BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[narch]

the monarchs finished the sweep of rmc yesterday, 9-6 - kivett powered another bomb and had 3 rbi and quinn hit another one, as well - mu now has 5 hr's after 2 games...they had 7 hr's all of last season - i don't expect those numbers to necessarily continue, but it's nice to have power threats in the lineup - bisplinghoff went 6 giving up 2 er - sholar pitched another effective 9th after missing last season due to injury

[NCWC]

The Captains kick off the 2008 season Tuesday by hosting Hampden-Sydney. Its the first of 15 straight home dates to open the year. Yeah thats right, 15 straight! Be interesting to see how Kenny Moreland does in his first start as a senior. He was 9-3 with a 2.30 ERA last year and a 1st Team All-USA South pitcher. Some new faces to this year's roster mixed in with some old ones from last year. The starting froshes from a year ago are a year older and I also look for Trae Bailey to have another solid season.

Rikki, what do you think the rotation behind Kenny will be?  Is the other Moreland set up to be the closer?

[A.G.]

After hearing so much about him on this site over the past year, I am looking forward to seeing Pecora play this coming Friday.  Who are some of the others to watch for this year at NCWC?  The only one I really remember was the FAST lead-off guy who was maybe the best drag bunter I've seen in a while.

All American Matt Smith....Its hard to say because different situations bring out the best in different players...There isn't one guy who is going to be swinging for the fences or getting all the rbi's.  It is a pretty diverse team.

I checked last year's game at NCWC...Pecora did not play in that one.

[NCWC]

After hearing so much about him on this site over the past year, I am looking forward to seeing Pecora play this coming Friday.  Who are some of the others to watch for this year at NCWC?  The only one I really remember was the FAST lead-off guy who was maybe the best drag bunter I've seen in a while.

All American Matt Smith....Its hard to say because different situations bring out the best in different players...There isn't one guy who is going to be swinging for the fences or getting all the rbi's.  It is a pretty diverse team.

I checked last year's game at NCWC...Pecora did not play in that one.

Pecora was hurt for a good deal of the season.  You might have saw matt smith #1, he is a true lefty with excellent bunting ability.  That might be the lefty you are talking about.  Wesleyan has only 4 players that started all four of the games this year.  I think it is fair to say those guys have a spot that is solidified (Smith, Pecora, Batts, and a transfer beauloseil).  They have a highly thought of freshman class that is going to fill an absence in the infield and on the mound.  I believe the freshman knowles had about 150k's in his senior season.  Freshman Jason Gay has some high school honors also, he came from the same school that produced Mark Wooten the first baseman last year.

[A.G.]

Smith had the knockout blow in the game.  My son was in LF and the coach moved him in about 4 steps.  Sure enough...next pitch he lined one over his head.  They don't move him, I think its the 3rd out.  2 or 3 runs scored on that play.

Weather looking good for Friday.  We play a DH Sat AND Sun @ Methodist vs MU and Fairmont State...so I suspect our coach will stretch our Friday starter as long as he can go.

[CNU85]

the monarchs finished the sweep of rmc yesterday, 9-6 - kivett powered another bomb and had 3 rbi and quinn hit another one, as well - mu now has 5 hr's after 2 games...they had 7 hr's all of last season - i don't expect those numbers to necessarily continue, but it's nice to have power threats in the lineup - bisplinghoff went 6 giving up 2 er - sholar pitched another effective 9th after missing last season due to injury

Sweet wins, Narch! I think goldglove is now too busy to read stuff on this board now! He's trying to figure out how to get that Richmond-based, Hendrick - coached, team back on the map!! 

[narch]

by my count the usasac/odac match up is pretty heavily swayed toward the good guys  - usasac leads 10-2 and has out scored the ocad 101-34 - there are some nice matchups on the horizon for both leagues, though

[h-sc bball]

narch.....looking back into the archives it seems to be the norm to beat up on the odac boys.....I feel baseball has improved in the odac the past 2 or 3 years with Hampden-Sydney, Lynchburg & Washington & Lee improving their talent. It wasn't long ago they were whiping boys for VWC & Bridgewater....that doesn't happen any longer..... During my term at Sydney I would hope we could have close the gap against the USA teams....but it doesn't seem to be happening  .

