Saturday, April 28, 2007

Super Saturday

We'll do our best to keep you updated on a busy day in the Conference with our blog. Look for news from baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis and golf.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Weekend's Top Games

Johns Hopkins at Franklin & Marshall (Baseball)
The two top teams in the Conference square off at Caplan Field in a twinbill that could decide the home field for the Centennial tournament on May 4-5-6. The 19th ranked Blue Jays (23-4, 11-0 CC) have won seven CC championships, but the Diplomats (17-9, 11-2) have won the last two. Hopkins leads the all-time series, 43-27-1, but F&M has won five of the last seven games in Lancaster.

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Lacrosse)
It's the regular-season "Game of the Year" in Division III lacrosse, as the #1 ranked Diplomats (14-0, 8-0 CC) and the #4 ranked Bullets (13-1, 8-0) meet for the top seed and home field for next weekend's Centennial championship tournament. Gettysburg has won 12 of the last 13 meetings to take a 21-18-1 series advantage. F&M's lone win during that stretch was an 8-7 triumph at Sponaugle-Williamson Field in 2005.

Ursinus at Haverford
Swarthmore at Ursinus (Softball)

The Conference-leading Bears (19-5, 6-0) face their two closest challengers in a weekend set. On Friday, UC, ranked eighth in the region, travels to Haverford (16-8, 6-2), while on Saturday, Ursinus entertains Swarthmore (16-8, 6-2), ranked fifth in the region.

Haverford at Johns Hopkins
Washington at Haverford (Men's Tennis)

It promises to be the best match of the Centennial Conference regular season today in Baltimore as #13 Johns Hopkins (12-2, 6-0 CC) plays host to Haverford (11-1, 6-0). The winner most likely will earn the top seed and host next weekend's CC championship tournament. The tone of the match could be set early at No. 1 doubles, as the Fords' Alex Buxbaum and Thomas Kinrade (7-3), ranked ninth in the region, take on the Jays' Hillen Smith and Joe Vasoontara (11-3), ranked 10th. Haverford turns right around on Saturday and welcomes the Shoremen (8-7, 6-1) to the Main Line for another important CC match.

Muhlenberg at Washington (Women's Tennis)
It is essentially a first-round playoff match as the Mules (7-6, 5-4) travel to Chestertown to take on the Shorewomen (8-9, 6-3). Winner is in the four-team Conference tournament ... loser is most likely out. Watch the #1 doubles match between Muhlenberg's Pam Kimmelman and Jenn Powell (9-3) as they take on Washington's Allison Daciek and Kellie Foster (11-6).

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Today's Best

Haverford at Johns Hopkins (Men's Tennis)
It promises to be the best match of the Centennial Conference regular season today in Baltimore as #21 Johns Hopkins (12-2, 6-0 CC) plays host to #30 Haverford (11-1, 6-0). The winner most likely will earn the top seed and host next weekend's CC championship tournament. The tone of the match could be set early at No. 1 doubles, as the Fords' Alex Buxbaum and Thomas Kinrade (7-3), ranked ninth in the region, take on the Jays' Hillen Smith and Joe Vasoontara (11-3), ranked 10th.

Ursinus at Swarthmore (Women's Lacrosse)
In one corner, playoff dreams ... in the other corner, playoff positioning. Today's match between the Bears (9-5, 5-2 CC) and the Garnet (9-6, 2-4) is vital for both teams as they look ahead to playing next week. Ursinus is in the Conference tournament and is playing for the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye. Swarthmore needs wins over the Bears, Bryn Mawr and Haverford, combined with a loss by McDaniel on Saturday, to get into the tournament as the No. 5 seed. Making the task even more difficult ... the Garnet has lost 10 straight to UC since a 14-12 home win in 1997.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Today's Best

McDaniel at Dickinson (Women's Lacrosse)
It's a key game for both teams in the next-to-last game of the regular season. The Red Devils (8-5, 5-2 CC) have secured one of the five Centennial playoff spots for next week's tournament, but need a win to keep their hopes alive for a first-round bye. The Green Terror (10-3, 4-3) can lock up a playoff berth with a victory. McDaniel has won 17 of the last 18 meetings and holds a 24-6-1 all-time advantage in the series.

