BB: Top Teams in West Region

[Bmo]

Quick math shows 12:

Alfred St. (67)

Neumann (85)

Carthage (72)

Lasell (98)

Manchester (83)

Westfield St. (89)

Grinnell (128)

Husson (165)

Aurora (129)

Puget Sound (94)

Farmingdale St. (127)

Bethany Lutheran (156)

[Ralph Turner]

Quick math shows 12:

Alfred St. (67)

Neumann (85)

Carthage (72)

Lasell (98)

Manchester (83)

Westfield St. (89)

Grinnell (128)

Husson (165)

Aurora (129)

Puget Sound (94)

Farmingdale St. (127)

Bethany Lutheran (156)

Then some quick math,

#52 in the NPI is the last team into the tourney this week.

[Bmo]

The pool c bubble is actually closer to 47 due to pool a teams between between the cutline and NPI 65.

The SCAC hasn't had a good weekend as far as pool c is concerned. The SCIAC had a great weekend and is now is position for 4 total bids.  The downside being the SoCal regional might be the SCIAC tournament part 2 due to travel.

[DickWhitman]

The pool c bubble is actually closer to 47 due to pool a teams between between the cutline and NPI 65.

The SCAC hasn't had a good weekend as far as pool c is concerned. The SCIAC had a great weekend and is now is position for 4 total bids.  The downside being the SoCal regional might be the SCIAC tournament part 2 due to travel.

Last year they put the 4 SCIAC teams in different regionals. Pretty sure the SCAIC complaints were heard and accommodated.

[Bmo]

Agreed, but last year's selection process was completely different, and the committee had the option for two-team regionals. This year, they will have to fly a team out and then fly another team in to spread SCIAC teams across regions. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[DickWhitman]

Agreed, but last year's selection process was completely different, and the committee had the option for two-team regionals. This year, they will have to fly a team out and then fly another team in to spread SCIAC teams across regions. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

That's a great point. Definitely creates more travel for more teams. It would be nice if they can be spread out again, but that's a big ask. The crazy thing, as seen this past weekend, any SCIAC team can beat the others.

[Ron Boerger]

The NPI has been updated through games of the weekend.  Top 10 Region X teams and remaining regular season games:

5. La Verne (23-5) 62.161 - Occidental(1H/2A), Chapman(1A/2H), Redlands(1H/2A)
19. Trinity (26-7) 58.839 - @UMHB, @St Thomas(3), Southwestern(3)
20. CMS (22-8) 58.648 - @George Fox(3), @Pacific, Caltech(1A/3N), Cal Lu(1N/2A)
36. Cal Lu (22-8) 57.245 - Whittier (1A/2H), Pomona-Pitzer (1H/2A), CMS (1N/2H), Pacific
37. ETBU (19-8) 57.136 - LeTourneau(4), @UMHB(4)
39. Concordia TX (25-7) 57.033 - TLU(3), St Thomas(3)
47. McMurry (24-9) 56.754 - @Ozarks(3), Centenary (3)
54. Pomona-Pitzer (18-11) 56.465 - @Caltech(3), Whittier, Cal Lu(1A/2H), Oxy(1H/2A)
55. Redlands (22-11) 56.392 - Chapman(1H/2A), Hope International(non-D3), La Verne(1A/2H)
95. UMHB (17-10) 54.277 - Trinity, @Howard Payne(4), ETBU(4)

[DickWhitman]

Still a lot of good matchups for the SCIAC. Redlands looks to be in a good position. Pomona should also have a chance to move up if they can take the CLU series.

[DickWhitman]

Has the "geographic proximity" always been part of the regional placement? There are zero schools within 500 miles of the SCIAC teams. So if this is a firm rule then the SCIAC teams will be required to play each other. However, I don't think there are any going to be any other regional sites within 500 miles of the NWC winner either.

[Ralph Turner]

My first guess is that the host SCIAC Pool A plays a Texas Pool C.
The NWC Pool A plays a SCIAC Pool C.

Trinity hosts a SCIAC Pool C.
The ASC Pool A plays a SCAC Pool C.

A SCIAC Pool C, if there is a 4th SCIAC team would be flown out, possibly to their delight. I remember UT-Tyler won the 2017 Championship out of the St Louis regional

Just a wild guess, but ETBU could be bussed to Millsaps, if they hosted.

Where a 2nd ASC team goes, I have no idea.

We are strong in Region 10. I will bet a Region 10 team or is left on the board. My guess this week is the bubble team is #52 in the NPI.

[Ralph Turner]

IMHO
PP needs to finish 8-2.

Redlands needs to go 4-2 in conference.

McMurry is actually competing for the number 2 seed in the SCAC tourney and needs to go 6-0.A Pool C bid looks good this week.

Same thing for CTX... looking for a strong finish for the SCAC tourney.

[DickWhitman]

I agree on PP. Same with your Redlands. Some teams ahead of them could have complete meltdowns, but you hate to hang your hopes on other teams losing.

Which SCAC teams do you feel could pull an upset and win the SCAC tournament?

[Ralph Turner]

A very successful SCAC tourney for both McM & CTX will be to go 2-2.

TLU & St Thomas are real darkhorses.

TUTX is a lock. My conspiracy theory side speculates that Coach Scannell plays the "long game" when he makes player/pitcher decisions to assess his talent. He has a Pool C for 2025. It would not surprise to see TUTX "upset" in the SCAC tourney when "Monday morning quarterbacking" might question a roster choice. IMHO  he is developing and assessing talent for the NCAA's, and maybe talent for 2026.

[Ron Boerger]

More often than not, Trinity loses in the SCAC championships ... 3 of the last 4 years.  I think we will find out a lot about where STT stands in the picture after the Tigers' series against them this weekend.  Trinity used a short reliever, Will Hellings, as starter in the run-rule win at UMHB last night - and his younger brother Wes relieved him, LOL - so that backs up what Ralph said about trying out different talent.  Then again, one of the two regular starters in their rotation has had two consecutive bad outings, so Scannell may be trying to find a replacement.

Side note:  Scannell's son Matt is a grad OF on the Wake Forest roster after three years at Princeton.

[Bmo]

Trinity does have some great broadcast downtime filler-content with all of the family connections on its roster and across D1/D3 baseball.

The Hellings brothers and Morio twins on the current roster.  The Baker brothers with Jack graduating last year and first-year Will getting significant playing time.  The Hagan brothers with Jack an SP at UW Whitewater.  The Grumbles brothers with Drew the D3 pitcher of the year favorite at Johns Hopkins (whose dad I believe was All-SCAC at Hendrix).