College Baseball 360 » Alex Dickerson http://collegebaseball360.com baseball news, college baseball stats, sean stires, pete lafleur, college world series video, college baseball podcast, Fri, 14 Feb 2025 21:33:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.38 Top College Baseball Outfielders To Watch In 2011 http://collegebaseball360.com/top-college-baseball-outfielders-to-watch-in-20116/ http://collegebaseball360.com/top-college-baseball-outfielders-to-watch-in-20116/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:01:12 +0000 http://collegebaseball360.com/?p=14914

Our look at some of the top college baseball players in Division One baseball continues as head to the outfielders. Our previous lists have looked mainly at the top 11 at each position (plus a few others to watch), but sheer numbers dictate that we include more outfielders.

On any given Saturday during the college baseball season, 900 Division One outfielders will start in a game. Here are the top 30-plus heading into 2011.

1. Alex Dickerson – Indiana

It’s a long way from San Diego to Bloomington, IN, but Dickerson has blazed a trail from his California roots in his first two seasons at Indiana. He earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American honors in 2009 after batting .370 with 57 RBIs and an IU freshman record 14 home runs as his team’s primary clean-up batter. His efforts helped the Hoosiers claim their first NCAA Regional bid since 1996. Dickerson then went on to win the Big Ten Triple Crown in 2010, batting .419 with 24 HR and 75 RBIs. He earned All-American accolades and was the unanimous pick for Big Ten Player of the Year, to become the first Big Ten player to receive Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons. Dickerson played for the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2009 and then starred for the USA Collegiate National Team in 2010.

2. George Springer – Connecticut

Springer’s name became nearly synonymous with UConn baseball in 2010. The sophomore centerfielder batted .337 with 18 home runs, 16 doubles, 62 RBIs, and a team-best 33 stolen bases. His efforts helped the Huskies to a program record 48 wins and their first NCAA Regional berth since 1994.  He scored a team-high 84 runs, thanks in part to team-highs of 60 BB and 14 HBP and .491 on-base percentage. Springer’s 1.149 OPS also led his team. In 2009,  the New Britain, CT native became the first UConn player ever to earn the Big East Rookie of the Year award after batting .358 and smacking 16 HR. Like Dickerson, Springer played for the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod League after his freshman season and then played for the USA Collegiate National Team in the summer of 2010.

3. Jackie Bradley, Jr.- South Carolina

The 5’10, 180 pound centerfielder has the frame, tilt and glide that scouts love. It also doesn’t hurt that he was named the Most Outstanding Player at the College World Series after helping South Carolina win the national championship in 2010. Bradley took the Gamecock’s triple crown last year when he batted .368 with 13 HR and 60 RBIs (he shared the HR lead with Whit Merrifield). The Prince George, VA native struckout just 37 times with 41 walks in 242 at-bats and sported a 1.060 OPS. He earned Freshman All-American honors in 2009 after hitting .349 with 11 HR and 47 RBIs. Bradley played for the Hyannis Mets in the Cape Cod League in ’09 and then teamed with Dickerson and Springer last summer in the USA Collegiate National Team outfield.

4. Mikie Mahtook – LSU

Now a junior, Mahtook has been a key member of the LSU line-up in his first two years in Baton Rouge. Mahtook batted .316 with seven home runs, eight doubles, three triples, 38 RBIs, and 41 runs while starting 49 games to help the Tigers to the 2009 national championship. He batted .455 (10-for-22) to earn SEC Tournament MVP honors as a prelude to his 11th inning game-winning hit in game one of the College World Series Finals en-route to the national title. Mahtook moved to right field in 2010 and produced even more at the plate. He hit .335 with 14 HR, 19 doubles, 50 RBIs, 68 runs and 22 stolen bases. His 19 doubles ranked second in the SEC to help him to a 1.056 OPS. The Lafayette, LA native even hit for the cycle in an Apr. 6 game against Alcorn St. The 2008 39th round draft choice of the Florida Marlins was also a member of the 2010 USA Collegiate National Team. Talk about a crowded outfield!

5. Nick Martini – Kansas State

With the success of teams like Texas and Oklahoma last year, it may surprise some to hear that Martini in the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year. Martini has been a big straw that stirs the drink in K-State’s unprecedented success in his two years in Manhattan. He hit .336 with four home runs, a team-best 17 doubles, 19 stolen bases, and 50 RBIs to earn Freshman All-American honors in 2009. He also tied a school record by playing in all 62 KSU games that year. Martini took his game to another level last year, batting a Big 12 best .416 with four HR, 17 doubles, 19 stolen bases and 59 RBIs. He had a 1.086 OPS with 41 BB and just 21 K in 231 at-bats while earning Second Team All-American honors Martini has helped Kansas State to the only two NCAA Tournament appearances in program history in his two years in a Wildcat uniform.

6. Jeremy Baltz – St. John’s

Baltz had, arguably, the best overall year by a true freshman since the original bat restrictions went into place more than a decade ago. The Red Storm slugger took his team triple crown, batting .396 with 24 home runs and 85 RBIs in 2010. He also had 16 doubles and a triple for a 1.250 OPS to earn not only Freshman All-American but also National Freshman of the Year honors. His 24 HR tied for 7th in the nation, while his 85 RBIs tied for 6th. Baltz hit safely in all but 10 of his team’s 63 games in 2010. His regular season exclamation point was a 4-for-5, four home run & seven RBI performance against Louisville on May 18. After helping fourth seeded St. John’s win the Big East Tournament, it speaks volumes that Baltz was named the Charlottesville NCAA Regional MVP despite the fact that his team lost to Virginia in the Regional final. His two HR and four RBIs against the Cavs on June 6 forced a winner take all game won by UVA the next day.

7. Taylor Dugas – Alabama

Dugas earned Freshman All-American honors in 2009 after batting .352 with two home runs, 27 RBIs, 13 stolen bases, 61 runs, and a .423 on-base percentage. He also led the 37-win Crimson Tide with 83 hits. Alabama’s primary lead-off man scored the first run of the Mitch Gaspard era in the 2010 season opener. He went on to lead his team with a .393 average, .525 OBP, 70 runs, 19 stolen bases, and 59 walks. In fact, his 59 BB with just 21 K in 243 at-bats gave him a 2.8 strikeout to walk ratio. Dugas’ efforts earned him First Team All-SEC and All-American honors, while Alabama advanced to a Super Regional. He played for the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod League last summer.

8. Steve Selsky – Arizona

Selsky comes from an athletic family. His father (also Steve Selsky) was a Major Leaguer, his mother was an Olympic volleyball player, and he has two sisters (including his twin sister Sam) who are Division One volleyball players. Selsky was named a Freshman All-American in 2009 after batting .319 with seven home runs, eight doubles, 21 RBIs, and a .927 OPS. His playing time and production increased last year. Selsky led the Wildcats with a .370 average with nine HR, 17 doubles, 11 stolen bases, and team-highs of 52 RBIs and 57 runs. He also raised his OPS to 1.057. He had a good summer playing for Orleans in the Cape Cod League, batting.273 with four HR and 18 RBIs in 37 games.

9. Tyler Pill – Cal State Fullerton

Pill has thrived as a two-way player in his two seasons in Fullerton. He and teammate (and fellow two-way player) Noe Ramirez were named Co-Big West Freshmen of the Year in 2009. Pill earned Freshman All-American accolades after going 11-3 with 102 IP while batting .269 to help the Titans reach the College World Series. He was limited to nine starts on the mound in 2010 due to a tired arm, but he still finished 4-4 with a 3.36 ERA. Meanwhile, his offensive game took-off, batting .354 with seven home runs, 42 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Pill also hit an amazing .524 (11-for-21) in the five games he hit for him self as the starting pitcher.

10. Preston Tucker – Florida

Tucker shared SEC Freshman of the Year honors with LSU pitcher Matty Ott in 2009, but he earned Freshman All-American honors and became the first Florida Player to be named the NCBWA National Freshman Hitter of the Year. He batted .364 with 15 home runs and 85 RBIs that season. His overall run production dropped in 2010, but Tucker still hit .331 with 11 HR, 17 doubles, 49 RBIs, and 50 runs to help the Gators reach the College World Series. He earned second team All-SEC accolades and was also named to the SEC’s All-Defensive Team. Tucker spent last summer with Orleans in the Cape Cod League. The 6’0 junior played a good deal at first base last year, but he’s expected to play mostly in right field in 2011.

11. Chad Oberacker – Tennessee Tech

Oberacker didn’t have gaudy home run numbers like his former Golden Eagle teammate, A.J. Kirby-Jones (26 HR), but he did have monster overall numbers in 2010. His .354 batting average led his team in his 2009 sophomore season, but his .452 average was third in the nation last year. Oberacker also finished among the DI national leaders in RBIs (70), doubles (29), slugging percentage (.690), and on-base percentage (.527). He had six home runs, five triples, 14 stolen bases, 67 runs, 108 hits, and a 1.217 OPS in ’10. He was also disciplined at the plate, with 34 walks and just 23 strikeouts in 239 at-bats. Oberacker is also a pitcher who has performed as both a starter and reliever over his first three seasons. He is back for his senior season after being drafted in the 19th round last year by the St. Louis Cardinals.

12. Dusty Robinson – Fresno State

Robinson was named a Freshman All-American in 2009 when he batted .319 with 15 home runs, 12 doubles, 52 runs, and 45 RBIs, while making 52 starts in the outfield for the defending national champions. He turned-in another top notch season last year, batting .308 with 16 HR, 11 doubles, and 60 RBIs to earn All-WAC honors for a second straight year. Robinson also sported a .588 slugging percentage and started all 63 Bulldog games in the outfield. His production was overshadowed a bit by the emergence of teammate Jordan Ribera and his 27 home runs in ’10, but Robinson brings 31 career HR and 105 RBIs back with him for his junior season.

13. Jeff Schaus – Clemson

Schaus was consistent in his first two years at Clemson. He sported a .317 average with 16 home runs and 81 RBIs over his first two seasons with the Tigers in 2008 & 2009. The bulk of his RBI total came when he drove-in 51 runs in an All-ACC sophomore campaign. His batting average stayed steady in 2010, but his run production jumped. Schaus batted .320 last year with 15 HR, 14 doubles and a team-leading 87 RBIs to help Clemson reach the College World Series. He had a .542 slugging percentage and was the only Tiger to start all 70 of his team’s games. The 6’1 son of parents who both played college basketball at Canisius has started 193 games in his first three years at Clemson. He’s back for his senior year after being drafted in the 27th round last year by the Cleveland Indians.

14. Jason Coats – TCU

Coats was one of his team’s top all-around players on TCU’s College World Series team last year, and some of his best play came in the postseason. Coats batted a team-best .361 with 13 home runs, 23 doubles, four triples, 68 runs, and 69 RBIs while starting 66 of TCU’s 68 games in left field. His 69 RBIs were also a team-high. Coats’ bat got hot when the stakes were high at the end of the season as well. He hit .433 (13-for-30) in a seven-game hitting streak that started with the Mountain West Conference Tournament opener and ended after the Horned Frogs’ game one Super Regional win over Texas. He also had a three homer game earlier in the season against Houston. The Plano, TX native has a .343 career batting average heading into his junior season.

