BB: SCAC: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[scacbaseballfan]

JR Bizzell, the Rhodes College shortstop recorded his 200th career hit today against Christian Brothers. He's had an outstanding career and his presence in the middle infield is one of the prime reasons that Rhodes has come so far in the last 5 or 6 years. Rhodes beat Div. 2 Christian Brothers by a score of 19-3, and have really been pounding the ball this season. From what I have seen and read, the offensive firepower is certainly present this year, and offensively they look poised for a shot at the title. With conference play beginning for the East this weekend, who do ya'll foresee as the favorite to win the East division at this point in the season?

[infielddad]

I commend Mr. Ezelle for not wanting to alienate the Trinity fans on the forum, but for someone who has seen Scannel's program up close and personal, I have witnessed some serious faults with his style. The bush league actions that many of his players have performed over the past several years are not because of individual players, but the undisciplined system as a whole.

What I am trying to say is that in previous years, when they were the dominant team in the SCAC, they could get away with their cockiness and lack of respect. However, the rest of the league is on their same level and in many cases better. The fact that Hendrix went out and beat them is a testament of this.

As far as the Notre Dame game is concerned, I don't think that such a big deal should be made out of this. I wish more mid-major confernece Division 1's decided to play D3's.

scac,
In my view, until you respond and support your accusations about Coach Scannell and his players, or acknowledge a mistake, I think your posts lack reliability and credibility.  This won't go away because you brought in really accusatory and serious issues.
Look, if there is reliable information, I would be interested.  I have seen how hard Coach Scannell works. I know he gives his players 110% effort.  Certainly, he coaches them to respond in the same way...and he produces really good players who are terrific young men.
I have seen how much he loves this game, loves his players, and demands respect for the game and opponent.
I have seen him demand his players respect the game and not throw helmets and the like.
I have also been with him when TU experienced the loss of a teammate, Chris Ashmos and a great, great coach, Bob Meccage.  I have seen Coach Scannell and his team and how he teaches respect, demands respect  for opponents, for the game and how he will not tolerate less than 100%, whether they win or lose.  Winning/losing isn't all that is involved when you have lost a player like Schmos and a Coach like Bob.  There is not a TU player who does not know of them or the importance of playing/practicing/acting in their memory.
If you have factual information please provide it.  If you just want to trash, so be it.  This is a message board and trashing without facts can happen.
Bill Armstrong

[scacbaseballfan]

Mr. Infielddad,
   Your adoration for the Trinity program is pleasant, but have you wondered how the view is from the other side of the aisle? You can call me out and say that I lack reliability, but if you want to dance sir, then we will dance. Coach Scannell is the Al Davis in the SCAC coaching fraternity due to misinterpretation of the word functional, and his complete lack of respect for other schools. He may "love" his players, but by no means does this reflect on how they act towards other teams. He may demand respect for the game, yet he still treats other coaches/players like dirt. Do you really want me to sit here and list each and every thing that his kids have gotten away with? To begin, I specifically recall Coach Scannell berating of a lefthanded pitcher about his physical stature that was a bit larger than average. Here's another, a colleague of mine went on a baseball recruiting visit to Trinity several years ago. The number one thing he took away from that eyeopening experience was the prevalence of drunk driving throughout their entire team. He actually had to get a taxi back to campus because there was not a player with a low enough blood alcohol content to perform a simple 3 mile drive. You know, maybe this shouldn't be deemed bush league, but the words irresponsible and frightening are appropriate. Honestly sir, the list goes on, and we can continue this complete revealing of Trinity's true colors, but I feel like most of the SCAC agrees with me on this issue. The fact that you have witnessed his sensitivity at the lost of a teammate only proves that he is not soulless, and nothing more. I am assuming that you are going to get worked up about this post and try to eradicate me from the forum, so I will leave you with this. You're son graduated 5 years ago and yet your heart still dances when you think of your messiah Coach Timothy Scannell. I hope these facts clear the air for you....
                                    Yours truly,
                                          scacbaseballfan

[Jack Parkman]

