BB: SCAC: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ralph Turner]

Here's a question for the Trinity fans and it is related to my observation that the 2-game series means that each team will be facing top pitching in both games.  Millsaps goes to Trinity in mid-March for 2 games and it's almost like those games are an afterthought on the schedule.  Here's what's showing on the Trinity website:

Tues., Mar. 10 Concordia (TX) University 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 11 vs. Illinois State University (@ Irish Classic) TBA
Thurs., Mar. 12 Wabash College 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 14 Millsaps College* 1:00 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 14 vs. University of Notre Dame (@ Irish Classic) TBA
Sun., Mar. 15 Millsaps College* 1:00 p.m.

Is this still correct that Trinity is actually going to play Notre Dame in the middle of a SCAC series and after playing 3 midweek games?

In-region games are in bold.

Notre Dame and Illinois State are what you tell the grandkids.

Concordia-TX and Millsaps scores are what you tell the NCAA.

[Leadoff Man]

The logic behind Trinity's schedule is simple.  If you get an opportunity to play a D1 team (especially one with the notariety of Notre Dame), you take it no matter how it fits into your schedule.  How many other D3 teams are there around the country that play that high of caliber D1 team this season?

As for who to throw, that is a tough decision.

Obviously you want to win SCAC games, especially if the season continues with the parity we are seeing early.  But, how awesome would it be to tell recruits that you played and possibly beat Notre Dame.  Think of what that could do for the program.  Plus, if you embarrass yourself against Notre Dame then you probably don't get an opportunity like that again from any other big name programs.

I honestly think it's going to come down to Trinity's conference record at the time.  If the Millsaps games are absolutely must wins, then Bronson should pitch.

Coach Scannell has a tough decision on his hands.

[frank_ezelle]

Here's part of a news release from Jacksonville State University yesterday and it has a Millsaps connection:

"Jacksonville State's Ben Tootle was named to the Baseball America preseason All-America team, which was released on Monday.

The Oxford High School product was the only player from the Ohio Valley Conference named to the preseason All-America squad. Tootle recently became the first player in OVC history to earn first-team preseason All-America honors by the National College Baseball Writers Association, is a second-team Louisville Slugger preseason All-America, third team by Ping!Baseball and is on the Brooks Wallace Award Watch list.

He helped Jacksonville State to the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference regular-season Championship with a Conference record 23-4 mark. Both ESPN and Baseball America both have named Tootle as one of the top prospects in the country and is projected as a first round draft pick in 2009."

Complete story:  http://www.jsugamecocksports.com/news/2009/2/16/BB_0216094323.aspx

The Millsaps connection is that Ben Tootle was hammered by Millsaps hitters last year, giving up 6 hits and 9 runs (6 earned) in just 1 inning of play as Millsaps beat the Ohio Valley Conference champs 17-3 to split a 2-game series.

I'm not sure if Millsaps brought in any recruits with that victory, but I do understand that it is nice to play a D1 school when it can be fitted within the schedule.

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There are plenty of games on tap in the SCAC today (all times Eastern):

Southwestern (Tex.)   @ Texas Lutheran   3:00 PM   
Rust   @ Rhodes   3:00 PM  Boxscore Live stats   
Trinity (Tex.)   @ Mary Hardin-Baylor   3:00 PM     
Atlanta Christian   @ Oglethorpe   4:00 PM  Live stats   
Ozarks (Ark.)   @ Hendrix   4:00 PM   
Atlanta Christian   @ Oglethorpe   7:00 PM  Live stats
Millsaps   @ Mississippi Col.   7:00 PM  Video

The links for all of the live stats, etc, can be found at:  http://www.scacsports.com/sports/bsb/2008-09/schedule

I have a feeling there are other links available so please post any that you find.  Here's one for live stats on the Millsaps game:  http://www.gochoctaws.com/news/2009/2/17/BB_0217092114.aspx

[frank_ezelle]

An early surprise from Memphis, Rust is up over Rhodes 1-0 after 3 innings:  http://livestats.internetconsult.com/rhodes/baseball/

Trinity is up over UMHB 2-1 going into the bottom of the 2nd or maybe the top of the third.  You can find links to audio and video here:  http://www.trinity.edu/departments/athletics/Baseball/

Hendrix leads Ozarks 4-3 and is batting in the top of the 5th:  http://eagles.ozarks.edu/baseball/stats/live/xlive.htm

[frank_ezelle]

Rhodes woke up and now leads 10-1.

Hendrix has fallen behind 8-5 going into the bottom of the 7th.

UMHB scored 11 in the bottom of the 3rd and now leads Trinity 12-2 going into the 4th.

As mentioned many times before, it helps every SCAC team when other SCAC teams win non-conference games, especially helping the teams that have hopes of qualifying for an at-large bid.  While it is unlikely that Trinity can come back from 10 down, it would be nice if Hendrix could rally.

[Ralph Turner]

Ozarks 12 Hendrix 10

David Smith walk-off 2-run HR in the bottom of the 9th.

[frank_ezelle]

Bummer for Hendrix--they are a much improved team this year.

Millsaps leads 12-1 in the top of the 3rd and still batting.  Will Hawkins hit a towering 3-run HR, Hunter Owen drove in 3 with a based loaded double, and I think 7 Millsaps hitters have been HBP.  It could be a long night at MS College.

UPDATE:  The game actually went fairly quick, ending in about 2 hours and 30 minutes.  Millsaps won 20-3 in a game shortened to 7 innings.  Here's the final live stats from the MS College site:

http://sidearmstats.com/mississippi/baseball/

[HeadingForHome]

Oglethorpe swept the doubleheader against Atlanta Christian College..  Winning the first game 7 to 6 and second game 4 to 1.

