Archive for June, 2010

Clemson vs. South Carolina Preview; Palmetto State Showdown

– June 26, 2010Posted in: 2010 CWS, 2010 NCAA Tourney, ACC, CBD Column, General CBB News, SEC

This season’s fifth meeting between Clemson and South Carolina on Saturday evening in just another chapter in the Palmetto State rivalry, but this one will hold a little more weight than most meetings. Having split the season series 2-2, the winner of today’s matchup advances to the Championship Round of the College World Series, where they will face the winner of UCLA and TCU. Clemson, playing out of the winner’s bracket after handily beating #1 National Seed Arizona State and Oklahoma, was riding high into Friday night’s contest where they were dispatched in a lackluster 3-hit effort against starting pitcher Michael Roth and the Gamecocks, and are now scrambling to find answers at the plate while South Carolina is riding high after three straight victories.

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Tags: 2010 CWS, 2010 NCAA Tourney, ACC, CBD Column, Clemson, SEC, South Carolina

South Carolina, Roth, Dominate Clemson

Mark Rafferty

– June 25, 2010Posted in: 2010 CWS, 2010 NCAA Tourney, ACC, SEC

FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE

OMAHA – South Carolina starter Michael Roth delivered a career-best performance, tossing a complete-game three-hitter en route to the Gamecocks’ 5-1 win over Clemson on Friday night in the College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium. The two teams will square off again on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT in the Bracket Two finale, with the winner advancing to the championship finals beginning Monday.

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Tags: 2010 CWS, 2010 NCAA Tourney, ACC, Clemson, SEC, South Carolina

Matt Purke Shuts Down UCLA, TCU Wins 6-2

Mark Rafferty

– June 25, 2010Posted in: 2010 CWS, 2010 NCAA Tourney, Mountain West, Pac 12

Matt Purke improved to 16-0 on the season as TCU dominated UCLA in a 6-2 victory. Purke wasn’t overly dominant with only two strikeouts over 6.1 IP, but forced eight of the first nine Bruin hitters to ground out, not allowing a hit until the fifth inning as Chris Giovanazzo reached on an bunt.

Rob Rasmussen (11-3), who statistically was UCLA’s best pitcher this season as the Sunday starter, picked up the loss as he gave up three ER in 4.1 IP. He gave up six hits and three walks on the outing, raising his WHIP to 1.1 but it wasn’t necessarily a bad outing. Rasmussen struck out six Horned Frogs, but couldn’t get any help from his offense as the Bruins only registered 4 hits in the contest, none of which were for extra bases. Garrett Claypool was strong in his first inning of work, but then gave up Home Runs to Featherston and Holaday to seal the victory for TCU. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2010 CWS, 2010 NCAA Tourney, Mountain West, Pac 12, TCU, UCLA

UC Irvine’s Daniel Bibona Wins Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award

Mark Rafferty

– June 25, 2010Posted in: Big West, National Awards

FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE

(Overland Park, KS) – Five-time all-American and Big West Conference pitcher of the year Daniel Bibona from the University of California, Irvine, has been selected as the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award winner for baseball.

The award, chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I baseball coaches, national media and fans, is awarded annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in NCAA® Division I baseball. The announcement and trophy presentation were made today by Lowe’s, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, during the NCAA College World Series® in Omaha.

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Tags: Big West, Lowe's Senior Class Award, National Awards, UC-Irvine

Former LSU Star Chad Jones Injured in Car Accident

Brian Foley

– June 25, 2010Posted in: SEC

Former LSU dual sport athlete Chad Jones was seriously injured in New Orleans this morning after getting in an automobile accident. He slammed his SUV into a streetcar pole on North Carrollton Avenue, near Canal Street in downtown New Orleans. He was physically removed from the car and doctors stated that he had fractured his left leg and had arteries and nerves exposed. They were also trying to restart blood flow to his foot. He was selected by the New York Giants in the third round of the NFL draft and signed a 4-year, $2.616 million contract. He also stars on the baseball diamond where in 2009 he was an integral part of the LSU bullpen especially during the NCAA Tourney as he had a 2.70 ERA in 6.1 innings of work. He did not play baseball during the 2010 season as he focused on his football intentions but was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers.

(UPDATE WITH INTERVIEW OF CHAD’S FATHER AFTER THE JUMP)

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Tags: Football, LSU, SEC

UCLA’s Rasmussen tries to Close out TCU

Brian Foley

– June 25, 2010Posted in: 2010 CWS, 2010 NCAA Tourney, Mountain West, Pac 12

Rob Rasmusssen is set to take the ball today for the UCLA Bruins against the TCU Horned Frogs as the Bruins are looking to advance into the CWS Championship Series. I had a chance to see Rasmussen in the 2009 Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game where he gave up two runs (both unearned) in one inning and gave up a long hit off the center field wall by Zack Cox. (FULL ARTICLE). Rasmussen is currently 11-2 with a 2.73 ERA in 17 starts including one complete game. He will face off against TCU freshman stud lefty Matt Purke who has a 15-0 record with a 3.03 ERA.

