BB: ASC: American Southwest Conference

[Ralph Turner]

Black cat, you're right, some pretty weak smack from Halles. That said, UTT's got to back up all the ASC crying that's been going on. They were lucky to beat the weakest team in the Regional yesterday, and have already thrown the B and B boys. Could be in line for some early exit Salt Lick BBQ if they don't swing the bats better.

ASC parity is just that... parity.

Overall, I think that the ASC is down this year.  Lots of teams lost plenty of quality.

The problem with parity is that parity makes for great baseball pennant chases and tight tournaments, but it doesn't have a strong dominating team that shines brightly on the biggest stage.

The TLU teams in from the mid-decade were really good, but they broke above the parity.

In 2008, Trinity was the SCAC Pool A, but had a losing record against the Top 4 teams in the ASC .  In last year's regional, ASC-West quad-champ McMurry (how about that for parity) lost to Chapman on a 2-out , bottom of the 12th Patrick Ohail walk-off 2-run HR, 5-3.

The good thing about this season for us West Region fans is that lots of new fans have come to know the West Region better, and how solid West Region play really is.  Off the message boards, several of us ASC observers thought that the conference was down about a half-step, and that several 2008 ASC teams would have been more competitive than their 2009 counterparts.

This is UTT's first rodeo, so we know that their returning players will realize just how good it is at this level.

[royhobbs]

Ralph, excellent observations and very objective summary. West region is very tough, just have to prove it on the diamond.

[TexasBB]

Just one correction UTT finished 39-12 on the season just one short of 40.

Although they did not reach their ultimate goal it was a successful season and one they can be proud of. This team had heart and could have folded a number of times but did not. I heard from a reliable source inside that the team was dinged up and that a number of the key pitchers had sore arms entering the regional. The ASC tournament was grueling and took somthing out of them. They had to win 6 games since they came up through the loosers bracket. Even with a week of rest they were not 100%. Sometimes conference tournaments end up elliminating the champion as well as those that didn't win it. UTT played 51 games this year and to have won the regional they needed to win 3 or 4 more. They did not hit in this tournament like they did during the regular season. I think part of that is because they were playing in all of the games from behind. That puts preasure on the hitters who then press and are not relaxed. A hitter must be relaxed, he cannot be tense at the plate. If you are always behind and feel preasure to produce it is hard to relax. Just one possible explanation for the lack of hitting.

[infielddad]

Black cat, you're right, some pretty weak smack from Halles. That said, UTT's got to back up all the ASC crying that's been going on. They were lucky to beat the weakest team in the Regional yesterday, and have already thrown the B and B boys. Could be in line for some early exit Salt Lick BBQ if they don't swing the bats better.

ASC parity is just that... parity.

Overall, I think that the ASC is down this year.  Lots of teams lost plenty of quality.

The problem with parity is that parity makes for great baseball pennant chases and tight tournaments, but it doesn't have a strong dominating team that shines brightly on the biggest stage.

The TLU teams in from the mid-decade were really good, but they broke above the parity.

In 2008, Trinity was the SCAC Pool A, but had a losing record against the Top 4 teams in the ASC .  In last year's regional, ASC-West quad-champ McMurry (how about that for parity) lost to Chapman on a 2-out , bottom of the 12th Patrick Ohail walk-off 2-run HR, 5-3.

The good thing about this season for us West Region fans is that lots of new fans have come to know the West Region better, and how solid West Region play really is.  Off the message boards, several of us ASC observers thought that the conference was down about a half-step, and that several 2008 ASC teams would have been more competitive than their 2009 counterparts.

This is UTT's first rodeo, so we know that their returning players will realize just how good it is at this level.

Ralph, you would know much better than I would above the relative strength of the ASC from year to year.
As with much in baseball, stats like the 2008 reference to Trinity may or may not tell the story.  I think if we go back to 2008, there will be a number of posts, probably by me, about how young TU was in 2/08 and how Oates/Bronson and the pitching would need to carry a team starting 6-7 freshman until the hitters adjusted and learned how to play/compete and succeed.  They sure did by the end of the year and proved it in the SCAC's and West Regional. 
Since Trinity returned most of its 2008 team, sans Oates/Fregosi, one would expect the ASC record against a stronger, more experienced Trinity 2009 team suggests  this year being a very good one  in the ASC???

[golden_dome]

Ralph, you would know much better than I would above the relative strength of the ASC from year to year.
As with much in baseball, stats like the 2008 reference to Trinity may or may not tell the story.  I think if we go back to 2008, there will be a number of posts, probably by me, about how young TU was in 2/08 and how Oates/Bronson and the pitching would need to carry a team starting 6-7 freshman until the hitters adjusted and learned how to play/compete and succeed.  They sure did by the end of the year and proved it in the SCAC's and West Regional. 
Since Trinity returned most of its 2008 team, sans Oates/Fregosi, one would expect the ASC record against a stronger, more experienced Trinity 2009 team suggests  this year being a very good one  in the ASC???

I agree with you. Just my opinion, but the ASC was not down this year. A couple teams were somewhat down, but the conference as a whole was the same or better. I don't think the best ASC representative made a regional this year which could give some people the wrong impression.  That is not a knock on UT-Tyler, but they were far from full strength at the end of the year. They returned just about their entire roster except for a couple guys, and added two great players in Chad Daleiden and Paige Hodges, but they were not the same team at the end.

