http://collegebaseball360.com/cb360-video-vault-pat-connaughton-notre-dame-two-sport-star/ http://collegebaseball360.com/cb360-video-vault-pat-connaughton-notre-dame-two-sport-star/#comments Tue, 24 Mar 2015 22:48:34 +0000 http://collegebaseball360.com/?p=37272

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Notre Dame’s Pat Connaughton is a rare breed of high-end collegiate two-sport athlete, with the unique combination of basketball and baseball excellence. Other two-sport greats of the past few decades have included football–baseball standouts such as Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders (more recently: the likes of former ND star Jeff Samardzija, plus current NFL quarterback Russell Winston and 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston). Another former Florida State quarterback, Charlie Ward, also starred in basketball and went on to play in the NBA.

Notre Dame’s Pat Connaughton blocks a shot by Butler late in the 2015 NCAA round-of-32 game. Photo by Geoff Burke (USA Today), courtesy Notre Dame.

– front-page photo (also at right) courtesy Notre Dame, taken by Geoff Burke of USA Today

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Connaughton – who interestingly played AAU basketball with Cooper Ainge and cites Cooper’s father, Danny Ainge, as a notable basketball–baseball two-sport star – has given NBA scouts plenty to think about in terms of his pro prospects. A 2014 Major League Baseball third-round selection of the Baltimore Orioles, Connaughton likely would have been drafted even higher, if not for the two-sport factor. The mid-90s fireballer spent the 2014 summer pitching in the Orioles organization.

Earlier in the current college basketball season, Connaughton sat down with CB360’s Pete LaFleur for a video interview focusing on his two-sport career. It’s interesting to note that Samardzija’s older brother Sam serves as Connaughton’s agent, lending plenty of keen perspective as to the challenges, options, etc., facing an elite two-sport athlete.

In this video interview, Connaughton shares some intriguing insights about his own career and reveals what he considers to be the most impressive combination for a two-sport athlete. He also notes that the mental challenges that come with life as a pitcher – “literally, being out there on an island” – have helped him immensely during similar tense moments on the basketball court.

Pat Connaughton in action with Notre Dame baseball during the 2014 season (photo courtesy of Matt Cashore/Notre Dame).

For those of you college baseball fans who rarely follow college hoops (even during “March Madness”), you might want to check out some of Connaughton’s recent basketball exploits: tremendous three-point sharpshooting, “sneaky” effectiveness as a rebounder, great court vision and movement without the ball, and even some clutch defensive plays … none bigger than his last-second block that possibly saved Notre Dame’s season in the NCAA round-of-32 vs. Butler (pictured above).

CB360’s one-on-one video visit with Connaughton is posted below:

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An assortment of video interviews are included below, in advance of the 2014 College World Series opener between Texas and UC Irvine.

Postgame Interviews From Three Thursday Games …

Gamecock Streak Ends, Gators Sent Packing…

CLICK HERE to see the complete CB360 CWS Scoreboard

Jason Bagoly (left) and Taylor Gushue (Photo by Pete LaFleur)

OMAHA, Neb. — That smell wafting through the air you may have smelled just after 8 pm Eastern Monday night was a barbeque in Omaha. As in two and ‘que…as in the Florida Gators at the College World Series.

The team that was the preseason number one and held that ranking for a great deal of the season came into its third CWS with the No. 1 national seed and a national championship in its sights.

Instead of hoisting a title trophy though head coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s team is feeling the weight of a second 0-and-2 Omaha performance in the last three seasons after falling 5-4 to Kent State in the second elimination game at TD Ameritrade Park in as many days.

“The game was not decided by the umpires,” O’Sullivan said after being asked about a questionable strikeout in the ninth inning. “The game was decided by both teams playing.  We made a couple errors in the first and second, and they capitalized and got two runs there in the bottom of the second.  That was the difference in the ballgame.  Simple as that.  The umpires had nothing to do with it.”

The Gators left the bases loaded to end the game.