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Tags: 2010 CWS, 2010 NCAA Tourney, Mountain West, Pac 12, TCU, UCLA

Ricky Oropesa Showing Skills in the Cape Cod League

Mark Rafferty

– June 25, 2010Posted in: Cape Cod League, General CBB News, Pac 12

Ricky Oropesa carried the offense for the Pac-10 Cellar Dwellars, the USC Trojans, leading in Batting Average, Homeruns, RBI, Doubles, OBP, SLG, Walks, and Steals. Oropesa is going to be able to focus on different parts of his game now that he isn’t carrying an inept offense like the one he leads at Dedeaux Field, as he is playing in the Cape Cod League for the Chatham Anglers. He will have a chance to be a first round pick next season if he stays healthy, and he is already off to a great start with the wood bat, hitting .289 with 2 Home Runs.

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Tags: Cape Cod League, Pac 12, USC

Ricklefsen promoted at Lamar

Brian Foley

– June 25, 2010Posted in: Southland Conference

FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE

On the heels of a Southland Conference Tournament championship and a run to the NCAA Regionals, Lamar University baseball coach Jim Gilligan has announced that longtime assistant Jim Ricklefsen has been promoted to associate head coach.

Ricklefsen just completed his 13th season with the Cardinals baseball program, helping Lamar to four NCAA Regional appearances. Lamar has won at least 35 games in nine of Ricklefsen’s 13 seasons.

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Tags: Lamar, Southland Conference

CBB Review: Pocket Radar

Brian Foley

– June 25, 2010Posted in: New Products

I recently had a chance to review the Pocket Radar before it went to the market a few weeks back. I took it to six games over two different weekends at Boston College baseball games with them facing off against both Florida State and Georgia Tech.

I sat in the first row behind the plate which is about 20 feet behind the catcher and received so-so results with it picking up the velocity of the pitcher about 50 percent of the time. I thought that I would have picked up more pitchers with this so I was disappointed.

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Tags: New Products, Pocket Radar

CWS Game 10 Recap: South Carolina scores 2 in the 12th to edge Oklahoma 3-2

Brian Foley

– June 24, 2010Posted in: 2010 CWS, 2010 NCAA Tourney, Big 12, SEC

FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE

OMAHA – The South Carolina Gamecocks outdueled the Oklahoma Sooners, 3-2, in a thrilling 12-inning contest on Thursday night at Rosenblatt Stadium before a crowd of 24,180, the largest of this year’s College World Series. South Carolina advances to face in-state foe Clemson on Friday at 8 p.m. CT in the Bracket Two finals.

Although pitching ruled the first 11 innings, it was timely hitting that proved the difference in the final frame. The Sooners took a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 12th thanks to a solo home run off the bat of catcher Tyler Ogle, his 11^th of the season and second in as many games. But South Carolina generated a pair of runs on three singles, two coming with two outs, including the game-winning base-knock from designated hitter Brady Thomas to capture the win.

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Tags: 2010 CWS, 2010 NCAA Tourney, Big 12, Oklahoma, SEC, South Carolina

CWS Game 9 Recap: TCU uses late rally to eliminate FSU

Brian Foley

– June 24, 2010Posted in: 2010 CWS, 2010 NCAA Tourney, ACC, Mountain West

FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE

OMAHA – TCU overcame a late four-run deficit and came back to defeat the Florida State Seminoles 11-7 on the strength of Matt Curry’s eighth-inning grand slam in Game 9 of the Men’s College World Series, Wednesday at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Florida State broke out early as Sherman Johnson and Mike McGee hit back-to-back solo home runs off TCU starter Steven Maxwell to give the Seminoles a quick 2-0 lead. Maxwell avoided further damage by getting Jayce Boyd to ground out after Stephen Cardullo singled and stole second. The Seminoles left with a 2-0 lead after the first inning.

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Tags: 2010 CWS, 2010 NCAA Tourney, ACC, Florida State, Mountain West, TCU

CWS Game 8 Recap: Clemson defeats Oklahoma 6-4

Brian Foley

– June 23, 2010Posted in: 2010 CWS, 2010 NCAA Tourney, ACC, Big 12

FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE

OMAHA – Clemson took a 6-1 lead into the resumption of Tuesday’s suspended game and held on for a 6-4 victory over Oklahoma in Game 8 of the Men’s College World Series, Wednesday at Rosenblatt Stadium