FROM PRESS RELEASE

GAMES 18-20 • MARCH 21-23 • TAYLOR STADIUM • COLUMBIA , MO.

No. 14 BAYLOR (13-4, 2-1) vs. No. 4 MISSOURI (15-2, 0-0)

FRIDAY: 6:30 p.m. CST

SATURDAY: 2:00 p.m. CST

SUNDAY: 1:00 p.m. CST

Baylor returns to action this weekend, traveling to Columbia , Mo. , for a three-game Big 12 Conference series at Missouri . The Bears and the Tigers meet Friday at 6:30 p.m. CDT, Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. This is the second Big 12 series of the season for Baylor, while Missouri opens Big 12 play this weekend.
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On June 21, 2002, the day he was named Nebraska baseball coach, Mike Anderson swore he would be careful to not judge his program on one season — be it big or bust.

That term is up, and so, as Anderson’s sixth NU team opens the 2008 season today with a doubleheader at Stanford, we’re back with the same question.

The coach smiles as he reflects.For the rest of the article from the JournalStar 

Alan Trubow has continue with his scouting report of the University of Texas. In this article he looks at the pitching staff which will be very deep and talented but also inexperience .

The Longhorns open the season Friday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field against Virginia Commonwealth. One of the biggest concerns for Texas this year is pitching. The Longhorns will need to find more depth with the condensed schedule and will have to rely on youth to develop.

Here’s a look at how the Longhorns’ pitching staff will look to start the season:

For the rest of the article go to the STATESMAN!

Picture provided by Donald J Boyles

Alan Trubow has continue with his preview of the Longhorn Baseball team. In this article he looks at the outfield and notes that this is an area of strength for the team.

The Longhorns open the season Friday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field against Virginia Commonwealth. While there are some areas of concern for Texas, the outfield is not one of them.

Here’s a look at who will be in the Longhorns’ outfield to start the season:

For the rest of the article go to the Statesman 

Our friend Alan Trubow of the Austin American- Statesman has done a preview of the infield of the University of Texas. He has started with the infield with an emphasis on Preston Clark and what a he means to this team.

The Texas Longhorns open the 2008 baseball season Friday against Virginia Commonwealth at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

The infield isn’t the biggest question mark for the Longhorns, but it is one with three newcomers (all transfers) and another player changing positions.

Here’s a look at how the infield will look this season.

For the rest of the article from the Statesman. 

It was 50 degrees in Columbia, Mo., on Thursday, and a balmy 72 in Miami. Back up north, the temperature in Ann Arbor, Mich., hit 25, while out west, it was 44 degrees in Corvallis, Ore.

And here in Austin, it was 70 and sunny.

Each of these cities has a Division I college baseball team. None was playing a game Thursday. No team in the country was.

This is the first year of a uniform start date in NCAA Division I college baseball, meaning teams cannot begin playing games until Feb. 22. The rule, which also prevented teams from practicing until Feb. 1, was implemented to help cold-weather schools, which have complained of a competitive disadvantage. Just two northern schools (Ohio State in 1966 and Oregon State in 2006 and 2007) have won the College World Series since 1966.

For the rest of the article go HERE. 

FROM PRESS RELEASE

HEAD COACH AUGIE GARRIDO
Opening Statement: We’re excited about the 2008 Longhorn baseball season of course. One of the exciting things is the renovation of UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The renovation is really a complete change in the facility from the fans point of view. I’ve said often if it had been up to me I voted to tear it down and start over, but that would have been a mistake as it has turned out. I think the bowl remaining as a reminder of Disch-Falk field and the roof over the top blended with the new sightlines, new seats, new everything; the whole thing is completely new. It kind of embraces you with the past as well as introduces to the future. Read the rest of this entry »

EXCERPT FROM PRESS RELEASE
Oklahoma State enters the 2008 season looking to build on its best showing in nearly a decade.

The Cowboys are fresh off the second Super Regional appearance in school history and hungry to take the next step and return to the College World Series.

Coach Frank Anderson’s ballclub lost six position starters from a year ago, including the entire outfield, but returns a pair of veterans among the best in the Big 12 Conference at their respective positions along with a strong mix of newcomers.
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EXCERPT FROM ARTICLE
FULLERTON - Sometimes change is good. Sometimes change is refreshing. Sometimes change is an insult.

For the first time since 1996, the Cal State Fullerton baseball team will open a season with a new coach.

