October 2000 Unofficial MSU Baseball and Softball News
Other Gene's Page Skuttle-Butts
MSU Basketball | MSU Football | MSU Other Sports | Mississippi High School | Mississippi Junior Colleges
Official MSU Athletic Department Baseball and Softball SitesBaseball | Softball
College Baseball and Softball Polls
Baseball America Top 25 | Collegiate Baseball Top 25 | USA Today/ESPN Top 25 | Boyd's RPI Ratings | Boyd's ISR Ratings | Boyd's SOS Rating | USA Today/NAB Top 25
MSU Baseball Stats Page | Polk-DeMent Stadium Pictures | MSU Baseball Dugout Club
10/28/00 - MSU baseball notes from the final two games of the Foster Parent Bulldog World Series. The White team won the series three games to two.
Hitting and pitching stars for the two games played yesterday.
Freshman RHP Robby Goodson, 2 ip, 1 hit, 3 k's, 0 walks, 1 earned run.
Junior RHP Brandon Medders, 4 ip, 2 hits, 4 k's, 5 walks, 0 runs.
Freshman RHP Michael Novarese, 1 ip, 0 hits, 2 k's, 1 walk, 0 runs.
Sophomore RHP Chris Young, 5 ip, 1 hit, 5 k's, 1 walk, 0 runs.
Freshman LHP Todd Nicholas, 4 ip, 2 hits, 4 k's, 0 walks, 2 runs.
Junior centerfielder Casey Long, 2-for-6 with a triple and walk.
Junior third baseman/leftfielder Michael Brown, 2-for-6 with homerun and 2 RBI.
Junior second baseman Chad Henry, 1-for-3 with an HBP.
Freshman designated hitter Jon Mungle, 1-for-3 with 3 walks and an RBI.
Redshirt freshman Brad Hutto, 2-for-5 with a double.
Senior rightfielder Phillip Willingham, 2-for-5 with two homeruns, 4 RBI and 1 walk.
Freshman leftfielder Winston Pearson, 1-for-2 with a double and a RBI.
The following article was received from the MSU Athletic Department:
Senior outfielder Phillip Willingham launched a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning Friday to give the White team a 3-2 win in the fifth and deciding game of Mississippi State Foster Parents World Series at Dudy Noble Field. The Maroon team won the opening game of Friday's twinbill 4-2.
The home run was the second of the day and the third of the series for the Mobile, Ala., product and broke open a scoreless pitcher's duel between starters Brandon Medders and Chris Young. Freshman relief pitcher Josh Swinford, on in relief of starter Chris Young, issued a pair of walks before giving up Willingham's three-run shot.
"This was an exciting way to end our fall baseball practices," said Bulldog baseball coach Pat McMahon. "Our Foster Parent coaching staffs did an outstanding job of managing their teams and giving our fans an entertaining series."
The game and MSU's fall baseball drills ended with even more dramatics in the bottom of the sixth inning when the Maroon's used a hit batsman, a walk, an RBI single by Jon Mungle and a sacrifice fly by Matthew Maniscalco to plate two runs. But Allen Buckley, on in relief in the sixth inning, got Casey Long
to fly out to Willingham in right to end the game and the series.Medders blanked the Maroons on two hits and worked around five walks before giving way to Michael Novarese in the fifth and Buckley in the sixth.
The Maroons got a strong start from sophomore righty Chris Young, who after giving up a leadoff ground-rule double to Brad Hutto, held the White team hitless while striking out five in five innings. Swinford and Saunders Ramsey closed out the game for the Maroons.
In Friday's opener, the Maroon squad jumped out to a 4-0 lead and held on for a 5-4 win. Michael Brown opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the second. The Maroons plated two more runs in the third on Matthew Maniscalco's RBI double and a sacrifice fly by Brent Lewis. Two innings later Casey Long
greeted relief pitcher Robby Goodson with a triple and scored what proved to be the winning run on a second sacrifice fly by Lewis.