The downfall started when Florida starting pitcher Hudson Randall was tended to behind by O’Sullivan and the Gator training staff. Randall would get the final out, but he would not return to the hill for the second inning due to heat related illness. The heat index was above 100 during the game. It was the hottest start time temperature at the CWS since 2001.

Jonathon Crawford, two weeks removed from an NCAA Tournament no-hitter, pitched the next three innings, but Florida trailed 5-1 by the time he exited.

Kent State starter Ryan Bores earned the win after going six strong innings. He allowed two runs on six hits while withstanding the blistering Omaha heat to improve to 10-3.

“That’s the most important thing that we wanted as a team and as a program, and as a university was to make a statement that we belong here,” head coach Scott Stricklin said after the first CWS victory in program history. “We’re not a fluke.  We’re a really good baseball team. That is the biggest win in school history.”

The Golden Flashes played the game with heavy hearts. Designated hitter Jason Bagoly’s mother passed away just before the start of the CWS. He was on deck on Saturday when Kent State’s 8-1 loss to Arkansas ended.

“The last couple nights I’ve really been wrestling with the decision,” Stricklin said of Bagoly’s heart breaking situation and whether or not to play him. “I was really disappointed in myself that I didn’t get him in (on Saturday).  I should have had him bat in the second or third inning and I was disappointed he didn’t get that at‑bat.”

“We talked about it as a staff and we went back and forth. You think about the ramifications if he has a bad game. He gets out there and plays, and things go wrong. I think that shows you what kind of kid he is, and how tough he is. It gave our team a lift. It really did.”

Bagoly will return home on Tuesday for his mother, Cheryl McHenry’s, funeral. Kent State players have been wearing a “CM” logo on the bills of their hats in her honor.
Kent State starting pitcher Ryan Bores

Florida catcher & first round MLB Draft pick Mike Zunino

Kent State head coach Scott Stricklin

Arkansas defeats South Carolina 2-1…

The king is not quite dead, but an historic NCAA Tournament run has come to an end. Two-time defending national champion South Carolina fell 2-1 to SEC rival Arkansas on Monday in Omaha to see its NCAA postseason record 22-game winning streak come to a screeching halt.

The win moves the Razorbacks to 2-0 in the 2012 CWS, while the Gamecocks drop to 1-1 and facing elimination in Omaha for the first time in two years. Thy had won 12 straight games at the College World Series.

South Carolina’s last NCAA Tournament/CWS loss came on June 20, 2010 with a 4-3 setback to Oklahoma. They rattled off a total of six straight wins, including four elimination game victories, to claim the program’s first national championship.The Gamecocks won six Regional and four Super Regional victories over the next two seasons as well as five straight wins at the 2011 CWS en-route to their second straight national crown.

Arizona is the other 2-0 team at the 2012 CWS, marking the first time since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams and the introduction of Super Regional play that two non-national seeds have gone 2-0 in Omaha.

South Carolina next faces Kent State in Wednesday’s elimination game. Head coach Ray Tanner has not decided who his starting pitcher will be.

Florida State and UCLA  meet in Tuesday’s elimination game at 8 pm ET in the other bracket’s elimination game.

South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner

Arkansas pitcher Ryne Stanek

The first elimination game of the College World Series sent the first team home on Sunday when Florida State beat Stony Brook 12-2. Collegebaseball360.com caught-up with several CWS performers Sunday, including FSU’s Mike Martin and South Carolina pitcher Michael Roth.

2012 CWS shirts & more are now at The Dugout!

They’re HERE!!  The Dugout in Omaha has official College World Series gear for each of the eight teams, including those Stony Brook Seawolves. If you want to be the first kid (no matter what age) on your block to have this year’s official CWS shirts, hats and more (both for individual teams or generic) click the red link and get to The Dugout’sweb site!

If you’re going to Omaha for the CWS you can also visit The Dugout. It’s right across the street from the home plate entrance to TD Ameritrade Park.

Florida State head coach Mike Martin discusses Stony Brook’s run to Omaha, his team’s win over the 2012 CWS Cinderella and Rosenblatt Stadium memories.

Stony Brook third baseman Willie Carmona discusses his time at the 2012 College World Series.

