BB: SCAC: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ralph Turner]

Maybe in fairness to Austin College it should be pointed out that they threw the bottom of the pitching staff against McMurry:

--Duplessis had 16 innings prior to last night
--Serhant who was pitching for the first time all year
--Reisig had a total of 3 innings all season
--Finke had thrown 11 innings.

I think the Austin coaches were willing to take a pounding last night rather than use any pitchers that might be needed this weekend since all these pitchers were seldom used and all were at the high end of the ERA list.

Frank, I think that that is a fair and accurate statement.  McM's Hank Casey (ostensibly the #4 starter) picked up his first win of the season.  Middle-reliever Dakota Smith may have had his best outing and Brent Voorhees got one inning of mid-week work.

[FlightofthePetrel]

Oglethorpe lost both games of the DH against Lagrange yesterday in their final tuneup for the SCAC Divisional.  Like Austin they pitched some of the middle of the line guys... conceding the win to save their big guys arms.  Center fielder Tim Ernst got the start in game 2 and was relieved by 3rd baseman JJ Rizzo.

The 2 losses bring their record to 10-30...

[frank_ezelle]

Tim Ernst pitched 3 shutout innings and JJ Rizzo only gave up 2 earned runs in his 2 innings--that's pretty good against a team like LaGrange.  Maybe they should have been saving these two for the weekend.

[D3baseballdad]

Tim Ernst pitched 3 shutout innings and JJ Rizzo only gave up 2 earned runs in his 2 innings--that's pretty good against a team like LaGrange.  Maybe they should have been saving these two for the weekend.

I would bet that if needed you will see one of them put in.

It is great to learn that the games will be broadcast live by Trinity. That is very nice of them to arrange, I am sure a great many of the parents that can not make it to Memphis will enjoy being able to listen on the web!

Lets hope for a great weekend of baseball and that all the games prove to be exciting to watch!

[frank_ezelle]

I'm not sure if we can say it enough times so I'll say it once again--the SCAC home office does a terrific job in providing timely information and going the extra mile.  The site they have set up for the crossover games is just another example.

The link for the site is:  http://www.scac-online.org/baseball_divisional07/index.htm

There are some really great previews of the series that will be played this weekend.  AND BE SURE AND NOTICE THAT ALL THE GAMES ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WILL BE WEBCAST.  We have the folks from Trinity to thank for that.  There is a link on the above mentioned site but here are direct links to the webcasts:

Link for Hi-Speed:  http://stream.krtu.org:9000/krtu-sports.m3u

Link for dial up:  http://stream.krtu.org:9000/krtu_sports-36kb.m3u

Thanks to those who are taking the time and making the effort to provide these webcast for the weekend.

Game times for Friday and Saturday (same time each day, central time):

Austin vs. Centre -- 11:00
Rhodes vs. Trinity -- 2:00
DePauw vs. Southwestern -- 5:00
Millsaps vs. Oglethorpe -- 8:00

[infielddad]

Frank,
Your post about the Millsaps seniors made me think about how this cross divisional might be different  for Trinity if some of their top talent had not left for DI programs, to be close to home or had been able to avoid injury.
Right now, Trinity has a former SCAC pitcher of the year, Brock Hewitt, completing his eligibility as a starter in
Conference USA, another(Chuck Huggins) who has moved up to the Friday night position with a Big West team and has wins over Pepperdine and UC Riverside(both nationally ranked), Ryan Cavan being a candidate for the Chapman MVP with Yacko, and Brian Oates hurt.
Boy, Trinity could be running a rotation of Brock Hewitt, Chuck Huggins and Oates backed by Bignall, Horn and the like. 
With the players they have lost, it is a tribute to the team this year that folks consider them to be a solid opponent for a team as good as Rhodes.  Who knows what kind of momentum they will bring from the TLU win?  For me, it is hard when I imagine what "could have been."  It also makes me proud that folks think this team, even in a  down year, has a chance.

[frank_ezelle]

infielddad--Trusting my memory instead of looking up the stats, I think you also had 6 seniors on last year's team so that's about 10 guys that had to be replaced.  Tuesday night when we wanted to get a photo of the Maloney Trophy and the seniors, it really was astounding to see just how much talent Millsaps will have to replace next year.  I'm sure Coach Page has been recruiting and preparing for the day when this class leaves so I have faith in next year's team but there sure will be a lot of new faces at the field positions.

But that is a worry that can wait till next year.  The Trinity wins to close out the Southwestern games (games that Southwestern really needed to win) and their win over TLU shows that they are focused on getting back to the NCAA Tournament the only way they possibly can, namely by winning the SCAC Tournament.  I'll certainly be tuned in to tomorrow's game and I expect a good one.

