Quote from: TexasBB on April 16, 2011, 07:10:30 PM
UTT came back today and swept the double header 3-1 and 1-0.  Surprising pitcher duels today once the wind let up. Yesterday the wind was blowing out at 30 mph with gusts to 50.

With the sweep today UTT finishes the confernce with a 14-4 record. UTD and LC face off next week. That series will determine the conference champion and first round seed. UTT can only watch. IF LC looses one then they tie UTT but UTT would win the first round seed due to head to head, IF UTD sweeps then they tie UTT but would win the first seed due to head to head. So UTD and LC need sweeps.

Texas BB

You guys already have it wrapped up at 14-4. LC lost again at LeTourneau today giving them 5 losses, and UTD was swept at ETBU giving them 6 losses. The battle next weekend is for 2nd with MC with 6 losses and hosting LeTourneau. MC needs to sweep LeTourneau and then hope UTD takes 2 from LC.

Good series at Tyler, both games today could have gone either way. Ryan Glover carried a no-hitter into the 6th of the 7-inning game for MC, but UTT scored 3 to win 3-1. UTT got a sac fly to win the 3rd game 1-0. MC pitchers threw well all weekend which is a great sign heading into the tourney, and hats off to Tyler's staff for holding MC to one run in 16 innings today. MC entered the day 2nd in the nation in homeruns.

Quote from: TexasBB on April 02, 2011, 07:55:38 PM
In the East, it is getting very interesting... In two weeks UTT hosts MC and even though MC has had a host of injuries they will play tough in that series.

Texas BB

Agree on the East, it's as open as it's been in a long time. MC sweeping at ETBU was huge for them even though ETBU was struggling. MC is going to be a couple pitchers down the rest of the year, and a couple more not 100%, but they did get 20 innings from a new starting trio this weekend, that is a good sign. Another positive, Shane Bennett was back on the bump with two innings as a closer and went scoreless with 5 K's, and looked great. They still have time if they can get it together.

The lineup has been great all year, especially the top half. Spencer Brunson and Stuart Magee are in the conversation for Player of the Year at this point. If MC can put string together another good weekend against Ozarks, it would set up a big series at Tyler.

MC loses 7-5 to the defending national champs, Illinois Wesleyan. A familiar storyline, IWU scored two in the 10th to win as MC falls to 8-9. All 9 losses by 3 runs or less, and I think they've blown six late inning leads. Just been one of those years so far, but hopefully the breaks balance out and things sway their direction late in the season.

Quote from: dp643 on March 10, 2011, 08:03:36 AM
Thanks Chris for the update. I knew they were missing a couple of guys from the preseason program they put out.

I know Cowart was huge down the stretch for MC last year. I hope he gets back on track. He hit three batters in one inning against UMHB, so I knew something must be going on with him at this point.

Anyone want to post some predictions for opening weekend in the ASC?

I feel bad for the coaches and players because they thought they would have a loaded pitching staff and lineup, but injuries are part of the game. The lineup has shaken out about like they thought, but no program is going to lose three proven starting pitchers and a potential closer without it being a major setback. Cowart struggling compounded the problem, because if he starts this year like he finished last year, they would be sitting at 10-3 at worst right now, and probably 11-2.

Cowart is a great kid with a lot of moxie, and was about as good as any pitcher in the country the final month last year, he'll find it and get back to form. That's baseball sometimes. Prescott is slowly coming back and will hopefully get back to form. Some injuries are healing and they have another couple arms with very good stuff who looked good recently, they could help. I know the coaches are definitely not in panic mode, they have arms but must go through the process of identifying what guys are going to do in games and get players in their roles.

I don't know if they can be as good as last year with some of the pitching injuries, but I still think they can be very good. They have depth of good arms, but they need someone to step up and fill the void Tyler Seaman left.

Quote from: dp643 on March 05, 2011, 06:53:46 PM
The biggest puzzle to me right now is Mississippi College. Alot of guys that had monster years for them last year are laying eggs right now. It will be interesting to see if they get back on track.

I can give you some info on MS College that would explain the start. I wouldn't bury them just yet, they've struggled due to a pitching staff fighting injuries. They've been without what probably would have been their three weekend starting pitchers, and closer. Brandon Martin had offseason surgery but suffered a late setback that I think will cost him the season. Terrell Prescott also had offseason surgery and is slowly working back, and Shane Bennett has worked through arm issues that will probably keep him off the bump. They brought in a talented freshman who was one of the frontrunners to close in the fall, hardthrower in the 88-92 range, but has been held out with arm trouble.

Also, they've blown three saves in their six losses (all close) with Daniel Cowart struggling early this year, so it's been kind of a worst case scenario playing out. He was probably the most outstanding player at last year's West Regional, but has struggled with control. I would be shocked if he doesn't get back to where he was, he's a gamer.

The lineup is putting up great numbers again, as good or better than last year, leading the ASC in per game averages for homers, runs, doubles, RBI, walks and stolen bases. The team average is .343, and they lead the league in slugging at .509 and OBP at .440. The lineup is tough.

The coaches have already thrown 13 different pitchers out there, a lot of them new, seeing who they can count on in games. They are going to be tough later in the season when they get the pitching straightened out, and get healthy.