BB: SCAC: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[108 Stitches]

Gets his money worth!

[Ron Boerger]

Looks like Trinity's focus was back to normal Monday in Abilene, with a 7-0 win at McMurry and a 21-hit 16-4 laugher at a decent Hardin-Simmons squad (now 16-11).   Waters was 4-5 in the second game and Butler had two home runs.   In the first, Michael Walker improved to 5-0 with a complete game gem in which the War Hawks were limited to six hits, all singles. 

[108 Stitches]

TLU @ Trinity :                       Trinity takes 2 of 3
Southwestern @ Centenary     Centenary takes 2 of 3
Schreiner @ Dallas              Dallas takes 2 of 3
Austin                                    none conference vs Dallas Christian

TLU has not faced Trinity, Centenary, and SWestern in conference play yet so they need to take 2 of 3 from Trinity to realistically hold onto the top seed and host the SCAC tournament. Teams really don't want to have to play Trinity in the first round and home field really can help some teams plus it's tough to beat Trinity at home. If Centenary wants to get an at large bid (assuming they don't win the SCAC) then they need to sweep SWern. Big implications in the West this weekend.

Enjoy the games Ron!

[Ron Boerger]

Wow - what an ugly first game today between TLU and Trinity (unless you're a TLU fan, of course).   Bulldogs jumped all over Teddy Turner, chasing him in the second, Tigers booted the ball all over the infield, and the guys couldn't dig out of the early hole in a 15-5 loss.  Second game started the same way, with TLU for the third straight game scoring three runs in the top of the first on Ryan Gray, but Andrew Waters' grand slam out of the nine hole in the second totally changed the momentum as Trinity salvaged one game 12-4.

Looks like the SCAC championship will be held in Seguin this year. 

[108 Stitches]

Well obviously there will be a new number 1 in the country next week. I can not remember a Trinity team ever getting run rulled  in a game. It has probably happened but not that I can remember. Loosing two close games is one thing, but the way this happened is an embarrassment to the players and the program. I hope the 15 Sr's take this a a way to motivate themselves and their teammates the rest of this season. Wow.

[bzzboyz]

Well obviously there will be a new number 1 in the country next week. I can not remember a Trinity team ever getting run rulled  in a game. It has probably happened but not that I can remember. Loosing two close games is one thing, but the way this happened is an embarrassment to the players and the program. I hope the 15 Sr's take this a a way to motivate themselves and their teammates the rest of this season. Wow.

Even though my son is not playing there anymore I'm still a TLU fan and love to see how well they are playing. That being said 108 stitches, TLU took 2 of 3 in the regular season last year as well from Trinity and the season turned out Ok in the end. I want to see the Bulldogs follow it up when it counts this year.

[108 Stitches]

I have always appreciated the way TLU plays the game. I would love to see two SCAC teams in the regional this year. This is just another wake up call for Trinity, which seems to need them for some reason. A friend of mine sent me a picture of Coach Scannell after this weekend.

[Just_Some_Guy]

Couple of observations/questions re: TLU vs. Trinity:

• TLU has handled their business since SCAC play started. One of the keys to winning a conference is sweeping the bottom teams. Thus far, they've done that.
• 2 of 3 from Trinity in San Antonio is impressive.
• In all three games, TLU jumped out to an early lead on good pitchers. Was the zone tight? Did TLU come to swing it? Were Nelson/Turner less polished than usual? Did they get more flustered after sloppy defense behind them?
• TU's Serkowski made 4 errors. He'd made 4 on the year prior to this series.
• In tournament play, TLU is going to need starting pitching beyond Malinovsky. Baylor is a competitor, but struggles to go deep w/o substantial run support. I'd be nervous rolling Rimko out there against Gray or Walker from TU or Kirk from Centenary in the 3rd game of the SCAC tourney. Never mind the depth needed to survive a regional.
• Take previous bullet with a grain of salt. Baylor is the *only senior* throwing any innings and he and Cantu are the only upper classmen. I'd love to see the % of innings coming from underclassmen.
• TLU has to be pleased with the way they're swinging the bats. Frick is the only starter not hitting .300+ and he's an OBP machine.

JSG

[sportsfan]

TLU was damn impressive and they were not intimidated at all by Trinity.  In my 10 plus years of seeing Trinity play i don't remember them ever being run ruled and at home no less.  Trinity seems to be lacking the shutdown pitcher(s) that they had the last few years.   Those pitchers were not afraid of the big game challenge and if the Tigers want to return to Appleton the arms must step up as the hitting is second to none.   

[Ron Boerger]

Good thing TLU/Centenary is Fri/Sat and not Sat/Sun ... lot of rain supposed to move in starting Saturday night.

[Just_Some_Guy]

Good thing TLU/Centenary is Fri/Sat and not Sat/Sun ... lot of rain supposed to move in starting Saturday night.

From the TLU website:

"Due to increasing chances for rain this weekend, Texas Lutheran Baseball is moving up its conference series with Centenary to a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader Friday and a noon single game on Saturday."

[Just_Some_Guy]

Centenary 7 - Texas Lutheran 5 (10 innings FINAL)

TLU rallied for 2 in the bottom of the ninth to send it to extra innings.

I think Milone will be the LP, but he pitched well in relief. After a 1 out single in the top of the 10th, Milone gave way to Waller (0.61 ERA) who walked the first batter he faced and hit the next batter. He gave way to Drgac who threw a wild pitch (1 run) and drew a ground out (second run) to give Centenary a 7-5 lead.

TLU started the bottom of the 10th with a BB and a 1B from the bottom of the order, but Centenary's Kirk, in his first relief appearance of the year, was able to work out of it for the win.

JSG

[Just_Some_Guy]

Friday Games:

Centenary 7 vs. TLU 5
TLU 12 vs. Centenary 1

After the game one loss (see above), SR. Lincoln Baylor put the Bulldogs on his back for 9 innings of 4 hit, 1 ER baseball and the middle of the order (3 through 6) went 12-16 with 6 RBIs.

Southwestern 11 vs. Dallas 4
Dallas 2 vs. Southwestern 0

In game 1, Will Preston moved to 4-1 on the season. He got a lot of offensive support. Catcher Colby Schmidt was 3-5 and Will Cates did Will Cates things going 2-6 w/ 2 extra base hits and 2 runs scored. Truthfully, nearly all of the Pirates got in on the action.

In game 2, the Pirates had no answer for for SR Luciano Villanueva who threw a complete game shut out with 9K's and only surrendered 2 hits. Pretty good for an outfielder by trade. I believe he had 1 inning pitched until mid-March when he started against Hardin-Simmons. He, and 5'5 William Marshall (who also lettered in band in HS) have been arguably their best pitchers.

Austin 10 vs. Schreiner 1
Schreiner 7 vs. Austin 3

This is Schreiner's last week of SCAC play. Both of these teams are out of the hunt.

By my math, Trinity and TLU are in the tournament. And Centenary will be at least 2 games ahead of the team in 5th.

This Southwestern vs. Dallas game today is big for both teams.

[scac_baseball]

Had to create an account just to let 108 Stitches and the other contributors in the SCAC thread that I am a long time lurker, but greatly enjoy the posts! Keep up the Weekly Wetsuit and posts, because I am sure there are others similar to me that constantly read but just don't post. Your insights are greatly appreciated.

[108 Stitches]

Welcome SCAC, I will get back to it later in the week, but the SCAC tournament is pretty much set with TLU, Trinity, Cent, and SWestern. It is technically possible for Trinity and Cent to swap but that won't have much effect on the overall brackets. TLU got a huge advantage not being the two seed.