Collegiate The Voice Of Amateur Baseball

Started In 1958 At The Request Of Our Nation’s Baseball Coaches Vol. 62, No. 6 Friday, March 22, 2019 $4.00 -By- Numbers Skyrocket In 2019 At current pace, 18 hit. regardless of the location of the New Mexico State led the nation pitch. He must also avoid being hit teams would re-write in 10 offensive categories early in whenever possible, unless the pitch NCAA Record Book in the season and were hitting .423 with is within the batter’s box occupied hit-by-pitch category. 18 homers, 9 triples, 23 doubles and by the batter. If the batter’s action is forced 57 walks by opponents with their deemed intentional, then: By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR. disciplined approach. “a) If the ball is in the Editor/Collegiate Baseball Last year, the Aggies led the nation when it touches the batter, or if the with 119 hit-by-pitches in 62 games. batter moves to intentionally get hit NDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — A The top 18 teams in the nation this or freezes to allow a pitch that is not shocking statistical trend is taking season in hit-by-pitches are on track within the batter’s box to hit him, place early in the season with the to be ranked in the top two all-time in the ball is dead, it shall be called a I hit-by-pitch history if they keep up their strike and the batter is not awarded high number of hit batters. Indiana State leads NCAA Division current pace. first base. I schools in total number of hit batters The No. 18 team (Southeast Missouri “b) If the ball is within the batter’s with 29 in 9 games. St.) would project to have 133 hit- box occupied by the batter and Incredibly, 12 different batters by-pitches 56 games (19 HBP in 8 the batter makes no movement to have been hit-by-pitches so far. Over games). intentionally get hit by the pitch, the a 56-game schedule that would be 180 Obviously, this could be more if a team batter is awarded first base. In other hit-by-pitches which would shatter the plays in a conference tournament and words, a batter who freezes inside old mark. continues in the NCAA tournament. the batter’s box and who is hit by the The NCAA Division all-time What makes these hit-by-pitch pitch shall be awarded first base. record is 152 in 58 games set during numbers surprising is that the NCAA “2) If the pitch is ball four, the the 2012 season by Delaware St. Committee put an batter shall be awarded first base and Ranked second is Campbell with emphasis on stopping batters who credited for being hit by the pitch 133 hit-by-pitches in 54 games during purposely get hit by pitches heading into (the ball is immediately dead).” the 2011 season. the 2019 season. Furthermore, the NCAA Baseball New Mexico State has been hit a The 2019/2020 NCAA Baseball Rule Rules Committee doesn’t allow any number of times as well to kick off the Book states: arguing now with a hit-by-pitch. If 2019 season with 28 in 9 games. “1) A batter may not make a movement Ten different players have been to intentionally get hit by the pitch, See HIT-BY-PITCH, Page 2 Batters are getting hit in record numbers.

Shares Insight Into Being A Consistent, Polished Hitter The Art Of Hitting With Cal’s Andrew Vaughn Vaughn puts up staggering season and is expected to be one of the first picks in the 2019 MLB Draft next June. hitting numbers and explains He was the Pac-12 Player of The Year what his system is to being so last season and a Collegiate Baseball All- consistent with power. American. Vaughn is also a premier defender at first base By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR. as he earned 2018 Pac-12 All-Defensive team Editor/Collegiate Baseball honors with a .992 fielding percentage (only 4 errors in 497 chances). ERKELEY, Calif. — Andrew Vaughn is This season, he hasn’t committed an in one of the elite hitters in the history of 85 chances. Bcollege baseball. Passion To Hit Started Young The for the Bears is hitting Vaughn said he was 3-4 years old when .529 (18-for-34) and has belted 7 home runs he started learning how to hit from his father with 18 RBI and walked 15 times in 10 games Toby. this season. “I remember my dad coming home from In two recent games against St. Mary’s, he hit work with his orange shirt and his jeans since he 2 home runs in each contest and compiled 9 RBI worked for the city of Cotati (California). as he was named Collegiate Baseball’s National “I couldn’t wait until he walked through the Player of The Week. door at home (Santa Rosa, Calif.) so I could hit. He has a slugging percentage of 1.176 and He would flip balls to me as I hit with a small on-base percentage of .680 this season. bat. Then I would hit balls off a tee. We would One year ago during the 2018 season, he hit go at it for hours in the backyard. .402 with 23 doubles, 14 doubles and 63 RBI “I was involved in organized baseball at a very over 54 games. young age with underhand pitch and hit from the His .402 mark ranked third in Cal - right side. My dad told me that if I ever hit two season history while his 23 home runs equaled home runs in a game, I could spin around and hit the Bears’ single-season record set by Xavier from the left side. The home barrier was only Nady in 1999. 100 feet away defined by cones.

Photo by Rob Edwards/KLCFotos.com The 6-foot, 214-pound Vaughn, who hits from California’s Andrew Vaughn (right) was taught to hit by his dad. the right side, won the last See VAUGHN UTILIZES PLAN, Page 3 Inside Collegiate Baseball Web Site: www.baseballnews.com Greatest Turnaround In History Nearly Impossible To Strike Incredibe Importance Of Sleep New coaching staff at William St. Olaf’s T.J. Rogers only fanned Athletes and coaches must get Jessup formulates ingenius plan 1 time in 126 plate appearances their rest, and Dr. James Maas to increase win total by 31/Page 6 in 2018, and here’s why/Page 12 explains how to do it/Page 4 Page  Collegiate Baseball Friday, March 22, 2019 Dick Bergquist, Fred Hill Pass Collegiate Baseball The Voice Of Away, ABCA Hall Of Famers Amateur Baseball AMHERST, Mass. – Two stalwarts of college baseball have passed away. Collegiate Baseball (ISSN 0530-9751) is published twice a month Former University of January-May and once in June, July, September and October Massachusetts Head Dick (14 total issues) by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Inc., 2515 Bergquist died on Feb. 24 at the N. Stone Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705. Periodicals postage paid at age of 86. Tucson, AZ. Former Rutgers Head Coach Fred Hill passed away at age 84. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Dick Bergquist Collegiate Baseball Bergquist was at the helm of P.O. Box 50566 UMass baseball from 1967-87. Tucson, AZ 85703 “We are deeply saddened to Overnight Mail: 2515 N. Stone Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705 hear the news of Coach Bergquist’s passing,” said Director of Past Publishers: Abe Chanin, Lou Pavlovich, Sr. Athletics Ryan Bamford. Single 1-Year Subscription Rate: $28 for 14 issues. “Coach was revered in baseball Single 1-Year First Class U.S. Subscription: $45 circles and his lifelong impact was Single 1-Year Foreign Air Mail Subscription: $50 unmistakable, both at our university Special Team Subscriptions: 11 papers each issue sent to one and especially our baseball program. address — $110 ( $198 off the single subscription price), and We extend our sincere condolences 21 papers each issue sent to one address — $189 (save $399). Other Multiple Subscription Offers: Please inquire with sub- to Sonya and the entire Bergquist DICK BERGQUIST FRED HILL scription department at (520) 623-4530. family during this difficult time.” A man with a reputation of 24 national ranking. His 1969 operated like a professional. I owe winning, modesty and class, ball club brought a second New him a lot.” Directory Bergquist compiled a lifetime England Championship to UMass He also spent four years as the record of 392-321-5, retiring as the and represented the region in that Executive Director of the American year’s College World . Then Baseball Coaches Association Area Code (520) winningest coach in the history of Publisher: Lou Pavlovich, Jr. (Call 623-4530) nicknamed the Redmen, the squad UMass baseball. before retiring in 1994. Editor: Lou Pavlovich, Jr. (Call 623-4530 to report stories) During his tenure, his ball clubs was the first in UMass history to Rutgers’ Fred Hill Advertising Director: Diane Pavlovich (Call 623-4530) captured seven Yankee Conference win 20 games, finishing 22-10 Former Rutgers Head Coach Subscription Department: (Call 623-4530) championships, two New England overall. Fred Hill compiled 1,089 collegiate Fax Machine: (Call 624-5501) championships, one Atlantic 10 Bergquist’s impact on amateur wins, including 941 in 30 years E-Mail: [email protected] Conference championship and baseball throughout the world is leading the Scarlet Knights. Web Site: www.baseballnews.com a fifth-place finish at the 1969 well-documented, having served as Hill is a member of American College in Omaha, a United States Baseball Federation Baseball Coaches Association Hall 2019 Publication Schedule Neb. ambassador and clinician for of Fame and the Rutgers Athletics “From all angles, Coach numerous years. Hall of Fame. His many accomplishments January 4 March 8 May 3 September 6 Bergquist was a selfless and kind “Fred Hill was more than a hall January 25 March 22 May 17 October 4 earned him induction into various of fame coach. He was a hall of February 8 April 5 June 14 man who cared deeply about February 22 April 19 July 12 UMass baseball well beyond his halls of fame, including the American fame person,” said Director of time here as coach and was beloved Baseball Coaches Association Athletics Pat Hobbs. by his players and colleagues,” said (1989), UMass Athletics (1999), “His impact is far greater than current UMass head coach Matt the New England Intercollegiate 1,089 career baseball victories. Moving? Reynolds. Baseball Association (2017) and It’s beyond measure and lives Western Massachusetts Baseball Make Sure CB Moves Along With You! “I remember Coach Bergquist within the countless individuals he To change your address, please write us 30 days in advance if even through very brief interactions (2017). coached, mentored and inspired. “My biggest enjoyment at UMass you can. Mail to: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper I had with him dating back 15 The entire Rutgers community will Dept. Address Change is the daily contact with the players years ago when I was a player and miss him dearly.” P.O. Box 50566 assistant coach here. He was that and relating with them,” Bergquist “Where do I start?” Head Tucson, Ariz. 85703 kind of guy and someone that you said in 1984, while chair of the Coach and former player Joe didn’t forget. NCAA Baseball Committee. “My Litterio said. 1. Please print OLD address here. “My new role with UMass biggest thrill is to watch a player “How do you say goodbye to a NAME baseball had afforded me the return a few years after graduation man who has meant so much to so STREET APT. # and talking with them.” opportunity to get to know Coach many different people? He was a CITY STATE ZIP Bergquist much better, and for that A man whose service to UMass leader by example. I am very thankful. I am sure that spanned a quarter of a century, he “He taught us to do things DATE OF was also honored in 1991, when his I speak for everyone here in the the right way, to win with class. MOVE: UMass community, and especially jersey number was retired and the Nothing fancy, just old-fashioned the members of the 1969 team who bleachers at Earl Lorden Field were hard work. And that was just the 2. Please print NEW address here. officially dedicated in his name. will be back on campus later this baseball side of him. NAME “I’m extremely grateful and season, that Coach Bergquist will “He taught us much more than STREET APT. # honored by the retirement of my the fundamentals of baseball. He be missed dearly.” CITY STATE ZIP Born in 1932 and raised in number and the naming of the taught us the fundamentals of Orange, Mass., Bergquist graduated bleachers,” said Bergquist. life.” from Orange High School in 1950 “But,” he continued in his Hill is survived by his wife of 62 on Feb. 20, 2014 with a record of Hill sent 73 players to professional and initially enrolled at Bates gentlemanly sense of humor, years, Evelyn. They are the proud 941-658-7 (.588), totaling the most baseball, with 12 making the big College, where he earned one letter “I think the University should parents of six children: Nancy, Fred, wins in Rutgers history across any leagues, and developed 20 All- apiece in football and baseball. probably have named the bleachers Linda, Jim, Tracey and Karen. sport. Americans. After a two-year tour of duty in after my wife, Sonya. After all, They also have numerous He earned 11 NCAA Regional The indoor training facility for the U.S. Army during the Korean she’s the one who sat in them for grandchildren, nieces and appearances, 12 regular season Rutgers baseball was named after War, he entered the University of 21 years!” nephews. conference championships and the legendary skipper, the Fred Massachusetts. As Bergquist was presented his Known as “Moose,” Hill retired eight conference tournament titles Hill Training Complex, and opened For two years, he was a fullback uniform encased in a glass frame as Scarlet Knights’ head coach during his tenure at Rutgers. in 2017. on the football team and on that day, he witnessed the unveiling the baseball team, graduating cum of a six-foot high, maroon and white laude from UMass in 1957 with a UM #26 sign, which continues to serve as a remembrance of the many Hit-By-Pitch Numbers Surprisingly Up degree in physical education. Continued From Page 1 “I have received nine ejection current early trend. contributions he made to UMass Bergquist was part of the 1957 reports on coaches or players “I saw different series during baseball. baseball team, which won the a coach comes out to argue a hit- because they came out to argue the first two weeks of the season Appropriately located in left field Yankee Conference title under head by-pitch call or non-call, he will batters being hit. in Arizona and Florida, and I near the UMass , the sign is coach Earl Lorden. immediately be ejected. “In one case, a coach was warned didn’t see any unusual hit-by-pitch a fitting tribute to the man who He went on to receive a master’s The rule states: not to come out to argue a hit activity. All I saw was umpires helped send 34 players, including 17 degree from the University of “If a coach leaves the or batter, and the coach responded, enforcing the rule as written. If a , to . Maryland and embarked on a brief his position to argue a ball or strike ‘F**** the rule.’ So that coach hitter purposely got hit by a pitch, The late Mike Flanagan, who public school teaching career. call (including a half swing or hit- was tossed. the umpire would keep that batter won the 1979 A.L. He returned to UMass in 1959 to by-pitch), the coach may be ejected “Coaches must understand the from going to first base unless it Award, said of Bergquist in 1987, serve as an assistant under Lorden without warning.” new rule in place now doesn’t allow was strike three and he was out. “He helped me more than anyone and head coach of the freshman Batters are not allowed to argue a coach to argue a hit-by-pitch by “I don’t know whether these along the way to pro ball. A lot baseball team, a post he held for hit-by-pitches as well. definition. Umpires don’t have to numbers are being caused by bad of the big baseball schools were seven years until taking the reins George Drouches, the NCAA’s give a warning to a coach before pitching early in the season or looking at me but they backed out of the varsity team when Lorden National Coordinator of Umpires, ejecting him if he chooses to come batters purposely getting hit-by- when they had heard that I had hurt retired ahead of the 1967 season. was at a loss to explain the high out and argue a hit-by-pitch call.” pitches or a combination. With the my arm. Bergquist immediately picked rate of hit-by-pitches early in the Drouches said he has not emphasis we have on not allowing “Coach still wanted to give me a up where Lorden left off, coaching season. personally seen teams purposely batters to purposely get hit-by- scholarship–even if I never pitched. his first team to the 1967 Yankee “I don’t understand it at all,” said trying to be hit-by-pitches and was pitches, these numbers are very He was a college coach, but he Conference crown and to a No. Drouches. trying to wrap his mind around the surprising.” Friday, March 22, 2019 Collegiate Baseball Page  Human Hitting Machine Vaughn Utilizes Plan To Slow Pitches Down Which Works Wonders Continued From Page 1 people take it one game at a time. But I believe that taking it one pitch “So for a short period of time, at a time is even better.” I also hit lefthanded while I was Vaughn doesn’t keep a hitting growing up. And I hit two or three diary or write much down on home runs from the left side.” opposing pitchers or umpires he talked a lot about being Vaughn said he never pursued faces to get an edge. in the batter’s box with a glove on being a after that point “What I like to do is simply “ because he did so well from the compete against the guy on the right side and felt comfortable. mound no matter how good he is. his hand and catching pitches coming His go to person for hitting help I remember facing UCLA RHP toward the strike zone. He asked why has always been his dad Toby. Griffin Canning (second round pick “My dad knows my swing better in 2017 by ) my can’t you simply do that with the barrel than anybody, and he typically freshman year at Cal. knows what I need to do get back “I knew he was going to be a of your bat — the pitch every on track. Whenever I am feeling in high draft pick, but I still believed a funk or a little down, I call him that I could beat him. I went 2-for-3 time? up. He always knows what fine off him (with a , 1 run scored adjustments I should make. and 1 RBI). — 1B Andrew Vaughn, “I might be wrapping my bat a “I try to have that mentality Univ. of California little too much or doing something every time I step in the batter’s box else, and I wouldn’t necessarily feel that I am better than the pitcher.” it. He knows almost immediately Vaughn said he strives to be an what I need to do to fix the problem. old school hitter. He might even make a video and “It is important that I don’t strike covered up my face. “I pride myself being a disciplined complete hitter. So I work on hitting send it to me to visually show me. out a lot and put the ball in play “But the home plate umpire hitter and work hard at not swinging pitches up the middle or driving “Then I will typically get in the when I hit. All the way back when I in this game didn’t let me go to at pitches outside the strike zone. I them the other way as you allow cage and work on that and be more was a little kid, striking out was the first. He thought I was trying to want pitchers to throw in my zone pitches to get deep. ” productive the next day.” worst feeling in the world. purposely get hit by the pitch. I was to get me out. If I swing at pitches “By doing that in practice “Even today when I get to a Slowing Pitches Down simply trying to keep from being hit outside the box (strike zone), then it efficiently, I can be on time and 2-strike , I will shorten up Vaughn says to see pitches well, in the head. My Coach (Mike Neu) means I am getting myself out. early to a baseball during games and hit the ball. I believe there are you must have a plan. came out to argue and was ejected “If I bring the challenge to and still have my barrel in the zone many, many spots on a baseball “I simply try to slow pitches by the home plate umpire. the pitcher, that gives me a big for as long as possible. If I pull a field to get a base hit. You just have down by picking out a seam and see “I always wear a huge elbow advantage. pitch, I can keep it straight and not to put the ball in play and find an it coming toward the strike zone. By guard over my left arm when “Barry Bonds talked a lot about hook it. If I hit a ball the other way, I open area.” doing that, it makes the ball appear hitting, and the umpire probably being in the batter’s box with a want to have power there as well. to travel slower. It is a technique How Pitchers Attack Him assumed I was trying to get hit on glove on his hand and catching “I want to have power from the that has worked well for me. Vaughn was asked what different purpose. pitches coming toward the strike right field foul pole to the left field “Another thing I try to do is pitchers and pitching coaches “There are definitely some zone. He asked why can’t you foul pole.” keep my eyes level and attempt to in the Pac-12 have tried in an hitters who purposely try to get hit simply do that with the barrel of Early in the count, Vaughn stay balanced. If I am balanced like attempt to get him out over the past by pitchers and turn into pitches. your bat — catch the pitch every always has a plan against every type this, it gives me more time to react three seasons — mainly with little Umpires are cracking down on time? of pitcher he faces. instead of lunging at the ball which success. that. But in that instance, I didn’t “That one comment blew my “A lot of my preparation prior is not productive. “It really changes depending on want to get hit in the head with mind because I had never thought to games is focused on what the “When I lunge at pitches, the the pitcher and philosophy of the that pitch.” of hitting like that. I took it to heart, pitcher has and what his plan might speed of the ball picks up. If a pitching coach. Sometimes pitchers Vaughn has been walked 15 and the concept really works.” be against me. pitcher throws a when you who throw really hard try to go in times in 10 games so far this season. Hits High In Lineup “If he is throwing away to batters lunge at it, you might try to hit this on me. Then there are the thumber More than ever, pitchers are trying This season, Vaughn started the a lot, then you must adjust to those pitch in the dirt. guys who throw 84-85 mph on to work him carefully with fewer season first in the lineup. pitches. If they decide to throw me “Seeing the pitch as long as Sundays, and they will pitches to hit. But the next seven games, he inside a lot, you must be ready for possible is absolutely crucial so I you to death. But it hasn’t mattered as Vaughn batted second. those pitches. As a hitter, you must get the best recognition of the pitch “The key is having a good plan is hitting .529 with 7 homers and Typically hitters of his stature bat have a plan with each pitcher and coming. That helps with any pitch. prior to stepping into the batter’s 18 RBI. cleanup in the . attack those pitches. If it is a 2-seam , I can see box with a good scouting report. I “If I know a fastball is coming, Student Of Barry Bonds “I’m sure Mike Neu and Noah those two seams or a pitch with have to be ready for whatever any Vaughn grew up in Santa Rosa, Jackson have me batting higher in one solid seam bearing down on pitcher has. See WISDOM OF, Page 5 Calif. which is about 60 miles from the lineup to get me as many at-bats the strike zone. Four-seam “I don’t really focus on the San Francisco. as possible. are more solid looking while sliders umpire’s strike zone too much. I During his youth, he studied “With Darren Baker in front of look like a little dot. just have to trust my own strike CheapBats.com Barry Bonds every chance he me, he sets the table so well as does “The best pitchers have great zone that I know is a strike and got since he played for the San Cameron Eden. Those guys get on 1-800-589-HITS deception in this area. Look at ball for most umpires. Sometimes Francisco Giants at the time. base quite a bit which allows me to Order today Kevin Abel of Oregon State. I felt that can hurt me because at times Bonds holds the Major League get good pitches to hit.” he did the best job of doing this different umpires make mistakes. have it tomorrow Baseball record with last year. He could throw a 4-seam I really pride myself with my eye Approach For Consistency 762. fastball up in the zone and then at the plate when a pitch is slightly Vaughn said that being consistent He was one of the most throw a off that. Both down, up or off the plate. is the hallmark of all great baseball disciplined hitters in history as he pitches had the same spin which “When it comes down to it, it players. walked an MLB record 2,558 times is rare. One was just going down is all about competing against the “For me, trying to utilize the over 22 years and was intentionally while the other was going up.” pitcher. The umpire shouldn’t be a entire field is vital in being a walked an MLB record 688 times. The mental area of pitching is part of the story for a hitter. If I get He knew the strike zone better also important to Vaughn. a good pitch to hit, I am trying to do than any batter in history with woodbats4sale.com “I take one pitch at a time and as much damage as I can.” unique discipline not to chase 503.208.2009 try not to focus on results. That is Vaughn said he saw a lot of pitches just outside the zone. counterproductive in my way of inside pitches last year as he was hit Pitchers Hate our Bats “I watched Barry Bonds many thinking because hitting is filled 12 times. Because of his disciplined Best Wood & Composite times on television since the Giants with great moments but also a lot approach at the plate, he walked 44 were close to where I grew up,” Wood Bats for Teams & of failure. times and only struck out 18 times said Vaughn. Players “When I focus on the concept of in 199 at-bats. one pitch at a time, I can mess up on “Recently in a game against St. one pitch. But the next pitch I have Mary’s, a pitcher threw a fastball an opportunity to do something high and inside which hit my with it to inflict damage. A lot of upper left shoulder as I turned and

