2013 West Regional - Austin Tx

[Teddy_Ballgame]

Based on day one all of these teams are evenly matched. Very good low scoring baseball. UTT won the hard way but had to use their closer for 3 innings. I think that is his longest outing this year. Thus he may not be available tomorrow. That would hurt. Anytime there are extra inning games it hurts both teams due to burning through pitchers.

Is Derek Miller not their closer? But obviously having to throw 5 innings from your pen hurts regardless. PP had to give 1.2 innings to Gano, who had settled into the starting rotation at the end of the year. I would have thought they would try and save him until game three, but I guess you have to do whatever you can to win and even get to a game three.

Majev looks to be the starter for PP tomorrow against *gulp* Linfield. He went 4.2 in two games of relief against them in April, giving up 4 hits and 2 unearned runs with 5 k's and 0 bb's.

GREAT day of baseball in the West regional. The 6 teams combine for 10 runs. Trinity vs Tyler should be an interesting matchup. But then so should Cal Lu and Tex Lu. Hopefully Pomona Pitzer can surprise some folks and grab a win from Linfield.

[TexasBB]

My bad Miller is the closer Shepard has been the set up man.

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity vs UT-T:  question is do the Tigers bring this year's ace (Zach Speer, 1.47, 8-0, OBO .211) or do they hope the Patriots will just be a bit tired and go with Andrew Alig (4-1, 2.81, .208) ?  Winner of this game almost certainly draws Linfield next. 

Interesting that CLU did NOT start their #1 pitcher today (after today Peterson is 3.04, 7-2, .274).  Scott Peters is undefeated; 2.52, 8-0, .232 and you'd imagine gets the start tomorrow.  CLU's stud on the mound is their closer Aaron Roth; in 27 appearances has thrown 64.1 innings, gone 6-1, and has a microscopic ERA of 0.98.

[forheavendial4999]

Trinity vs UT-T:  question is do the Tigers bring this year's ace (Zach Speer, 1.47, 8-0, OBO .211) or do they hope the Patriots will just be a bit tired and go with Andrew Alig (4-1, 2.81, .208) ?  Winner of this game almost certainly draws Linfield next. 

Interesting that CLU did NOT start their #1 pitcher today (after today Peterson is 3.04, 7-2, .274).  Scott Peters is undefeated; 2.52, 8-0, .232 and you'd imagine gets the start tomorrow.  CLU's stud on the mound is their closer Aaron Roth; in 27 appearances has thrown 64.1 innings, gone 6-1, and has a microscopic ERA of 0.98.

I think both Trinity and Cal Lu did start their aces. The ace isn't always the person with the lowest ERA.

I have no idea why Cal Lu didn't bring Roth in earlier. As soon as Petersen survived the 6th it would have been Roth time for me. Give me the guy that send mofos back to the dugout. Balls in play are chances for bad things to happen, and one did. Cal Lu played with fire and got away with it in the 3rd and 6th. Not sure why you have a guy like Roth if not for that situation. He's been your 2-3 inning reliever all year.

[BamColt]

Lucero is Trinitys ace.

[Westside]

Haddeland's CG Shutout has brought his season line to: 12-1 1.06 ERA 102 IP 82 Ks (And 7 complete games).

I guess the one silver lining to Linfield losing Wylie is that their defense will improve a little bit... But it is hard to see them as the favorite without their #3 hole hitter. Their pitching staff is going to need to carry them through the weekend.

[108 Stitches]

Foreheaven and Bamcolt are right Sr Lucero is the ace and proved it today. Shut down the most powerful offense in DIII ball. He has pitched in conference and Regional tournaments with the game on the line and was in complete control today.

CLU did not lose on pitching, errors did them in. Petersen walked a line and got away with it, but did his job, congrats to him. I thought they used Roth as necessary, if they are going to move on they will need him a few more times this weekend and used him like you would a shut down closer an still be available.

I would also say that some stellar defensive plays kept some runs off the board for both CLU and Trinity. This was a very good championship caliber game.

[Teddy_Ballgame]

Petersen walked a line and got away with it, but did his job, congrats to him. I thought they used Roth as necessary, if they are going to move on they will need him a few more times this weekend and used him like you would a shut down closer an still be available.

I agree, don't think they should have brought in Roth any earlier. Yes, there were a few situations where Petersen skated but the guy went out and gave up one unearned run in 8.1 innings. And that one run came with nobody on base, so there wasn't a threat brewing either.

The biggest problem wasn't pitching, or even that defensive lap, it was the sticks. Lucero is a great arm who pitched a great game and maybe CLU has trouble against lefties (Petersen and Boggan are both lefties and both went 0-fer), but it's still unacceptable for the #1 offense in the country not to score a run in the biggest game of the year. They had to be ecstatic with Petersen's performance on the hill and they totally wasted it.

Looking forward, Peters does have the best numbers for Cal Lu but Hebda has been their #2 all year. I don't think they'll change it up now, but I personally think they should. It's an elimination game and you need your best guy out there. Then again, the coach knows more about those pitchers than I do and stats don't necessarily tell the whole story.

