Derek O'Reilly, Zach Grichor and Brad Hook during game six of the Red & Blue World Series.- Courtesy: South Alabama
USA BASEBALL FACES FIRST OUTSIDE COMPETITION WITH PAIR OF WEEKEND GAMES
After four weeks of intrasquad scrimmages, South Alabama baseball takes on its first outside competition of the season with a pair of exhibition games this weekend. The Jags host Meridian Community College Saturday at noon and Northwest Florida State College Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games are at Stanky Field.
Saturday’s game against Meridian is scheduled for seven innings, but the teams are allowed to play for up to four hours, so they will play a second game with the remaining time. After the seven-inning game ends, there will be a brief break for field maintenance before the new game begins. The second game will last as long as possible within the initial four-hour timeframe.
Sunday’s game with Northwest Florida State, formerly known as Okaloosa-Walton College, will be played as a regular nine-inning game. USA baseball’s Dugout Club will hold its first meeting of the season in the Stadium Club after the game. FULL STORY
Purple & Gold World Series game two rescheduled for Friday
Due to wet grounds, the second game of the Western Illinois Purple & Gold World Series has been rescheduled for Friday, October 17. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m. at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium.
FULL STORY
Vols Continue Orange & White World Series This Weekend
The Tennessee baseball team continues its Orange & White World Series this weekend with a 7 p.m. contest Friday followed by Sunday’s game at 2 p.m. Admission is free for both games.
The seven-game fall intrasquad series began Oct. 3, with the Orange and White teams battling to an 8-8 tie.
Junior left-hander Nick Hernandez gets the start for assistant coach Fred Corral’s Orange team on Friday. In the series-opening game, Hernandez threw two solid innings, allowing no runs on just one hit while striking out two. FULL STORY
Fall Ball’s Scout Day is a Success
The University of South Florida baseball team was joined by more than 55 baseball scouts Thursday evening at fall practice.
The visitors were a mixture of area scouts, supervisors and cross checkers.
“It’s important for these guys [scouts] to be out here because it shows that the program is coming along and we have talent here,” said USF head coach Lelo Prado. “They are excited about the players we have here. These guys are going to be around for awhile because we have some great young talent. That’s what it’s all about.”
After the routine pregame warmups of batting practice and infield/outfield drills in front of the guests, the Bulls took to the field for a non-traditional scrimmage. Pitchers faced three outs or five batters, whichever came first, and only were allowed to toss for a maximum of two innings.
Nine pitchers took the mound in the scrimmage, including Matt Stull, Teddy Kaufman, Shawn Sanford, Matt Quevedo, Andrew Salguiero, Derrick Stultz, Randy Fontanez, Junior Carlin and Kyle Eastham. FULL STORY
‘Jacks Showing Progress In Fall Practice
The Lumberjack baseball team is in the midst of its first fall practice under head coach Johnny Cardenas, and so far so good for the first-year head coach as his team prepares for next week’s fall game against Grambling.
SFA will take on the Tigers at 1 o’clock on Tuesday at Jaycees Field in the program’s first fall game since bringing baseball back in 2006. The game will count toward SFA’s allotment of available games for the 2009 season, but will not count for or against the team’s overall 2009 record. Jaycees Field is currently in the midst of a renovation process that will include new bleacher seating, covered chair back seating and elevation of the press box; therefore, anyone attending Tuesday’s game is suggested to bring lawn chairs or other forms of seating.
“Fall practice is going really well,” Cardenas said. “We like what we’ve seen from the new guys and are really happy with the commitment we have gotten from our returners. As for Tuesday, we want to get a look at as many guys as possible and get an idea of where our guys might fit into the lineup for 2009. Maybe even more importantly than that, it will be a nice break to the everyday monotony of fall practice.” FULL STORY
Diamond Dogs Return For 13th Baseball Alumni Weekend
– Former players representing eight decades of Mississippi State University baseball converge on the MSU campus this weekend for activities surrounding State’s 13th Baseball Alumni Weekend.
More than 60 former Bulldog players and managers are expected for a weekend slate that includes a Saturday afternoon golf tournament at the MSU Golf Course, a Saturday night alumni dinner in the Bryan Building and a 1 p.m. alumni game at Dudy Noble Field.
“We’re thrilled to have the Mississippi State baseball family back on campus this weekend,” said Bulldog head coach John Cohen. “They built a foundation of excellence in baseball that must and will continue.” Expected back this weekend are more than a dozen former players that were teammates of Cohen during his baseball career at State (1987 to 1990). FULL STORY
Cardinal Nine Prep For Pizza Bowl Friday
The University of Louisville baseball team will cap its fall season with a best of three intra-squad series at Jim Patterson Stadium Friday, Saturday and Sunday. First pitch of the third annual Pizza Bowl is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Friday, 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 12:00 p.m. Sunday. All three games will be free and open to the public.
Dan McDonnell, who is in his third season as head coach of the Cardinals, guided the team to their first College World Series in Omaha in his first season in 2007, winning a school record 47 games. The 2008 squad notched 41 wins on their way to a BIG EAST title and second consecutive trip to the NCAA Regionals.
The team held a draft to determine the squads. Assistant Coach Xan Barksdale will be coaching Xan’s Zephyrs, and they will be going up against Jimmy’s Jets under the guidance of student assistant coach James Belanger. The Zephyrs will be the home team Friday, with the Jets winning the coin toss for home field advantage Sunday after hosting Saturday. No matter the result of the first two games, the third game will be played Sunday. FULL STORY
Baseball to Hold Final Scrimmage of Fall Season on Saturday
With the fall season in full gear, the University of Houston baseball team will hold its final scrimmage of the season on Saturday. The Cougars will face San Jacinto College in a scrimmage slated to begin at noon.
Prior to the scrimmage, Houston will hold batting practice beginning at 10 a.m.
Last weekend, UH played an extended scrimmage against Alvin Community College at Cougar Field. There, head coach Rayner Noble got a chance to see his pitching staff in action and overall he was pleased with what he saw out of his squad.
“The pitchers really competed well,” Noble said. “We made some errors out in the field but we are playing guys in multiple positions and trying to settle on who is going to be where. Overall, it was a good day.” FULL STORY
Texas Baseball slated to play Rice on Sunday at The Dell Diamond
The Texas Longhorns and Rice Owls square off this Sunday at The Dell Diamond for a fall preseason baseball match-up.
Originally scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. start, the game has been pushed up to 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the gate. Due to Austin RV Super Sale being held in The Dell Diamond parking lot on Sunday, fans are asked to use the East Parking Lot and enter the ballpark through the Right Field entrance. There is no charge for parking if attending the baseball game, and parking ushers will be on hand to assist attendees. Concessions will also be available during the game. FULL STORY
NOTE:
I will be at the game between Texas and Rice and I will have a full recap up plus pictures from this event. Please check back on Sunday Evening as it will be up then.
