Strongest Conferences for 2007

Catholic Leagues are pretty strong.

I wonder if Ibach has a conferred with his board of directors to have form that opinion.

Sandburg, Andrew, Lockport, HF, Bradley-Bourbonnais, LW East ..... Soutwest Suburban.

St. Charles North should have a very good season. I think Lockport will always be at the top of everyone's pre season poll.

This year should shape up like all the others. The MSL is the best baseball conference from top to bottom in the state. The WSC would be a very close second. Both of these conferences have top teams, but also there weaker teams are pretty strong as well.

Right on spot Ballyall

For you msl fans I am sure it should be a good conference but who will actually be strong in the east? Maybe Bg or prospect? I didn't think the rest will be that strong. In the west I keep hearing it keeps coming down to the number 2' in the rotations. PHS, BHS, FHS, SHS,CHS, have Huencke, Rische, Gailey, Monroe,and Wright, but who will be the second and third starters at those schools?

Palatine has a great #2 in Reise [sp]

Thanks Howard, is he the lefty?

Fremd has a good Jr. class with lefty Webber pitched great over the summer plus Brophy, Ford and Wittkowski, and Reise is a righty.

I have a feeling that pitching will not be an issue at Palatine.

Then PAlatine will be especially tough if they get the pitching! Had heard they may have a pretty good closer that will make a difference in close games as well.

The MSL West will be tough but Palatine has to be considered the big favorite with all those good seniors. They will probably be among the top-ranked teams in the State, if not #1.

My prediction:
1. Palatine --
2. Schaumburg 2 GB
3. Conant 3 GB
4. Fremd 4 GB
5. Barrington 6 GB
6. Hoffman Estates 8 GB

the csl conference will be strong on both sides, espicially the south. lots of teams in there that should be ranked. the playoffs will be a dog fight to see who is the best.

ESCC:

The East Suburban Catholic Conference often has really good baseball.
In 2003 they took 1st 2nd and 3rd in state.

Last year they took 2nd

I agree with a previous member; the Southwest Suburban conference is a good as any. Lockport, Sandburg, Andrew, Stagg, Lincoln Way Central and East, Bradley, Homewood Flossmoor, Joliet Township and even Bolingbrook which is up and coming. Many of the teams listed above have an excellent starting pitcher; Ahern from H-F, Kazmarek from Andrew, McFarland from Stagg and Chimielewski from Sandburg. Except for Ahern, I believe the other pitchers are all going to good D1 schools to pitch.

I feel that Palatine hs a nice team. But they aren't even close to tops in the state. For that matter, I don't think the MSL is the toughest conference. The way that the MSL does their scheduling allows teams to load up the top pitchers against the top teams unlike some of the other conferences. This allows a team with a top pitcher such as Conant to beat a team with good hitting and lesser pitching such as Palatine. They can do this both times that they play them.

If you look back a few years, Palatine is hyped every year and they don't seem to back it up. Coach Belo gets the best out of his players but tends to talk them up a bit much.

Look for some surprises in the MSL. The team that wins it will be the team that has the biggest players that nobody heard of or expected.

Benchwarmer, appreciate the responses but don't think they are substantiated. However if stating that we should be a contender for the MSL Championship and Losing the MSL Championship by l run in extra innings to a team that went to the elite 8 and to a player who earned player of the year and all state recognition is not backing my pre-season "talk up", then I am not sure what is. Just a heads up, since we are the defending divisional champions and are returning 6 to 7 starters (depending on the DH), I will be stating that we expect to compete for the MSL Crown.

Coach, you are too modest. I'm sure that you not only expect to compete, but have every right to expect an MSL Championship.

With the talent and experience Palatine has, they will be tough to beat day in and day out. This could be the peak of The Palatine Program.

Schaumburg, Conant and Fremd all have pitchers tha can beat anyone on a given day but they can't pitch every game. I'll stick to my earlier prediction.

Thanks Fastball, I hope this isnt the peak (we believe in reloading not rebuilding and I really believe we have a legitament chance to compete for a title the following year)I have a lot of years left in the business. Realistically the next 3
years our 1/2/3 pitchers will be a Sr/JR/So.

Coach,

I'm sure you would like to reload, but you won't be replacing Butch anytime soon, and as a group Allen, Reynolds, Truetler, Heunecke, Biela, etc. won't be easy to "reload."

No offense to your up and coming players but your 07 group is going to end up being one of your best.

We'll just try not to be embarressed.

OK FBD, you got me on that one, Biela and the boys are a pretty special group. So, I better get out of the way and not try to screw them up. Whether or not people believe this is the best baseball conference or not here is what I will say about the MSL, because of the format it is truly one of the toughest conferences to win. In the MSL you can and most will throw their number 1 twice per week ever other week, 8 of 16 possible starts. Conferences who play the 3 game series will only use their number 1 a third of the time.