Freshman lefty Todd Nicholas retired the first 10 batters he faced before giving up a single to Steve Gendron and a two-run blast by Jon Knott. Nicholas recorded four strikeouts in four innings. Redshirt freshman Jonathan Papelbon replaced Nicholas in the fifth and was touched for two runs in the
sixth, one on a solo blast by Phillip Willingham. The White squad had the tying runner at third base in the sixth before relief pitcher Josh Wooten came on to retire J.B. Tucker for the game's final out.
10/27/00 - MSU baseball notes from the third game of the Foster Parent Bulldog World Series.
Hitting and pitching stars for the game:
Freshman shortstop Steve Gendron, 2-for-4 with 1 triple.
Senior rightfielder Phillip Willingham, 1-for-3 with a HBP.
Freshman first baseman Robby Goodson, 1-for-2.
Senior third baseman Darrin Hope, 1-for-2 with a walk and RBI.
Redshirt freshman centerfielder Brad Hutto, 2-for-3.
Junior centerfielder Casey Long, 1-for-3.
Junior rightfielder Enrico Jones, 1-for-3 with a double.
Sophomore LHP Joey Collums, 4 ip, 2 hits, 1 k, 2 walks, 1 earned run, 2 unearned runs.
Junior RHP Tanner Brock, 3 ip, 4 hits, 6 k's, 2 walks, 1 run (earned).
Freshman LHP Paul Maholm, 4 ip, 1 hit, 4 k's, 1 walk, 1 run (unearned).
Redshirt freshman RHP Jeff Lacher, 3 ip, 2 hits, 1 k, 2 walks, 1 run (unearned).
Attendance has been about 100 to 125 each day.
The White team leads the series two games to one, with the final two games today beginning at 2 p.m.
10/26/00 - MSU baseball notes from the first two games of the Foster Parent Bulldog World Series.
Hitting and pitching stars for the two games:
Sophomore shortstop Matthew Maniscalco was 4-for5 with 2 walks, 1 hbp, and 2 RBI.
Junior centerfielder Casey Long was 3-for-8 with 3 RBI.
Freshman third baseman Brent Lewis was 3-for-5 with 2 walks and an RBI.
Junior catcher Jason Burkley was 3-for-3 with 2 doubles, 1 homerun, 2 hbp, 1 walk, a sac fly and 5 RBI.
Junior third baseman/outfielder Michael Brown was 2-for-6 with 1 walk and 1 RBI.
Junior second baseman Chad Henry was 1-for-3 with 2 walks.
Junior rightfielder Enrico Jones was 2-for-7 with 2 RBI.
Redshirt freshman first baseman Matthew Brinson was 2-for-5 with 1 double, 1 walk and a sacrifice.
Redshirt freshman centerfielder Brad Hutto was 3-for-7 with 1 double and 2 RBI.
Senior rightfielder/second baseman Phillip Willingham was 2-for-5 with a triple, a homerun and 2 RBI.
Senior first baseman Jon Knott was 2-for-4 with 1 RBI.
Senior outfielder Josh West was 2-for-4 with a walk, homerun and RBI.
Freshman catcher J.B. Tucker was 1-for-3.
Senior third baseman Darrin Hope was 1-for-3.
Redshirt freshman second baseman J.T. Hardcastle was 3-for-4 with a double and walk.
Senior RHP Josh Wooten, 2 ip, 2 hits, 2 k's, 0 walks, 0 runs.
Junior RHP Ryan Carroll, 4 ip, 4 hits, 5 k's, 4 walks, 1 unearned run.
Junior RHP Allen Buckley, 2 ip, 0 hits, 3 k's, 2 walks, 0 runs.
Junior RHP Adam Larson, 4 ip, 6 hits, 6 k's, 0 walks, 1 earned run.
Freshman RHP Saunders Ramsey, 1 ip, 1 hit, 0 walks, 0 runs.
The White squad claimed a 16-2 blowout and the Maroons rebounded with a hard-fought 4-2 win for a split of Wednesday's opening-day doubleheader in the 2000 Bulldog World Series at Dudy Noble Field. The third game of Mississippi State's five-game, fall baseball practice-ending series continues Thursday with a nine-inning contest at 2:45 p.m.
