COLLEGE WATCH – Myles Wesener (QLD) – Pioneers clinch 8th straight Region IX Championship
Myles Wesener
(Beatrice, NE)- The MCC Pioneers continued their winning ways as they wrapped up their 8th consecutive Region IX championship this weekend in Beatrice, NE. Miles Community College ( MCC) found themselves in three elimination games after losing the first game of the tournament to Southeast Community College, 10-8. Rebounding from that loss, the Pioneers went onto beat Dawson 10-1, and then swept SCC on day 2 by scores of 7-4 in 10 innings and 4-3.
The Pioneers drew host Southeast Community College in the first game and fell to the Storm, 10-8. With MCC up 7-6 going into the 8th inning, SCC would respond with four runs in the last two innings to preserve the win. Both teams exchanged big innings, as MCC pushed across two runs in the first and second innings, and added three more in the 6th. The Storm plated two runs each in the 5th, 8th and 9th innings. Competing against each other for the first time this year, the two squads combined for 18 runs on 26 hits and 6 errors.
MCC had their chances in the 9th inning when Myles Wesener (Banora Point, QLD) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Taylor Carson (Burley, ID) and cut the lead to 10-8. SCC closer Cody Valdez struck out Young and Alan Ibanes (Waianae, HI)to end the threat.
On the year Myles is hitting .256, scoring 16 on 23 hits with 14 RBI.
It should be noted that Myles will face Lucas Bakker of North Iowa Area Community college for the right to enter the D2 World Series. Both Australians have played together with the QLD Rams in the National tournaments.
Source Miles Community College
COLLEGE WATCH – Tom Bailey, Solid pitching, timely hitting give WBU big win over LCU
SHAWNEE, Okla. – After a disappointing end to his previous start against No. 5 Lubbock Christian, Wayland Baptist ace Tom Bailey brought his best stuff to the mound on Friday as the Pioneers defeated the Chaparrals 4-1 at Bison Field in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament.
Despite the victory, Wayland was sent home after No. 15 Oklahoma Baptist topped St. Gregory’s in the afternoon game, 7-3. Both the Pioneers and LCU went 1-1 in the tournament, but because the Chaps were the higher seeded team, they survived to play another game. LCU and OBU square off in the Pool B title game on Friday night.
Wayland (20-35) would get a quick one-two-three first inning, but Lubbock Christian (40-15) threatened in the top of the second. Bailey, who started on the mound for the Pioneers, gave up a leadoff double down the left field line to start the inning off. After a ground ball to shortstop Gregg Veneklasen moved the runner to within 90 feet with one out, it looked as though the Chaps would get on the board first.
Bailey buckled down, however, and picked up a big strikeout to keep the runner at bay. A two-out walk would temporarily extend the inning, but the Perth, Australia native got the next hitter pop up to short to end the inning.
The Pioneer offense put on the pressure in the second as well, as Josh Chinni drew a leadoff walk and moved to second after Veneklasen dropped down a sacrifice bunt. Gabby De La Cruz got a single through the left side of the infield, but Chinni was wisely held at third, putting runners at the corners with one out. Just like his counterpart, LCU starting pitcher Jarrett Porter got a huge strikeout after a missed squeeze play to rule out a sacrifice fly.
With two on and two gone, Steven Polito came up to the plate and on a one-one count poked a ball off the end of the bat into right field. A line drive in the books scored Chinni and gave Wayland a 1-0 lead after two complete innings.
The Chaparrals threatened throughout the game, but Bailey, with the help of his defense, continued to strand runners in scoring position, and many times with less than two outs. In the top of the third, Bailey overcame a runner at second with one out as Chinni caught a line drive to right and doubled off the runner at second to end the inning.
In the fourth, the Chaps got their first two hitters on. After the next batter failed to move the runners on two bunt attempts, Bailey got a pop up to the catcher, a fly ball to left and a strikeout to end the inning.
