July 1999 Unofficial MSU Baseball and Softball News

Polls:
Baseball America Top 25 -- Collegiate Baseball Top 25 -- USA Today/ESPN Top 25 -- The Sporting News Top 25

07/05/99 Go here to view pictures of the Dudy Noble / Polk-DeMent Stadium expansion.

07/30/99 - Guys, next week would be a great time to go out and watch a few Jackson Generals games. Why, you ask? Do the names Eric DuBose and Adam Piatt ring a bell? Read on:

The last time Mississippi State baseball players Eric DuBose and Adam Piatt played baseball in Mississippi was May 26, 1997, helping the Bulldogs down Washington in the finals of the NCAA Mideast Regional for a berth in the College World Series.

The Diamond Dog duo returns to the Magnolia State this week in Jackson, Miss., when their Oakland Athletics' Texas League team, the Midland Rockhounds, meet the Jackson Generals in a six-game series at Smith-Wills Stadium.

Piatt is having a remarkable season. The Fort Myers, Fla., native, heading into Thursday's series opener, is leading the Texas League in home runs (33), RBI (109), runs scored (99), extra-base hits (71), slugging percentage (.729), while ranking second in batting average (.345), doubles (36) and on-base percentage (.453) and third in hits (125).

DuBose, from Gilbertown, Ala., is 4-2 with a 5.33 ERA in 12 outings this season. He is scheduled to be the first Midland pitcher out of the pen in Friday night's game in Jackson.

Info courtesy of MSU Athletic Media Relations (Joe Dier).

07/26/99 - Here are the latest Diamond Dawg summer stats. Jamie Rock is 10th in batting in the Cape Cod League.

Player	Class	Team	League (Wood or Aluminum)	BA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB-SBA
Jason Burkley	SO	Wilmington Sharks	Coastal Carolina League (W)	.218	101	16	22	9	0	0	10	24	44	3-3
Ty Martin	SR	Hyannis Mets	Cape Cod League (W)	.257	109	13	28	4	2	3	15	14	23	3-4
Jamie Rock	SR	Yarmouth-Dennis	Cape Cod League (W)	.308	117	26	36	16	3	4	20	9	22	3-7
Lee Parks	SO	Outer Banks Daredevils	Coastal Carolina League (W)	.160	25	3	4	1	0	0	0	6	8	0-0
Brian Terry	JR	St. Cloud River Bats	Northwoods League (W)	.255	55	9	18	3	0	1	4	3	11	0-0
Lance Lamberth	FR	Wisconsin Woodchucks	Northwoods League (W)	.214	84	9	18	2	0	1	11	6	19	0-0
Jon Knott	JR	Danville	Central Illinois Collegiate League (W)	.289	142	32	41	10	0	7	28	14	23	3-3
Enrico Jones	SO	Newark Raptors	Northeastern Collegiate Baseball League (W)	.187	91	11	17	3	2	0	9	--	--	---
Phil Willingham	JR	Anchorage Glacier Pilots	Alaska Baseball League (W)	.186	70	7	13	1	0	1	8	12	11	0-0

Player	Class	Team	League (Wood or Aluminum)	ERA	W-L	G	IP	H	SO	BB	S
Mark Freed	JR	Danville	Central Illinois Collegiate League (W)	2.53	1-1	10	32.0	27	27	17	2
Adam Larson	SO	Danville	Central Illinois Collegiate League (W)	6.93	2-1	6	24.2	32	18	18	0
Justin Estel	JR	Anchorage Glacier Pilots (W)	Alaska Baseball League (W)	6.60	1-1	10	15.0	14	13	16	1
Ryan Carroll	SO	Newark Raptors	Northeastern Collegiate Baseball League (W)	4.79	2-2	---	35.2	43	25	20	0

07/24/99 - November 5th-7th has been set as the date for the ninth MSU Alumni Baseball Weekend at Dudy Noble Field. Full schedule, which will include an alumni golf tournament, alumni game, and current team scrimmage, will be announced later this fall. Hopefully, many of the former Diamond Dogs will want to come back a day or so early to catch the MSU-UK football game Nov. 4.

07/24/99 - Info provided by Joe Dier of the MSU Media Relations Department:

STARKVILLE, Miss. --- A pair of Mississippi State University baseball signees are in Tucson, Ariz., taking part in the USA Baseball Junior National team tryouts July 24-28 at the US WEST Sports Complex.