[historymajor]

The webcasting effort by Trinity will be anchored by SID Justin Parker, and Asst Josh Moczygemba,,,  I'll be helping fill-in.  We're glad they volunteered for this effort and hope to get decent listenership by the other seven SCAC teams at the tourney being hosted by Rhodes, and held at the USA Baseball complex in Millington, TN.

We are putting out the call to anybody willing to help either by taking a turn at the mic, or by contributing an interview, or donations to help defray their expenses (which are being jointly financed by TU AD Bob King and the Trinity Baseball parents).  We're going to 'pass the hat' during each webcast to buy them some steak (or BBQ) dinners for their marathon efforts, and help pay for gas.

[Gus Sinski]

 Historymajor, you folks at Trinity have done a fantastic job all season with your webcasts. I listened in when Hendrix traveled to San Antonio, and was taken aback by the professionalism and organization that went into the broadcasts...even if one got the impression that R.J. Thomas' parents named him "The Hendrix Coach."   

I would strongly encourage those who can't make it to Millington to give a listen to the Trinity webcast when applicable. I think you'll enjoy it. I'll be at the games for most of Saturday, and hopefully I'll be able to contribute a few bucks to the good folks doing the broadcasting.

[infielddad]

Gus,
The parents of the players at Trinity are a fabulous group.  They have worked tirelessly to do little things supporting the players and the program.  When you think that very few are from San Antonio, it is amazing!!!
With Bob King extending himself and the resources available within the Athletic Department, combined with the SID, Justin Parker, this combination has done so much to make games available in real time.
Playing at the DIII level isn't easy.  This group of  parents help signficantly, and in a very unselfish ways. That they have contributed the resources to bring this first cross divisional to the internet isn't too surprising to me.  On the other hand, your recognition, and the recognition of others, for  those efforts is greatly appreciated, I am sure.

[HeadingForHome]

With what I hear about the La Grange Oglethorpe game,

Ernst only pitched 33 pitches in 3 innings
and
Rizzo only going two innings

They are going to be ready to come in if need be.
Only Greenfield, of the three main pitchers made an appearence.   

Basically the La Grange was a pitching by committee much like Austin to prepare for this weekend, which is probably a good idea going up against the bats of Millsaps.

[Ralph Turner]

Is there any sentiment in the league or among the posters to permit mid-week work?

Stated another way, if a pitcher is scheduled to work every 7th day, does getting 25-30 pitches in the middle of that rest any benefit?  Especially if it is an in-region game?

[frank_ezelle]

The way I understand it with Millsaps and I'm sure with virtually every other team, these pitchers are going to do a solid bullpen session in the middle of the week anyway so there isn't much difference if they are throwing hard in the bullpen or throwing hard in a real game. 

When Millsaps played Belhaven Tuesday they started off with Tait Hendrix who didn't have a start in the Hendrix series and then Brent Buffa came in and threw about 4 innings.  I'm sure it was Buffa's day to do bullpen work so they just let him do it in the game.  Millsaps doesn't try to squeeze too many innings out of a weekend starter in mid-week but it isn't unusual to see them throw 2 or 3 innings.  Brent probably threw a little extra because of the importance of the game.

[Gus Sinski]

 I'd imagine that the old practice of giving guys some mid-week work has been affected by the new four-game conference format, at least for some clubs. Non-conference games, and the timing thereof, must be handled a bit more carefully than in years past, since teams are using a higher percentage of their top-teir pitchers on weekends.

Also, taking a page from the D-1 book, you don't see mid-week appearances very often. Vanderbilt's David Price can take the ball on a Friday and not step on the mound again until next Friday. I'd wager that a good portion of college coaches would rather their best guys get their mid-week throwing done in a controlled environment. Johnny Stud taking a line drive off the shin against Trinity? Acceptable. Johnny Stud taking a line drive off the shin against the Tulsa School of Welding? They're taking the name off the door to the pitching coach's office.

Plus, remember these are college arms. The younger kids are coming off high school schedules in which some of them pitched only once a week. It's probably better to gently nudge their arms into larger and larger workloads, rather than start working them twice weekly.

[Spence]

I don't know what high school schedules you have where you are, but a lot of high school pitchers throw a LOT.

I have absolutely no problem with a coach throwing his weekend guys for an inning or two during the week. I would go so far as to say it doesn't that much sense not to unless they're pitching on Sunday and then again on the next Friday or Saturday or something.