Follow Us: @CBNewspaper

[email protected] Page  Collegiate Baseball Friday, March 22, 2019

Collegiate Baseball Players And Coaches Need More Sleep The Voice Of Amateur Baseball FORT WORTH, Tex. — Every- Dr. Maas. one endures sleepless nights. “Sleep needs go up from puberty When a pattern of sleep Around The Horn to about the age of 26 which deprivation takes place with involves everyone from middle athletes, serious consequences can With school kids to Major League ball occur as performances suffer on the players. The amount of sleep this OPINION field and in the classroom. group of people needs to be fully Dramatic mood swings happen alert and full of energy is 9 ¼ hours Publisher: Lou Pavlovich, Jr. as well. Lou Pavlovich of sleep per night. If you ask this Editor: Lou Pavlovich, Jr. Those in the game of baseball group of people how many hours have broken down almost everything of sleep they get a night, they in the quest for high level athletic will claim they are sleeping about The Topic: achievement. seven hours. This includes regular And that can take the form of students as well as athletes. Early-Season Problem sleeplessness. Each issue, Collegiate Baseball explores a major better nutrition, weight training, “But we have done actual brain Dr. James Maas is a leading development in the world of baseball. This issue’s mental training, video technology wave studies in home monitoring, authority and international editorial explains that an excessive hit-by-pitch and progressive teaching concepts and they are really only getting consultant on sleep and performance problem is occurring in NCAA Division I baseball. specific to the different skill sets about 6.1 hours of sleep a night. required. who has studied the subject more They are so sleepy that they don’t But rarely do coaches talk about than four decades as a professor even know how little sleep they are proper sleeping habits which may at Cornell University where he getting. These people are in essence Hit-By-Pitch Epidemic be among the most important taught more than 65,000 college ‘walking zombies.’ aspects of athletic performance. students. “They think that because they eat Must Be Stopped Now Sleep is not something to take He wrote a book with Haley well or appear to be in good athletic A surprising statistical trend is taking place early in the season lightly. Davis called Sleep To Win!: shape that this is enough. But they with the high number of hit batters. Sleep deprivation has been Secrets To Unlocking Your Athletic are missing 1/3 of the equation. We Indiana State leads NCAA Division I schools in total number utilized as torture, a tactic favored Excellence In Every Sport. have been studying the effects of of hit batters with 29 in 9 games. by the KGB and the Japanese in The staff of Sleep To Win sleep deprivation both athletically Incredibly, 12 different batters have been hit by pitches so far. prisoner of war camps during World have presented highly successful and cognitively for years. And we Over a 56-game schedule, that would be 180 hit-by-pitches which War II. programs on sleep to scores of also have studied lack of sleep with would shatter the old mark. Going without sleep is intensely corporations, the U.S. Navy, U.S. basic physiology. The NCAA Division all-time record is 152 in 58 games set stressful with unpredictable short Figure Skating Association, New “The findings aren’t of during the 2012 season by Delaware St. and long-term effects. People York Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, immediate concern. But they have New Mexico State has been hit a number of times as well to lose the ability to act and think Ottawa Senators and Orlando long term repercussions to our kick off the 2019 season with 28 in 9 games. coherently. Magic. younger athletes. Drowsiness at Ten different players have been hit. Hallucinations, paranoia and “About 70 percent of Americans inappropriate times is a concern. New Mexico State led the nation in 10 offensive categories early disorientation are just a few aren’t meeting the 7 ½ to 8 ½ hour in the season and were hitting .423 with 18 homers, 9 triples, 23 of the symptoms of prolonged sleep requirements as adults,” said See WALKING, Page 5 doubles and forced 57 walks by opponents with their disciplined approach. Last year, the Aggies led the nation with 119 hit-by-pitches in 62 games. The top 18 teams in the nation this season in hit-by-pitches are Letters To The Editor on track to be ranked in the top two all-time in hit-by-pitch history if they keep up their current pace. Escape From Cuba John Smith U.S. Your page one story in the last edition (March 8, 17 Mockingbird Lane Mail The No. 18 team (Southeast Missouri St.) would project to have Pullman, WA 99164 133 hit-by-pitches in 56 games (19 HBP in 8 games so far). 2019) was remarkable on Randy Labaut’s 40-day, The obvious question is how many of these hit batters purposely 10,000 mile trip from Cuba to the United States get hit? with his parents. Collegiate Baseball For decades, players in college baseball have not made attempts When he talked about his parents only making P.O. Box 50566 to get out of the way of pitches or simply rolled into pitches — even $20 each a month in Cuba and trying to raise Tucson, AZ 85703 strikes. $30,000 to get out of this country, it makes you Many hitters today wear elbow guards to protect them from appreciate what we have in the USA. being hit and some even have knee protection which allows them The time this family spent in jail in Mexico for 21 days must have been unnerving as then You can also to roll into pitches without the fear of being hit and injured. FAX letters to It is extremely hard for home plate umpires to tell when batters 13-year-old Randy had to be separated from his the editor or are purposely trying to get hit by pitches unless it is obvious as parents during this time. E-Mail them: a batter sticks his elbow into the strike zone as he rolls into the I was surprised to read that the Mexican authorities finally let them go but only after they FAX: E-Mail: pitch. (520) 624-5501 [email protected] Recently in a game involving California and St. Mary’s, the paid a $7,500 fine. Bears’ All-American first baseman Andrew Vaughn was hit by a Living in San Diego and being of Mexican Collegiate Baseball welcomes letters from pitch that was high and inside. heritage, I know of many different people who readers. Letters must include the writer’s Fortunately the pitch only hit his upper left shoulder and not his have made long, dangerous trips through Latin name, address and telephone number. We head as he turned away from the pitch and covered up his face. America in the hopes of being a U.S. citizen some reserve the right to condense or reject any The home plate umpire refused to let Vaughn to go first base day. It is absolutely horrible what these people do letter and to limit frequent writers. and ordered him to continue his at-bat. just to have a better life. Cal Head Coach Mike Neu came out to argue the call to protect Often times, they put their trust in complete anything with great motivational videos. More his player and was ejected immediately because of the new NCAA strangers to lead them. And it isn’t uncommon than once, his teams came back from impossible Rule that prohibits coaches from arguing hit-by-pitches. They don’t for these people to be robbed and have the little situations to win. even get a warning. they have taken from them. Doug Smith Vaughn wears an elbow guard over his left arm when hitting Illegal immigration is a big problem in the Dallas, Tex. from the right side, and this particular umpire thought he was a U.S. But when you read stories like the one you player who tried to get hit on purpose. printed in the last issue about the Labaut family, Ultimate Balancing Act The umpire was wrong in this case. it makes you realize how desperate people are I enjoyed your article on Stanford catcher Over the years, Collegiate Baseball has written about players to be in a country that has hope for their life like Maverick Handley (March 8, 2019 edition) and who purposely got hit and lived for those moments when they got the USA. his remarkable balancing act with academics on base in this fashion. I hope the Labaut family has nothing but great and baseball as he prepares to be an orthopedic Years ago, a West Coast player boasted to us that he wore a things happen to them the rest of their life. The surgeon. scuba suit under his uniform to protect his body from pitches that mom and dad obviously sacrificed everything they I am sure not too many college baseball players hit him as he set an NCAA record that season. had to become citizens of the USA. major in biomechanical engineering and pre-med There also is the distinct possibility pitchers are not as sharp Pete Garcia in the quest to be an orthopedic surgeon. early in the season. El Cajon, Calif. When he said he can be gone from 9:30 a.m. Purposely getting hit by pitches is a dangerous game to play until 4:30 p.m. straight with classes and explained with the potential consequence being severely hurt. Video Guru Skip Bertman that he has labs that can last 5 hours, so many other Can’t everyone just play the game of baseball the right way and Thanks so much for writing the story about college athletes have is easy with online courses stop this foolishness? how Skip Bertman did his inspirational videos which makes college a breeze. for his teams at LSU. The story really got me thinking. How many I knew he put them together with help orthopedic surgeons out there have been catchers? UOTE from professionals in the business, but now I You are really putting yourself in harm’s way with Unquote” have a much clearer picture of how it all was foul balls and potential damage to the body by “Q accomplished. people running you over with runners colliding “In the end, it’s extra effort that separates a winner from second You don’t lead a school to five national with you on plays at the plate. place. But winning takes a lot more than that, too. It starts with championships simply with talent. You have to On the other hand, you are involved in every complete command of the fundamentals. Then it takes desire, work hard at all facets of the game. Ultimately, single play of a baseball game and essentially are determination, discipline and self-sacrifice. And finally, it takes a they become warriors who can play in the toughest the quarterback of the team. You can use your mind great deal of love, fairness, and respect for your fellow man. Put all pressure and thrive. What he did with video is to help pitchers thrive and help the team win. these together, and even if you don’t win, how can you lose?” something every coach in America should strive to Kelly Green – Jesse Owens do. Players quickly learn that they can accomplish Saint Paul, Minn. Friday, March 22, 2019 Collegiate Baseball Page  ‘Walking Zombies’ Common Due To Lack Of Sleep Continued From Page 4 things to say about the book which Sleep Spindles Vital example. A young lady 15 years we published prominently in Sleep Dr. Maas said that he became old, a professional figure skater, During the mid-day dip in alertness To Win! I grew up in Detroit with fascinated with athletes and sleep wanted to make the U.S. team for that we all have in the middle of the Al Kaline and the Tigers and really when he came across a study. the Olympics. But she was ready to afternoon, if you are sleep deprived enjoy baseball. So I am available “The most intriguing study I give up because she wasn’t getting as these youngsters are, the dip is to help those in the game who ask. have ever read was one done out any better. even more serious. This book is really the first book of Harvard University. It stated that “She said she got up at 4 in the “And this is often the time when ever written about the relationship there is something that happens in morning and arrived at the skating baseball games on the high school between sleep and performance in the brain only after about seven rink at 4:30 a.m. as all competitive and college levels are played. athletics.” hours of solid sleep to young skaters do. Then she skated two Obviously, when the brain and Dr. Maas said that there was a people (puberty to about age 26). hours, had breakfast and then went body is tanking because of lack of study published in 2012 concerning Keep in mind most of these people to school. Then she was back at the sleep, the athlete can’t perform at the Major League draft. are only getting about six hours of rink at 4:30 p.m. for two more hours his highest level. “Somebody looked at the sleep. After seven hours of sleep, of practice. After that, she went “So the athlete shows drowsiness, alertness of those athletes involved something takes place called ‘sleep home, had dinner, did homework an increase in irritability, anxiety, in that draft, and it turned out to be spindles.’ or studied and then crashed.” depression and weight gain. For a high correlation between those “These spindles represent a Dr. Maas asked this young middle age people and older, who lacked sleep on the sleep test cascade of calcium which can’t be woman if she had a chance to sleep there is a much higher risk of and those who finally got a major taken in pill form that is produced in during the weekends. heart disease and Type II diabetes. league contract.” by your brain late at night and goes “She told me that she stayed up Cancer has even been linked to It was brought up to Dr. Maas into the motor cortex and strings late on Friday and Saturday nights sleep deprivation. that many college baseball players together series of motor muscle with her friends and didn’t really “Loss of sleep can impact a are locked into a cycle of inadequate memory. get much sleep. I asked her how she player’s teamwork, sense of humor DR. JAMES MAAS sleep. They may get up early in “So if a pitcher is learning a new stayed awake. She told me that she and impact his motor skills.” the morning to lift weights, eat grip, or a batter is learning a new drank gallons of coffee. Dr. Maas was asked why breakfast, go to classes and then to mechanic for hitting which involves “She was told that she had to get Reaction Time Suffers baseball has essentially ignored Dr. Maas said studies have go practice or play in games. Only muscle memory, having this proper 9 1/4 hours of sleep. The only way the important subject of sleep for then after dinner do they turn their sleep will help. to accomplish this was to eliminate shown reaction time deteriorates so many years. with athletes who suffer from sleep attention to studies which may “The athlete and the coach may morning practices. “There are many organizations require work until 2-3 a.m. Then have the sequence down perfectly “A month later, her dad called deprivation. that don’t realize how important “This all happens during chains they go to bed and start it all over in short term memory. But if you me. He told me that he didn’t know proper sleep is,” said Dr. Maas. again. The next morning, these don’t sleep well that very night at what happened, but her coach of events whether it is a pitcher “Even physicians are just now who has to throw a quality pitch athletes are dead to the world. least eight hours, all of that motor just called and told him that his beginning to understand sleep as it “This type of sleep pattern muscle memory disappears. daughter was performing jumps, or a batter trying to hit a pitch. has to do with athletic performance As an athlete, you must have your destroys not only their academic “The research out of Harvard spins and turns she could never do and skill. I have been in the field expertise, but their athletic clearly shows that if you practice a before. body synchronized in the athletic a long, long time. At first, I was discipline you are trying to achieve performance. We have many case motor skill and get proper sleep that “So they kept with the current concerned with academics with histories now of athletes who evening, these sleep spindles will training regimen even though in the proper firing sequence, so sleep, and then I became involved you don’t have to think. have adopted our sleep routines bind together a motor muscle chain everyone was laughing at her for with Fortune 500 companies such as and literally changed their lives of memory and make a physical not practicing twice a day.” “It all should be an automatic IBM and giving up to 100 speeches motor muscle memory. But when overnight. record in your brain in the motor The girl’s name was Sarah a year to these people. “The teenage brain is maximally cortex. Hughes who went on to win the you have a lack of sleep, that “The only exception to this chain of events can be seriously set to go to sleep at 3 a.m. and wake “The next time you attempt this gold medal at the 2002 Winter was hockey where I was a faculty up at 11 a.m. And we have classes specific physical skill that you Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. disrupted. advisor to the Cornell NCAA “When the athlete is sleep that start from middle school, high have been practicing over and over championship hockey team for the Dr. Maas deprived, he has a lack of awareness school and college at 7:30 or 8 a.m. again, you don’t have to think other NEXT ISSUE: last 40 years. Then the basketball explains why it is vital to choose and suffers from the ability to Their bodies are in the classroom, than starting the chain of events. coach and wrestling coach began the correct mattress and pillow remember and think critically and but their brains are back on their Everything else is automatic.” asking questions. I began working pillows. for sleeping soundly and goes into creatively as one has to do to make Nearly Quits To Gold Medal in these sports as I got calls. The detail on this subject. a split second decision in baseball. “You take a ball player who has Dr. Maas said that a number of National Hockey League was He also explains why you must You might make poor decision a night game or even an afternoon athletes have changed their sleep really the first professional sports limit the use of electronics an hour skills when balls fly off the bat or collegiate game. Then these guys habits and then had enough sleep organization to really utilize me. before bed. Blue spectrum light not looking at the third base coach have dinner and then begin to study to meet their requirement. And the “Then the NBA and the NFL from these devices block the release who is waving you on…many and might have a beer or two. Those ability to perform at a higher level came. I am just getting around to of melatonin from the body which different situations like this. beers will interfere with their sleep. changed almost overnight. baseball now.” facilitates sleep. “There are a whole slew of Their biological clock is set to be “Let me give you a great Dr. Maas said that he is a very ‘owls.’ They are all evening people. events which happen, and sleep close friend of former Baseball deprived athletes are blissfully On average, they are getting 6.1 Commissioner Fay Vincent. hours of sleep, and they need 9 ¼ unaware of how much they have “We both went to Williams lost over what they could be.” hours of sleep. And this really hurts The Ultimate Hitting Aid College. And he had some very nice athletes from being at their best.” ™ Wisdom Of Dusty Baker Helps Vaughn RADAR TEE Continued From Page 3 Major League Dusty But he has shared his wisdom with Baker whose son Darren hits ahead a lot of players which we are all “Best Of Show” I will hunt a fastball and attack it. of Vaughn for California. grateful for.” Award Winner at 2016 American I will also be ready for a hanging “He was at USC last year, and I Loves To Fish Baseball Coaches breaking ball. I don’t necessarily went 0-for-6 on Saturday. I walked When Vaughn isn’t playing Association want to hit a breaking ball early back in the hotel after the game, baseball, he likes to get away to Convention in the count unless it is in an area and I saw Dusty Baker. He pointed fish with his dad and friends back I can do damage to it. Early in the his finger at me and motioned me home. count, I am pretty much fastball to come over. “If it is the summer or late spring, hunting.” “I sat next to him. He then I will go bass fishing. But I also go Danger Of Slumps said, ‘You know what happened, Steelhead fishing on the Russian Vaughn doesn’t like the term happened. You need to come out River in California. There’s nothing and never uses the term. breathing gun powder tomorrow.’ I like catching one of those.” “I don’t even like the word never heard that saying before, and The largest Steelhead can grow ‘slump’ because once you say asked him to explain. to over 30 pounds. the word, you are typically in a “He then says again, ‘Breathe “I also have gone salmon fishing slump. gun powder.’ So I thought about and deep sea fishing.” “The ideal way of approaching what he said, and the next day I came out with that new mental Overcomes Broken Foot hitting is to recognize that every While Vaughn’s life has been pitch is something new that you outlook and went 2-for-3 with a Optimize your swing efficiency to maximize ball home run. I had an internal fire to full of incredible moments on the must focus on. , he went through exit velocity. Measure both with the RADAR TEE! “You might go 0-for-4 in a game compete a little more. “From that point on, I have tried a difficult ordeal last fall as he • Maximize ball exit velocity by optimizing swing speed and come up the fifth time and hit overcame a broken foot. and efficient energy transfer to the ball. a walk-off home run. You have to to take philosophy into every at-bat. I will never forget that advice from “I broke my left foot and had to • Train to hit hard line drives. leave at-bats in the past, good or have surgery on it last fall,” said • Develop bat control and directivity to hit balls into gaps. bad. Every new at-bat is different. Dusty Baker because it sparked a fire inside me that I didn’t know I Vaughn. • Swing in an optimum plane for best hard contact probability. You might face the same pitcher, “During a scrimmage game last • Proudly made in the USA. but he could try a different approach had. I realized what he meant was to light a fire internally so you can fall, I ran into a wall near our batting with you. Or with another pitcher, cage in the right field corner. he may have a totally different set get a shot off.” Vaughn said that it has been a “I was out about 12 weeks and of tools he works with compared to missed most of fall practices. Then I the previous pitcher.” joy to learn from this veteran Major League manager and former Big came back this spring and rehabbed Wisdom Of Dusty Baker League player. my rear end off. I learned about (888) 542-9246 Vaughn said he has been fortunate “He is a wonderful dad who myself as a baseball player and how www.sportssensors.com to learn a few things from long-time comes to see his son Darren play. much I really love this game.” Page  Collegiate Baseball Friday, March 22, 2019 Greatest Turnaround In History William Jessup Coaches Had Amazing Plan To Fix 10-Win Program By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR. Quick Overview Editor/Collegiate Baseball Paine said the first order of business when the players came ROCKLIN, Calif. — The together for the first time in late greatest turnaround in college August of 2017 was to bring baseball history took place last everyone together. One thing we like to do is have our season at William Jessup University, “Our hope was to bring the machines about two feet higher than according to school officials. veterans and new players together “ This NAIA school had suffered and not have any separation. You are normal. It simulates the height of the through a dismal 10-34 season always concerned when you have in 2017 and only posted a 5-24 players from the previous coach and release point of pitchers. Instead of record in the Golden State Athletic new players you recruited. Conference for last place. “We felt we had a chance to at putting the machines on a platform or One year later, a miracle least double the win total of 2017. happened. But the guys came together much buckets, we purchased six foot long The Warriors rolled to a 41-17 quicker than we anticipated. The legs for the machines we use. overall record — an increase of 31 culture was great and guys bought wins over the previous year — and into what we were trying to do. — Trevor Paine, a 27-9 mark in conference which “We got hot and played was capped by the GSAC regular- confidently. The returners had gone William Jessup season title and the program’s first- through a lot of losses over several ever NAIA post-season tournament seasons. When that happens over a bid. period of time, players develop bad The program hit an anemic habits. You go into every series and .232 with 22 homers in 2017 and every game thinking your chances a team that hit lots of doubles. “One of our hitting stations is to make them feel comfortable and committed 91 errors in 44 games of winning aren’t very good. “What took place during the to have batters stand in the batter’s confident.” with a 6.06 ERA. “You need to teach them how to 2018 season was interesting. A box during so they can A year later, the team had one Don’t Bother Hitters win and how not to lose. surprising number of doubles pick up release points and spin ” of the most powerful offenses in Paine consistently works on “The culture and environment turned into home runs, and we and try to do all of this as early as college baseball as William Jessup the mental side with his hitters as we put all of our players in every ended up leading all NAIA schools possible. hit .331, belted an NAIA high 94 well. day was vital to improvements in in home runs with 94. “Another thing we are a little homers and averaged 8.2 runs per “Prior to games, I try for the most the win column.” “I kept track of our offensive different from other programs is game with 119 doubles. part to stay out of their way. My big Paine said the players relaxed numbers during the fall of 2017. I that our batters don’t hit a lot of The team ERA fell to 4.53 while thing, especially on game day when and played to their full potential. think we hit .315 or so. I thought we coach thrown batting practice. If only 77 errors were committed in we are hitting on the field before we “We let players be themselves, had a chance of having a top three we practice six days a week, we 14 more games (58). start is to avoid being around the not carefree, but play loose and offensive team in our conference. might utilize coach thrown batting This special report by Collegiate bubble on the field. have fun.” Then a handful of guys made a big practice two or three times max. Baseball explains how the program “I will walk around the Powerful Hitting System leap in their level of hitting in the However, we utilize coach thrown was turned around so quickly. and pace back and forth around Paine is one of the great hitting spring of 2018. BP on game day. the perimeter and talk to guys. If New Coaching Staff minds in baseball today. “They worked hard over “Most of the time we utilize I happen to walk by the bubble, After a difficult 2017 season, There is a reason why his hitters the Christmas break and made Hack Attack pitching machines I don’t say anything about any Head Coach Mike Hankins at Menlo College in 2017 led the adjustments. Guys really exceeded especially with optional early hitter’s swing. I have seen coaches resigned. nation in home runs with 97 and my expectations. There were work. I want our hitters to train in the past who talk to hitters after Jake McKinley, who spent the one year later at William Jessup several who had fantastic seasons with a little more velocity behind an at-bat and get very meticulous previous four years as the head with 94. offensively. pitches that is thrown from the same about what the player did wrong coach at Menlo College, took the The statistical comparison of “We were in the top 10-15 in distance as a pitcher during a game. and break the mechanics down. position June 1. offensive stats from 2018 at William virtually every offensive category. I want them to see game-like spin. “That was never beneficial to He then brought on board Trevor Jessup compared to the previous I was proud of all of them. You can mess around with the dials me as a player. So when I got Paine and Tai Mitchell from Menlo year were shocking. They worked extremely hard at to change things up with the spin into coaching, I didn’t want to do College as assistant coaches in As a team, William Jessup hit 99 improving.” rate on pitches. that with hitters during games. July. points higher, belted 72 more home Vision Training “One thing we like to do is have If anything, I am big on players “I knew the program had runs, hit 68 more doubles and had Paine is a big believer in visual our machines about two feet higher coming to me. I’m not the type of potential,” said Paine who replaced 302 more RBI. training for his hitters which focuses than normal. It simulates the height coach who will admonish a player McKinley last December when “When I took over at Menlo on the concept of pitch occlusion. of the release point of pitchers. for not being in the cages for several McKinley accepted a position with College for Jason Ochart, who This concept was brought to the Instead of putting the machines on days. It is a player driven sport. If the . has become the Phillies’ Hitting forefront through Dr. Peter Fadde a platform or buckets, we purchased they don’t feel the need to ask for “In 2017, William Jessup beat us Coordinator, the culture there was and a company called gameSense six foot long legs for the machines advice, then it is on them as long as twice that year and played us tough to hit the ball out of the yard and hit Sports which features a program we use. We switched the shorter they keep performing. a couple of other times. a lot of home runs and swing with for pitch recognition. legs out with these, and it works “If it gets to a point where they “We knew there were some good intent. I adopted that philosophy Go to www.gamesensesports. great. are doing something that hurts them players at William Jessup. We just of teaching. com for more information on this “The only problem with this that I clearly see and something we had to recruit more talented players “We led the nation in home runs topic. is that one of our coaches who need to change, then I will go out of and bring everything together. with 97 during the 2017 season “Last season, we had our hitters feeds the machine isn’t quite tall my way to help my guy. I might ask “Once we came over in July of at Menlo. When I came over to learn pitch occlusion. You can go enough. So he stands on a little him to meet me in the batting cage 2017, Tai, Jake and I used all of our William Jessup, I felt it might not be on www.YouTube.com and look at stool. Our players like it for getting the next morning so we can work connections to bring in as many the right approach with the team we some of the pitch occlusion videos a more realistic look at pitches. It is on a couple of things. good players as possible.” had for the 2018 season. We didn’t that are available. terrific for breaking balls as well. It “I am very patient as well which The trio went to work and landed have the same personnel as we did “Basically this is a video shot eliminates the ‘hump’ that you get is important if you are the hitting 15 talented players who were still at Menlo. Over there, we had a behind home plate, and it shows the on the typical curve that comes out coach. You must understand how available at that late date knowing bunch of big, strong physical kids. pitcher going through his motion. of this machine. difficult hitting is. A lot of times you school was set to start in late “So there was a good chance we A split second after he releases the “We also will use the regular think so highly of your players that August. would set ourselves up for failure ball, the screen will go black. You 4-foot long legs at times. But more you want them to have 100 percent “Jake had been in the NAIA at if we followed that approach. What have that small window to pick up often than not, we use the longer great at-bats every single time. But Menlo College for four years. He we did was focus on was more what pitch is being thrown. ones. the reality is that they will have bad always talked about how he got his contact, running the bases more “You practice this and train to “We have two pitching machines swings and give at-bats away. It’s best recruits late in the process. He intelligently and being able to pick up pitches so you become which we utilize at the same hitting all part of baseball. rarely wanted to rush into offering handle the bat a little bit better. visually better when it comes to practice called the ‘Two-Headed “You just need to be patient and players scholarships. “We created a fall competition hitting. Monster.’ One will throw fastballs not make them dread coming back “Honestly, we got lucky on some where every at-bat and every “We would send out links to our while the other will throw breaking to the dugout after a bad at-bat. I very good players who were still time someone ran the bases in hitters of different pitch occlusion balls. You can alternate pitches with want them to believe in themselves. available. Some of the ball players an intersquad or scrimmage was videos that were on YouTube. In hitters or use different sequences. I always tell them I should never we got didn’t receive offers from given points. It could be positive some of the pitch occlusion videos The key is making it challenging have more trust in you than you the schools they wanted to play at or or negative. We gave positive on YouTube, there might be five for hitters. have in yourself. That’s really they felt scholarship offers weren’t points for things we valued such pitches. You have to guess what “The rounds are fairly short. important.” good enough. as the getting on base, each pitch is and where it will On a typical day, we will go three “Then you always get a couple of Big Shifts On Defense being good with two strikes, two finish. The first pitch might be a rounds of five and one round of guys who are leaving NCAA Div. Paine said the approach to outs, driving in runners in scoring fastball away. The second pitch is three. There is no goal in each I schools. That helped. We were improving defense was probably position and so on. a changeup and so on. round. We don’t in BP. We able to quickly piece together a the most unusual of all areas the “My assistant coach Tai Mitchell “At the end, they will show you don’t practice moving runners and very talented recruiting class at the coaching staff worked on. is one of the smartest guys I know the answers. scoring them or or any last minute. “Our entire coaching staff bought in baseball. He crunched a bunch “It trains your eyes to pick of that. I just want guys to create “Looking back at the starting into extreme shifting during games of numbers and found stats that up the pitch and spin almost confidence. I don’t want them lineup we had in 2018, we only had on specific batters. Data is out correlated the most for runs in our instantaneously out of the hand. practice making outs. two returners. Seven of the position there that shows you can be highly conference which were walks and We trained this concept quite a bit “The goal is to drive the baseball. players were guys we brought in doubles. We wanted to be a team and had our guys going online. On game days, I want each player over July and August of 2017.” that walked a lot and wanted to be to stick with their unique process See DEFENSIVE, Page 11 Friday, MarchFeb. 