Junior catcher Jason Burkley was the offensive star of the game for the winning White squad, belting a home run, a double and a sacrifice fly and driving in five runs in his team's 16-2 romp. The White team plated three runs in the first off Maroon starter Jeff Hunter and batted around during a five-run second. Casey Long singled in a pair of runs during a six-run fourth inning burst and Burkley launched a two-run blast to cap the game's scoring in the fifth.
Adam Larson struck out six and allowed two runs on six hits in four innings of mound work. Center fielder Brad Hutto singled in two runs in the fourth to account for the Maroon team's scoring.
Sophomore shortstop Matthew Maniscalco went 3-for-3 and scored three runs to pace the White team's 15-hit attack.
In the nightcap the Maroon's plated two runs in the first on a home run by second baseman Phillip Willingham and added two more on a third-inning blast by designated hitter Josh West to claim a series-evening 4-2 win.
Willingham also legged out a triple to lead the Maroon team's six-hit plate performance.
Ryan Carroll struck out six and scattered three hits in four innings to pick up the win. Relief pitcher Allen Buckley worked the final two innings and struck out Casey Long with the bases loaded to preserve the three-hit win.
Steven Dowe drew starting duties for the White team, fanning five batters and walking three in four innings of work.
A dozen members of MSU Baseball's foster parent organization suited up as coaches for the game. Ken Hood, Barry Lott, Walt Newsom, Jim Shannon, Hardy Tingle and Sam Wilkes coached the Maroons while Hart Bailey, Chuck Henderson, Bob Mangum, E.C. O'Neal, Bill Polk and Bill Swoope coached the White unit.
The Bulldog World Series, open to the public with no charge for admission, concludes Friday with a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department
10/25/00 - MSU baeball notes:
MSU did not have a scrimmage Tuesday. The Bulldog World Series starts today. Gametime is set for 2 p.m.
Just thought you would enjoy knowing that Baseball America ranks MSU's recruiting this past year as the 3rd best in the country. Arizona State was 1st followed by Cal State Fullerton, MSU, Texas and San Diego State was 5th. They did not rank below five. MSU was the only SEC team to be ranked in the top five by both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball (ranked 4th).
For those of you interested, former Diamond Dawgs and current pro players (Philadelphia Phillies organization) Travis Chapman and Daron Wright will be placing a baseball instruction ad on my page in the next few days. From November 1st through the middle of December, they will be offering professional baseball instruction covering hitting, fielding, baserunning, bunting (all the aspects of the game besides pitching) at Dudy Noble Field. Your youngster will be given an evaluation sheet or progress report. If you are interested, please contact either Travis or Daron by phone at 662-320-6921, 662-312-3545, or 904-504-5409 or by email at
TACMSU14@aol.com. Please put in the subject line of your email Baseball Instruction.
10/24/00 - Monday scrimmage update:
Senior first baseman Jon Knott was 1-for-2 with a double and walk.
Junior catcher Jason Burkley was 1-for-2 with 1 walk.
Freshman first baseman Robby Goodson was 1-for-2 with a walk.
Junior catcher Lee Parks was 1-for-1 with a walk and RBI.
Redshirt freshman infielder J. T. Hardcastle was 1-for-1.
Sophomore outfielder Cager Garner was 1-for-2 with a double and 2 RBI.
Redshirt freshman outfielder Brad Hutto was 1-for-3.
Freshman infielder Steve Gendron was 2-for-2.
Redshirt freshman RHP Jonathan Papelbon threw 3 innings, allowing no runs on 2 hits, 3 walks while striking out 4.
Freshman RHP Michael Novarese allowed 1 hit, no runs, no walks and struck out 2 in 2 innings.
Freshman RHP Robby Goodson allowed 1 walk and struck out 1 in 1 inning.
Freshman LHP Todd Nicholas continues to pitch very well, allowing no runs on 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 3 in 3 innings.