Game 1: Oglethorpe was up  by around 4 runs (I cant quite remember and stats are not updated) but Atlanta Christian College brought it back in the last two innings which had some flashes of deja vu when Oglethorpe lost a 6 run lead to Maryville on Saturday.  Chris Lucas started the game and went 4 strong innings but the impressive stat was his hitting 2 for 2 with a HR,2b and 5 RBI's.

Game 2:  This one all I can say was that John Hale pitched a beautiful 6.1 innings and got the win.


The Petrels looked pretty good today but the true test will come tomorrow if the rain stays away as they are set to play Emory.

[BATR441]

Lucas is on fire and the entire middle of the order is getting it done with the exception of one little weakness which hopefully will start lighting up it soon, John Hale needed this win in a bad way and hopefully his confidence will show through. All in all 2 good wins for OU but your right if they play tonight it will be there toughest test of the young season.

[HeadingForHome]

Oglethorpe's game against Emory has been postponed to a later date.

[tiger_fan2000]

Having played for Coach Scannell, I think I know why he will throw Bronson against Notre Dame.  I said earlier that you need more than two pitchers to win the conf. tourney.  Coach Scannell's reasoning could be this.....If TU can't get to the conf. tournament using other pitchers besides Bronson, then what difference does it make.  Being 1-6, they can kiss an at-large bid good bye, seeing as how they have lost to every in-region team.  The only chance they have to make it to a regional is to win the tournament.  They will need at least 3 pitchers to do that.  So, let Bronson go get Notre Dame and see what happens with Millsaps.  This Trinity team is coming to a crossroads very fast, they can still turn it around.  But it is time for guys to start playing like they are capable. 

Ideally they sweep at Sul Ross State this weekend and then start to ride a little momentum. 

[frank_ezelle]

Oglethorpe's game against Emory has been postponed to a later date.

It's a good thing the game has been postponed--OU plays Ferrum, Franklin, York and N.C. Wesleyan this weekend.  It sounds like a good stretch for rested arms.

On the Trinity schedule, I guess we'll see what we see when that weekend comes.  Keep in mind that it's not just the part about playing a night game that may start well after 7 Saturday night while the Millsaps team is resting, but it's the D3 games on Tuesday and Thursday and the D1 game on Wednesday.  Even in a very good year, that's a lot to ask from your pitching staff.  I hope you're right and Trinity expends their best pitching on Wednesday and Saturday night, but that would greatly surprise me.

[infielddad]

Frank,
To follow up a bit on tiger_fan 2000, I really think you need to know Coach Scannell when you look at this schedule.
First, for anyone who has seen he and Coach Page on the same field, each is extremely competitive.  Each wants the best result for his players and team.  Each also does a great job of leaving it on the field.
Coach Scannell believes strongly in effort and giving 100% every day you are part of his team.
But, he also believes DIII baseball is part of an experience where baseball provides openings to opportunities players would never otherwise experience.
When he recruited our son, he focused not only on Trinity, but Summer leagues, being in New England, playing in parts of this Country you have never visited and making contacts and friends through baseball that will last a lifetime.  As he  summarized it, playing in a Summer league in New England would make him a better player and, through baseball, he would not only have  experiences that would last a lifetime, he would meet friends and build relationships. 
Coach feels strongly there is more to college baseball/DIII baseball than what happens from February to May during the 4 years you attend Trinity.
I think playing Notre Dame, especially, is a further illustration of his approach. 
While I doubt he, or anyone, thought his team would be scuffling as they are right now, Coach knows that week/playing Notre Dame is another part of DIII baseball that few, if any will ever experience.
I think he also sees that week as a way to challenge his players to compete at levels most everyone questions. The way they have started raises the noise on those questions even louder. If you know Coach Scannell, you know he does not back down from challenges and won't let his team do that either.
Coach Scannell is a wonderful and probably superb DIII coach.  Does he believe in winning?  You bet. 
But he also believes there is a lot more to the DIII experience than winning a game.  Wins come in lots of different ways and many are not measured in runs scored and ERA. 

[frank_ezelle]

infielddad--Well, there you go.  When I brought up the question, I really was curious about the choice of scheduling.  It wasn't a question about right or wrong, but the scheduling obviously makes the Millsaps games more difficult for Trinity to win and I'm not close enough to the Trinity program to know why that would be done.  I appreciate your detailed answer.

I can see where playing Notre Dame and playing in their tournament is a big deal, and from what you are saying, maybe it will be more important in the Trinity scheme of things to let Bronson pitch against Notre Dame and give him the chance to highlight his individual skills against a D1 team.  I'm sure that whoever does pitch against Millsaps will be ready to battle and I expect two tough games in San Antonio.

Also, as tiger_fan2000 mentioned, I'd like to see Trinity sweep Sul Ross State this weekend (along with Millsaps sweeping Southwestern).

[tiger_fan2000]

infielddad--Well, there you go.  When I brought up the question, I really was curious about the choice of scheduling.  It wasn't a question about right or wrong, but the scheduling obviously makes the Millsaps games more difficult for Trinity to win and I'm not close enough to the Trinity program to know why that would be done.  I appreciate your detailed answer.

I can see where playing Notre Dame and playing in their tournament is a big deal, and from what you are saying, maybe it will be more important in the Trinity scheme of things to let Bronson pitch against Notre Dame and give him the chance to highlight his individual skills against a D1 team.  I'm sure that whoever does pitch against Millsaps will be ready to battle and I expect two tough games in San Antonio.

Also, as tiger_fan2000 mentioned, I'd like to see Trinity sweep Sul Ross State this weekend (along with Millsaps sweeping Southwestern).

I can live with the Majors sweep as well.