22, 22, 2019 2019 Collegiate Baseball Page  Page  Collegiate Baseball Friday, March 22, 2019 Collegiate Baseball’s Florida St. No. 1 NCAA Division I Seminoles Roll To 13-1, No. 1 In Fielding TUCSON, Ariz. — Florida St. State (15-0) and Arizona State (13-1) is ranked No. 1 in the latest (15-0). The Wolfpack is off to its Get Latest 2019 Collegiate Baseball NCAA Div. best start in school history. Arizona TOP 30 POLL I baseball poll presented by Big State’s 15-0 start is the fourth best Standings, Stats Presented By League Chew. in school history. During the 2010 Florida St. is ranked in nine season, the Sun Devils started the For NCAA Div. I TUCSON, Ariz. — Readers categories within the top 10 in the season 24-0. of Collegiate Baseball can get latest NCAA Div. I statistics. Teams that are red-hot include: the most current NCAA Division The Seminole lead the nation in Mississippi State (11 straight wins), I standings by going to: www. fielding percentage at .990 (5 errors Alabama (11 consecutive), Auburn baseballnews.com and then clicking in 14 games), are second in on-base (9 in a row), U.C. Santa Barbara (9 the category Polls. percentage (.446) and third in total consecutive) and San Diego (7 wins Then click on NCAA Division I. home runs (26). Eleven different in last 8 games). Once there, click on NCAA Div. players have hit home runs for FSU In key series during the last I Conference Standings. this season. rating period, Clemson swept a For NCAA Div. I statistics, go to: All 14 games this season have 3-game series at home against www.baseballnews.com and then been at home for the Seminoles. North Carolina. It was the first click on Polls, NCAA Division I Florida St. will now play eight of time since 1997 that the Tigers won and then NCAA Div. I Statistics. its next 10 games on the road. three straight from the Tar Heels. Navigate from there to find the stats www.bigleaguechew.com Two teams remain unbeaten in Stanford took three of four at home you are after. (As of March 11) NCAA Division I baseball in N.C. against Texas. Rank School Record Points Prev. 1. Florida St. (13-1) 494 1 Never Been Done Before By College Coach 2. N.C. State (15-0) 493 5 3. Oregon St. (12-1-1) 491 3 4. Vanderbilt (13-3) 490 2 Mike Martin Celebrates 5. Mississippi St. (15-1) 489 8 6. UCLA (11-3) 485 6 7. Texas Tech. (11-3) 482 10 8. Stanford (12-3) 480 11 2,000th Career Victory TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida 9. Arizona St. (15-0) 477 17 St. Head Coach Mike Martin has 10. Louisiana St. (11-4) 476 9 now hit the 2,000 career victory 11. Coastal Carolina (13-3-1) 474 12 plateau with a 5-2 win over Virginia Tech. 12. Clemson (12-3) 472 20 It is the first time in the history of 13. Georgia (14-2) 469 15 collegiate sports that a head coach 14. North Carolina (12-4) 467 4 has won 2,000 games. 15. Louisville (11-4) 464 13 Martin is in his 40th and final 16. Florida (13-5) 463 14 season as a head coach in 2019. An in-depth look at the amazing 17. Arkansas (12-2) 462 16 times this coach has had appeared 18. South Carolina (13-3) 459 19 in the Jan. 4, 2019 edition of 19. Mississippi (12-3) 457 18 20. Texas (12-6) 453 7 21. Texas A&M (15-390 451 23 NCAA D-1 Notes 22. Tennessee (15-1) 449 24 Collegiate Baseball. 23. Auburn (14-2) 447 27 21 In Game 24. San Diego (12-4) 446 — During an 11-0 win over Indiana, Tennessee pitchers tied a program 25. U.C. Santa Barbara (11-2) 445 — record by striking out 21 batters. 26. Alabama (15-2) 443 — The Volunteers’ Zach Linginfelter 27. Baylor (10-4) 439 21 struck out 13 batters over the first 28. Miami, Fla. (12-3) 436 28 six . 29. Illinois (10-3) 434 30 He was followed by Chase 30. East Carolina (12-5) 430 — Wallace who fanned 3 batters in one , Camden Sewell who struck Source: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper out three in one inning and Chase Silseth who mowed down two in the final inning. Tennessee leads the nation in five pitching categories, including: NATIONAL PLAYERS • ERA (0.94). • per nine innings (4.46). OF THE WEEK • Shutouts (6). • to walk ratio (5.44) Powered By with 136 strikeouts and 25 walks. • Walks allowed per nine innings (1.96). On the season, the Volunteers stood at 13-0. More Strikeouts FLORIDA ST. COACH MIKE MARTIN Wake Forest put up big strikeout feat against Rollins in 1955. 1-0. numbers during an 8-6 loss to www.diamond-sports.com The Blue Devil pitching staff Asa Lacy struck out 9 over 7 Quinnipiac. tallied 11 strikeouts and surrendered innings and gave up only 1 hit with The Deacs fanned 17 batters, LHP Andrew Mitchel, San Jose St.: Mitchel posted 18 two walks. 3 walks. including 13 over the final six strikeouts during a 4-1 win over Air Force. He allowed 1 run Headlining the effort was Bryce Miller retired two batters innings as Antonio Menendez and while scattering 4 hits with 2 walks. His strikeout total is the Graeme Stinson in the eighth before issuing a walk. Shane Muntz kept Wake Forest in second most ever by a Mountain West pitcher in a conference who worked the first 5 innings, Then Joseph Menefee struck out the the game. game, second only to ’s 23 strikeouts against collecting 5 punchouts and allowing only batter he faced. Memnendez allowed 2 hits and Utah during the 2008 season. 2 walks to earn his second victory Kasey Kalich closed things out no walks over 3 shutout frames with OF Tucker Maxwell, Georgia: Maxwell hit 3 home runs with of the season. with his fourth save of the season. 6 strikeouts. 15 RBI, 8 stolen bases and scored 6 runs as he went 9-for-16 at Matt Dockman followed in After walking the first batter he Muntz allowed one run on 3 hits the plate over 5 games. He tied the school record with 4 stolen relief with one inning and one faced, Kalich got the next three and 2 walks over 3 innings with 7 bases against Alabama St. on March 5 and then tied it against styrikeout. batters out to end the game. strikeouts. March 9 against Presbyterian. Freshman Jack Carey went the TCU got the leadoff hitter on in RHP , Navy: Song tied a career high with 16 Combined No-Hitter final 3 innings as he notched 5 each of the first six innings but were strikeouts against Cornell over 7 innings. He allowed 3 hits and Duke’s pitching staff combined strikeouts to earn his first career unable to manufacture a run. 1 run to pace Navy to a 2-1 win. Song leads the nation with 52 on a no-hitter during a 14-0 win save. Oklahoma beat San Diego St., over Penn State. 1-0. The no-no was the sixth in Pitchers’ Duels Four Texas A&M pitchers See NATIONAL PLAYERS OF WEEK, Page 12 school history and the first since combined to beat Texas Christian, Tom Blackburn accomplished the See ULTIMATE, Page 9 Friday, March 22, 2019 Collegiate Baseball Page  Ultimate Escape In Bottom Of 9th Takes Place Continued From Page 8 10 stolen bases during an 11-3 win 28th active NCAA Division I Justin Felix allowed Arkansas St. Breaks Hit Record over Alabama St. coaches with 800 victories. to take a 9-6 win over Central Tennessee Tech. All-American Nathan Wiles of the Sooners Tucker Maxwell swiped four Wake Forest Head Coach Tom Arkansas. Kevin Strohschein became the struck out 10 over seven innings in the game which tied Rodney Walter earned the 700th win of his In the sixth inning, Arkansas university’s all-time hits leader while Milan Walla drove home Bellamy for the most ever by a head coaching career with a sweep St. held a 7-1 lead after the grand (286) when he delivered a single Brady Harlan in the fifth inning for Bulldog in one game. of Furman. slam. during a 23-2 victory over Alabama the only run of the game. Coaching Milestones In his 23rd year as a head coach Central Arkansas rallied back to A&M. Wiles’ 10 strikeouts matched and 10th at Wake Forest, he is make it interesting with four runs Ball State Head Coach Rich Tough To Stop his career high set last season. He Maloney and Vanderbilt’s Tim the second winningest coach in in the eighth. Arkansas St. held on Washington leadoff hitter allowed only 4 hits to improve to Corbin celebrated their 800th career program history. for the victory. Braiden Ward stole six of his 2-0 on the season. wins recently. Kansas Head Coach Ritch Price Injury Report Pac-12 leading 11 bases during a Georgia Southern beat West Maloney’s milestone victory celebrated his 500th coaching University of Texas catcher DJ 3-game sweep of Cal Poly. Virginia, 1-0 in another pitchers’ came during a 6-4 win over victory in a 3-1 win over Northern Petrinsky was scheduled to undergo He had 3 stolen bases in a game duel. Georgetown. Illinois. surgery for a torn labrum. twice against Cal Poly. Daniel Collins, David Johnson Vanderbilt beat Illinois St., 9-1. He will miss the remainder of the On the season, Ward is hitting and Cole Whitney of Georgia The duo became the 27th and A sixth inning grand slam by 2019 season. .522 and has scored 12 runs. Southern only allowed 5 hits with 8 strikeouts and didn’t allow a run. West Virginia pitchers Kade Strowd, Ryan Bergert and Zach Reid allowed only 3 hits and one unearned run with 10 strikeouts. Wiggles Out Of Big Jam San Diego St. beat Utah, 3-2 in a wild ending. The Aztecs took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth. The Utes promptly loaded the bases with no outs on a single to centerfield, a walk and bunt single down third base. With the game-tying run just 90 feet away, San Diego St. pitcher Casey Schmitt was able to maneuver his way in a game-saving sequence. He recorded back-to-back strikeouts before ending the game on a weak dribbler by Zack Moeller, allowing Joe Fitzhugh to step on home for the final out. 5 Homers Texas Christian hitters belted 5 home runs during a 17-9 win over Grand Canyon. Zach Humphreys led the home run parade with two which included a grand slam. Plays Northeastern had an opportunity to play the World Champion Boston Red Sox with the pro club prevailing, 6-0. The game, held at the Red Sox’ facility, JetBlue Park, was the 17th overall meeting between the Huskies and Red Sox. Big League Chew was invented by Rob Nelson, a former Cornell Both teams met for the first time University lefthander who was pitching in Oregon in 1977 for the in 1977 at and have opposed each other annually during fabled Portland Mavericks when he came up with the idea for a new spring training since 2004. Hits For Cycle type of bubble gum. Anthony Carrera of Tennessee Tech. hit for the cycle during a 10-2 win over South Alabama. He was 4-for-4 and became just Rob was literally sitting in the Portland bullpen, watching his team- the third Golden Eagle in the last 25 years to hit for the cycle. mates chewing other less salubrious stuff, when he thought that Carrera singled up the middle on the first pitch of the contest. shredded bubble gum would be a much more fun option. In the third, he laced a to left center. Then in the sixth, he blasted a 2-run homer. Rob shared the idea with Mav teammate Jim Bouton who liked the He completed the cycle in the eighth with a double to right field. concept so much he spent the next two years searching for a gum Big Offensive Showing Vanderbilt put up big offensive company to manufacture and distribute Big League Chew. He numbers during a 24-2 win over Davidson. succeeded, and BLC quickly became the must-have bubble gum for It was the most amount of runs scored by the Volunteers since ballplayers in the littlest leagues to the Big Leagues. 1991. Vanderbilt, which scored 13 runs in the third inning, batted around Today, over 40 years later, Big League Chew is the #1-selling twice in the frame. Pat DeMarco was 2-for-3 with a shredded bubble gum in the world — with over 800 million pouches grand slam as he recorded a career- high 7 RBI game. sold. It is manufactured in the USA by Ford Gum of Akron, New York. Five different Commodores contributed multi-RBI perfor- mances, including Ethan Paul ™ (3-for-5) who extended his hitting streak to 14 games and drove in 5. BIG LEAGUE CHEW® AMERICA’S BUBBLE GUM Vanderbilt was the beneficiary of 17 walks and 5 Davidson errors. Coaches Discount now available at bigleaguechew.com 10 Stolen Bases Georgia set a school record with Page 10 Collegiate Baseball Friday, March 22, 2019 Collegiate Baseball’s Sam Houston H.S. No. 1 Broncos Start 15-0 With 67 Stolen Bases National High School TUCSON, Ariz. — Sam Houston (14-1-1) were 37-0 in 2018 and 10-5 win over Edmond Santa Fe. (Lake Charles, LA) is No. 1 in went through the first 13 games He hit a home run, a triple, 3 RBI Collegiate Baseball’s National High this season with just one 4-4 tie and scored 2 runs. School Poll presented by Diamond against Ray (Corpus Christi, TX) No. 14 Cypress Ranch (Cypress, TOP 30 POLL Pro with a 15-0 record. on February 22. TX) is 13-2. In a 4-0 win over Presented By The Broncos are hitting .388 as Despite the loss, they came back Langham Creek (Houston, TX), a team with a 1.06 ERA and have the next day to defeat Coppell (TX), Matt Thompson struck out 9 and stolen 67 bases in 70 attempts while 12-9 and Rockwall (TX), 10-0. hit a home run in the game. Fabian holding opponents to only 4. No. 4 Calvary Christian Mayfield has been on fire, hitting a Catcher Silas Ardoin, who has (Clearwater, FL) started its season grand slam in a win over Pearland signed to play at the University with 4 wins. Nolan Hudi struck out and a home run in a win over of Texas, has shut down opposing 7 to defeat Tampa Catholic, 6-1. Dickinson. running games. Besides only No. 5 George County (Lucedale, No. 15 Har-Ber (Springdale, AR) allowing 4 stolen bases in 15 MS) is 9-0 and has outscored has a 6-2 record. In a 3-0 victory games, he has back picked runners opponents, 69-16. In a 12-0 win over Harrison (AR), RHP Blake at first base five times for outs. over Meridian (MS), Logan Tanner Adams struck out 7 and allowed no Sam Houston, which has 13 went 2-for-2 with a home runs and hits in 3 innings to get his second seniors on the team, has 8 players 5 RBI. win of the season. who have committed to colleges, No. 6 Mountain Vista (Highlands He is 2-0 with 17 strikeouts, 3 including 6 NCAA Division I Ranch, CO) posted two wins to walks in 6 . Hunter schools. start the season. Sam Ireland had Wood has a 9-game hitting streak The school record for wins in a a 4 RBI day in a 14-2 win over dating back to last year’s state row at Sam Houston is 21 which Arapahoe (CO). championship. He is hitting.444 PROFESSIONAL GROUNDSKEEPING PRODUCTS was set last season as the Broncos No. 7 Colleyville Heritage with 4 doubles, 1 home run, 9 RBI rolled to 33 wins which was a (Colleyville, TX) is 13-1. They and 9 runs scored. school record. lost 4-1 against Oak Ridge (TX) No. 16 Farragut (Knoxville, TN) Sam Houston captured one state after winning the first 8 games of defeated West, 13-3, in the season title in baseball during the 2001 the season. opener. Ryan Hagenow struck out (As of March 11, 2019) season. They have outscored opponents, 11 for the win. The Admirals tallied Rank School Record The pitching staff is led by 105-31. In a 22-12 win over Chapin 14 hits in the game with 4 players 1. Sam Houston (Lake Charles, LA) 15-0 RHP/1B Cameron Meeks (93 mph (El Paso, TX), Mason Greer went recording 2 each. FB, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 13 strikeouts, 3 6-for-6 with 3 doubles and 8 RBI No. 17 Parkview (Lilburn, GA) 2. Lake Travis (Austin, TX) 14-0 walks in 13 IP), RHP Kyle Bartley while Bobby Witt Jr. was 5-for-5 began with a 10-2 record and is the 3. Argyle (Argyle, TX) 14-1-1 (0.89 ERA, 23 strikeouts, 7 walks in with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 6 RBI and top team in Georgia’s 7A division. 4. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, FL) 4-0 15 2/3 IP), and LHP Will Thompson 6 runs scored. They lost to Blessed Trinity, 6-2 and 5. George County (Lucedale, MS) 9-0 (22 strikeouts, 4 walks in 16 IP). No. 8 Harvard-Westlake (Studio Buford, 9-4. 6. Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch, CO) 2-0 In recent action, Meeks threw a City, CA) kicked off the season with No. 18 Orange Lutheran (Orange, complete 7-inning shutout against a 9-1 record. The first five wins CA) started 4-2 which included 2 7. Colleyville Heritage (Colleyville, TX) 13-1 Live Oak to win 3-0. Thompson were in the Easton Tournament wins over Carroll (Southlake, TX) 8. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, CA) 9-1 struck out 11 in a shutout win over where they defeated California and Valley Christian (CA). 9. Vestavia Hills (Vestavia Hills, AL) 11-0 Sacred Heart. Bartley threw a two- schools — Burbank (5-0), Oaks No. 19 Valley Christian (San 10. Saint Xavier (Louisville, KY) 0-0 hitter against Archbishop Shaw, Christian (3-1), Thousand Oaks (4- Jose, CA) is 5-2 after winning striking out nine. Alex Norris threw 3), Birmingham (10-0) and Notre the Mike Hazlett Tournament by 11. Cypress (Cypress, CA) 10-1 a one-hitter in the season opener Dame (7-1). defeating Wilcox (Santa Clara, 12. American Heritage (Plantation, FL) 4-1 against Westlake to win, 12-0. No. 9 Vestavia Hills, AL began CA), 10-1. 13. Owasso (Owasso, OK) 5-1 Offensively, Meeks is hitting its season with 11 straight wins. No. 20 St. Thomas Aquinas 14. Cypress Ranch (Cypress, TX) 13-2 .476 with 2 homers, 8 doubles, 2 Two of the Rebels’ wins were (Fort Lauderdale, FL) kicked off 15. Har-Ber (Springdale, AR) 6-2 triples, 20 RBI and 7 stolen bases. against JSerra Catholic (San Juan the season with a 4-1 record, 2-0 CF Braden Duhon (committed to Capistrano, CA), 5-4 (8 innings) in district games. 16. Farragut (Knoxville, TN) 1-0 Louisiana Tech.) is hitting .449 with and 3-1. No. 21 Yucaipa, CA started its 17. Parkview (Lilburn, GA) 10-2 10 RBI and 14 stolen bases. No. 10 Saint Xavier (Louisville, season 6-2 and is 1-1 in league 18. Orange Lutheran (Orange, CA) 4-2 2B Austin Norris is hitting.400 KY) will start on March 19. play. 19. Valley Christian (San Jose, CA) 5-2 with 10 RBI and one home run. No. 11 Cypress, CA kicked off No. 22 Hamilton (Chandler, 20. