BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[LTBB1971]

Best power team I've seen in recent history was the 2009 Bishops.  They hit 39 HR's and 127 XBH as a team, highlighted by:

3B Z. Woodlief  - 9 HRs
C - Justin Batts - 7 HRs
LF - Luke Williford - 5 HRs
SS - Justin Rahm - 5 HRs

This team was capable of hitting them out of the park any time, anywhere.

[PNeal7]

Best power team I've seen in recent history was the 2009 Bishops.  They hit 39 HR's and 127 XBH as a team, highlighted by:

3B Z. Woodlief  - 9 HRs
C - Justin Batts - 7 HRs
LF - Luke Williford - 5 HRs
SS - Justin Rahm - 5 HRs

This team was capable of hitting them out of the park any time, anywhere.

I played against that team, and you are right, they could hit it out often. That same year CNU's team hit 36 HR's, with Bailey and Despins leading the charge with 9. I also think the CNU team of 2011 would rank up there, as they hit 40 HR's as a team. Only 1 starter in the lineup did not hit a HR, and that was Shannon Mark. All other 8 offensive starters had 2 or more. 

Madden - 8 HR's
Shoemaker - 8 HR's
Saunders - 6 HR's
Keener - 5 HR's
Steel & Lenda - 4 HR's/each

Greensboro when the had Maloney and the other guy (played OF and 3B; can't remember his name) had a lot of pop back to back. Shenandoah has also had some amazing lineups, as you had Brashears, Henry, Van Sickler, Nelson, and Van Dusseldorf all close to each other in the lineup.

[D-BAT]

Best power team I've seen in recent history was the 2009 Bishops.  They hit 39 HR's and 127 XBH as a team, highlighted by:

3B Z. Woodlief  - 9 HRs
C - Justin Batts - 7 HRs
LF - Luke Williford - 5 HRs
SS - Justin Rahm - 5 HRs

This team was capable of hitting them out of the park any time, anywhere.

The SU Hornets (38-10) for 2009-2010 hit 51HR's, 130 2B's and 14 3B's:

14 - Kevin Brashears
13 - Scot VanDusseldorp
9 - Cory Nelson
5 - Greg VanSickler
5 - Jesse Henry
2 - Mike Smith
2 - Keaton Neeb

(37-7) for 2010-2011 hit 48HR's, 108 2B's and 9 3B's:

11 - Clint DeHaven
7 - Greg VanSickler
7 - Cory Nelson
6 - Keaton Neeb
5 - Kevin Brashears
4 - Kurt Krout
4 - Joey Donofrio


(31-13) for 2011-2012 hit 37HR's, 102 2B's and 11 3B's:

9 - Joey Donofrio
6 - Jake Pendergraft
6 - Cory Nelson
5 - Tucker Brown
3 - Corbin Lucas
2 - Nick Beall
2 - Dan Powers
2 - Greg Beran

[PNeal7]

Shenandoah did has some very good lineups, and they sure beat up on us several times; however, I still firmly believe you have to take their stats with a grain of salt due to the cracker jack box they play in and the quality of several teams they used to play. I will say, though, that in my 4 years at CNU the best lineup that we faced (at least in my opinion) was either the 2010 Hornets lineup or the 2007 NCWC lineup. The NCWC lineup had Matt Smith (whom I still believe may have been one of the best players I ever played against in college, and by far the biggest competitor I've ever seen), Pecora, Wooten, etc.

One of my all time favorite stories was when we played NCWC in the championship game of the tournament in 2008. We had to double dip NCWC, and somehow we won the first game, which let us bring back Kenny Moreland in the 2nd game. Matt Smith was first up for NCWC in game 2, and after popping up to SS we heard him yell louder than I've ever heard someone and bash his helmet off of the locker room in Burlington. I talked to him after the game, and when I asked why he was so upset about his first at-bat his response was "I wasn't upset about the at bat. I was upset because I realized Kenny was on and that we were screwed." Smith and Moreland sure had some good battles.

[Catfishncwc]

I am just going to throw this out there as the old guy having played a time long ago but the NCWC 99 team had one helluva lineup for it being the "weakness"of our team behind our pitching staff and defense.

1999 NCWC Bishops 42-9 hit 37 Hr's 132 Doubles. 

[Catfishncwc]

I agree with you both, as I see a CNU pitcher getting it due to their record and ranking (besides for the fact Chrismon or Bierlien are both very deserving).

As far as Player of the Year, I also agree with you. I would say it's between Weaver (CNU), Dean (Maryville), Pethel (Piedmont), Bailey (Piedmont), and maybe Walker (Ferrum); although I see Ferrum's record hurting Walker's chances. If CNU and Piedmont continue to stay at the top of the pack, I would guess it comes down to Weaver, Pethel, or Bailey.

