votes)    Rec    Pts    Prev.
13    Trinity (Texas)    34-10    300    8
16    Concordia (Texas)    33-9    216    14
20    Texas-Tyler    33-10    146    18

Others receiving votes:  Linfield 3,

Yes, the West is down, but there is incredible parity in the West this season.

If Whitworth wins the West and has a good showing in Wisconsin, then the voters will need to re-assess the Northwest Conference.

[CrashDavisD3]

Wow West Region has fallen off in 2012. Only 3 Texas team in top 25. No SCIAC or NWC Conference Champion teams, NWC has Linfield How/Why did they receive a vote. No other teams received votes. Maybe they fly in 2 teams outside West Region into West Regional.

2012 D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25 week 10

Through games of Sunday, April 29
#    School (1st votes)    Rec    Pts    Prev.
13    Trinity (Texas)    34-10    300    8
16    Concordia (Texas)    33-9    216    14
20    Texas-Tyler    33-10    146    18

Others receiving votes:  Linfield 3,

Yes, the West is down, but there is incredible parity in the West this season.

If Whitworth wins the West and has a good showing in Wisconsin, then the voters will need to re-assess the Northwest Conference.

I expect a team or teams being sent to the West Regionals from outside the Westl. I also expect a team from outside the West winning the West Regional....Maybe St Thomas is that team...