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL) 4-1 RF Brandon Goodeaux is hitting its season with a 10-1 record. They AZ) is 7-2 with quality wins over .450 with 10 RBI and 8 stolen dropped a 2-0 game to St. John Sandra Day O’Connor 11-5, Desert 21. Yucaipa (Yucaipa, CA) 6-2 bases. Bosco (CA), but have quality wins Ridge 11-1 and Pinnacle 15-5. In 22. Hamilton (Chandler, AZ) 7-2 No. 2 Lake Travis (Austin, TX) over La Mirada 3-1, El Toro 12-1, a 2-1 win over Tolleson, Dustin 23. Barbe (Lake Charles, LA) 10-2 kicked off the season with a 14-0 Ayala 2-1 and Orange Lutheran Bermudez tossed a , 24. St. Laurence (Burbank, IL) 0-0 record, 3-0 in district play, putting 2-1. one-hitter. Coach Mike Rogers just one win No. 12 American Heritage No. 23 Barbe (Lake Charles, 25. La Cueva (Albuquerque, NM) 4-0 away from 700 career wins. (Plantation, FL) is 4-1. The one LA) is 10-2. The Buccaneers have 26. The Woodlands (The Woodlands, TX) 11-3 The offense is led by 3B Brett loss is against Doral Academy, outscored opponents, 80-23. 27. Loganville (Loganville, GA) 7-3 Baty who is hitting .599 with 6 3-1 in the St. Thomas Invitational No. 24 St. Laurence (Burbank, 28. Delbarton School (Morristown, NJ) 0-0 home runs and 19 RBI. Top pitcher Tournament championship game. IL) starts March 18. 29. Palo Verde (Las Vegas, NV) 0-0 is Jimmy Lewis (3-0, 0.36 ERA, 27 No. 13 Owasso, OK started No. 25 La Cueva (Albuquerque, K, 19 IP). the season 5-1. In a 6-3 win over NM) kicked off the season with 4 30. Blessed Trinity (Roswell, GA) 11-3 No. 3 Argyle (Argyle, TX) saw Bartlesville, David Sandlin allowed wins. its 50-game undefeated streak 5 hits, but no earned runs, walked For more information about Source: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper snapped with a loss to Carroll two and struck out six in 7 innings. other teams ranked in the top 30, (Southlake, TX), 11-1. The Eagles DH Matt Turpen went 2-for-4 in a visit www.baseballnews.com High School Notes U-18 Baseball World Cup Will Be Held In Florida SARASOTA, Fla. — The World current four-time defending U-18 plan for one of youth sport’s most the most practiced team sport, with The U-18 Baseball World Cups, Baseball Softball Confederation world champions — will be granted prestigious world championships, participation numbers increasing along with its continental qualifiers, (WBSC) announced it has awarded an automatic berth into the global the U-18 Baseball World Cup,” over 20 percent to 25 million over have consistently featured players the hosting rights of the U-18 tournament. said WBSC President Riccardo the last five years, in the U.S. who have gone on to become some Baseball World Cup® 2021 to the All 50 U-18 World Cup games Fraccari. alone.” of the biggest names in the sport, cities of Sarasota and Bradenton, will be played between Ed Smith “The world’s best young “USA Baseball is honored to be such as Japan’s Yu Darvish and Florida. Stadium and LECOM Park, the players and next generation of selected to host the U-18 Baseball Shohei Ohtani; Korea’s Shin-soo This marks the first time since Spring Training homes for Major superstars will have an iconic World Cup and we aim to provide Choo; Cuba’s Yasiel Puig and Cape Cod and Fenway Park League Baseball’s Baltimore stage — the same stadiums where a truly once-in-a-lifetime baseball Aroldis Chapman; and the United hosted the 1995 Junior World Orioles and . top professionals play and train experience to the athletes and fans States’ Clayton Kershaw, Bryce Championship that the top youth Team USA is the four-time — to perform and showcase their who take part in this premier event,” Harper, Manny Machado and international baseball event will be defending U-18 Baseball World talents to the passionate fans in the said USA Baseball President Mike . held in the United States. Cup champions (2012, 2013, 2015, stands and those watching across Gaski. Coach Bob Tourney The 30th edition of the U-18 2017) and will look to win an the world. “Our national pastime continues The Coach Bob Invitational will Baseball World Cup will take place unprecedented fifth consecutive “While the sport of baseball to be a major influence in the culture be held at various high schools in September 2021 and will feature world championship at the 2019 U- has never been as global as it is of the United States and we are around Phoenix, AZ March 18-23. the world’s best players from 12 18 Baseball World Cup that will be today, there has never been a more proud to partner with the cities of Teams from 11 states will be countries in the U-18 category (16- held in Gijang, Republic of Korea opportune time to bring the U-18 Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida, to divided into five different divisions 18 years old). Aug. 30-Sept. 8, 2019. Baseball World Cup back to the welcome the international baseball to compete. As the host nation, the USA “USA Baseball presented an U.S., where baseball, together with community to the birthplace of For more info, visit www. Baseball 18U National Team — the excellent bid, vision and venue softball, has furthered its position as baseball.” coachbobinvitational.com Friday, March 22, 2019 Collegiate Baseball Page 11 Defensive Shifting Used 75% Of Time For Warriors Continued From Page 6 the tuition. “Let’s say I bring in a player and successful in doing this if you have give him a full ride. I would cover solid evidence that a batter will hit all of his tuition. Then I would have the vast majority of his balls in a to bring someone in for free who certain area. was willing to pay full tuition to “Coach Tai Mitchell has read balance it all out. That is the best several books on why the numbers way I can explain it. show that you should shift with “In the NAIA, we have 12 full certain batters. He is always scholarships available for baseball. watching film and learning as much The NAIA defines a scholarship as as possible about our opponents as tuition, room and board. But the he spray charts opponents. Golden State Athletic Conference “I would say 75 percent of which we play in defines a the time we are in some type of scholarship as full tuition only. shift. We have even messed “Baseball teams in our conference around with more outfielders. The only receive the equivalent of 8 have done this a full scholarships as defined by few times. We have been successful the NAIA. That cuts into our with defensive shifts with certain money quite a bit. Moving into the opposing hitters, and we will keep 2019/2020 seasons, the GSAC has doing it. changed that policy where they now “The biggest thing is that players honor room and board and part of must be comfortable playing in a scholarship. It puts more money these different positions. Your back in the bank for us.” might be playing Paine said that it is difficult to directly behind second base. He has AMAZING TURNAROUND — William Jessup Head Coach Trevor Paine (with clipboard) has been add academic scholarships on top to be able to make that throw to first part of a coaching staff that came up with brilliant ideas to turn around a 10-win team from 2017. of athletic scholarships at William base. Infielders must know how to The new coaching staff brought in 15 new players in one month as they posted 41 wins in 2018 Jessup. make cuts and relays when a ball and utilized extreme defensive shifting and a new hitting plan which produced 94 home runs. “We always want to have great does get through to the outfield as “We gave him the opportunity to defense out there for every hitter.” more data on each pitcher with student/athletes here. We want our well as bunt defenses. lay down a bunt down the third base Paine said the players love this spin rate and what their pitches do team grade point average to be the “With a ball, the side if he wanted. We would keep brand of defensive baseball. every time they throw. We have best on campus which is vital in second baseman will turn every him in the yard and would hold him “When one of our infielders go done some pitch design stuff as keeping our players eligible. double play with a righthanded pull to a single. He probably hadn’t tried to the outfield for a 4-man outfield, well. With that being said, we are “At our school, academic and hitter. The will turn to bunt for a hit all season. The first he has the biggest smile on his face. still learning how to utilize it to its athletic scholarships are viewed a double play at second base if the pitch, he tries to bunt for a hit and He is so excited to be part of this. full potential.” exactly the same. Whether a kid infield shifts hard to the right for a fouls it off. This defensive system definitely Paine said when the new pitchers comes in on a $15,000 athletic lefthanded . “The next pitch, he tries to inside creates an excitement throughout arrived in the fall of 2017, Coach scholarship or $15,000 academic “Infielders must know where out a ground ball the other way, and our team. McKinley did a tremendous job of scholarship he qualifies for, they to move when certain bases are he swings through it for strike two. “Extreme shifting doesn’t work creating competition. are viewed exactly the same. vacated and how to cover the Then the next pitch, he gets buried every time. But the vast majority of “Anyone who saw his talk at “For example, there was a kid we bases. with a superb breaking ball for the time, it does as long as you are the ABCA Convention in Dallas were recruiting. “There are a lot of things to strike three, and he walks back to working with the percentages and last January knows how smart this “He was an OK player and learn when you shift hard to the the dugout shaking his head.” doing a good job of scouting.” man is when it comes to creating someone we could have got on the left or hard to the right on the Paine has even toyed with the a culture of competition. With the roster. He was receiving $25,000 in infield. If you over shift like this, Pitching Improvement idea of using five outfielders or hitters, I gave positive and negative academic money. You are getting you must practice it every day so Paine said that during the 2018 utilizing five or six infielders. points during scrimmages and pretty close to the full tuition being the infielders and outfielders are season, Coach McKinley handled “The key is having conclusive games. He did the same thing with covered there. But if we were to comfortable with it. the pitching duties and did a data on a hitter. We would do it if our pitchers. bring him on the team, we inherit “Our guys know how hard Tai fabulous job. the data shows without a doubt a “I thought one of the key things the academic money. works on advance scouting. They After the 2018 season, throwing batter is predictable. we did was move pitchers around to “Remember that we must average know if he is telling them to be in consultants were brought in to “We call our defensive system see how they would do in different 50 percent of tuition for the entire a certain position, that is where they refine the pitching system they Positionless Baseball. All four of roles from what they did previously. roster. are supposed to be which gives us utilized. our infielders can play all four Coach McKinley wanted to set “While he might turn into a fine a better chance to win.” “We partnered with a company infield positions. up each pitcher for success. We player, he was not necessarily worth from Sacramento called Optimum $25,000 right now. 4-Man Outfield “If anybody has watched us Athletes which is similar to ultimately found a collection of Paine said the most unusual “You are almost like a general play this season, we will have Driveline. pitchers who fit in successful defensive positioning his team has manager where you are working our centerfielder and one of our “This year we have added a lot roles.” done so far is implement a 4-man with a salary cap. With all this corner outfielders switch between more of the plyo balls and have a Scholarship System outfield. being said, there is an exceptional batters. more detailed throwing program in Paine said tuition to attend “In the regional last year, we had student rule. If a kid has a 3.6 “We might have our centerfielder terms of how pitchers prepare day William Jessup is around $30,000 four outfielders. And the remaining cumulative GPA here on campus, and rightfielder switch positions for in and day out. a year. three infielders were all on the right then the academic scholarship one batter and move back to their “We have two pitching guys “The cost to live on campus and side of the infield between first and money doesn’t count toward the 12 regular positions for the next. on our staff now who do a terrific food will run another $10,000- second base. We had nobody on the athletic scholarships we are allowed “But with another hitter who hits job in Beau Morehead and Kelly $12,000 a year. In a given year, it left side of the infield. It worked! by the NAIA. a lot of fly balls to left field, we McGhee. I will pop in a little bit will cost a student going to William “What extreme shifting does is “If you are at a 3.3-3.5, 50 percent might switch the centerfielder with here and there and give some advice Jessup about $45,000. create a little bit of confusion with of your academic scholarship the leftfielder for a batter. since I pitched in college for two “The way our scholarship the hitter. In the regional game doesn’t count toward your 12 “In some instances, we will years. situation operates is that we go where we had four outfielders and scholarships. move our second baseman to third “We also purchased a Rapsodo. on a discount rate. Let’s say our had the three infielders shift over to “There are a lot of rules which between hitters. We will move guys We have our pitchers throw bullpens discount rate is 50 percent for our the right side, the hitter was a big allow exceptional students extra around depending on where Tai once in a while with this device entire roster. That means the entire lefty who belted 25 home runs. wants us to so we have our best money. It takes a lot of time to learn turned on so we have a little bit roster must average 50 percent of all of them.” Southeastern No. 1 After Rolling To 15-2 Start, 11.5 Runs Per Game L A K E L A N D , F l a . — against Ave Maria University 14 batters to win his first game of great appearances that earned him Southeastern (FL) moved to the NAIA NOTES Webber International set a new the season. Appalachian Athletic Conference No. 1 spot in the NAIA Top 25 poll program record for most runs in a In a game against Graceland, Pitcher of the Week honors. the week of March 5 after posting record of 17-0. game with 27. Tavarez Cabrera allowed just two The junior pitched two innings of a 15-2 start. The pitching staff has been The Warriors also set a new hits and two runs (one earned) to relief in the opening game against The Fire leads the nation in both efficient, averaging nearly 10 school record for hits in a game lead his team to a 5-2 victory. Campbellsville University and did runs scored (193) and runs scored strikeouts a contest. They have with 26 and tied their program Around The Horn… not give up a hit and struck one. per game (11.53). posted 213 strikeouts and a 3.38 record for triples in a game with RHP Bryce Milligan of Against Montreat College, Top producers are OF Abdel ERA. three. Oklahoma City University Martin went 6 innings, giving up Guadalupe with 25, 2B Dominic Leading the staff has been Jesse They won the game 27-13 after struck out 10 batters en route to one hit and striking out 13 in a 10- Anagnos with 22, OF Manuel Ramirez (5-0, 2 SV, 0.69 ERA, 45K, dropping the first game of the day, a 4-0 shutout over Southwestern 3 win. He improved to 3 wins with Mesa with 21 and 3B Ivan Nunez, 6 BB, 26 IP), Parker Robinson (3-0, 6-5. Christian. In seven innings, he 30 strikeouts. SS Adam De La Cruz and DH Dan 3 SV, 0.82 ERA, 28 K, 5 BB, 22 IP), The record was set on April 11, permitted a walk and five hits. It Faulkner (AL) University’s LHP Valerio with 20 each. After going Cameron Vige (4-1, 3.66 ERA, 40 1994 when Webber scored 25 times was his second complete-game of Evan Gillespie captured SSAC 2-1 against Georgia Gwinnett, the K, 32 IP) and Houston Glad (3-1, against Southeastern University. the year and he has yet to allow an Pitcher of the Week honors for the Fire have not lost a game. 3.26 ERA, 31 K, 30.1 IP). The 26 hits were the most since this year. third time this season. He tossed The Comeback Kids The team is hitting .312 with the Warriors belted 23 hits in a 21- Milligan is 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA, a seven-inning complete game The Texas Wesleyan baseball a .444 slugging percentage. They 0 win over Clearwater Christian 41 strikeouts in 34.2 innings. Twice shutout over Florida National, team has pulled out nine comeback have hit 9 home runs, 9 triples and College on February 9, 2013. he has been named Sooner Athletic striking out nine and walking one. wins during the first 23 games of 43 doubles. Most Strikeouts Conference Pitcher of the Week. For the season, he is 4-0 with 32 strikeouts in 22 innings. He has the season. Sets Single Game Record Peru State’s RHP Eddy Tavarez RHP Irving Martin o f The team also has posted a home In game two of a Cabrera struck out a career-high Tennessee Wesleyan posted two allowed just one unearned run. Page 12 Collegiate Baseball Friday, March 22, 2019 It’s Almost Impossible To Strike Out T.J. Rogers By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR. on March 8 in Tucson, Ariz. against Editor/Collegiate Baseball Aurora University. T.J. Rogers will continue his NORTHFIELD, Minn. — St. quest to be the toughest batter to Olaf centerfielder T.J. Rogers strike out. only fanned one time in 126 plate Around The Horn… appearances last year for the Oles. Keith Long tossed the 19th no- It was the fewest amount of hitter in the history of the American strikeouts on any level of college Southwest Conference as he led baseball last year for starting Texas-Tyler to a 3-0 win over Mary players. Hardin-Baylor. In the history of college baseball, Long struck out 11 over 7 innings hitters have had fewer strikeouts and allowed only one walk. only seven times. Ryan Boyer of Pitt.