BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[ilikebaseball]

Too many of the Northern teams have not even played yet, I believe the polls won't be update until the first or second week of March. After everyone gets going it will be updated each week on Monday at Midnight.

[rolln2]

USAS seems to be getting it together a little.  GC, AU, and FC all recorded wins today for the USAS.  Since the end of last week week through today it looks like the USAS is starting to play like the conference everyone in the south knows.

[rolln2]

Speaking of the USAS starting to get it together.  The USAS is now 31-27 on the young season.  Not bad after the early starts of some of the teams.  Seems like some of the early season woes are being corrected.

[cnu13]

CNU is looking great this year, both on offense and defense. Some good moves from Harvell getting a few good young arms and building a deeper and versatile staff. Many pitchers will start and come out of the pen. Looks promising for Conf Tourney time.

[narch]

mu rebounds from a tough weekend with a 7-4 win over an 8-4 hampden sydney club...womble gets the win, going 4 and giving up no earned runs...5 others pitch one inning each - thigpen hit a bomb and inghram got a couple of hits...maybe he'll start to heat up for the monarchs - the monarchs have 2 vs. lagrange this weekend

[9INNDiamond]

New User Hello everyone
I was checking the CNU v.VWC score just a second ago and Tyler Mcelhenny seems to be in a bit of a jam with the bases loaded in the top of the 5th inn. The score is now CNU 7 VWC 6 but there are still no outs.

[9INNDiamond]

The USAS is off to a great start

Shenandoah
Looks Strong as usual and is off to a great start
VanSickler is showing his true colors on the hill already 2-0
Scallion already with 1 save on the season strong out of the pen
SU bats will always be there when they need them, with some very strong hitters in there lineup
Breseahears is going to have a lights out season already with 7 RBIS and he can play an awesome CF
Problems
Who is going to step up for the Sunday games in Conf. play
Whose going to come in before Scallion and fill those inns.?
Is the coaches aggressive play going to hurt this team in the long run of the season or will he overuse Van Sickler?
The coach has been doing all the right things the past few seasons so I do give him lots of CREDIT (well deserved)

CNU
Bats are STRONGER then ever and they are deep hitting wise
Some great players this year in there lineup Matt Shoemaker off to a fantastic start
Freshmen SS Steele showing he is ready to step up and come through
CNU replaced some big holes they had in the field and at the plate this year

Problems
I only see one starting pitcher for the Captians as off right now
Chitsaz has shown he is the ACE, personal I think he should have been the ACE last year
The biggest problem CNU has is who is coming out of the PEN and who else is going to start
CNU is KNOWN for leaving there STARTERS in way to long, PRIME EXAMPLE today verse VWC
The pitching coach needs to get some younger guys some starts and some inns during the season so they will be ready for the Conf. tourney AND STOP leaving the starting pitchers out there to long

Methodist
Returning some great players
Trey S. is a stud and is going to have a great season
They have some great bats in there lineup as well
DONT know to much about SORRY

NCW ?
AU ?
FU ?

[RoundTripper]

What about gc? Any word on there turn around?

[Boysofsummer21]

Well 9 Inning saw the game today and as far as pitching was concernced the only thing that did not look suspect was the 7-9th innings. I had seen some of the scrimages and thought that Fleishman would be starting but looks as if he is closing. You would know better than me if this is a good move. CNU always leaves their starters out there to long but that is nothing new but their 2 true releivers Verdillo and Fleishman lead the team in strike outs so maybe it is a case of starters doing a good job and keeping them in the game and let those guys close it out which they seem to be doing so far. Once conference starts this week end will probably see a little more defined rotation.

Also had a question about Ferrum, has anyone gotten to see them. From what I hear they should be tough,,, the USA South this year is going to be a war.

[9INNDiamond]

McELHENNY, Tyler      4.0    8    9    9    3    3    0    0    0    0    20    24    1    8

That looks like to long to me the kid should have been out after the 3rd inn.

The Bullpen did look strong today Verdillo and Fleschman are showing strength from the PEN

The starters staying in to long will be the down fall to CNU this year other then that they look golden
There bats are getting the job done without question. They can be giving up double digits and still win with ease.