South Carolina pitcher Michael Roth discusses his team’s success and the part he has played in helping the Gamecocks win two national championships.

Arizona’s Seth Mejias-Brean discusses the Wildcats’ Sunday win over UCLA in Omaha.

Pitcher Konner Wade discusses his complete game victory over UCLA on Sunday at the CWS.

UCLA pitcher Adam Plutko discusses his 2012 College World Series win over Stony Brook.

Stony Brook center fielder Travis Jankowski discusses his team’s loss to UCLA at the CWS and how the team will respond moving forward.

Stony Brook head coach Matt Senk discusses his team’s CWS opening loss to UCLA.

2012 CWS shirts & more are now at The Dugout!

They’re HERE!!  The Dugout in Omaha has official College World Series gear for each of the eight teams, including those Stony Brook Seawolves. If you want to be the first kid (no matter what age) on your block to have this year’s official CWS shirts, hats and more (both for individual teams or generic) click the red link and get to The Dugout’sweb site!

If you’re going to Omaha for the CWS you can also visit The Dugout. It’s right across the street from the home plate entrance to TD Ameritrade Park.

Arizona freshman pitcher Matt Troupe discusses his first College World Series appearance in Friday’s 4-3 win over Florida State.

Purdue Pitcher Discusses Success…

The Road To Omaha leads to TD Ameritrade Park and The Dugout – located right across the street from TDA’s home plate entrance. The Dugouthas a ton of authentic college baseball caps – just like the ones the players wear on the field.

If you’re going to Omaha for the College World Series make sure to make your first stop The Dugout for all officially licensed CWS apparel. If you can’t make it to Omaha just follow our red links to The Dugout!

Reaction To 21 Inning Marathon In Gary…

Kent State head coach Scott Stricklin discusses his team’s 7-6 win in 21 innings over Kentucky on Friday in the first game of the Gary Regional.

The Road To Omaha leads to TD Ameritrade Park and The Dugout – located right across the street from TDA’s home plate entrance. The Dugout has a ton of authentic college baseball caps – just like the ones the players wear on the field.

If you’re going to Omaha for the College World Series make sure to make your first stop The Dugout for all officially licensed CWS apparel. If you can’t make it to Omaha just follow our red links to The Dugout!

Kentucky head coach Gary Henderson and players Mike Williams and A.J. Reed discuss the 21 inning game.

Postgame Videos With Stanford, Pepperdine & More…

The Road To Omaha leads to TD Ameritrade Park and The Dugout – located right across the street from TDA’s home plate entrance. The Dugout has a ton of authentic college baseball caps – just like the ones the players wear on the field.

If you’re going to Omaha for the College World Series make sure to make your first stop The Dugout for all officially licensed CWS apparel. If you can’t make it to Omaha just follow our red links to The Dugout!

Game 2: #1 Stanford vs. #4 Fresno St (Postgame Video Below)

Palo Alto, CA— After a year of scouting, the process that leads up to the Major League Baseball Draft is almost complete. With the 2012 draft coming up on Monday the evaluation process is all but finished and now it is time for teams to make their final decisions.

Now it’s the waiting that players will have to deal with leading up to the draft.

Stanford ace junior Mark Appel (10-1) will go into Monday knowing his name will be called very early in the 1^st Round but Friday night in the NCAA Regional in Palo Alto Appel had one more start to show why he is so highly rated.

Easy to say he only improved his stock with his complete game 11 strikeout performance in #1 seed Stanford’s 9-1 win over #4 seed Fresno St in the second game of the Stanford Regional.

The Cardinal (39-16) ace also got some revenge on the only team that beat him during the season. Fresno St beat Appel and Stanford 7-4 on March 2 in Fresno. It was the first loss of the season for the Cardinal and Appel allowed a season high seven runs.

Friday was a much different outing.

“I thought it was a great performance by Mark. He was tough and had good command with his stuff,” said Stanford Head Coach Mark Marquess.

Appel cruised through the first six innings allowing just one Bulldog (30-27) hit. He retired the first six batters he faced and following a single to lead off the third he set down the next twelve hitters.

