BB: SCAC: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[infielddad]

The depth of Trinity on the mound will receive a huge challenge today and tomorrow.
After 3 tough games on Saturday and Sunday, they come back with a DH and single game tomorrow against what looks like a quality team from Centenary.
Quality innings by what could be 2 very good freshman for Trinity could add the depth which, too often, has been the issue in post season Regional competition. The weekend outing by Joshua Fink was also a big plus. Fink is 90 plus but had battled arm and control issues.  One walk in 8 innings was a great start.
To back up BigPoppa, I would expect more than a few scouts and perhaps some cross checkers would attend a match up of Rauh and Klimesh.

[CrashDavisD3]

Ben Klimesh SCAC pitcher of the week. Absolutely dominant 0.56 ERA, 16IP with 26 SO.

http://www.trinitytigers.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/releases/02-13-12_klimesh_scac

Hopefully the coaches for TU and Chapman can schedule a Rau vs Klimesh game. Will be special!!

Rauh vs Kilmesh could be a great regional preview.

Rauh is 2-0 0.64 ERA 14 IP 12 SO .120 O/BA
Klimesh is 2-0 0.56 ERA 16 IP 26 SO .182 O/BA

[infielddad]

Trinity had a very tough DH yesterday.
Needed a walk off HR in each game to beat Centenary 6-4 in the 7 inning and 10-8 in extra innings in the nightcap. Centenary scored 4 in the top of the 9th to force extra innings in the 2nd game.
3rd game of the series is this afternoon and then Hendrix this weekend.

[etg]

(El Tea Gray--re: Trinity Tiger Baseball starts 2012 Season 7-1)

I saw all three of the Trinity vs. Centenary games and IMHO hitting and pitching is way ahead of at least the past five seasons thru the first 8 games for Trinity.

Guess what? The Centenary starting lineup is loaded with Jr. and Sr. level players; these guys are from D1 Summit League Baseball and are really tough.

The fact that the Tigers won 2 out of 3 games in this series really says something about their team strength. Prediction: Trinity wins 2 of 3, maybe all 3 vs.Chapman.


                                                                                       

[108 Stitches]

I also saw the three Cent/TU games. The Cent 2-3-4-5 hitters are absolute beasts, and as good as any DIII college anywhere IMO, and probably a lot of D1 schools.  The Trinity team is very deep and won these games on their bull pen that had not seen a lot of innings. The two games were going into the W column for two freshmen pitchers until the back end of the pen gave the games back. (not at all being critical of the pen as the Gents have some huge bats....actually Klimesh gave up a late inning HR for the tie in one game)

It just shows how deep this pitching staff is when you 1-2-3 guys essentially threw an inning for their midweek bullpens for these games and the back end of the staff did all of the work.

It is going to be very tough getting innings on this team, but games like these will benifit this squad going into their league tournament and hopefully the regionals. Batting wise they are tough 1-9. Going to be a fun team to watch.

[infielddad]

The SCAC just became a tougher and better baseball conference with the announcement that Texas Lutheran is joining.
I think this is a very nice addition geographically and the quality of competition, and it appears to assure the SCAC keeps its AQ in baseball.

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity takes two from Hendrix today, 7-2 (seven innings, scheduled) and 10-0 (seven innings, ten run rule or agreement to end early as game was scheduled for nine).

Ben Klimesh (4-0) goes the distance in the first game, allowing two earned and three hits while striking out nine and walking three.   Kevin Clements had his second home run of the season and Kelly Woodruff, his first.  Geoff Lomax (1-2) went the entire way for Hendrix, giving up only six hits but allowing seven earned runs. 

Ryan Lucero (3-0) also went the distance in recording his first career shutout, holding the Warriors to three hits and striking out four.  Christian Muscarello was two-of-three with his third HR of the year and five RBI.   Thomas Weber (0-2) took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) in two innings. 

[hangmbangm]

 Millsaps takes three over the weekend in Ozarks. Simpson, Westminster, University of Ozarks

[108 Stitches]

From an early read, it looks like the West will end up being Dallas and Trinity. We will find out how good Dallas is over the weekend when Trinity comes to town. Trinity's team is shaping up to be pretty formidable having faced some pretty good teams and coming through with a 9-1 record. Different from past years they have a very deep pitching staff. In addition they have excellent fielding and they can hit the ball. The biggest problem they have will be getting the bullpen some innings prior to the tournament as at least the number 1 & 2 starters are pitching great and are completing games. With as many arms as they have it will be difficult to spread the innings around. It looks like Dallas can hit, but it will be interesting to see what type of numbers they can put up when facing two of the best starters in the SCAC.

In the East, it looks too early to really know how the teams will shape up. Millsap and Rhodes look like they are playing pretty good ball and BSC looks like they are not quite playing up to their potential. It will likely be a dogfight between those three teams for the two spots from the East in the SCAC tournament, but we won't know how good Sewanee is until they face BSC in March.

