BB: SCAC: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[frank_ezelle]

Thought I was going to pull an all-nighter editing tennis photos but that did work out.  When you get to the point of trying to catch 1.5 seconds of eyes closed time whenever you save a photo, it time to get in bed.

However, being an old person, I woke up in the middle of the night and came downstairs to check the computer (and get something to drink).  Was pleased to see the SCAC baseball awards are out.  Can't argue too much about the main awards and thought the Millsaps honorees were good ones.  Here are the Millsaps All-SCAC players:

Tyler Berry--catcher (by the way there are multiple honorees at every position)
Will Hawkins--3rd base
Jules Roussel and Josh Ordeneaux--outfield
Jake Miles--Designated Hitter
Aaron Williams and Boomer Hudson--pitcher

Jeremy Aliff made honorable mention

Complete list:  http://static.psbin.com/p/z/0fl6c6is4x9au9/2010allscacbaseball.pdf

[frank_ezelle]

I need to get back to bed but here's a quick post on common opponents between DePauw and Millsaps.  This makes you think it will be a very competitive game, and with DePauw having the SCAC Pitcher-of-the-Year in waiting, Millsaps will have to continue to stay hot at the plate:

Illinois Wesleyan:  DePauw (2-0) and Millsaps (2-0)
LaGrange:  DePauw (1-0) and Millsaps (2-1)
Piedmont:  DePauw (1-1) and Millsaps (2-0)
Rhodes:  DePauw (2-1) and Millsaps (2-1)
Austin:  DePauw (1-0) and Millsaps (2-3)

[frank_ezelle]

Day 1 Recap--Not much of a surprise in the results with both #1's winning and I think most people picked Millsaps over Rhodes.

Game 1:  Trinity 11--Oglethorpe 7:  The biggest surprise of Day 1 came when Trinity turned in their lineup card.  Personally, I thought it was a little too risky to go with a seldom used starter and it made the game very winable for OU.  Keep in mind that OU was a single away from a 4-0 lead in the top of the 1st.  Keep in mind that OU had 14 hits, left 11 on base, and hit into 3 rally killing double plays.  HOWEVER, Trinity won and they rested their top pitchers, so all's well that ends well.

Game 2:  Millsaps 13--Rhodes 5:  Millsaps got 18 hits despite the fact that Jules Roussel and Tyler Berry combined for 0 for 8.  Jules and Tyler will get their hits, and if the rest of the lineup pounds out 18 hits per game then Millsaps will be tough to beat.  This is a big park and not a lot of balls will be hit over the fence, so the run scoring teams are going to be the ones who string together a bunch of hits in an inning.  Something tells me that the teams playing on the final day are going to be the ones who are getting the most production out of the 6 through 9 hitters.

Game 3:  DePauw 3--Austin 2:  DePauw combined 3 of their hits with a walk in the bottom of the 1st inning to score 3 runs.  Who would have guessed then that it would be all the runs DePauw would score or that it would be enough runs?  It would be easy to overlook DePauw as a potential champion given the lack of success by the SCAC East in the past and DePauw's 22-15 record.  My guess is that they have the pitching needed to be a serious contender and if Saturday is a rain out and they can pitch their top guys twice, then watch out for the Tigers from the north.  It's going to be real interesting to see how Millsaps hits in today's game, especially if they are going up against the pitcher of the year.

[alldone]

Feel good story in the SCAC

Chris Walden... All SCAC

Chris allows the coaches to "coach" and he took advantage of every opportunity
early in the season at the plate and he simply could not be left off the lineup card as the
season progressed.


Kudos to Chris !!!

[Ron Boerger]

So why is there only a first-team all-SCAC (with as many as four selections per position) and honorable mention?  A second team would seem called for ... is it due to the fact that coaches simply don't have a chance to see opposing players given the size of the conference and teams not playing each other? 

[tigerfan_2001]

After talking with some players, The word is that Panozzo hurt his elbow. He hasn't thrown in 3 weeks and won't throw in the tournament. Knowing this, it looks like this was the reasoning behind the suprise start by Fink. Playing the way TU did, they essentially had Panozzo pitch yesterday. Today we shoul see Solomon of Klimmesh. Hope the weather stays away and the Tu bats stay hot.

[frank_ezelle]

Preview for Day 2:

Noon--OU vs Rhodes--This season Rhodes hosted the 3-game series with Oglethorpe and Rhodes won all three.  Rhodes has the better overall record and they are playing near home.  You've got to think that Rhodes will move on today even though Oglethorpe really swung the bats well yesterday. 

3:30--Austin vs Trinity--Here's the deal.  With a win last night Austin would have played Millsaps today, a team they seem to hit extremely well and a team they beat 3 out of 5 times this season.  BUT, that 3-2 loss to DePauw means they have to play a Trinity team that scored 66 runs in 5 straight victories over the 'Roos.  It would be a shocker for Austin to win this game and I expect the Tigers to score more than the 11 they had in the opening game.

7:00--Millsaps vs DePauw--Here's the weather forecast for Memphis this evening:  Thunderstorms likely, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low 67F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. This ballgame should be a great game with DePauw the likely winner in a low scoring game and Millsaps the likely winner of a high scoring game.  My fear is that the weather will end up winning and these two teams will suddenly get placed in a situatlon of getting less rest than the teams they oppose. 

By the way, here's the Memphis forecast for Saturday:  Variable clouds with strong thunderstorms. Damaging winds, large hail, and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 72F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Rainfall may reach one inch.

[Bmo]

The radar is starting to light up to the SW.  Game 1 looks ok, but games 2 and 3 are starting to look like they might be impacted. 

[jekelish]

Yeah, the sky is looking decidedly ominous here in Millington.

[Ron Boerger]

After talking with some players, The word is that Panozzo hurt his elbow. He hasn't thrown in 3 weeks and won't throw in the tournament. Knowing this, it looks like this was the reasoning behind the suprise start by Fink. Playing the way TU did, they essentially had Panozzo pitch yesterday. Today we shoul see Solomon of Klimmesh. Hope the weather stays away and the Tu bats stay hot.

Coach Scannell confirmed that Panozzo will not play in the tourney on an interview for the SCAC blog.  It also sounds like Felix is out:

http://static.psbin.com/e/p/fjm3mebt97uewv/TimScannell-DayOneSCAC.mp3

[jekelish]

Some big changes are coming to today's schedule due to the weather.

Austin College and Trinity will take the field almost immediately after the Rhodes/Oglethorpe game finishes, and the Millsaps/DePauw game has been moved up to 3 PM and will be played at Rhodes in order to try to beat the severe weather headed this way.

[frank_ezelle]

Glad they have moved the Millsaps-DePauw game up to 3:00.  Looking at the webcast of the Rhodes-Oglethorpe game, it doesn't look like the kind of sky that will hold off all afternoon and evening.

Rhodes is up 5-1 right now with OU batting in the top of the 5th.

[Ron Boerger]

Now 5-3 Rhodes after seven.

[Ron Boerger]

Rhodes has blown it wide open in the bottom of the 8th with four more runs, finally chasing starter Cornwell (who has been batting for himself and will remain at DH).   9-3 Lynx with two outs, one on, Kennedy going to the mound for OU.  

EDIT:  Rhodes 9, OU 4, FINAL.   OU is eliminated.

[frank_ezelle]

Millsaps and DePauw have started.  DePauw radio WGRE is carrying the game.  Just search on wgre and you'll find the station.  Hobbs Donovan pitching for DePauw (I think I got the name right) and Shelby Robertson starts for Millsaps.

DePauw went down 1-2-3 in the top of the first.  The announcer says that it is a beautiful day right now.