BB: Top Teams in West Region

[Ralph Turner]

The ASC cut back on non-conference games so that the members could fill their 40 game allotment.
Mississippi College goes to D-2 next year and McMurry still has D-2 obligations for 2014-15.

That frees up 3 games for ASC schools who might go to Arizona.

Also, the fact that there are no "in-region" restrictions now may permit some schools from other cold weather areas to come to AZ.  How happy were the Midwest and Central Region schools, without the Metrodome?   

[CrashDavisD3]

The ASC cut back on non-conference games so that the members could fill their 40 game allotment.
Mississippi College goes to D-2 next year and McMurry still has D-2 obligations for 2014-15.

That frees up 3 games for ASC schools who might go to Arizona.

Also, the fact that there are no "in-region" restrictions now may permit some schools from other cold weather areas to come to AZ.  How happy were the Midwest and Central Region schools, without the Metrodome?   

I did not know that McMurry is returning to DIII. Chapman enjoyed games with McMurry over the years. I made 2 trips to Abilene. http://www.d3sports.com/notables/2014/01/mcmurry-returning-to-division-iii

[Teddy_Ballgame]

New Regional Rankings have been posted:
1. Linfield      29-2
2. Cal Lu       31-8
3. Trinity       30-8
4. Chapman   26-10
4. Concordia  25-11
4. Pac Lu       21-11

From last week, CLU jumped Trinity to #2, and Pac Lu jumped George Fox for the 6 spot. GFU is no longer ranked.

In terms of bids wrapped up:
1. Linfield (NWC Champ)
2. CLU (SCIAC Champ/At large)
3. Trinity (SCAC Champ/At large)
4. ASC Champ
5. ??
6. ?? (Out of region flight?)

I think Concordia will have a tough time getting in without winning their conference, and maybe Chapman too, since that would mean two extra losses. Pac Lu is done for the year and hopes favorites around the country to win their conference tournaments.

[Westside]

New Regional Rankings have been posted:
1. Linfield      29-2
2. Cal Lu       31-8
3. Trinity       30-8
4. Chapman   26-10
4. Concordia  25-11
4. Pac Lu       21-11

The rankings have Chapman, Concordia and PLU at a three-way tie for 4th. Make of that what you will. (assuming it isn't a typo.)

[Teddy_Ballgame]

New Regional Rankings have been posted:
1. Linfield      29-2
2. Cal Lu       31-8
3. Trinity       30-8
4. Chapman   26-10
4. Concordia  25-11
4. Pac Lu       21-11

The rankings have Chapman, Concordia and PLU at a three-way tie for 4th. Make of that what you will. (assuming it isn't a typo.)

You're absolutely right, fixed it.

Should make things more interesting. I think that essentially guarantees PLU (done with the regular season) would jump CTX if CTX loses the SCAC. Not sure about what would happen if Chapman went, say, 3-2 in the SCIAC tournament with two losses and a win against CLU. 

That would give Chapman 12 losses which is tough when PLU has 11 a very strong SOS (#3 nationally) according to Massey. But Chapman's SOS will get a bump from the tournament, and they've done something PLU has not- win against regionally ranked opponents (Chapman is 2-4, PLU 0-5).

PLU is put in a pretty familiar position- sitting on the practice field, wishing there was a conference tournament and hoping for the best. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked out well for them the last few times they've been this close.

[Whatagame]

New Regional Rankings have been posted:
1. Linfield      29-2
2. Cal Lu       31-8
3. Trinity       30-8
4. Chapman   26-10
4. Concordia  25-11
4. Pac Lu       21-11

The rankings have Chapman, Concordia and PLU at a three-way tie for 4th. Make of that what you will. (assuming it isn't a typo.)

You're absolutely right, fixed it.

Should make things more interesting. I think that essentially guarantees PLU (done with the regular season) would jump CTX if CTX loses the SCAC. Not sure about what would happen if Chapman went, say, 3-2 in the SCIAC tournament with two losses and a win against CLU. 

