BB: ODAC: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[A.G.]

And you really can't call Shelton a freshman...
...the dude is like 26 years old.

[mustang19]

It was bad enough he shut down the hitters last week but to get 3 hits must have really hurt yesterday....even if he is older than most players...wonder why he didn't stay in Lynchburg?

[redbird5]

Watch what happens to the VWC staff in the regionals...that will be the true test... my guess is your arms will wear out and get beat around the yard... VWC beat NCWC twice but who did they play the next day or the day before that? Just because the win once doesn't mean they can do it 6 times against constant good comp. JV pitcher.. no it was ben moore that started twice I believe, the kid had off season surgery on a knee.               
I like the style those pitchers throw with, their swagger. He is a real good pitching coach, but dont get to far ahead of yourself...they had the same 1 and 2 last year right?  Unless they made drastic improvements they are average compared to the arms in last years series, VWC has some serious potential, but as far as the best staff/coach I wouldn't go that far, maybe in the ODAC.

So we have to wait until Regionals for a NCWC fan to pass judgement on VWC's staff?  And you are predicting they get shelled?  Is this your "expert" opinion based on 2 games this year and a handful in the past?

They have the same #1 as last year (Rivera) and but #2 (Whigham) is a transfer.

As for Francis...I am not ahead of myself.  I have been around the game for a while and I am as impressed with him as I was my own pitching coach (made it to Omaha as a head coach).  I have been around many D1 and a handful of D3 pitching coaches and would place him with any of them.  I couldn't care less if you believe me or not.

FYI...in the 2nd VWC win over NCWC, VWC started a Frosh (DeLauri) and pitched Orgavan (transfer Sr), Polke (limited use Jr), Horowitz (same limited use Soph) and Nguyen (Sr).  I guess that blows your theory of them jamming #1 and #2 down your throat out of the water. 

I will say it again...VWC's staff is as deep as anyone's in the country.

[mybleedinghands]

It was bad enough he shut down the hitters last week but to get 3 hits must have really hurt yesterday....even if he is older than most players...wonder why he didn't stay in Lynchburg?

A lot of Lynchburg kids don't want to stay in Lynchburg for college.

[Jim Dixon]

I can understand why some kids dont want to stick around.  My rule about college is if the kids wants to stay he should go away.  If they want to go away it is okay to stay at home.  Part becoming an adult is to get some independence from your parents and college is a great way to become more independent.

[ash]

Guilford lost another one today.  Losing 11-1 to Ferrum.  This brings Guilfords record to 5-11.  Does Guilford have a chance to finish with a losing record this year?

http://www.ferrum.edu/athletics/Baseball/2007-Stats/fcb0314.htm

[A.G.]

It was bad enough he shut down the hitters last week but to get 3 hits must have really hurt yesterday....even if he is older than most players...wonder why he didn't stay in Lynchburg?

A lot of Lynchburg kids don't want to stay in Lynchburg for college.

Look over LC's roster.  You could almost field a complete team with players just from the Seminole.  Now the D-I players...
...that's another story all together.

[NCWC]

So we have to wait until Regionals for a NCWC fan to pass judgement on VWC's staff?   I think the last statement I made to you was a passing of judgement.

And you are predicting they get shelled?  Yes, their depth is bloated, unless they have the regional in the dust bowl of VB

Is this your "expert" opinion based on 2 games this year and a handful in the past? Im pretty much basing it on this year, last years performance, history, the tides, daylight savings, over and unders, 40 times, pollen index, false trips to Omaha, and the wealth of talented pitchers that flood the eastern seaboard and their d3 conferences.

They have the same #1 as last year (Rivera) and but #2 (Whigham) is a transfer.  Did Whigham play for the Cardinals last year? Is he the final piece in the puzzle? With him alone and a spring training approach to pitching games I think VWC could rule the world. Maybe they will a win a title if you coach and have this other guy as the pitching coach.

As for Francis...I am not ahead of myself.  I have been around the game for a while and I am as impressed with him as I was my own pitching coach (made it to Omaha as a head coach).  I have been around many D1 and a handful of D3 pitching coaches and would place him with any of them.  I couldn't care less if you believe me or not. 
Francis is good people, he keeps those kids in shape, and works over their mechanics.  Im sure there are some places he could go.

FYI...in the 2nd VWC win over NCWC, VWC started a Frosh (DeLauri) and pitched Orgavan (transfer Sr), Polke (limited use Jr), Horowitz (same limited use Soph) and Nguyen (Sr).  I guess that blows your theory of them jamming #1 and #2 down your throat out of the water. 

