All-Tournament Team

I didn't provide this last night, but here's a look at the all-tournament team. It wasn't a particularly easy year to make choices. In the end, I don't think you can argue any of the selections. Sure, I could make a case for Penn State's Mike Wanamaker (complete game win) and Josh Phegley of Indiana (hit a pair of homers). However, you'd have to remove somebody to get one of these guys onto the team and I'm not sure who I'd vote off the island.

There were a number of people who thought Dan Black's five home run tournament, which is now the tournament record, should have made him MVP. It's not difficult to understand that argument, but the voters liked Michael Powers saving all three Michigan wins. Perfection for the champs is hard to disagree with as well.

While Powers was tremendous in relief and Black bombarded Ray Fisher Stadium, Indiana's Chris Hervey was a hitting machine. Hervey went 12 for 16 (.750) with nine runs scored and seven RBI in five games. Hervey only collected one extra base hit (a double), but also had a couple of sacrifices, got hit by a pitch twice and stole a base. It wasn't good enough for MVP honors this year, but it was a noteworthy performance.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

P - Chris Fetter, Michigan
P - Zach Putnam, Michigan
P - Michael Powers, Michigan
P - Kevin Manson, Illinois
C - Dan Black, Purdue
1B - Jerrud Sabourin, Indiana
2B - Cory Kovanda, Ohio State
3B - Adam Abraham, Michigan
SS - Tyler Cox, Indiana
OF - Chris Hervey, Indiana
OF - Kevin Cislo, Michigan
OF - John Moore, Purdue
DH - Rob Yodice, Penn State / Michael Earley, Indiana

Most Outstanding Player: Michael Powers, Michigan

Big 10 Tournament: Day Four

Michigan Pulls Off Conference Double; States Case To Host Regional

While tonight's final game was a 3-2 nailbiter, the conclusion was the one most had expected before the season began. Michigan was the prohibitive favorite in the Big Ten in the pre-season, so the fact the Wolverines managed to pull off the double -- winning the Big 10 regular season and conference tournaments -- comes as no surprise.

Michigan claimed the Big 10's post-season title by winning tonight's one-run game over Purdue. The star's of tonight's win were UM pitchers Tyler Burgoon and Michael Powers. The two combined to pitch 6.1 innings while giving up just four hits and a walk while striking out six. Burgoon posted the win, Powers the save. UM freshman OF Ryan LaMarre hit a solo shot out to nearly dead centerfield.

Alex Jaffee had a pair of hits for Purdue. Jon Moore had a hit, a run scored and a RBI in the loss.

The Boilermakers advanced to tonight's would-be championship tilt by ending Indiana's season, 11-7, in the day's first contest. Dan Black homered three times and drove in five Boiler tallies. Brandon Haveman had a four-hit game for Purdue. Starter Matt Jansen posted the win.

Chris Hervey had three hits and three RBI for IU. Josh Phegley had three hits and Michael Earley homered.

The win also increased the odds of Michigan playing host to a NCAA Regional next weekend. More than a few believe the Wolverines will indeed be at home again next week. My hope is to write more about this tomorrow and provide a few photos, as well.

Big 10 Tournament: Day Three

The first two games on Friday clearly revealed one thing: Indiana can rake. The Hoosiers began the day in an elimination game against Illinois. IU scored early and often en route to a 14-7 triumph over the Illini. Josh Phegley did a significant portion of the damage by cranking out two homers and driving in six. Phegley went 4 for 4 with, appropriately, four runs scored. Chris Hervey continued his hot tournament hitting by going 3 for 4 with two RBI and four runs scored.

Tyler Tufts threw a complete game win. Tufts improved to 6-5. The Illini countered with Dominic Altobelli and Ryan Hastings both collecting three hits, two runs scored and a RBI. The loss eliminated Illinois from the tournament.

The Hoosiers' bats appeared to have done enough with IU leading Penn State, 7-4, in the ninth inning of the second game of the day. Then, PSU's Rob Yodice doubled in a run to cut the lead to 7-5. With two Nittany Lions on base, two outs and down two strikes, Cory Wine crush a double off the right-centerfield wall to tie the game at 7-7. An Indiana error eventually allowed Wine to score the go-ahead run and put PSU up, 8-7.

