BB: ASC: American Southwest Conference

BamColt · March 06, 2012, 12:19:36 PM

Concordia has a very solid club this year with depth on the mound. Also noticed they have a guy with already 37 hits which is an insane start. I agree the West just isn't as deep as it has been in years past with McMurry down and TLU not being as deep. I will say Trinity has a hell of a squad and are off to a hot start as well and should be recognized with some national first place votes soon.

Ralph Turner · March 11, 2012, 11:05:14 PM

It is nice to sweep a DH. McMUrry 9-1 and 9-2 over Schreiner.

Ralph Turner · March 17, 2012, 05:04:38 PM

McMurry won last night over SRSU 8-7 in 10 innings.

They edged SRSU 2-1 in the 7-inning opener today.

This is the best ball that they have played all year. Another win today will give them sweeps over Schreiner and Sully.

Sully seems to be a couple of notches better this year, or we have slipped back a bit. Sully did take the HSU series last weekend.

McMurry takes the nightcap from Sully 10-2. McMurry has swept the first 2 series from SU (now 1-5 after losing the TLU series 1-2) and SRSU (2-4 which beat HSU 2-1 last wkend).

This race will be tight!

CTX lost the HSU series in Austin. Last night they won 3-2 (11), but lost 1-2 and 4-5.

Ralph Turner · March 17, 2012, 08:26:10 PM

As you look back at the last several seasons, the way to the post-season involves this formula.

Record vs #6, #7 and #8 - 9-0
Record vs #5 2-1
Record vs the top 3 teams 5-4/4-5 (probably winning home series and losing one(s) on the road).

That gives you a 16-5/15-6 record.

I think that McMurry won two series that they had to win.

Ralph Turner · March 17, 2012, 08:48:11 PM

Pre-season poll...

Team (first-place votes) Points 2011 Record
1. Concordia Texas (17) 181 32-17, 15-6 ASC (T1st)
2. Hardin-Simmons (6) 166 31-14, 15-6 ASC (T1st)
3. Texas Lutheran (1) 140 24-19, 13-8 ASC (3rd)
4. McMurry 111 17-27, 11-10 ASC (4th)

5. Mary Hardin-Baylor 97 19-20, 9-12 ASC (6th)

6. Sul Ross State 71 15-21, 7-14 ASC (7th)
7. Howard Payne 66 15-20, 10-11 ASC (5th)
8. Schreiner 32 8-29, 4-17 ASC (8th)

Ralph Turner · March 17, 2012, 08:54:51 PM

If we follow that formula, Schreiner picked up a big upset over TLU today!

IMHO, this race will be very tough.

If HSU lost a game or two that they should not have at SRSU, then they got a big road series against CTX.

Ralph Turner · March 23, 2012, 10:11:04 PM

McMurry beat TLU 7-3 today to go 7-0 in the West. McMurry lost 16-8 to UTD earlier in the week in a "pitch-by-committee" game.

CTX (5-2) stays 2 games behind with a 13-5 win at SRSU.

Ralph Turner · March 24, 2012, 07:16:15 PM

TLU takes the DH today, 2-1 in 7 and 6-3 in the nightcap. Klaus Bohrmann's grand slam in the 3rd was the difference for the Bulldogs.

dbat · March 26, 2012, 06:37:20 PM

Luckily I was down in San Antonio this weekend for a conference and was able to catch all three games of the TLU McMurry. In my Opinion I think TLU should have swept all three games this weekend. As I have stated before I don't think TLU is near as good as they have been in the past, but they showed they will be in the runnings for 1st in the division.

Orosey came out in game one and I have followed this kid since he was a freshman. This might have been one of the worst outings he has had. Granted, McMurry was hitting the ball well, but Orosey was definitely off. If he would have been on his normal game I think TLU would have swept. But its baseball and McMurry came out and won the game.