Here's another, a colleague of mine went on a baseball recruiting visit to Trinity several years ago. The number one thing he took away from that eyeopening experience was the prevalence of drunk driving throughout their entire team. He actually had to get a taxi back to campus because there was not a player with a low enough blood alcohol content to perform a simple 3 mile drive. You know, maybe this shouldn't be deemed bush league, but the words irresponsible and frightening are appropriate.                                          

Not to get in the way here, but this has nothing to do with the coach.  He is their coach, not their baby sitter.  College kids make stupid choices all the time, and driving after drinking is one of them.  Coach Scannel can put rules in place and tell these young men about doing the right thing, but he is not with them every second of the day.
I have no thoughts either way on the subject, but bringing things up like this on a message board are bush league in my opinion.  You can rip me all you want, I will have no reply for you.

[casual_observer]

Hendrix won a bad baseball game 10-9 against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps...tons of errors on each side. This makes them 1-2 so far on the California trip with the last game Wednesday against Pomona-Pitzer.

I can't believe I'm asking this question given their history but does a team that has given several ranked teams a serious run for their money (Millsaps only loss and 2-1 loss in 10 for an almost 2 game sweep, 10-8 against Chapman, 4-3 against Cal Lutheran, winning convincingly over Trinity and competitive games against UT-Tyler) possibly get ranked themselves. Yes, I'm talking about Hendrix getting some votes in the rankings. I doubt they will for the simple fact that they are below .500 and have a terrible past. But you could also make a serious argument based on the difficulty of their schedule this year.

I just want to know if you think its possible.

[infielddad]

scac,
Why not check with Jim Page and his players at Millsaps and let us know what they think. I can assure you that you don't speak for Jim Page

In 2004, at the SCACs, Coach Jim Mallon, the retiring Southwestern Coach and one of the great coaches of all time,  made a point of walking across the field to shake hands and tell my wife and I how much he loved competing/coaching against TU and our son.  He described how much he admired what each had done and how happy he was TU would represent the SCAC's in the Regional.
I used to email with Coach Groat of Hendrix.  Never once did he ever mention anything to support anything you have posted.  Just the opposite.  In fact, he made a trip from his home in Illinois to watch our son play Milb and to say hello to him.  On another baseball board where he and I used to post, his comments were exactly the opposite of your views.Over the years, I have seen and heard plenty of coaches get in players faces.  Coach Scannell is included in that.  He surely is not alone.
Don't  take a personal grudge and start speaking for the SCAC.
Since you don't put your name on anything, you can spew your venom.


Bill Armstrong

[donotknowscac]

JR Bizzell, the Rhodes College shortstop recorded his 200th career hit today against Christian Brothers. He's had an outstanding career and his presence in the middle infield is one of the prime reasons that Rhodes has come so far in the last 5 or 6 years. Rhodes beat Div. 2 Christian Brothers by a score of 19-3, and have really been pounding the ball this season. From what I have seen and read, the offensive firepower is certainly present this year, and offensively they look poised for a shot at the title. With conference play beginning for the East this weekend, who do ya'll foresee as the favorite to win the East division at this point in the season?

JR Congratulations!  If you were around this guy his enthusiasm and personality is really inspiring.  He really makes the team go.
Rhodes had a tough weekend.  They were on a roll after winning the Rawlings classic in ATL, but have kind of spit the bit the last few games.  It seems that if they could pitch, then they couldn't hit,  and if they hit they made a bunch of errors and would lose.  The Marietta game was a great game to watch, but the final score was a bummer.  Weird things happened that have plagued them lately.  Wind blown double for Marietta got them on the board in the 10th, Rhodes has guys on 1st and 2nd with no outs in the bottom of the tenth.  Sac bunt fails for a K, and then the guy on second gets picked off.  That was game.  Not good play for a team that is relying on small ball.  Then Denison just crushed the ball in the other three games.  But that said Rhodes is still number 2 in ERA in the SCAC.  
This weekend's games with DePauw are gonna be played in adverse weather conditions the way it looks.  But, many say it's between Rhodes and DePauw for the East championship.  So, this series is really huge.
I look for Rhodes to prevail due to there tough scheduling early in the year.  But, I don't think the East will be decided until late in the year.  Oglethorpe could jump up if they can get their pitching going.  Birmingham Southern would be my other pick if they were eligible.

