by Jarred Amato

Playing in front of a sellout crowd of 2,763 at Cardines Field, the USA National Team defeated Newport 8-3 Thursday night. There were also at least eight scouts in attendance, from San Francisco, Boston, Toronto, Atlanta and Kansas City among others, who were beginning their evaluations for the 2009 (and 2010) MLB Drafts. Here’s a breakdown of the Americans’ performance against the Gulls of the NECBL. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ACC, Arizona State, Auburn, Big 12, Big West, Cal State Fullerton, GT, Missouri, Missouri Valley, NECBL, Newport, Pac 10, Santa Clara, SEC, Team USA, Tennessee, Wichita State

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.
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Tags: Auburn, Baylor, Big 12, Indiana, Missouri, Oregon State, Team USA, Tennessee, Texas, University of San Diego, Vanderbilt

By Willie Nicklaus

With the NCAA regionals finished, I thought it was a good time to post my All-Freshman team for 2008. The high school Class of 2007 was a highly touted one, and they did not disappoint as contributors to their respective teams. Here they are with a little information about each. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2010 Top Players, ACC, Alabama, Auburn, Big 12, Big East, Big South, Big West, Cal, Cal State Fullerton, CBB Column, Coastal Carolina, Conference USA, Florida, GT, Kent State, MAC, Miami (FL), Middle Tennessee, Ole Miss, Rice, Santa Clara, SEC, Tennessee, Texas, UNC, University of San Diego, West Coast Conference, West Virginia

FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Georgia junior shortstop Gordon Beckham was selected 2008 SEC Baseball Player of the Year, fellow senior closer Joshua Fields was named SEC Pitcher of the Year and Auburn first basemen Hunter Morris was named SEC Freshman of the Year by a vote of the league’s 12 head baseball coaches. The coaches also tabbed Georgia skipper David Perno as SEC Coach of the Year. Beckham was also named SEC Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Read the rest of this entry »

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

By Willie Nicklaus

Thought this would be a good time to do a follow up on some of the freshmen who have been contributing to their respective teams, as the regular portion of the season has concluded and conference tourneys are ready to begin.

I like to use OPS percentage as a gauge as the equation includes power factors as well as on-base frequency. I have also included the HR and Extra-base hits frequencies to show a player propensity for delivering a big hit. With the conferences getting ready to do battle this week, we included the overall batting averages and also batting averages in conference play only. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2010 Top Players, ACC, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Big 12, Big East, Big South, Big West, Cal State Fullerton, CBB Column, Coastal Carolina, Conference USA, Florida, GT, Kent State, LSU, MAC, Middle Tennessee, Rice, SEC, Tennessee, Texas, University of San Diego, West Coast Conference, West Virginia

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 »

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

Here are the SEC Weekend Pitching Matchups which is the courtesy of the SEC Media Relations Department. Read the rest of this entry »

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

FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES
(DURHAM, N.C.) – USA Baseball announced today its initial list of 12 collegiate players who have accepted invitations for the 2008 National Team Trials held June 11-23 throughout the northeast and southeast United States. The list is comprised of eight sophomores and four freshmen. In all, 32 players will be invited to the National Team Trials with 22 of those players being selected for the National Team roster. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2009 Top Players, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Big 12, Big West, Cal State Fullerton, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Pac 10, SEC, Team USA, Tennessee, University of San Diego, Vanderbilt, West Coast Conference

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

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

FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES

Old Dominion 13 Northeastern 0

Norfolk, Va. - Junior right-hander Dan Hudson struck out 11 in just over seven innings of work and the Monarchs of Old Dominion scored 13 runs on 16 hits to shutout the Huskies of Northeastern 13-0 at Bud Metheny Baseball Complex Saturday afternoon. Nine of the Monarchs 16 hits went for extra bases, including two doubles, three triples and four home runs.

With the game scoreless heading into the bottom of the fifth, ODU shortstop Gerard Hall took it upon himself to get the Monarchs on the board. Hall opened the inning with a single to right and promptly stole second and third base. Northeastern starter Les Williams struck out the next two Monarch batters, but with Williams pitching from the windup and with right-handed batter Jimmy Miles in the box, Hall stole home sliding up under the tag of NU catcher Frank Pesanello. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Alabama, Auburn, Big East, CAA, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Louisville, Northeastern, Old Dominion, SEC, South Florida, Vanderbilt, Villanova

By: Willie Nicklaus
The highly regarded Class of 2007 was touted as one of the best in recent years by the scouting community, major baseball publications, and all experts alike. Those that opted for college baseball are making the impact predicted by many, including our own Brian Foley, the head man here at the College Baseball Blog. (Our Top Freshmen article from the Pre-season is available here.) Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2008 Top Players, ACC, Arkansas, Atlantic 10, Auburn, Big 12, Big East, Boston College, Cal State Fullerton, CBB Column, Elon, Florida, Georgetown, GT, Kent State, LSU, MAC, Miami (FL), Middle Tennessee, Richmond, SEC, Southern Conference, Tennessee, Tennessee Tech, Texas, UNC, West Virginia

FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES

Game 1: Mississippi State 6 Kentucky 5
Game 2: Kentucky 13 Mississippi State 4

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Mississippi State and Kentucky split a Southeastern Conference baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium on the UK campus. The Bulldogs rallied from a four-run deficit to take a 6-5 victory in the opener. The Wildcats cruised to a 13-4 victory in the second game. The two teams play the rubber game of the weekend three games series at noon CT Sunday.

MSU saw a three-game win streak snapped in the second game. The Bulldogs are now 14-16 overall and 3-8 in conference play. Kentucky, who lost at home in for the first time this year Saturday, is now 24-5 and 6-5. The 10th-ranked Wildcats are now 19-1 at home this season. Read the rest of this entry »

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

FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES

Alabama 10 Vanderbilt 3

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Junior right-hander Robert Phares, making his first career Southeastern Conference start, turned in a dazzling performance Sunday afternoon, pitching the University of Alabama baseball team to a 10-3 series-clinching win over No. 4 Vanderbilt at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Read the rest of this entry »

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

FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES

Alabama 9 Vanderbilt 7

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - University of Alabama baseball team scored in six of the eight innings to snap a season-high six-game losing streak with a 9-7 win over fourth-ranked Vanderbilt at Sewell-Thomas Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Alabama tallied 14 hits in the win, including two by No. 9 hitter Jeff Texada, who also belted his first career Southeastern Conference home run in the sixth inning. Freshman shortstop Josh Rutledge, freshman second baseman Ross Wilson, sophomore left fielder Brandon May and Texada all had two hits each for Alabama. Read the rest of this entry »

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

FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES

Vanderbilt 2 Alabama 1

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Sophomore southpaw Mike Minor struck out a career-high batters in a complete game 2-1 win over Alabama Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Vanderbilt improved to 14-4 overall and 3-1 in the SEC, while Alabama dropped to 9-11 and 0-4 in league play.

Minor (3-1) struck out a career best 12 batters while allowing just an unearned run on eight hits in his second complete game of the season. Read the rest of this entry »

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