[CrashDavisD3]

Right now Trinity looks like the top team in the West Region at this time. Top yeams in SCIAC and NWC conferences have lost games to non ranked teams. Trinity/Chapman games in March will be a test to see how good Chapman and Trinity are and if they will meet up in the West Regional again.

[Ron Boerger]

Right now Trinity looks like the top team in the West Region at this time. Top yeams in SCIAC and NWC conferences have lost games to non ranked teams. Trinity/Chapman games in March will be a test to see how good Chapman and Trinity are and if they will meet up in the West Regional again.

I agree with 108 ... the series with UDallas is going to tell us a lot.  If memory serves, UD beat Trinity last year just before the playoffs started (was it one or two ... it was two per the Trinity web site).  UD has put at least nine runs on the board in six of their eight games.  The only games they've struggled in were the three out in Alpine vs. Sul Ross (2-10).   I do assume 108 means "SCAC West" ...  not willing to write off any of the west coast teams this early in the season. 

[108 Stitches]

I do assume 108 means "SCAC West" ...  not willing to write off any of the west coast teams this early in the season.

I was Ron; it would be a bit presumptuous to think in the whole Wild West...just a bit early for that. Since I was in the SCAC forum I kind of assumed....

UofDallas did take the series from TU last year and they were highlighting their success (in all their series) in their preseason or postseason outlook. (don't remember where I saw it) They look like they have been hitting the ball pretty well, but I don't think they have seen the likes of Klimesh or Lucero. I did not see them last year, but someone told me that had some pretty strong arms. I am sure it will be a great two games and I will be watching. (via internet at least)

[108 Stitches]

Trinity comes from behind to beat UMHB 5-3.

Belton, Texas - Trinity's baseball team erased a 2-0 deficit to defeat the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 5-3 on Tuesday evening.

The Tigers improved to 10-1 this season with the win, which was the fifth consecutive victory over the Crusaders.  Trinity has swept the two-game regular season series each of the past two seasons, while UMHB's last wins came when the team swept two games from the Tigers in 2009.

Trinity fell behind in the bottom of the first, after UMHB turned a leadoff walk and two stolen bases into an easy scoring chance.  The Crusaders then added another run in the fourth to take the 2-0 lead, and the Tigers had just two hits through the first five innings of the game.

In the sixth, Nick Pappas finally got Trinity on the board with a leadoff home run, and the Tigers scored at least once in every inning after that.  Trinity took the lead with a two-run seventh that featured a leadoff single, and a bases-loaded bunt single that tied the game.

After Trinity plated another run in the eighth, Mary Hardin-Baylor struck back with a leadoff homer of its own in the bottom of the inning, cutting the lead to 4-3, and chasing Trinity starter Josh Fink out of the game.  The Tigers added an insurance run in the ninth, but reliever Michael Bentz struck out the side in the ninth to shut the door.

Fink improved to 3-0 on the year, giving up three runs on four hits in seven-plus innings, striking out seven batters.  Bentz earned his second save of the season by allowing just one hit over the final two innings, striking out five batters

[Bob_Lotts]

First thing is first: The SCAC takes the top three teams from each division to the tournament. In the West Trinity, Dallas and Hendrix look to be the top three teams. Klimesh and Lucero are the best 1-2 punch in the league and that offense is scary. Hendrix plays with a different kind of passion and they will always be in games. What has happened to SW? They were once a powerhouse in this conference. Austin is rebuilding with a new coach so give them a couple of years. Hendrix has to be the most excited about Millsaps leaving the West, as it gives them a clear path to the tourny.

In the East, the addition of Millsaps and BSC becoming eligible has evened the strength of the conference. I think Rhodes and Millsaps are the clear favorites, and maybe I'm the only person who thinks BSC will be down this year. Yes, they return Maxwell and Meier but you don't replace guys like Leachman, Hulse, Ricco, and Malcolm right away. Looking at their box scores it seems teams simply will not pitch to Maxwell in any big situation. And as talented as their pitching is, its not as easy to pitch when games are close as compared to the last few years when the offense would blast teams. Rhodes is strong, very strong...deep on the mound as any team not name Trinity. Millsaps is going to be tough as usual. Sewanee, Centre and OU round out the group. I can see one of them pushing BSC for that third spot in the east...

So...Trinity, Dallas, Hendrix and Rhodes, Millsaps, BSC at the tourny.

Give me Trinity vs. Rhodes on Sunday with the Tigers getting the trophy and the AQ. I think Trinity goes deep this year and gets to Appleton.

[donotknowscac]

Rhodes hasn't had to go deep into their bullpen yet this year due to the seven inning games they have been playing.  The third day of their series have been pretty ugly.  Carden and Baker will be bulldogs in the first two games of a series though.  Rhodes plays a 4 game set in ATL and LaGrange starting Friday, so we will see how deep their pitching is.
Surprised that Centre got beat pretty good in their opening series.  I thought their pitching would be better.  Looks like Millsaps have found more bats, although they were stymied at Huntingdon this week.