Among the 42 players vying for positions on the 18-man USA team are Hattiesburg High School right-handed pitcher Jeff Lacher and Oxford (Ala.) High School shortstop Matt Maniscalco. The roster for the 1999 USA Junior National Team, which will compete August 6-15 in the IBA World Junior Championships in Taiwan, will be announced July 28.

The team's coaching staff has a mid-south flavor, with Phil Clark of Germantown (Tenn.) serving as head coach and Petal (Miss.) High School's Larry Watkins serving as one of two assistant coaches.

The USA is the only nation to have earned a medal in each of the world championships since the event began in 1981.

07/22/99 - According to an unconfirmed rumor, Lee County's (MS) Jeff Dilliard has signed with MSU. Jeff, who is a shortstop by trade, is playing for the Mossy Oak Semi-Pro team and, according to my source, is a very good fielding shortstop who is a team player and plays well under pressure.

07/22/99 - Coming this weekend, the latest summer stats update on our Diamond Dawgs. Sorry for being so late with this.

07/19/99 - Current MSU Diamond Dawg Kevin Donovan, who is playing for the semi-pro team the Memphis Royals, threw a no-hitter a couple of days ago.

Former Diamond Dawg Brian Compton, who is playing for a semi-pro team in the Jackson area, is presently 4-0 with an ERA of 0.75 and 37 Ks in 25 innings, according to a source of mine.

07/16/99 - Add another MSU baseball signee to the list of players invited to the Junior National Trials. I was told that Matthew Maniscalco has also been invited. I was also was told that possible future MSU baseball recruit Robbie Goodson has also been invited. Robbie, for those of you who haven't read about him on my MS HS Skuttle-Butt page, is one of top 2 senior-to-be baseball players in Mississippi according to a MLB scout that I have talked to.

07/16/99 - MSU baseball signee Jeff Lacher is going to have a very interesting late summer. Read on.

Jeff Lacher of Hattiesburg, Ms a Bulldog signee has been selected by USA Baseball to participate in the Junior National Trials July 23--July 29 in Tucson Az. Only 42 baseball players (18 and under) were selected, based on various sources such as college recruiters and professional scouts, to travel to Tucson for the trials! Eighteen will be selected on the 29th to represent the United States in the World Championships in Kaohsiung,Taiwan, China on Aug.6 to Aug.15,1999. The 42 candidates will be split into 3 teams for the trials and will compete in a 4 game series among themselves and the Canadian National Team. Jeff will leave Hattiesburg on July 23rd.

If you would like to wish Jeff good luck, go to my message board and post your response under my post which has Jeff's name included in it. Here is the link: Jeff Lacher message board post.

07/14/99 - Here are the stats for a couple of former and one present Diamond Dawg who play for the Memphis Royals. I have also included their remaining schedule for those of you who would like to see them play.

Jon Harden, 5-0, 1.31ERA. 22 K's, 26-2/3 IP.
Carl Henderson, .325 Avg., .533 On-Base Avg.
Kevin Donovan, 3-0, 1.17 ERA, 33 K's, 18 IP

The Royals are currently 42-0. Here is their remaining schedule:
Wed. July 14 Memphis Lift-X at Bolton HS 6:15pm.
Fri. July 16 Memphis Red Birds at Houston HS 8:30pm.
Sat. July 17 Memphis Dodgers at Houston HS 1:00pm (DH).
Sun. July 18 at Cape Girardeau, MO 1:00pm (DH) (Donovan pitching).
Tue. July 20 Bill Speros at Christian Brothers HS 8:00pm.
Wed. July 21 - Sun. July 25 League Tournament at St. Benedict.
Wed. July 28 - Sun. August 1 USBC World Series at Evansville, Ind.
Thu. August 12 - Sun. August 15 NABF Regional at Cincinnati, Ohio.
Fri. August 20 - Sat. August 28 Universal Baseball Global Championships at USA Stadium, Millington, Tenn. (12 countries are participating, with the Royals representing the United States).

07/13/99 - I received this info from Joe Dier of the MSU Athletic Media Relations department yesterday. You are sure to enjoy it.

STARKVILLE, Miss. --- The final numbers are in, and Mississippi State's baseball team finished the 1999 campaign as the nation's top fielding team.

The Bulldogs, who posted a 42-21 mark and advanced to their fourth consecutive NCAA regional tournament and their eighth in the 1990s, compiled a school-record .974 fielding percentage. In 63 games, the Mississippi State defense turned 62 double plays and committed but 62 errors, MSU's lowest team total since 1974.

