After coming out of the batter's box in week one with an 11-5-1 record, the MWL is currently 7-8-1 in week two with eight games to play.
The Good.
Thurston continues to impress. The Colts went 3-1 in the Crater tourney, defeating Lebanon, 6A Franklin and 6A Barlow. Crater was the lone team to stop the Colts. What's particulary impressive this early in the season is that Thurston is holding the opponents down in run production. Keep in mind that the Colts are just like everyone else, throwing a lot of different arms to see who will be pitching come league. Lot's of games get very high scoring this time of year, but the Colts D is ahead of schedule.
North Eugene started this week's play today (Thursday). Andrew Moore picked up the win in a 10 K 3-0, complete game. Last week, the Highlanders played North Medford tough and beat last year's state runnerup, Corvallis. So their stock will remain high. They finish this week with three more games in Idaho. Then a killer schedule next week, including a much improved from Day 1 South Eugene, Marist, Sheldon and a rematch at home with North Medford.
The not so Good.
Springfield started the week by picking up their fourth straight win over 6A Gresham. But then they dropped two straght games, to 6A Lakeridge and 5A Wilsonville, both by an 8-7 score. Still the Millers are 4-2 on the season and their defense is only giving up 4.5 runs per game, which is low during this time of year, when teams are throwing everybody and baatters are teeing off.
Churchill lost 5-2 to what should be a highly ranked Crescent Valley team on Wednesday. I was hoping to see this game, but I transferred some poison oak from my work gloves to my eye and it was swollen shut. The Lancers have yet to pick up their first win... but do not let that get you smiling. They've only played three games, are 0-2-1, with their other loss against Corvallis, certain to be very highly ranked. The Lancers continue play this week today (Thursday) and tomorrow - let's play two. You still have to be thinking Lancers as probably league champs. Next week they play Sheldon and Marist. Can't schedule anything better locally before league play.
Willamette is 1-2 this week with an upcoming double header Saturday against Junction City. Willamette's bats starting heating up in a 16-14 win over South Eugene last Friday and seem to be staying hot. This week's games included a loss to another very strong Mid-Willamette team, West Albany, and 6A Hood River Valley. The Wolverines sandwiched in a 9-3 win over 6A Benson. Note that Willamette has already played three 6A teams and won two of them. The Wolverines will need to tune their pitching and D in the next week and a half before league starts.
Marshfield opened this week's play with a 2-1 loss to North Marion. Aurdahl pitched that one. The Pirates bounced back in their second game of the North Marion tournament to beat central. The Pirates closed out the tourney with a loss to Banks. Marshfield has five more pre league wins to pick up their fourth win of the season, which would be more than all of last year.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
League Prediction Thoughts - Saw 4 teams this week
I made my 'Way To Early Prediction' in February before rosters were even set. My thoughts were:
1 Churchill - I was thinking no brainer for league champ
2. North Eugene - should earn second seed, but possibly fall to third seed
3. Thurston - an admittedly wild guess being that 10 all leaguers graduated
4. Springfield - well situated to knock off Colts or Highlanders
5. Willamette - just needs pitching to come around to go to state
6. Marshfield - much improved, but will play spoiler this year.
After seeing North Eugene, Thurston, Springfield and Churchill I'm thinking....
I may have been correct.
-North looked almost too good on D in their first game. Shouldn't a team commit an error on day 1? Andrew Moore should be their number one on the mound and will be tough to beat.
-Then I watched a frosh, Malik Evans, pitch for the Millers, and pick up a 2-1 win. The Millers didn't pound the ball, but they were facing a pitcher who throws in the lo to mid 80's and they put the ball in play. I'm guessing Kameron Bates is the Miller's number one, and if Evans throws a few more like the South Albany game, he could be a solid number two.
-Then I watched Thurston play a tight game with South Eugene. Although the Colts lost, they played very well on D. They got solid pitching from their starter, junior Jordan Smith, and closer, Jordan Loos, and tested a pretty good frosh, Kyle Watson, in between. It's too early to even think who coach Dube will go with during league, but I don't think the pitching will lose games for the Colts.
-Friday was great weather and a game at Churchill. Churchill's Sam Kiesse sailed smoothly for three innings after a little stumble in the first. Lancer Jack Lively looked very good in relief. Look for Spencer Jorgensen as the number one pitcher with Kiesse making a statement for number two.
Didn't see Willamette play due to a postponement, and I won't see Marshfield until league play.
It likes we're going to see a lot of good baseball during league this year. Probably a year where we need four teams going to state.
Not many games being played locally next week. I hope to see Churchill Wednesday, and I might go up to Junction City on Saturday to watch Willamette if my wife doesn't kill me.
I'm behind on posting pictures. I bought a new Imac, it was super flawed and had to get another one shipped from Taiwan. I just got it and loaded game photos and realized I don't know how to use a Mac after 27 years on a PC.
