The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition crew rolled into the Wichita State Campus on Thursday. Everyone was invited to Eck Stadium for the big surprise. It was announced via Ty Pennington’s blow horn that former Shocker baseball player Carl Hall would be receiving a new home.
The 2011 Major League Amateur Baseball Draft is fast approaching. Pitching is always a top priority for the first round of the draft. Scouts will be analyzing some of the best college baseball talent throughout the country. But who should baseball fans be keeping their eye on this spring as the college season approaches? College baseball will be starting in just a few short months, and there are some recognizable names on the scouts’ radars.
Normally I try to start off each article with some silly one liner, or some type of quip. However this time I have nothing. This article should have been written months ago. Although figuring out how to handle it took longer than usual. At this point I have nothing more to say other than…”Just Smile.”
Undoubtedly, most baseball fans are aware of ex-Creighton now New York Yankees minor league switch-pitcher Pat Venditte. In case you missed his first prime time moment, take the time to check out the eight minute video above, because it is absolutely hysterical.
What you may not have heard of is that Pat Venditte isn’t alone in his ability that seems to laugh at God. There is actually another pitcher out there with MLB caliber stuff with both arms.
Mid-season update on who’s stock is up and who’s stock in down as we look ahead to the 2010 MLB Draft.
Just last week, I was having dinner at the Big River Grille in downtown Chattanooga when a high school baseball team walked by. Not one player had a bent bill. With the help of some alcohol and the presence of my friend Keith (who can fight better than I can), I let out some of my pent up frustrations. As they passed, I hollered, “Bend your bills! Bend them! Bring back the bend!!” Most of the impressionable youngsters didn’t respond, except for one. He looked at me as he passed by, and with a cold Clint Eastwood sort of look in his eyes, he simply said, “No.” It was then I knew that we have a serious problem on our hands.
With a name like Mateychick, you might be thinking of a swashbuckling pirate wench. However, this young college hurler is far from it. On Wednesday afternoon, Wichita State freshman hurler Tobin Mateychick took the mound for the first time. This was the final game of WSU’s mid-week series with North Dakota State.
After the 40 runs scored this weekend, a more appropriate title for the Alabama song should be “Song of the Shox.” The 25 Annual South Alabama Classic took place this weekend in Mobile, Al. Eastern Michigan, North Florida, Wichita State, and South Alabama made up the four team tournament. Games began Friday, and wrapped up this past afternoon with the championship.
Baseball is an amazing game. College baseball doubly so. Two years after Fresno State became the lowest seeded team to ever win a National Championship, New Mexico shocked the college baseball world by taking two of three from the #1 team in the country – University of Texas. The Lobos, who didn’t get a sniff in the Top 25 of any poll prior to this past weekend, suddenly jumped into the picture in several polls, going as high as 19th.
Highly touted prospect Brandon Workman (pictured) gave up 9 hits in 6 innings in a no-decision start.
Are you on board the U of Texas band wagon? Will they bounce back or is this a sign of things to come for an over-talented, under-performing group?
Opening day was a good first day for some of college baseball’s top prospects. Here is a sample of how they faired and where they are rated in our top prospects:
#2 Anthony Ranaudo – JR, RHP – LSU – 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K against a tough Centenary team, which Five Tool Prospects favored to with the Summit League.
#5 Deck McGuire (pictured) – JR, RHP – Georgia Tech – 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 10 K
#12 Alex Wimmers – JR, RHP – Ohio State – Wimmers will be climbing our draft prospect list quickley if he keeps putting together performances like this against North Flordia – 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K