BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[Boysofsummer21]

Well Narch they put it to bed for us. Perry is the man! I think it is a good choice. It could have gone either way because they both had great years.

As to holding Perry out I am split, while it is sound strategy would you be playing to lose the first game and like you said earlier you should play to win every game so then I would say go Perry game one and use him as few innings as possible then hope someone can step up.

[D-BAT]

http://www.usasouth.net/sports/bsb/2011-12/releases/20120410u6sf2c

[LTBB1971]

With NCWC facing Shenandoah Thursday, to have a chance we'll have to score first and early.  I'm assuming Hornets will throw JR Vince Claudio.  Hard to tell who Bishops will send out to the mound but pitching has been solid all year, so I am not really worried.  I believe it will take 5+ runs to beat the Hornets so hopefully Alexander, Beasley, Laffin and Machin can remain hot. 

[PNeal7]

I just had a chance to review the All-Conference Teams. Here are my thoughts: Perry as Pitcher of the Year is correct, as he is very deserving of the award. I disagree with the Player of the Year though. I recognize Jaglowski hit .471 in-conference, but I felt Pendergraft from SU deserved the award more so than Jaglowski. It seems weird that a player with only 2 HR and 22 RBI receives POY honors, when we all are used to the Jess Maloney (GC), Brett Thomas (FC), Trae Bailey (CNU), and Greg Van Sickler (SU) type numbers from a POY. I also thought Matt Verdillo from CNU was very, very well deserving of a RP tab, as Fleischman and Verdillo are two of the best relievers in the conference, if not the best two. Also, Laffin from NCWC received a 1st Team OF award I feel is a joke. I see where he had a high average in conference, but the kid hit .288 overall with 0 HR and 13 RBI. There are several players more deserving of the 1st Team OF tab than that, including Madden (CNU), Lucas (SU), and maybe even Donofrio (SU) despite the low in-conference average. Lastly, I know Nelson (SU) had a horrific in-conference batting average, but he had a much, much better overall season than Morre (AU) who received 1st Team Utility over Nelson.

I didn't follow the USAS as closely this season, but by looking at the numbers and watching the limited amount I saw, it seems like the All-Conference awards were a bit of a joke this season.

[LTBB1971]

PNeal7,
I am going to side with you on some of these...after all 12 games of Conference my vote goes to Shenandoah's Pendergraft.  On top of that his out of Conference stats are amazing with more than 1 RBI per game.  Coaches love that!  Pitcher of the Year I think is well deserved for C. Perry, he just destroyed NCWC for 8 innings. 

Now for the rest...I cannot believe NCWC could not get SS Jake Alexander as a First team UTL.  Wow!  He was the bishops BEST hitter this year after not playing the field last year.

Congrats to all selected.

[narch]

fayetteville observer article about trey such and the monarchs in the usasac tourney

[Boysofsummer21]

Big win for Methodist and Perry!

[narch]

Big win for Methodist and Perry!

looks like perry was dominant today, with 13 k's...including 3 straight to finish the 9th in style

mu has got to get a better offensive performance than 5 hits and 2 unearned runs on friday, and i'm hopeful that womble (assuming it's him) can keep it close and give mu a chance to win...if the monarchs can get to sunday, perry might be able to give them 80 - 100 pitches and a chance to win

[narch]

what a great luxury for su to get 8 strong innings and a win from their #3 starter - au went with the same approach, starting muench, who hadn't started another game in conference play...that strategy could play well for both teams and sets them up well for the rest of the weekend

oh yeah..c'mon panthers - an extra inning, pitching staff burning ferrum win would be fantastic here...

[forheavendial4999]

I just had a chance to review the All-Conference Teams. Here are my thoughts: Perry as Pitcher of the Year is correct, as he is very deserving of the award. I disagree with the Player of the Year though. I recognize Jaglowski hit .471 in-conference, but I felt Pendergraft from SU deserved the award more so than Jaglowski. It seems weird that a player with only 2 HR and 22 RBI receives POY honors, when we all are used to the Jess Maloney (GC), Brett Thomas (FC), Trae Bailey (CNU), and Greg Van Sickler (SU) type numbers from a POY.

Different world now. BBCOR has changed everything. Thomas had great power but it's just so much harder to hit a HR now. I still wonder what Thomas would have done as a pitcher with a team willing to give him time to development consistency as one.

[forheavendial4999]

Averett stays alive in a thriller, 9-8 in 10 over NC Wesleyan. Wesleyan scored 4 in the 10th but Averett managed 5th in the bottom half. Cody Moore's walkoff 3 run home run provided victory after AU loaded the bases on walks and Kyle Newcomb double in 2 runs. He had 3 hits and 2 SBs.

It'll be interesting to see if Averett throws Long against Methodist considering Methodist's shaky starting pitching, or tries to hold him for CNU or Shenandoah.

[narch]

watching livestats and seeing mu have the bases loaded with one out and fail to score in the first and 9th innings of a 3 run game was tough...but i'm sure that ncwc fans are feeling even more frustration after watching their team score 4 only to give up 5 in the extra frame...tough way to lose

i've got to be honest, i'm impressed with the au coach...holding your saturday starter through 3 games of the conference tournament takes a certain amount of...guts

[forheavendial4999]

He didn't give himself a choice. Long threw on the 9th against Hampden-Sydney. I can't say I understand why that was, but it seems to have worked out to this point.

[LTBB1971]

NCWC loses to Averett 9-8 on worst coached baseball game I have ever seen the last 30 years.  Game was won by NCWC as Bishops score 4 on top of 10th needing 3 outs to move on to next day.  AU benched was so quiet you could hear crickets!!!

Out for the bottom of the 10th goes back JR Jake swartout who had pitched 3 innings game before plus warmed up to come in in earlier game vs Greensboro and now was on his 4th inning of work AGAIN.  Bishops had FR Dustin Bare fresh in bullpen.  Kid was warming up for 45-50 minutes just waiting for the call...instead Coach Long allows Swartout to load the bases with no one out, then give up a double to score 2 making score 8-6 with no outs and now men on 2B and 3B.  He then decides to pull the pitcher who should never had started the inning and brings in FR Hatteras Brooks.  Brooks warmed up in pen for maybe 2-3 minutes and had already pitched in 2 straight game.  Second pitch he throws has not landed yet as ball went over left field wall for 3 RUN HR.

In Division I, coaching like this gets you FIRED!  Tough to see all the seniors and current players who had worked hard to get a 4 run lead on top of the inning to let poor....actually terrible coaching decisions send them home.

[vabaseball]

The NCWC pitching situation does sound pitiful. I remember a respected pitching instructor once saying: "if you don't get enough warmup pitches in, you will continue to warmup in the game (and get pounded)".  It's so basic.  What a terrible way to lose...

On another note, congratulations Captains!!!!