BB: ODAC: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Boysofsummer21]

I know a lot of the players and parents from EMU and I will say this; they are buying in and are excited about baseball again and that makes it fun for everyone and that is what baseball is about FUN! now would I say that it is an amazing change and they are all well no it is still a tough road ahead and I will wait till they have a good number of games under their belt to say the coach is great. A good man can change the attitude, a good coach can change the teams approach and execution and a good leader can inspire the team but it takes someone who is all 3 to make a program successful year in and year out.

[Will2Win]

I know a lot of the players and parents from EMU and I will say this; they are buying in and are excited about baseball again and that makes it fun for everyone and that is what baseball is about FUN! now would I say that it is an amazing change and they are all well no it is still a tough road ahead and I will wait till they have a good number of games under their belt to say the coach is great. A good man can change the attitude, a good coach can change the teams approach and execution and a good leader can inspire the team but it takes someone who is all 3 to make a program successful year in and year out.

Exactly the point LTHSdad and I were attempting to make. As you alluded to the kids are already buying in. Changing the culture is the first step to transforming a program. Transforming what has been perceived as a negative program for years, into something productive and valuable will not be an overnight project...gotta have everyone on board or the program's going nowhere. Coach Stu will be fine, if given the opportunity.

[LTBB1971]

Bossman,
you hit it in the head...one step at a time...but I believe Stu is the right guy for the job.  I know after a 1-5 start, the record doesn't show but baseball goes beyond that.  In time the record WILL show the difference. 

EMU goes down to 14-4 to #21 Shenandoah at home.  First time all year I thought they were not competitive.  SR P Andy Richter had another rough start and relievers following didn't fare much better.  Offense had 12 hits but left 11 men on base...too many missed opportunities.  I thought the 4th inning for the Royals was the key to this game as they could have gotten right back on the game with 1 key hit that inning.  Team might have been a bit deflated from the 2 losses to Averett on Saturday which happened on the last at bat.

SO Adam Posey and JR Daniel Stanley seem to be shaping up as a nice weekend combination on the mound.  Next up is 3 game set with Vermont this weekend.

[Will2Win]

Very true LTHS. This weekend is huge, a 3 game set with a team that most likely hasn't even set foot on their field yet up north. The boys need a little confidence boost heading into conference play which starts 9 days from now, taking at least 2 of the 3 would be just what the Dr. ordered. Can't count your chickens early though, they just need to show up and play. I will be in attendance, hope this weather stays around a little longer than the weather man is forecasting it to. haha. Wishful thinking, I know.   

Note: Southern Vt. returns 3 of their top 4 hitters and 5 of 9 starters from last spring along with their ace.

[Will2Win]

On another note...i'm surprised no one has noted how dominant BC's pitching staff has been. 0.64 ERA and only given up 4 *earned runs in 6 games...Pretty impressive, as much as I hate to admit it. haha...Things should start to heat up starting this weekend; they begin a brutal stretch of 10 games over a week and half time frame, which includes their spring break trip down to FL and and a date with #21 Shenandoah this coming weds. Should be a good measuring stick for how good that staff really is.

[LTBB1971]

I was at the VA Wesleyan and CNU game and Oh boy!  This is not the VWC team I'm used to seeing and they are 10 minutes from my house so I see them a lot.  9 errors so far in 3 games is a recipe for disaster.  The catcher has 3 already in 3 games although he may be their best bat along with DH Anthony Siracusa.  After that not sure what you are going to get although OF Pike Brynildsen has put some quality at bats so far.  They look like they are missing some Senior leadership in that squad from the big bats they had last season.  Too early to call it a rebuilding year but I'm sure Coach Boothe will right the ship.  Tough one coming up tomorrow vs Division I Hofstra University.

[Boysofsummer21]

LTHSdad I was there also and boy VWC needs some changes and some help. I have been very surprise the last couple of years of there lack of ability to recruit, not sure if it is the school having to compete against those around it or the coaching staff but they need to figure it out and make the necessary changes. They need to revisit their pitching recruit bad, look at the fact that CNU threw freshman against them VWC didn't even see any of the front line pitching and still where never really in the game. The CNU freshman looked good with some looking very good so maybe VWC needs to start recruiting at the same places CNU does. I fell sorry for the team this year as they got some good ball players and this looks to be a struggle. If the players get bond together and use this as a building year I think they can start down the right path but the coaches are going to have to figure out what it is going to take to help this team succeed. VWC has a good school and program just need to get back on track.

