BB: West Region Independents

[Ralph Turner]

Thanks for the comment gatekeeper. 

UDallas was a contender in the ASC when their coach was James Vilade, currently at UT-Tyler.

I wanted to eliminate any confusion between UDallas Crudaders and UT-Dallas Comets, the 2007 Pool C team that Chapman saw in the West Regionals and University of Dallas.

As for Kitchens, he is looking like a strong All-American Candidate. 

[DIIIBASEBALLFAN]

Game 1 Chapman 3 Dallas 1
Game 2 Chapman 6 Dallas 4 6th inning

[Ralph Turner]

Game 1 Chapman 3 Dallas 1               Stats

Phillip Carkhuff, the UDallas staff ace, had a great outing.  He kept UDallas in the game, forcing Chapman to go to Reliever Kurt Yacko in the 7th inning.

UDallas season stats

[chakote]

Game 1 Chapman 3 Dallas 1               Stats

Phillip Carkhuff, the UDallas staff ace, had a great outing.  He kept UDallas in the game, forcing Chapman to go to Reliever Kurt Yacko in the 7th inning.

UDallas season stats

Ralph, it was finally a pleasure to meet you this afternoon at the UDallas game, the second game was a win by Capman if you haven't heard already 13-6 I believe, give or take a run by either team. UDallas put up a valient fight before Chapman took the game out of reach, and the cause was mainly walks by UD. It never fails that walks always seem to find a way to score, but when you end up walking in runs it kind of takes the wind out of the sails of the defensive team. Although UD put together some hits in the 6th,7th, and didn't score, but you get the idea.
  In the first game when they brought in Yacko, in my opion for what it is worth they did it more for the work that Yacko needed to keep his arm up for the upcoming games in the regonals. His slider was as always devistating to the hitters and that if he had any problems that was because earlier in the game prior to that one when he slid into home he slightly twisted his ankle and limped into the dugout, it was more because of the way he had to land on his leading leg. Anyway I believe that when we see each other again in Abilene you will see him at his best as always.
It is going to be some great baseball in the regional and i think that whoever goes to the WS in Appleton wil have a very good chance to win the whole enchilada. just my two cents

[Ralph Turner]

chakote, nice to meet you and your lovely bride.  Yacko was impressive today, as was that Kitchens fella yesterday! 

Thanks for coming to Texas and I hope y'all (second person plural pronoun... the colloquial equivalent to youse guys, you'uns, etc.    )  get to come to Abilene in 2 weeks.

If you do, please take in the museum, Frontier Texas.  It takes about 2 hours, but it is spectacular.

For steaks, try Perini Ranch Steak House in Buffalo Gap.

Travel safely! 

[Ralph Turner]

CSU-East Bay to move to D-II

Pull quote...

...The next steps in the process call for the University to apply to the NCAA for acceptance into Division II, then to the 11-member California Collegiate Athletic Association, a conference largely made up of CSU campuses that includes Chico, San Francisco, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Dominguez Hills, and Monterey Bay. Under NCAA rules, Cal State East Bay could begin competition as a "scheduling partner" in the CCAA in 2009-2010, with "active status" anticipated in the 2010-2011 season.

Because of the paucity of D-III programs on the West Coast, this one makes sense for an urban university to join their peer institutions in the Cal State University system.

As I understand it, they can remain in D-III for 2008-09 if they comply with the guidelines.

(Net effect, one less Pool B team in 2010.)

[Jack Parkman]

Looks like Yacko is doing pretty well in his first season with the Rockies.  Not much of a difference than when he was at Chapman.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Yacko%20%28S%2C%205%29&pos=P&sid=t539&t=p_pbp&pid=543949

[BigPoppa]

Anyboy have a preview of Chapman's upcoming team?  I am curious to see how they plan to replace Yacko's bat and glove.

[chakote]

Anyboy have a preview of Chapman's upcoming team?  I am curious to see how they plan to replace Yacko's bat and glove.

bigpoppa, I made a few mistakes on the infield players on my othe post so i am amending my last post. Yacko is on to bigger and better things with the Rockies but he is not irreplacable. we have some transfers this year that i think will fill the spots left by our seniors as well as there bats. although redding and yak in the middle were an awesome middle infield that also is a credit to the coaching.
With Vass gone also and Stewart the others are just going to have to step up and fill the void and I think we will be alright. We have some lefty's on the hill and with our stud Kitchens on the bump as well as luzar and Sigmond and add the new kids from the left side and we will stay competitive.