They are a championship program and nobody else could put them out in the ASC tournament, where I thought they could have been the 4th best team with a depleted roster.  They scored three in the 9th to beat TLU 7-6, were run-ruled by MC, scored a pair of late runs to beat UTD 4-3, then had a miracle once-in-a-lifetime rally to beat MC in the championship. Like I said, they are a championship program and won because of that tradition, but they were unlucky with injuries, people shouldn't hold that against them because they had a great team.  Holland had a bad start in the regional and that really put them behind the 8-ball, because he never has a bad start and has been the ASC's best for about 3 years.

UT-Tyler returned just about their entire pitching staff that posted a 3.02 ERA in 2008, but it jumped to 4.10 this year. Their conference-only ERA shot up from 2.42 to 4.44. Those are the same guys from a year ago, but I think the hitting was much better this year in the league. As a conference more runs, doubles, homeruns and stolen bases. You could argue the pitching must have been down, but just the fact that UT-Tyler had the same staff both years would indicate it wasn't just the pitching.

UT-Tyler had a great team, MC was vastly improved (especially second half), UTD had a great lineup and pitched well late, TLU was back this year and could have done some damage if Tyler doesn't score 3 runs in the 9th against them, and the West Division had 4-5 good teams slugging it out again this year. Concordia not even making the postseason should say something, because they have a tandem of starters who could match up with anyone in the West Region. It was not a bad year for the ASC, just an unfortunate ending.

[golden_dome]

Just to look ahead to next year, I hope everyone is improved and the conference can make a step up with success in a regional.

MC returns pretty much the entire lineup and should score a lot of runs. We lose most of the pitching but return Tyler Seaman who I think will have a great year. It's a long time til August, but right now we are expecting a great group of incoming players.

UT-Tyler loses a ton of talent, but they will just reload. They will have an entirely different team in 09.

How are the other teams in the ASC looking for 09? Who are the favorites?

[Ralph Turner]

With Tommy Boggs and a new facility at CTX, they should be back, and now we are back to the same 8-9 teams beating the bejeebers out of each other! 

[TexasBB]

Predictions for next year - (without knowing anything about recruiting class)

In the east MC and UTD next year will be the teams contending for the top spot. UTT graduates just about their entire starting lineup - 14 players including pitchers Holland, Booher, Ziegler, Wolfe, Rozzell and Campbell. They will get some quality from JUCOs but not enough to fill all those spots. I expect them to make the confernce tournament but as a 3rd place team. The team that used to be a power that hasn't for a couple of years is ETBU. They still are a power in Softball but have fallen off in baseball look for them to improve next year and battle Ozarks and LC  for the 4th spot.

I am less familiar with the west but their are pleanty of you that can fill in predictions for how that division comes out. I don't see any big powerhouse in the east but MC is got to be the early favorite and of course their always could be a surprise.

[golden_dome]

Congratulations to the seven ASC players who were named D3baseball.com All-Americans. The ASC had 7 of the 50 total guys selected, very impressive.

http://www.gochoctaws.com/documents/2009/5/19/D3baseball.com-AllAmer-09.pdf?id=308

First Team
Javier Arrieta, SS, Sul Ross
Cody Ross, 3B, UTD
Bo Bell, OF, MS College

Second Team
Jeremy Macklin, Utility, Texas Lutheran

Third Team
Brett Hinson, P, MS College
Jared Smith, OF, UTD
Regan Dixon, DH, HSU

[Blackcat00]

Whats the draft look like. for the ASC. Im hearing the scouts really like Michael Johnson of CTX and may give WIlliams a shot.

[TexasBB]

Holland and Ziegler are possible late round picks from UTT. Holland was drafted last year in the late rounds.

[chakote]

Just one correction UTT finished 39-12 on the season just one short of 40.

Although they did not reach their ultimate goal it was a successful season and one they can be proud of. This team had heart and could have folded a number of times but did not. I heard from a reliable source inside that the team was dinged up and that a number of the key pitchers had sore arms entering the regional. The ASC tournament was grueling and took somthing out of them. They had to win 6 games since they came up through the loosers bracket. Even with a week of rest they were not 100%. Sometimes conference tournaments end up elliminating the champion as well as those that didn't win it. UTT played 51 games this year and to have won the regional they needed to win 3 or 4 more. They did not hit in this tournament like they did during the regular season. I think part of that is because they were playing in all of the games from behind. That puts preasure on the hitters who then press and are not relaxed. A hitter must be relaxed, he cannot be tense at the plate. If you are always behind and feel preasure to produce it is hard to relax. Just one possible explanation for the lack of hitting.

After watching them in the regionals I was very impressed with the coaching all the way down to the fans in the bleachers, very well mannered and the can walk away with there heads held high. first class program all the down the line.  there were other teams in the regionals that were less well mannered and I will not mention some of the 3rd class kids that acted like a bunch of little leaguers that were not taught any concept of how to let alone play the game but sore losers from the kids down to the fans. Bush league IMHO

Texas UTT first class all the way and they should be proud of there accomplisments it isn't easy making it to the regionals and I have a strong feeling that this won't be there last western regional appearance.

[Dawgsdad]

Holland and Ziegler are possible late round picks from UTT. Holland was drafted last year in the late rounds.

Macklin and Harvey are possible picks from TLU. They both have "invitation only" invites ahead of the draft.

[dp643]

Villegas from UMHB has an "invite only" as well. I really dont think these things are that big a deal though.

[Blackcat00]

Its def a step in the door to show what you have