The Dallas Morning News takes a look at equivalency sport scholarships with an interesting read:

The Scholarship Game: An examination of how universities divvy up scholarship money and the impact on student athletes.

After years of playing baseball with the elite Dallas Mustangs youth travel team, Tyler Sibley is weighing scholarship offers to play shortstop at a Division I school next fall.

The financial aid Sibley receives in college won’t come close to covering the money his father, Tim, has spent getting him to this point.

The same can be said for countless other athletes across North Texas whose parents often spend well in excess of $25,000 so their kids can compete at the highest levels in youth sports such as baseball, swimming, soccer, tennis and golf. Read the rest of this entry »

Newport starter Chase Reid dominated in his first start of the season, striking out 19 batters in a 6-1 victory over Torrington in New England Collegiate Baseball League Southern Division action Friday night.

The 19 strikeouts – one shy of the Major League Baseball single-game mark – are an NECBL league record.  After allowing a home run to Corey Shimada to lead off the game, Reid allowed just four hits the rest of the way.  He struck out the side four times, and had at least two strikeouts in six different innings.  He struck out every Torrington starter at least once, and fittingly, Reid ended the game by striking out Josh Chasse. Read the rest of this entry »

Other than College Baseball’s top eight teams in Omaha, most of America has turned their full attention to the ever turbulent summer. This means summer leagues, coaching movement and draft watching. Things are no different at Vanderbilt, which for the third straight year failed to escape the Regionals. But that doesn’t mean the summer has not been active already.

On the Cape

Vanderbilt features six roster members on teams in the prestigious Cape Cod League. Friend of the College Baseball Blog Jarred Amato (publisher of SportsVU, a Vanderbilt Sports Blog) traveled to Wareham to spend some time with Vanderbilt sophomore leftfielder Steven Liddle as he started his season with the Gatemen. The article, found here, is a great glimpse into the magic of the league and what it means to the players and the community proper. I have a feeling our publisher, Brian Foley, will enjoy it as a top-notch fan of the league. Read the rest of this entry »

KEENE, N.H. — Aaron Senne (Missouri; Rochester, Minn.), Ryan Ortiz (Oregon State; San Diego, Calif.) and Kentrail Davis (Tennessee; Theodore, Ala.) all homered in a five-run third inning as the 2008 USA Baseball National Trials Team defeated the Keene Swamp Bats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League 11-0 Thursday night at Alumni Field. This was the first competition during the trials.

With the U.S. team leading 4-0, Senne ripped a one-out solo home run to right. On the very next pitch, Ortiz laced a solo shot to right-center. An error and a walk set the stage for Davis’ homer, a three-run blast to right-center. It was the first of two home runs on the night for Davis, who followed a Christian Colon (Cal State Fullerton; Corona, Calif.) sixth-inning leadoff home run with a solo round-tripper to right-center.
Read the rest of this entry »

Although High Schoolers Tim Beckham, Eric Hosmer and Kyle Skipworth were chosen 1st (Tampa), 3rd (Royals) and 6th (Marlins), College platers dominated the top of the draft on Thursday.  Leading the way were a crop of powerful position players, including an inordinate number of 1st basemen and a distinct lack of pitchers. 

Of the first 27 players taken in the draft, 20 were from the college ranks.  Interestingly enough, 15 of the first 18 players selected were position players, a rare split in a first year player draft.  But this was a crop of talented bats, with 11 catchers, firstbasemen and third sackers of those first 18 picks. Read the rest of this entry »

In the past 6 season, Vanderbilt University has become one of the thorns in the sides of those trying to recruit high school players committed to Coach Tim Corbin and recruiting coordinator Eric Bakich.  A recent NYTimes profile of Pedro Alvarez disclosed at least one of the secret strategies used by Coaches Corbin and Bakich (a tax planner and a thick three ring binder).  Commodore recruits are told to weigh the value of a Vanderbilt diploma against any potential signing bonus, which a tax planner brings down to earth with an analysis of taxes against the bonus, living expenses during the life of potential contracts and certain luxury purchases.  Read the rest of this entry »

Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin and recruiting coordinator Eric Bakich won round 1 of their battle with the MLB draft this spring when highly sought after Smyrna, TN RHP Sonny Gray officially announced that he has decided to forego the MLB Draft. Read the rest of this entry »

Game 1: LSU 5, USC 4

LSU rallied for 4 runs in the ninth and Blake Dean hit a walk off shot in the 10th as LSU stunned USC with a major come from behind win in the SEC tournament opener.