The four run final frame appeared to give PSU all the momentum they needed for a tremendous come-from-behind victory. However, the IU bats were not quite done for the day. Two singles, a fielder's choice and an infield single loaded the bases for the Hoosiers' Tyler Cox. Cox connected on a game-winning grandslam giving IU a 11-8 win.

The victory kept IU alive for another day and dashed both the come-from-behind effort and the season for Penn State.

Ethan Wilson's 4 for 5, five RBI, two run effort got lost in Cox' walk-off blast. Joe Blackburn had three hits, two runs scored and two RBI for PSU.

The final game of the day was the long-awaited match-up between the top two seeds. #1 Michigan faced #2 Purdue for the first time this season. Unlike the early games, a pitcher was clearly the star of this game. Michigan's Chris Fetter allowed Purdue just four hits, four walks and a single run over seven innings to help lift UM to a 6-1 triumph over the Boilermakers. The first-team All-Big Ten hurler struck out ten Boilers along the way.

Leif Mahler had a couple of RBI to lead the Wolverines. Adam Abraham, Jason Christian and Derek VanBuskirk all had two hits apiece. Jonathan Lilly drove in the lone Purdue tally.

The loss drops Purdue into an elimination game tomorrow afternoon against Indiana. The winner of that game gets Michigan Saturday night. Regardless of whom advances, if Michigan wins Saturday night, they are the tournament champions. If Michigan loses tomorrow night, the Big Ten Tournament will have a championship game on Sunday.

Sidenotes:

* For those in the Ann Arbor area, keep in mind that the Michigan softball team will be hosting the Super Regional tomorrow afternoon starting at noon. (Although, if I read the schedule correctly, which is questionable after yesterday, baseball will not begin Saturday until closer to 3:30pm.)

* Speaking of regionals, as was mentioned in the comments here, it's starting to look like Michigan's chances for hosting are improving. Some believe it's already a done deal. There's also the rumor that Michigan has submitted a bid to host a Super Regional, just in case.

* Fisher Stadium is infested with pro scouts. They are everywhere. Hopefully, there spending some money while in Ann Arbor. We could use the revenue here in Michigan.

* The weather was much better today, but not quite as good as the predictions have been. It's supposed to be even better tomorrow.

* Any thoughts on the all-tournament team yet?

Big 10 Tournament: Day Two

Yesterday was dominated by pitching. Today's first two affairs went in the opposite direction. Bats ruled the afternoon as Indiana beat Ohio State in ten innings, 10-8, and as Purdue stomped on Penn State, 15-6. IU's Chris Hervey went 5 for 5 with two RBI to lead the Hoosiers' charge. Josh Phegley and Jerrud Sabourin also drove in two as IU kept their season alive.

Tony Kennedy had three hits and three RBI to pace the Buckeyes counter-offensive. The loss, however, eliminated Ohio State from the tournament.

In the second game, Purdue plated six in the first inning and never looked back. Dan Black was the star going 4 for 4 with two homers and six RBI. Jonathon Lilly had three hits and three RBI. The win move the Boilers into the winner's bracket.

Rob Yodice's three-run homer was the highlight for PSU. The Nittany Lions will now face Indiana in an elimination game tomorrow at noon.

After the daylight produced all kinds of offensive fireworks, the setting sun saw the bats cool off and the pitchers return to the forefront. Michigan's Zach Putnam and Illinois Scott Shaw dueled in the twilight, however, it was Putnam's Wolverines that prevailed, 5-2. Shaw worked 6.2 tough innings yeilding just six hits. Shaw did surrender six walks and, eventually, four runs.

Putnam went seven innings giving up two runs on five hits and three walks. Michael Powers pitched the final two frames to earn a save. The big hit was Adam Abraham's two-run single in the seventh.

The loss drops Illinois into tomorrow's second game. The Illini will face the winner of the Indiana/Penn State rematch. That middle game Friday will also be an elimination game. Michigan advances into the winner's bracket where they will take on Purdue in Friday's last game of the day.