For those of you who would like to attend this week's Bulldog World Series, here are gametimes and the number of games to be played each day:
Wednesday, beginning at 2 p.m., the Bulldogs will play a doubleheader. Both games will last 6 innings each.
Thursday, beginning at 2 p.m., the Bulldogs will play a single nine-inning game.
Friday, beginning at 2 p.m., the Bulldogs will play a doubleheader. Innings to be determined based on the number of pitchers available for the games.
The Bulldog World Series will be called the Foster Parent Bulldog World Series. The foster parents of the MSU baseball players will select the players for each team and will also manage the two teams.
10/18/00 - Tuesday scrimmage update (Because I also attended football practice, I only kept score of the first 3 innings.):
According to my sources, the MLB scouts were impressed with the number of players who ran the 60-yard dash in less than 7 seconds. Just a few years ago MSU only had 4 or 5 players who could do this. This year, there were 14. The scouts were also impressed with the large number of good arms that the MSU pitching staff possesses.
Hitting and pitching highlights:
Cager Garner, 1-for-1.
Winston Pearson, 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Jon Knott, 1-for-2.
Michael Brown, 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
Darrin Hope, 1-for-2.
10/17/00 - Monday scrimmage update:
Yesterday was Scout Day. Seventeen major league baseball scouts were in attendance. Coach McMahon sets aside one day each fall for major league baseball scouts to come in and evaluate all of the players.
Hitting and pitching highlights:
Junior RHP Allen Buckley, 1.1 ip, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts, 0 walks, 0 runs.
Junior RHP Tanner Brock, 1.2 ip, 0 hits, 1 strikeout, 0 walks, 0 runs.
Junior RHP Ryan Carroll, 1.2 ip, 0 hits, 1 strikeout, 0 walks, 0 runs.
Junior RHP Adam Larson, 2 ip, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts, 0 walks, 1 run.
Senior RHP Josh Wooten, 1 ip, 1 hit, 1 strikeout, 0 walks, 1 unearned run.
Junior infielder Chad Henry, 2-for-3.
Junior of/3b Michael Brown, 2-for-3.
Freshman infielder Steve Gendron, 1-for-3.
Senior infielder Darrin Hope, 2-for-3.
Sophomore infielder Matthew Maniscalco, 1-for3.
Senior 2b/of Phillip Willingham, 3-for-3.
Junior catcher Jason Burkley, 1-for-1.
Senior outfielder Josh West, 2-for-2.
Senior 1B Jon Knott, 1-for-2.
Junior outfielder Casey Long, 2-for-3.
Redshirt freshman infielder J.T. Hardcastle, 1-for-1.
Freshman 1b/of Robby Goodson, 1-for-1.
10/15/00 - Parents Weekend Saturday scrimmage update:
Freshman RHP Robby Goodson threw 2 innings, allowing no runs on 2 hits and 2 strikeouts. Other true freshmen pitchers that had good days on the mound were RHP Michael Novarese, 2 ip, 1 hit, 1 so, no runs, no walks; RHP Saunders Ramsey, 1 ip, 1 hit, 1 walk; LHP Todd Nicholas, 1 ip, 2 strikouts, 1 walk; and RHP Josh Swinford, 1 ip, 2 hits.
Sophomore LHP Joey Collums allowed 2 hit in 1 inning. He also struck out 1.
Redshirt freshman RHP Jonathan Papelbon threw 2 innings of no-run, no-hit, no-walk ball while striking out 3. Another redshirt freshman, RHP Collins Hughes, threw 2 innings of 1-hit ball.
Senior OF/2B Phillip Willingham was 1for-3.
Freshman catcher J.B. Tucker was 1-for-2.
Freshman outfielder Winston Pearson was 1-for-2 with a double.
Redshirt freshman 2nd baseman J.T. Hardcastle was 1-for-2 with 1 walk.
Junior infielder Chad Henry was 1-for-3.
Senior first baseman Jon Knott was 1-for-2 with a double and RBI.
Freshman infielder Steve Gendron was 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Redshirt freshman outfielder Jeff Lacher was 1-for-2.
