BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[narch]

congrats to trey such...2nd team abca all-american!

http://www.mumonarchs.com/news/2010/5/27/BB_0527100805.aspx

i've also learned that such, inghram, lancaster and lovette are all playing for the morehead city marlins of the coastal plains league (and all are starting) - go monarchs!

[Uncle Jessie]

Good luck Hornets tonight. We are all cheering for you here in Hornet nation.

[narch]

ill wesleyan finishes off an amazing run today...when was the last time a 21 loss team won a national title?

[Pat Coleman]

Never in Division III baseball.

[Boysofsummer21]

The school year is starting up again, is it to early to be looking forward to some USASouth Baseball?

[NoVa Baseball]

It's never too early.  Anyone care to speculate on the outcome of the next season?  I'll take a stab and await the usual onslaught of folks telling me how wrong and stupid I am.   Bear in mind, some of this is from reading conference game box scores so I may have called folks starters that didn't start all or most of the games.  Here goes:

1)  Shenandoah – Yeah, they lost 4 starters including 4 of top 5 in the bating order, but I'm a believer that you have to knock-out the champ to win the crown.  Unless someone takes them down hard during the season and gives the rest of the conference confidence, they will likely be there at the end.  They also return 3 of 4 starters and their closer.  I'm not as confident about them winning as I was last season – they'll move closer to the pack.

2) CNU - I know I'm being a bit of a homer here, but CNU only lost two starters.  They will miss having Neal in the order but they are loaded on offense.  The real question mark is the pitching and how well they will replace Brinkman.  If Chitzas' arm strength continues to improve, and a couple of the young guys step up, they could challenge SU.
   
3) NC Wesleyan – Pretty much returning the same squad that won the regular season so they should be strong again.  Knowles was great in the summer league and could be one of the toughest starters in the conference.   They will battle CNU and Methodist for the number 2 spot.

4) Methodist – Lost a couple starters but return the top of the batting order.  Real story will be who will fill the two starting spots vacated by Jordan and Kelly.   Britt appears capable of filling one slot.   CNU, NCWC, and Methodist have played pretty even over the last couple years.  One team needs to break from this pack.

5) Ferrum  - This team is ready to start competing with the top four.  They have improved over the last couple years and Franklin is a beast.  They are losing two starters and two starting pitchers, but this coach did a good job of getting lots of pitchers starts and innings so they may not drop too much in that area.  They better find some power to hit behind Franklin or he may set the conference record for walks this year.

6) Averett – They lost their number 2 thru 4 hitters and 3 of 4 starting pitchers so this season may be a challenge for them.  This team always seems to play tough on conference games and upsets someone in the conference tourney.  I still can't see them overtaking any of the teams above them.

7) Greensboro – Last season was a nightmare.  No wins in the conference.  Kudos to them for playing hard all year.  Unfortunately, they also lost the meat of their batting order to graduation.  That being said, they only lost one of their starting pitchers and several others got innings they might not have gotten in a typical year.  They won't go winless this season, but I doubt they will move out of last place. 

OK - Have at it. 

[Boysofsummer21]

I agree it is never to early. I agree with the order overall. But as it is every year it will come down to who is best prepared for the tournament as proven last year. If you are flat there you are gone no matter what your seed.

1) Shenandoah - Champs till they someone takes it away. They are still good on the mound but at the plate is where they will need to prove themselves

2) CNU - Lost PN and JB and their closer. But they have some good talent as the freshman group from last year did a very good job all year, but to replace your #1 and closer is a tall bill. Offense should not be an issue but they also have to prove they can hit it.

3) NCW - If the team matured at all this team can be dangerous. They had a tendency to get down on themselves last year and if they can get over that they will compete.

4) Methodist - will be tough as always good squad and well coached. Year will depend on their pitching as they will hit well enough to be in every game.

5) Ferrum - Growing stronger every year. They need to solidify their order and find consistency on the mound. May be a year out but real close.

6) Averett - They will be stronger then thought as they have good young arms, if they can handle the pressure and grind they will do ok. If the hitters step up you better watch out for this team. Biggest issue will be defense.

7) Greensboro - they need to build on what they have and use this year to build the core of their team.

[D-BAT]

Randolph Macon is getting a new baseball field constructed.

Basically, it appears to be in the field behind the 3rd base dugout of the former field.

http://athletics.rmc.edu/sports/bsb/construction_gallery

http://www.rmc.edu/News/10-02-04%20Master%20Plan%20UPDATED.aspx

[Boysofsummer21]

Ok any fall ball updates??