15. Zach Cone – Georgia

Cone was one of the few bright spots for a Georgia team that finished with a disappointing 16-37 overall record, including 5-23 in the SEC in 2010. After making just 20 starts as a freshman in 2009, Cone was Georgia’s triple crown winner in 2010. The Bulldog’s primary centerfielder topped his team with a .363 average, 10 home runs and 53 RBIs. He was also tops with seven triples, 45 runs, 133 total bases, and a .627 slugging percentage. His 13 stolen bases were second on the Georgia roster, but he was perfect in all 13 attempts. He also led the SEC with nine outfield assists. Cone played for Cotuit in the Cape Cod League over the summer. His brother, Kevin Cone, plays football at Georgia Tech, while his father, Ronny Cone, played football there as well. Cone was a third round draft choice by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2008.

16. Drew Maggi – Arizona State

Maggi has already been drafted twice by Major League teams. He was a 47th round pick out of high school and a 15th round selection by the Pittsburgh Pirates last year. He looks for an even higher draft slot this year after batting .326 with five home runs, 10 doubles, three triples, 41 RBIs, and a team-high 36 stolen bases to earn All-Pac-10 honors in 2010. His game-winning Super Regional home run against Arkansas sent ASU to the College World Series for a second straight year, while he was the only Sun Devil to start all 62 of his team’s games last year. Maggi also broke Barry Bonds‘ ASU freshman record when he stole 21 bases in 2009. He is versatile enough to play shortstop, but a crowded infield will likely keep him in the outfield this year. He and his brother, Beau Maggi, are the sixth set of brothers to play at the same time at Arizona State.

17. Johnny Ruettiger – Arizona State

Reuttiger has emerged from the novelty of being “Rudy” Ruettiger’s nephew to being one of the top college baseball outfielders in the country. He hit .360, while making just 29 starts in his freshman season in 2009, but most of those starts came down the stretch and into the College World Series. Ruettiger then batted .351 with four home runs, seven doubles, seven triples, 49 runs, 35 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases in 2010. He sported a solid .452 on-base percentage that was helped by 30 BB, compared to just 26 strikeouts in 191 at-bats. The Joliet, IL native, whose father, John Ruettiger, once wrestled for Nebraska, also committed no errors while making 54 starts in another CWS appearance. Ruettiger’s stock rose even higher after leading the Cape Cod League with a .369 average over the summer. He stole 11 bases and struckout just nine times in 111 at-bats for Hyannis.

18. Stewart Ijames – Louisville

The man with the silent “j” in his name missed all of 2009 with a shoulder injury, but he came back with a big year in 2010. Ijames was a Freshman All-American in 2008 after batting .351 with eight home runs, 11 doubles and 39 RBIs. He bounced-back last year to hit .324 with 14 home runs, 11 doubles, 47 runs, and 63 RBIs to help the Cardinals win the Big East regular season title and eventual NCAA Regional berth. The 6’1 junior was a 46th round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers out of high school in 2007. He was taken in the 29th round by the New York Yankees last year. Ijames played for Hyannis in the Cape Cod League last summer.

19. Mike McGee – Florida State

McGee has played at a high level for Mike Martin’s Seminoles since his Freshman All-American season in 2008. He batted .344 with six home runs and 34 RBIs, while going 7-1 on the mound that season. His offensive numbers jumped to .378/19/78 in 2009 to go with a 6-2 record. He batted .328/17/78 with a 4-1 record and 13 saves last year to help Florida State reach the College World Series. McGee was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 37th round in 2007 and was picked in the 41st round by the Arizona Diamondbacks last year. He opted to return for his senior season, in part because most pro scouts see him as a pitcher, while he would like to remain an everyday player.

20. Daniel Bowman – Coastal Carolina

Bowman earned Freshman All-American honors in 2009 after batting .333 with 13 home runs, 14 doubles, 53 runs, and 54 RBIs. His batting average dipped to .279 last year, but his other numbers were nearly identical with 15 HR, 13 doubles, 53 runs, and 53 RBIs. He was one of just two Chanticleers to start all 65 games for a team that reached the Super Regionals. The 6’1 Bridgewater, VA native was named Big South Tournament MVP after pounding three home runs with nine RBIs in the tourney. He led the Chants with 17 RBIs during the postseason. Bowman has also been stellar in the field, with no errors in 254 chances in his first two seasons. He played for Bourne in the Cape Cod League and reached the finals of the Cape All-Star home run derby at Fenway Park.

21. Andy Mee – Florida Atlantic

Mee might fly a little below the radar for the Owls at FAU, but he is not only a good outfielder, but also one of the top two-way players in the country. After spending two years at Santa Fe College, Mee led his team with a .378 batting average and also tied for the Sun Belt Conference lead with 11 saves in 2010. Mee added eight home runs, 17 doubles, five triples, 55 RBIs, and 55 runs at the plate as well as a 2.96 ERA in 21 relief appearances and 24 1/3 innings on the mound. Mee also had a very good summer for the Mat-Su Miners of the Alaska League, batting .353 with a league-high 37 RBIs.

22. Kyle Gaedele – Valparaiso

Gaedele plays for a small school in the Horizon League, but his 6’4, 220 pound frame is the build that scouts love. He batted .373 with seven home runs, eight triples, 19 doubles, 17 stolen bases, and 63 RBIs for the Crusaders in 2010. The Arlington Heights, IL native was drafted in the 32nd round by the Tampa Bay Rays out of high school, but he opted to play at Valpo for former Big Leaguer Tracy Woodson instead (Woodson was a member of the L.A. Dodgers‘ 1988 championship team). A junior, Gaedele looks to go higher in this year’s draft after the summer he had for the Madison Mallards in the Northwoods League. He broke four franchise records, including nine HR, and led the league in three offensive categories, including 56 runs scored. Baseball America ranked him as the #2 prospect in the league.

23. Jabari Henry – Florida International

The bulk of the spotlight at FIU was on Garrett Wittels and his pursuit of history in 2010, but Henry had a very good season as well. Henry was named Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American after batting .315 with 12 home runs, 10 doubles, 51 RBIs, and 47 runs. He had a .606 slugging percentage and had solidplate discipline, with 32 BB and 36 Ks in 165 at-bats in ’10. An injury ended his season early in the Gainesville NCAA Regional, but he homered off Texas A&M’s Barret Loux (#6 overall MLB draft pick) in his only at-bat. Henry was drafted in the 39th round by the Texas Rangers in the 2009 draft.

24. Willie Argo – Illinois

How versatile is Argo? As a freshman in 2009 (when he hit three homers in his first college game at LSU), Argo hit .355 with 47 RBIS, 46 runs, a 1.072 OPS, 11 doubles, and a team-high 12 home runs as a middle of the order batter for the Illini. He also stole 10 bases that year while earning Freshman All-American honors. Argo’s power numbers went down last year, but he hit .318 with 33 RBIs, 46 runs, six triples, four homers, and a school-record 41 stolen bases (7th in the nation) as Illinois’ leadoff man. Many consider Argo an “athlete” who is still developing as a baseball player. The Davenport, IA native earned 13 total varsity letters in four sports (football, baseball, wrestling, and track) in high school. Argo was drafted in the 49th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008. He figures to go much higher this year. He also once hit a home run off the famed Lamade Statue in centerfield at the 2001 Little League World Series.

25. Logan Vick – Baylor

Vick earned Freshman All-American status after batting .329 with 10 home runs, 17 doubles, 27 RBIs, and a team-high 59 runs in 2010. His 29 extra base hits and .473 on-base percentage are the best ever by a Baylor freshman, while his 59 walks (which were 12 more than his next two teammates combined) are a single-season program record. Vick thrived in the postseason as well. He reached base in all six plate appearances in Baylor’s Big 12 Tournament opener and wound-up on the All-Tournament Team. Vick also homered twice in the Ft. Worth NCAA Regional to help the Bears reach the championship round before falling to host TCU.

26. Brian Barnett – Nevada

Barnett made an immediate impact in his first season as a Division One player after spending his first two seasons in the juco ranks at Western Nevada College. He batted .348 last year, while leading the Wolfpack in HR (18), RBIs (71), and slugging percentage (.701). He also had 21 doubles, nine stolen bases, scored 52 runs, and had an 1.103 OPS. Barnett totaled 21 home runs and 96 RBIs in his two junior college seasons. He helped Western Nevada to a third-place finish at the 2009 Junior College World Series.

27. Brandon Meredith – San Diego State

It’s hard enough for a Major Leaguer to homer at San Diego’s Petco Park, let alone a high school player. That didn’t stop Meredith from becoming the first prep player to go yard at Petco when it did it in 2008. He kept it going when he got to SDSU, batting .309 with seven home runs, 17 doubles, and 44 RBIs. His 63 starts in his 2009 freshman season were the most of any player on an Aztec team that advanced to the Irvine NCAA Regional. A 15th round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008, Meredith led San Diego State with his .383 average last year. He also hit seven HR with 11 doubles, 54 RBIs and a 1.026 OPS.

28. Cohl Walla – Texas

Walla didn’t have to go far when it came time to go to college. The 6’3 outfielder went to Lake Travis High School just outside Austin, where he won a 2007 state championship. He was even on the receiving end of 12 touchdown passes from current Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert when the two were high school teammates in 2007. Walla made a name for himself on the Disch-Falk diamond in 2010. His .316 average was the third-best for the Super Regional Longhorns. He had eight home runs with 12 doubles, 41 runs, 40 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases during his freshman campaign. Walla was a 49th round draft choice of the Washington Nationals in 2009.

29. Bobby Crocker – Cal Poly

Crocker has earned All-Big West recognition in each of his first two seasons at Cal Poly. He batted .323 with 24 RBIs and 10 stolen bases as a freshman in 2009. He hit .447 (17-for-48) over the Mustang’s last 12 games to help them reach the Tempe NCAA Regional for the program’s first-ever NCAA bid. The 6’3 Aromas, CA native then led the Mustangs with his .353 average and 49 RBIs last year, to go along with 15 doubles, 42 runs and a team-best 18 stolen bases. Crocker was drafted in the 38th round by the Oakland A’s in 2008.

30. Chris Benson – Utah Valley

Benson batted .408 last year, but he didn’t even lead his team in that category. Jace Brinkerhoff’s .456 average led the Wolverines, but Benson led his team in most other categories, including slugging percentage (.744), triples (11), total bases (195), and a nation-leading 89 RBIs. His 107 hits were the second-most in school history behind Brinkerhoff’s 118. Benson also had a school record 24-game hitting streak during the season. His freshman season was in 2006, but his sophomore year didn’t come until 2009 after he completed his LDS mission. He hit for the cycle in a game in that first year back. Utah Valley won 42 games last year, but stayed home in June because the Great West Conference does not receive an automatic NCAA bid.

