BB: SCAC: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ron Boerger]

Nick Griffith:   season prior to today's game:   6 APP, 5.1 IP, 7H, 1 ER.    Longest appearance:  1.1 innings vs Concordia.
Today's relief appearance:  1 APP, 6.2 IP, 4H, 0 ER.     Yes, he threw more innings today than he did all season.

Does anyone know the story on this young man?   He apparently started the season as an outfielder and started there the first four games, struggled at the plate, then two weeks later made his first short relief appearance of the year vs Centenary.    He had good velocity and pitch control today, surprisingly so for someone who hadn't even put in two innings once this year.   Started a couple of games two years ago (but only 13.2 IP in 5 appearances), then played intermittently last season but did not pitch.

What a difference between the Trinity team we saw late in the game yesterday and the one we saw play a complete game today.     When they play defense like that they can compete with anyone. 

[sportsfan]

believe Nick is a junior at Trinity. Believe only Nick and Speer are part of that class and maybe Rape...for some reason the Trinity junior class is small but loaded with arms

[108 Stitches]

Griffith is a true two way, pitched some as a freshmen and also played OF, decided not to pitch last year and got crowded out with a talented OF and played sparingly hitting around 0.300, came back this year as a two way, earned the starting DH and broke his finger (LH) and switched to only pitching since he could not swing a bat effectively. Sits at 90-92, Tindall and him (beside Bogese) probably have the best "stuff" on the team. 

[sportsfan]

Congrats to Trevor Keele of Dallas for being named the hitter of the year in SCAC; truly deserved. That kid can flat out hit (400 hitter) and it is great for the SCAC that he has another year left. Dallas is an up and coming team. Congrats to Zack Speer of Trinity being named the pitcher of the year. Kid at TLU Snider had a great year but Speer is 17-1 the last two years  with ERA under 1.80 and threw a gem Saturday. Speer also comes back next year.  Go Tigers and do the SCAC proud in Regionals

[Ron Boerger]

I was a bit surprised the conference doesn't name a tournament MVP (Pat Hirschberg would have been my choice FWIW).   With only four teams participating I can see why you wouldn't name an all-tournament team but the lack of a tourney MVP seems unusual.

[sportsfan]

think the conference will announce an all conference and so agree Pat is truly deserving.  Trinity is a young team with only seniors at CF, SS and C but clearly Pat is the stud

[108 Stitches]

Here is the web link to the tournament with final interviews, stats, pictures, etc.

http://scacsports.com/tournament/spring/baseball/14championships/game_six

They don't have the final game stats up yet, I imagine they will go up later today. I have not looked at the TLU roster to see how many seniors they have, but that team can hit, if they have many of these kids coming back they will be a force next year. The difference between them and Trinity was pitching a defense (at least in the last game) 

[108 Stitches]

I was a bit surprised the conference doesn't name a tournament MVP (Pat Hirschberg would have been my choice FWIW).   With only four teams participating I can see why you wouldn't name an all-tournament team but the lack of a tourney MVP seems unusual.

While Herschberg is a beast and deserving, IMO this team would be lost without Sr catcher Chris Bianchi, without him they go nowhere, he is a rock back there and has a gun, he has also not had much relief all season, they have others who could step in and do a decent job in center,  without Chris this team is toast. I believe he threw out two steal attempts in the championship game and completely shut down the TLU running game. That IMO really changes the approach of the pitchers and has a huge impact on the game. TLU hit into 3 double plays behind Griffith, so even if a runner gets on the pitchers just keep going after the batters get a GB and walk off the mound. To me that is the team MVP as it completely changes the game.

[sportsfan]

Good call 108 and you are very accurate. Trinity has always had the stud at the front of the rotation..ie. Klimish, Lucero and now Speer but Chris is in fact the glue; congrats to Chris.  TU has a young staff with only 2 seniors getting partial roles this year.  Bogese and Lauck pitch every now and then but they are a young staff that will be loaded again next year.  I believe TU gave up 9 runs in 6 regional games last year but fell short.  Hopefully this is the year that the Tigers put it all together. 

[Ron Boerger]

108, agreed, and I was telling my brother on Saturday what a difference Bianchi has made behind the plate this year.    TU will miss him next year.

[bzzboyz]

Here is the web link to the tournament with final interviews, stats, pictures, etc.

http://scacsports.com/tournament/spring/baseball/14championships/game_six

They don't have the final game stats up yet, I imagine they will go up later today. I have not looked at the TLU roster to see how many seniors they have, but that team can hit, if they have many of these kids coming back they will be a force next year. The difference between them and Trinity was pitching a defense (at least in the last game)

TLU regular starting seniors are left (Carollo and Windell), right (DeBlanc), 2nd (Briscoe) 1st (Kanas) and both catchers (Hill and Brachman) and two starting pitchers (McGriiff and Snider) and a closer (Capdau). There were a total of 15 seniors on this years team. They'll have a lot of holes to fill. On the plus side the third baseman Bohrman who had a grand slam against Centenary and the 3 run double in the 9th of the first game against TU is only a sophomore. Genussa who's started in center since he was a freshman is a junior. The starting SS Jacobs is also a junior. Jr. DH Bohrman will probably get most of the time a 1st next year. But yes, pitching is going to be an issue. Apparently some Juco kids may be coming in and also some pretty strong incoming freshman from the Houston area.

[108 Stitches]

Genussa can flat out hit! Love Jacobs, very solid and made some outstanding plays. One of the better hitting teams TU has seen, just did not have the pitching depth. They had a great season and should be very happy with their performance to get to the SCAC championship game. I am sure they are disappointed not getting to the Regional this year but  still a great start to a new conference.

Next year in the SCAC I expect a step up in the level of competition as both South Western and Centenary have young teams and will be very competitive. Dallas always fields a strong squad but was down a bit this year.

[108 Stitches]

SCAC announces all tournament team. Congrats to all.

http://www.scacsports.com/sports/bsb/2013-14/releases/all_tournament_team



Danny Brauckman, Texas Lutheran

Derek Kanas, Texas Lutheran

Taylor Reed, Centenary   

Zach Jacobs, Texas Lutheran

Keaton Bohrmann, Texas Lutheran

Pat Hirschberg, Trinity*       

Austin Singer, Trinity

Tony Gennusa, Texas Lutheran

Preston LeJeune, Centenary

Zack Speer, Trinity*             

Nick Griffith, Trinity

[SoCalSoxFan]

Griffith is a true two way, pitched some as a freshmen and also played OF, decided not to pitch last year and got crowded out with a talented OF and played sparingly hitting around 0.300, came back this year as a two way, earned the starting DH and broke his finger (LH) and switched to only pitching since he could not swing a bat effectively. Sits at 90-92, Tindall and him (beside Bogese) probably have the best "stuff" on the team.

Good recap.  He played SoCal high school and travel ball, so I have some awareness of Griffith.  It's good to hear that he did well when the opportunity came his way. 

[ILVBB]

It is interesting to note the number of schools participating in the 2014 regionals that made up the SCAC not too long ago. You don't have to go back to far to see all of these as part of the SCAC.

Rose-Hulman
DePauw
Rhodes
Birmingham-Southern
Trinity