10/14/00 - Parents' Weekend Friday scrimmage update:
Saturday's scrimmage starts at 10 a.m.
Junior RHP Adam Larson struck out 4 in two innings of no-run, no-hit, no-walk ball.
Senior RHP Jeff Hunter allowed no runs on 2 hits, 0 walks while striking out 2.
Redshirt freshman RHP Jeff Lacher threw 2 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits. Jeff struck out 3.
Junior RHP Ryan Carroll had his second straight good outing, striking our 2 in 2 innings. Ryan gave up 2 hits, no walks and no runs.
Sophomore LHP Steven Dowe allowed no runs on 2 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3.
Redshirt freshman 2nd baseman J.T. Hardcastle was 1-for-3.
Junior infielder Chad Henry was 2-for-2 with 1 walk.
Freshman infielder Steve Gendron was 2-for-3.
Junior outfielder Enrico Jones was 1-for-3.
Redshirt freshman centerfielder Brad Hutto was 1-for-2 with a walk.
Redshirt freshman infielder Jonathan Papelbon was 2-for-2 with a walk.
Freshman infielder Josh Abraham was 1-for-3 with a double.
Junior outfielder Casey Long was 1-for-2 with a walk.
Sophomore infielder Matthew Maniscalco was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Freshman outfielder Winston Pearson was 1-for-3. Winston is a combined 3-for-6 in his last three games.
Freshman infielder Jon Mungle was 1-for-3.
Freshman infielder Brent Lewis was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
Sophomore outfielder Cager Garner was 1-for-2.
Junior catcher Brad Farley was 1-for-2 with a double.
10/12/00 - Wednesday scrimmage update:
Sophomore LHP Joey Collums threw 2 innings of no-run, no-hit ball. He walked one and struck out one.
Freshman RHP Robby Goodson allowed no runs on two hits and no walks in three innings. He struck out three.
Freshman RHP Saunders Ramsey threw 2 innings, allowing no runs on 2 hits and 1 walk while striking out 1.
Sophomore shortstop Matthew Maniscalco was 2-for-3.
Junior catcher Jason Burkley had no official at bats but walked twice and was hit by a pitch.
Sophomore catcher Jamie Farris was 1-for-1.
Freshman SS/3B Steve Gendron was 1-for-2 with a 2-out, 2-run clutch triple.
Junior second baseman Chad Henry hit a 2-run homerun with two outs. He was 1-for-2 overall.
Junior centerfielder Casey Long was 0-for-1 with 2 walks and an Sac Fly RBI.
Junior outfielder Enrico Jones was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Senior outfielder/DH Josh West was 1-for-2 with 2 walks.
Freshman outfielder Winston Pearson was 1-for-2.
Freshman catcher J.B. Tucker was 3-for-3 with a double.
The parents and family members of MSU's Baseball Bulldogs will be special on-campus guests this weekend. MSU will play a pair of intrasquad games at Dudy Noble Field. The first of the two Parents' Weekend Games will get underway at 4:15 p.m. Friday with the second scrimmage set for Saturday at 10 a.m. Both games are open to the public with no charge for admission.
A cookout for the players and their visiting family members will be held in the outfield terrace following Saturday's game.
The squads will be coached by MSU's five seniors, with first baseman Jon Knott, outfielder Josh West and pitcher Jeff Hunter skippering the Maroons and outfielder/second baseman Phillip Willingham and pitcher Josh Wooten guiding the White squad.
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department
10/11/00 - Tuesday scrimmage update (I left after 5 innings to attend MSU football practice).
Sophomore RHP Chris Young threw 2 innings of no-run, no-hit, no-walk ball. He struck out 1.
Freshman LHP Todd Nicholas threw 3 innings allowing no runs, 2 hits, 3 walks while striking out 2.
Senior first baseman Jon Knott was 1-for-3 with 1 walk.
Junior catcher Jason Burkley was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
Josh West was 0-for-1 with a walk and was hit by a pitch.
Freshman SS/3B Steve Gendron was 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBI.
Freshman outfielder Winston Pearson was 1-for-1.