[Crash Davis]

Observer, I just don't think the voters would take the time to look that deeply into what Hendrix or a team like them has done.  I'm not saying that the voters don't try their best to get it right, or that Hendrix does not deserve recognition, as I can remember the days when the Warriors could basically get from game to game in a 15-passenger van, the trainer was also the bullpen catcher, and moral victories far exceeded actual ones.  I just think the voters would be more comfortable throwing votes at a 12-2 team that may have beaten up on some bad competition, rather than having to provide an explanatory appendix to any votes given to Hendrix or the like.  

That said, it is great to see the Hendrix program doing what it has.  

I have no desire to get involved with the discussion of Coach Scannell, but does anyone remember Hendrix's former coach, Baxendale.  To put it as nicely as possible, that guy never failed to entertain.  

[tiger_fan2000]

Mr. Infielddad,
   Your adoration for the Trinity program is pleasant, but have you wondered how the view is from the other side of the aisle? You can call me out and say that I lack reliability, but if you want to dance sir, then we will dance. Coach Scannell is the Al Davis in the SCAC coaching fraternity due to misinterpretation of the word functional, and his complete lack of respect for other schools. He may "love" his players, but by no means does this reflect on how they act towards other teams. He may demand respect for the game, yet he still treats other coaches/players like dirt. Do you really want me to sit here and list each and every thing that his kids have gotten away with? To begin, I specifically recall Coach Scannell berating of a lefthanded pitcher about his physical stature that was a bit larger than average. Here's another, a colleague of mine went on a baseball recruiting visit to Trinity several years ago. The number one thing he took away from that eyeopening experience was the prevalence of drunk driving throughout their entire team. He actually had to get a taxi back to campus because there was not a player with a low enough blood alcohol content to perform a simple 3 mile drive. You know, maybe this shouldn't be deemed bush league, but the words irresponsible and frightening are appropriate. Honestly sir, the list goes on, and we can continue this complete revealing of Trinity's true colors, but I feel like most of the SCAC agrees with me on this issue. The fact that you have witnessed his sensitivity at the lost of a teammate only proves that he is not soulless, and nothing more. I am assuming that you are going to get worked up about this post and try to eradicate me from the forum, so I will leave you with this. You're son graduated 5 years ago and yet your heart still dances when you think of your messiah Coach Timothy Scannell. I hope these facts clear the air for you....
                                    Yours truly,
                                          scacbaseballfan

Being a former player of Coach Scannell, I do want instances where he has treated other coaches or players like dirt.  I received my fair share of him yelling at me, but it wasnt anything I didnt deserve.  I was also man-enough to know that when and what he said was done and over with the moment after he said it.  As far as other teams or coaches, I witnessed once instance when he verbally went after a player on another team, but that was only after the player told him to F--- off.  And, because I was there, he only told the player that he would get smoked again and again.  Define berating as well, in reference to the fat left handed pitcher.  I am sorry, but I refuse to sit idly by and let someone belittle my coach.

I would like to ask what program you root for scacbaseballfan, or it is just against Trinity.  Did Coach Scannell personally offend YOU at some point during your college career?

[tiger_fan2000]

On a different note, it looks like all the TU/ND talk might not happen as San Antonio is expected to get rain from Today all the way through Saturday.  I can't see them playing a game on a sloppy field.  By that, I mean I can't see the Wolfe Stadium Ground Crew allowing college teams to tear up their field. 

[Ralph Turner]

Hendrix won a bad baseball game 10-9 against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps...tons of errors on each side. This makes them 1-2 so far on the California trip with the last game Wednesday against Pomona-Pitzer.

I can't believe I'm asking this question given their history but does a team that has given several ranked teams a serious run for their money (Millsaps only loss and 2-1 loss in 10 for an almost 2 game sweep, 10-8 against Chapman, 4-3 against Cal Lutheran, winning convincingly over Trinity and competitive games against UT-Tyler) possibly get ranked themselves. Yes, I'm talking about Hendrix getting some votes in the rankings. I doubt they will for the simple fact that they are below .500 and have a terrible past. But you could also make a serious argument based on the difficulty of their schedule this year.