Mississippi State also finished 13th in pitching with a 4.08 earned run average and 16th in hitting with a .335, making MSU the only school with top 20 national ranking in all three team statistical categories. State also ranked seventh in scoring, averaging 9.46 runs per game, 11th in doubles with 2.48 two-baggers per outing, and 30th in slugging percentage with a .522 mark.

Among individual statistical leaders, senior righthander Hank Thoms, now pitching with the St. Paul Saints of the Independent Northern League, was 30th with an SEC-leading 2.66 earned run average, while MSU junior shortstop Travis Chapman ranked 53rd nationally with a career-best .404 batting average, third-highest in the Southeastern Conference.

07/09/99 - Please say a prayer for the Kenny Kurtz family today. Kenny lost his precious 16-year old daughter, Kayln, a few days ago in an automobile accident in Florida. An 18-wheeler rammed the rear-end of the car Kenny and his daughter were in. Kenny was injured pretty seriously but should be fine. Mary Ann and I do not have children, so I can't say I understand what Kenny, his wife and their other daughter, Kylie, are going through right now, but I know it must be the absolutely worse thing a family has to deal with in their lifetime. Kenny, if you read this, I want you to know you and your family are in the hearts and prayers of thousands of Bulldog fans today............

07/09/99 - Current Diamond Dawg Jim Abraham was the winning pitcher as the Arlinton Senators defeated the Mount Airy Sharks 3 to 1 on July 4th. Jim, who pitched 6 innings, gave up 1 runs on 5 hits, 1 walk and struck out 5.

07/09/99 - Former Diamond Dawg Carl Henderson also plays for the same team as Kevin Donovan and Jon Harden. The team is the Memphis Royals.

07/08/99 - Current Diamond Dawg Kevin Donovan is playing baseball in Memphis this summer. So far this summer, he is 3-0, with an 0.88 ERA and 29 K's in 16 innings. The team he plays for is currently 38-0 on the season. Former Diamond Dawg Jon Harden also plays for the same team. Hopefully, I will be able to get Jon's stats soon.

07/07/99 - I received this letter from the family of Diamond Dawg Chris Lotterhos. It is their way of expressing their appreciation to their Mississippi State Baseball Family.

Two years ago our son, Chris, decided to leave the Ole Miss baseball program. Once he was granted a release, he came to Starkville to visit with Coach Pat McMahon during the 1997 Regionals. We met with Pat McMahon in his office and after the visit my wife, Carolyn, and I said to each other, "He is the kind of coach we want our son to play for." From the Left Field Lounge, as we stood atop one of the highest points overlooking a crowd of almost 10,000, Chris got this gleam in his eye and said, "This is what I want to be a part of." That night Chris decided to transfer to Mississippi State. We told him that his family would support him 100 percent if that was what he wanted. Chris never looked back from that moment on. He became a part of the "best college baseball program in America."

It wasn't long into the fall season that we learned of the "Mississippi State Baseball Family." The first game of the 1998 season we walked into Dudy Noble stadium and a guy named J.C. Patton came up to us to welcome our family. This man is what Mississippi State is all about. His smiling face and sincere greeting made us feel accepted. We met a couple by the name of Chuck and Marnetta Henderson, who we will always remember for the way they welcomed our family to State. As the season went on, Steve Cummins - we call him "Cousin Eddie" - became Chris' biggest fan. Chris' foster parents, the Johnsons and the Tingels, made us feel like Chris had a home away from home. We appreciate everything they did.

We have enjoyed the Starkville Daily News in our mailbox almost every day and the Dawg Bite each week. The coverage of Mississippi State baseball is unbelievable. Gene Swindoll's Internet sites are a labor of love. We have really enjoyed the "scuttle-butt". Thanks to Joe Dier, sports information director. You are the best. Thanks to Craig Jackson for his labor of love taking "digital" photos. We will cherish the great memories you captured these last two years. Thanks to our special friends John and Leslie for their friendship and sharing your peanuts at the games. We always sat behind them for good luck and great company. I could mention all the parents of players and fans that we have become friends with but there are too many to name. All of you have added to our enjoyment of this experience. Every game I would put on my earphones and listen to Jim Ellis. Even when things didn't go so well, he found something positive to say. Jim loves what he is doing and he loves Mississippi State Baseball. What a great person and announcer.