10/10/00 - Monday scrimmage update:
Yesterday's scrimmage, which was played in very cool, windy weather, started at 3 p.m. and lasted until approximately 6 p.m.
In the 8.5 innings, there were a combined 14 runs, 14 hits, 15 walks and 16 strikeouts.
Pitching stars included redshirt freshman RHP Jeff Lacher who pitched 3 innings of no-run, no-hit, one-walk ball. He struck out 2. Junior RHP Ryan Carroll gave up no runs in three innings of work. He allowed no hits, walked three and struck out 2.
Hitting stars included freshman Robby Goodson, 1-for-2, 1 walk; redshirt freshman second baseman J.T. Hardcastle, 2-for-4 with 1 walk and 1 RBI; junior centerfielder Casey Long, 2-for-4 with 1 double, 1 HBP; senior third baseman Darrin Hope, 2-for-3 with 1 double and 1 RBI; freshman first basemanTodd Nicholas, 1-for-3 with 2 RBI; junior catcher Lee Parks, 1-for-2 with 1 RBI; senior first baseman Jon Knott, 1-for-3 with 1 walk; junior second baseman Chad Henry, 1-for-3 with 1 walk; sophomore shortstop Matthew Maniscalco, 1-for-1 with 4 walks and 2 RBI; senior rightfielder Phillip Willingham, 1-for-4 with 1 walk and 1 RBI.
Though four months away from the start of their first baseball seasons at Mississippi State, the newcomers to the MSU baseball program have garnered a measure of national prestige. The Baseball Bulldogs' 1999-2000 recruiting class has been ranked fourth in the nation by Arizona-based Collegiate Baseball magazine.
It's the first top 20 national ranking by an MSU baseball recruiting class since the 1994 newcomers were tabbed as the nation's No. 1 recruiting class.
"This is quite an honor for Mississippi State and a tribute to both the talented young men in this recruiting class and the hard work of our coaching staff," said Mississippi State head coach Pat McMahon. "We've felt that this class was one of the strongest at Mississippi State in a few years and have seen evidence that it is during fall practice. It's a good blend of pitchers and position players with the talent to challenge for starting roles early in their careers."
Mississippi State's recruiting class includes nine high school standouts and three junior college transfers.
During ongoing fall baseball practice McMahon and the MSU coaching staff are looking for replacements for five departed position player starters and key performers on the Bulldog pitching staff. "Thanks to the departure of an outstanding group of seniors and the arrival of the newcomers, this has been one of the most competitive fall practices we've had in a while," said McMahon.
Cal State Fullerton's 20-player recruiting class was ranked first. LSU, with 15 newcomers, and Arizona State with 17, were ranked immediately ahead of Mississippi State. Other SEC teams included in Collegiate Baseball's recruiting ranking were South Carolina (8), Tennessee (20), Georgia (25),
Arkansas (28) and Florida (30).
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department
10/09/00 - Friday and Saturday combined Maroon-White games update:
Hitting stars: Brad Hutto, 2-for-4 with a walk; Michael Brown, 2-for-5; Jon Knott, 2-for-3 with 2 walks and 2 RBI; Steve Gendron, 2-for-5 with 1 double and 1 RBI; J.B. Tucker, 2-for-4 with 1 double and 1 RBI; Lee Parks, 1-for-3 with 1 double; Matthew Maniscalco, 2-for-5 with 1 double, 1 walk and 1 RBI; Jason Burkley, 1-for-3 with 2 walks and 1 RBI; Brent Lewis, 1-for-3 with 2 walks; J.T. Hardcastle, 2-for-3 with 2 walks and 2 RBI; Brad Farley, 2-for-4 with 1 double, 1 walk and 1 RBI.
Pitching stars: Adam Larson, 2 ip, 2 hits, 1 strikeouts, no runs, no walks; Tanner Brock, 2 ip, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts, no walks and no earned runs.
There were a couple of hundred people in attendance for the Friday scrimmage even with the cold temperatures.
