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October 1998 Unofficial MSU Baseball News
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Mississippi State University Sports Hotline: (601) 325-3861
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College Baseball Links and Polls:
Baseball America Online -- Collegiate Baseball Magazine -- Baseball America Top 25 -- Collegiate Baseball Top 25 -- The Sporting News Top 25
10/19/98 Go here to view pictures of the Dudy Noble Stadium expansion. As I mentioned earlier, I will have weekly updates each Monday or Tuesday.
10/30/98 - The Bulldog World Series began Thursday with the County Dawgs (coached by Oktibbeha County government officials) defeating the City Dawgs 2-1 in both games of the doubleheader.
Players who had good games were:
Hank Thoms - Winner, 5 IP, 8 K's, 1 H.
Scott Polk - Winner, 4 IP, 3 K's, 4 H, 2 BB. (really looked good according to my source)
Brian Wiese - Homerun, Save (2 K's in 1 IP) (a source of mine who was at the games said Wiese looked really good pitching.)
Daron Wright - Singled twice.
Travis Chapman - Single and a RBI double.
Jon Knott - Two singles.
Ryan Carroll - RBI single.
Mark Freed - In a losing effort: 5 IP, 5 H, 5 K's, picked off two runners.
Jamie Rock - Single, looked good defensively at third base.
Brian Terry - RBI double.
Cliff Wren - Broke up Thoms no-hit effort in the 4th with a line drive single.
Between 125-150 fans were at the games yesterday.
To read the complete game review go to the
official MSU baseball site.
Friday's doubleheader pitching matchup, which will begin at 2:30 p.m., will be freshman Ryan Carroll against fellow freshman pitcher Tanner Brock (90+ fastball) and junior Matt Ginter (90+ fastball) against senior Brian Compton. The final game of the series will be Saturday at 9:50 a.m. I'm not sure of the pitching matchup.
10/27/98 - Sorry, no picture update of the stadium this week. I was sick most of last week and didn't get out much other than to go to work.
10/25/98 - Just thought you guys would enjoy reading what a few current and former Diamond Dawgs did this summer:
Several played for the Memphis Royals, a team that plays in the Stan Musial Semi-Pro League in Memphis, Tenn:
Kevin Donovan - Current Bulldog:
| W-L | ERA | IP | Hits | Walks | K's |
|---|
| 5-1 | 3.38 | 37.3 | 35 | 24 | 63 |
All-League for the 3rd straight year.
Won two games in the Stan Musial Tenn. State Tournament.
Holds team record for strikeouts in a season with 99 (set in 1996, his first year with the team).
Has a 21-2 3-year record with the team.
Jon Harden - Former Bulldog pitcher:
| W-L | ERA | Saves | IP | Hits | Walks | K's |
|---|
| 8-0 | 1.97 | 2 | 39 | 45 | 9 | 32 |
Has been on the team since 1993. One of the top pitchers on the team.
Carl Henderson - Former Bulldog catcher:
| BA | At Bats | Runs | Hits | Doubles | Home Run | RBI |
|---|
| .368 | 57 | 17 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
Has been on the team since 1994. Still a good defensive catcher who the pitchers love to throw to.
10/14/98 - Don't forget there is a baseball scrimmage Saturday morning at 9:30.
10/13/98 - I'll update the baseball stadium expansion pictures Wednesday. I ran out of time last night.
10/13/98 - Here are some observations by one of you of the baseball scrimmage yesterday:
Approximately 20 scouts were on hand for what was apparently "Scout Day."
Home Runs: Travis Chapman, Lake Thoms, Chris Lotterhos.
Jamie Rock: Triple and single after being hit hard by a Matt Ginter fastball in the forearm. Jamie hit the next pitch after he was hit in the forearm off the top of the right field fence for his triple.
Chris Curry: Had two hits and threw out a runner with a bullet throw.
Matt Ginter: Looked very impressive on the mound while allowing one hit ( Jamie Rock's).
Hank Thoms: Looked good on the mound, great curveball like always.
10/11/98 - I attended the Maroon / White Intrasquad Baseball Game Friday night. Here are a few observations (please take these fastball ranges with a grain of salt. Some of there kids may have pitched just a couple of days ago and their arms may be a little tired):
Scott Polk was throwing the ball, consistently, in the 86 mph range with very good movement.
Redshirt freshman pitcher Mark Freed was throwing in the 84-86 range.
Sophomore Justin Estel threw in the high 80's and occasionally hit 90 on the gun.
Senior pitcher Brian Compton was throwing in the 87-89 range (hit 91 a time or two).
Senior pitcher Hank Thoms looked sharp on the mound, throwing in the 85-86 range.
True freshman pitcher Adam Larson threw in the 87-88 range.
True freshman pitcher Michael Taquino threw in the 83-85 range.
Southern Miss transfer pitcher Jason Schemmel threw in the 81-82 range.
True freshman pitcher Joey Collums threw in the 82-84 range.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Carroll was thowing in the 84-86 range, sometimes hitting 88.
Hitting wise, junior Travis Chapman and sophomore Josh West had three hits each (Travis - 2 doubles and a single; Josh - 1 double and 2 singles. Josh also had 3 RBIs.)
