Spring Break Report - March 29

Spring Break in AZ

Four MWL teams went to the Coach Bob Tourney in Arizona.  Good thing, too, as Churchill, Willamette, Sheldon and Thurston only had played a total of four games combined in Oregon before heading to the sun.

Sheldon has looked particularly good in Arizona, going 3-0 so far.  Brett Nielsen has been lights out, mastering his strikes ratio on this road trip.  Sheldon's defense has been super solid and the Irish have been using the trip to develop some number two's in their pitching rotation.

Thurston has gone the big bat route as expected.  The Colts have 8-4 and 11-9 wins in Arizona. 

Churchill looks to be stronger at the plate than on the mound at this early point in the season.  The Lancers are 1-2 so far in Arizona.  They haven't scored less than six runs in their four outings so far (three games in Az and a five inning 15-5 win over Siuslaw.

Willamette scored 19 and 9 runs in their two Oregon outings, both wins, before reaching Arizona.  The Wolverines are 1-1 so far in the Coach Bob tourney.  So I'm thinking the Willamette bats are going to be stronger than last year and their pitching will be better, too.

Spring break in Oregon.

North Eugene has played the most games of anyone in the MWL so far and have a 5-2 record.  The Highlanders are living dangerously.  Th most they've scored is six runs, which they've done twice, but one of those six run outings was in a ten inning game. On the other hand, North has only given up more than two runs once, and that was in a 6-5 ten inning win over Grant.  I'm guessing the Highlanders have found enough pitchers to back up ace Andrew Moore to do well in MWL play.

South Eugene has the season opening 2-1 win over Sheldon and a 7-1 win over North Salem.  I like this year's version of the Axemen.  Schindler gets it done on the mound and at the plate and I think he's going to get plenty of defensive backup and his teammates will deliver enough at the plate to do well in the MWL.

Marist, Marshfield and Springfield are a combined 0-5.  Marist and Springfield have one loss apiece while the Pirates have dropped three.  The only game I've seen so far this year was a 12-0 loss to Summit by Marist.  Marist was pretty much what I expected.  Young, young, young.

MWL Hybrid thoughts

Most of you already know there isn't a full round robin schedule among the old MWL teams.  So we don't  have an official, unofficial MWL Hybrid League this year.   But I have an unofficial, unofficial MWL Hybrid standing.  It looks like most teams are scheduled to play 14 games against other 'old MWL' teams, so we can get a good  read on how the 5A and 6A old MWL teams compare.  Just keep in mind that  there won't be the sense of urgency to make up rain outs between a 5A and a 6A team, as they must get in their OSAA 6A Special District games and OSAA 5A MWL games.

That said, I'm a little concerned with my earleri 'way too early' projection of the Colts strolling on  a cakewalk to the hybrid title.  The reason I'm concerned is that I was thinking the Thurston bats could clobber the ball enough over 14ish league games to lead the MWL pack.  But after hearing the 'thud' of the bats this spring (versus the 'crack' of a wood bat of 'ping' of the uber-metal bats),  and watching hit balls barely make it out of the infield, I'm thinking the game is going to be a lot more small ball than I had  anticipated.  That opens the door for Moore, Schindler, Nielsen and Lessel to just throw strikes baby, and let the D do their  job.

Overall, I still think it's going to be a great year in the MWL.  We have at least four great pitchers and a lot of solid number twos.  And those twos might just become aces.

Some minor changes to my earlier prediction.

I'm going to leave Thurston at number one, but now I'm lumping them in with five other teams.

1. Thurston. Great bats, good pitching, solid fielding, speed on the basepaths. Experienced.
2. Sheldon.  Good bats, very good pitching, very good fielding, speed on the basepaths.  Experienced.
3. North Eugene.  Great pitching, so-so bats so far, excellent fielding. A few varsity veterans, but a lot of new faces.
4. South Eugene.  Great staff ace, solid defense, decent bats. Quite a bit of experience.
5. Churchill.  Great staff ace, bats looking really good so far, overall defense okay. 
6. Willamette.  Should be very good in the field.  Pitching looks solid. Bats are good.  Experienced.
7. Marist.  New Coach, mostly new faces on team, including transfer pitcher from Springfield
8. Springfield.  Like Marist, mostly new faces.  Dont' want to be in a rebuilding  year this year, with the top six  teams loaded with experience.
9. Marshfield.  0-3 against 4A teams.

There should be a lot of great  games between the top six teams.  I'm thinking Sheldon and North have the best starters right now.  Thurston has the dominant bats and the Colt pitchers are just a little away from being dominant and could break out anytime.  South might develop into my favorite fun team to watch this year.  I think they are under the radar, but have the talent and weird chemistry to do well.  Churchill and Willamette need to be consistent on both O and D to make it to the top third of the MWL.  They have the potential, it's just a matter of consistency day in and day out.