BB: ASC: American Southwest Conference

[Dawgsdad]

Thanks for the warm welcome Ralph!

Macklin is the player I'm referring to - he's a big right hander, 6'4"+ 215 lb UT/P coming out of HTU here in Austin. Averaged 400 the last three years at HT, and had a 2.4 ERA as starter. Had a great summer season within the NYCBL for Brockport - league champions. He was used primarily as a setup/closer recording more than 25 consective scoreless innings while maintaining an ERA just over 1, was the pitcher of record in the championship game. He's very motivated to finish well this year for TLU...

[dp643]

I am new to the board guys, but hope to contribute a bit this year. Just thought I would drop by. Start of the season is just around the corner.

Quick question for any of the Concordia people...I read on the website that coach Meyer had resigned. Just curious if he is coaching anywhere else?

[Blackcat00]

Not sure on Meyers status. I know they hired Scott Sheppard a former Concordia baseball player who was coaching at Sam Houston, he is the grandson of former University of Texas head coach Gustofson.
Wondering the same thing on what Meyer is going to do.

[Bman3]

I had the honor of playing for Coach Meyer a few years back and he is one of my all time favorite coaches. He was more dedicated to The University of Concordia athletics program than any person I have ever met. On the field he is as knowledgable and competitve as it gets. Off the field he is an all around guy and a dedicated family man. Being from the Round Rock area, I wouldn't be surprised to see him take one of the local High School teams to State in the near future. This guy is good!!   

[Just_Some_Guy]

Thanks for the warm welcome Ralph!

Macklin is the player I'm referring to - he's a big right hander, 6'4"+ 215 lb UT/P coming out of HTU here in Austin. Averaged 400 the last three years at HT, and had a 2.4 ERA as starter. Had a great summer season within the NYCBL for Brockport - league champions. He was used primarily as a setup/closer recording more than 25 consective scoreless innings while maintaining an ERA just over 1, was the pitcher of record in the championship game. He's very motivated to finish well this year for TLU...

It's quite okay to admit that you're a proud pop. I anticipate Jeremy having a great impact on the Bulldog team this year after last years' disappointing season. Assuming you watched some of the fall season and have talked with your son, what can we expect from the Bulldogs this year?

Is Hull healthy? Depth on the mound was the downfall last year. Anyone capable of stepping up this year?

We know Farr (if healthy), Harvey, Nockelby, and Macklin can swing it. But what about defense? Is Chris Green more refined at SS this year? Is Joe Gentry the answer, someone else? After having Dusablon and Kaase there for 4 years, it was a big drop off last year.

JSG 

[Dawgsdad]

Thanks for the warm welcome Ralph!

Macklin is the player I'm referring to - he's a big right hander, 6'4"+ 215 lb UT/P coming out of HTU here in Austin. Averaged 400 the last three years at HT, and had a 2.4 ERA as starter. Had a great summer season within the NYCBL for Brockport - league champions. He was used primarily as a setup/closer recording more than 25 consective scoreless innings while maintaining an ERA just over 1, was the pitcher of record in the championship game. He's very motivated to finish well this year for TLU...

It's quite okay to admit that you're a proud pop. I anticipate Jeremy having a great impact on the Bulldog team this year after last years' disappointing season. Assuming you watched some of the fall season and have talked with your son, what can we expect from the Bulldogs this year?

Is Hull healthy? Depth on the mound was the downfall last year. Anyone capable of stepping up this year?

We know Farr (if healthy), Harvey, Nockelby, and Macklin can swing it. But what about defense? Is Chris Green more refined at SS this year? Is Joe Gentry the answer, someone else? After having Dusablon and Kaase there for 4 years, it was a big drop off last year.

JSG 

Macklin has built a solid presence on the field.  As such, he has managed to help Green a bit given that he would be comfortable at SS as he is at 3b, or on either side of the plate. They have played together and against each over since they were young. This is not to say that there aren't going to be laspes during the season. It is hoped that Macklin's presence and effort along side of Green will elevate his play...

Errors are part of the game. Sure, you want to minimize them but the real key is what you do once they occur. Can you recover without that lapse causing you problems or in some cases the game. Jeremy's not faultless, but it's the way he reacts when he makes a mistake (or when others do) that people comment about the most. I think this has made an affect on those that play around Jeremy.  Talk is cheap - we'll just have to see how they come out of the gate!