Prior to the Friday night Dugout Club cookout, all those who attended the cookout walked through the MSU locker room where each person was personally greeted by each of the baseball players. It was a great way for the fans to see the baseball players up close.
The Saturday Maroon-White baseball game probably had 300 to 400 fans in attendance.
10/06/00 - It's a double-dip weekend at Mississippi State's Dudy Noble Field, Polk-DeMent Stadium, where MSU's Baseball Bulldogs conduct a pair of Maroon-White fall baseball scrimmages in conjunction with the MSU-Auburn football weekend on campus.
The 44-player Mississippi State team takes the field for a 4 p.m. scrimmage Friday and again Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The games are open to the public with no charge for admission.
Junior lefty Steven Dowe of Tylertown, Miss., will take the hill for the Maroon squad opposite White team senior starter Ryan Carroll of Picayune, Miss., a 21st-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox in last June's Major League draft for the Maroons.
Mississippi State returns 17 of the 29 players who earned varsity letters for MSU's 41-20 edition that advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals last spring.
The Maroon squad is paced by senior first baseman Jon Knott of Venice, Fla., the team's top power hitter after leading the 2000 Bulldogs with 16 home runs and 66 RBI. On the White roster are a pair of players who earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America team honors last spring, shortstop Matthew
Maniscalco of Oxford, Ala., and pitcher Chris Young of Stow, Ohio.
"The competition has been outstanding during our fall practice," said coach McMahon. "We've got a lot of guys working hard to earn starting positions, and that's something you like to see."
State must find replacements for all but three defensive starters. And though MSU returns 10 of the 13 players who pitched last spring, two of the three departed pitchers were in MSU's starting rotation.
MSU's fall drills will continue through the remainder of October, concluding with the Bulldog World Series Oct. 26-28.
DUGOUT CLUB "MEET THE TEAM COOKOUT"
Members of Mississippi State Baseball's booster organization, the Dugout Club, will dine with the Diamond Dogs at Dudy Noble Field following Friday's Maroon-White game. The third annual "Meet the Team Cookout" is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be held on the infield at Dudy Noble Field. Club
members can make reservations for the cookout by contacting the MSU Baseball Office (662-325-3597).
Reprinted with the permission of the MSU Athletic Department
10/05/00 - Wednesday baseball scrimmage info (I had to leave with 1 inning to go in the scrimmage):
Senior first baseman Jon Knott went 2-for-4 with a double, a homerun (his 1st of the fall) and 1 RBI. Junior catcher Jason Burkley also hit a homerun (1st of the fall) and went 1-for-4 at the plate. He also had 1 RBI.
Other hitters who had good days were freshman shortstop Steve Gendron, 2-for-4 with an RBI; redshirt freshman J.T. Hardcastle, 1-for-2 with an RBI; freshman Jon Mungle, 2-for-3 with a double; junior outfielder Casey Long, 1-for-2; and freshman third baseman Brent Lewis, 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Throwing the ball well were walkon freshman RHP Josh Swinford, 1 inning, 1 hit, no runs, no walks and no strikeouts; junior RHP Brandon Medders, 2 innings, 1 hit, 1 walk, no strikeouts and no runs; redshirt freshman RHP Collins Hughes, 2 innings, 3 hits, 3 strikeouts and no runs.
For those of you who are members of the Mississippi State Dugout Club, there will be a Dugout Club Meet the Players Cookout after this Friday night's Maroon-White fall baseball game. The game will begin at 4 p.m. with the cookout set for approximately 6:30 p.m.
Also, it is time to renew your Dugout Club membership. Click here to print off a membership form. Don't forget to mark that you will be at the cookout if you plan on attending.
If you can't make the Friday night scrimmage, there will also be a Saturday morning scrimmage at 9:30 a.m.
10/04/00 - Monday and Tuesday baseball scrimmage info:
Sophomore LHP Steven Dowe threw 3 innings of no-run, 1-hit, no-walk, 4-strikeout ball Monday.
Junior RHP Ryan Carroll also had a good day on the mound Monday, as did freshman LHP Todd Nicholas.
