October, 2003 Unofficial MSU Baseball News
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10/22/03 - Banana Split Series update.
The final game of the five-game Banana Split Series saw the Maroon squad defeat the White squad 5-0 for their only victory of the series. Yesterday's game concludes fall baseball practice.
The top hitter was sophomore first baseman Brad Jones. Brad was 3-of-3 with a 2B and a 3B. He also knocked in 1 run. In the last three games Brad has gone 5-of-10.
The top pitcher was junior Alan Johnson. Alan allowed 0 runs on 2 hits and 0 walks while striking out 4 in 4 innings.
10/21/03 - Banana Split Series update.
Once again the White team defeated the Maroon team. The White team, trailing 9-5 going into the bottom of the 9th, scored 5 runs to win 10-9. With the win, the White team goes up 4-0 in the five-game series, a series that will be concluded today with the teams facing off at 4:15 p.m.
The top pitcher was redshirt freshman Michael Valentine. Michael allowed 0 runs on 3 hits and 0 walks in 4 innings. He also struck out 6.
The top hitter for the game was sophomore OF Jeff Butts. Jeff was 2-of-4 with 2 3B and an RBI.
10/16/03 - Baseball scrimmage update.
Yesterday's scrimmage was scheduled for 13 innings. Due to attending football practice, I watched the first 9. The Banana Split series starts Friday and goes through Tuesday. Friday's game time is set for 4 p.m. Saturday's game is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. Sunday's game is set for 1:30 p.m. Monday's game is supposed to start at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday's game time is TBA.
Yesterday's top pitcher was junior Saunders Ramsey. Saunders allowed 0 runs, 0 hits and walked 1 in three innings. He struck out 4.
The top hitter was redshirt freshman OF Tyler Jones. Tyler was 2-of-3 with 1 3B and 3 RBI.
More baseball...
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Bulldog baseball fans can get a final fall preview of the 2004 Mississippi State University baseball team in the coming days when MSU closes out fall practice with its annual 'Banana Split Series'. The opening game of the five-game series, scheduled Oct. 17-21 at Dudy Noble Field, begins Friday at 4 p.m. The games are open to the public with no charge for admission.
The series follows standard baseball rules with a few exceptions. All of the games are scheduled to last 10 innings, 3-2 pitching counts will be used in extra-inning at-bats, and all of the hitters on each team's roster will be included in the batting order regardless of their defensive status in the game.
Members of the winning team are treated to banana splits by the losing team following MSU's fall practice-ending series.
Mississippi State's 2003 fall baseball roster features 30 players returning from State's 42-20-1 edition along with 15 newcomers. Among 18 lettermen and six returning starting position players are senior third baseman Steve Gendron of Tampa, Fla.,, a second-team All-SEC selection last year, pitcher Jamie Gant of Winona, Miss., and second baseman Thomas Berkery of Sarasota, Fla., both named to the 2003 SEC All-Tournament Team as freshmen last May.
In Friday's series-opener, Gant, who posted a 6-1 record and team-leading 1.15 ERA last year, will be matched with right-hander Jeff Lacher of Hattiesburg, Miss., one of the Bulldogs' three seniors for 2004. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. for games Saturday and Sunday and 6:30 p.m. Monday. Tuesday's game time is to be announced.
The Bulldogs launch their 34-game home schedule and Ron Polk's 25th season as MSU head baseball coach Feb. 27-29 when State hosts Western Kentucky and Illinois in the first annual MSU Challenge.
Source: MSU Media Relations
10/14/03 - Baseball scrimmage update.
Last night's scrimmage, scheduled for 18 innings, was cut short to 14 innings due to the time factor. The next scrimmage will be Wednesday, weather-permitting.
For the first time this fall, two pitchers earned my top pitcher honor. Jamie Gant threw 3 innings, allowing 0 runs on 0 hits and 0 walks. He struck out 4. True freshman Josh Johnson, hitting 89 to 90 miles per hour with his fastball, allowed 0 runs on 0 hits and 0 walks while striking out 5 in 2 innings of work. Not a single batter hit the ball out of the infield against either pitcher. In fact, other than the strikeouts, all of their outs were infield groundouts.
The top hitter was catcher Joseph McCaskill. Joseph was 3-of-6 with 1 double and 2 RBI.
10/13/03 - The baseball team scrimmages tonight at 7:40 p.m. The Banana Split series begins later this week. When I know the dates and times I will post them here.
10/10/03 - Scrimmage update.
Today's scrimmage will start at 3 p.m. Like Wednesday, yesterday's scrimmage lasted 15 innings. However, I was only able to watch the first five innings due to a prior commitment. The first two innings were 3-1 count innings (each batter already had a 3-1 count on him when the pitcher threw their first pitch), while the next two innings were 2-2 counts with the final inning being a 0-0 count inning. Due to the 3-1 count innings, the pitchers walks were abnormally high.
The hitting star was sophomore first baseman Brad Jones. Brad was 2-of-3 with a triple and an RBI.
One of the best pitching performances that I have seen this fall was by true freshman Andy Wilson during yesterday's scrimmage. Although not overpowering, he showed exceptional control, walking just 3 during his two 3-1 count innings. Over the course of his 5 innings of work, he allowed the 3 walks, 0 hits and 1 unearned run. He also struck out 6.
10/09/03 - Scrimmage update.
Today's scrimmage will start either at 3 p.m. or 3:25 p.m. Yesterday's scrimmage lasted 15 innings. Each of the six pitchers three five innings. The first two innings were 3-1 count innings (each batter already had a 3-1 count on him when the pitcher threw their first pitch), while the next two innings were 2-2 counts with the final inning being a 0-0 count inning. Due to the 3-1 count innings, the pitchers walks were abnormally high.
Next weekend (Oct. 17-18) is Parent's Weekend. It is also the start of the annual Banana Split series. Friday's Banana Split series game begins at 4 p.m. with the Saturday game beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Yesterday's hitting star was true freshman first baseman Alex McIntosh. Alex was 4-of-5 with 1 triple and 3 RBI.
The pitching star yesterday was junior Alan Johnson. Alan threw 5 innings of 2-hit, 5-walk ball, allowing 2 runs (both earned). He also struck out 9.
10/08/03 - MSU changed their scrimmage schedule this week from Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, weather permitting. Each scrimmage will start at approximately 2:55 p.m.
10/07/03 - The baseball team is scheduled to scrimmage Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Starting times are expected to be 3 p.m. each day.
10/01/03 - Baseball scrimmage update.
Yesterday was scout day at the park. Major League Baseball scouts - approximately 20 were in attendance - had a chance to evaluate all the draft eligible position players during the day as well as watch all the draft eligible pitchers throw during a nine-inning scrimmage. Due to prior commitments, I was only able to watch the first 6 innings of the scrimmage.
The top pitcher on the day was sophomore Jamie Gant, a pitcher that is draft eligible due to being redshirted his true freshman season. Jamie threw 2 innings of no-run, no-hit, no-walk ball while striking out 3.
The top hitter was senior infielder Tyler Scarbrough who went 2-for-3 with 1 home run and 3 RBI.