Others To Watch…

Beau Amaral – UCLA

Patrick Biondi – Michigan

Kevin Brown – Bryant

Garrett Custons – Air Force

Josh Elander – TCU

Tyler Gaffney – Stanford

Brett Krill – UCLA

Drew Martinez – Memphis

Mark Micowski – Georgia State

Stephen Piscotty – Stanford

Brance Rivera – TCU

Matt Smith – Mississippi

Max White – Oklahoma

Related

Top 11 Non-Conference Schedules In 2011

Top 11 Catchers To Watch In 2011

Top 11 Shortstops To Watch In 2011

Top 11 Second basemen To Watch In 2011

Top 11 Third basemen To Watch In 2011

Top 11 First basemen To Watch In 2011

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]]> http://collegebaseball360.com/top-college-baseball-outfielders-to-watch-in-20116/feed/ 0 Collegiate Baseball 2011 Preseason All-American Teams http://collegebaseball360.com/collegiate-baseball-2011-preseason-all-american-teams/ http://collegebaseball360.com/collegiate-baseball-2011-preseason-all-american-teams/#comments Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:59:54 +0000 http://collegebaseball360.com/?p=14201

UCLA Duo Heads Louisville Slugger Teams…

Collegiate  Baseball Newspaper has announced its 2011 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American teams. UCLA pitchers Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer are the only teammates to be named first team All-Americans. The duo helped leads the Bruins to a runner-up finish at the 2010 College World Series. Bauer was 12-3 with a 3.03 ERA and 165 strikeouts in 2010, while Gerrit was 11-4 with a 3.37 ERA and 153 Ks.

UCLA's Trevor Bauer

Other first team pitchers are Matt Purke-TCU (16-0, 3.02 ERA), Taylor Jungmann-Texas (8-3, 2.03 ERA), Danny Hultzen-Virginia (11-1, 2.78 ERA), Noe Ramirez-Cal State Fullerton (12-1, 2.54 ERA), and John Stilson-Texas A&M (9-1, 10 SV, 0.80 ERA).

First team position players are C-Peter O’Brien-Bethune-Cookman (.386-20 HR), 1B-Paul Hoilman-East Tennessee State (25 HR, .421), 2B-Zack MacPhee-Arizona St. (.389, 20 SB), 3B-Anthony Rendon-Rice.394, 26 HR), SS-B.A. Vollmuth-Southern Mississippi (.386, 20 HR), OF-Jackie Bradley, Jr.-South Carolina (.368, 13 HR), OF-Alex Dickerson-Indiana (.419, 24 HR), OF-George Springer-Connecticut (.337, 18 HR, 33 SB), DH-Garrett Wittels-Florida International (.413, 56-game hitting streak), UT-Mike McGee-Florida State (.328, 17 HR).

Purke is projected by Collegiate Baseball as the National Player of the Year.

Click here to see the complete 2011 Louisville Slugger Preseason 1st, 2nd and 3rd Teams

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]]> http://collegebaseball360.com/collegiate-baseball-2011-preseason-all-american-teams/feed/ 0 USA Collegiate National Team Downs Fayetteville http://collegebaseball360.com/usa-collegiate-national-team-downs-fayetteville/ http://collegebaseball360.com/usa-collegiate-national-team-downs-fayetteville/#comments Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:16:35 +0000 http://collegebaseball360.com/?p=12575

CARY, N.C. – Sean Gilmartin (Florida State) fanned five and Jackie Bradley, Jr. (South Carolina) collected three hits as Team USA picked up its first win of the summer, 8-3, Tuesday night over the Fayetteville Swampdogs of the Coastal Plain League. The game was called after 8 innings due to lightning in the area.

Gilmartin (1-0) went five innings in the start allowing two runs (both unearned) with one walk to secure his first win of the summer tour. Brett Mooneyham (Stanford) gave up a run in two innings of relief work, while freshman Brian Johnson (Florida) worked the final inning.

Offensively Team USA pounded out 12 hits with Bradley, Jr., Alex Dickerson (Indiana) and Mikie Mahtook (LSU) posting multi-hit games. Second baseman Drew Maggi (Arizona State) tied a single-game record with three stolen bases (last was Jemile Weeks on 8/10/06) and finished the game 0-for-2 with three runs scored.

Nate Cudney suffered the loss after working two innings where he allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits. Carter Capps was effective in the start striking out five in three innings and allowing one run on four hits. Greg Selarz held Team USA scoreless but gave up five hits in two innings before Nate Kerkhoff closed out the final two-third’s of an inning allowing three runs (two earned).

Final Stats

Nick Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton) drove in the game-winning run in the four-run fifth with a single through the right side scoring George Springer (Connecticut) giving Team USA a 4-3 advantage. Dickerson laced a two-RBI double down the left field line that scored Maggi and Bradley, Jr. to start the frame. Springer followed with a walk and scored the for the final run of the inning on a two-out fielding error by second baseman Chris Wychock off the bat of Mahtook for a 5-3 advantage.

Bradley, Jr. drove in the games first run in the top of the first putting Team USA up 1-0 on single up the middle that scored Maggi from second base.

Fayetteville capitalized on a pair of Team USA errors to take a 2-1 lead in the third inning. Jake Carlson singled to open the frame then landed on second thanks to a throwing error by Steve Rodriguez (UCLA) and moved over to third on a fielder’s choice bunt by Jim Roesinger. The Swampdogs knotted the game at one on a sac fly from Benton Yaun and took the lead on a Gilmartin wild pitch that plated Roesinger, who advanced to third on a stolen base and another throwing error by Rodriguez.

Nick Natoli pushed across the Swampdogs third run of the contest cutting the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth. Yaun reached on an error then moved up on a ground out and took third on the third wild pitch of the evening for Team USA before scoring on Natoli’s groundout to first.

Team USA scored three more runs in the eighth pushing the lead to 8-3 before the game was called due to lightning.

The Collegiate National Team will be back in action Wednesday, July 14 when it opens a five-game international friendly series with Korea. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.

(USA Baseball release)

]]> http://collegebaseball360.com/usa-collegiate-national-team-downs-fayetteville/feed/ 0 USA Baseball Team Trials Invitees http://collegebaseball360.com/usa-baseball-team-trials-invitees-2/ http://collegebaseball360.com/usa-baseball-team-trials-invitees-2/#comments Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:53:38 +0000 http://collegebaseball360.com/?p=12382

39 Players Invited – 22 Will Make Final Roster…

DURHAM, N.C. – USA Baseball announced Thursday the 39 players who have been named to the 2010 Collegiate National Team Trials roster. Trials are scheduled to be held July 6-11 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex (NTC) in Cary, N.C.

Of the 39 invitees, 36 will compete for a spot of the final 22-man roster, while three players were named as alternates. Eleven of the players will be attending trials on the heels of helping their respective schools advance to the 2010 College World Series (CWS) in Omaha, Neb.

Sophomores Gerrit Cole (UCLA), Sonny Gray (Vanderbilt), Brad Miller (Clemson) and Kolten Wong (Hawaii) all return from the 2009 Collegiate National Team in attempt to join Team USA for the second year in a row. The roster also includes CWS Most Outstanding Player Jackie Bradley, Jr. (South Carolina) as well as CWS participants Taylor Featherston (Texas Christian), Nolan Fontana (Florida), Sean Gilmartin (Florida State), Brian Johnson (Florida), Andrew Maggi (Arizona State), Steve Rodriguez (UCLA), Kyle Winkler (Texas Christian) and alternate Mike Zunino (Florida). Cole and Miller also competed in this year’s CWS.

The quartet of returnees helped the 2009 Collegiate Team to a 19-5 overall record and the 2009 Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline World Baseball Challenge crown in Prince George, British Columbia (Canada). Cole and Gray combined to post a 7-1 record on the mound with 73 strikeouts, while Miller and Wong started a combined 32 of 44 games, collecting 28 hits, scoring 28 runs and driving in 16.

Also named to the roster was Baseball America First Team All-America and College Player of the Year Anthony Rendon (Rice). The sophomore third baseman was a semifinalist for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award for the nation’s top amateur player and is a finalist for the Dick Howser Award, recognizing college baseball’s player of the year. Other Baseball America All-Americans invited to trials include First Teamer Taylor Dugas (Alabama), Ryan Wright (Louisville) of the Second Team and Cole, C.J. Cron (Utah), Alex Dickerson (Indiana), and Noe Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton) from the Third Team. Invitee Anthony Meo (Coastal Carolina) was also a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist.

Following the trials and training period in Cary, the U.S. will play a five-game series against Korea before squaring off against a Japanese Collegiate All-Star Team in a one-game, international friendship competition in Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium on July 21. From there, the team will travel to Taipei, Taiwan for a four-game series against Chinese Taipei at Tien-Mu Stadium beginning July 25.

Team USA will close its summer season at the FISU World University Championships in Tokyo, Japan, from July 30-Aug. 7. The U.S. has won the last three FISU Worlds (2004, ’06, ’08), while host nation Japan will be looking for its first title.

The Collegiate National Team Trials roster is as follows (name, class, position[s], school):

2010 Collegiate National Team Trials Roster
Tyler Anderson, So., LHP, Oregon
Jett Bandy, So., C, Arizona
Matt Barnes, So., RHP, Connecticut
Jackie Bradley, Jr., So., OF, South Carolina
Gerrit Cole, So., RHP, UCLA
Zach Cone, So., OF, Georgia
C.J. Cron, So., C, Utah
Alex Dickerson, So., OF, Indiana
Taylor Dugas, So., OF, Alabama
Taylor Featherston, So., IF, Texas Christian
Dylan Floro, Fr., RHP, Cal State Fullerton
Nolan Fontana, Fr., IF, Florida
Sean Gilmartin, So., LHP/OF, Florida State
Sonny Gray, So., RHP, Vanderbilt
Greg Holt, Jr., RHP, North Carolina
Matt Jensen, So., IF, Cal Poly
Brian Johnson, Fr., LHP, Florida
Andrew Maggi, So., OF/IF, Arizona State
Mikie Mahtook, So., OF, Louisiana State
Nick Martini, So., OF, Kansas State
Scott McGough, So., RHP, Oregon
Anthony Meo, So., RHP, Coastal Carolina
Brad Miller, So., IF, Clemson
Brett Mooneyham, So., LHP, Stanford
Austin Nola, So., IF, Louisiana State
Peter O’Brien, So., C, Bethune-Cookman
Nick Ramirez, So., IF/LHP, Cal State Fullerton
Noe Ramirez, So., RHP, Cal State Fullerton
Anthony Rendon, So., IF, Rice
Steve Rodriguez, So., C, UCLA
Lex Rutledge, Fr., LHP, Samford
Carson Smith, So., RHP, Texas State
George Springer, So., OF, Connecticut
Kyle Winkler, So., RHP, Texas Christian
Kolten Wong, So., IF/C, Hawaii
Ryan Wright, So., IF, Louisville

(USA Baseball Release)

Note: Madison Boer (So., RHP, Oregon) will replace Kolten Wong (Hawaii) on the Trials roster)

Alternates
Evan Brock, Fr., RHP, UC Irvine
Adam Conley, So., LHP, Washington State
Mike Zunino, Fr., C, Florida

Coaching Staff
Bill Kinneberg, Manager, Utah
Dave Serrano, Pitching Coach, Cal State Fullerton
Ed Blankmeyer, Assistant Coach, St. John’s
Nino Giarratano, Assistant Coach, San Francisco

Administration
Danny Wheat, Athletic Trainer, Texas Christian
Nick Nakagama, Assistant Athletic Trainer/Auxiliary Coach, Utah
Malcolm Gray, Press Officer, East Carolina
Eric Campbell, General Manager, USA Baseball National Teams

USA Baseball Collegiate Team 2010 Schedule

]]> http://collegebaseball360.com/usa-baseball-team-trials-invitees-2/feed/ 0 Big Ten Tournament Notebook: Day 1 http://collegebaseball360.com/big-ten-tournament-notebook-day-1/ http://collegebaseball360.com/big-ten-tournament-notebook-day-1/#comments Thu, 27 May 2010 18:15:36 +0000 http://collegebaseball360.com/?p=10089

Different year same results for Indiana

By Collegebaseball360.com Contributor Chris Webb

Columbus, OH–The Big Ten Tournament is scheduled to stay in Columbus through 2012, returning to downtown’s Huntington Park, the site of the 2009 tournament, for the final two years after being played in Bill Davis Stadium this season. For Indiana coach Tracy Smith the tournament could stay in Columbus forever. A year after dominating the field for Indiana’s second tournament title championship, in claiming a berth to NCAA regional play, the Hoosiers appear to be picking up in 2010 where 2009 left off. A scary notion for the other five teams in the tournament’s field.