Game 2: Vandy 7, UF 3

Vanderbilt avenged a Florida sweep last weekend that knocked VU completely out of the NCAA hosting picture by sending Florida to the loser’s bracket behind 14 singles and steady, if imperfect relief pitching by Drew Hayes, Richie Goodenow and Russell Brewer.

Game 3: Ole Miss 4, UGA 1

Is UGA mailing in the tournament? A presumptive national seed, Georgia fell to Ole Miss 4-1 in their first game in the SEC tourney. But the #1 seed had the unenviable task of facing pre-season all-American Lance Lynn, who struck out 12 of the 27 batters he faced. Fuller Smith and Jordan Henry had 3 hits apiece for the Rebs.

Game 4: Kentucky 9 Alabama 3

Making his first career start senior Aaron Lovett tossed a complete-game and senior outfielder Sawyer Carroll set the school record for RBI in a season, as the No. 19 Kentucky Wildcats pounded No. 29 Alabama 9-3, in front of 11,967 fans during the first round of the 2008 Southeastern Conference Tournament at Regions Park.

Full SEC recaps of the day’s action.

Josh Fields saved each of Georgia’s wins over the weekend to lead the Dawgs to 4-2 (10 innings) and 12-10 victories.  Georgia (33-17-1, 19-7-1 SEC) now has a 4 game lead over both LSU (35-16-1, 15-11-1 SEC) and Vanderbilt (37-15. 15-11 SEC) heading into the last weekend of SEC play. 

LSU swept struggling Mississippi State (20-32, 7-20) to run their winning streak to 12 games.  Meanwhile, South Carolina (34-18, 13-14 SEC) dropped three to Arkansas (31-21, 13-13 SEC).  The GameCocks collapse appears to have left Georgia as the only sure bet to host a regional.  LSU seems to be in good standing with respect to earning a regional host.  Vanderbilt and Florida (30-20, 14-13) may be playing this weekend for a chance to earn a third SEC host bid.  Kentucky (38-14, 14-13) and Alabama (30-22, 14-13) also harbor hosting hopes, with Alabama unranked but traveling to Georgia for a road set that could significantly improve their profile. 

Friday SEC Recap

Saturday SEC Recap

Sunday SEC Recap

Vandy Takes Game One from UGA

Despite a big 4 run inning from UGA in which they took a one run lead at 7-6, Georgia starter Trevor Holder and the UGA bullpen could not hold down Vanderbilt’s bats.  Dominic de la Osa (pictured)  and David Macias hit 2 run homeruns and every Vandy player rapped out a hit in a 13-7 shellacking.

Holder, who entered the game with a 2.84 ERA, gave up 10 ER in 6 innings and saw his ERA baloon one run to 3.84.  The strike zone was tight, often frustrating Vanderbilt’s Mikie Minor, who allowed 3 runs on a surprising 9 hits in just 5.1 innings.  There was question as to whether any pitcher would be able to get consistent outs in the game.

Vandy’s Russell Brewer (a swingman who shares closing duties with Brett Jacobsen) came in and answered that question, striking out 7 of the 10 batters he faced to pick up his 4th win.

On the day, Rich Poythress and Lyle Allen of UGA had 4 hits apiece.  Joey Lewis had three RBI, including 2 on a fifth inning homerun.  For Vanderbilt, the top three in the order (Macias, de la Osa and Alvarez, combined for 7 runs and 10 RBI on 6 hits, 2 walks and 2 HBP). 