After a stress-free fifth, Bailey walked the leadoff batter who eventually stole second, but again stranded the runner by getting three consecutive fly outs. In the seventh, Bailey hit the first batter, got a fly ball that Chinni tracked down in the right-centerfield before the Chaps got another single. The next hitter tried to bunt for a hit, but Bailey bounced off the mound and took the out at first.
With two outs and runners at first and second, the junior pitcher fell behind in the count, 3-1. Head coach Brad Bass thought it best to go ahead and put the hitter on first, and the strategy paid off. With the bases loaded, the next batter worked the count full. On the pay-off pitch, Bailey induced a groundball to second baseman Bernie Rosario to get out of the jam.
Runs were just as hard to come by for the Pioneers as they were for the Chaps until Johnny Hendrixson hit his fifth homerun of the year to give Wayland a 2-0 lead in the fifth. Hendrixson also got the seventh inning going with a one-out single, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Chinni drew a walk before Veneklasen roped a ball up the middle to drive in the runner at third. De La Cruz followed with a single of his own, loading the bases for Chris Buitron.
The sophomore took one for the team, getting hit in the leg to bring home the second run of the inning. The Chaps brought in their third pitcher of the inning to strand the runners on loaded bases, getting a strikeout and fly ball to end the seventh inning, but not before Wayland walked away with a 4-0 lead.
LCU finally got to Bailey, getting two singles and walk, knocking out the Pioneers’ starter after the junior faced 30 batters and threw 116 pitches. Jose Urena was brought in to put out the fire and did so in a near flawless manner. Urena got the six-hole hitter to hit a soft line drive right back up the middle. The freshman snagged the ball and promptly threw over to third to double off the runner. The Chaps got a two-run single, but thanks to the previous play, only one run crossed the plate. Urena got a fly ball to center to end the inning, holding on to a 4-1 lead after seven and a half innings.
The Pioneers were quiet in the eighth, but all was well as the three-run lead proved to be enough. Urena went right back to work on the mound, getting the Chaps to go down in order in the top of the ninth, giving Wayland the 4-1 victory.
Bailey, who pitched a great game in his previous start against the Chaps but faltered in the seventh, was able to pick up the win this time against the fifth-ranked Chaparrals. The junior was not without help, however, getting an error-free game from his defense and a clutch save from Urena.
Tom Bailey
COLLEGE WATCH – NIACC wins regional baseball title- Lucas Bakker
Lucas Bakker
Lucas Bakker
WATERLOO – The NIACC Trojans are regional champions.
And when it comes to the game of baseball, that’s a first.
NIACC topped Iowa Central 8-6 in dramatic come-from-behind fashion to claim the Region XI title Tuesday afternoon at a steamy Riverfront Stadium.
“We have great kids,” NIACC coach Travis Hergert said. “They were phenomenal – absolutely phenomenal from day one.
“I am so happy for them. Winning people – we have great people at NIACC.”
NIACC (26-16) advances to the North Plains district championship Saturday and Sunday in Miles City, Montana. Miles City Community College and Dakota County Technical and Community College are the other two teams in the North Plains district.
Lucas has had a great year in 63 innings pitched as a Freshman he has 8 wins and 1 loss recording an ERA of 2.97, striking out 57 and conceeding 26 runs in total. Now on to the next challenge the North Plains district championship.
Sydney’s McDonald and Buckley Combine for Shutout as UALR Wins 1-0 on Senior Day
BOX SCORE
LITTLE ROCK – Junior Travis McDonald helped UALR win a pitchers’ duel on Saturday, tossing 8.1 innings of shutout baseball as UALR took game two from FIU by a 1-0 final on senior day at Gary Hogan Field. Senior Tyler Buckley came on in the ninth and recorded the final two outs to pick up his third save of the season.
Just a day after FIU scored 12 runs on 16 hits in a game one victory, McDonald and Buckley limited the Panthers to no runs on just four hits to help the Trojans even the series. McDonald struck out a career-best eight batters and walked just one to improve to 2-2 on the season. The Sydney, Australia-native retired nine-straight at one point, then retired ten-straight over a span that lasted from the final out of the fifth inning through the final out of the eighth.