Where the power arms of Eric Arnett and Matt Bashore led the Hoosiers’ title run a year ago, southpaw Drew Leininger is stepping in for the 2009 MLB Draft picks and not missing a beat. As Indiana hopes to become just the second sixth-seed to win the conference tournament, a feat Ohio State accomplished in 2007, Indiana got off to a great start in defeating three-seed Northwestern 5-0.  The victory saw Leininger pitch a complete-game shutout, scattering just eight hits over the nine innings while walking two, striking out six.

“I like pitching in Columbus” the sophomore stated in the postgame press conference. With the numbers he has put up on the Bill Davis mound you can’t blame him. Wednesday’s game would be the second time in 2010 that Leininger started a game in the home stadium of the Buckeyes. On April 10th Leininger pitched nine innings without allowing a earned run as Indiana won 6-4 in 10 innings. The performance of Leininger was vital to the hopeful tournament success coach Smith would state.

“The first game is so important when you’re not the first or second seed, if you start off in the losers it’s virtually impossible to climb you’re way back though. Huge performance by Drew, people might say ‘why did you stretch him out and not save him’ our mentality is we’re not going to save we have to win the first one and he did his job” said Smith.

With Leininger on the mound and the vaunted Hoosier offense in support, though the seeding would indicate an upset, there was little doubt who the better team was on the day, and it showed right away in the first inning. The Hoosiers scored four runs in the top of the first off first-team All-Big Ten pitcher Eric Jokisch, giving Leininger more than enough support to cruise to victory.

“I know every game I go to pitch our offense is going to put up numbers, they have the whole year” Leininger replied in speaking to the early run support. “I just have to go and hold them the best I can, I know that I’m going to get a lot of help and support” mentioned Leininger as he stated he was locating his fastball inducing groundballs.

“Drew’s been our guy all year, we know when he goes out there he gives us a really good chance of winning” said rightfielder Michael Earley who went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and run scored in the game. “He went out there today and got the job.”

Earley would be one of five Hoosiers to record a multi-hit game as every started recorded a hit in the 14-hit attack. Big Ten Player of the Year Alex Dickerson was held to two singles in three at-bats while scoring a run. With the victory Indiana will now play conference champion and one-seed Minnesota at 7:05. For Smith and his players they’re aware at what is at stake.

“One of my favorite sayings this time of year is ‘the hays in the barn’. I think as coaches a lot of the time, the only thing you can do late in the season is screw it up. You hope that you’re guys have a good attitude and relax. Our attitude with all of the things and injuries we’ve had to go through is just get in. We proved that last year once you’re in anything can happen. I know our guys are confident I love our mindstate. They’re not worried about failure or the results they’re just going out there and having fun which is what you want” said Smith following the game.

“We’re not going out and necessarily playing Minnesota, we’re going out there to play our game and not beat ourselves. We’re going to go out, do what we can” Earley stated in echoing Smith’s thoughts.

Big innings propels Hawkeyes flight

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Iowa Hawkeyes are as far as you can find from being the defending tournament champions. With a comeback 7-4 victory over Purdue, Iowa recorded its first Big Ten Tournament victory in 20 seasons.

In perhaps showing a bit of nerves and jitters, Iowa starter Jarred Hipped allowed two runs in the opening inning as a boisterous Boilermaker bunch enjoyed an early lead. In tacking on runs in the 3rd and 5th Purdue enjoyed a 4-0 at the game’s midpoint. Though trailing, Iowa head coach Jack Dahm felt no need to worry with his ace on the mound.

“I thought Jarred Hippen did a tremendous job in keeping us there. They got four runs but they weren’t going to score any more. That’s Jared continuing to mature as a pitcher, did an outstanding job plugging away, not panicing at all in playing pitch-to-pitch. Was an outstanding job by our guys and our pitching staff” stated Dahm.

With Hippen keeping Purdue at bay, the Iowa offense finally was able to string together a series of hits to put runs on the board in support of their ace. Tyson Blaser started the inning with a single through the left side followed by a Trevor Willis double off the center field wall. Willis advanced to third on a throwing error, Blaser scored. Kurt Lee singled to left to bring in Willis. Kurtis Muller followed in reaching by way of a fielding error. Both Lee and Muller would advance on a ground out before Mike McQuillan picked up an RBI with a single. Durant singled to right to score Muller to tie the start the game over at 4-4 going into the final four frames.

With Hippen cruising the momentum stayed on the side of the Black and Gold. Three runs were plated in the bottom of the sixth inning as a bunt single by Willis followed a walk and hit by pitch to load the bases. A double-play score the go-ahead and game-winning run before a Zach McCool two-RBI single scored to insurance runs. During the game deciding fifth and sixth innings Purdue was forced to use three pitchers to get out of the jam.

Purdue coach Doug Schreiber surprised some in electing to go with Matt Morgan on the mound opposed to All-Big Ten selection Matt Bischoff. Morgan pitched four innings allowing three runs, two earned off five hits in needing to be relieved in the fifth inning. Morgan did not walk a batter while striking out three. Joe Haase pitched just .2 innings in allowing the tying run off one hit in the fifth. Receiving the loss was Calvin Gunter after surrendering two runs to his credit in the sixth inning.

Trying to answer as to why Schreiber would sit his ace in game one, Dahm eluded to the fact his Hawkeyes have had a good bit of success against Bischoff while struggling against Morgan. There would be little unknown between the two as the teams squarded off in the Big Ten’s final weekend, a weekend that saw Iowa sweep Purdue, perhaps forcing Schreiber to go outside of the box. “He (Bischoff ) is one of the best pitchers in the conference, one of the best I’ve seen in the Big Ten in my seven years here, but for whatever reason we’ve had a lot of success against while Morgan has had a lot of success against us.

While questions were abound in Purdue’s pitching decisions, little could be had about Iowa as the sophomore Hippen continued to come up big. “I just had to keep them there” the left-handed stated in allowing the quick two runs. “I pitched the same way I had the entire season, I wanted to come out here and set the tone” said Hippen now 6-4 on the year.

It should come as no surprise that Hippen and his teammates felt little pressure when facing the early deficit. In the early season Iowa traveled to Austin, Texas for a four-game set with the Longhorns and Dahm spoke on how that trip provided confidence for his team in such a setting as tournament play.

“Before the first game against Texas we told our team we’re here for a reason. We have a strong nucleus of young players, freshman and sophomores, that one day will play in the NCAA Tournament either this year or next.  I told them when you’re in the tournament you’re going to play in an environment like Texas and we’re here to learn how to play in such an environment” said Dahm. “I felt that trip to Texas prepared us for the season and playing here.”

]]> http://collegebaseball360.com/big-ten-tournament-notebook-day-1/feed/ 0 College Baseball 2010 Stats Leaders-April 28 http://collegebaseball360.com/college-baseball-2010-stats-leaders-april-28/ http://collegebaseball360.com/college-baseball-2010-stats-leaders-april-28/#comments Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:18:56 +0000 http://collegebaseball360.com/?p=8064

Here’s a look at the official Division One NCAA baseball statistics leaders in selected categories.

Tom Clayton

BATTING AVERAGE

1.  Tom Clayton-Youngstown State  .474

2.  Sean Allaire-Central Connecticut St.  .473

3.  Effrey Valdez-New York Tech  .472

4.  Jonathon Kaskow-Stanford  .462

5.  Phil Cerreto-Longwood  .457

6.  Joe Leonard-Pittsburgh  .455

7.  Gary Brown-Cal State Fullerton  .454

7.  Kevin Tokarski-Illinois State  .454

9.  Paul Hoilman-East Tennessee St.  .452

10.  Casey Jones-Southeast Missouri St.  .449

Jordan Ribera

HOME RUNS

1.  Jordan Ribera-Fresno State  20

2.  Jacob Tanis-Mercer  19

3.  A.J. Kirby-Jones-Tennessee Tech  18

4.  J.D. Ashbrook-Morehead St.  17

4.  Alex Dickerson-Indiana  17

6.  Jordan Ballard-VMI  16

Chris Duffy-Central Florida  16

Paul Hoilman-East Tennessee St.  16

Matt Leeds-College of Charleston  16

Justin Miller-Middle Tennessee St.  16

Peter O’Brien-Bethune-Cookman  16

Dan Paolini-Siena  16

Kyle Parker-Clemson  16

Nate Woods-Belmont  16

Jacob Tanis

RBIs

1.  Jacob Tanis-Mercer  71

2.  Mac Doyle-Wofford  63

3.  Drew Lee-Morehead St.  62

3.  Matt Leeds-College of Charleston  62

3.  Jake Overstreet-South Alabama  62

3.  Greg Wallace-Evansville  62

7.  Nate Woods-Belmont  61

8.  Chris Duffy-Central Florida  60

8.  Connor Powers-Mississippi St.  60

10.  Danny Brock-St. Louis  58

Justin Miller-Middle Tennessee St.  58

Anthony Ottrando-Eastern Kentucky  58

Brandon Williams-Georgia State  58

Taylor Dugas

ON-BASE PERCENTAGE

1.  Taylor Dugas-Alabama  .575

2.  Nate Roberts-High Point  .573

3.  Michael Choice-UT Arlington  .571

4.  Kevin Tokarski-Illinois St.  .570

5.  Effrey Valdez-New York Tech  .561

6.  Jonathon Kaskow-Stanford  .551

7.  J.D. Ashbrook-Moorehead St.  .548

7.  Yasmani Grandal-Miami (FL)  .548

9.  Paul Hoilman-East Tennessee St.  .542

9.  Shane Brown-Central Florida  .542

Paul Hoilman

SLUGGING PERCENTAGE

1.  Paul Hoilman-East Tennessee St.  .890

2.  Mac Doyle-Wofford  .876

3.  A.J. Kirby-Jones-Tennessee Tech  .854

4.  Chris Duffy-Central Florida  .836

5.  J.D. Ashbrook-Morehead St.  .834

6.  Rob Segedin-Tulane  .830

7.  Phil Cerreto-Longwood  .829

8.  Wes Cunningham-Murray St.  .827

9.  Dan Scheffler-Florida Atlantic  .825

10.  Jayson Langfels-Eastern Kentucky  .818

Nate Roberts

RUNS

1.  Nate Roberts-High Point  65

2.  J.D. Ashbrook-Morehead St.  62

3,  Ryan Aguayo-New Mexico St.  61

3.  Dallas Poulk-North Carolina St.  61

5.  Jeff Rowland-Georgia Tech  59

6.  Tyler Holt-Florida St.  58

7.  Wes Cunningham-Murray St.  57

8.  Jared Andreoli-Western Kentucky  56

8.  Mark Micowski-Georgia St.  56

8.  Jonathon Ross-Savannah St.  56

TEAM BATTING AVERAGE

1.  Georgia State  .375

2.  Pittsburgh  .369

3.  Utah Valley  .361

4.  Southeast Missouri St.  .357

5.  New Mexico St.  .356

6.  New Mexico  .350

7.  Auburn  .349

8.  Central Connecticut St.  .347

9.  Arizona  .346

10.  Dallas Baptist  .345

Corey Baker

WINS

1.  Corey Baker-Pittsburgh  (9-1)

1.  Cole Green-Texas  (9-0)

1.  D.D. Hanks-South Alabama  (9-2)

1.  Alex Wimmers-Ohio St.  (9-0)

5.  Jake Borup-Arizona St.  (8-1)

Blake Cooper-South Carolina  (8-0)

