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Post by raiderrunt on Feb 9, 2018 12:39:12 GMT -5
Team to Beat: Wright State. Wright State reached regional finals in back-to-back years in 2015-16 and could again make noise in the NCAA Tournament with this year's team. Its rotation of righthanders Ryan Weiss (8-1, 2.13) and Caleb Sampen (9-4, 2.76 in 2016) and lefthander Zane Collins (7-5, 2.83) has the potential to be the best in program history. Weiss and Collins were both all-stars this summer in the Cape Cod League and Sampen, the 2016 conference freshman of the year, is back healthy after missing last season. All three could be top-10 round draft picks this year. www.baseballamerica.com/college/2018-conference-previews-horizon-league/#gloU0vH8AvKjtGEq.97Boy, this looks like it could be one exciting year for baseball. I can't wait. |
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Post by wsutommygun on Feb 12, 2018 15:08:30 GMT -5
Coach Mercer is scheduled to be part of Scott Nagy's show tonight ( 6-7 at TJ Chumps in Huber Heights ) on 980 and streaming ( wsuraiders.com ).
Coach Trina will do her show at 5:30.
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Post by raiderrunt on Feb 14, 2018 13:39:11 GMT -5
As I look at this team, I think the 2018 Raiders could very well land in Omaha. They have to stay healthy and get hot at the end of the season.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2018 14:22:50 GMT -5
This team seems like it could be better than the team from 2 years ago (which was maybe the best team ever)! Unfortunately the schedule for this season isn't quite as exciting as last year it seems. Which means we could potentially break the wins record, but will also make it difficult to get ranked top 25. Looking forward to this season and all the new players.
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Post by raiderrunt on Feb 14, 2018 14:46:02 GMT -5
It looks like Tulane, U of L and IU are the best teams on the schedule.
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Post by mrose on Feb 14, 2018 16:15:33 GMT -5
It looks like Tulane, U of L and IU are the best teams on the schedule. Tulane isn't expected to be good this year. In the AAC preseason poll they were pegged to finish 8th (out of 9)...just ahead of Cincinnati. We need to take our brooms to New Orleans this weekend as anything but a sweep will be a disappointment. Louisiana was voted #1 in the Sun Belt West preseason and #32 in the preseason coaches poll. UT-Arlington was voted #2 in the Sun Belt West preseason (received 2 first place votes). Sam Houston State was voted #1 preseason in the Southland and #34 in the Coaches preseason poll. These aren't household name programs, but they're darn good programs. If those programs live up to expectations we'll have 3 road series vs Top-50 teams this year. Last year we only had 2 series vs Top-50 programs. IU came in #27 in coaches preseason poll. If WSU takes care of business and win the games/series we are supposed to win (i.e, no bad losses) and take 2 of 3 series on the road then the Raiders will find themselves in a position for an At-large, if needed. |
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Post by wsutommygun on Feb 14, 2018 16:24:03 GMT -5
I am curious about that, when was the last time a HL team received an at-large bid?
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Post by mrose on Feb 14, 2018 16:37:25 GMT -5
I am curious about that, when was the last time a HL team received an at-large bid? Haven't researched it, but I'm confident to say it's never happened. The NCAA didn't expand the field to 64 until 1999. I'm pretty sure the HL has been a 1-bid league since then. Perhaps the previous mix of former conference members in the MCC had better luck with multiple bids, but I wouldn't bet on it. |
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Post by wsuraider09 on Feb 14, 2018 16:54:28 GMT -5
The Horizon League has never had more than one team in the NCAA tournament since it's expansion in 1999. I think it's a safe bet that we never had one before that either, but I don't have the resources handy to find out.
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Post by mrose on Feb 14, 2018 18:20:15 GMT -5
is it possible that it has been that long ago I remember when they even got 3 teams in. Of course the Nutter Center still seems brand new to me. That was basketball. This thread is about baseball. |
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Post by raiderrunt on Feb 14, 2018 18:55:40 GMT -5
Good point mrose, we can help ourselves a lot by beating the teams you mentioned.
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Post by wsutommygun on Feb 14, 2018 19:08:53 GMT -5
My point was that there can be a first and to stay positive about this year's team having a great season but, I'd rather not depend on the baseball at-large route.
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Post by raiderrunt on Feb 15, 2018 13:42:21 GMT -5
I saw an interview with Coach Mercer he said Wright State is having trouble scheduling Top 25 teams, so the Raiders will have to win every game and hope for the best.
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Post by hhgreen on Feb 15, 2018 15:33:08 GMT -5
Nobody wants to schedule a good mid major.
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Post by mrose on Feb 15, 2018 16:42:24 GMT -5
Tulane announced their starting rotation for the weekend.
Friday: K. Roper. Righty. First year with Tulane, Red shirt JR. Originally recruited by Arizona. 6' 180 lb. Last year's JUCO stats: 9-4 with a 2.41 ERA. 116 K's in 86 innings.
Sat.: B. White. Righty. First year with Tulane. Graduate Transfer from Holy Cross. 6'3" 215 lb. Only pitched 20.1 innings last year at Holy Cross, but did have 25 K.
Sun.: K. Gillies. Righty. Soph. 6'8" 245 lbs. Last year's stats: 0-0 with 1 save. 23 games. 2 games started. 6.56 ERA. 35.2 innings, 46 hits, 17 K's, 21 walks.
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