BB: Top Teams in West Region

[CrashDavisD3]

I pick Linfield to win West Regional and repeat as National Champions. I guess I will check back June 1 to see if I am right.  Scott Brosius is the best D3 baseball coach IMO. His teams are always well prepared and well coached to beat teams in all facets of the game. Hitting, Pitching, Defense, Running. Attention to detail is amazing. They don't always have the best players in the country but as a collective team they will play the game the right way and beat teams on fundamentals. EXECUTE is the word I used to describe for Linfield after watching them up close for 4 years from SoCal.

[Ralph Turner]

In the back of my mind, I recall all of the annual regionals (the last 12 years that I have been following ASC baseball beyond the conference level, starting with the 2002 CTX team).  I am always pleased at how close and balanced this region is. Last year, in 11 games we had one game that was not decided by 2 runs or less!

It is one thing to knock out the Pool C contenders due balance in the conferences. It is another assume that these teams are not quality teams that would contend for the crown in other regionals as well.

That being said, Linfield does look very very strong and is my current pick to repeat (all the way.)

[Westside]

Linfield does look strong. But the West region is extremely deep. I could see 6 or 7 teams winning it all. I mean, Linfield played really close games last year in the regional, and they easily could've lost. I think their one advantage comes from pitching experience. Every single pitcher from last year's regional and world series is back on the team, and their top reliever was injured last year. The highest ERA of a pitcher that will see "important" innings for them is 1.97. Tough to beat.

[Whatagame]

Willamette is interesting right now.  They are in fact the only D3 team to beat Linfield this season, and they are very hot right now.  They are leading the NWC in team batting (for In-Conference Games) by a pretty large margin.  The potential issue I see for them regarding a pool C bid is even if they win out, and go 27 - 11 on the year, they played 7 NAIA games, thus will log only 31 D3 games (they would end-up at 23-8 against D3 teams).  Remember Pacific tied Whitworth for the conference title in 2012, but lost the tie break for the Pool "A" Auto bid.  Pacific played a bunch of non-D3 games that year, which seemed to be a knock against them getting a Pool C bid.

[CrashDavisD3]

Linfield does look strong. But the West region is extremely deep. I could see 6 or 7 teams winning it all. I mean, Linfield played really close games last year in the regional, and they easily could've lost. I think their one advantage comes from pitching experience. Every single pitcher from last year's regional and world series is back on the team, and their top reliever was injured last year. The highest ERA of a pitcher that will see "important" innings for them is 1.97. Tough to beat.

Linfield's difference maker IMO after watching up close over a 5 year period is their Head Coach Scott Brosius. His players just play very fundamental baseball and play extremely well in a playoff situation like the regional's and rarely beat themselves along with great pitching and timely hitting. It will tough beating Linfield at the home field in McMinnville in the West Regional. 

[CrashDavisD3]

1. Linfield

2. Pull team out of hat from about 8 different choices.

I don't know if they're all good or none of them are, but there's a bunch that are not really differentiated.

Agreed now. Each week will make this foggy picture clearer.

Lots of choices
SCIAC - Cal Lu, Chapman, Whittier
SCAC- - Trinity, Texas Lutheran
ASC  - CTX, LeTourneau
NWC- Linfield, Williamette, George Fox

Always the cinderella suprise team with a conference tourney and Pool A bid is possible.

[108 Stitches]

For those who were not aware on 4-12-14 the Trinity Tigers "roared in pink", honoring Christa Scannell and all breast cancer patients. The team wore pink jersey's as well as the fans, who purchased pink T's. All proceeds went to local cancer charities.

For those interested a short video of the event is here:

http://vimeo.com/92099311

There certainly is more to life than baseball.

[Jack Parkman]

For those who were not aware on 4-12-14 the Trinity Tigers "roared in pink", honoring Christa Scannell and all breast cancer patients. The team wore pink jersey's as well as the fans, who purchased pink T's. All proceeds went to local cancer charities.

For those interested a short video of the event is here:

http://vimeo.com/92099311

There certainly is more to life than baseball.

Just plain awesome.  Props to Trinity.

[Spence]

+k

Awesome stuff.

[CrashDavisD3]

Outstanding !

[infielddad]

Christa Scannell is a true superstar! Thank you 108 for sharing the video.

[SoCalSoxFan]

+k

Awesome stuff.

agreed!!!

[108 Stitches]

How in the world do teams in this day and age not have video feeds !!!!

[wildcat11]

I can't get GFU's live stats going.  It just showing a previous UPS/GFU game.   

[Whatagame]

How in the world do teams in this day and age not have video feeds !!!!

Yeah, a huge pet peeve of mine.  Heck, Univ. Puget Sound doesn't even offer Live Stats, it's like the Internet has yet to arrive in Tacoma.