Other hits (that I saw):
Brian Terry - HR
Phillip Willingham - 2B
Joey Collums - 1B
Chad Case - 1B
Brent Walker - 2B
Ricky Lambert - 2B
Burney Hutchinson - 2B
Cager Garner - 1B
Enrico Jones - 3B
Cliff Wren - 1B
Jamie Rock - 2B
There were about 1,200 Bulldog fans in attendance.
Sorry if I missed listing a basehit. While trying to keep up with the game, I visited with quite a few Bulldog fans and probably missed several basehits and even a pitcher or two.
BTW, Florida transfer shortstop Ty Martin looks like he is going to be an outstanding defensive shortstop. Juco transfer Daron Wright also looked good defensively in the infield.
10/08/98 - According to a memo release from Ron Polk to the new baseball stadium chairback seat owners, the new chairback seats and skyboxes will not be ready for the 1999 baseball season. The chairback seats will be available for the 2000 baseball season and the skyboxes available for next year's basketball season. Because the initial bids were too high, the contractors had to re-bid the project, delaying the beginning of the construction until four weeks ago, about three months behind schedule. Due to the re-bids, the stadium expansion now includes 615 chairback seats (150 are still available for sell), down from the original 1,015.
10/05/98 - The Maroon/White intrasquad baseball game is at 5:00 p.m. Friday. It's a great way to see the new players.
10/04/98 - I learned quite a bit yesterday at the combined Miss State baseball practice/scrimmage. Here are bits and pieces of what I learned:
I was told by someone who talked to a Director of Scouting of one of the major league teams that if he was to choose which college camp to go to to learn how to pitch, he would go to Pat McMahon's. According to my source (a pitcher's father, by the way, so he had a keen interest), the director answered this question without any hesitation. You know, I have also talked to a long-time scout and he told me the same thing. Think about this: There are all of these great pitching coaches in college baseball and two long-time scouts pick our head coach as the best. That really says a lot for Coach Mac.
One member of our baseball team told me juco catcher Chris Curry has the total package: Hits for average and power (2 HRs this fall), quick throwing release, good defense, and calls a great game. Looks like Miss State was lucky Chris broke his bone last spring. If not for that, he would probably be playing professional baseball. I was told that the major league team (Detroit, I believe) that drafted him this past summer, offered him a lot of money at the end of the summer because of his great play in the Cape Cod Summer League, but he remained loyal to Miss State and honored his scholarship.
Souther Miss transfer Cliff Wren, whose nickname is basher because he is a professional wrestling fan, has hit two home runs this fall. Looks like he has more than one reason to be called "The Basher."
Last Saturday I saw Brian Wiese hit a home run. Yesterday, redshirt freshman Ricky Lambert hit one out.
Although I didn't see all of the hits yesterday (quite a few people who check out my page were at the ballpark), I did see the following players get hits:
Josh West
Brian Wiese
Ty Martin, 2 hits (looks like he is going to be a pretty good hitter)
Robbie Stillwell (also plays football)
Corey Summer
Chad Case
Chris Lotterhos
Ryan McGrath
Ricky Lambert
I'm sure there were others who had hits, but I talked to so many folks who were at the practice that I missed them.
Look for freshman pitcher Adam Larson (6-2+, 240, RHP) to be a ground ball type pitcher. His pitches (fastball, curve and changeup) have a sinking motion. He is adjusting to college ball right now, but in high school he threw in the 86-88 range. He topped out at 90 mph. Yesterday, he was throwing in the 83-85 range.
Mark Freed (6-4, 199, LHP) threw in the 81-83 range yesterday (I really think he was throwing harder but that's what the gun read).
Michael Taquino (6-3, 208, RHP) was throwing in the 83-85 range, although in high school he threw in the 86-87 range.
I saw Southern Miss pitching transfer Jason Schemmel (6-0, 172, LHP) pitch for the first time yesterday. He was throwing in the 81-83 range.
Freshmen pitcher Steven Dowe (6-0, 212, LHP) is recovering from a shoulder injury and should have his full velocity back by next spring.
Matt Ginter (6-1, 205, RHP) was clocked at 92 mph Friday. Look for his velocity to pick up as he pitches more. I also expect the same from Larson, Freed and Taquino. By the way, did you notice how many tall pitchers we now have (nine are 6-2 or better according to the roster)?
The first base and third base lines are no longer dirt but grass. I was told it will help our short game.
I was told the Maroon-White intrasquad game has been moved to Friday night because of the football game been moved to 11:30 a.m. Saturday. If you can, you ought to make it. It will be a great chance to see all the new players.
10/01/98 - Here's the latest on Meridian CC's Jeff Hunter, a pitcher Miss State is recruiting.
Jeff has visited or scheduled visits with:
Visited Alabama, Sept. 5th - Had an outstanding visit. Family very impressed with the Alabama program. Jeff is rumored to be one of their top three recruits.
Visited Southern Miss, Sept. 19th - Was treated very well by the coaches. Jeff may be their top pitching recruit.
Will visit Miss State, Oct. 17th - The rumor is Miss State's coaching staff is extremely high on Jeff and are really looking forward to his visit.
Will visit Ole Miss, Oct. 31st - Look for Ole Miss to make an all out effort to sign Jeff. It is rumored the Ole Miss staff wants him very, very badly.
My source also said Jeff has received letters from Tulane, Florida and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
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