Crown them World Champions, Cy young DeLauri, Cy Young Oregon, Rolaids relief man Polke, Rolaids relief man Horowitz, and as far as I remember Nguyen is better than Whigham.  That theory still applies.

I will say it again...VWC's staff is as deep as anyone's in the country.

Depth
Andrews.............  1.0  2  1  1  1  0  3  5
Deanes..............  0.0  0  1  1  2  0  0  3
Scarborough.........  2.1  4  5  5  2  1 12 14
Allred..............  0.1  3  2  2  0  0  5  5

Put your money where your mouth is Tom House

[h-sc bball]

Just catching up on the week for Hampden-Sydney...They went 0-3 on their spring swing...as with most teams pitching depth comes into play with three consecutive mid week games sandwhich between two conference games...H-S starting freshmen in two of the games and a soph in the other......coach is also trying to find someone to step up at 2nd, 3rd and rightfield...not sure that happen this week...we have the RIVAL game of the year this weekend.....Randolph Macon. They are sporting a 11-4-1 record with victories over Shenandoah & CNU this week.

Piedmont 11- H-SC 3
Huntingdon 12 H-SC 8
LaGrange 5 H-SC 1

Talk about depth of pitching or lack of...I don't know which...check out LaGrange.
                         app in  W-L
Justin Phelps     11  29  5-2
Jeremy Duckins    7  28  2-0
Tim Canada         7  34  1-1
Joey Merryfield    9  29  1-3
                         34 120 9-6

6 Others           20  28  1-1

[ash]

Villa Julie defeated Guilford 6-3 today.  This drops Guilford to a 5-12 record.

[Catfishncwc]

[/quote]

I have lurked for a while but had to comment on VWC.

Expose their pitching depth?  If there is a D3 staff that is deeper than VWC, I would love to see it.  Chris Francis has done a phenominal job of assembling his staff.  From moving Deanes exclusively to the mound to bringing in Whigham and others, he is head a shoulders above any D3 pitching coach I have seen in many years.  As a matter off fact, he is better than many D1 pitching coaches I have seen or know.  FWIW, VWC's arms were better than Niagra's.

Also, if you were to look at VWC's approach to out of conference games, you would see they throw 4-5 pitchers per game.  I read after the first NCWC win that VWC threw their 1 & 2 while NCWC threw JV pitchers.  What a joke!  While VWC did throw 1 & 2 a couple of innings (which NCWC didn't smell), they also threw a Frosh (Delauri) and a Soph with little to no (Horowitz) experience.

As for Nguyen starting against Niagra...yup...he needed work.  Also, in most save situations, he doesn't have/need to throw his secondary pitches to the extent a starter does.  He threw well against Niagra.
[/quote]

At this point I would not say VWC has the deepest staff in D3 baseball.  I think they have two very good pitchers at the top of the rotation and a very good closer.  Everything in between decent D3 pitching.  But this coming from a guy who pitched on the 98 & 99 team for North Carolina Wesleyan which is probably the best staff you will ever see again at the D3 level so it would take a lot to make me think anybody would have the DEEPEST staff.
THough you will probably see both VWC and NCWC battle in the regional final to fight to get the Series.  Having seen most of the top South region teams play this year expect Methodist. 
And yes Francis is a very good pitching coach and a great baseball person on top of that. 

[Olinemom]

Hasa,
     Are you coming to the Guilford double-header this Saturday?  I am coming to game #1 for sure.  We are having a tough time getting in the groove, but hopefully it will soon come.  I see that Nick Black is head coach.  I remember him as a player.  I liked him a lot.  I think I may have to bring him some brownies.  We'll see what I can manage.  I'm leaving for NC tomorrow at 10 to see the UVA-UNC series.  Tomorrow it's supposed to be Robert Woodard vs. Josh Thompson.  Should be a great game!  Hope to see you Saturday if you can make it.

[A.G.]

LC's scheduled DH with EHC has been moved back to Sunday at 1 PM, due to all the rain in the area.

[h-sc bball]

Hampden-Sydney's scheduled games with Randolph Macon has been moved to Sunday

[ash]

Guilford lost two to BC today by some wide margins.  Lost the first game 14-2 and the second 13-1.  This makes Guilford 0-7 in conference and 5-14 overall on the year.

Game 1:
http://www.guilford.edu/sports/Baseball/2007/HTML/gcb-18.htm

Game 2:
http://www.guilford.edu/sports/Baseball/2007/HTML/gcb-19.htm