Go Tigers

[NCWC]

Monday, February 11, 2008
Diamond Bishops sweep Rookie of the Week awards

Fayetteville, NC - The North Carolina Wesleyan Department of Athletics is pleased to announce that baseball freshmen Jason Gay and Justin Diener have swept the USA South Conference's Rookie of the Week awards. The two helped the Battling Bishops to a three-game sweep of Eastern Mennonite over the weekend at Bauer Field. 

Gay, a first baseman from Nashville, NC, hit .500 (5-for-10) with two runs scored, three RBI, and three doubles to help the Bishops begin the season with a 3-1 record. In a 10-2 loss to nationally-ranked Division-II Mount Olive, Gay came off the bench to go 2-for-2 with a double and a run batted in. In the EMU sweep, Gay went 3-for-8 with two runs scored, two RBI, two doubles, and two walks.

Diener, a lefty pitcher from Wendell, NC, earned a seven-inning, complete-game win over the Royals in his collegiate debut. Diener led the Bishops to a 5-2 victory by giving up two runs, one of which was earned, on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.

Congratulations to both athletes on their stellar performances

[WHEELIN WES]

Great job by the Bishops this past weekend. The team looks to be coming together well with the veteran players settling in and looking very good.  The freshman class really looked good too and contributed in all three wins; 2 pitchers picked up wins, relievers were sharp and position players were strong on defense and with the sticks. This team is deep with talent and is going to  be fun to watch this year. Congratulations to Gay and Diener.

[NCWC]

Wheelin Wes.... Im not sure if you followed the program last year or not.  Does it look like Justin Batts has improved any on the mound?  A big problem the team has had in the short past is a bullpen that struggled throwing consecutive days.  Is there any newcomers that have the ability to throw 100% on back to back days?  Are the Wesleyan batters taking the opposing pitchers deep into the count?

[WHEELIN WES]

Batts closed game 2 on Saturday by throwing the 7th inning. I thought he threw well especially for his first appearance this year. All the pitchers look sharp again especially for this early in the season. As for if any of the short relievers being able to pitch 100% on back to back days, I can't say so for certain, but I believe some could particularly if they only went 1 innings with a fairly low pitch count the day before. It looks like there will be 3 guys tabbed as closers this year with Batts being the leader of that group and 2 quality arms behind him.  There are other young arms in place in bridge the innings between the starters and the closers. Hopefully pitchers will not have to used on back to back days. This years staff looks talented and deep in all phases especially when Robertson and Lucas return, which by the way Robertson is scheduled to start Friday I believe and Lucas is trowing some on the side in the pen. The Tuesday game was postponed due to probable weather conditions.
The Bishops' batter were patient, fairly selective and drew a lot pitches into some deep counts when they could. As the series progressed, it appeared their pitch recognition was improving. I think the bats will continue to heat up!

[NCWC]

I can't wait to see what will happen when peco, matt, and batts get locked in at the plate.

[narch]

speaking of locked in...seth kivett powers 2 more bombs today...in 4 games he is hitting .733 with 5 hr and 14 rbi...not a bad start

the monarchs split with southern va today...not sure how i feel about that performance - sova is a scholarship program, and about 1/2 of their roster is juco or scholarship transfers, so there is certainly some talent...i just didn't expect to see them light up monarch pitching the way they did - 2007 opening day starter chase cates was one of the pitchers hit hard today, but it's great to see him back on the mound after missing all of last year - hopefully he can get the arm strength and velocity that he needs back in spot appearances and help the monarchs down the stretch

[A.G.]

SVU either loaded up or it was one of "those" baseball games where the superior team just lost.  Good thing that won't count against MU b/c baseball-wise, that is a bad loss.