Update: Yeah, I screwed this up. As is noted in the comments, Illinois and Indiana squared off in Friday's first game, while Penn State awaited the winner in the mid-afternoon affair. Thanks to all for catching my mistake.

Big 10 Tournament: Day One

Pitching was the story of Day One at the Big Ten Baseball Tournament. In the opener, Illinois' Kevin Manson tossed a complete game four-hitter leading the Illini over Ohio State, 3-2. 2B Joe Bonadonna hit his first career home run to break a 2-2 tie.

In the last game of the day, Mike Wanamaker threw a complete game for Penn State in their 6-1 triumph over Indiana. Wes Borden had three hits and Rob Yodice drove in two for the Nittany Lions.

Ohio State and Indiana will now face each other tomorrow at noon in an elimination game. The second game Thursday will feature Purdue vs. Penn State. The triple-header will conclude with Michigan taking on Illinois.

Just a few of sidenotes:

* It was a rather cold, windy afternoon. Nice for November and outstanding weather for January, but barely sneaking above sixty degrees in late May?

* Both St. John's and Notre Dame are out of the Big East Tournament. I wonder if that will eliminate St. John's from hosting a regional and if ND might be out of the field of 64?

* The Big Ten actually had the t-shirts available on the first day of the tournament. I hammer them when they do something wrong, so I have to give them credit when they are doing something right.

* The rumors persist that the Big Ten will indeed only play three game conference series beginning next year. Of course, the conference schools will have to find a way to make up for the lost eight games.

* Don't be surprised if all the other conferences opt to go to the four-game conference sets, complete with Saturday doubleheaders, to avoid having to play more midweek games. As always, the Big Ten is on the cutting edge of college baseball.

All But Over

Indiana is drilling Michigan State, 14-1, in the ninth inning. Michigan is doing much the same to Northwestern, as the Wolverines are up on the Wildcats, 11-1, in the bottom of the sixth. Ohio State is leading Iowa, 8-1, but it's only the fifth inning at Iowa City.

If these scores hold up, IU and OSU are in the conference tournament and NU is out. The bottom line for the Wildcats is they had to win this afternoon. A loss would eliminate them and hand the last two tournament spots to IU and OSU.

Certainly, an epic Wildcats' comeback remains possible, but if IU and OSU maintain their leads, even a NU win won't garner them a return visit to Ann Arbor next weekend.

The remaining three Big Ten affairs -- Penn State at Minnesota and a doubleheader between Purdue and Illinois -- are late starts. (I have to keep telling myself it's Saturday. My weekend days are based around the Big 10 baseball schedule. If it's the last conference game, it must be Sunday. Yes, I'm apparently one of Pavlov's dogs.) The Nittany Lions and Illini are fighting for positioning. Minnesota is out of the conference tournament chase and Purdue has already clinched the second seed.

I intend to provide more updates as the day progresses.

Update #1: It's official. IU and OSU round out the tournament field. Both won today and NU lost. Even without having the Penn State and Illinois finals to determine the third and fourth seeds, let me be brave and try to pencil in the tournament breakdown. Note: This is totally not official. Repeat: This is not official. It's just my guess.

Wednesday
Gm. 1 - #5 Ohio State vs. #4 seed (Illinois/Penn State) @ Noon
Gm. 2 - #6 Indiana vs. #3 seed (Illinois/Penn State) @ 3:30pm

Thursday
Gm. 3 - Loser of Game #1 vs. Loser of Game #2 @ Noon (loser is eliminated)
Gm. 4 - Highest seeded winner of Games 1/2 vs. #2 Purdue @ 3:30pm
Gm. 5 - Lowest seeded winner of Games 1/2 vs. #1 Michigan @ 7:00pm

Friday
Gm. 6 - Winner Game #3 vs. Lowest seeded, loser Game 4/5 @ Noon (loser is eliminated)
Gm. 7 - Winner Game # 6 vs. Highest seeded loser Game 4/5 @ 3:30pm (loser is eliminated)
Gm. 8 - Winner of Game #4 vs. Winner of Game #5 @ 7:00pm

Saturday
Gm. 9 - Winner of Game #7 vs. Loser of Game #8 @ Noon (loser is eliminated)
Gm. 10 - Winner of Game #8 vs. Winner of Game #9 @ 3:30pm (if Gm #8 winner wins, they are champs.)