That would give Chapman 12 losses which is tough when PLU has 11 a very strong SOS (#3 nationally) according to Massey. But Chapman's SOS will get a bump from the tournament, and they've done something PLU has not- win against regionally ranked opponents (Chapman is 2-4, PLU 0-5).

PLU is put in a pretty familiar position- sitting on the practice field, wishing there was a conference tournament and hoping for the best. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked out well for them the last few times they've been this close.

If, and that is a big if, George Fox takes both games from Linfield in this weekend's non-conference set, I suspect they will jump PLU in next week's rankings?  G. Fox split two non-D3 games this past weekend, while PLU swept Pacific.  So, G. Fox and Linfield play tomorrow, then Linfield plays a Saturday doubleheader versus NAIA powerhouse Lewis and Clark State, then, G. Fox and Linfield for another game on Sunday.  So, how does Linfield position their starting rotation for these four  games?  It potentially sets up favorably for G. Fox.

[NWBaseballFan10]

If, and that is a big if, George Fox takes both games from Linfield in this weekend's non-conference set, I suspect they will jump PLU in next week's rankings?  G. Fox split two non-D3 games this past weekend, while PLU swept Pacific.  So, G. Fox and Linfield play tomorrow, then Linfield plays a Saturday doubleheader versus NAIA powerhouse Lewis and Clark State, then, G. Fox and Linfield for another game on Sunday.  So, how does Linfield position their starting rotation for these four  games?  It potentially sets up favorably for G. Fox.

I would imagine that the rotation will be pretty similar to what it was two weekends ago when these teams met up. Game 1 should feature Haddeland vs. Gartner. I also would not be surprised if Linfield keeps their Sunday starter in the same spot so I'd imagine Game 2 will be a rematch with Thomassen facing Zarosinski (they may flip flop Brandon and Thomassen however). Either way, Fox will have to beat two pitchers who had good outings against them in that last series.

And yes Fox certainly has a lot to play for as I would imagine they are #7 in the West Region rankings. Two wins, IMO, would be quite impressive and should be enough to get them an at-large bid. One win, on the other hand, will make things a lot more interesting and we will have to see how teams do in their conference tournaments (I still won't be too surprised if they fly in a team outside the region, but I hope the West gets 6 teams). I'm glad to see, however, that two NWC teams are right on the cusp of getting into the Regional along with Linfield.

[CrashDavisD3]

New Regional Rankings have been posted:
1. Linfield      29-2
2. Cal Lu       31-8
3. Trinity       30-8
4. Chapman   26-10
4. Concordia  25-11
4. Pac Lu       21-11

From last week, CLU jumped Trinity to #2, and Pac Lu jumped George Fox for the 6 spot. GFU is no longer ranked.

In terms of bids wrapped up:
1. Linfield (NWC Champ)
2. CLU (SCIAC Champ/At large)
3. Trinity (SCAC Champ/At large)
4. ASC Champ
5. ??
6. ?? (Out of region flight?)

I think Concordia will have a tough time getting in without winning their conference, and maybe Chapman too, since that would mean two extra losses. Pac Lu is done for the year and hopes favorites around the country to win their conference tournaments.

IMO If Chapman takes CLU to a 2nd game in the SCIAC Championship game they get in. Not sure NWC will get a 2nd team. Most years they have not. Upset in SCAC or SCIAC means some teams are flying into the West Region IMO.

[Teddy_Ballgame]

New Regional Rankings have been posted:
1. Linfield      29-2
2. Cal Lu       31-8
3. Trinity       30-8
4. Chapman   26-10
4. Concordia  25-11
4. Pac Lu       21-11

From last week, CLU jumped Trinity to #2, and Pac Lu jumped George Fox for the 6 spot. GFU is no longer ranked.

In terms of bids wrapped up:
1. Linfield (NWC Champ)
2. CLU (SCIAC Champ/At large)
3. Trinity (SCAC Champ/At large)
4. ASC Champ
5. ??
6. ?? (Out of region flight?)