TWITTER: You might want to sign up for the MWL twitter. Look on the main MWL Page. I tweet the score of the game I attend and I forward the scores that people text me. Pretty cool, even for me, a cell phone klutz.
1 Churchill - I was thinking no brainer for league champ
2. North Eugene - should earn second seed, but possibly fall to third seed
3. Thurston - an admittedly wild guess being that 10 all leaguers graduated
4. Springfield - well situated to knock off Colts or Highlanders
5. Willamette - just needs pitching to come around to go to state
6. Marshfield - much improved, but will play spoiler this year.
After seeing North Eugene, Thurston, Springfield and Churchill I'm thinking....
I may have been correct.
-North looked almost too good on D in their first game. Shouldn't a team commit an error on day 1? Andrew Moore should be their number one on the mound and will be tough to beat.
-Then I watched a frosh, Malik Evans, pitch for the Millers, and pick up a 2-1 win. The Millers didn't pound the ball, but they were facing a pitcher who throws in the lo to mid 80's and they put the ball in play. I'm guessing Kameron Bates is the Miller's number one, and if Evans throws a few more like the South Albany game, he could be a solid number two.
-Then I watched Thurston play a tight game with South Eugene. Although the Colts lost, they played very well on D. They got solid pitching from their starter, junior Jordan Smith, and closer, Jordan Loos, and tested a pretty good frosh, Kyle Watson, in between. It's too early to even think who coach Dube will go with during league, but I don't think the pitching will lose games for the Colts.
-Friday was great weather and a game at Churchill. Churchill's Sam Kiesse sailed smoothly for three innings after a little stumble in the first. Lancer Jack Lively looked very good in relief. Look for Spencer Jorgensen as the number one pitcher with Kiesse making a statement for number two.
Didn't see Willamette play due to a postponement, and I won't see Marshfield until league play.
It likes we're going to see a lot of good baseball during league this year. Probably a year where we need four teams going to state.
Not many games being played locally next week. I hope to see Churchill Wednesday, and I might go up to Junction City on Saturday to watch Willamette if my wife doesn't kill me.
I'm behind on posting pictures. I bought a new Imac, it was super flawed and had to get another one shipped from Taiwan. I just got it and loaded game photos and realized I don't know how to use a Mac after 27 years on a PC.
TWITTER: You might want to sign up for the MWL twitter. Look on the main MWL Page. I tweet the score of the game I attend and I forward the scores that people text me. Pretty cool, even for me, a cell phone klutz.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Week 1 Review - MWL Looking Good
Everything in Baseball Land is great when every team gets in all of their games in week one. It's even better when the league is 11-5-2 on the week with two of the losses being against 6A teams.
I've noticed that over the last six years there has been a major improvement throughout the league. It used to be that of the six 5A MWL clubs, only North Eugene could be counted on to be a playoff team year after year. Then Churchill's program kicked into gear about six years ago. Then Thurston's took off, culminating in a state title. Willamette went to state in '07 and '08. Last year Springfield looked solid, but was it a one year fluke? No, is the answer. The Miller batters are even more agressive this year and the D is strong. Now Marshfield is gearing up and should see dramatic improvment over the next few years.
Strong booster programs, facility improvements and good coaching throughout the league has made the league much more competitive across the board.
When league games roll around, we will likely see the most competitive year ever in league history. Almost every team has a great D im place behind their pitchers. And almost every team has a super solid number one pitcher, although, I don't think there is a pitcher who can deliver an automatic win each time on the mound. And almost every team can put the ball in play all game long, although I don't think any team will have multiple power threats.
It all adds up to anticipation of watching a lot of well played ball games and a lot fewer 10 run spectacles. I'm lovin' it!
I've noticed that over the last six years there has been a major improvement throughout the league. It used to be that of the six 5A MWL clubs, only North Eugene could be counted on to be a playoff team year after year. Then Churchill's program kicked into gear about six years ago. Then Thurston's took off, culminating in a state title. Willamette went to state in '07 and '08. Last year Springfield looked solid, but was it a one year fluke? No, is the answer. The Miller batters are even more agressive this year and the D is strong. Now Marshfield is gearing up and should see dramatic improvment over the next few years.
Strong booster programs, facility improvements and good coaching throughout the league has made the league much more competitive across the board.
When league games roll around, we will likely see the most competitive year ever in league history. Almost every team has a great D im place behind their pitchers. And almost every team has a super solid number one pitcher, although, I don't think there is a pitcher who can deliver an automatic win each time on the mound. And almost every team can put the ball in play all game long, although I don't think any team will have multiple power threats.
It all adds up to anticipation of watching a lot of well played ball games and a lot fewer 10 run spectacles. I'm lovin' it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