Sunday
Gm. 11 - Winner of Game #8 vs. Winner of Game #9 @ Noon (if necessary; winner is champion.)

Hat tip to NCAA-Baseball.com who provided the outline. How come they have this available, but I don't see anything of the kind at the Big Ten's official site? Did I miss it?

Don't forget, you can order your tickets on Monday morning. Michigan season ticket holders can order them now. (Assuming someone is in the ticket office on weekends.) If you are opting for bleachers, it's walk-up sales the day of the game.

Of course, seeing as how 98% of the people in attendance will have credentials or freebies of one kind or another, this annoucement probably doesn't concern the majority of you.

The Final Four

We have reached the end of the regular season. As many of us expected several months ago, the race for the last few post-season berths is exceptionally tight. The tournament possibilities abound. Let me give you an example or two from some email I've received.

An Indiana supporter suggests that the eighth place Hoosiers can get into the conference tournament by taking three of four from Michigan State and Michigan takes three from Northwestern. If IU were to sweep MSU, Michigan would only need to take two from NU to see the Hoosiers get in. IU holds the tiebreaker over the Wildcats.

Another BTH reader sends along this thought:

I noticed an interesting phenomenon in the standings: right now, Northwestern is in 6th at 13-15 (.464) ahead of 7th-place Michigan State at 12-14 (.462). But if both teams sweep their series, Michigan State will be at 16-14 (.533), ahead of Northwestern at 17-15 (.531). This means that even though Northwestern is ahead of Michigan State right now, Michigan State is the team that "controls its destiny" in the conference race, and not Northwestern!

That's just plain wacky. If either or both of the scenarios presented is true, there's simply no end of the possibilities. Nor is there anyway to predict what's going to happen.

I'm hoping to take in a game or three over the next several days, so how often I'll be in front of the computer is questionable. Obviously, I'll make some attempt to share what I've seen, but let me continue to encourage you to toss up scoring updates, highlights and comments over the weekend.

Get out to the ballpark near you. They can use your support.

Thursday Update #1: We are off to a crazy start. Indiana beat Michigan State, 9-2. Northwestern has only three hits, but Michigan has committed three errors and the Wildcats lead, 4-2, in the fifth. Iowa is up on Ohio State, 2-1, in the fourth. Minnesota has gotten off to a 2-0 lead over Penn State in the second. Purdue at Illinois is in a rain delay.

Basically, all the lower seeds are up on the higher seeds while the second and third place squads are watching it rain. Perfect. Instead of guessing what all of this means right now, let's wait a few hours and see what plays out.

Thursday Update #2: Michigan has battled back and leads NU, 7-4. It's the seventh inning in Ann Arbor. Ohio State has also come from behind to take a 3-2 lead over Iowa. They are in the seventh inning at Iowa City. Meanwhile, the Gophers have put their foot to the floor and are running over PSU, 8-0, in the fourth.

And it wouldn't be right if we didn't have a rainout, so the Boilermakers and Illini cooperated. Today's game was postponed and they'll try to play doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. Friday will have a nine-inning affair followed by a seven inning game and the reverse will occur on Saturday. Weather permitting, of course.

Thursday Update #3: Now, that I've been reminded what day it is ...... Michigan 9 Northwestern 4, Iowa 4 Ohio State 3 (10 inn.), Minnesota 11 Penn State 6 (8th). Onto the standings.

Michigan 24-4
Purdue 18-9
Illinois 15-12
Penn State 15-14
Ohio State 13-14
Northwestern 13-16
Michigan State 12-15
Indiana 12-17
Minnesota 9-19
Iowa 9-20

Although, PSU is losing, they have to take some solace in knowing that the three teams immediately below them have already lost today. Indiana's hopes for the post-season are still alive and they have to be thankful for Michigan's comeback tonight keeping NU within reach.