Playball, I also think that you will be contending for the MSL crown however, if you start out hot you can expect the competition at least in the West to bring out their big guns every time you play and that makes it tough.

I think to make a solid run at state you need to have three quality pitchers on top of their game at the right time. I have not read where any program in the MSL has the depth that I feel is necessary to pull it off. Especially when you look at some of the Catholic league teams that have the ability to bring in (we can't say recruit now can we) a player to fill a specific need and keep them playoff ready.

If you look back a few years, Palatine is hyped every year and they don't seem to back it up. Coach Belo gets the best out of his players but tends to talk them up a bit much.

Benchwarmer, I appreciate your comments however, we have never been chosen to finish first in the MSL or make any kind of run toward a state title. So I am not sure where your "hyped" comment comes from. Secondly, as a head coach I have done nothing but support my players. If I felt that my players have a chance to play at the next level then I will pursue every avenue to help them. I have always felt that we could compete with any team in the state. I design my program that way. But I am very aware of my players abilities and can assure you that "talking my players up" is something I am not guilty of. Nevertheless, this year more than ever I believe we are as sound as anybody and personnel wise a have legitimate chance of competing at the highest level. Our pitching staff is very sound and seasoned.

FBD, I think you sell the Broncos short!

benchwarmer, I think Palatine has 3 lined up to pitch that will do fine with a possible closer that could be very tough. Which teams is it that you think have 3 quality pitchers? You can knock playball all you want but I have never seen anyone that promotes players towards the next level as well as he does and that includes players outside of his program. A fantastic program and it goes way beyond teaching baseball!

Over the past few years, Palatine has repeatedly been picked to finish first in their conference on this board. The way I read this thread is that Palatine should win the MSL and that the MSL is one of the strongest conferences in the state. Maybe it isn't Coach Belo, but somebody is talking them up. My second point was that if anybody can take a team to state and win it, Coach Belo can. I just don't think that the MSL is as strong as some of the other conferences and any team out of this conference would be hard pressed to win state.

quote:

Originally posted by 2bagger:
Which teams is it that you think have 3 quality pitchers?

2bagger,
Is your question specific to the MSL or were you asking about any team with a quality 3 deep rotation?

Diamond.....it's just that the competition is so tough!

It takes 2 very good pitchers to get you downstate and into the Championship Game if weather isn't a factor. You can do the Regionals with 2, the Sectionals with 2, and the Supersectional with 1. Win those 5 games and you are in Joliet.

Joliet Catholic, returning pitchers are strong; Sandburg (Triton Baseball connection pays dividends), Lockport strong program keeps getting better.
Fastball, Two very good pitchers wouldn't get you through pool play at a major travel event.
Two through regionals yes, but sectionals not so sure about that.

Ibach

High school and travel ball are two different animals. A good high school team will do quite well with two number one type of pitchers.

Ibach I believe the thread is about best conferences. Secondly, don't get me started on travel ball again, hate to insult the 12 year old all americans.

Sulltiger, I agree with you to a point. The Regionals yes, you can do well in sectionals, but it's the deeper rotations three or better front-line pitchers that make it to State. Two just won't get you there. Throw mid-level guy in the mix and you get bounced quick.

So I was right all along...............

cplz, I know what you are going to say and yes I know that lake zurich has 3 quality starters and I would assume your son is number one. Benchwarmer, I think the msl is tough for a couple of reasons and one specifically that playball brought up, that being they don't play conference games back to back or 3 game series. FVC does the 2 games back to back and makes a difference in that you get to face a number 2 or 3. I bet Palatine sees Gailey, wright, Monroe and Rische twice in their conference games. That is a big differenc in your wins and loses and also in your stats that go out to everyone.

Look at what St.Pats did last year. I dont believe they had what anyone would have considered to be more than two aces on their staff. Once you make it to the quarters , anything can happen. You also have to have potent lineup and score some runs.
That being said...East Suburban Catholic is always a tough conference.

Good pitching gets you there, but I agree you must have that blend of bats, run producers and speed to close the deal.

Iback, forgive me if I'm wrong but it seems as though you are new to the HS scene.

It only takes 2 pitchers to win the Sectional. Most teams that win there usually pitch their #1 and #2, sometimes using #1 in relief of #2. There are only 2 games why would you go deeper than your top 2 pitchers? Of course there are teams with 3 pitchers, but there are only 2 games. Where you benefit from having 3 is if one of your studs can't get it done (which usually means you lose) or if you manage to advance downstate. Then you will have 3 games in 2 days.

I know all about Travel Tourneys and how many pitchers it takes. Been there and done that. As Sulltiger said, different animal....then you need as many as you can get.

And yes Duece, you were right all along.