COLLEGE WATCH – Charlie Aznavoorian KCAC 2013 Freshman of the Year
Charlie Aznavoorian
The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference is pleased to announce the 2013 All-KCAC First Team, Second Team, Honorable Mention, and Gold Glove award winners which includes Sydney’s Charlie Aznavoorian.
McPherson College Head Coach Andrew Ehling was named Coach of the Year, by KCAC baseball coaches. Joe Williams of Sterling College earns Player of the Year. Josh Stone from Tabor College is awarded Pitcher of the Year. Jacob Webb of Tabor College and Charlie Aznavoorian from Friends University share Freshman of the Year honors.
The following athletes were selected by conference coaches as All-KCAC First Team, All-KCAC Second Team, KCAC Honorable Mention, or KCAC Baseball Gold Glove Team.
| First Team ALL-KCAC | ||||
|
Pos. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| 1B | Joe Battaglia | Sterling | Jr. | Riverside, Calif. |
| 2B | Art Corona*# | Tabor | Sr. | Los Angeles, Calif. |
| 3B | Charlie Aznavoorian+ | Friends | Fr. | Sydney, Australia |
| SS | Joe Williams*#%~ | Sterling | Sr. | Compton, Calif. |
| C | Chad Zuniga | Kansas Wesleyan | Sr. | Peoria, Ariz. |
| C | Ian Josh | Sterling | Jr. | Loveland, Colo. |
| OF | Roemon Fields*# | Bethany | Sr. | Seattle, Wash. |
| OF | Jared Forbush*# | Sterling | Sr. | Riverton, Utah |
| OF | Grant Silva | Tabor | Jr. | Turlock, Calif. |
| OF | Kirk Rocha | Tabor | Jr. | Modesto, Calif. |
| RP | Alex Mann | Tabor | Sr. | St. Louis, Mo. |
| SP | Brandon Monahan | Kansas Wesleyan | Sr. | Aurora, Colo. |
| SP | Daniel Cloteaux*# | Sterling | Sr. | Lafayette, La. |
| SP | Josh Stone | Tabor | Sr. | Fort Worth, Texas |
| SP | Anthony Mendoza | Tabor | Sr. | Livingston, Calif. |
| INF | Brendan Miller | McPherson | Sr. | Taber, Alberta |
| DH | Andrew Miller# | |||
| Gold Glove | ||||
|
Pos. |
Name | School | Cl. | Hometown |
| 1B | Joe Battaglia | Sterling | Jr. | Riverside, Calif. |
| 2B | Kevin Joyce | Saint Mary | Sr. | Denver, Colo. |
| 3B | Charlie Aznavoorian | Friends | Fr. | Sydney, Australia |
| SS | Aaron Malone | Friends | Jr. | Wichita, Kan. |
| C | Wes Moody | Tabor | Sr. | Broken Arrow, Okla. |
| OF | Roemon Fields | Bethany | Sr. | Seattle, Wash. |
| OF | Jared Forbush | Sterling | Sr. | Riverton, Utah |
| OF | Jordan Rousselle | Kansas Wesleyan | Fr. | Aurora, Colo. |
| SP | Josh Stone | Tabor | Sr. | Fort Worth, Texas |
Travis Blackley reinstated from disabled list
Well, the 24-man roster is no more. Before Saturday’s game against Cleveland, Houston announced as part of its game notes that Travis Blackley has been reinstated from the disabled list. Blackley, acquired from Oakland earlier this season for minor league outfielder Jake Goebbert, went on the DL one day after the trade to Houston thanks to discomfort in his shoulder.
The 30- year old pitched in four games last season for San Francisco’s Triple-A team, but has also spent time recently in Japan. He’s a versatile bullpen arm that can start games and pitch in relief, making him a nice component to this bullpen. If Houston needs a situational lefty, he can fill in. If Houston needs a long reliever, he can pitch 3+ innings.
