This Week in Baseball: 3-7 Version

LOOKING BACK

The Niners (9-2) went 2-1 on the week, taking two 1-run games from UNC Asheville and losing a 4-2 battle to unc-Chapel Hill in a mid-week road game. The Sunday game vs UNC Asheville was rained out.

In Tuesday’s game at Chapel Hill, the 49ers bats were shut down for 8 innings before charging a late rally in the 9[sup]th[/sup], bringing the tying run to the plate. After giving up 3 runs in the 1[sup]st[/sup] inning, six 49er pitchers came out of the bullpen to allow a combined 1 run.

The 49ers bats struggled against UNCA’s ace on Friday night but battled to pick up a 3-2 victory. Shane Basen drove in the winning run in the 8th. Andrew Smith pitched strong into the 6[sup]th[/sup], but reliever Ryan Mas picked up the win after going 2.1 innings of relief. Bryan Hamilton picked up the save.

Justin Seager hit his 1[sup]st[/sup] career HR and Cory Tilton added his 1[sup]st[/sup] HR of the season to provide a spark for the 49ers offense on Saturday. Cory Roberts picked up the win after going 6 strong innings allowing only 1 earned run (2 runs were unearned). Wes Hatley came in to strike out 7 of the 9 batters he faced to earn the save. There was a great crowd at the Hayes in spite of the rainy weather.

LOOKING AHEAD

Schedule and Projected Starters:

Tuesday 4:00- SP’s: RHP [b]Tyler Barnette /b vs TTU LHP Jacob McWhirter (0-0)
Wednesday 4:00- SP’s: RHP [b]Joe Yermal/b vs TTU RHP Nick Price (0-1)
Friday 4:00- SP’s: RHP [b]Andrew Smith /b vs Ball State RHP Cal Bowling (0-1)
Saturday 2:00- SP’s: RHP [b]Corey Roberts /b vs Ball State LHP Derek Grabner (0-0)
Sunday 12:00- SP’s: RHP [b]Tyler Barnette /b vs Ball State RHP TJ Weir (1-1)

Projected lineup:

CF Cory Tilton RH
RF Justin Wilson LH
3B Shane Basen RH
2B Corey Shaylor RH
LF Tony Montalbano LH
C Ross Steedley RH
1B (Justin Seager RH, Corbin Shive RH)
DH Zach Passeralle LH
SS Justin Roland RH

Tennesse Tech Notes (4-8):

OF/LHP Chad Oberacker was highlighted as one of the top 10 seniors returning for the 2011 season by Rivals. He was drafted in the 19th Round by the Cardinals after batting .452 with 70 RBI’s and 14 SBs last season. He surprised many by returning for his final season. Oberacker was also named to 4 All American teams last season. Is also the leading career hitter for TTU with a .395 average.

The Golden Eagles were projected to finish 3rd in the Ohio Valley Conference and ranked 176 in the preseason rankings by College Baseball Today.

All Conference Candidates include Oberacker, OF Austin Wulf, OF Casanova Donaldson, and SS Chad Hayes

TTU returns all 8 starters in the field but lost most of their pitching from last season, Top newcomer is Freshman DH Zach Stephens

TTU Coach Matt Bragga has been named Tennessee Coach of the Year by Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association the past 2 seasons

RHP Tristan Archer was OVC Pitcher of the Week for week 2 of the season

Ball State Notes (1-8):

The Cardinals finished last season with an RPI of 119 were projected to finish 4[sup]th[/sup] in the Western Division of the MAC and rated 150 in the preseason College Baseball Today power rankings.

Ball State only returns 1 weekend starter in RHP Cal Bowling. Bowling, SS TJ Baumet, OF Blake Beemer, and 3B Stephen Claypool are the returning All-Conference candidates according to College Baseball Today.

This is the first season for HC Alex Marconi after being an assistant for 5 years. Greg Beals left the Cardinals last season to take the HC job at Ohio State.

Mr B, saw that Shane Brown had surgery and could be out for 8 weeks.

That’s what Alumnus told me. Not sure when/how that happened. He played Tuesday in Chapel Hill but wasn’t in the lineup this weekend. He was wearing what looke to be a cast on his hand Saturday.

http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/03/07/2011-cbd-mid-major-poll-march-7th/

Up to 17 in the CBD “Mid-Major” Poll

A mid major poll for college baseball is kinda silly. A lot of non bcs schools are better than many of the bcs schools.

I agree. I just posted since we were in it. There are alot of good CWS teams in this poll.

I believe they consider ACC, SEC, Pac 10, Big 12, Big West, and CUSA as the 6 major conferences in baseball. The rest are considered “mid-major.”

We are once again in ORV for the Coaches poll. I believe we are 48th based on the votes. Same as last week.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/baseball/usatpoll.htm

Updated season stats: http://www.charlotte49ers.com/fls/23200/Basestats/2011/teamcume.htm

The Niners are up to 116 this week. The A-10 continues to maintain their spot as the 22nd rated conference. >:(
http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2011/conference/Atlantic%2010

                 [u]Record[/u]       [u]RPI

[/u]Coppin St. 1-8 255
Missouri 3-7 200
Chapel Hell 11-1 13
UNCA 4-6 177
TN Tech 3-8 247
Ball St. 1-8 197
Wake 4-7 122
Duke 10-2 47
Harvard 0-4 289
NC Central 0-9 297
Rhode Island 7-3 104
SC Upstate 4-7 170
Xavier 3-6 166
St. Joe 5-6 165
St. L. 6-2 167
Fordham 8-2 79
Winthrop 5-5 249
UMass 0-4 294
Richmond 3-8 213
LaSalle 4-5 126
Dallas Baptist 7-4 46

Opponents overall record: 89-112
A-10 overall record: 56-63

Looking at the stats, losing Shane Brown for 8 weeks is going to hurt. He’s up there in several offensive categories, leading in Ave and Runs.

It looks like we are going to Freshman Zach Passerelle to help fill his shoes in the DH spot. Montalbano will move to the OF from DH. We might have a little more power in the lineup now adding the big lefty.

I wonder if Coach Lambert has talked with Passerelle yet about 2013? I hear he was a pretty good LB and RB in Jersey.

http://www.charlotte49ers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23200&ATCLID=205111399

Justin Seager wins A-10 Rookie of the Week.

Looks like Yermal will get the start tomorrow over Rothlin. I have changed the preview above and added the Tennessee Tech starters. We will face a lefty today and a righty tomorrow.

http://www.charlotte49ers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23200&ATCLID=205111536

What happened to Shane Brown?

Torn ligaments in his thumb. Had surgery yesterday. Out 8 weeks

Niners win 8-1

http://www.charlotte49ers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23200&ATCLID=205112221

Niners ranked 45 in the Composite Poll.

http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/03/10/cb360-composite-national-rankings-4-391-short-release/

Teams from the Carolinas:

4 – South Carolina
8 – Clemson
16 – North Carolina
26 – College of Charleston
32 – Coastal Carolina
43 – Duke
45 – Charlotte