-Bradford When you consider Rogers was was dominant in his only a freshman last season for St. start as he came within one out of Olaf, the achievement is even more a during an 8-1, 7- amazing. inning win over Wells. Now consider that Rogers hit Boyer struck out 16 batters, the .395 last season over 30 games most in a game for the program and had an on-base percentage of since 2005. The lone hit for Wells .449 and stole 10 of 12 bases as the was a solo home run in the bottom leadoff hitter for the Oles. of the ninth. He is so good at making contact Tre D’Amico of Frostburg St. with that he never struck belted 3 home runs and went 7- out in 40 games during the American for-10 at the plate during a 3-game Legion season the summer prior sweep of New Rochelle. to his 2018 freshman year at St. He tallied 6 hits, 6 runs, 3 doubles Olaf. Photo courtesy of St. Olaf athletics. and 8 RBI. Over his last 70 games, he has T.J. Rogers of St. Olaf only struck out once in 126 plate appearances in 2018. Anthony Mantova of St. John only been rung up one time. well or an umpire might have a the first batter allows you to get a I stepped away from the game. Fisher had a game to remember St. Olaf Head Coach Matt as he went 4-for-5 against Johns McDonald, entering his 25th year really wide strike zone. With two feel of the strike zone. In subsequent I would have loved to have kept strikes, do what is necessary to put at-bats as your teammates hit, you going, and I miss it almost every Hopkins. He belted 2 home runs as skipper of the Oles, has never and collected 7 RBI, four of which seen anything like what Rogers did the bat on the ball.” get used to the zone that is in play day. Hockey is played everywhere for each game. in Minnesota.” came on a grand slam in the eighth last season. Keeps Swing The Same inning. “There have been players over Rogers said when he got to St. “It is important to me to go into Funny Story each at-bat knowing I am better Alfred State RHP Andrew the years who had 5-6-7 strikeouts Olaf for his freshman year, he was While Rogers is a terrific hitter Santobuono had a stellar collegiate in a season for us. But I never ready to make changes in his hitting than the pitcher. No matter what (.395 last season), he doesn’t have a the pitcher throws me and whatever debut with 10 strikeouts in eight saw anybody go through an entire mechanics if it meant gaining more powerful hitting stroke as attested to shutout innings against Houghton season and only strikeout once,” power. location that might be, I firmly 0 home runs last season, 3 doubles believe I can hit that pitch in an College. He allowed 4 hits and said McDonald. “You see a lot of college players and 1 triple with 11 RBI. didn’t walk a batter. who put up significant power open hole and get on base. It doesn’t This brings us to the story of his matter what zone the umpire is David Hall of Belhaven struck numbers as batters hit doubles and first home run in years during the out 14 batters during a win over NCAA D-3 NOTES homers all the time. calling strikes.” summer of 2017. Visually, Rogers explains what Sul Ross St. over 7 shutout innings “Consider that he is our leadoff “When I arrived on the campus “When I was playing American during a 3-0 win. at St. Olaf in the fall of 2017 as a he does in each at-bat when he Legion baseball the summer before hitter who sees a lot of pitches to tracks baseballs into the hitting Brenndan Rogers of Eastern help his teammates out. While I freshman, my coach told me that he my freshman year at St. Olaf, I Nazarene pitched a complete game wanted me to utilize my strengths zone. hadn’t hit a home run since Little don’t know the exact number, he “It is important for me to track shutout in his first outing of the probably had two strikes on him 40- and not change a thing. He told me League,” said Rogers. season during a 2-0 win over that I wasn’t the biggest guy in the the spin of the ball off the fingers “I stepped in the batter’s box, and 60 percent of the time last season of the pitcher. It allows me to Monmouth. He struck out 10 batters (in 126 plate appearances). world (5-foot-11, 160-pounds). But this catcher wasn’t very confident in seven innings and only allowed I had good speed and was good at determine if the pitch is a 4-seam in his pitcher. He told me before the “He is the prototypical leadoff fastball, 2-seamer or curve. I have 2 hits. hitter who puts balls in play and putting my bat on the ball. at-bat that I would hit a dinger off Saint Vincent College freshman “So I didn’t worry about been able to pick those pitches up this guy. The count was 2-0, and runs very well.” pretty well my whole life. And Casey Jones fanned 11 batters in adjusting my hitting stroke or I was looking for a fastball down his collegiate debut during an 8-6 Amazing Run that helps me to react quickly to changing anything I do. I trusted the middle. win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Rogers explained what a pitches.” what I did. This made perfect sense “Sure enough, the pitcher threw Institute. He worked 6 innings. challenge it is to only strike out Rogers said he struck out to me, especially as a leadoff hitter. it right there, and I took a big cut Deauton Delgado of Louisiana once in 30 games and have 126 rarely at Minnetonka High School You take a lot of pitches so the and hit it over the left field fence. College went 6-for-11 over three plate appearances with multiple (Minnetonka, Minn.). hitters behind you can see what the I had no idea the ball was going games at the RussMatt Central umpires behind the plate who all “But I did strike out more than pitcher has. over the fence as I took off on a full Florida Invitational. He collected have different strike zones. last season. During the summer “And that means getting in a sprint toward first thinking triple. 2 doubles, 2 homers, 4 RBI and “That low strikeout total is pretty after my senior year at Minnetonka number of 2-strike counts. “As I was running toward second, scored 6 runs. crazy now that I look back at it,” High School when I played on an “While I have no idea how many I saw leftfielder just standing there Nick Fowkes of Thiel went 4- said Rogers. American Legion team, I didn’t 2-strike counts I was in last season, as the ball went over the fence. for-6 during a 26-6 win over River “It is hard to believe I did that. strike out at all. That includes 40 there were a number of good I couldn’t believe it as I kept University. With two strikes, I’m not letting a games, and I kept the trend going pitchers I hit against who made 2- rounding the bases with a big He belted a 3-run home run and pitch that is even close to the strike from there.” strike hitting difficult. On some of smile on my face. That was a great grand slam in the victory while zone get by me. I have no idea those nasty pitches, I was able to Talented Hockey Player experience.” finishing with 7 RBI and 3 runs how many 2-strike counts I was in foul them off and got lucky. While Rogers has a special St. Olaf begins its 2019 season scored. last year. But it was a substantial “When I come to the plate in passion for baseball, he was an amount. other at-bats during games, I am accomplished hockey player at “We work on 2-strike hitting a lot more aggressive and look to hit the Minnetonka High School as well at St. Olaf. We always have a part of National Players Of Week first pitch if it is a strike. A lot of as he played all four years. hitter into the ninth inning against practice where hitters practice 0-2 Continued From Page 8 times, that first pitch is a fastball. “I was a center when I played New Orleans. The no-hit bid was counts. As part of those sessions, If it is a curve, I lay off it. On hockey, and the sport really helped strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings. broken up with one out. our coach tells us to choke up on subsequent pitches if they are in me a lot with my baseball skills,” the bat. the strike zone, I take a nice hack said Rogers. 1B Bryce Ball, Dallas Baptist: 3B Jacob Olson, South Carolina: “He often reminds us of a senior at them.” “Hockey training helped me with Ball hit 4 home runs and drove in 9 Olson belted 3 home runs and 3 and what happened to him during my speed and being able to get a runs while posting a 1.286 slugging doubles while hitting .522 his freshman year. He was down Umpire’s Strike Zones percentage and compiled 18 total Since Rogers plays centerfield, jump on balls hit to the outfield. LHP Jake Kuchmaner, East 0-2 and utilized a big 34 inch Getting a powerful first stride is bases. He also drew 5 walks. Carolina: Kuchmaner was one bat and still hit a bomb when he he has a distant view of the strike zone. extremely important in hockey. LHP Chris Gerard, Virginia strike away from a no-hitter during a choked up. As far as hitting, hockey definitely Tech.: The freshman posted a win 3-2 win over Ole Miss before giving “Our coach used that as evidence So he can only determine what that zone is from the dugout while helped me with my eye-hand during a 6-0 win over Florida St. up a single. He had 9 strikeouts. that you can still hit with power coordination as I swatted pucks He took a no-hitter into the seventh despite choking up a little on the his team is and ask his 1B Jason Hinchman, Tennessee teammates when they come back out of the air sometimes and seeing inning and ultimately struck out Tech.: Hinchman hit 4 home runs bat. Choking up a little bit will also where the puck was going. 10 batters. Gerard has thrown 17 help with contact. to the dugout. with 9 RBI and 9 runs scored. “Home plate umpires are all over “The only problem with hockey straight innings without allowing “I personally don’t like to choke was that there is a lot of contact, an earned run. LHP Logan Allen, Florida up too much. But I definitely don’t the place with their strike zones. International: Allen reached and I was the one who was having 1B Tony Ortiz, Missouri: Ortiz hold the bat at the end of the knob It would be great if they all called double-digit strikeouts for the third my head taken off by people going paced the Tigers with 3 home runs, with any two strike situation. the same zone that is in the NCAA consecutive game, fanning 11 Seton after me up until my senior year. It 8 RBI, 14 total bases and 5 runs “Whenever there are two strikes Baseball Rule Book. But the reality Hall batters in a 1-0 shutout. He became fun making guys miss me scored. He only hit one home run on me, I have it in my mind to put is that each umpire has a different allowed only 1 hit and 1 walk in as they were coming after me. last season. the ball in play. I’m not helping my zone. 7 innings. “Being a leadoff hitter is tough “I have had a good amount of team if I miss it and strike out. concussions. I won’t share how RHP Trever Kilcrease, Nicholls C Kyle McCann, Georgia Tech.: “Sometimes when you are when you are trying to figure out St.: Kilcrease struck out a career- what the strike zone will be. Being many, but it hasn’t been over 10. McCann belted 4 home runs with 2 hitting, you aren’t seeing the ball “That was one of the reasons high 14 batters and carried a no- doubles and 10 RBI over 5 games. Friday, March 22, 2019 Collegiate Baseball Page 13 Can Runner Be Out If Umpire Collides With Him? ANSONIA, Conn. — The Types of Umpire collision. Hernandez was correctly base to third base when a snap following play occurred in late Umpire interference is universal This was not the case in that awarded first base but Phillips was throw from Nationals’ catcher Jesus November in a Dominican Republic in all playing codes. It can occur in situation. As I see it, when the improperly allowed to go to third Flores sailed into right field. winter league game between three ways: umpires huddled, they had one base on the play. In such umpire But Victorino was returned to Gigantes and Toros. (1) If the field umpire, who decision to make and that is, where interference situations, runners are first base because Flores’ arm had Gigantes had a runner on first is positioned on the infield side to place the runner/s? Would the allowed to advance one base, only clipped the chest protector of West, when the batter hit a scorching (always the second base umpire lead runner have scored if the plate if forced. causing the wild fling. If Flores line drive over the ’s in a four-man crew) in front of the umpire did not collide with him? Padres’ manager Bud Black, who had retired Victorino at second, head. infielders is hit by a ground ball that If so, he should have been allowed was voted the 2010 NL manager of the interference would have been While the four umpires were is not deflected, the ball is dead. to score. the year, should have filed a legal disregarded. rotating, the plate umpire collided The batter is awarded first base and If the umpires judged that the protest on this ruling since it was a By the way, when the plate with the first base runner who is credited with a hit. Any runner runner would not have scored, I misinterpretation of a rule and not umpire interferes with the catcher was headed home after on base advances, only would have placed the runner at a judgment call. who is attempting to retire a runner, rounding third base. if forced. third base. Lack of knowledge of the rule if a or subsequent throw The umpire called (2) If the plate umpire An out should not have been almost cost him the ballgame. is required to retire the runner, the “Time” and awarded Ruleball hinders the catcher’s recorded on the play because However, since the Padres won ball is dead immediately and the the runner home plate. throw to a base when he the umpire’s incorrect calling of the game, 4-3, the protest never interference is enforced which The runner proceeded to is attempting to retire a “time,” most likely affected the would have been heard. means the runner returns to the base touch the plate. runner. If the runner is actions of the runner. Reds’ skipper Dusty Baker he occupied at the start of play. After the defensive retired, the interference When umpires make an incorrect also demonstrated his lack of Umpires must be sure that manager came out, the is nullified. If the runner call on the field they can refer to understanding of the rule when he the catcher does not initiate the umpires huddled and is not retired, the runner rule 8.02 (c) which states, “… argued that his team should have interference because the runner got inexplicably called the must return to his original If the umpires consult after a scored one run on the play because a good jump. runner out. base; no bases can be play and change a call that had Bucknor’s interference prevented Umpire Struck By Throw The explanation was advanced. been made, then they have the Phillips from scoring. When an umpire is hit by a that the only base the (3) If the catcher authority to take all steps that Baker was not aware that the throw, the ball remains alive and home plate umpire can while throwing the ball they may deem necessary, in their ball was dead the moment Bucknor in play and hopefully so does the interfere is home plate. back to the pitcher with discretion to eliminate the results made contact with the ball and that With Rich Marazzi umpire. Gigantes manager Rules Consultant a runner or runners on and consequences of the earlier call Phillips, by rule, was not permitted During the 2001 season, the St. Pedro Grifol protested Blue Jays, Brewers, base is hindered by the that they are reversing, including to advance because he wasn’t Louis Cardinals’ Albert Pujols hit a the game but it was never Cardinals, D’backs, plate umpire, the ball is placing runners where they think forced. ground ball in St. Louis that struck heard because Gigantes Dodgers, Mariners, dead and no runner can those runners would have been after Actually, the Reds caught a Orioles, Phillies, second base. won the game. Pirates, Rangers, advance. the play, had the ultimate call been break because Phillips was illegally ’ second Did the umpires make Rays, Red Sox, In the above play you made as the initial call, disregarding awarded a base. If a runner is forced baseman Jay Bell picked up the ball the proper call by calling Royals, Tigers, had a collision between interference or that may to advance, he is awarded the next and attempted to throw out Pujols at the runner out? Twins, Yankees, the the plate umpire and have occurred on the play…” base from the base he occupied at Fox Regional Sports first but the ball struck second base To begin with, it’s Networks, ESPN and a runner, who was Umpires must be aware when the time the pitch was delivered. umpire Larry Young who got in the important to understand the White Sox TV attempting to advance they place a team in jeopardy by It makes no difference where the line of the throw. that the umpire, by rule, announcers. home. making an incorrect call that is runner/runners are at the time the The ball remained in play with is treated as part of the Readers can submit That would not come reversed, not to further penalize umpire interference occurs when he Pujols reaching first base. Young, ground. questions to Rich at: under any of the three them by improperly placing makes contact with the ball. who was seriously injured, was