The teams square off again today at 3 p.m. Eastern.  Vanderbilt is currently 2 games behind Georgia atop the SEC standings and can take over 1st place by percentage points with a clean sweep. Read the rest of this entry »

Vanderbilt sweeps Tennessee:

Knoxville - Dominic de la Osa (pictured) became Vanderbilt’s all-time hits and doubles leader with a pair of doubles on Sunday.  Vanderbilt swept the weekend despite a major home run surge by the Vols all weekend.  VU had solid pitching outings by Mikie Minor and Caleb Cotham, while Kentrell Davis impressed for Tennessee with a triple and two homers on Sunday.

• Friday - VU 8, UT 5
• Saturday - VU 9, UT 2
• Sunday - VU 10, UT 8

Georgia takes 2 of 3 from Ole Miss:

Athens - Georgia gave up a late Saturday lead to drop game two to Ole Miss; however, they stormed back on Sunday with a convincing 11-4 win behind home runs from Gordon Beckham, Lyle Allen, Matt Cerione and Michael Demperio. 

• Friday - UGA 5, OM 4
• Saturday - OM 9, UGA 4
• Sunday - UGA 11, OM 4

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, SEC Recap, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt 8, Tennessee 5:
Ryan Flaherty launched a mammoth three run home run over the scoreboard in right center in the first inning, lifting Vanderbilt over Tennessee at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville.  The College Baseball Blog took in the action and provides this quick recap of the action.

Tim Corbin extended his dominance over arch rival to the east to a 13-5 record.  This was the first matchup between Corbin’s Dores against new Tennessee skipper Todd Raleigh.  The new coaching staff in orange has many ties to the Dores, with Corbin and Raleigh both Jack Leggett disciples.  Raleigh coached VU recruiting coordinator and first base coach Erik Bakich at East Carolina.  And while Corbin was an assistant at Clemson, both UT assistant Brad LeCroy and VU Director of Baseball Operations Mike Calitri were players (credit to Brandon Barca at VU for the research).  This has added a level of respect to a coaching staff rivalry where there was very quiet, but brutally clear animosity during the Rod Delmonico era.  If there are two teams in the SEC who have truly hated each other more than VU and UT over the last three years, I’m surprised a riot didn’t break out.  One can anticipate that the rivalry may turn more cordial in the future.  Read the rest of this entry »

Rivals.com division Rivals High released their first ever Top 100 High School Baseball Players this week.  The rankings (found here) are topped by Griffin, GA SS Tim Beckham (pictured left), a Southern Cal commit and probable top 5 pick in the upcoming draft.  Joining him at the top are Cooper City, FL 1B Eric Hosmer (Arizona State); Long Beach, CA OF Aaron Hicks (Southern Cal); Wentzville, MO P Tim Melville (uncommitted); and Santa Ana, CA P Gerrit Cole (UCLA).  The top five are widely speculated to all go pro after the 2008 MLB Draft. Read the rest of this entry »

In a game that was filled with drama that seemingly wouldn’t end, Vanderbilt outlasted South Carolina 4-3 in 13 innings and 4 hours and 14 minutes.  Leading the way was All-American Shortstop Ryan “Flash” Flaherty (5-6, 2R, 2RBI, BB).  Flaherty singled in his first three at bats and launched a game tying home run to center with two outs in the bottom of the 9th.  In the bottom of the 13th, with the bases loaded and one out, Flaherty bounced a single through the right side for the win.  Read the rest of this entry »

Redshirt Freshman Caleb Cotham was dominating, before tiring late against the Louisville Cardinals in a midweek Top 25 clash at Hawkins Field in Nashville. Cotham (7IP, 4ER, 7H, 1BB, 9K) used a heavy and hard fastball and a sweeping curve to handcuff the Cards, including recording the golden sombrero on UL star Chris Dominguez (1-4, 3K) in his first three ABs. Read the rest of this entry »