I think Concordia will have a tough time getting in without winning their conference, and maybe Chapman too, since that would mean two extra losses. Pac Lu is done for the year and hopes favorites around the country to win their conference tournaments.

IMO If Chapman takes CLU to a 2nd game in the SCIAC Championship game they get in. Not sure NWC will get a 2nd team. Most years they have not. Upset in SCAC or SCIAC means some teams are flying into the West Region IMO.

Agree with you on Chapman.
But I think an upset in SCIAC and/or SCAC makes it less likely that teams will fly in, because CLU and Trinity will still get at large bids.
Say Whittier/ULV and TLU/Centenary win those tournaments, I would see the regional like this:

Linfield (NWC Pool A)
SCIAC Pool A
SCAC Pool A
ASC Pool A
Cal Lu (Pool C)
Trinity (Pool C)

Plus if Fox were to win their Linfield games you could even make the argument that the West should get 7 teams in that scenario (and thus fly someone out!)... and depending on the rest of the Pool C field, you still might be able to throw Chapman or Pac Lu into the conversation. A lot has to go right, but still possible...

As I see it, it would also take a lot to fly someone in, considering 4 bids are automatic:
-Chapman has a poor performance in the SCIAC tournament (two losses, particularly w/o playing CLU and getting the SOS bump) AND CLU wins SCIAC tournament (improves odds of only 1 SCIAC bid)
-Trinity wins SCAC tournament (1 SCAC bid)
-Linfield beats Fox both times (improves odds of only 1 NWC bid)
-CTX wins ASC, or loses poorly (1 ASC bid)

Even in this circumstance, I think PLU gets a bid if for no other reason than cost (we've seen that a good resume doesn't always help them), and you get one team flown in. I'll even venture to say that there's no way they fly someone in at all if PLU (or Fox w/ 1-2 wins against Linfield) is still on the Pool C board.

[Jack Parkman]

I'm sure PLU loved seeing Concordia drop another game last night and I would assume they will be rooting for CLU to beat Chapman today.  Top 3 all won yesterday as well as Chapman, one of the 3-#4's.

[CrashDavisD3]

Chapman's road to the regionals will be decided in today's game with CLU. A CU win should get them in. A CLU win will mean Chapman will have to win the SCIAC tournament the hard way thru the loser's bracket.

[Jack Parkman]

Chapman's road to the regionals will be decided in today's game with CLU. A CU win should get them in. A CLU win will mean Chapman will have to win the SCIAC tournament the hard way thru the loser's bracket.

Agreed 100%.  I think CLU is in regardless of the SCIAC tourney outcome but Chapman could really help their cause today.

[Westside]

George Fox scores 9 runs in the first inning against Linfield (5 errors and 3 HBP in the 1st) to win the last game of the year.

George Fox finishes the year 28-12.
Pacific Lutheran goes 25-14.
Chapman finishes at 30-13.

Did any of these teams do enough to get an at-large bid?

[wildcat11]

Not the way Linfield wanted to end the regular season.  Hope it was just a case of looking down the road and hope it served as a wake up call.

[NWBaseballFan10]

Very uncharacteristic last couple days for the Wildcats. Yesterdayy appeared to be tryout day for the back end of the bullpen against Lewis Clark State (#2 in NAIA). The Cats had a chance to win it in the 8th in the second game, but squandered a great opportunity with some poor baserunning. The woes continued into today as the Cats committed six errors (4 in the 1st) to lose 10-2 to George Fox (all 10 runs were unearned). 

The win for Fox keeps their Pool C hopes alive even though they are hanging on by a thread. Two wins against #1 Linfield certainly helps their resume to go along with being 20 miles away from the regional. IMO this win today should move them ahead of PLU in the rankings.

So far it appears that the top 3 spots have been locked up for the Regional. Linfield, Cal Lu, and Trinity were predicted to fill those spots since the preseason and have stayed true to form. Should be an exciting Regional with these 3 heavyweights leading the charge.