Excluding a field [email protected] conditions above that runners. Let’s say there was a runner on sidelined for one week. umpire who is working would qualify as umpire The umpires need to be sensitive first who was stealing and was at “I was working in the short in front of the infielders, any batted interference. as to who they need to protect. second base when the outfield at the start of play since ball that hits an umpire is in play. If Because the umpire is considered Field Umpire Interference strikes the second base umpire and there were no runners on base,” it is a line drive or fly ball, the ball to be part of the ground, the play Properly placing the runners umpire interference is called. Young recalled. is no longer . should have been allowed to proceed when field umpire interference In that case the runner on first “I was coming into the infield It is treated like a bounding despite the inadvertent collision and occurs is important. would still only be awarded second thinking the ball was going through ball. if the runner is subsequently tagged The and San base because first base was the base for a base hit. But the ball struck For example, if a line drive out before he reaches home, he Diego Padres played at PETCO he occupied at the time the pitch second base which allowed Bell strikes the first base umpire, who should be out. Park on Sept. 25, 2010. was delivered. to field it. is positioned behind the fielder That may seem unfair but In the top of the fourth inning Plate Umpire Interference “Bell almost didn’t throw to first. and caroms into the hands of the that’s life in the big city. In my the Reds had Brandon Phillips on The plate umpire should invoke He felt terrible about the play. I first baseman, it is not a legal opinion, because the plate umpire second base and two outs trailing 3- interference on himself when he received 18 stitches above my left catch because the ball is no longer incorrectly called “time,” the runner 1 when Ramon Hernandez hit a shot interferes with the catcher making eye and was hospitalized overnight. in flight. was placed in jeopardy since he was up the middle that struck second a throw to a base. I also broke a bone above my nose. Any thrown ball that strikes an under the assumption the play was base umpire C.B. Bucknor. Plate umpire Joe West exercised The doctors were very concerned umpire remains in play unless it dead and was awarded home. The ball was properly ruled dead the rule on Aug. 19, 2008, in about the excessive bleeding. I becomes lodged in the umpire’s There is no way he should have because Bucknor was positioned on Philadelphia where the Phillies and could have bled to death.” equipment. been called out unless the umpires the infield side in front of second Nationals played. In the seventh Despite the fact that Young To say that umpires, by rule, are were 100 percent sure that he would base when he made contact with a inning, Phillies’ center fielder almost lost his life, the mishap did treated like dirt is factually true. have been out had there been no batted ball that was not deflected. Shane Victorino raced from first not qualify as umpire interference. Pitchers Must Experience Freedom Of Delivery To Maximize Talent BY CHARLIE GREENE fashion. It would be similar to learning motion that becomes a thing of Special To Collegiate Baseball Next, the class started with a ball how to play golf on a course with beauty. in proper grip and rolled it down very narrow fairways. This requires continual repetition MIAMI, Fla. — The path to the lane (no pins) with the 4-step The inhibitions created would all of throwing and/or pitching with finding a solution to the arm injury delivery. but eliminate a solid swing. inhibitions removed. epidemic takes many twists and Within a few repetitions the The following drills (oppor- Become accurate the proper turns. sequence looked fairly smooth and tunities) can help eliminate the way. One thought leads to another, and uniform. inhibition factor. new ideas surface in an unexpected Now, the pins were set up and Long Toss — Allows the Mangrum Hits fashion. steps one and two were set into pitcher to repeat a smooth, relaxed An occasional spark can ignite a action. delivery For Cycle In Tilt whole new train of thought. What happened? Inside Out — Have the pitcher TAMPA, Fla. — Stevie Mangrum Such experiences are ongoing. Steps one and two disappeared. throw outside the strike zone, on of the University of Tampa hit for While walking through a The attempts at accuracy created both sides of the plate on alternating the cycle during a 15-6 win over clubhouse recently during signature deliveries. No two were repetitions at short distance or 60 Albany State. consecutive days of rainouts, I alike. feet. He doubled in the top of the thought about pitchers getting in Lesson learned! Strikes not allowed. second and later stole third base. some type of throwing to avoid When accuracy becomes the Follow up with strikes allowed. Tampa scored 4 runs in the top of the “rust” of too many cancelled bottom line, technique is all but You’ll be surprised. the seventh highlighted by an RBI workouts. ignored. Wall — Throwing against a wall triple from Mangrum. As I viewed available space in CHARLIE GREENE Thus we inhibit our young with a partner fielding the rebound Then in the top of the eighth, he the clubhouse area, I thought about Not being a bowler but intrigued pitchers to the point that proper allows for self evaluation of their hit a solo home run. the possibility of getting some work by the 60 foot distance from the mechanics are sidetracked in the feel for the delivery Mangrum was 4-for-5 in the inside a quite lengthy hallway. foul line to the pins, I paid close process. Allow pitchers an opportunity to game as he scored 4 runs and drove What restrictions would the player attention to the steps taken to teach All pitchers need to experience “know thy self.” in 2 RBI. experience? a beginning “Kegler”. freedom in a delivery in order to Throughout most of their career, Mangrum’s cycle is the third in My thoughts immediately shifted It was revealing to say the maximize their talent. they have been saturated with Tampa history. to, “What restrictions does a pitcher least. They need continual opportunities “accuracy is the most important The last cycle was off the bat experience during a [normal] The instructor lined up the to experience that freedom in a quality.” of Craig Corrado against Lynn in workout in the bullpen?” students on the lanes and had each variety of drills. How you get there is secon- 2007. Many came to mind. simulate the four step approach Placing major emphasis on dary. Mangrum has now hit a home I can recall a workshop we had (without a ball) directly to the accuracy in every drill or throwing However, mechanics and run in three consecutive games for years ago on how to teach a student release motion. session does not allow them to get accuracy eventually need to be the Spartans and a team-leading 5 to bowl. The class adapted in a smooth a feel for their best motion. blended into a smooth functional on the season. Page 14 Collegiate Baseball Friday, March 22, 2019 Wheatcroft Extends Scoreless Streak To 27 1/3 Innings TURLOCK, Calif. — Pitcher 18 straight batters during a win Chase Wheatcroft of Stanislaus NCAA D-2 NOTES against Arkansas-Monticello. State extended his consecutive He struck out 8 and allowed an scoreless innings streak to a school College. He helped lead the Panthers unearned run as he fired a 2-hit record 27 1/3 innings. to a 36-16 record in 2018. complete game. It is the longest scoreless innings Incredible Week 3 Home Run Day streak in NCAA Div. II since 2014 New Haven’s Matt Chamberlain Andrew Pratt of Lubbock when a pitcher from Mercyhurst had a monster week to start the Christian hit 3 home runs during a threw 32 2/3 scoreless innings. season as he went 10-for-17 with doubleheader against St. Mary’s. He recently tossed a 3-hit shutout 4 home runs, 13 RBI and 9 runs During the series, he collected during a 1-0 win over Cal. State scored over 4 games. 14 total bases and posted a 1.273 East Bay as he struck out 8 and He also walked 3 times and slugging percentage while driving walked 2. swiped 2 bases. in 7 runs. No-Hitter He recorded at least 2 hits in each He hit .455 with 5-of-11 Six Wayne State pitchers of the first 4 games. hitting. combined on an 11-0 no-hitter No-Hitter On the season, he has drawn 17 against Missouri-St. Louis. Valdosta State pitcher Cooper walks which is one shy of his total The group combined to strike out Cain tossed his first career no-hitter all of last season. nine and only allowed 2 walks. during an 8-1 win over Kentucky Around The Horn… Tyler Waldrop went the first 5 Wesleyan. Marquise Lanier of Chowan innings and struck out 4. He punctuated the achievement collected 11 hits over 5 games as he He was followed by Brandon with 14 strikeouts, the most amount belted a home run with 4 doubles Williams, Josh Nelson, Nick of strikeouts in a Gulf South and 7 RBI and scored 8 runs. His Cowen, Matt Krutsch and Jack Conference game this season. best performance came in a 10-1 Schmidt who kept the no-hitter It marked the sixth no-hitter in win over King as he went 4-for-4 intact. school history. with 1 homer and 3 RBI. 0 Earned Runs In 17 Innings Strikes Out 13 RHP Hunter French of Central LHP Layton Robinson of Kolton Ingram of Columbus Washington earned his second Arkansas Tech. has not allowed an State struck out 13 batters against win of the season with a 7-inning earned run in his last 17 innings. Augusta in eight innings of work as complete game 5-1 victory over Recently he shut down he allowed one earned run. Saint Martins. He struck out Southeastern Oklahoma St. as he The 13 strikeouts is tied for the 10 batters while facing just 25 tossed a 94-pitch, complete game most in a single game in the Peach batters. shutout. Belt Conference this season. Cole Waites of West Alabama Robinson struck out 6 and only He set down 12 batters in a row struck out 9 batters over 7 1/3 allowed 5 hits. at one point in the game. innings and only allowed one hit. He took a no-hitter into the eighth Belts 5 Homers 4 Home Run Week Augusta belted 5 home runs and inning during a win at West Georgia Photo By Marty Bicek Daniel Cipriano of Montana St. collected 16 hits during an 11-6 win and surrendered only one hit. Stanislaus State RHP Chase Wheatcroft belted 4 home runs in a 4-game Oklahoma Christian pitcher over Georgia Southwestern. series against Western Oregon as he The Jaguars tied a Peach Belt second inning and inherited runners over Trevecca Nazarene as he Gabe Rodery wasn’t bothered by on first and second but got out of tossed 7 scoreless innings while went 8-for-15 with 9 RBI, 2 doubles the game-time temperature of 29 Conference record for most homers and 7 runs scored. in an inning with three in the the jam. He went on to pitch three matching a career-high with 11 degrees as he fired a 4-hit shutout innings of relief, allowing one hit strikeouts. Over the four games, he had a against Rogers State as he struck third. 1.467 slugging percentage. Augusta seniors Harrison Moore and a walk to pick up the win. In his next outing, he tossed 6 out 10 batters. Only two runners and Patrick Watson each went 3- Five different pitchers followed 1/3 innings against Seton Hill and Belts 3 Homers advanced as far as third base. for-5 and combined for 4 RBI. Harriton who pitched one inning struck out 7. Catcher Aaron Kim of U.C. San Anthony Castaneda of Missouri Watson hit 2 home runs and now and allowed no runs on 3 hits and Wins It In 17th Diego hit 3 homers and a double as Western pitched a complete game has 5 on the season. one walk. Josh Haygood singled through he went 6-for-14 at the plate in four shutout over Missouri Southern, 8 RBI Game the left side in the top of the 17th games against Sonoma St. 1-0 as he struck out 12 batters 21 Unanswered Runs He collected 10 RBI and scored and allowed just three hits with 1 After falling behind 5-0 after the Logan Soole tied a Metropolitan inning during a 4-3 win by Malone State-Denver school record with 8 over Assumption. 4 runs. walk. top of the first inning, Assumption Concord’s Troy Beckner pitched scored the final 21 runs on 13 RBI during a 31-3 win over Mary. Assumption and Malone were 12 Strikeouts He went 4-for-6 with 5 runs locked in a pitchers’ duel for most Michael Giacone of North seven strong innings and struck out hits, 14 walks and 5 errors to beat 11 during a win over Mansfield. Bloomfield, 21-5. scored as he hit 2 homers and 2 of the game. Greenville struck out 12 batters doubles in the contest. without a walk over 5 innings He allowed one run on three hits Pitcher Mike Curtis allowed 5 New Pitching Coach and was one strikeout shy of his runs in the top of the first inning for 18 Strikeouts Bo Henning has been named during a 24-0 win over Erskine. He allowed only 2 hits. career high. Assumption on two 2-RBI singles RHP Devin Peters of Ashland the new pitching coach at Nova Nate Fiala of East Stroudsburg and a . fanned 18 batters in two starts over Southeastern. Retires 18 Straight recorded 11 strikeouts and Patrick Harrington relieved 13 1/3 innings. He joined the program following RHP Cooper Cantwell of improved to 2-0 in a 9-1 win Curtis after three batters in the He was dominant in a 6-0 win a 3-year stint at Sacramento City Southwestern Oklahoma St. retired against American International. Wallace-Dothan Belts 35 Homers In 16 Games To Lead JC Schools DOTHAN, Ala. — Wallace- average (.332), on-base percentage single. He would complete the Dothan’s (AL) leads the nation with (.440) and slugging percentage JC NOTES inning before handing the ball to 35 home runs in 16 games. (.524). RHP Jose Rodriguez. Cumberland Collectively the team is hitting 3B Ricky Presno leads the state collegiate game in a 15-0, 5-inning County won the game 7-2. .366 with 27 doubles, 2 triples with 6 homers while OF James Nix shutout over Western Tech. Masselli was named NJCAA and 113 RBI. They have a .625 leads the state in batting average He struck out 10, walked DIII Pitcher of the Week. slugging percentage and .457 on- (.449). 1B Nolan Machibroda ranks none and allowed no hits in the 5 In a 3-game series against Diablo base percentage. third in the state with 28 RBI. innings. Valley, OF Brandon Motheral of Oraj Anu leads the nation with 10 He earned NJCAA DII Pitcher Sierra College (CA) went 8-for-12 Top Hitting of the Week honors. homers in 16 games and is hitting Over six games, INF Jordan with two walks, two doubles, 5 runs .492 with 5 doubles, 27 RBI and Glazer of Chesapeake CC (MD) Around The Horn... and 6 RBI. He was named NorCal 20 runs scored. He has an on-base posted outstanding hitting stats, John A. Logan College C Hunter Player of the Week. percentage of .529 with a slugging going 9-for-18 with 5 home runs, Combs had a monster week, batting Ryan Platero of Monterey percentage of 1.085. 1 triple, 8 RBI and 10 runs scored. .500 with 4 doubles, a triple, a home Peninsula College (CA) tossed a Eight players have hit at least one In a 16-10 win over Straford run, 11 RBI and 11 runs scored. He 9-inning complete game shutout home run this season as the team is University, he went 3-for-4 with was named NJCAA DI Player of over West Valley, 2-0. averaging 9.1 runs per game. 3 home runs, 5 RBI and 3 runs the Week. He struck out 13, walked three More HR Hitters scored. OF Chase Cos of Brookhaven and allowed only 3 hits. He was Walters State CC (TN) has Glazer was named NJCAA DII College (TX) had an outstanding named NorCal Pitcher of the posted a 13-3 record to earn the No. Player of the Week. two-game series to lead his team to Week. 2 spot in the NJCAA D1 Poll. victory over Eastfield College, 22-4 1B Zach Williams of Bakersfield Outstanding Pitching and 11-10. He went 5-for-8 with 2 College (CA) hit .800 over three The team ranks second in the ORAJ ANU LHP Kobe Foster of Motlow nation with 25 home runs in 15 doubles, 2 home runs, 9 RBI and 5 games with a double, two home moved right into the No. 1 spot. State (TN) tossed a complete- runs scored. runs, 8 RBI, 4 walks and two stolen games. Collectively, hitters have The Patriots did not receive a game shutout over conference rival posted a .324 batting average with He was named NJCAA DIII bases. He was named SoCal Player single pre-season vote in the state Southwest Tennessee to win 3-0. Player of the Week for his efforts. of the Week. 32 doubles, 2 triples and 113 RBI. or national polls prior to the season He struck out 12 in the contest as Brayden Combs leads the team In the first home game of the College of the Canyon’s (CA) starting, but after dropping its first he was named NJCAA DI Pitcher season, RHP Anthony Masselli of Brendan Henry tossed a complete with 5 homers followed by Braydon game, they have gone on to a 22- of the Week. Runion with 4. Cumberland County (NJ) dazzled game shutout victory over Santa game win streak. They are currently For the season, Foster has the crowd with a win over Rowan Ana. New No. 1 the only NJCAA D1 program with allowed only three earned runs College. He pitched the first 7 He gave up three hits, had 8 The College of Central Florida just one loss. in 22 innings pitched. He has 34 innings, striking out 12 batters and strikeouts and walked none. He was unranked in the pre-season They lead the state in almost strikeouts and only three walks. giving up just one earned run. faced 28 batters, just one over the NJCAA D1 poll. By the first regular every offensive category, including RHP Jaken Snider of NOC- He took a no-hitter into the 7th minimum and was named SoCal season poll of the year, the Patriots home runs (24), RBI (167), batting Tonkawa (OK) won his first inning before giving up a leadoff Pitcher of the Week. Friday, March 22, 2019 Collegiate Baseball Page 15