To all the fans, you are what makes Bulldog baseball. Your support is the best in the country. The Left Field Lounge is like no other. We would start at one end and eat our way to the other. This tradition is one thing that separates you from all other programs. Cherish it.

From our standpoint as parents of a player, I want you to know how fortunate Mississippi State is to have a head coach like Pat McMahon. He is a man of his word who puts family and character above all. He has the ability to make a player believe in himself and be willing to "lay everything on the line" for State. He was always positive even in defeat. He never publicly criticized his players when they made mistakes. He was always quick to praise every player on his team.

Charlie Anderson, Jim Case, Tommy Raffo and Matt Ishee are some of the finest men I have ever been around. Like McMahon, they have been the coaches any parent would want their son to play for, always supporting and encouraging each and every player. We can never thank this coaching staff enough for the way they coached with love for each player on the team.

We may not have made it back to the College World Series this year, but the players gave it all they had to give. They "left it on the field" in Columbus, Ohio. This program will be there next year without a doubt. The players who will be back next year got a taste and they will be hungry to take it all the way in 2000.

I can't begin to express my thanks to Mississippi State, Dr. Portera and Larry Templeton, Pat McMahon, and the "Baseball Family" for taking us in these last two years. It has been the ride of our lives. Thank God for the experience he allowed Chris and our family to have at Mississippi State. See you next season.

With all sincerity,

THE LOTTERHOS FAMILY

07/07/99 - For a chance to win a $50 or $25 gift certificate to Rick's Cafe, visit the MSU Bulldog Fan Club at their website, which is located at http://bvfc.freeservers.com

07/05/99 - Click here to check out the latest pictures of the Dudy Noble / Polk-DeMent Stadium expansion.

07/02/99 - Thanks to Jeanie Cooke, Executive Director of the Danville Area Convention and Visitors Center, for the News-Gazette article about Diamond Dawg Jon Knott. If you would like to email Jeanie a thank you note, her email address is DAVCB1@aol.com according to the official Danville Economic Development site. Here are a few excerpts from the article.

(Jon) has started every game at third base and has hit in the heart of the order. After a rugged start, Knott has begun to turn on the power.

He belted a pair of homers Sunday to bring his league-leading total to four and went 2 for 5 with two doubles and two RBI Tuesday night in Danville's 9-8 win against visiting Decatur.

Now batting .242 with 12 RBI for the Dans.

...(Jon) will likely take over first base (for MSU) after starting two years in the outfield.

He's a guy that's got a lot of power. The thing with him is he's not afraid to drive it the other way. He hit a home run in Decatur to right-center -- Quote from Danville manager Tim Bunton.

07/01/99 - Here are the latest Diamond Dawg summer stats:

Player	Class	Team	League (Wood or Aluminum)	BA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB-SBA
Jason Burkley	SO	Wilmington Sharks	Coastal Carolina League (W)	.300	40	9	12	5	0	0	7	14	16	2-2
Lee Parks	SO	Outer Banks Daredevils	Coastal Carolina League (W)	.100	20	3	2	0	0	0	0	4	6	0-0
Brian Terry	JR	St. Cloud River Bats	Northwoods League (W)	.316	19	4	6	2	0	0	2	0	6	0-0
Jon Knott	JR	Danville	Central Illinois Collegiate League (W)	.228	57	11	13	2	0	4	10	6	10	0-0
Enrico Jones	SO	Newark Raptors	Northeastern Collegiate Baseball League (W)	.242	33	8	8	2	1	0	5	--	--	---
Phil Willingham	JR	Anchorage Glacier Pilots	Alaska Baseball League (W)	.172	29	5	5	0	0	1	4	4	6	---

Player	Class	Team	League (Wood or Aluminum)	ERA	W-L	G	IP	H	SO	BB	S
Mark Freed	JR	Danville	Central Illinois Collegiate League (W)	4.58	1-1	4	17.2	16	15	13	0
Adam Larson	SO	Danville	Central Illinois Collegiate League (W)	4.91	1-0	2	11	9	9	8	0
Justin Estel	JR	Anchorage Glacier Pilots (W)	Alaska Baseball League (W)	7.33	1-0	5	7.1	7	7	4	1
Ryan Carroll	SO	Newark Raptors	Northeastern Collegiate Baseball League (W)	9.90	0-2	---	10.0	19	5	4	0

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