I just want to know if you think its possible.

Casual observer,

Good morning.  Most fans have no practical concept of the breadth of D-III.

We are talking about 360 teams, from 40 conferences, from which the voters are talking about the top 25.  By the end of the season, there will only be about 40 teams getting any votes.  Practically speaking, that is only one team from every conference even getting votes.  Some conferences have no teams, but others have two or three teams getting votes like the WIAC, the NJAC, the Little East.  Fifty-four teams earn bids to the tourney.  If we subtract the first 16 teams from the eight regionals that go "2-and-barbecue", we are down to 38.  We are nowhere near "Top 25".

The second thing about Top 25 voting is the lag to get into the voting.  It takes several seasons of "name recognition" that a program will continue to perform at a certain level.  There is much recognition going on at that level when the program's reputation is the only "promise" that most fans have.  Trinity TX was in the Top 25 "love" early, but has fallen drastically.

Hendrix is coming onto radar screens.  The difference is that Top 25 teams win the series with UT-Tyler, and beat Chapman and Cal Lu.  Hendrix looks like another of the Top 100 teams, of which we have numerous teams like that in the South and West.

If Hendrix wins the Pool A bid from the SCAC, then they will get Top 25 consideration.  The best team in the SCAC gets that type of respect.

[frank_ezelle]

What a nice change to see so many different people posting to this board--that frank_ezelle was getting on my nerves with the way he tries to dominate the board.

But speaking of Millsaps, they won over MC last night 11-4 with Drew Maddox getting the start and going 7 innings.  That extended their best start in school history to 17-1.  At this moment they are on a bus travelling to Huntingdon College for a single game which starts at 4 and will be webcast.  That webcast link is below (and if you want to see good photos of the hawk that flies around the Millsaps campus all day, look at today's post on my blog link).

[Lou_Brown]

Great action on the board!!!

Hendrix in Top 25: I think you have to start winning close games to get some votes. No doubt the program has come a long way, but wins get your votes not close games.

Scannel: I think this whole discussion (attack) on Coach Scannell is unjustified and shows a complete lack of class and professionlism by those bashing him and the program. If you have "real" evidence then bring it to the table with a "real" posting name attached. Don't start bashing a person and his livelihood then hide behind a false screen name.

1st SCAC weekend in the east: Depauw/Rhodes, Sewanee/BSC, OU/Centre...Should be interesting. Unfortunantly bad weather is in the forecast for all three sites... I think the east is going to be very competitive this year. Which will only help them come tournament time to play with the big boys from the West.

[frank_ezelle]

After 3 innings, Millsaps leads at Huntingdon 8-1.  Hunter Owen hit a 3-run HR in the first, making him the new career leader for Millsaps with 35.

After Lou's post, let me just make sure again that everyone is clear about what I wrote since Lou said "those" who bash Coach Scannel.  I wrote a post about how what was being written on this board gave a certain impression, not necessarily the impression that was intended by the posters.  Scacbaseballfan used my post to blast Coach Scannell, which in a way tied me to his attack.

I tried to clarify what I said in a second post and I sent a personal message to Bill Armstrong to make sure that it was clear that (1) I wasn't referring in any way to the Trinity coaches or players, and (2) I was talking about the impression given while realizing that it probably wasn't the impression that was meant to be given.  Bill wrote back and we have no problems between the two of us.

Now hopefully we can all get back to baseball.  My guess is that scacbaseballfan is a fan of Rhodes and there's plenty to write positive about Rhodes without having to criticise other coaches and other teams.

[infielddad]

Frank,
Thank you very much for your thoughts and   for being proactive with your private email.  Everyone should know the steps/efforts you made including taking the lead to clear the air.  Top quality all the way.
Very nicely stated by you, indeed.
Lot's of fun SCAC baseball to discuss, unless it rains in SAT this weekend  and this was all for nothing? 
If TU and Millsaps get the games in this weekend, the Tigers have their work cut out.  Millsaps seems to be very consistent, at a high level of play.
TU seems to be quite inconsistent.  They have some glimpses at the high level of play but have a lot to prove this week