Appel accounted for 10 of his 11 punch-outs in the first six innings.

Fresno St got to Appel in the last three innings of the game, but only scored in the seventh. By the time the Bulldogs cracked the scoreboard Stanford was up 5-1.

Appel finished the game allowing one run, two walks along with the 11 strikeouts on 122 pitches.

Fresno St Head Coach Mike Batesole said this may have been the best game Appel pitched all year.

“I’m pretty sure he could have won a big league game today,” said Batesole.

It was Appel’s fifth complete game of the season and second in his last three starts. It was the eight time this year Appel struck out at least 10 hitters.

Fresno St head coach Mike Batesole said last time they faced Appel they were able to take his fastball away. Three months later Batesole said Appel made adjustments and threw two breaking pitches he did not throw back in March.

“Last time out we took his fastball away early and we were pretty sure he was going to come out and make an adjustment this week and he surely did,” Batesole said.

Appel said “They are a fastball hitting team, so we knew the off-speed would be effective against them. We learned from the mistakes we made against them the first time.”

The game was 0-0 through four innings, but while Appel cruised Fresno St starter junior Justin Haley (7-4) faced trouble nearly every inning early.

Stanford left six men on base in the first four frames, including leaving a runner at third each inning from the second through the fourth.

In the fifth Appel finally got support from his offense.

After Haley retired the first two hitters of the inning, for the first time all game, a double by junior left fielder Stephen Piscotty and a walk to first basemen sophomore Brian Ragira kept the inning alive. Sophomore right fielder Austin Wilson singled up the middle to give the Cardinal a 2-0 lead.

The wheels came off for Haley in the sixth. Stanford sent nine batters to the plate while scoring three runs to increase their lead to 5-0.

Second basemen sophomore Danny Diekroeger had an RBI infield single. Stanford scored it’s other two runs with the bases loaded when Haley hit Ragria with a pitch followed by a walk to Wilson.

Haley was pulled after the walk going 5.2 innings allowing eight hits, five runs, six walks and five strikeouts. It was the third straight outing Haley pitched on short rest.

“I think he emptied his tank on short rest,” said Batesole. “What I really like is he pitched with a lot of heart.”

The Cardinal put the game away with a four run bottom of the eighth increasing their lead to 9-1. The Cardinal scored on the second bases loaded hit batter of the game, a 2-RBI single by junior shortstop Kenny Diekroeger and a throwing error on the Diekroeger single giving Stanford a 9-1 lead going into the ninth.

Stanford was lead offensively by Kenny Diekroeger who finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBI’s, junior catcher Eric Smith was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Austin Wilson who had three RBIs. Danny Diekroeger and Piscotty also had multi-hit games.

It was a tough night for Fresno St all around. Along with being shut down by Appel the Bulldogs committed four errors.

Freshman right fielder Jordan Luplow was the only Fresno player with multiple hits going 2-for-3. He also had a nice diving catch to end the bottom of the first inning.

The Bulldogs went 12-4 in the month of May and won the WAC Tournament last weekend in Arizona as the #5 seed in a six-team tournament.

Fresno St will look to avoid going 0-2 in regional play for the third consecutive tournament appearance. The Bulldogs have not won a tournament game since winning the National Championship in 2008.

Stanford is seeking a second straight Super Regional appearance and their first CWS trip since 2008.

Fresno State head coach Mike Batesole and outfielder Jordan Luplow after the Bulldogs 9-1 loss to Stanford…

Game 1: #2 Pepperdine vs. #3 Michigan St (Postgame Video Below)

Palo Alto, CA— In the first game of the day at Stanford #2 seed Pepperdine defeated #3 seed Michigan State 6-2 behind Waves (35-21) junior ace Jon Moscot’s sixth complete game of the season.

It was Moscot’s second consecutive complete game after he tossed one last weekend against San Diego in the first game of a de-facto WCC Championship Series against the Toreros last Friday.

Though he went the distance the junior had to battle all afternoon against the Spartans (37-22).

Michigan St. collected 10 hits, but left nine men on base.