[BigPoppa]

Chakote-

How does your recruiting class look? Can you give us a preview of what to expect from the new additions to Chapman program this year?

[Jack Parkman]

I will do a preview for the "SCIAC Co-Champion" Chapman panther now.  It's no secret that Chapman is the top D-III program in So. Cal, as well as the West region.  Chapman loses a lot but I am sure they will do just fine in bringing in many new faces to keep their tradition rolling.

Offense

Chapman hit .345 as a team in '08 and will lose some guys and bring some back as well.  Every Chapman regular hit over .300 with the exception of one guy.  Chapman returns their top hitter from last year Tristian Phillips.  Phillips hit .394 with 10 doubles and 4 home runs.  Ryan Hall returns after hitting .357 with 7 doubles and one HR.  Patrick O'Hail hit .337 with 9 doubles and 8 hr's.  Ryan Prechtel also returns after hitting .337 with 12 doubles and 2 hr's.

Chapman loses some very potent bats in Mike Vass, Kurt Yacko and Stuart Hyman.  Vass had a monster year hitting .382 with 11 doubles and 14 home runs and added 54 RBI. Vass also stole 18 bases in 24 tries. Yacko was important in the field and on the mound.  Yacko hit .344 with 14 doubles and 10 hr's.  Stuart Hyman hit .373 with 17 doubles and 6 home runs.  These 3 hit 30 home runs, which is more than half of the team total in '08. 

Pitching

Pitching has always been Chapman's top area and they return one of the best in D-III in Wayde Kitchens.  Kitchens was 9-0 in 11 starts last year with a crazy 1.10 ERA.  Kitchens probably would have won more game had he not had an minor injury early in the year.  Also back for Chapman is Jordan Sigman.  Sigman had a great freshman year posting a 10-2 record with a 5.38 ERA.

Chapman loses Ryan Clear and Kurt Yacko.  Clear was 9-2 with a 4.22 ERA in 15 starts.  Yacko is a guy that will be very tough to replace.  Not only was he a great hitter, he was one of the best closers in the country in '08.  Yacko posted a 6-0 record with a .59 ERA.  Yacko had 15 saves and hitters only hit .144 off of him.  Yacko also had 71k's in 61 innings.

All in all, Chapman loses 15 wins from their pitching staff in '08 and returns 25 wins. 

Chapman has dominated So. Cal in the recent years and I look for the same from them this year.  Chapman has too many weapons coming back in '09 to drop from the top spot in So.Cal.


*I will post this in the West Region Independents as well.  Maybe Chakote can add a little insight as well, but it is understandable if he holds back.

[chakote]

I will do a preview for the "SCIAC Co-Champion" Chapman panther now.  It's no secret that Chapman is the top D-III program in So. Cal, as well as the West region.  Chapman loses a lot but I am sure they will do just fine in bringing in many new faces to keep their tradition rolling.

Offense

Chapman hit .345 as a team in '08 and will lose some guys and bring some back as well.  Every Chapman regular hit over .300 with the exception of one guy.  Chapman returns their top hitter from last year Tristian Phillips.  Phillips hit .394 with 10 doubles and 4 home runs.  Ryan Hall returns after hitting .357 with 7 doubles and one HR.  Patrick O'Hail hit .337 with 9 doubles and 8 hr's.  Ryan Prechtel also returns after hitting .337 with 12 doubles and 2 hr's.

Chapman loses some very potent bats in Mike Vass, Kurt Yacko and Stuart Hyman.  Vass had a monster year hitting .382 with 11 doubles and 14 home runs and added 54 RBI. Vass also stole 18 bases in 24 tries. Yacko was important in the field and on the mound.  Yacko hit .344 with 14 doubles and 10 hr's.  Stuart Hyman hit .373 with 17 doubles and 6 home runs.  These 3 hit 30 home runs, which is more than half of the team total in '08. 

Pitching

Pitching has always been Chapman's top area and they return one of the best in D-III in Wayde Kitchens.  Kitchens was 9-0 in 11 starts last year with a crazy 1.10 ERA.  Kitchens probably would have won more game had he not had an minor injury early in the year.  Also back for Chapman is Jordan Sigman.  Sigman had a great freshman year posting a 10-2 record with a 5.38 ERA.

Chapman loses Ryan Clear and Kurt Yacko.  Clear was 9-2 with a 4.22 ERA in 15 starts.  Yacko is a guy that will be very tough to replace.  Not only was he a great hitter, he was one of the best closers in the country in '08.  Yacko posted a 6-0 record with a .59 ERA.  Yacko had 15 saves and hitters only hit .144 off of him.  Yacko also had 71k's in 61 innings.

