2013 West Regional - Austin Tx

[NWBaseballFan10]

Nice to see the offense show some life today for Linfield. Especially considering top RBI guy and 3 hitter, Wylie, went down yesterday. Judging by the games I've seen in person this year thomassen has looked shaky multiple times. He has a bad habit of living up in the zone but he's able to make the pitches when he needs to (seen twice today already by getting 2 timely double plays).

Keep it up linfield, doing the NW proud!

[infielddad]

After its solid 1st inning start, Linfield did what good teams do: take advantage of about everything P-P gave them. The 4 run 3rd included 4 walks and an error which lead to all 4 runs and a deep deficit for P-P.

[infielddad]

Trinity hitters making adjustments going deeper in counts with better AB's each time through the order. Muscarello has a wonderful 8 pitch AB in the 5th in front of Hall who delivers a 2 run double.

[pomonaalum]

Watched some of the Pomona game last night...tough call on the balk that kept that 7th inning going.  Video feed wasn't good enough to tell if it was actually a balk, and there was no replay.  Lots of chances for both teams that came up empty, though.

Didn't see the game today, but figured that Linfield would be tough.  Would have been nice to see what the Hens could have done with a healthy pitching staff.  Seems like pitching, and especially pitching depth, has been the problem for them in NCAA play - even with the Cortez led teams in the early 2000s, as well as the Hedman/Kang/Mandelblatt/Colvin teams a few years back.

Will be interesting to see how next year shapes up.  If everyone is healthy, a lot of pitching returns, along with the whole infield...

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity scratches out an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to go up 4-1, which probably gave Coach Scannell the freedom to keep Speer in during the ninth when UT-T made their run.  A single and a triple closed it to 4-2, but Zach got a one-out K with the runner on third and a pop to second to seal Trinity's second CG pitching performance.   

The reward for winning is a quick turnaround to play Linfield at noon tomorrow with the winner obviously in the driver's seat.

[Teddy_Ballgame]

Watched some of the Pomona game last night...tough call on the balk that kept that 7th inning going.  Video feed wasn't good enough to tell if it was actually a balk, and there was no replay.  Lots of chances for both teams that came up empty, though.

Didn't see the game today, but figured that Linfield would be tough.  Would have been nice to see what the Hens could have done with a healthy pitching staff.  Seems like pitching, and especially pitching depth, has been the problem for them in NCAA play - even with the Cortez led teams in the early 2000s, as well as the Hedman/Kang/Mandelblatt/Colvin teams a few years back.

Will be interesting to see how next year shapes up.  If everyone is healthy, a lot of pitching returns, along with the whole infield...

Was talking to another alum about this today, but i actually think next year will be the first time in awhile where the question mark for the Hens is offense. Losing Moyer, Munzer, and Gentili is huge (lead off, two and four hitters) particular when the offense hasnt quite been what it was in the past..

But their staff should be pretty good if Yen and Rosenbaum come back healthy. As with any good program, it'll be up to the guys who come in or break into the lineup to step up in place of the studs that moved on. Bruml is a great guy to build around, not to mention an entire infield of underclassmen.

Overall I think the Hens should come home heads high. They had a great fight last night and then lost to the #1 team in the country today. They were fortunate to get the bid- we've never received a pool c before- and so all this was bonus baseball. now the younger guys have the experience of a regional under their belt, not to mention the sting of defeat which should be motivating. The seniors got to play a few more games before hanging them up (or playing abroad).

From here I guess I gotta say go SCIAC, go Cal Lu

[TexasBB]

The Patriots went with Barkley, their #3 starter tonight. That must mean that Marah was not ready to go. Barkly did a good job but Speer was too much tonight  and held the Patriot offense in check. With their backs against the wall the question is who will start tomorrow agains Cal Luth. If Marah can't go then it will be pitching by committee. UTT has a strong bullpen but they need a starter that can go into the middle innings and keep that powerful offense in check.

[Ron Boerger]

I was wondering why UT-T didn't pitch Marah last night - if he is unavailable for CLU the Patriots face a tough task today.

With Haddeland and Thomassen getting the starts in Linfield's first two games, today's pitching lineup will likely be Linfield's Zach Brandon (Jr., 7-2, 3.08, 12 GS/79.0 IP, .270 OBO) against Trinity's Andrew Alig (FY, 4-1, 2.81, 6 GS/10 App/51.1 IP, .208 OBO).  Both teams have all their middle relief and closers available with starters having pitched all but 2 innings in the four games combined. 

Alig has pitched well in his last two outings, giving up one earned run and three hits in 8 1/3 to earn a win against Texas Lutheran, and one earned run and four hits in 6 1/3 in a no decision against Centenary in the SCAC championships.     Linfield is going to be the biggest challenge of his young career if he gets the start today.

[Westside]

Looks to be some nerves to start out the Linfield v. Trinity game. 3 errors in 2 innings for Linfield, and the Trinity started only got one out total.

[Just_Some_Guy]

Looks to be some nerves to start out the Linfield v. Trinity game. 3 errors in 2 innings for Linfield, and the Trinity started only got one out total.

Brosius clearly understands the importance of winning game #3 and not having to beat the undefeated team 2x going to their closer, Huckins in the 6th.

Trinity's scary in the sense that, "Oh, Alig didn't haven't it today. That's cool, we'll just roll out this freshman that's only tossed 16.2 innings this year and he'll give us a few scoreless innings."

JSG

[CAT BAT 22]

Looks like the 'Cats are a little tight.  Some uncharacteristic errors being made... turn it around boys.

Haddeland comes in and records the final out in the 8th.  Way to sack up .. coming back on 1 day rest.  Huge. 

Let's get some insurance runs boys!

Go 'Cats

[infielddad]

Looks to be some nerves to start out the Linfield v. Trinity game. 3 errors in 2 innings for Linfield, and the Trinity started only got one out total.

Brosius clearly understands the importance of winning game #3 and not having to beat the undefeated team 2x going to their closer, Huckins in the 6th.

Trinity's scary in the sense that, "Oh, Alig didn't haven't it today. That's cool, we'll just roll out this freshman that's only tossed 16.2 innings this year and he'll give us a few scoreless innings."

JSG

What an effort by Walker.  7 2/3's with 4 hits and 0 runs put up against Linfield.  3 outs left for the Trinity bats to reward Walker for a sterling effort and pick up Alig.

[forheavendial4999]

Looks like the 'Cats are a little tight.  Some uncharacteristic errors being made... turn it around boys.

Haddeland comes in and records the final out in the 8th.  Way to sack up .. coming back on 1 day rest.  Huge. 

Let's get some insurance runs boys!

Go 'Cats

Not that it matters, but technically it's 2 days rest. You count the day you pitch. Might be better if people called it "nights rest."

I'm guessing Haddeland didn't throw very many pitches against TLU, making this more possible and realistic an option.

[CAT BAT 22]

Good call, I was just repeating what the announcer mentioned and didn't even think about it. 

[infielddad]

Another nail biting 1 run game in the West Region.  Great win for Linfield.  Opposite side of the emotional spectrum for the Tigers.  They now must win 3 straight, but do them one at a time. In 27 innings, TU pitching has been brilliant for all but 2/3's of an inning.  It is hard to expect the work on the mound can continue at that level so the bats have to get more runs on the board.  No doubt they have the bats to get there.