Now Available By Popular Demand 7 Amazing E-Books For Sale! Secrets Revealed In Each Of These Important Areas Secrets Of Secrets Of Secrets Of Secrets Of Secrets Of Pitching Great Hitters Great Coaches Playing Infield Play The Outfield With T.J. Bruce

By Collegiate Baseball

(1) SECRETS OF PLAYING THE OUTFIELD (NEW!): In-depth teaching system utilized by the best outfield coach in history, Sam Suplizio. He worked in pro baseball for nearly 50 years, and his thoughts on teaching outfield play are carried in this special e-book. Good defensive outfield play is one of the most important and most exciting phases in the game of baseball. Yet, it is rarely stressed and seldom taught properly. Learn all of Sam’s tricks of the trade with this 20-page publication which covers every type of scenario an outfielder will face.

(2) SECRETS OF PITCHING: Loads of information on pitching, including the greatest move ever devised by Mike Maack, mastering command with Orel Hershiser, why sniper focus is crucial in pitching, the future of pitching with Butch Thompson, why resilience is a must with Ken Ravizza, velocity improvement strategies with Ron Wolforth, secrets of deception with Perry Husband, video analysis and a look at Tony Robichaux’s remarkable system at Louisiana Lafayette.

(3) SECRETS OF GREAT HITTERS: ’ Hitting Coach John Mallee taps into wealth of data which vividly shows how hitters are most efficient in launch angles for production. Professional Hitting Coach Pete Lauritson utilizes unique program that produces 18 mph exit speed gains. Tulane skipper Travis Jewett delves into his system which has produced many great hitters over the years.

(4) SECRETS OF AMAZING INFIELD PLAY: This is the system Coach T.J. Bruce used for 5 years as an assistant at UCLA as he helped the Bruins to the 2013 national title. Now the head coach at the University of Nevada, he explains how your infielders can be outstanding with his precision teaching system.

(5) SECRETS OF GREAT COACHES: Six in-depth articles involving coaching techniques, team chemistry, value of the walk, ex- treme hustle, innovations, plus much, much more. (6) BEST INFIELD DRAG & TAMP Best Infield Drag DESIGNS: Famous Rosenblatt Sta- Baseball’s dium (Omaha, Neb.) groundskeeper Greatest Trick & Tamp Designs Jesse Cuevas gives complete plans on how to build both which was used Plays Of All Time for many years at the .

(7) BASEBALL’S GREATEST TRICK PLAYS: Trick plays have been a fun part of baseball since the game’s birth over a century ago. Diabolical coach- es over the years have dreamed up wild plays that have worked extremely well and caused outcomes to change, momentum to shift and opponents to scream bloody murder. Produced by Collegiate Baseball, each of these e-books is available for only $5. If you purchase five ($25), you will receive two for free and will get all seven! You must provide an e-mail address to receive these special e-books. Order Immediately: www.baseballnews.com Once there, look on the right side of the page and scroll down until you see the 7 Amazing E-Books offer. Click on the ad. Then decide what you want. Or Call at (520) 623-4530 to place your order. Page 16 Collegiate Baseball Friday, March 22, 2019 Collegiate Baseball A Valuable Coaching Resource For 61 years, Collegiate Baseball has offered baseball coaches at all levels valuable coaching knowledge from top coaches in the game, new product and technology information, discussions on news items that affect you as a coach and more. This is in addition to our national polls and in-depth human interest stories about coaches and players. Collegiate Baseball is the ONLY place you will find national coverage of NCAA Div. I, Div. 2, Div. 3, NAIA, junior colleges and high schools in one publication from pre-season to post- season championships. Get ALL 14 informative issues each year by subscribing today!

Subscribe Any Time Day Or Night Go to our web site www.baseballnews.com and click SUBSCRIBE on the menu bar.

Collegiate Baseball News Subscription Form Individual Subscriptions: Name $28 for one year (14 issues) Print Edition Company/School $48 for two years (28 issues) Print Edition Address $25 for one year (14 issues) City State Country (Electronic version of newspaper) Bonus Rate Team Subscriptions: Zip E-Mail (All papers must go to same address): Payment Method: Credit Card Options Check enclosed (payable to Collegiate Baseball) Call (520) 623-4530 M-F Coaches’ Bundle — 4 copies each issue $56 Money Order (payable to Collegiate Baseball) 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. (MT) or 11 papers each issue — $110 (Save $198) Credit Card FAX to: (520) 624-5501 21 papers each issue — $189 (Save $399) Charge My: Mastercard VISA Discover American Express Credit Card # Mail Orders To: Collegiate Baseball Expiration Date Security Code P.O. Box 50566 Signature (if paying by credit card) Tucson, AZ 85703 Daytime Phone Number: With A 1-Year Subscription To Collegiate Baseball, you receive one FREE E-Book below. Check one from the four E-Books that are offered: SECRETS OF PLAYING THE OUTFIELD (NEW!): In-depth teaching system utilized by the best outfield coach in history, Sam Suplizio. He worked in pro baseball for nearly 50 years, and his thoughts on teaching outfield play are carried in this special e-book. Learn all of Sam’s tricks of the trade in this 20-page publication which covers every type of scenario an outfielder will face. SECRETS OF PITCHING: The greatest pickoff move ever devised from Mike Maack, mastering command with pitching legend Orel Hershiser, why sniper focus is crucial in pitching, why resilience is a must with Ken Ravizza, velocity improvement strategies with Ron Wolforth, effective velocity and secrets of deception with Perry Husband, video analysis plus much more. SECRETS OF GREAT HITTERS: Philadelphia Philliess’ Hitting Coach John Mallee taps into wealth of data which vividly shows how hitters are most efficient in launch angles for production. Pete Lauritson utilizes unique program that produces 18 mph exit speed gains. Tulane skipper Travis Jewett delves into how he produced so many great hitters over the years. SECRETS OF AMAZING INFIELD PLAY: Nevada Head Coach T.J. Bruce delves into a number of drills that will make every player better. Special instruction is given on how to work with third basemen so they can field bunts with throws that are perfect to first base.