[NoVa Baseball]

I watched the CNU - Rappahannock CC scrimmage last weekend.   RCC had already played 3 games in their fall season and certainly played better than CNU in all facets.  That being said, there were some real bright spots for CNU.  The offensive lineup was strong from top to bottom.   Several players had multiple hits,  the DH hit several  bullets to the wall,  the leadoff hitter homered, and the subs added hits when they came in.  RCC's pitching was pretty good so this bodes well for the Captains this season.

The defense (a weak spot last year) looked dramatically better.  The middle infield was a kid returning from being injured all year and a freshman that looked very slick on some difficult plays.   Given their defensive struggles last year - this should certainly help them win some close games down the road.

Now the challenge - the pitching (in general) looks pretty ragged.  Two pitchers (Fleishman and the transfer from Mary Washington) looked good, but the rest were lit up pretty good by the RCC hitters (who are pretty darn good).   I was told a couple of the pitchers that have looked good over the summer did not pitch since they were slated for a Blue/Black scrimmage the next day.  Kind of a shame as I would have liked to see them tested by the RCC hitters. 

All in all I think it puts CNU right where I expected.  They should hit the heck out of the ball and play better defense, but their entire season is going to come down to how well some of the pitchers step up this year.

[Boysofsummer21]

NOVa - thanks for the update. Interesting stuff. Everyone I ask all say that RCC is a good team. Sounds like CNU is still working to determine the pitching staff. I know when I saw them last year Brinkman looked good but Chitsay (spelling?) was a little shaking but still pitched well. CNU had a couple of Freshman come out of the pen, Fleishman and Goldsmith, who look pretty good so maybe this is just a fallball thing. Do you have an opinion on how they will deal with the rotation seeing they have big holes in the number 1 (probably Chitsay) number 2 and closer. The defense sounds good so the big thing they will miss from Neal is leadership. From what you said the fact that they lost the entire middle infield does not hurt so much defensively but got to hurt them in the batting order. But anyways thanks for the update.

[WHEELIN WES]

The word I'm getting out of NCWC fall camp is they have brought in a great class packed with position players who are outstanding hitters, some with plus power, defensively strong and additional quality pitching to help. They only lost 2 starters, LF and the bulldog closer, so it sounds like they are reloading to take another run at the USA South Title again. The toughest spot they must replace is an outstanding closer, hope someone can step up for that spot and add some help in bullpen.

[LTBB1971]

From the update I got from fall scrimmages and practices so far is the pitching has been very good.  A lot of potential starters and a real senior pitching staff with potential starters in Knowles (senior), Webb (senior), Wessell (junior), Womble (senior), Costa (junior) and a lot of other good incoming arms.  Key will be replacing the closer in 09' and 10' John Child.

For the hitters I am being told we should have a lot of power.  Only lost starter is Joel Creef in LF and from what I hear Brian Allen may be moving from 3B there to fill that gap.   I hear Bogghosian (spelling?) at 3B has been hitting the crap out the ball.  Hopefully the moons will line up and will see another USAS title come back to Rocky Mount.

[D-BAT]

As for SU, I see where former Greensboro Pride 1st team All-USA-South player in 2009, Clint DeHaven is now on their roster.  Sources tell me that SU's pitching has potential to be the best that they've had in recent years.  It was said that VanSickler's high school teammate who went to some D1 and then onto some JUCO is now at SU, Brent Bertschinger who looks like a decent size pitcher at 6'3" 195lbs, but their roster lists his previous school as James Wood, so not sure if that other stuff is true or not.  Also, see where they got a transfer from Saint Peter's, Joey Donofrio.

It'll be interesting to see what SU does to replace basically their entire infield at 2B, SS and 3B in Holcomb, Henry and Dusseldorph and the Delauther kid who was an outfielder.  That is 4 of their top 6 hitters listed last year.

Those four guys had 279 of their 656 hits, 18 of 51 HR's and scored 204 of their 520 runs.  That's an awful lot to replace.

http://suhornets.com/sports/bsb/2009-10/files/teamcume.htm

I agree, until someone knocks them off, they should be pre-season favorite.  I was very disappointed in CNU last year and I look for Methodist to make some serious noise and why wouldn't NCW be in the hunt.  

[NoVa Baseball]

Anybody heard what the USA South is going to do now that Shenandoah is definitely moving to the ODAC after the 2012 baseball season? 

I remember hearing some talk of CNU moving to the Capital but it was just that - talk.  I've also heard talk of the GSAC merging with the USA South although that would mean an awful lot more travel for the conference.  I guess they could split into a North and South division of the conference to save on travel.  The last thing I read mentioned Millsaps or LaGrange joining the USA South individually - again long trips.

In any case, it seems the USA South better start lining up some replacements or risk losing the Pool A bid in 2014. 

Anyone heard anything more?