As an aside, we've been discussing the likelihood of Michigan hosting a regional. Here's what the gang over at Ping! had to say about the Wolverines in their latest Top 30 poll, where Michigan checked in at #11 in the land:

If Michigan (38-11) defeats Notre Dame and wins the Big 10 regular season and tournament titles, the Wolverines deserve to be a top eight seed for the NCAAs.

A top eight national seed? That's a pretty strong statement.

Aside #2. The University of Michigan has released information about ticket sales for next week's Big Ten tournament. Hope everyone can make it up to Ann Arbor. I just have to decide if I'm getting the seatback chairs in advance or just opting for the bleachers (which, fyi, are actually the seats closer to the field in the renovated park) on the day of the game.

Oh, Minnesota did beat Penn State, 11-7. I'll update the standings above.

Friday Update #1: Here are the standings based on the early results from Saturday.

1. Michigan 25-4
2. Purdue 19-9
3. Illinois 15-13
4. Penn State 15-15
5. Ohio State 14-14
6. Indiana 14-17
7. Northwestern 13-17
8. Michigan State 12-17
9. Minnesota 9-20
10. Iowa 9-21

Here are the finals thus far:

Michigan 7 Northwestern 1
Indiana 7 Michigan State 6
Indiana 7 Michigan State 3
Penn State 5 Minnesota 3
Purdue 14 Illinois 4
Ohio State 12 Iowa 2

IU's sweep in East Lansing keep the Hoosiers post-season dreams alive. However, I believe MSU's hopes of playing next weekend are finished. I could be wrong, but the best the Spartans can do is win tomorrow giving them a 13-17 mark. Thirteen W's isn't going to be enough.

NU is beating Michigan in the second game of their twinbill, 2-0. It's the sixth inning in Ann Arbor. If the Wildcats hold on, they will be tied for sixth place with the Hoosiers, but I believe IU holds the tiebreaker over NU. If Indiana and Northwestern have the same record at day's end, tomorrow's games will be very interesting as the weather in Michigan tomorrow is supposed to include precipitation.

Penn State is up early on Minnesota, 2-1. They are in the bottom of the first. Purdue's Jon Moore just went yard and the Boilers have jumped all over the Illini. It's 5-0, Boilermakers and they are still batting in the top of the first. The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes are just underway.

Friday Update #2: NU's Eric Jokisch shutout Michigan, 2-0. Iowa takes game two from Ohio State, 7-4. Minnesota topples Penn State, 9-7. However, I can't seem to track down the nightcap between Purdue and Illinois.

I'm going to present the standings next. However, let's be clear on two things. First, I could be wrong. Second, I've been checking boxscores for the last ten minutes and I'm convinced that the programs themselves aren't sure what everyone's record is. (Let's leave it at that.)

I went to the "official" Big Ten website and combined today's results with their W-L record through yesterday. It's the best I can do.

Michigan 25-5
Purdue 20-9
Penn State 16-15
Illinois 15-14
Ohio State 14-15
Indiana 14-17
Northwestern 14-17
Michigan State 12-17
Minnesota 10-20
Iowa 10-21

Michigan, Purdue, Illinois and Penn State are in. The last two tournament spots are still up-for-grabs.

OSU and IU hold their fate in their own hands. If they win, they are in. NU, however, needs help to make the Big 10 Tournament.

Early Saturday Morning Update #1/Late Friday Update #3: Either way, Purdue beat Illinois, 13-8 in game two. I've updated the standings above.

Lunchtime Saturday Update: Proving, once again, that I'm not the sharpest pencil in the box, I had Illinois in third place when PSU has moved ahead of the Illini. My apologies to Nittany Lions fans everywhere. I've revised the standings immediately above.

Good news on the weather front, it's partly sunny here in the mitten. That should allow both the NU/UM and IU/MSU tilts to be played before the rain returns later today. For those contemplating a trip to Ann Arbor this coming week, the early forecast for the Big 10 tourney has sunny conditions with temperatures in the sixties on Wednesday with increasing temperatures and chances for thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday.