I have a big problem with Evan Bronson from Trinity (TX) not even being included on an honorable mention. The kid will be one of the first D3 kids drafted. He went 9-3 with a 2.28 ERA and 102 K's in 83 IP. Not to mention on 19 BBs on a team that went 35-15.

How exactly is that not worthy of some mention?

Nick Vera (Trinity, 2007) was drafted in the 32nd Round by the Cardinals last year. He hit .286 with 4 HRs and 29 RBIs all while being shifted to 3B after being drafted as a CF.

Also, Jacob Kaase, SS from TLU is currently still playing in the Rangers organization.

While there may be many good prospects this year in D3 baseball, I think Bronson (Trinity, TX) might be the first one taken. Clearly I am biased having played with him, but he has a number of things going for him.

For one, his stats from his last 2 years (Soph and Junior) are very impressive. This year he was 9-3 with a 2.28 ERA, not to mention having 102 K's in only 82 IP. What's more impressive is that he had 102 k's to only 19 BBs. He has impeccable control with 3 pitches.

Another thing that he has going for him is that he is a LHP who has hit 90 MPH on the gun and frequenty sits at 85-88 in games. As a LHP those are impressive readings from a kid that has proved he can mix pitches and hit his spots.

I wish all the D3 kids the best. In the last 5 years I have seen many D3 kids get drafted and it is always nice when they can get into the minors and represent and prove that we weren't all a bunch of medicore athletes at the D3 level.

If you ever needed proff that the Division 3 ranking system makes no sense, look no further than the final ABCA Top 30. How is Trinity not ranked at 35-15 after reaching the Regional Final? Not only that, but East Bay is listed as "others receiving votes" and Trinity doesn't even get that mention even though they beat East Bay easily twice in the same regional. They may as well just do away with the ranking system in general.

They scored runs of Yacko. They got hits off Yacko. I don't know what you're talking about when you say they'd be dominated.

Quote from: 2X All-American on May 21, 2008, 12:48:30 PM

P.S. Kitchens and/or Yacko would have Dominated Trinity had they forced a game 2 in Abeline.

It's stuff like this that is unnecessary. How can you even begin to speculate on that?

Trinity faced Yacko and hit him, so indications are that they wouldn't have been dominated.

Quote from: HALLEBASEBALL on May 20, 2008, 12:07:49 AM
Wow  Are we on the same page canpikit, Post after post by the Texas faithfuls lead me to belive that they HATE to see Chapman beat them Year after Year.  Quite whining and making excuses.  Play some Defence (TT) (MM).  If you have three of the top pitchers on the same team WIN your league (TTY).  If you have two Pichers that can beat Chapman THROW them (TT).  If your going to come from NAIA play some COMPETITION (TTY).  Win a REGIONAL  (TEXAS).  There is not any other board that shows the bias that the Texas faithfuls express. Sure makes it obvious there are some sourgrapes, envey, and flat out hatred that they get no chance to go to Appleton Year after Year.  Cry on some other topic you can call it       I HATE CHAPMAN  then iI wont have to read it.

And there is no Chapman bias? Come on, everybody here is going to root and pull for their team.

Quote from: canpickit on May 19, 2008, 06:29:04 PM

Quote from: AGMAN on May 19, 2008, 01:36:22 AM

The bottom line is that Chapman University is THE premier D3 Baseball school in the nation as of this moment.  To tell you the truth, I would be willing to bet any amount of money that if Chapman did not face 2004 Pitcher of the Year and 7th round NY Mets draft pick Scott Hyde from George Fox in the opening game of the 2004 West Regionals that we would be sitting here talking about Chapman being in 6 straight World Series. 


2) the whole notion about abusing arms and ruining player's futures.  I have read INFIELDDADs comments for years now, and while he is very educated, thoughtful and offers great insight, I HATE reading between the lines about how Scannell manages his pitchers better than Chapman does.  I guarantee the good pitchers that never had a chance in Appleton because their coach "saved" and "protected" their arm during the season and regionals would gladly trade their 1-2 seasons grinding it out in cities like Rome, GA, Lancaster, CA, etc for a shot at a ring and eternal greatness and memories.   Maybe Chapman should move to D1 and play in the WCC with Pepperdine, LMU, USD, etc because I also guarantee within 5-7 years Chapman would be a USD and a national power. .

I just have to comment on this post because while I understand where you are coming from, I respectfully disagree with you on a few points.

For one, Chapman is ONE of the premier programs in D3. Since we can't judge simply by regular season record (uneven competition levels, soft scheduling, etc.) In D3 we are almost forced to go by postseason results. Chapman is clearly a very talented team and one of the best programs in D3, but I think that Whitewater, E.Connecticut St, etc. might have something to say about claiming Chapman is the clear #1.

The fact that they could be a USD in D1 is debatable and nothing more. Many D3 schools would make solid D1 programs, but we can't know that for sure, so making the points seems pointless to me.

Lastly, the point about big-time arms wanting to pitch in championship games is one I disagree with. Take Scott Hyde for example, who mind you, beat Trinity in the championship that year (so maybe we are talking about a Trinity championship that year). Hyde was used 2 times in the regional and 3 times in the World Series. He got drafted in the 7th round by the Mets and never pitched a professional game at any level because of arm injuries. Now I am in no way saying this George Fox's fault, but pitching that much on such little rest couldn't have helped. Bronson and Oates have futures ahead of them and while winning championships is extremely important, you can't put your future in jeopardy (no matter how slim the chance) for a shot to win a regional. I know they would have thrown if asked to, but coaches need to put their players best interests before wins and losses.

It's the context of the game that makes it exciting.

It was the Conference Championship game, lose and go home. Trinity couldn't muster any offense all game and was on the verge of losing 2 straight games and being sent home by the lowest seeded team in the field of 4 (justified or not). Plus, the play that it ended on, scoring from first on a single with an incredible slide at home. Add that together and it makes for a very exciting and unusual ending.

Coming back from 3 down in an MLB regular season game is nowhere near the same thing.

Quote from: Major_Fan on May 01, 2008, 11:59:36 AM
History Major, you have got to be kidding me.  And why are they calling it a miracle versus Millsaps?  People come from behind to win baseball games all the time, it's no miracle.  I love it how Trinity fans are making a big joke about this and the football game tying together.  There is no comparison.  It will be nice when all this comes back around to the Tigers and all the gloating stops.  It's getting ridiculous with the TU fans and the comments.

Frank, I totally agree with your last post.  Had it been the other way around, I believe that Trinity fans would've taken offense to that.

People who weren't at the game should not comment on any behavior that took place between the teams. After Trinity ended it celebration the players all lined up and gave a round of applause the Millsaps players and coaches. It was a great sight because it showed just how much these two teams respect each other. They battle hard, but when all is said and done, they ahve the utmost respect for the players on the other side. They were celebrating, not gloating.

Putting the video on the internet is not a way of rubbing it in Millsaps face. Whether you were on the winning or losing side, that ending was a storybook one. Making a generalization about TU fans and "their comments" is unfair. No Trinity fan has tried to rub Millsaps noses in it. We are justhappy for our boys and proud of the determination they showed on the field. It has nothing to do with making people from Millsaps feel bad.

Trinity over Oglethorpe in 2.
Southwestern over Centre in 3.
Millsaps over Rhodes in 2.
DePauw over Austin in 2.

I think there is no question that Trinity has always done better against pitchers who throw hard fastballs and can run it up in the high 80s. The soft-tossing pitchers have historically given them lots of trouble.

However, even in the games this year where Trinity was "held down" by pitchers, they were still picking up lots of hits, just leaving guys in scoring position. This offense is not a fluke.

Now if they can get Bignall back and healthy by the time the playoffs roll around it would solidify a four man rotation of Bronson, Oates, Bignall and Poffenroth and Trinity could be looking at a very deep run.

Trinity let a 7-3 lead slip away in an 8-7 loss to TLU last night. The bats came out on fire, scoring 2 runs in each of the first 3 innings, but then cooled and faded late.

The team still looks strong for a bunch that starts 4-5 freshman each game. They are 8-5, with those 5 losses coming by a total of 6 runs.

They face off against Division One, University of Buffalo night at 7:30 PM before hitting the road for Hendrix.

Drew Bignall takes the hill for the Tigers tonight agaist Desalles University.

This is a big game for the Tigers because of it. If Bignall comes back and appears to be back at top form, they could have a scary rotation with Bronson, Oates and Bignall.

Trinity has a big game today down in San Antonio as Hardin-Simmons comes to town.

The bats have come alive a bit for Trinity and the young team has won 5 straight.

Bronson takes the hill tonight. On the year he's 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA. 22 K's and 4 BB's in 15 IP.

Should be a good one.