BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[hokieone]

Wow, this will change: there hasn't been a post on the CAC web site in almost 2 years...

I'd have preferred to see CNU in the ODAC , but it will be a big dog wherever it goes, in all sports.

[narch]

i don't know a lot about the odac leadership, but i don't think they would be fans of a mixed conference any more than the usasac was

while i agree with your "big dog" assesment for most sports, i'm not sure they are any more the baseball "big dogs" in the cac than they were in the usasac - mary wash, salisbury and york have been traditionally very good (with the exception of the last few years for york) - frostburg is a really solid club capable of beating good teams and wesley can be dangerous - the cac clearly improves in baseball with the addition of cnu, but i'm not sure that cnu is automatically the team to beat every year

[PNeal7]

While the CAC does have talent in baseball, I think this is clearly a lateral move at best; not a step up. Salisburg is one of the nation's top teams, year in and year out; that none of us can deny. UMW and York are also good clubs, but not proven on a yearly basis like a Salisbury (or a Shenandoah, Methodist, etc.). CNU certainly is not automatically the team to beat, as we all know anybody can beat anybody on any given day; however, I think the talent pool in the USAS is much better currently than the CAC.

Will the CAC receive an automatic bid now with the addition for CNU? I was not sure what the requirements were to qualify for an automatic bid. 

[OshDude]

While the CAC does have talent in baseball, I think this is clearly a lateral move at best; not a step up. Salisburg is one of the nation's top teams, year in and year out; that none of us can deny. UMW and York are also good clubs, but not proven on a yearly basis like a Salisbury (or a Shenandoah, Methodist, etc.). CNU certainly is not automatically the team to beat, as we all know anybody can beat anybody on any given day; however, I think the talent pool in the USAS is much better currently than the CAC.

Will the CAC receive an automatic bid now with the addition for CNU? I was not sure what the requirements were to qualify for an automatic bid.

The CAC is a Pool A conference with or without CNU.

[D-BAT]

February 17, 2012

WINCHESTER, Va. – No. 21/RV Shenandoah University opened its 2012 baseball season with a 4-2 non-league victory over No. 5/5 Cortland State Friday afternoon.

Shenandoah (1-0) banged out 11 hits and turned three inning-ending double plays to down the Red Dragons (0-1).

This is the second straight season that the two Division III powers have played an early season contest. SU was a 2-0 winner in the 2011 contest.

After Cortland scored an unearned run in the second thanks to an infield hit, a walk and a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt, the Hornets took control of the contest with a three-run third.

Shenandoah had five hits in the frame, starting with a leadoff single from senior Mike Minch and ending with a Dan Powers single to right.

In between, Joey Donofrio tied the contest with a double down the right field line to score Minch and senior Cory Nelson plated both Donofrio and classmate Tucker Brown with a single up the middle.

Nelson had reached on a single through the left side and advanced to second on a throwing error.

Donofrio capped the Hornets scoring with a two-out double to right in the fourth. He drove in Kurt Krout, who had singled, with this double.

Donofrio finished his day 3 for 4 with two RBI.

After starter Vince Claudio (1-0) ended his day following the fifth, freshman Matt Riegler worked through a scoreless sixth before allowing two hits to start the seventh.

SU skipper Kevin Anderson then turned to pre-season All-America closer Kyle Scallion, and Scallion snuffed out the threat by sandwiching two strikeouts and a comebacker around a single to right.

Scallion earned his first save by allowing just two hits in recording the final nine outs of the game.

He retired the final five in order.

Watch Scallion discuss the win.

Eight of nine Shenandoah starters had at least one hit.

Claudio allowed one unearned run on four hits and one walk in 5.0 innings. He struck out five.

John Ardornetto was 2 for 3 with two RBI for Cortland.

SU is back in action Saturday with a noon doubleheader against Misericordia.

###

[narch]

tough day for mu...5-4 loss to frostburg and then a 10-5 loss to bsc - they need a rebound vs. lynchburg on saturday in a bad way...

