College Baseball 2024

[vikingfaithful]

I went on Saturday. It was fun to watch MSU Baseball at ISG Field. I wanted to stay for the second game, but I could barely feel my existence. 40 after a gorgeous week of 90 hit pretty hard.
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Mavs played well for the first 7 innings, then the pitching fell apart - it made me worried for the remainder of the tournament. Looks like my fears were realized on Saturday.

MSU had a good season, but they need to break through the glass ceiling. I don't think regional appearances should be the goal for this program.

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Thought this was going to be the Mavs year and don't think this early exit was indicative of the quality of squad they have. Just two seasons ago Mavs and Augie won separate regionals and meet in the super regional at Central MO. for the right to advance to the CWS. The point is NSIC can beat these teams from the MIAA and GAC. On a separate note, I have enjoyed the MSU-AU rivalry including SCSU and the plucky Golden Eagles.

[SW_Mustang]

sq
Thought this was going to be the Mavs year and don't think this early exit was indicative of the quality of squad they have. Just two seasons ago Mavs and Augie won separate regionals and meet in the super regional at Central MO. for the right to advance to the CWS. The point is NSIC can beat these teams from the MIAA and GAC. On a separate note, I have enjoyed the MSU-AU rivalry including SCSU and the plucky Golden Eagles.

College baseball is very much driven by geography - which is why I think the NSIC doesn't always get a fair shake. It's good baseball, and I've watched a lot of baseball.

I was hoping SMSU could get a regional invite this year, but they ran out of steam about midway through the season and finished just shy of the conference tournament. MSU has a great team, just struggled with pitching in what I watched towards the end of the season. DII baseball in the midwest is a gauntlet, that's for sure.

[Millsy]

College baseball is very much driven by geography - which is why I think the NSIC doesn't always get a fair shake. It's good baseball, and I've watched a lot of baseball.

I was hoping SMSU could get a regional invite this year, but they ran out of steam about midway through the season and finished just shy of the conference tournament. MSU has a great team, just struggled with pitching in what I watched towards the end of the season. DII baseball in the midwest is a gauntlet, that's for sure.

A few years back, I said something along these lines on a different message board when talking about when was the last time a northern D-I team won the College World Series.

Found it, from back in 2023
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Northern teams with College World Series Titles (75 titles handed out). Outside of Oregon State, who one could argue is their climate a true northern climate, none have been in the modern era of college baseball. IIRC, back then, there were rules in place for starting dates that leveled the playing field for northern teams. Those rules have been relaxed/eliminated, leading to the advantage that we are seeing with southern programs. I could be wrong on this, but for some reason I seem to recall hearing that at one time.

Minnesota 3 ('56, '60, '64)
Oregon State 3 ('06, '07, '18)
Michigan 2 ('53, '62)
Ohio State 1 ('66)
Holy Cross 1 ('52)

[SW_Mustang]

A few years back, I said something along these lines on a different message board when talking about when was the last time a northern D-I team won the College World Series.

Found it, from back in 2023
----------------------------------
Northern teams with College World Series Titles (75 titles handed out). Outside of Oregon State, who one could argue is their climate a true northern climate, none have been in the modern era of college baseball. IIRC, back then, there were rules in place for starting dates that leveled the playing field for northern teams. Those rules have been relaxed/eliminated, leading to the advantage that we are seeing with southern programs. I could be wrong on this, but for some reason I seem to recall hearing that at one time.

Minnesota 3 ('56, '60, '64)
Oregon State 3 ('06, '07, '18)
Michigan 2 ('53, '62)
Ohio State 1 ('66)
Holy Cross 1 ('52)

Dick Siebert was a baseball mastermind - he even had people in the 1960s scratching their heads over Minnesota's run of dominance. The Gophers had another little run in the early 2010s too - having the Metrodome really helped. USBS is just not the same.

[crixus]

https://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/a...hedule-results

[laker]

Matt Magers of MSU-Mankato named national coach of the year.

https://x.com/MinnStBaseball/status/1925934594924167636

[crixus]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I wish Western New Mexico University had a baseball team.

[SW_Mustang]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I wish Western New Mexico University had a baseball team.

I wish Black Hills and SD Mines had baseball, along with MSU-Moorhead. Such a great sport.

[laker]

I wish Black Hills and SD Mines had baseball, along with MSU-Moorhead. Such a great sport.

Power conference schools without baseball- Colorado, Iowa State, SMU, Syracuse, Wisconsin. If you throw in the Big East- De Paul, Marquette, Providence.

I noticed that Iowa doesn't have baseball at Drake, Iowa State and UNI- and doesn't charge admission for softball at any of those three schools!

[crixus]

I wish Black Hills and SD Mines had baseball, along with MSU-Moorhead. Such a great sport.

You know what blows my mind...Midwestern State University (Lone Star Conference) in Wichita Falls, Texas doesn't have baseball. College baseball is pretty big in Texas. I guess they never got the memo?

[crixus]

Power conference schools without baseball- Colorado, Iowa State, SMU, Syracuse, Wisconsin. If you throw in the Big East- De Paul, Marquette, Providence.

I noticed that Iowa doesn't have baseball at Drake, Iowa State and UNI- and doesn't charge admission for softball at any of those three schools!

SMU no baseball? Texas is in the sun belt, good weather for most of the year. It's a travesty that SMU doesn't sponsor baseball. And I'm not being dramatic here.

[Inkblot]

You know what blows my mind...Midwestern State University (Lone Star Conference) in Wichita Falls, Texas doesn't have baseball. College baseball is pretty big in Texas. I guess they never got the memo?

The LSC started sponsoring baseball in 1992 with 4 teams, only 1 of which was in Texas (Abilene Christian, Cameron, Central Oklahoma, Eastern New Mexico).

[crixus]

The LSC started sponsoring baseball in 1992 with 4 teams, only 1 of which was in Texas (Abilene Christian, Cameron, Central Oklahoma, Eastern New Mexico).

That was 33 years ago, what you didn't mention was that there have been a lot more additions in Texas since then.

https://lonestarconference.org/stand...?path=baseball

[Inkblot]

That was 33 years ago, what you didn't mention was that there have been a lot more additions in Texas since then.

https://lonestarconference.org/stand...?path=baseball

My point was that most of the longtime LSC members in Texas didn't sponsor baseball until relatively recently.

Tarleton State: 1988 (joined LSC in 1996)
Abilene Christian: 1991
Texas A&M Kingsville: 1993
West Texas A&M: 1994
Angelo State: 2005
Midwestern State: still doesn't
East Texas A&M: still doesn't

[crixus]

My point was that most of the longtime LSC members in Texas didn't sponsor baseball until relatively recently.

Tarleton State: 1988 (joined LSC in 1996)
Abilene Christian: 1991
Texas A&M Kingsville: 1993
West Texas A&M: 1994
Angelo State: 2005
Midwestern State: still doesn't
East Texas A&M: still doesn't

I mentioned Midwestern State because I lived in Wichita Falls for a few years and was surprised that they don't have a team. My point was and is college baseball is pretty big in Texas. I haven't done the research but I bet Texas has more college baseball teams at all levels than any other state, even more than California. Since you like research maybe you can look that up and post it. Thanks.