Not quite on the order of Cal Tech's beatdown of Cal Lutheran a couple weeks ago but D3 Middlebury took Dartmouth to the woodshed yesterday. Worth a mention!
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I wouldn't want to be at Whelan's practice today......
Freaking awesome.
+1,000,000
All it takes is one hot pitcher.
You would think so, but looking at the box score, it was bullpen game. 7 guys threw for each team. On a weekday in the middle of their conference schedules, that's not a surprise.
I would imagine that a lot of those Middlebury athletes wanted to get recruited by Ivies like Dartmouth and it didn't happen for them. That W has to feel really really good
18 Hits..wow..couldn't happen to a "nicer" coach. What caught my eye was the 8 SBs. Kirk McCaskell's son is the weekend catcher; seemed to be a guy getting a first start in a while. Middlebury really exploited that.
Echoing Ripken's point, Middlebury has 98 stolen bases in 24 games, leading the NESCAC. They know how to run. The opposing catcher better be on his toes.
Ripken, your kid probably would have had 8 sbs all by himself!
Middlebury's website says 15-7.
Son loved handing it to Whalen... 2/4 w a triple, also two sweet plays in the field to shut them down. Whalen made a nice comment at the end about his play.
Dartmouth was a contender for kid...but no cigar.
Gov, BIG SMILE! Glad he and the team are doing so well.
JCG posted:You would think so, but looking at the box score, it was bullpen game. 7 guys threw for each team. On a weekday in the middle of their conference schedules, that's not a surprise.
They were shocked
I like the Middlebury coach a lot. Seems like a stand up guy putting a lot of work into a program in a tough locale.
I recall a NC ACC HC saying once that he never would schedule a game with Catawba College (NC D2) as it would be a "Lose-Lose" for him and his program. He was clearly complimenting Catawba for their program, and also acknowledging that on any given day in baseball, anything can happen. And if you're the higher division club (in this case Dartmouth) nothing good can come of it.
I will tip my hat to any coach who is willing to engage a "lower" division opponent. Many of these coaches can't avoid these contests however as they are annual traditions born in the 1800s, when finding other teams to play meant you played anyone you could find; in this case Dartmouth and Middlebury, both northern New England clubs close enough to play a mid-week game. This match up appears to have originated only last year, however. I'm sure there are others dating back to the 19th Century. I believe Yale plays NESCAC's Wesleyan annually in the fall, and has done so since the late 1800s. Tufts defeated Harvard in 1875 in football. Some of these D1/D3 matchups still exist, some don't.
Hopefully this D'mouth-Middlebury one will continue annually, as it is a "Lose-Lose" for Dartmouth. And that's a great thing.
HC Leonard is a determined baseball guy on a mission to build a program. He’s a strong communicator with the players, and maintains an open door policy with any player who would like to discuss their role on the team.
My 2018 has never looked back with his decision to play for Leonard at Middlebury. The Field House is a strong asset for a very northern team, and there are active fund raising discussions to build a turf facility next year.
And, it’s beautiful in Middlebury year round!! Though I hate Burlington - Chicago airfares. 😎
Difference makers in the game: Leonard aggressively steals bases, Whalen is passive with stealing bases. Midd hitters left fewer runners on base. Midd’s IF defense has been strong and was exceptional that day to shut down Dartmouth’s offense. Dartmouth hitters had plenty of opportunity for RBIs... the wind was blowing out on Dartmouth’s home field as well.
S1 was in love with Midds facilities, and liked the coach. Parents weren't thrilled about getting there from MN, though. Do they have the new field yet?
57special posted:S1 was in love with Midds facilities, and liked the coach. Parents weren't thrilled about getting there from MN, though. Do they have the new field yet?
They do not. Active fund raising process for the new field going right now, with hopes of getting the green light for construction next Spring-Summer.
Just curious,
Why even schedule the game if you're Dartmouth? It's a lose-lose scenario and there are plenty of D1 teams within a stones throw to get a midweek game against.
PABaseball posted:Just curious,
Why even schedule the game if you're Dartmouth? It's a lose-lose scenario and there are plenty of D1 teams within a stones throw to get a midweek game against.
I agree with your questioning as well as the premise of it being a lose-lose, but can you define a stone's throw distance?
PABaseball posted:Just curious,
Why even schedule the game if you're Dartmouth? It's a lose-lose scenario and there are plenty of D1 teams within a stones throw to get a midweek game against.
That’s one hell of a sling shot you’re using to determine “stone’s throw.” Dartmouth has Holy Cross, Quinnipiac, Maine, UMass Lowell and Sienna on their schedule for mid week games. Only Sienna is an away game. It’s 137 miles away. I’m guessing due to distance and academic rigor Dartmouth shies away from mid week away games. It’s 126 miles to Boston. Without doing a lot of research I’ll guess the closest D1 is UMass (Amherst) at 106 miles. Middlebury was willing to travel to Dartmouth. It’s 73 miles.
BC and UConn use their higher level conference status to manipulate teams to travel to them for midweek games.
Poor choice of words, but I meant within a 2-3 hr drive. There are schools traveling 150mi for a midweek. Even if you have to drive 2.5 hrs, try to get a home and away for the following year. You'd think a Boston day trip (BC/NU/UMass) would be doable twice a year to avoid getting spanked at home by Middlebury.
PABaseball posted:Poor choice of words, but I meant within a 2-3 hr drive. There are schools traveling 150mi for a midweek. Even if you have to drive 2.5 hrs, try to get a home and away for the following year. You'd think a Boston day trip (BC/NU/UMass) would be doable twice a year to avoid getting spanked at home by Middlebury.
