Building on our road sweep at Charlotte, the Diamond Owls have an opportunity to really go on a roll this week with 5 games, all within the friendly confines of Reckling Park, and all against teams we will be heavily favored to beat. Let's ride our modest 2-game errorless streak, and take care of business.
The Lamar Cardinals limp into Reckling having lost six of the their last seven games, including being swept at home over the weekend by Northwestern State. Their overall record is 7 - 8 (0-3 on road, 0-2 vs. Top 50, 7-0 vs. RPI 200+). To date, they've played one of the weakest schedules in the country (#247 SoS), and have yet to beat a team ranked better than #215 New Mexico State. They swept a 4-game home series against #259 Manhattan in which they scored 39 (almost 50% of their 15-game run total). Consequently, it's very difficult to analyze their stat sheet, and one should assume that their stats are at least somewhat inflated. They are an estremely veteran, upperclass-laden team, with an almost unheard of 16 Senors or redshirt Juniors on the roster, including 7 returning position players and 5 returning relievers who saw considerable action in 2014. Here's their schedule and results over their first 15 games...
http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2015/schedule/Lamar
Offensiively, the Cardinals have actually held their own, batting ,294,/.360/.380 as a team, with 4 HRs, 32 extrabase hits, 14-18 stolen bases and averaging a healthy 5.7 runs per game. They're led by Jake Nash (.429/.444/.452, 1 double, 6 RBIs, 3-4 SBs), Brandon Provost (.356/.381/.424, 4 doubles, 10 RBIs) and Stijn Van Der Meer (.306/.368/.419, 4 doubles, 9 RBIs). They do not bunt much (only 6 sac bunts), but are very aggressive on the base paths, and have only hit into 6 doubleplays. Stud Freshman, OF CJ Moore, has struggled at the plate (.217/.308/.326, 2 doubles, HR, 5 RBIs, 5 BBs, 22 Ks), but is 6 - 6 in stolen base attempts.
Their defense has been outstanding so far, posting a very high .981 fielding percentage, having committed just 11 errors in 15 games, and allowed just 6 unearned runs.
Aside from their Friday night ace, Lamar's starting pitching has struggled. However, they boast what appears to be a very good closer. I believe their mid-week starter will be huge Jr RHP Will Hibbs (6'7", 235 lbs), who has had big-time command issues...
4 app, 3 starts, 1-1, 15.2 IP, 8.04 ERA, .292 BAA, 6 BBs, 7 HBP, 2 WPs, 15 Ks
Sr RHP Derek Wade: 6 app, 1 save, 12.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, .128 BAA, 2 BBs, 2 BBs, 15 Ks
Jr RHP Enrique Oquendo: 4 app, 5.0 IP, 1.80 ERA, .364 BAA, 8 hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks
The good news is that we should be able to go with our stronger, left-hand laden lineup after a weekend of facing only southpaw starters. I also think we should be able to run on these guys.
Here's Lamar's individual and team stats over their first 15 games...
http://www.lamarcardinals.com/sports/m-b...mcume.html
Eric Sorenson ranked Lamar #128 in his preseason Top 301...
http://www.collegebaseballtoday.com/2015...s-of-2015/
Quote:128- LAMAR (31-25, 16-14)
Projected Southland Finish: 6th
2014 ISR: 135
Starters Returning: 7
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 0
Key Relievers (15+inns.): 5
With two more wins, legendary coach Jim Gilligan will reach the 1,300 win plateau. He’ll have a senior-dominated team to make that happen as all seven returning starters and the staff ace – Chase Angelle (4-7, 3.57) are all four-year players. RHP Will Hibbs (5-3, 3.92) and expected closer RHP Collin Chapman (0-0, 2.25, but injured most of last two years) are experienced juniors. This team is chock full of been there-done that type of players, so let’s hope that translates into the win column.
Perfect Game picked Lamar to finish in the middle of the pack within the Southland conference, with C Brandon Provost picked for their all-conference team...
http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View...icle=10782
Quote:Lamar: Lamar has done well over the last couple of years and could be a team that finishes a few spots higher then the preseason projection. It will be hard to replace their top two hitters in Sam Bumpers and Jude Vidrine, but they bring bat several other bats and also have some newcomers who should make an immediate impact. Senior first baseman Brandon Provost is the top returning hitter and will slide into the three-hole after hitting .301 last spring with a home run and 31 RBI. Senior second baseman Reed Seeley will play a big role this spring offensively, sliding in behind Provost in the lineup after hitting .283 last year with a home run and the top returning on-base percentage of .417. Jacoby Middleton swings a big bat from the right side and will be another key factor to the offense in 2015. JUCO transfer shortstop Stijn van derMeer hit .385 last spring with four home runs at Eastern Oklahoma State College, but it was his defensive abilities and soft hands that really impressed the Lamar coaches in the fall. Like van derMeer, freshman center fielder C.J. Moore is expected to make an immediate impact given his athletic abilities. A 13th round pick last June by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Moore – a very good two-sport athlete in high school – already has experience with collegiate pitching as he played and starred in the Atlantic League last summer, hitting .321, and his plus speed will play just fine at the top of the order. The Cardinals will look to JUCO transfer Billy Love to take the ball on Friday nights after impressing during fall practice, and he comes in with starting experience, logging 53 2/3 innings last spring at Seminole State with a 5-2 record. Senior lefty Chase Angelle will serves as the leader of the staff and returns after throwing a team high 98 1/3 innings while sporting a team low 3.57 ERA. Another experienced arm from last year’s rotation rounds out the weekend staff in Will Hibbs, who went 5-3 with a 3.92 ERA while showing a strong feel for the strike zone. With a slew of relievers returning as well, junior Collin Chapman will be handed the ball in the ninth inning after impressing last fall with a big fastball and feel for his secondaries.
D1Baseball picked Lamar's OF CJ Moore as Southland Conference Freshman of the Year...
http://www.d1baseball.com/news/2015-conf...southland/
Quote:Lamar will have to replace stud shortstop Sam Bumpers after he hit .361 last season, but returning catcher Brandon Provost (.301/.348/.366) and third baseman Reed Seeley (.283/.417/.349) will help ease the load. Both of Lamar’s top two starters from last season Chase Angelle and Will Hibbs are back as well. However, the pitching staff is very unproven beyond those two. Also keep close tabs on electric freshman outfielder C.J. Moore. Moore had a terrific summer against college competition, and has an advanced approach with a lot of maturity.
Baseball America also picked OF CJ Moore as Southland Freshman of the Year...
http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2...southland/
Quote:Freshman of the Year: C.J. Moore, of, Lamar. An athletic 6-foot-2, 200-pound outfielder with plus-plus speed and a strong arm, Moore should start right away for Lamar in center field. He was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 13th round and was the top prospect in the Atlantic Collegiate League this summer.
