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All-American pitcher Devin Drag returns for Chapman.
Chapman has dominated the West Region. Only George Fox and Concordia-Austin have made it from the West Regional to the D-III World Series in this decade. For 2007, Chapman is the heavy favorite to repeat. The site for the West Regional tourney will be determined later in the season.
Chapman (2006 Record: 33-13) is prepared to defend their 2005 and 2006 West Region Championships. Chapman returns star RHP Devin Drag to lead the staff. The Bulldogs lost three position players and three pitchers, but gained SS Ryan Cavan, a transfer from Trinity (Texas). Key in-region games include a three-game series at McMurry on February 16-17, a three-game series at Cal State East Bay and a three game series versus George Fox in May. Chapman also hosts Montclair State and Kean from the powerful NJAC during the "spring trip" for those teams.
Trinity (Texas) (2006 record: 34-13; overall 2006 Conference Record: 16-4) was SCAC co-champs. Trinity only lost two position players and RHP Adam Frey, from West Region playoff team that went 1-2. The SCAC moves to a four-game weekend format for divisional play (Friday, Saturday DH and Sunday). This should strengthen the pitching staffs in the SCAC. The SCAC-West is a very strong division (Trinity, Millsaps in the South Region, Southwestern, Austin College from the ASC-East this year and Hendrix). Trinity only plays 16 home games with key in-region games including: at UT-Dallas (3), Texas Lutheran (A&H), and at Hardin-Simmons and at McMurry during a day/night doubleheader.
Texas Lutheran (35-13-1; 14-5) was the ASC West Division and Tourney winner and West Region Finalist. The Bulldogs lost key players but return 3 starting pitchers and their ace reliever. One pitcher to watch is Kyle Newman (8-3, 1,96 ERA, 81 K). "We will be very competitive with above average pitching," said coach Bill Miller. Key non-conference games include hosting Southwestern and playing Trinity (Texas) home and away.
George Fox (29-15; 18-6), the 2004 national champion and defending Northwest Conference champion, returns plenty of strength from the 2006 West Regional qualifying team for the 2007 season. The George Fox Bruins only lost four of their key 11 starting position players and two starting pitchers, but seems well-stocked with experienced players. They have several key non-conference games including the Anthem AZ Invitational games vs. Cal Lutheran, Redlands, LaVerne and Whittier in mid-February. Later in the season, they have 2 games versus Cal State East Bay and then a May weekend 3-game series versus Chapman.
Cal State East Bay (25-12) is a West Region Independent that has made the tourney as a Pool B team three times since 2001. Cal State East Bay is scheduled to play 30 games against D-III teams in 2007, including three-game series against Chapman and George Fox. CSU-East Bay will need to await its bid on Selection Sunday to see if it will get a Pool B bid.
Redlands (30-11, 15-3) received the SCIAC bid having won the conference by five games. The Bulldogs earned their first NCAA Playoff bid since 1993 as the No. 1 seed, and then lost its two games in the West Region Playoffs. The top three starting pitchers and the top two relievers return, as do seven of the top 11 position players from 2006. Redlands should be the preseason favorite in the SCIAC. Redlands plays in-region games against four NWC teams (Pacific Lutheran, George Fox, Whitman, Linfield) in the Arizona Invitational in mid-February. Later in the season, the Bulldogs catch Dominican for two in March, a "non-conference" game with Pomona-Pitzer and away-and-home with Chapman. This Bulldog team wants another shot at the NCAA playoffs.
Other schools to watch: Hardin-Simmons (28-17); Pacific Lutheran (23-17); and Cal Lutheran (20-19-1)
Chapman (2006 Record: 33-13) is prepared to defend their 2005 and 2006 West Region Championships. Chapman returns star RHP Devin Drag to lead the staff. The Bulldogs lost three position players and three pitchers, but gained SS Ryan Cavan, a transfer from Trinity (Texas). Key in-region games include a three-game series at McMurry on February 16-17, a three-game series at Cal State East Bay and a three game series versus George Fox in May. Chapman also hosts Montclair State and Kean from the powerful NJAC during the "spring trip" for those teams.
Trinity (Texas) (2006 record: 34-13; overall 2006 Conference Record: 16-4) was SCAC co-champs. Trinity only lost two position players and RHP Adam Frey, from West Region playoff team that went 1-2. The SCAC moves to a four-game weekend format for divisional play (Friday, Saturday DH and Sunday). This should strengthen the pitching staffs in the SCAC. The SCAC-West is a very strong division (Trinity, Millsaps in the South Region, Southwestern, Austin College from the ASC-East this year and Hendrix). Trinity only plays 16 home games with key in-region games including: at UT-Dallas (3), Texas Lutheran (A&H), and at Hardin-Simmons and at McMurry during a day/night doubleheader.
Texas Lutheran (35-13-1; 14-5) was the ASC West Division and Tourney winner and West Region Finalist. The Bulldogs lost key players but return 3 starting pitchers and their ace reliever. One pitcher to watch is Kyle Newman (8-3, 1,96 ERA, 81 K). "We will be very competitive with above average pitching," said coach Bill Miller. Key non-conference games include hosting Southwestern and playing Trinity (Texas) home and away.
George Fox (29-15; 18-6), the 2004 national champion and defending Northwest Conference champion, returns plenty of strength from the 2006 West Regional qualifying team for the 2007 season. The George Fox Bruins only lost four of their key 11 starting position players and two starting pitchers, but seems well-stocked with experienced players. They have several key non-conference games including the Anthem AZ Invitational games vs. Cal Lutheran, Redlands, LaVerne and Whittier in mid-February. Later in the season, they have 2 games versus Cal State East Bay and then a May weekend 3-game series versus Chapman.
Cal State East Bay (25-12) is a West Region Independent that has made the tourney as a Pool B team three times since 2001. Cal State East Bay is scheduled to play 30 games against D-III teams in 2007, including three-game series against Chapman and George Fox. CSU-East Bay will need to await its bid on Selection Sunday to see if it will get a Pool B bid.
Redlands (30-11, 15-3) received the SCIAC bid having won the conference by five games. The Bulldogs earned their first NCAA Playoff bid since 1993 as the No. 1 seed, and then lost its two games in the West Region Playoffs. The top three starting pitchers and the top two relievers return, as do seven of the top 11 position players from 2006. Redlands should be the preseason favorite in the SCIAC. Redlands plays in-region games against four NWC teams (Pacific Lutheran, George Fox, Whitman, Linfield) in the Arizona Invitational in mid-February. Later in the season, the Bulldogs catch Dominican for two in March, a "non-conference" game with Pomona-Pitzer and away-and-home with Chapman. This Bulldog team wants another shot at the NCAA playoffs.
Other schools to watch: Hardin-Simmons (28-17); Pacific Lutheran (23-17); and Cal Lutheran (20-19-1)
Permalink | Feb 15, 2007