College Watch – Williams Lead Marauders to Split with #14 Mavericks in NSIC Opener With Complete game
Brian Larson, Sports Information Director
St Mary Marauders
Dickinson, ND – A good day for the University of Mary fell just short of being great as the Marauders baseball opened Northern Sun play with a split against #14 Minnesota State University, Mankato. U-Mary captured the opener 8-4 behind two Jason Shaul home runs and a complete game by Kyal Williams (SA). The Mavericks scored the last eight runs to rally for an 11-9 win in game two.
Shaul crushed three home runs on the day, driving in six runs, scoring five times and finishing 5-for-7 at the plate with a walk. The home runs are the first of the season for the sophomore infielder.
A native of New Ulm, MN, Shaul gave the Marauders a 2-0 lead in the opener, cracking a 2-run shot in the top of the first. The Mavericks evened the game with a 2-run single by Taylor Branstad in the bottom of the first.
Trailing 3-2 after three, U-Mary exploded for four runs in the fourth following a miscue by MSU. With two outs, Alex Deyle swung at strike three but the ball eluded the Mavericks catcher, allowing Derek Somerville to score the tying run. After Mo Burrough walked, Cory Herback singled home Deyle. Shaul soon followed with a 2-run single for a 6-3 Marauders lead.
The Marauders expanded their lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, the last run scoring on Shaul’s second home run.
Williams proved clutch on the mound for U-Mary, allowing just seven hits and one walk in his seven inning complete game. He struck out two.
Shaul finished the first game 3-for-4 with two home runs, five RBI and two runs scored. Burrough was 2-for-2, scoring once and driving in one. Sommerville added two hits in three trips to the plate and Herback scored twice.
Connor McCallum was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI for MSU.
U-Mary’s win in the opener snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Mavericks.
Looking for a sweep, Williams provided the Marauders an early lead with a solo home run in the second, his first of two round trippers in the game and his inaugural shot of the season.
Shaul doubled U-Mary’s lead with a solo blast to lead off the fourth. James Carroll followed with a double and eventually scored on a Somerville sacrifice fly.
Carroll and Somerville both singled in runs in the fifth to carve out a 5-0 U-Mary advantage. A Burrough grand out increased the Marauders advantage to a half-dozen runs after seven.
Brilliant for the first six innings while holding the Mavericks scoreless, McKeon Meyhoff struck out eight and allowed just five hits and one walk. Meyhoff allowed three runs, though just one was earned. All three runs scored in the seventh inning.
Williams got the three runs back for the Marauders in the eighth inning, crushing a three-run opposite field home run to push the U-Mary advantage to 9-3.
The rest of the game belonged to the Mavericks. Minnesota State scored six times with two outs in the eighth inning on the strength of six extra base hits, including a Scott Lindner home run to tie the game.
Minnesota State won the game in the ninth. After a one-out single by Lucas Skjefte, Todd Standish hit a two-run walk off home run in the ninth.
Shaul was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI in the second game. Carroll went 3-for-4, scoring three times and knocking in one. Williams finished 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI. Somerville added two hits and drove in two runs.
Linder led MSU with three hits and three RBI. Nolan Johnson also had three hits. Skjefte and Standish both had two hits, scored two times and drove in three runs each.
U-Mary is 10-7-1 overall and 1-1 in the Northern Sun. Minnesota State is 18-7 and 7-3.
The doubleheader was originally scheduled for Mankato, MN, was moved to Bismarck, ND, and eventually was played in Dickinson, ND.
The Marauders next return to action against Bemidji State University on April 6-7. The NSIC doubleheaders are set to start at 12 noon on Saturday and Sunday. The games were originally set for Bemidji, MN.
Kyal is hitting .371 and being a two way player has an ERA of 2.19 with 3 wins to his record .
College Watch – Lucas Bakker
Lucas Bakker
NIACC (8-2 overall) beat the Massasoit Community College 12-1 during its spring series in Vero Beach, Fla.