I will say, though, it is weird looking at these numbers and see how pitching dominates the game now. I remember the days when Brett Thomas (Ferrum) and Jess Maloney (Greensboro) would absolutely destroy baseball, and hit 10+ HR's a year. I remember seeing first hand both of them hit a ball about 400 + off of Kenny Moreland (sorry KMO if you read this still). I do know the bat change has a lot to do with it, but I have a hard time believing Thomas/Maloney wouldn't still destroy balls with the new bats.

Pneal7 I know the bats something to do with it but the pitching this year in the ODAC and USA South has been better in the games I have seen this year as compared to the last few years.  Guys are throwing a bit harder and a bit better. 

[Spence]

Brett Thomas was just a terrific baseball player all around. I actually thought his future was in pitching when I saw him in high school. He threw upper 80s despite far less than optimal mechanics. I really think he had low 90s in him with good mechanics. Was pretty surprised that he ended up being a hitter only.

Thomas would still likely be one of the best hitters in the country with the BBCOR bats, but the numbers wouldn't be the same.

[LTBB1971]

I have to agree with PNeal7.  Shenandoah plays at a rec league ballpark with OF dimensions a joke.  At NCWC, you earned the HR's you hit.  No cheap ones.

[PNeal7]

Catfish - I agree completely with your statement. From what I've seen/read, it seems like the pitching is much better all around. It used to be that very rarely did a team face a true 'ace' for both games (or all three games) on the weekends; however, now it seems like most teams have at least 2 very sold arms, if not three.

LTHSdad - You are correct, HR's are earned at NCWC. I remember in 2009 Chris Despins hit an absolute moonshot to dead center in the Top of the 9th (we were down 1, had faced Ben Moore that game), and with the wind blowing in the CF managed to catch it on the warning track. Our entire dugout had already starting walking to home to congratulate Despins, and Despins had even 'pimped' it a bit. Off the bat I would have bet my life savings that ball was going 420+.

[Catfishncwc]

Center field at NCWC was a dead zone, you could get some down the lines but Center field is a complete dead zone.  I also think it was a bit further than the posted distance if you ask me.  Also the big windscreen did not help either. 

[PNeal7]

#4 CNU loses at #6 Salisbury. I've always thought Salisbury has one of the best 'home field advantages' around with that turf infield (and it's the old, terrible turf; not the nice, new stuff). CNU had 2 errors on the day, and starter Adam Emerson walked 4 and gave up 3 hits in 3 innings of work.

[Catfishncwc]

#4 CNU loses at #6 Salisbury. I've always thought Salisbury has one of the best 'home field advantages' around with that turf infield (and it's the old, terrible turf; not the nice, new stuff). CNU had 2 errors on the day, and starter Adam Emerson walked 4 and gave up 3 hits in 3 innings of work.

It was old and not nice when I played back in the late 90's.  I can only imagine how it plays now. 

[PNeal7]

#4 CNU loses at #6 Salisbury. I've always thought Salisbury has one of the best 'home field advantages' around with that turf infield (and it's the old, terrible turf; not the nice, new stuff). CNU had 2 errors on the day, and starter Adam Emerson walked 4 and gave up 3 hits in 3 innings of work.

It was old not nice when I back back in the late 90's.  I can only imagine how it plays now.

It's awful. In 2010, we made 8 errors at Salisbury. Luke Saunders (3B) had 4, I had 3 playing at SS, and Connor Madden in LF had 1. Granted, certainly not all of those were due to the field, but it sure is an advantage for them.

[LTBB1971]

Loss yesterday 4-3 for NCWC facing Stevenson U.  Not much of a home field advantage for the Bishops this year as they drop to 5-9 at home.  Infield was terrible with 4 errors (only 2 ER for Pitchers).

Offense as usual was sporatic.  We need to get some offense out of the OFs who are hitting LF (.194),  CF (.274) and RF (.237).  Taking 2 of 3 from Maryville this weekend would help.

[Spence]

#4 CNU loses at #6 Salisbury. I've always thought Salisbury has one of the best 'home field advantages' around with that turf infield (and it's the old, terrible turf; not the nice, new stuff). CNU had 2 errors on the day, and starter Adam Emerson walked 4 and gave up 3 hits in 3 innings of work.

It was old not nice when I back back in the late 90's.  I can only imagine how it plays now.

It's awful. In 2010, we made 8 errors at Salisbury. Luke Saunders (3B) had 4, I had 3 playing at SS, and Connor Madden in LF had 1. Granted, certainly not all of those were due to the field, but it sure is an advantage for them.

Marietta went there once (I think 2006?) in March and played on that surface in windy, rain, near snow conditions. That trip has not been repeated and I don't expect it will be.