[forheavendial4999]

You use a closer when you're already behind rather than when you're tied after teetering on the edge of falling behind?

It's easy to say now that they should have made the change, but I was thinking so at the time and honestly I really don't care if anyone on this board believes me or not. If teams misuse their talent, it just gives teams I support a better chance to win. So, whatever. Close the barn door after the livestock's already escaped if you want to. Leave your best gun in the holster until the battle's already lost...pick your analogy.

Does anyone have a #3 that can beat Linfield? Seems that's basically what the regional comes down to.

[tigerfan_2001]

Alig (TU) has better stats in every category compared to linfield's #3 Brandon. Maybe we will see that matchup Friday at noon. Neither team should look past tomorrow though.

[forheavendial4999]

Alig (TU) has better stats in every category compared to linfield's #3 Brandon. Maybe we will see that matchup Friday at noon. Neither team should look past tomorrow though.

I don't think Linfield will have much trouble. Linfield's also played the better schedule by far. I don't think that numbers comparison means much given that context.

If the numbers hold, Trinity should roar past Tyler between a dominant performance from their pitcher.

[Teddy_Ballgame]

You use a closer when you're already behind rather than when you're tied after teetering on the edge of falling behind?

It's easy to say now that they should have made the change, but I was thinking so at the time and honestly I really don't care if anyone on this board believes me or not. If teams misuse their talent, it just gives teams I support a better chance to win. So, whatever. Close the barn door after the livestock's already escaped if you want to. Leave your best gun in the holster until the battle's already lost...pick your analogy.

Does anyone have a #3 that can beat Linfield? Seems that's basically what the regional comes down to.

It was a tough choice that ended up going the wrong way for Cal Lu. I guess I'm thinking more in line with a traditional strategy of saving your closer for the 8th/9th. I actually did think they should have brought Roth in the 8th as Petersen looked like he was starting to tire. And Roth is the more dominant guy. But as it turned out, he would have had to eat at least four innings if you bring him in to start the 7th since CLU was still scoreless after 9.

Maybe you're right though. I am of the mind that you do whatever you can to win immediately, and adapt to the weekend games when you get there. Roth probably gives them the best shot to win, but I also didn't think Petersen looked really vulnerable until the 8th and at that point the damage had been done.

As a coach it would be easy to get greedy thinking about the weekend if you've got a starter cruising, and thus try to ride him out. And in the back of your mind, you've got to think your offense is due to come around.

[CrashDavisD3]

Great pitching beats great hitting.

Errors and little ball making the difference.

I now expect the final being between Linfield and TU with Linfield making another trip to Appleton.

[TexasBB]

In the end P-P was done by their pitching in the 11th. Walked the bases loaded and then allowed the winning run to score on a passed ball. The fact thay P-P had to use one of their starters (who ended up being responsible for all of the walks) is an indication of a shallow bullpen.

The game today between TT and Trinity will be interesting. The Patriots will start Mara who they need to get 5 solid innings out of. He only threw 3 in the ASC championships and had an apparent late season injury in the series against Louisiana College where he was pulled after only 1 inning. In releif the Patriots will likely use Weber, Sheets and Miller. (Weber for 2 no more than 3 inninings with Sheets 1 and Miller 1.) If Mara is healthy he can be very effective with a 2.17 ERA and a 7-2 record this year. If he is not healthy and they have to pull him early, then the Patriots will be in trouble. I expect another close low scoring afair.

[forheavendial4999]

You use a closer when you're already behind rather than when you're tied after teetering on the edge of falling behind?

It's easy to say now that they should have made the change, but I was thinking so at the time and honestly I really don't care if anyone on this board believes me or not. If teams misuse their talent, it just gives teams I support a better chance to win. So, whatever. Close the barn door after the livestock's already escaped if you want to. Leave your best gun in the holster until the battle's already lost...pick your analogy.

Does anyone have a #3 that can beat Linfield? Seems that's basically what the regional comes down to.

It was a tough choice that ended up going the wrong way for Cal Lu. I guess I'm thinking more in line with a traditional strategy of saving your closer for the 8th/9th. I actually did think they should have brought Roth in the 8th as Petersen looked like he was starting to tire. And Roth is the more dominant guy. But as it turned out, he would have had to eat at least four innings if you bring him in to start the 7th since CLU was still scoreless after 9.

Maybe you're right though. I am of the mind that you do whatever you can to win immediately, and adapt to the weekend games when you get there. Roth probably gives them the best shot to win, but I also didn't think Petersen looked really vulnerable until the 8th and at that point the damage had been done.

As a coach it would be easy to get greedy thinking about the weekend if you've got a starter cruising, and thus try to ride him out. And in the back of your mind, you've got to think your offense is due to come around.

I don't disagree with any of this. I just felt like they were lucky not to be behind, and Roth could strike people out where Petersen wasn't. Like I say, in a close, low-scoring ballgame, strikeouts are huge IMO, especially at this level where often the defense isn't what you'd like (partly due to the few number of games you can play )