Justin Jones-California  (8-3)

Merrill Kelly-Arizona St.  (8-0)

Anthony Meo-Coastal Carolina  (8-1)

Shawn Teufel-Liberty  (8-1)

Asher Wojciechowski-The Citadel  (8-1)

Brandon Workman-Texas  (8-1)

* 25 pitchers are tied for 13th with seven wins

Chance Ruffin

ERA

Minimum 40 IP & Pitchers must have 1.0 IP for every game played by team

1.  Chance Ruffin-Texas  0.88

2.  John Stilson-Texas A&M  1.17

3.  Adam Izokovic-Gardner-Webb  1.43

4.  Nathan Forer-Southern Illinois  1.48

4.  Nathan Kilcrease-Alabama  1.48

6.  Alex Wimmers-Ohio St.  1.61

7.  Josh Slaats-Hawaii  1.71

8.  Chase Whitley-Troy  1.74

9.  Anthony Meo-Coastal Carolina  1.79

10.  Cole Green-Texas  1.82

Asher Wojciechowski

STRIKEOUTS

1.  Asher Wojciechowski-The Citadel  98

2.  Drew Pomeranz-Mississippi  93

2.  Chris Sale-Florida Gulf Coast  93

4.  Josh Smith-Lipscomb  89

5.  Barret Loux-Texas A&M  88

6.  Taylor Jungmann-Texas  87

7.  Gerrit Cole-UCLA  86

8.  Trevor Bauer-UCLA  85

9.  Daniel Bibona-UC Irvine  84

10.  Eric Cantrell-George Washington  83

10.  Luke Irvine-Northwestern St.  83

10.  Jason Mitchell-UT Arlington  83

Chris Patterson

SAVES

1.  Kevin Arico-Virginia  13

1.  Chris Patterson-Appalachian St.  13

3.  Matty Ott-LSU  11

4.  Ryan Duke-Oklahama  10

Neil Holland-Louisville  10

Kevin McKague-Army  10

Jordan Swagerty-Arizona St.  10

8.  Andrew Burkett-Cincinnati  9

Lenny Linsky-Hawaii  9

Andy Mee-Florida Atlantic  9

Brooks Pinckard-Baylor  9

Chance Ruffin-Texas  9

Chad Sheppard-Northwestern St.  9

TEAM ERA

1.  Texas  2.30

2.  UCLA  2.80

3.  Coastal Carolina  3.02

4.  Oregon  3.14

5.  Arizona State  3.21

6.  Vanderbilt  3.29

7.  South Carolina  3.31

8.  Portland  3.39

9.  Louisiana-Lafayette  3.47

10.  Connecticut  3.56

10.  TCU  3.56

]]> http://collegebaseball360.com/college-baseball-2010-stats-leaders-april-28/feed/ 0 College Baseball 2010 Stats Leaders-April 21 http://collegebaseball360.com/college-baseball-2010-stats-leaders/ http://collegebaseball360.com/college-baseball-2010-stats-leaders/#comments Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:25:24 +0000 http://collegebaseball360.com/?p=7519

Here’s a look at the official Division One NCAA baseball statistics leaders in selected categories.

Carlos Alonso

BATTING AVERAGE

Minimum 3.0 Plate Appearances Per Game & Min. 80 Plate Appearances

1. Carlos Alonso-Delaware  .466

2. Kevin Tokarski-Illinois St.  .465

3. Anthony Gomez-Vanderbilt  .462

4. Phil Cerreto-Longwood  .461

5. J.D. Ashbrook-Morehead St.  .460

6. Justin Frane-Valparaiso  .459

7. Jonathon Kaskow-Stanford  .455

8. Jerrud Sabourin-Indiana  .454

9. Effrey Valdez-NY Tech  .453

10. Chris Benson-Utah Valley  .449

A.J. Kirby-Jones

HOME RUNS

1. A-J Kirby-Jones-Tennessee Tech  18

1. Jacob Tanis-Mercer  18

3. J.D. Ashbrook-Morehead St.  17

4. Jordan Ballard-VMI  16

4. Alex Dickerson-Indiana  16

4. Matt Leeds-College of Charleston  16

4. Peter O’Brien-Bethune-Cookman  16

4. Nate Woods-Belmont  16

9. Pat Biserta-Rutgers  15

9. Drew Lee-Morehead St.  15

9. Jordan Ribera-Fresno St.  15

9. Mike Sodders-New Mexico St.  15

(7 tied with 14)

J.D. Ashbrook

RUNS

1. J.D. Ashbrook-Morehead St.  62

2. Dallas Poulk-NC State 57

3. Ryan Aguayo-New Mexico St.  56

3. Nate Roberts-High Point  56

5. Wes Cunningham-Murray State  54

5. Tyler Holt-Florida St.  54

5. Jeff Rowland-Georgia Tech  54

8. Danny Lopez-Pittsburgh  51

8. Cory Spangenberg-VMI  51

8. Jacob Tanis-Mercer  51

Jacob Tanis

RBIs

1.  Jacob Tanis-Mercer  68

2.  Drew Lee-Morehead St.  61

3.  Nate Woods-Belmont  59

4.  Jake Overstreet-South Alabama  58

5.  Matt Leeds-College of Charleston  57

6.  Chris Duffy-Central Florida  55

6.  A.J. Kirby-Jones-Tennessee Tech 55

8.  Dexter Kelley-Savannah St.  54

8.  Brandon Williams-Georgia St.  54

10. Danny Brock-St. Louis  53

10.  Tyler Huelsing-Memphis  53

10.  Connor Powers-Mississippi St.  53

Mac Doyle

SLUGGING PERCENTAGE

1.  A.J. Kirby-Jones-Tennessee Tech  .899

2.  Mac Doyle-Wofford  .874

3.  J.D. Ashbrook-Morehead St.  .867

4.  Jacke Healey-Youngstown St.  .860

5.  Paul Hoilman-East Tennessee St.  .859

6.  Chace Perkins-New Mexico St.  .853

7.  Chris Duffy-Central Florida  .847

8.  Wes Cunningham-Murray St.  .846

9.  Ryan Fleming-Georgia St.  .838

10.  Dan Scheffler-Florida Atlantic  .837

Kevin Tokarski

ON-BASE PERCENTAGE

1.  Kevin Tokarski-Illinois St.  .576

2.  Taylor Dugas-Alabama  .572

3.  Nate Roberts-High Point  .564

4.  Michael Choice-UT Arlington  .563

5.  J.D. Ashbrook-Morehead St.  .561

6.  Curtis Wilson-Southern  .556

7.  Chad Salem-Manhattan  .554

7.  Kyle Roller-East Carolina  .554

9.  Brian Harris-Vanderbilt  .552

10.  Anthony Rendon-Rice  .547

TEAM BATTING AVERAGE

1.  Georgia State  .378

2.  Pittsburgh  .370

3.  New Mexico St.  .367

4.  Arizona  .355

5.  Southeast Missouri St.  .354

5.  VMI  .354

7.  Utah Valley  .352

8.  Dallas Baptist  .348

9.  Auburn  .346

9.  New Mexico  .346

D.D. Hanks

WINS

These seven pitchers are tied with eight wins

Corey Baker-Pittsburgh

Cole Green-Texas

D.D. Hanks-South Alabama

Justin Jones-Cal

Merrill Kelly-Arizona State

Alex Wimmers-Ohio State

Asher Wojciechowski-The Citadel

These 16 pitchers are tied with seven wins

Matt Andress-Appalachian State

Matt Barnes-UConn

Jake Borup-Arizona State

Blake Cooper-South Carolina

Quintavious Drains-Jackson State

Brandon Efferson-Southeastern Louisiana

Kyle Hunter-Kansas State

Kyle Kraus-Portland

Keegan Linza-Liberty

Anthony Meo-Coastal Carolina

Matt Ridings-Western Kentucky

Thomas Royse-Louisville

Josh Smith-Lipscomb

Shawn Teufel-Liberty

Brandon Workman-Texas

Chance Ruffin

ERA

Minimum 35 IP & 1 IP for every game played by team

1.  Chance Ruffin-Texas  0.95

2.  John Stilson-Texas A&M  1.17

3.  Drew Leininger-Indiana  1.20

4.  Nathan Forer-Southern Illinois  1.23

5.  Drew Pomeranz-Mississippi  1.38

6.  Nathan Kilcrease-Alabama  1.46

7.  Neil Holland-Louisville  1.50

8.  Alex Wimmers-1.71

9.  Adam Izokovic-Gardner-Webb  1.75

10.  Garrett Claypool-UCLA  1.85

Kevin Arico

SAVES

1.  Kevin Arico-Virginia  12

2.  Matty Ott-LSU  11

2.  Chris Patterson-Appalachian St.  11

4.  Ryan Duke-Oklahoma  10

4.  Jordan Swaggerty-Arizona St.  10

6.  Kevin McKague-Army  9

6.  Brooks Pinckard-Baylor  9

6.  Chance Ruffin-Texas  9

9.  Andrew Burkett-Cincinnati  8

9.  Adam Conley-Washington St.  8

9.  Chris Dennis-Portland  8

9.  Tom Heithoff-Evansville  8

9.  Neil Holland-Louisville  8

9.  Ryne Purcell-Eastern Kentucky  8

9.  Chad Sheppard-Northwestern St.  8

Drew Pomeranz

STRIKEOUTS

1.  Drew Pomeranz-Mississippi  90

2.  Asher Wojciechowski-The Citadel  86

3.  Josh Smith-Lipscomb  80

4.  Taylor Jungmann-Texas  79

5.  Barret Loux-Texas A&M  78

5.  Chris Sale-Florida Gulf Coast  78

7.  Daniel Bibona-UC Irvine  76

7.  Gerrit Cole-UCLA  76

7.  Danny Hultzen-Virginia  76

10. Eric Cantrell-George Washington  75

TEAM ERA

1.  Texas  2.41

2.  UCLA  2.44

3.  Oregon  2.92

4.  Arizona State  3.06

4.  Vanderbilt  3.06

6.  Coastal Carolina  3.18

7.  South Carolina  3.27

8.  TCU  3.35

9.  Connecticut  3.37

10.  Portland  3.39

Stats through games as of 4/18/10

]]> http://collegebaseball360.com/college-baseball-2010-stats-leaders/feed/ 0 College Baseball 2010 Stats Leaders-April 16 http://collegebaseball360.com/college-baseball-2010-stats-leaders-april-16/ http://collegebaseball360.com/college-baseball-2010-stats-leaders-april-16/#comments Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:01:07 +0000 http://collegebaseball360.com/?p=7083

Here are this week’s college baseball Division One leaders in selected categories, including Team ERA and Team Batting Average.  All stats are updated as of Thursday, April 15.