Junior RHP Tanner Brock continued to pitch well Tuesday. Tanner, during his 3 inning stint, allowed no runs on 1 hit and 1 walk. He struck out 1.
Freshman Jon Mungle went 1-for-2, Monday.
Redshirt freshman Brad Hutto also went 1-for-2.
Other hitters who had a good hitting day Monday were junior catcher Lee Parks, 1-for-1; freshman Robby Goodson 1-for-3; freshman outfielder Winston Pearson, 1-for-2; junior Michael Brown, 1-for-2.
Tuesday, several hitters had good days hitting the ball. Junior outfielder Casey Long was 1-for-2. Junior Chad Henry, 2-for-4; freshman Robby Goodson, 1-for-2; redshirt freshman outfielder Brad Hutto, 1-for-1; redshirt freshman 1st baseman Matthew Brinson, 1-for-2; senior Darrin Hope, 3-for-3; freshman catcher J.B. Tucker, 2-for-2; and sophomore catcher Jamie Farris, 1-for-1.
For those of you who are members of the Mississippi State Dugout Club, there will be a Dugout Club Meet the Players Cookout after this Friday night's Maroon-White fall baseball game. The game will begin at 4 p.m. with the cookout set for approximately 6:30 p.m.
Also, it is time to renew your Dugout Club membership. Click here to print off a membership form. Don't forget to mark that you will be at the cookout if you plan on attending.
If you can't make the Friday night scrimmage, there will also be a Saturday morning scrimmage at 9:30 a.m.
10/03/00 - Bulldog Baseball fans can now get a double dose of fall ball this weekend at Dudy Noble Field indirectly courtesy of CBS television.
Mississippi State's annual Maroon-White fall baseball game will get underway as scheduled at 4 p.m. at the Baseball Bulldogs' home ball park. But with kickoff time for Saturday's MSU-Auburn football game now set for 2:30 p.m. to accommodate a live telecast from Scott Field, Mississippi State has scheduled
a second Maroon-White scrimmage for 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
"We're excited about having an opportunity to showcase our fall practice with two scrimmages this weekend," said Bulldog head baseball coach Pat McMahon. "It's a big weekend on campus and we want to invite our fans to visit Dudy Noble Field and get a preview of the 2001 Baseball Bulldogs."
The third annual MSU Dugout Club "Meet the Team" Cookout will also be held this weekend, with club members invited to dine on Dudy Noble Field immediately following Friday's Maroon-White game.
"Response to the cookout has been outstanding and we want to encourage all Dugout Club members to join us for an enjoyable evening of food, fun and fellowship with the Baseball Bulldogs," said McMahon.
Friday's cookout is included in the $50 Dugout Club membership. For additional information on the MSU Dugout Club and Friday's cookout, contact the MSU Baseball Office (662-325-3597).
10/02/00 - Saturday baseball scrimmage update:
There were about 100 MSU fans in attendance at the scrimmage.
Several hitters had a good day at the plate. Junior 2nd baseman Phillip Willingham was 1-for-2 at the plate with a walk and an RBI. Freshman outfielder Winston Pearson was also 1-for-2. Freshman 1st baseman Jon Mungle was 1-for-2. Redshirt freshman centerfielder Brad Hutto was 2-for-3. Junior college transfer Chad Henry was 1-for-2 with 1 homerun and 2 RBI. Josh West was 2-for-3 with 1 RBI. Junior college transfer 3rd baseball Michael Brown was 1-for-3 with 1 homerun and 1 RBI. Junior rightfielder Enrico Jones was 2-for-2.
For those of you who are members of the Mississippi State Dugout Club, there will be a Dugout Club Meet the Players Cookout after this Friday night's Maroon-White fall baseball game. The game will begin at 4 p.m. with the cookout set for approximately 6:30 p.m. Also, it is time to renew your Dugout Club membership. Click here to print off a membership form. Don't forget to mark that you will be at the cookout if you plan on attending.
Go back to the Front Page
This document was created using FlexED
Gene's Page baseball skuttle-butt section has had visitors since March 1st, 2000.