[PNeal7]

Josh Brinkman was clearly the ace of the staff last year. I don't think there is any doubt, or reason to question, that point at all. I also do not think the bullpen is a problem at all. Fleischman showed promise last year, and looks to have built on top of that and developed into a solid 9th inning guy. Matt Verdillo has come out of the gates hot this year, and if he continues his performances, which he has the stuff to do, the backend of a game won't a problem for CNU this year. I think CNU has had some quality relivers for some time, it's just about finding the right spots that the pitchers feel comfortable in.

Shoemaker and Steel have both come out on fire. Shoemaker has always been a great player, he was just injured for the majority of the year last year. At this point, he has to be the front-runner for USAS POY; although, no conference games have been played, so that doesn't mean anything. Adding those two to an already potent lineup should make for a nice offensive season for CNU.

As usual, and as was the case during my 4 years, the big key for CNU is winning the weekday, road game. Playing CNU at home, or on the weekend, always makes for a tough game. BUT, winning the road, weekday games can make a big statement towards regional record, which would be a nice safety net for anyone not winning the USAS Tourney. I can probably count on both my hands how many road, weekday games we won during my span.

[Will2Win]

Josh Brinkman was clearly the ace of the staff last year. I don't think there is any doubt, or reason to question, that point at all. I also do not think the bullpen is a problem at all. Fleischman showed promise last year, and looks to have built on top of that and developed into a solid 9th inning guy. Matt Verdillo has come out of the gates hot this year, and if he continues his performances, which he has the stuff to do, the backend of a game won't a problem for CNU this year. I think CNU has had some quality relivers for some time, it's just about finding the right spots that the pitchers feel comfortable in.

Shoemaker and Steel have both come out on fire. Shoemaker has always been a great player, he was just injured for the majority of the year last year. At this point, he has to be the front-runner for USAS POY; although, no conference games have been played, so that doesn't mean anything. Adding those two to an already potent lineup should make for a nice offensive season for CNU.

As usual, and as was the case during my 4 years, the big key for CNU is winning the weekday, road game. Playing CNU at home, or on the weekend, always makes for a tough game. BUT, winning the road, weekday games can make a big statement towards regional record, which would be a nice safety net for anyone not winning the USAS Tourney. I can probably count on both my hands how many road, weekday games we won during my span.

I'm sure a guy we both know from up our way wearing red, white, and blue would have a lil something to say about that statement Mr. Neal...You know the guy that's hitting .558(11/20) 2 dubs, 3 trips, 3 RBIs, and a SB. And of yeah, he's decent on the bump to I hear....2-0 13 innings 11 hits 2 runs(both earned) 9 K's, 1.38 E.R.A.
Idk though, just a thought....thats all lol

[PNeal7]

You are correct. Greg and Kevin are both always in the mix for USAS POY. Let me correct my statement: Outside of the usual contenders (Van Sickler, Brashears, Ingram, Such), Shoemaker is holding his own right there at the top. That better ?

9INNDiamoned - I hope all is well your way. Let me know what weekend(s) you're heading down to CNU to catch some games.

[Will2Win]

You are correct. Greg and Kevin are both always in the mix for USAS POY. Let me correct my statement: Outside of the usual contenders (Van Sickler, Brashears, Ingram, Such), Shoemaker is holding his own right there at the top. That better ?

9INNDiamoned - I hope all is well your way. Let me know what weekend(s) you're heading down to CNU to catch some games.

Haha, I know what ya mean man. Just figured i'd take the opportunity to make a lil stab at ya! Hope all is well your way. BTW.....shouldn't you be working or something?? lol

[PNeal7]

I have a sneaky suspicion that the CNU v. VWC game had a planned attack in terms of pitching. If you notice they threw 3 starters during the game, so I'm guessing it was McElhenny 4 or 5 IP, then each of the other starts get 1 IP or so, then to the pen. In these early season games, a good majority of the time their is planned attack in terms of pitching, and they try to stick to that. This is true for all teams. I recently saw where one team (can't remember who) through 9 pitchers, 1 IP each. I'm assuming this is the reason McElhenny went 4 IP.

Bossman - Yea, I should be. BUT, talking baseball is way more fun.