Muhlenberg at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Tennis)
It is a crucial match for the playoff hopes of both teams today in Lancaster. The Diplomats (10-3, 7-1) can lock up one of the four playoff berths for next weekend's tournament with a victory, while the Mules (7-5, 5-3) are in a must-win situation to extend their season into next week.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Today's Best

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Baseball)
The Bullets (18-5, 7-3 CC) and the Diplomats (16-9, 10-2) are both trying to chase down CC-leading Johns Hopkins (21-4, 10-0) in the race for the regular-season pennant and top seed for the Centennial tournament. This is the 150th time that the two long-time rivals have met on the diamond since 1892 with Gettysburg holding a 98-50-1 advantage. F&M has closed the deficit in recent years, winning nine of the last 11 meetings.

Ursinus at Haverford (Softball)
The Bears (19-5, 6-0) and the Fords (16-8, 6-2) meet in a potential playoff preview. Ursinus has a team batting average of .301 and a team ERA of 1.95, while Haverford has .297 and 2.23 numbers.

Haverford at Johns Hopkins (Men's Tennis)
It's a first-place showdown in the Charm City as the Fords (11-1, 6-0) take on the Blue Jays (12-2, 6-0). Hopkins is ranked third in the Atlantic South region and 21st nationally, while Haverford is eighth in the region and #30 in the country. One of the key matches could be at No. 1 doubles, as the Fords' Alex Buxbaum and Thomas Kinrade, ranked ninth in the region, could meet JHU's Hillen Smith and Joe Vasoontara, ranked 10th.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Busy Weekend

Johns Hopkins at Gettysburg
Ursinus at Johns Hopkins (Baseball)

The Blue Jays (18-4, 7-0) face two of their three closest competitors in the Bullets (16-4, 5-2) and the Bears (17-7, 7-2) this weekend.

Gettysburg at Ursinus
Dickinson at Washington (Men's Lacrosse)

The playoff picture could become much clearer - or more muddied - after the dust settles on these two games. The Bullets (8-2, 4-1) hold a slender half-game lead in the standings on the Shoremen (9-3, 4-2), while the Bears (7-3, 3-2) and the Red Devils (7-4, 3-2) are just a game back. Ursinus has never defeated Gettysburg, while Dickinson has never defeated Washington in Chestertown.

Gettysburg at Ursinus
Muhlenberg at Swarthmore (Women's Lacrosse)

The battle rages on for homefield advantage for two teams, while two other teams battle for their playoff lives. The Bullets (10-1, 5-0) look to keep pace with Franklin & Marshall (12-0, 6-0) in the race for first place in the CC, while the Bears (8-4, 4-1) look to shake up the top two. Gettysburg has won nine straight in the series since a 16-11 loss at home to UC in 2002. The Mules (8-4, 2-4) and the Garnet (8-6, 1-4) could be playing for their playoff lives, as neither team can afford a fifth Centennial loss. Swarthmore captured an 8-6 decision at Clothier Field last season.

McDaniel at Haverford (Softball)
The Green Terror (12-12, 4-2) travels to the Main Line to take on the Fords (14-8, 4-2) in a twinbill that will have playoff implications. Haverford took both regular-season games and another contest in the CC tournament to sweep McDaniel last season.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Softball Highlights Schedule 4-12

Swarthmore at Ursinus (Softball)
The Bears (17-5, 4-0) welcome the Garnet (13-7, 3-1) to Collegeville for a key Conference doubleheader. Runs could be at a premium today, as Swarthmore's Kathryn Reilly leads the Centennial in ERA (0.55), while the Ursinus one-two punch of Lauren Davis and Mallory Greene have combined for 127 strikeouts in 98 2/3 innings.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Today's Best 4/11

Ursinus at Haverford (Men's Lacrosse)
It's fair to call this the biggest week in Ursinus men's lacrosse history. The Bears (7-2, 3-1) are tied for first place in the Conference and are knocking on the door of the national top 20. Now, we truly find out what UC is made of as the Bears travel to Haverford (5-4, 2-2) today and play host to #3 Gettysburg on Saturday. The Fords are 4-1 all-time against Ursinus, dropping only the 2004 match at Walton Field (10-9). You can listen to the game by clicking here.

Franklin & Marshall at Dickinson (Women's Lacrosse)
Is there any better way to celebrate your first week ever at No. 1 than to hit the road to play one of your archrivals? The Diplomats (11-0, 5-0) travel to Carlisle to take on the No. 20 Red Devils (7-4, 4-1) in a possible playoff preview. Franklin & Marshall has won 29 straight games against Dickinson since a 10-5 loss in 1976 ... in Carlisle. The game also pits a pair of F&M graduates on the sidelines in Diplomat coach Anne Phillips '80 and Red Devil coach Kasey Ryan '99.

Dickinson at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Tennis)
The race is on for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Conference and the Red Devils (9-5, 2-2) or the Diplomats (3-5, 2-2) can take a major step toward that spot with a victory.