[LTBB1971]

What a nice 3 game sweep EMU had over Southern Vermont.  3 hard fought games and now record stands at 4-5 with Randolph Macon next for a DH Saturday.  Pitching staff got hit up quite a bit but bats came alive in this series.  CF B. Melendez has cooled off considerably but I don't think C/1B D. Smith can get any hotter.  He's now hitting .529 for the year and may be heading for another batting title.  Only place EMU is now struggling is a catcher.  I don't know how much longer coach Stu is going to keep SO J. Estrada behind the plate without any contribution at the plate.  Big series next!

[Will2Win]

The pitching staff wasn't that bad (other than a few walks and wild pitches here and there). If the D sharpens up and cut down on the Es, they wouldn't have given up half the runs they did. There were numerous times throughout the weekend that the pitchers had to throw anywhere from 10-30 more pitches an inning because his D let him down. If they move their feet a lil more, they'd be a lot better off in the infield. They are better than they have been in years past; still have a decent ways to go though. I was pleased with the overall effort from the guys and game management from Stu. He brings a much more aggressive approach to things offensively. Granted you're going to run into some outs here and there with that style, but I like putting pressure on the opposing team to make plays. More times than not, you're going to force the other team into some miscues, especially at the D3 level. Huge 2 game set this weekend in Ashland. A sweep would be great, split will suffice. Need to get off on the right foot in conference play for once.

[LTBB1971]

I'm hoping Adam Posey and Daniel Stanley take the mound tomorrow for EMU.

[Will2Win]

That would be my best guess....I've been told by some sources that Richter (weekend guy for the last 3 years) is now a week day starter and weekend reliever.

[LTBB1971]

Royals lose 2 to RMC this past weekend.  Very close to sweeping RMC but came up short.  In game 1, pitching ran dry after SO Adam Posey was pulled with score 5-5 in the 5th inning.  SR Andy Richter has not been able to find it this year yet and hopefully he turns this season around.  Offensively middle of the order did great with FR Bryan Melendez getting back on track with a 2 for 4 game andd 4 RBI's.

Second game had the Royals up until the 7th inning when JR P Daniel Stanley ran out of gas and turned it over to the bullpen and RMC ends up winnign 8-7 in 10 innings.  Offensively SR CF Beau benglesdorf had 4 RBI's as offense continues to stay hot. 

The boys are down in Winter Haven, FL this week for 5 games already beating Cazenovia 6-2 yesterday.  I'm actually hoping for a 3-2 trip so we've gotten off on the right foot.  Hoping to pick up some momentum for this weekend's Conference series vs Emory and Henry.

[hasanova]

Guilford's off to a 9-5, 1-1 start after yesterday's split with Immaculata and the weekend split with Lynchburg.  Guilford's first baseball win over the Hornets since 2006.  Games with Piedmont tonight and HSC over the weekend, so the pitching staff is getting a test this spring break week.  Go Quakers!

[LTBB1971]

EMU falls to Pitt-Greensburg 13-12 and 10-5.  Pitching has been the Royals downfall in this Florida trip.  Hitters are hitting .339 but pitching staff ERA is at a morbid 5.69...may be time try something new as the losses just keep pilling up.  Stanley and Posey have both pitched poorly of late and with JR Casey Harlow and FR Austin Marzullo throwing ok, a shake up in who's getting innings may be beneficial.  I'm sure Coach Stu is not happy with his pitchers but you got to play the card you're dealt.  Defense has not been stellar also with 16 errors on past 5 games.  The boys come back home this weekend to face Emory and Henry and a sweep is just what the doctor ordered.

[LTBB1971]

EMU loses 18-6 to Stevenson University. Offense continues to carry this team but pitching and defense has been EMU's omen.  Midway thru the season here is how I see things so far:

DEFENSE - (Grade C-) 29 errors in 29 games.  Below average at 3B and SS.  Too many unearned runs given up (33) in games so far where pitchers are having to get 4-5 outs in an inning.

OFFENSE - (Grade A) Team batting average of .336.  Big bats in the lineup so far have been SR B. Banglesdorf (expected), 1B/C D. Smith (expected), OF B.J. Mortimer (expected), 3B J. Rodriguez (unexpected), OF C. Rodriguez (unexpected). DH/OF B. Melendez (unexpected).  Team MVP has got to be CF Beau Banglosdorf (RBI machine!) and good defense...with Justin Rodriguez not too far off.

PITCHING - (Grade D) Team ERA 6.64 is not going to get it done on the ODAC.  So far A. Posey and, A. Richter and D. Stanley have been disappointing.  Time to insert JR Casey Harlow on weekend rotation.