For the first time since 1999, the Titans have not been picked by the conference coaches to win the Big West title.

For the first time since 1998, the Titans have been left out of Baseball America’s Top 25 preseason poll.

Only the last change bothers new CSF coach Dave Serrano, the former Titans pitching coach who returns to Fullerton this year after three years as the coach at Big West rival UC Irvine, where he led the Anteaters to their first College World Series appearance in 2007.

For the rest of the ARTICLE

After claiming their first regular-season title in school history in 2007 the UTSA Roadrunners received a league-best 18 out of a possible 24 first place votes in the coaches and sports information directors polls.

UTSA leads the Southland Conference returning five automatic selections to the 2008 Preseason Teams, including 2007 award winners Trent Lockwood - Newcomer of the Year, and Tim Palincsar - Freshman of the Year.

A Hitter of the Year candidate and a two-time player of the week in 2007, Lockwood led UTSA in eight offensive categories, including batting average (.378), hits (87), RBI (57) and home runs (14). Those same numbers placed Lockwood in the top six in seven league offensive categories, inclunding finishing second to 2007 Player of the Year Steven Hill of Stephen F. Austin with a .687 slugging percentage.

For the rest of the Preview go HERE!

Gotham Baseball Magazine writer Chip Armonaitis checks in with an article about where New York area schools will open the season. He talks about players to watch during the opening weekend and where they will start the season. The full article is available here.

We are starting with of a three post series previewing the Texas Longhorns written by Djbfootball. The second article in the series is available here and the third is available here.

The 2007 Horns baseball season started with a lot of hope and promise. However, by the time Augie and staff arrived at the Round Rock Regional injuries began to take their toll on the team and even Home Run champion Kyle Russell could not carry this team to the College World Series. The last time Texas was in Omaha was in 2005 and that for a Horn Fan is an eternity. Texas has made it a habit of spending their summers in Omaha making that journey 32 times and winning it all six times. The last time was back in 2005. Read the rest of this entry »

We continue with the second post out of a three post series previewing the Texas Longhorns written by Djbfootball. The first article in the series is available here and the third is available here.

The Players;
Lets start at the Catcher position; Returning for his 4th year and starting for his third straight year at the catching position will be Preston Clark. Preston a red shirt junior brings a lot to the table that goes unnoticed. He will be able to keep these young pitchers on track and help them stay focus. When Preston went down to a sprain knee right before the Round Rock Regional those things that go unnoticed became very visible. His offense - .278 batting average 8 home runs and 46 runs batted – just his mere presence in the line up gives this team confidence. His defense – six errors in 56 games- makes the opposing team conscience of him behind the plate. Backing Preston up will be heir apparent Freshman Cameron Rupp. Cameron is a big young man that reminds me more of a Taylor Teagarden and Rupp will be able to continue this long line of outstanding catchers that eventually go on to the MLB.
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Kendall Rogers has continue his Top 25 countdown and checking at #12 is the Missouri Tigers of the Big 12. Missouri finish 2nd to Texas in the BIG 12 last year and they return a very talented pitching staff led by Aaron Crow. The weekend series with Texas traveling to Columbia will help determined the BIG 12 conference and national seedings. When they tangle April 11-13 the CBB will right here reporting on the first pitch until the final out on Sunday. Mizzou article available here.

Top 25 Countdown: No. 13 Michigan

Top 25 Countdown: No. 14 Virginia

Top 25 Countdown: No. 15 Mississippi

Top 25 Countdown: No. 16 Cal State Fullerton

Top 25 Countdown: No. 17 Long Beach State

Top 25 Countdown: No. 18 Wichita State

Top 25 Countdown: No. 19 Mississippi St.

We continue with the final post out of a three post series previewing the Texas Longhorns written by Djbfootball. The first article in the series is available here and the second is available here.

The schedule this year was put together with the thought of getting these younger pitchers some good quality innings in before the conference starts. The first series of importance will be opening day. Texas starts the year with a home date with the VCU Rams, then they go to Houston for the Houston College Classic for games against Tennessee, Rice and Houston, followed up with a home series against a struggling Stanford team. The BIG 12 conference season starts with a home series with an improving Kansas Jayhawk team on March 14. Then mark your calendar for April 11; this will be a HUGE series with the Missouri Tigers in Columbia for the BIG 12 lead. Texas finishes the season with two of the better teams in the league with Baylor and A&M.
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