Midd was the closest victim for midweek, Dartmouth paid. Midd players are jacked, providing confidence into the end of the season.
I'm just glad the weather got in the way of the Amherst/Middlebury series this weekend. Crucial for both teams and Amherst is not at the top of its game right now.
PABaseball posted:Poor choice of words, but I meant within a 2-3 hr drive. There are schools traveling 150mi for a midweek. Even if you have to drive 2.5 hrs, try to get a home and away for the following year. You'd think a Boston day trip (BC/NU/UMass) would be doable twice a year to avoid getting spanked at home by Middlebury.
Fenway could provide experienced perspective. Cornell (where his son played) isn’t exactly in the center of the D1 universe. I don’t believe Ivies want to travel four, five hours round trip on a class day. They play doubleheaders on weekends rather than miss class on Friday. As it is they only play a forty game season when they could play fifty-six.
What occurred is a big deal for Middlebury. It’s embarrassing for Dartmouth for a day. But it probably wouldn’t occur again if they play for the next ten years. Dartmouth will get over it quickly. They’re only interested in how they compete in the Ivy.
I think everyone is making way to big of a deal about this. In baseball, it's a given that there are days when everything goes wrong, and others, when everything goes right. Sounds like Midd had one type of day, Dart, the other.
Um Amherst beat Dartmouth maybe 3 years ago as well. We discussed it on this Board then. So Whelan has had this happen before. Just saying...
Twoboys posted:Um Amherst beat Dartmouth maybe 3 years ago as well. We discussed it on this Board then. So Whelan has had this happen before. Just saying...
Just saying what? In the moment I’m guessing they don’t like losing to a D3. But I don’t believe Ivies look the world the same as other conferences. Especially conferences with ranked teams.
For the record, this Middlebury vs Dartmouth match-up has the feel of a tradition born in the 19th Century, but on the contrary originated, it appears, in 2018.
Score of that game was 12-1. Dartmouth.
Some days you're the bug, some days the windshield. That's baseball.
57special posted:I think everyone is making way to big of a deal about this. In baseball, it's a given that there are days when everything goes wrong, and others, when everything goes right. Sounds like Midd had one type of day, Dart, the other.
my 2 cents: so much of baseball's appeal is nostalgic and built on memories like this one will be for the Middlebury players, and the Amherst players a couple of years ago. They won't forget this game, which makes it not necessarily a big deal, but certainly one worth celebrating.
The article states that this is the first loss to Middlebury since 1950.
https://dartmouthsports.com/ne...ddlebury-190416.aspx
HANOVER, N.H. — Justin Han was 4-for-6 with four RBIs to lead Middlebury (16-8) to 15-7 victory at Dartmouth (11-19) on a windy Tuesday afternoon at Red Rolfe Field at Biondi Park, the Panthers' first win over the Big Green since 1950.
So there is some history here. I d not know how often they play. It does seem like the history goes back further than 2018.
I applaud Dartmouth for scheduling this game. Two high academic schools with an aligned view on where Baseball fits in the grand scheme of things. Middlebury is a short drive to Hanover. Why not play. Dartmouth gets to play their bench players (some who are likely walk-ons and are in reality D3 players) and Middlebury gets the thrill of playing a D1 opponent in a bigger time environment (at least compared to NESCAC fields). So Dartmouth loses...does it really matter? No it does not. It's a midweek non conference game. Games are always more fun than another practice.
Aside from limiting midweek travel Ivies aren’t concerned about RPI when they make their schedule. They know almost all the time only the conference champion is advancing.
AD2018 posted:I applaud Dartmouth for scheduling this game. Two high academic schools with an aligned view on where Baseball fits in the grand scheme of things. Middlebury is a short drive to Hanover. Why not play. Dartmouth gets to play their bench players (some who are likely walk-ons and are in reality D3 players) and Middlebury gets the thrill of playing a D1 opponent in a bigger time environment (at least compared to NESCAC fields). So Dartmouth loses...does it really matter? No it does not. It's a midweek non conference game. Games are always more fun than another practice.
Dartmouth played their starting position players. Dartmouth bench guys didn't come in until Middlebury scored 6 runs in the sixth. Dartmouth stranded a lot of players on base. Shut down defensively and out hit.
The pitching a completely different gig, and if it was a serious weekend match that truly counted for Dartmouth, Midd would have faced stronger pitching. (Of which, 3-4 hitters on Midd would have preferred)
Midd had a good day, Dartmouth HC Whalen tipped his cap. Next.
Another D3 takes down Dartmouth. PP is a really good D3 team with a very talented lineup. Way to go Sagehens!
@TerribleBPthrower posted:Another D3 takes down Dartmouth. PP is a really good D3 team with a very talented lineup. Way to go Sagehens!
Kiddo was following this game closely as he has vested interest in both programs. Indeed, lots of great D3 ball being played with programs sending kids to the next level, and I don't mean D1.
Are there any sites that make it easy to filter out games between different divisions? I'd be curious to see other D3 vs D1/D2 matchups and D1 vs D2.
Not that I know of.... normally they are listed as outliers to the schedule. Dartmouth was a 90m ride from Midd, and were always considered the lil bro or lil sis. They hosted that every year for years. Whalen hasn't allowed it since we embarrassed the heck out of them. We had a good team, that roster graduated last May with numerous going to grad D1 programs and now playing.