I watched during the fall, and believe that there is a good foundation that should put this squad back on solid footing this season. Hull is good and having Hull and Jeremy playing together this summer has helped a lot. There is a lot of confidence going into this season, and believe that there is added depth on the mount.

dawgsdad

[Dawgsdad]

Does anyone have any comment or input as to how the ASC (west) looks like ahead of the start of play?  Who's liked, who is retooling, etc... I't just took darn quite in these area - Where's the excitement!!

[Ralph Turner]

I understand that McMurry has its #1, #2 and #3 pitchers back.  There are 35 starts right there.

[Dawgsdad]

I understand that McMurry has its #1, #2 and #3 pitchers back.  There are 35 starts right there.

Thanks Ralph. That's impressive in it's own right! what else is out there lurking with this side of the conference? Any thoughts on whether TLU's last season was a fluke - they've been so strong for several years now... What about UMHB? What's this squad likely to look like?

[Blackcat00]

Heard Concordia got some quality pitching and a great catcher from San Jacinto. They are playing a few games at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock due to thier new field not bing done yet. Ready to see what they bring to the table this year, Im sure Gardner will have his troops ready to go.

[dp643]

I saw Concordia picked up 3 San Jac guys, including Michael Johnson who pitched very well for them last year. With most of that lineup returning last year, they should be in good shape. I heard where they are playing a bulk of the rest of their games, and it will be interesting to see how that field comes into play. Can they ignore all the distractions of a weird practice/home game schedule? I bet if anyone can have their team ready for that, it is Gardner.

UMHB will have some holes to fill in the lineup with replacing Adam Froeschl, Steven Reinlie, and Earnest Pena, but return a very nice nucleus of Volz, Garza, Villegas, White. It will be interesting to see who they got to fill in those spots. The rotation is returning Garza and Hopper, who looked good in his freshman year last year.

McMurry losing David, Vorhees, Yurchick, Franco, Whitten will make it interesting to see how they reload offensively with a new head coach. Stephen Derrick who should be returning had a great year last year.

Hardin-Simmons lost all region player Wayne Pimpton from last year. Not too familiar with the rest of their losses, but I know they are returning some good pitching with Kyle Barton, and Tim Kriegel. Brian Weeks and Taylor Berlin had good freshman years last year, and Gage and Dixon had good years as well.

I'll let Dawgs dad fill in for TLU.

Anyone else care to mention anything on Schreiner, HPU, SRSU?

UT Tyler looks like they picked up some JUCO transfers, and they are returning some very good players from last years team. I also noticed Paige Hodges transfered from Mississippi College to Tyler.

Any comments on the east?

[dp643]

McMurry, UT Tyler picked to repeat as division champions in the release from the ASC website.

http://ascsports.org/News/baseball/2009/1/27/ASC_BASEBALL_PRESEASON09.asp?path=baseball

In the West:

Tom Williams (CTX) and Joseph Villegas (UMHB) were voted pre-season co-players of the year. Kyle Barton(HSU) was named pre-season pitcher of the year.

In the East:

Bruce Cameron and Cory Briggs ( Both Ozarks) were player of the year. Blake Booher (UT Tyler) was named pitcher of the year.

Congrats to all of these players.

Predicted Standings:

1. McMurry
2. UMHB
3. HSU
4. CTX
5. TLU
6. HPU
7. SU
8. SRSU

1. UT Tyler
2. Miss. College
3. Ozarks
4. UT Dallas
5. Louisiana College
6. ETBU
7. LeTourneau

[Dawgsdad]

This is good stuff!! I like being in the middle of the pack in the west- reduces the pressure and allows the boys to let their play do the talking...

[dp643]

Those were not my predictions, but the Coaches and the SID's of the division's predictions.

[indian4life]

McMurry losing David, Vorhees, Yurchick, Franco, Whitten will make it interesting to see how they reload offensively with a new head coach. Stephen Derrick who should be returning had a great year last year.

Franco is still at McM along with a few transfers that should play a large role in the "Indians" season.

Derrick should be strong, but I think it is the people on the bump that will have to play a huge part in their success this year.  Defensively they still have Jackson behind the plate who has been a reliable starter the last two years (including an amazing freshman year), Nathan Love will still be somewhere up the middle...I have heard rumors about moving him to second base. 

The transfers that i know will make a difference are two Saltzgaber (hope I spelt that right) kids, one transfered from Ouachita Baptist and the other from UTSA. And a guy from the name of Lips...I believe a transfer from Navarro Junior College.  I also have heard (rumor mill) that they relieved 2 or 3 transfers over the break that will have an impact off the bump but i am not sure how they look.  That is what i have heard and what i know it should be one interesting season for the Indians as well as the whole ASC, good luck to everyone this season.