Chris Benson

BATTING AVERAGE

1.  Effrey Valdez-New York Tech  .473

2.  Chris Benson-Utah Valley  .467

3.  Phil Cerrato-Longwood  .461

4.  Zach Wentz-North Dakota St.  .460

5.  J.D. Ashbrook-Morehead St.  .459

6.  Carlos Alonso-Delaward  .458

7.  Aaron Senne-Missouri  .457

8.  Casey Jones-SE Missouri St.  .453

9.  Kevin Tokarski-Illinois St.  .451

9.  Garrett Bivone-UT Pan American  .451

A.J. Kirby-Jones

HOME RUNS

1.  A.J. Kirby-Jones-Tennessee Tech  17

1.  Jacob Tanis-Mercer  17

3.  Mike Sodders-New Mexico St.  15

4.  J.D. Ashbrook-Morehead St.  14

4.  Adam Bailey-Nebraska  14

4.  Jordan Ballard-VMI  14

4.  Wes Cunningham-Murray St.  14

4.  Alex Dickerson-Indiana  14

4.  Chris Duffy-Central Florida  14

4.  Matt Leeds-College of Charleston  14

4.  Peter O’Brien-Bethune-Cookman  14

4.  Jordan Ribera-Fresno St.  14

Jacob Tanis

RBIs

1.  Jacob Tannis-Mercer  65

2.  Jake Overstreet-South Alabama  56

3.  A.J. Kirby-Jones-Tennessee Tech  53

4.  Danny Brock-St. Louis  52

5.  Chris Duffy-Central Florida  51

6.  Drew Lee-Morehead St.  50

6.  Ryan Soares-George Mason  50

8.  Phil Cerreto-Longwood  49

8.  Wes Cunningham-Murray St.  49

8.  Tyler Huelsing-Memphis  49

8.  Jose Iglesias-Coastal Carolina  49

8.  Matt Leeds-College of Charleston  49

8.  Nick Rogers-North Carolina A&T  49

8.  Nate Woods-Belmont  49

Taylor Dugas

ON-BASE PERCENTAGE

1.  Taylor Dugas-Alabama  .577

2.  Brian Harris-Vanderbilt  .574

3.  J.D. Ashbrook-Morehead St.  .570

4.  Jon Kelton-Alabama  .568

5.  Kevin Tokarski-Illinois St. .566

6.  Michael Choice-UT Arlington  .563

6.  Chad Salem-Manhattan  .563

6.  A.J. Kirby-Jones-Tennessee Tech  .563

9.  Curtis Wilson-Southern  .556

10. Kyle Roller-East Carolina  .553

Mac Doyle

SLUGGING PERCENTAGE

1.  A.J. Kirby-Jones-Tennessee Tech  .941

2.  Mac Doyle-Wofford  .908

3.  Chris Duffy-Central Florida  .879

4.  Wes Cunningham-Murray St.  .869

5.  Paul Hoilman-East Tennessee St.  .867

6.  Ben Harty-New Mexico St.  .843

7.  Phil Cerreto-Longwood  .836

8.  J.D. Ashbrook-Morehead St.  .830

8.  Chace Perkins-New Mexico St.  .830

8.  Chad Salem-Manhattan  .830

J.D. Ashbrook

RUNS

1.  J.D. Ashbrook-Morehead St.  56

2.  Ryan Aguayo-New Mexico St.  55

3.  Jeff Rowland-Georgia Tech  51

4.  Mike Sodders-New Mexico St.  50

5.  Wes Cunningham-Murray State  48

5.  Danny Lopez-Pittsburgh  48

5.  Nate Roberts-High Point  48

5.  Cory Spangenberg-VMI  48

9.  Tyler Holt-Florida St.  47

9.  Jacob Tanis-Mercer  47

TEAM BATTING AVERAGE

1.  Georgia State  .386

2.  New Mexico St.  .370

3.  Pittsburgh  .369

4.  VMI  .355

4.  SE Missouri State  .355

6.  Utah Valley  .354

7.  Arizona  .351

8.  Auburn  .350

9.  Central Connecticut St.  .347

10.  Arizona State  .346

Justin Jones

WINS

These eight pitchers are tied with seven wins

Corey Baker-Pittsburgh

Cole Green-Texas

D.D. Hanks-South Alabama

Justin Jones-California

Merrill Kelly-Arizona State

Keegan Linza-Liberty

Alex Wimmers-Ohio State

Asher Wojciechowski-The Citadel

* 29 pitchers are tied with six wins each.

Chance Ruffin

ERA

1.  Chance Ruffin-Texas  0.50

2.  Adam Izokovic-Gardner-Webb  1.06

3.  Neil Holland-Louisville  1.09

4.  Trever Vermeulen-South Dakota St.  1.21

5.  John Stilson-Texas A&M  1.25

6.  Drew Leininger-Indiana  1.38

7.  Chris Sale-Florida Gulf Coast  1.41

8.  Elliot Glynn-Connecticut  1.52

9.  Michael Wacha-Texas A&M  1.53

10.  Drew Pomeranz-Ole Miss  1.57

Drew Pomeranz

STRIKEOUTS

1.  Drew Pomeranz-Ole Miss  80

2.  Asher Wojciechowski-The Citadel  74

3.  Gerrit Cole-UCLA  71

4.  Barret Loux-Texas A&M  70

4.  Josh Smith-Lipscomb  70

6.  Daniel Bibona-UC Irvine  68

6.  Taylor Jungmann-Texas  68

8.  Trevor Bauer-UCLA  67

8.  Chris Sale-Florida Gulf Coast  67

10.  Danny Hultzen-Virginia  66

10.  Mike McCarthy-Cal St. Bakersfield  66

10.  Jason Mitchell-UT Arlington  66

10.  Tanner Peters-UNLV  66

10.  Noe Ramirez-Cal State Fullerton  66

10.  John Stilson-Texas A&M  66

Kevin Arico

SAVES

1.  Kevin Arico-Virginia  11

2.  Matty Ott-LSU  10

2.  Chris Patterson-Appalachian St.  10

4.  Brooks Pinckard-Baylor  9

4.  Chance Ruffin-Texas  9

6.  Adam Conley-Washington St.  8

6.  Neil Holland-Louisville  8

6.  Ryne Purcell-Eastern Kentucky  8

6.  Chad Sheppard-Northwestern St.  8

6.  Jordan Swagerty-Arizona St.  8

TEAM ERA

1.  UCLA  2.28

2.  Texas  2.58

3.  Vanderbilt  2.92

4.  Oregon  2.93

5.  Oregon State  2.97

6.  Arizona State  3.03

7.  Coastal Carolina  3.17

8.  Portland  3.25

8.  TCU  3.25

10.  Connecticut  3.34

]]> http://collegebaseball360.com/college-baseball-2010-stats-leaders-april-16/feed/ 0 College Baseball Notebook-Week 8 http://collegebaseball360.com/college-baseball-notebook-week-8/ http://collegebaseball360.com/college-baseball-notebook-week-8/#comments Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:36:24 +0000 http://collegebaseball360.com/?p=6852

A By The Numbers Look At The Latest Week’s Action

2…Wins by Washington State over #1 Arizona State.  By taking two of three games in the series in Pullman the Cougars won their first series in program history over the Sun Devils.

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6…Cougars who were hit by pitch in Sunday’s 9-5 series-clinching win over ASU.  Garry Kuykendall was plunked three times.

Clemson's Mike Freeman

6…RBIs by Clemson second baseman Mike Freeman in Wednesday’s win over Georgia.  Freeman played for the Bulldogs in 2007 before transferring to Georgia.

300…Career wins by Georgia head coach Dave Perno with a 6-5 Sunday win over Ole Miss-UGA’s only win in the series. Perno is in his 9th season at the helm at his alma mater.

15…Strikeouts in 8 IP by Ole Miss pitcher Drew Pomeranz in Friday’s 4-1 win over Georgia.  It’s the second time this season Pomeranz has fanned 15 in a game.

14…School record runs scored in the first inning by Arkansas in Wednesday’s 32-8 win over visiting St. Louis.  The Razorbacks also combined to tie a school record with 30 RBIs in the game.

2…Men named Fred Hill who were head coaches at Rutgers last week.  Fred Hill, Sr.-of the RU baseball team and Fred Hill, Jr.-of the Scarlet Knight men’s basketball team.

1…Fred hill who is currently coaching at Rutgers after Fred Hill, Jr. was dismissed as basketball coach last week.  The younger Hill’s dismissal was in part precipitated in part by an alleged profanity laced tirade directed at Pittsburgh baseball coach Joe Jordano during an April 1 9-8 win by RU.

2…Wins at Notre Dame over the weekend by Rutgers.  Saturday’s 25-5 win gave the elder Hill and his team its first win at Notre Dame since 2002.  The road series win at Eck Stadium is RU’s first since the Irish and Scarlet Knights joined the Big East together in 1996.

Michael Lang

7…Home runs hit by Rutgers in Saturday’s 25-5 onslaught.  Outfielder Michael Lang had two of the long balls with 7 RBIs.

3…Wins needed by Fred Hill, Sr. to reach 1,000 for his career.  He’s been the head coach at Rutgers since 1984.

1…Closer the Jersey coach could not use in Friday’s 9-8 loss to the Irish due to a jersey flap.  His closer, Tyler Gebler, was wearing jersey #4 instead of his usual #43 in the game and with the tying run at 2nd base and two outs in the bottom of the 8th Hill went to the pen to the freshman.  However, Gebler was ruled an illegal substitution in the game, because Hill had crossed-out Steve Nyisztor’s #41 instead of Gebler’s #43 on the line-up card he turned-in before the game.  Hill had to go to Kevin Lillis, who gave-up back-to-back RBI hits, including Adam Norton’s game-winning triple.  Gebler has a 1.50 ERA, while his 6 saves are tied for second-best in the Big East.

2…Triples hit and innings pitched by Notre Dame’s David Mills in Tuesday’s 13-6 win over Oakland.  The lefty started the game as the Irish DH and later entered the game on the mound.  He had 2 RBIs and pitched 4 innings in relief to earn another win on Friday in ND’s only win of the Rutgers series.

2…Wins by Pittsburgh over fifth-ranked Louisville in their weekend series at Pitt’s Trees Field.  Losses Friday and Saturday to start the series, combined with a midweek loss to Kentucky, gave the Cardinals their first back-to-back setbacks of the season as well as their first series loss.

