BB: ASC: American Southwest Conference

[TexasBB]

UTT - reduction in roster - change in coaching philosophy?

Over the years when James Vilade was running the baseball progarm at UTT he carried 40 or more players on his roster. The last few years Vilade had a JV schedule to allow his younger players to get game time. Under  Paul Wyczawski, I note that the roster has been trimmed to 26 with no posted JV schedule.  Since Wyczawski brouth in 12 new players this year (5 freshman and 7 transfers), that indicates that a bunch of kids that were on the roster last year are no longer on the team this year.  I find this interesting and wonder if this signifies a change in coaching philosophy or was it driven by budgetary constraints?

Given the economic reality faced by all colleges due to the recession, I have to think that all sports programs are under pressure to keep costs down.   

Texas BB

[Ron Boerger]

Interesting.  Whatever the story is, it certainly hasn't hurt their performance on the field this year.   

[TexasBB]

Ralph,

What happened to the Abilene spring break tournament this year.  The last couple of years Marietta would come down from Ohio and UTD and UTT would come over to play at McMurry and HSU. Usually a pretty good pre-conferece series of games during spring break. Schedule issues?

Texas BB

[Chris Brooks]

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.

[dp643]

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?

[Chris Brooks]

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.

[mcm_sid]

McMurry is the War Hawks

http://www.mcmurrysports.com/news/2011/3/11/GEN_0311111923.aspx

[TexasBB]

UTT sweeps ETBU and is now 18-0.  All of the games were competitive. 7-4, 4-0, 3-1.  UTT has good pitching and defense but is not exactly blowing teams out.

Texas BB

[Just_Some_Guy]

La College takes 2 of 3 from Mississippi
UT Dallas takes 2 of 3 from Ozarks
TLU sweeps McMurry
Concordia sweeps Howard Payne
Hardin Simmons takes 2 of 3 from UMHB
Sul Ross takes 2 of 3 from Schreiner

JSG

[dp643]

Tough weekend for the Cru. If not for two blown saves they sweep Hardin Simmons. I think Hardin Simmons lead a grand total of about 3 innings the whole weekend and takes the series. UMHB is going to need the bullpen to produce better than they did this weekend.

Another note, ever since I have been following the ASC I think Steve Coleman's teams has been one of the most consistent teams in the conference. I like the way he coaches. 

[Chris Brooks]

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.

[Just_Some_Guy]

TLU continues to pitch well, this time getting 4 shut-out innings of relief from Sophomore LHP Nick Jones as they beat Trinity 6-4 despite only getting only 4 hits. Panozzo had a rough 4th inning that invariably cost them the game. It's his first lost of the season. Per usual, Trinity wasn't afraid to run weekend starters out there against TLU, (3-13 Austin College on tap this weekend). Trinity drops to 19-4 and TLU moves to 13-8.

TU:   2 6 2
TLU: 6 4 3

Jones is the winning pitcher.

TU's Kyle Felix had Trinity's only extra base hit, breaking the TU record for doubles.

JSG

[Ron Boerger]

TLU continues to pitch well, this time getting 4 shut-out innings of relief from Sophomore LHP Nick Jones as they beat Trinity 6-4 despite only getting only 4 hits. Panozzo had a rough 4th inning that invariably cost them the game. It's his first lost of the season. Per usual, Trinity wasn't afraid to run weekend starters out there against TLU, (3-13 Austin College on tap this weekend). Trinity drops to 19-4 and TLU moves to 13-8.

TU:   2 6 2
TLU: 6 4 3

Jones is the winning pitcher.

TU's Kyle Felix had Trinity's only extra base hit, breaking the TU record for doubles.

JSG

TLU live stats apparently had the wrong starting pitcher for Trinity; according to TU's web and the box, it was freshman Matthew Tindall (0-1).  The 'rough inning' JSG mentions included two hit batsman, a walk, and an error by 3B which led directly to one of five runs given up in that inning.   

The point about throwing starters in mid-week games is valid, tho; Ben Klimesh (6-0) had to come in to try and get out of the bases-loaded jam left by Tindall but yielded a walk and two hits which scored several runs charged to Tindall. 

[Ralph Turner]

The TLU-Trinity was a fair test of team depth for both teams.

Trinity had the 2 game Millsaps series over the weekend and the Cardinal Stritch (NAIA) game on 3/15.

TLU had the McMurry 3-game series on Friday and Saturday and goes to HPU this weekend for another 3-game series.

Both weekend series are intra-divisional conference games for both teams.

The in-region nature of the game may impact the Regional Rankings.  There is also a re-match in a couple of weeks.  We will have a good idea of Trinity's strength with the in-region games against TLU, HSU and McMurry.

[Just_Some_Guy]

UT Tyler 22 - Ozarks 3
TLU 7 - Howard Payne 5
UTD 6 - Miss 3
Concordia 14 - Sul Ross 6
ETBU 2 - LeTourneau 0

McM up 3-0 in top of 4th, rain/lightening delay til morning
Schreiner up 1-0 in top of 3rd, rain delay (triple header Sat)