[rolln2]

Lots of action today w/ USAS teams playing more non-conference opponents.  Looks like SU, and MU took two losses each today w/ NCW splitting, AU sweeping and CNU winning their only game.  Can't say I saw the SU and MU sweeps coming.  Although both played good competition.  Looks like NCW cured some ills w/ 3 out of 4 this weekend, and AU won two tight ones vs a much improved EMU.  CNU played got a close win vs a very good Cortland St team.

[D-BAT]

Misericordia pitching was the best I've seen from that program ever!  They made it to the regionals last year as they won their two first games. 

On the day, Misericordia out hit SU 17 to 11.

Good pitching will give your team a chance to win a ball game every day out!  Game two featured a transfer from Division I Pittsburgh.

http://suhornets.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/releases/20120218ukhrc8

[D-BAT]

I will say this and have said it many times before, in baseball the best team never wins, but the TEAM that plays the BEST that day will win!

How true is that?

[LTBB1971]

NCWC takes 3 of 4 from NYU-Poly.  I wasn't very impressed with NYU with exception of their number 1 pitcher SO Nate Albers who locked up in a pitching duel Saturday vs SR Roby Costa and beat us 1-0. 

For NCWC bats really came alive and pitching was A+.  3 of 4 starters went deep into the games which allowed Coach Long to not expose the young bullpen.  Hitting, FR Ricardo Ciuffetelli doesn't have a position but kid is hitting .524 so we are moving him around the field to make sure his bat is in lineup.  I also believe FR SS Brad Guengerich should be the leadoff as the young men can swing the stick (.400 so far) and has some speed.  Looking forward to next week as we'll go head-to-head with Ferrum.

[CNU85]

Rolln2,

SUNY Cortland is #5 in country. Yep- a very good team. But when #4 plays #5, a 2-1 game seems about right.

[Boysofsummer21]

Well it will be a big week in the USA South this week. Averett will be put to the test with VWC and then conference opener against Shenandoah. Ferrum has a much improved EMU and then NCWC for their conference opener. CNU also heads down to Georgia to do a preview of next years conference tilt with Peidmount which should be a good game with Peidmount playing very well early in the season. Their has been some surprises so far but good and bad. But hoping that all the USA South teams start to buckle down as conference play begins. Just wondering with the fast starts for Averett and Ferrum and the one bad day for SHenandoah anyone want to change their conference perdictions?

[narch]

the monarchs need to lick their wounds after on 0-3 weekend - maine presque island is in for a mid-week game as is rmc before the first conference weekend...it sure would be nice to go into the greensboro series with a couple of wins and a little momentum...

[WHEELIN WES]

NCWC takes 3 of 4 from NYU-Poly.  I wasn't very impressed with NYU with exception of their number 1 pitcher SO Nate Albers who locked up in a pitching duel Saturday vs SR Roby Costa and beat us 1-0. 

For NCWC bats really came alive and pitching was A+.  3 of 4 starters went deep into the games which allowed Coach Long to not expose the young bullpen.  Hitting, FR Ricardo Ciuffetelli doesn't have a position but kid is hitting .524 so we are moving him around the field to make sure his bat is in lineup.  I also believe FR SS Brad Guengerich should be the leadoff as the young men can swing the stick (.400 so far) and has some speed.  Looking forward to next week as we'll go head-to-head with Ferrum.

I am happy to see Costa getting some quality innings and pitching well on the mound for the Bishops this year. The kid has had to bide his time for three years now and he has been very patient. Looks like he is going to be a solid contributor to the staff this year. I hope Coach Long is able to figure out how to utilize his bullpen this year. He's had a tendency to run his starters in the ground the past couple of years granted the bullpens were a little shaky.

[LTBB1971]

Wes,
Amen, that boy has done all they have asked him to do and just needed a shot.  SR Flynn may be the front candidate to close although SO Bearley already has 1 save.  What worries me is how many innings will starters have to go.  Too many games in past few years where guys were throwing 110+ and then were on empty the following week.  Starters I believe will be able to give Coach Long 6+ strong innings but getting 1 or 2 consistent relievers to hand ball to closer in the 9th is what I have not seen.  So far bullpen has been battling control issues.