Saturday, you can tell TLU came out and with a chip on their shoulder. This rivalry has been my favorite ever since I started following the ASC. The fire both of these teams had on Saturday reminded me of the series back in 2007 when the brawl at home broke out. Luckily I will have the chance to see both of these teams play Concordia. This year.

dp643 · March 27, 2012, 08:17:06 AM

UMHB took 2 of 3 from Hardin Simmons in Abilene this weekend. It appears the offense is starting to heat up. Combine that with a solid 3 man rotation and one of the best statistical defensive teams in the conference, I think UMHB could make a small run at this.

Hardin Simmons continues to perplex me. Lose 2 of 3 to Sul Ross, win 2 of 3 against Concordia, then lose 2 of 3 to UMHB.

Ron Boerger · March 27, 2012, 09:46:04 AM

Quote from: dp643 on March 27, 2012, 08:17:06 AM
UMHB took 2 of 3 from Hardin Simmons in Abilene this weekend. It appears the offense is starting to heat up. Combine that with a solid 3 man rotation and one of the best statistical defensive teams in the conference, I think UMHB could make a small run at this.

Hardin Simmons continues to perplex me. Lose 2 of 3 to Sul Ross, win 2 of 3 against Concordia, then lose 2 of 3 to UMHB.

Should be an interesting game between Trinity and UMHB this afternoon, testing the pitching depth of both squads. Saturday's winner for the Cru, Chance Ryan (4-0, 3.49) only pitched five innings Saturday; for Trinity, Ben Klimesh (9-0, 1.48) pitched six on Saturday but faced three fewer batters than Ryan (23 vs. 26). If nothing else, both may be available for a couple of innings in relief. Joshua Fink (3-1, 5.16) is one of two "third starters" that Coach Scannell has been working out and did not see any time on the mound last weekend.

This is Trinity's only game before traveling to Abilene for a pair next Tuesday against HSU.

dp643 · March 27, 2012, 10:06:10 AM

Fink did well last time vs UMHB. I expect him to start. I could be wrong, but I believe Ryan pitched Friday night for UMHB. Regardless, if he throws today, it would likely just be an inning or two.

Ron Boerger · March 27, 2012, 10:35:22 AM

Quote from: dp643 on March 27, 2012, 10:06:10 AM
Fink did well last time vs UMHB. I expect him to start. I could be wrong, but I believe Ryan pitched Friday night for UMHB. Regardless, if he throws today, it would likely just be an inning or two.

You're right, dp, it was Friday night for Ryan. Thanks!

108 Stitches · March 27, 2012, 10:47:26 AM

Scannell went with Speer on Sat and will likely pitch Fink. He also used a number of pitchers who had not seen much action on Sat and has his full bullpen available. He might use Klimesh for one inning to close out a close game as he would likely throw his midweek pen tomorrow. UMHB looked good the last time they played so it should be a good game.

Ralph Turner · March 27, 2012, 11:37:16 AM

Quote from: dbat on March 26, 2012, 06:37:20 PM
Luckily I was down in San Antonio this weekend for a conference and was able to catch all three games of the TLU McMurry. In my Opinion I think TLU should have swept all three games this weekend. As I have stated before I don't think TLU is near as good as they have been in the past, but they showed they will be in the runnings for 1st in the division.

Orosey came out in game one and I have followed this kid since he was a freshman. This might have been one of the worst outings he has had. Granted, McMurry was hitting the ball well, but Orosey was definitely off. If he would have been on his normal game I think TLU would have swept. But its baseball and McMurry came out and won the game.

Saturday, you can tell TLU came out and with a chip on their shoulder. This rivalry has been my favorite ever since I started following the ASC. The fire both of these teams had on Saturday reminded me of the series back in 2007 when the brawl at home broke out. Luckily I will have the chance to see both of these teams play Concordia. This year.

I wil concede the grand slam by Bohrmann in game #3 as the big blast, but Game #2 was too close to be talking sweep. :)TLU won 2-1 but all three runs were ugly, Wild Pitches, HBP's, bases on balls, errors. I thought that we might pull it out in the top of the 7th.