4…Runs scored in the top of the 9th inning of Sunday’s series finale to give Louisville a 9-7 win and avoid the series sweep.  Adam Duvall and Ryan Wright each belted two-run home runs to provide the offense.

17…Combined runs surrendered 13 1/3 by Louisville starting pitchers Thomas Royse, Dean Kiekhefer and Gabriel Shaw in the three games vs. Pitt.  Royse (6-1) suffered his first loss in the series-opener.  Shaw was making his first start of the season in Sunday’s finale after 14 relief outings.

36…Combined runs that same trio had surrendered in 104 1/3 previous innings pitched this season.

Alex Wimmers

14…Strikeouts with no walks by Ohio State’s Alex Wimmers (7-0) in Friday’s 7-1 win over Indiana.  Hoosier outfielder Alex Dickerson went 0-for-4 in the game to end his 21-game hitting streak.

4…Home runs in as many games to end the week by Duke’s Will Currier.  His 8 RBIs over the weekend helped the Blue Devils take two of three games from #12 Clemson.

2…Hits allowed by Oregon State’s Greg Peavey in Friday’s complete game 4-1 win over #2 UCLA.  Peavy’s efforts handed the Bruins their first consecutive losses after a midweek setback to Cal State Fullerton.

16…Innings needed for UCLA to beat OSU 3-1 in game two of the Pac 10 series on Saturday.  The game lasted 6 hours and 23 minutes.

39…Combined runners left on base by the Bruins (22) and Beavers (17) in Saturday’s marathon.

529…Pitches thrown in the game by a total of 12 pitchers, including eight sent to the mound by Oregon State.

11…Consecutive scoreless innings pitched by UCLA pitchers-with seven scoreless frames to end the 16-inning game combined with four shutout half innings to start Sunday’s series finale, which the Bruins won 8-2.

18…Combined pitchers used by LSU (8) and Southern Mississippi (10) in Wednesday’s 6-5 win in 12-innings in Metairie, LA.

2…Wins by Auburn over defending SEC & National Champion LSU in their weekend series at Auburn’s Samford Stadium.  The Tigers win game three 6-5 after a game-ending squeeze bunt by right fielder Justin Fredejas.

1998…The last time Auburn had won a home series vs. LSU prior to the weekend’s wins.  LSU had swept the last two series between the two teams and had won eight of the previous 11 series since 1999.

0…Outs recorded by Auburn starting pitcher Cole Nelson, who surrendered six earned runs on seven hits in Friday’s 14-10 loss to open the series.

0…Hits by Auburn catcher Tony Caldwell, who still had 3 RBIs in Saturday’s 11-7 Auburn win.  Caldwell was 0-for-1, but drove-in his runs with a bases loaded walk and two sac flies.  He also had a sacrifice bunt on the day.

Trent Mummey

7…RBIs in the series by Auburn’s Trent Mummey, who made his first three starts of the year after injuring his ankle prior to the start of the season.  Mummey hit two home runs, including his second career grand slam.

2 of 3…Wins by Oregon in its series at Stanford to give the Ducks their first Pac 10 series win since 1980 and their first Pac 10 road series win since 1976 at Washington.

21…Wins by Oregon through 32 games this season after winning just 17 games all of last year-the first year baseball was played at the school after it was disbanded following the 1981 season.

26…Game hitting streak by Kansas State’s Nick Martini-the longest active D1 streak in the nation this season.  A pair of 21-game hitting streaks ended over the weekend.  Martini had at least one hit in KSU’s series vs. Nebraska.  His streak is a school record and the fifth-longest in Big 12 history.

62…Career stolen bases by Martini’s teammate, Adam Muenster, to set a school record that had held since 1995.  Muenster’s record-breaker came in Sunday’s 8-3 win over the Cornhuskers.

8,540…Fans who saw K-State take two of three games from Nebraska to set a 3-game series attendance record at Tointon Family Stadium in Manhattan.

9-0…Kentucky’s lead over Alabama heading into the top of the sixth inning of Sunday’s game in Lexington, KY.

11-9…Final score of Alabama’s win in that game.  Jake Smith’s grand slam capped a 5-run sixth inning and the Tide scored five more runs in the 8th and another in the 9th to cap the biggest comeback in school history.

Jason Coats

4…Combined shutout innings pitched by Alabama’s Tyler White and Nathan Kilcrease in Sunday’s improbable comeback.  White got the win to improve to 3-1 while Kilcrease earned his second save.

3…Home runs off three different pitchers by TCU’s Jason Coats in Sunday’s 12-2 win over Houston.   Coats’ efforts helped the Horned Frogs outscore the Cougars 33-3 in the series.

2…Wins by Virginia Tech over #14 Miami in their weekend series.  The Hokies’ first ever series win over the Hurricanes comes a week after their first win over another traditional college baseball power-Florida State.

3…ACC series won by Virginia Tech all of last season.  They have won four of five conference series already this season, with their only loss (a sweep) coming at the hands of Clemson.

Jamie Skagerlind

2…Walk-off home runs in as many days by Bryant first baseman Jamie Skagerlind to help his team win three of four games vs. Central Connecticut State.  Skagerlind’s shot in the bottom of the 10th inning ended Saturday’s 3-2 win in game one of a doubleheader.  His blast to end Sunday’s 7-inning twin bill opener capped a 5-run Bryant rally.  The game-winning blasts are his only home runs of the season.

3…No-hitters thrown last week.  Fresno State’s Greg Gonzalez and Lehigh’s Greg Angelo each tossed 7-inning no-hitters, while Kevin Johnson of West Florida fired the second 9-inning no-no of 2010.  Gonzalez is the first Bulldog to pitch a no-hitter in 34 years, while Angelo had the first at Lehigh since 1988.

11…Shutout innings pitched across two games by North Florida’s John Atteo.  He earned the win with two scoreless innings in Tuesday’s 3-1 upset of Florida State, and then fired a complete game shutout in Sunday’s 10-0 win over USC Upstate.

1,201…Career wins by UNF head coach Dusty Rhodes-who will retire at season’s end-with Atteo’s Sunday victory.

]]> http://collegebaseball360.com/college-baseball-notebook-week-8/feed/ 0 Big Ten Preview: Indiana vs. Ohio State http://collegebaseball360.com/big-ten-preview-indiana-vs-ohio-state/ http://collegebaseball360.com/big-ten-preview-indiana-vs-ohio-state/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:33:37 +0000 http://collegebaseball360.com/?p=6592

Clash Of Last Year’s Champs On Tap

Ohio State was last year’s regular season Big Ten champion, while Indiana won the conference’s postseason tournament.  Chris Webb from Buckeyestatebaseball.com has provided us with an extensive preview of this weekend’s series in Columbus, OH as well as a Q & A with Indiana head coach Tracy Smith.  Next week Chris and I will record a podcast to talk about this series as well as other key Big Ten happenings.

From here through the conclusion of the season, I’ll provide insight into a Big Ten weekend series here on CollegeBaseball360. – Chris Webb

After a season in which three teams advanced to Regional play in Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio State, all eyes were on the Midwestern conference to see if the 10 schools can continue to make strides in closing the gap between a once-proud conference and the power conferences of the country.

Receiving the most off-season hype and buzz was the Ohio State Buckeyes. After advancing to the finals of the Tallahassee Regional, the Bucks were ranked as high as 14th in the preseason polls, receiving the lofty ranking by Collegiate Baseball. With 8 everyday starters returning to the lineup and All-American Alex Wimmers anchoring the pitching staff, Ohio State appeared to be the team to return the Big Ten to Omaha.

After a 17-8 start, which has seen inconsistent play throughout, Ohio State has fallen from every ranking and hope the upcoming weekend spurns them into second-half success, playing baseball worthy of a team headed to Omaha.

Bill Davis Stadium

Once the crown jewel of Northern ballparks, Bill Davis Stadium is now in it’s 14th season as the on-campus home for Ohio State. This weekend Bill Davis welcomes coach Tracy Smith and his Indiana Hoosiers for a key conference clash.

While Ohio State was the Big Ten regular season champion a year ago, Indiana ran through the field in the six-team Big Ten Tournament, held just minutes from Bill Davis at Columbus’ Huntington Park, the home of the AAA Columbus Clippers. In winning the postseason tournament, Indiana advanced to their second-ever NCAA Regional. While the Hoosiers went two-and-que in the Vanderbilt Regional, proof was shown that under Smith, Indiana is not far from becoming a regional power.

With two of the top contenders for the 2010 Big Ten crown squaring off, here is a look within the series.

Indiana Hooisers (14-13 overall 1-2 Big Ten)

@

Ohio State Buckeyes (17-8, 2-1)

Expected Rotation

Game 1 Friday April 9th, 6:35 PM:

LHP Matt Igel (0-3, 9.00) vs. RHP Alex Wimmers (6-0, 1.98)

Game 2 Saturday April 10th, 1:05 PM:

LHP Drew Leininger (4-1, 1.66) vs. RHP Drew Rucinski (3-1, 2.53)

Game 3 Sunday April 11th, 1:05 PM:

RHP Walker Stadley (3-2, 5.06) vs. RHP Dean Wolosiansky (2-3, 5.60)

Team Comparisons

Category…. Indiana…… Ohio State
RPI…………. 131…………… 114
SOS…………. 93……………. 212
IRS…………. 129……………. 89
Hitting…….. .329…………. .344
ERA………… 6.42………….. 4.56
Fielding…… .963………….. .956
HR………….. 41………………. 20
2B…………… 59………………. 46
3B…………… 6…………………. 9
SLG………… .522……………. .479
BB…………… 93……………….. 99
SO…………… 197………………. 112
OBP…………. .404…………….. .412
SB……………. 36-54………….. 13-23
OBA…………. .306…………….. .311
SO…………….. 174………………. 181
BB…………….. 124………………. 78
H………………. 294………………. 283
XBH………….. 90………………… 50
WHIP……….. 1.74………………. 1.63
Saves………… 4…………………… 7

About Indiana

The Hoosiers are coming off of an weekend series versus Michigan where the Wolverines took 2 of 3 on the road winning the first two games 16-10 (10) and 6-4. However the lasting thought of that series is the 26-6 shelling Indiana put on the Maize & Blue in Sunday’s getaway day.

Jerrud Sabourin (IU photo)

A midweek win over Ball State brought Indiana above .500 for the first time all season.

Leading the way offensively for Indiana is the Big Ten’s version of the Bash Bothers in Jerrud Sabourin and Alex Dickerson. Sabourin leads the Hoosiers with a .480 average (59-for-123) with six home runs and 31 RBI. Behind him in the lineup as IU’s cleanup hitter is Dickerson with a .444 average ( 52-for-11), 10 doubles, and a Big Ten leading 12 home runs in route to 39 RBI.

Five other regulars are batting north of .300 to give Indiana its lofty .329 team average. Indiana is aggressive on the bases, and though Sabourin and Dickerson provided powerful bats, the Hoosiers are balanced enough to string off runs going station to station.

On the mound Indiana once again touts an impressive pitcher who will via for Wimmers in the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year race. On the strength of a consecutive scoreless innings streak that reached more than 25 innings, south Drew Leininger is 4-1 with a conference leading 1.66 ERA with 30 strikeouts and nine walks in 43.1 innings. Chris Squires is the Hoosiers’ closer coming in with four saves, a 3.74 ERA, and 2-1 record.