All in all, Chapman loses 15 wins from their pitching staff in '08 and returns 25 wins. 

Chapman has dominated So. Cal in the recent years and I look for the same from them this year.  Chapman has too many weapons coming back in '09 to drop from the top spot in So.Cal.


*I will post this in the West Region Independents as well.  Maybe Chakote can add a little insight as well, but it is understandable if he holds back.

HeyJack Parkman, I think that your post pretty much says it all; we have lost some very good impact players but IMHO the team that is coming out in 09 is More well rounded and they are going to fill the spots that were left by these impact players.
Chapman has been a very good coached team from top to bottom and i don't see that changing in the near future. As for there ace on the bump in Wayde Kitchens after his brillant performance during the summer with the NECL I believe that there will be school records broken if not shattered. As long he stays healthy. Same goes for Luzar and Sigmond. I would lke to think that this year is going to be a year that the competition in the west and the co-champs from the SCIAC will make this a year where we will see some very good teams up and coming with some great talent all the way around league.

[DIIIBASEBALLFAN]

NCAA DIV. III PREVIEW JANUARY 2, 2009 COLLEGIATE BASEBALL

CHAPMAN
COACH: Tom Tereschuk (219-62 with Panthers)
2008 RECORD: 40-5
2008 FINISH: 6th Place DIII 2008 College World Series

TOP RETURNEES:
C  Matt Pearson(.287, 5 HR, 5 2B, 22 RBI, 7 SB)
1b Patrick O'Hail(.337, 8 HR, 9 2B, 33 RBI, 2 SB)
3b Tristin Phillips(.394, 4 HR, 10 2B, 30 RBI, 1 SB)
OF/2b Ryan Hall(.357, 1 HR, 7 2B, 18 RBI, 6 SB)
OF Ryan Prechtl(.337, 2 HR, 12 2B, 37 RBI, 9 SB)
RHP Wayde Kitchens(9-0, ERA 1.10, 73.1 IP, 70 K, 36 BB)
RHP Jordan Sigman(10-2) ERA 5.38, 95.1 IP, 42 K, 21 BB)
RHP Matt Luzar(2-1) ERA 2.97, 30.1 IP, 27K, 13 BB)
RHP/OF John Semel(2-0)   BA .341 AB 44   HR 4    RBI 16 


TOP NEWCOMERS:[/u]
1b/OF, James Parr( Woodbridge HS, CA)
RHP Rich Matamoros ( Villa Park HS, CA)
LHP Roarke Anderson(J. Serra HS, CA)

KEY LOSSES:[/u]
OF Mike Vass(14 HR, .382 BA), P/SS Kurt Yacko(0.59 ERA, 15 SV, 71K 61 IP)

2009 OUTLOOK
The Panthers post a 40-5 overall record last season and return 5 position player
starters and 3 quality pitchers. Key players to watch RHP Wayde Kitchens(9-0, 1.10 ERA) RHP Jordan Sigman(10-2, 5.38), Tristin Phillips(.394, 4HR, 10 2B, 30 RBI). We don't have as much power as our team last season but we will be a more complete team said Head Coach Tom Tereschuk

2009 NCAA DIII PLAYERS TO WATCH ACROSS USA

Players from Chapman
1b Patrick O'Hail, 3B Tristin Phillips, RHP Wayde Kitchens, RHP Jordan Sigman

[Ralph Turner]

It was nice to meet all of the Chapman parents who traveled to Abilene this weekend. 

Semel really looked good!

Best wishes on the season and good luck.

[utilitycat17]

Chapman beat Point Loma Nazarene University yesterday 4-3 at PLNU aka "America's most scenic ballpark."  Freshman Ben Levitt got the win while Wayde Kitchens got the save with a perfect ninth.  That could be a very big win for Chapman down the road.  PLNU is a quality opponent in NAIA, they received votes in the first pre-season poll.  The win won't do anything as far as making the playoffs is concerned, however every quality win helps build character along the way.  More importantly though, getting quality starts out of freshmen like Levitt and Richard Matamoros is sign that they may be retooling after some key losses over the last few years.  Levitt did not do well in his first two appearances, however getting a win over PLNU may go a long way to building the confidence of a young pitcher.

By the way, after all the doom and gloom of the opening weekend I haven't heard much since Chapman swept McMurry.  This gives them four consecutive quality wins; at least according to early predictions of their opponents.  They appear to be back on track.  They have two big games against La Verne coming up.  Should be some good games if the rain holds off.