After retiring Michigan St. in order in two of the first three innings Moscot allowed base runners every inning for the rest of the game.

Moscot worked out of jams in the second, fourth, sixth and eighth innings with out allowing any runners to score.

“Today was kind of the same it’s been all year. When there were guys on base, I seem to bare down,” Moscot said.

Moscot (7-5) finished the game allowing 10 hits, two earned runs, four strikeouts and two walks throwing 126 pitches.

“He’s got a good arm, there’s no doubt,” said Michigan State Head Coach Jake Boss. “We’re close, I thought we hit some balls hard that just had been hit right at some guys. It’s a cruel game sometimes.”

The game started off as a pitchers duel between Moscot and Michigan St. senior ace Tony Bucciferro (6-4).

After facing the minimum through two innings, Bucciferro got into trouble in the third.

Number seven-hitter senior designated hitter Matt Forgatch started the inning with a double followed by a bunt single by senior catcher Miles Silverstein. Ninth place hitter freshman center fielder Matt Gelalich than brought home the first run with a safety squeeze scoring Forgatch. Two batters later freshman third basemen Austin Davison hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Silverstein making it 2-0 Waves.

The Spartans answered in the top of the fifth with an RBI single by left fielder junior Jordan Keur cutting the Waves lead to 2-1.

Pepperdine broke open the pitcher’s duel with a four run sixth inning. After Bucciferro retired the first hitter of the inning the Waves put the next seven men on base with four singles, a double, an error and hit batter.

After Forgatch and Silverstein singled home the first two runs of the inning Gelalich hit a two RBI double to right making it a 6-1.

Gelalich, who came into the tournament hitting just .202, finished the game with three RBI’s.

“In order to win championships, you have to have guys step. It can’t be the same guy everyday,” said Pepperdine Head Coach Steve Rodriguez.

The bottom of the order was huge for the Waves. Forgatch went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI while Silverstein was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run.

The bottom three hitters for the Waves (Forgatch, Silverstein and Gelalich) combined to go 6-for-11 with five of the team’s six RBI’s.

Bucciferro was pulled after 5.1 innings allowing ten hits, five earned runs and four strikeouts. It was his shortest outing of the season.

Michigan St cut the deficit to 6-2 with a run in the top of the seventh but could not get anything across in the eighth when three runners reached base.

It was a frustrating day for the Spartans who along with leaving nine men on base equaled the Waves with 10 hits.

“We made a lot of the same mistakes we made a lot of the year, to be honest with you,” said Boss. “We left nine guys on base, so it’s more of the same for us.”

Seven of the nine Michigan St starters recorded a hit with junior second basemen Ryan Jones, freshman first basemen Ryan Krill and right fielder freshman Jimmy Pickens each collecting two hits apiece.

Michigan St, which received one of the last at-large bids in the tournament, was playing in the NCAA’s for the first time since 1979, but Head Coach Jake Boss said his team was not satisfied by just making the tournament.

“I think we came out with a purpose and a focus,” said Boss. “Nobody likes to lose. So to say we’re just happy to be here, I think, is incorrect.

Pepperdine is in the NCAA’s for the first time since 2008. Four years ago they also played in Palo Alto starting the regional 2-0 before being eliminated by host Stanford.

Saturday’s schedule will have Fresno St going up against Michigan St in an elimination game at 1 p.m. PST, followed by the winners bracket game between Stanford and Pepperdine at 6 p.m. PST.

Pepperdine Head Coach Steve Rodriguez and pitcher Jon Moscot after the Waves 6-2 win over Michigan St in Opening Round of Stanford Regional

Michigan St Head Coach Jake Boss and Starting Pitcher Tony Bucciferro speak after the Spartans 6-2 loss to Pepperdine

Reaction From Around The Country…

Check out some video interviews & reaction below from NCAA Selection Monday after the 2012 field of 64 was announced.

UCF head coach Terry Rooney

Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin

Michigan State team reaction after ending a 33 year tournament drought.

Stanford head coach Mark Marquess

Purdue players Kevin Plawecki, Joe Haase and Stephen Talbott

Indiana State’s celebration after their selection to the field