About Ohio State

Ohio State returns home after winning a weekend series in the Windy City against Northwestern. Wins of 11-1 and 11-6 where sandwiched by an 8-2 loss to the Wildcats to give the Bucks it’s 2-1 weekend. In playing just their second game at home of the year, Ohio State defeated Xavier on Wednesday to improve to 17-8 on the year.

While Ohio State enters the weekend with the Big Ten’s top hitting team, and second-best pitching staff, the Buckeyes have yet to string together a series of games where both aspects are in sync. Also leading to the team’s inconsistencies is the performance in the field. A fielding mark of .956 has led to 32 unearned runs crossing the plate for the Bucks’ opposition.

As expected the pitching staff is led by Wimmers who looks to collect his second-consecutive Big Ten Pitcher of the Year award. Drew Rucinski steps into the rotation after starting the season as Ohio State’s closer, the Buckeyes #2 pitcher leads the team with four saves in a sign of his conversion.

Dan Burkhart-#15 (OSU photo)

Offensively Ohio State boasts the Big Ten’s reigning Player of the Year, in catcher Dan Burkhart, giving Ohio State one of the nation’s best battery. Burkhart (.378, 18 RBI) the 3-hole hitter, is surrounded in the lineup by centerfielder Michael Stephens (.384, 6 HR, 23), first baseman Ryan Dew (.368, 3, 23), outfielders Zach Hurley (.373, 5, 26), and Brian DeLucia (.384, 4 21) as the team’s main power source. Infielders Cory Rupert (.400), and Cory Kovanda (.390) set the table for the Buckeyes balanced lineup.

Series History

Ohio State leads the series, 154-98, winning 15 of the 27 conference meetings. Last year the two split two meetings. Ohio State won a non-conference game in Florida 2-0. Indiana won 13-3 in the Big Ten Tournament from Huntington Park. The last series victory for Indiana came in 1996.

Key Matchup

Ohio State starters versus Indiana 3-4-5 hitters. Michael Early (.321-4-14) joins Sabourin and Dickerson as the conference’s most potent middle of the order. Most important is the fact that Sabourin and Dickerson are left-handed hitters which pose a threat to Ohio State’s all right-handed rotation. Obviously if these three are clicking things are in Indiana’s favor. If the Bucks can keep the trio to a .300 average or lower, the Bucks are well on their way to a weekend series victory.

Special Feature: Q&A with Indiana’s Coach Tracy Smith

CW: By now you’re probably tired of talking about it, but last year’s team lost a lot of talent. When a coach has such a removal of talent due to early-entrees leaving via the draft, does the program feel like it’s starting over in a way? Are losses like that “projected” and planned around in recruiting to keep the cupboard as full as possible?

Tracy Smith (IU photo)

TS: Some were projected. We planned to lose the five top 10-round guys, but the ones we did not plan for were the two that signed in the 30-something rounds. We didn’t see that coming until the very end of the season and those are the ones that have impacted this year the most because both those kids were to be in our top 3 in the rotation.

Now, add the injury to Monar the first weekend, we have been without our projected top 3 starters all year. Pretty tough on us, but we have found a way to win some games anyway.

CW: Perhaps an effect of some of the departures is having your son, Casey, early-enroll and in essence play Division I baseball during his senior year of high school.

Where there times before the process when you had to approach the situation different as a parent and coach? And now is the joy of coaching your son one of the biggest thrills of your coaching tenure?

TS: We knew we were going to be thin when O’Gara and Dunning signed late, but it wasn’t until we saw it with our own eyes in the fall did we realize just how thin we were.

Casey was being recruited by a couple of other schools, and once he decided IU was where he wanted to go I started to get this idea of bringing him early. He is a pretty smart kid, and has been around my programs all his life, so I think he saw the opportunity this year which led to his decision.

Coaching your kid is a joy and a challenge at the same time. Given the fact that he decided on the mid-year matriculation into IU so late, we elected not to put him in the dorms. Yes, he is living at home this semester, and this is the challenge I am referring to. If he screws up he not only gets it at school, but he gets it at home and that has made for some interesting dinner conversations.

I have jokingly said that if we are speaking with each other by the end of the year that will be a major accomplishment. All kidding aside, I am thrilled to be coaching my own kid. Far too often in this business we (coaches) invest a significant amount of time developing other people’s kids so it is nice to give your own some of that time.

CW: Speaking of the pitching staff, are you able to update the status of Monar?

TS: He is working his way back slowly. We hope we can get him back at some point, but I am not counting on it.

CW: In stepping in for Monar as the #1 pitcher, Leininger appears to be having an “Arnett-type” year where an outstanding season seemingly comes from nowhere.

What did you see from Drew before this season that an outbreak like this wasn’t out of the question? What so far this season has impressed you the most with his performances?

TS: I would be lying to you if I said I thought he was going to be having this type of season, but we always thought he could have success at this level. He has made some changes to his delivery that have really helped him.

You take that and add that to his already tough mindset and smooth delivery, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. His consistency has been very impressive to me. He locates his pitches well and has consistently hit spots.

CW: Looking at the bats, you’re middle of he line-up is anchored by Sabourin and Dickerson. As the two had very solid 2009 campaigns, as a coach was there a lot of instruction needed for the duo to continue to excel?

Or was it a matter of letting good players be good players and only a matter of time before they picked up where they left off in 2009?

TS: Honestly, I have always believed coaches give themselves too much credit when it comes to players performing well. At IU, we try to instill an attitude of ownership in our kids. If you do well, take the credit. If you do poorly, don’t start pointing fingers.

So with these two, we pretty much give them an environment to develop their already extraordinary talents. Sure, as a coach you make some changes or suggestions that you think will help them, but for the most part if you have a player (or players) like these guys that already have a pretty good understanding of theirs swings, you just set up your bucket of balls behind the L-screen and feed them strikes during BP, the rest pretty much takes care of itself.

CW: Who are some of the players outside of those two that have really played well and filled in for the collective holes left by Josh Phegley, Evan Crawford, Kip Schultz and company?

TS: Freshman Micah Johnson has performed very well. He has provided the power we lost with Schultz and the speed we lost with Crawford. He is a very good player. Mike Earley is starting to give us more consistent at-bats, and from a senior that is what you expect. He also brings a toughness that you would love to see in all your players.

With Phegley, you had a catcher that understood the game. Coming into the year, we had 3 catchers that all bring a little something different to the table. The time we started playing more consistent baseball coincided with the time Dylan Swift took over behind the plate. He may not have the offensive numbers of some of the other guys, but he does a great job of handling our very immature staff during games.

CW: You have been as vocal as any coach in regards to the NCAA’s Universal Start Date and when it should be. Now that we’re in year two, what are your thoughts on the process after having it in a 13-week, and 14-week format?

TS: First, I am impressed that you knew I was vocal about this. I don’t mind the 14-week format, but the additional week was put on the “wrong” end of the season. By adding the additional week on the front end of the season, the NCAA has spoken loud and clear with regard to what it thinks about the schools playing baseball in the north – they don’t really care.

There is no other sport (outside of softball) that has the competitive disadvantages present like college baseball. The advantages and disadvantages, depending on what part of the country you are from, have a HUGE impact on your opportunity for post season play.

I don’t have enough time to give all the reasons, but clearly by adding the week to front of the college baseball season, the rich just got richer!

CW: There was a vote to go back to a 13-week schedule if the 14th week was not added on the back end. Why was that the approach being taken? Doesn’t a 13-week schedule hinder northern programs as much as southern in a compacted schedule?

Or was it just a matter of, we’re not having a 14th week at the front end until Hell freezes over?

TS: We, northern schools, have been dealing with schedule compaction as long as we have been coaching. We were used to it. But, when you add the week on the front end you have eliminated any chance for northern schools to schedule more home games.

More home games usually means a better chance to win. I have always said the term “home field advantage” was created for a reason. By adding the week on the front end, it ensures more road games for the northern schools, thus adding the potential for more RPI points to already inflated RPI numbers of southern conferences.

Many would argue that I am just complaining, and that the baseball is better in the south. Well, that may be true (I don’t agree), but I would like to see how some of these schools would perform early in the season if they were practicing on gym floors with little, or in most cases, no practice time on baseball fields.

I think if guys in the south experienced what the coaches in the north face year in and year out, then maybe they would be more sympathetic to our cause. I doubt it though, because they are at such a competitive advantage right now, why would they want to level the playing field. You got me going, didn’t you?

CW: Now that you are going… Discuss the current state of the Big Ten. It was mentioned last year following the Big Ten Tournament where four teams have had hopes of a Regional selection, with Illinois ultimately falling short, that it is ever-improving.

While on paper the Big Ten appears down from a year ago, what does it say that a program like Michigan State is on the rise as well as your continuing of building the Indiana program?

With OSU, Michigan, and Minnesota as established programs, do you feel the Big Ten is on the verge on taking the next step and perhaps narrowing the gap on the power conferences, and what has led to the revival?

TS: Well, I think the gap is closing. You have a lot of schools investing in their baseball programs, thus increasing expectations on winning.

However, what gets little discussion, and is probably this biggest reason the conference struggles to compete on a national level consistently is the fact that other conferences can over-sign. Teams in the Big Ten that recruit a significant number of high level talent have to lay back and wait to see how the draft plays out on how many guys they are going to lose.

Look what happened to Michigan last year. They win the Big Ten the year before, and fail to qualify for the tournament the next year. Is it because Coach Maloney was a great coach one year and bad one the next? No! He lost a ton of underclassmen and was not able to use their money until the players actually SIGNED a contract in the summer.

Who are you going to find that late to replace that kind of talent? You are not. We are experiencing a little bit of that ourselves this year.

Now, I do believe the Big Ten recognized this as a huge disadvantage for our league and instituted a rule change this year that allows schools to over sign up to one scholarship spread over two players.

It does help, but when other schools are over signing by 6-8 scholarships, the playing field is not even close to being even. The part that drives me nuts is nobody talks about this issue. Everyone wants to talk about weather, and huge stadiums, etc., as being the things the hold our conference back, but it’s not. The issue of over-signing is the real problem.

My friends who coach at southern schools laugh when I tell them that we can’t over-sign kids until our underclassmen physically sign a contact. They are like, “how in the heck do you guys recruit?” I have my response down to a science now, I put my hands behind my back and say, “like this.”

That said, I am not saying I agree with over-signing to the level most southern do it, because it can create some ugly scenarios where kids are “run off.” Again, too many reasons and not enough time to respond. But what I would like to see is some consistency with regard to the issue of over-signing.

I like the limits our conference has put on over-signing. Now, if we could get the rest of the country to buy into the Big Ten Conference’s rules, wouldn’t if be great? However, I say again, why would they? They are at too much of a competitive advantage under the current system to want to change.

As someone who is trying win every game I play, I guess I understand their position. But if the NCAA wants to do what is “right,” it will address the issue of over-signing, and adopt legislation that truly benefits our student-athletes all the while creating a more competitive environment for all of college baseball, not just some of it.

Alright, I am off my soap box.

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