Against Massasoit Lucas Bakker (QLD) improved to 2-0 walking 2 with 9Ks and didn’t allow an earned run in six innings.
Bakker is one of three pitchers in the ICCAC with at least 8 innings and a 0.00 ERA.
He has thrown 13 innings and not allowed an ER with 19Ks and 2 walks.
Overall Lucas has an ERA of .090 in 20 innings.
He struck out 26 only giving up 4R(2ER) on 14H.
You could say he’s having a good season.
College Watch – Jacob Sheldon-Collins, James Darcy.
James Darcy
Jacob Sheldon-Collins (VIC) attending Iowa Western Community College has a batting AVG of .391 in 28 games played, Jacob has hit 2 doubles, 1 triple in 34 hits ,scoring 22 runs thus this season in 47 at bats
James Darcy (VIC) Has an ERA of 1.06 in 17 innings pitched . James has won 2 and 1 loss in 5 starts this season. James has given up a total of 3 runs 2 of which were earned on 13 hits whilst striking out 19
Iowa Western last years NJCAA world series champions are 25 – 7 and 3-1 in conference play.
College Watch – Rhys Aldenhoven gets win for Pittsburgh Uni
Rhys Aldenhoven
PITTSBURGH – The 30th-ranked University of Pittsburgh baseball team (19-6) used 12 hits and steady pitching to wrap up a sweep of Towson (13-13) with a 7-5 win this afternoon at Charles L. Cost Field at the Petersen Sports Complex.
Rhys Aldenhoven (JR/Victoria) picked up the win for the Panthers after pitching 7.0 innings, allowing no earned runs, and striking out five. Nick Cioffi took the loss for the Tigers, while J.R. Leonardi (JR/Pittsburgh, Pa.) picked up his second save of the season for Pitt.
“I thought our pitching this weekend was outstanding,” said head coach Joe Jordano. “To play 33 innings and use five pitchers is incredible. We came up with some big hits today at opportune times and that was the difference. Rhys kept us in the game and pitched solidly. Both teams played hard the entire weekend. I cannot say enough about Towson, without question, one of the toughest teams we have faced this year.”
Pitt got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning. Steven Shelinsky Jr. (JR/Yardley, Pa.) started the rally by drawing a one-out walk. Sam Parente (SR/Pittston, Pa.) followed by roping a double to the wall in straight away center to put runners on second and third. Elvin Soto (SO/New York, N.Y.) brought home the game’s first run when he rifled a single up the middle for an RBI. Ron Sucre (SR/Miami, Fla.) then laid down a beautiful squeeze bunt to score Parente and give Pitt the 2-0 lead
After Towson took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth, the Panthers retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Eric Hess (SO/Erie, Pa.) started the inning with a single to center after a 10 pitch battle. Casey Roche (JR/Downingtown, Pa.) and Boo Vazquez (SO/Youngstown, Ohio) then reached on a pair of singles to center before Shelinsky drew a four pitch walk to even the game. Parente then hit a hard groundout to short which allowed a run to score and helped Pitt regain the lead, 4-3.
The Tigers were threatening in the top of the seventh with runners on second and third with two outs but Aldenhoven was able to get out of the jam with a three-pitch strikeout of Zach Fisher, his final batter of the day.
Pitt added to its lead with three more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. The frame was highlighted by a clutch two RBI triple to the gap in right center from Stephen Vranka (JR/Monroeville, Pa.) and a bullet single up the middle from Hess for an RBI.
From there, Leonardi was able to close out the game in the top of the ninth to secure the Panthers’ eighth consecutive win.
“We still have a lot of work to do and have significant room for improvement,” Jordano said. “Our guys understand that we are in it for the long haul and it is critical that we improve individually and as a team every day.”
Rhys has an Era of 2.70 in 46 innings pitched, having given up 21 runs on 41 hits of which 14 were earned, striking out 10. Rhys has 5 wins with no losses in his 7 games in which he started.
Source:University of Pittsburgh
