UT-Tyler Easton College Classic (CBB Photo)
With Div 1 baseball starting on February 20, I grew tired of waiting for Division 1 to start so I drove out to Tyler, Texas to take in opening weekend for The Easton Classic. The four teams that participated are UT-Tyler, UT-Dallas, Concordia (Austin) and Trinity (San Antonio). With the help of Asst SID of UT-Tyler the trip was well worth the drive.
The Participants
UT-Tyler is part of the University of Texas Systems and is nestled on the southern edge of Tyler. Tyler is more known for being the Rose Capital of World but, UT-Tyler Baseball program is rapidly gaining steam with the help of Head Coach James Vilade. Coach Vilade has been at the helm for the last 6 years and with his diligence he has built UT-Tyler into a prominent DIV 3 program.
Concordia used to be located in downtown Austin but has recently moved their campus to NorthWest Austin. They went from a 22 acre campus to over 300 acres. This will allow Concordia the room to grow. With that being said this year Concordia will have to play most of their games at the Dell Diamond as their new facility will not be ready in time for this season. Head Coach Mike Gardner has been very successful during his short term at Concordia where his Tornados finished the 2002 season as American Southwest Conference Champions and Regional Champions with a record of 35-12. The Tornados Baseball Team was not only the first team in Concordia history, but the first team in American Southwest Conference history to make it to the NCAA Division III College World Series. Gardner’s overall record at Concordia is 210-146.
UT-Dallas is not in Dallas but in Richardson and is also part of the University of Texas System. Head Coach Shane Shewmake, who began the UT-Dallas baseball program in 2002, has developed a program that seemingly has been able to avoid any “growing pains.” Even in its inaugural season, the team had a winning record and has now posted seven straight winning seasons and played in five of the last six American Southwest Conference championship tournaments, advancing three times to the conference title game. In six seasons, Shewmake’s teams have a 192-106 record (.644 winning percentage).
Trinity University is located in San Antonio and is a small private school. Head Coach Tim Scannell is entering his 11th season as head coach of the Tigers’ baseball team.
UTD 6, CONCORDIA (TX) 5
Senior Jared Smith topped a seven-hit offensive attack with a three-run home run in the 4th that got UTD out of a 2-0 hole, then scored the game-winning run in the 8th on an RBI single from one of the newcomers, junior catcher Adam Hudec. Smith and returning centerfielder Neal Gordon were the only two Comets with more than one hit in the opener.
Concordia Tops UT-Tyler in Season Opener
The 12th-ranked University of Texas at Tyler baseball team fell in its first game of the 2009 season on Friday night, 5-3, to Concordia (Tex.) at Irwin Field, as part of the Easton Classic presented by Clements Fluids.
Game 3 Recap
Game 4 Recap
Photo Gallery
Baseball Rolls Past Trinity for First Win
The University of Texas at Tyler baseball team picked up its first win of the season on Saturday night by storming past Trinity (Tex.), 10-3, at Irwin Field as part of the 2009 Easton Classic presented by Clements Fluids.
Game 5 Recap
PHOTO GALLERY
Big 3rd Inning Propels Baseball to Win Over Trinity
The 12th-ranked University of Texas at Tyler baseball team used a four-run third inning to fuel a 10-2 victory over Trinity (Tex.) on Sunday afternoon at Irwin Field in the final game of the 2009 Easton Classic present by Clements Fluids.
