waltgreenberg
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I Root For: Rice Owls
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SELA Baseball Preview-- Searching For Consistency
As positive as the season-opening series split in Austin was for many of us, Tuesday's loss to Top 30 ranked Dallas Baptist was just as disappointing. Despite the pitching staff striking out 17 batters, a plethora of base on balls surrendered was once again our undoing...and the offense squandered opportunity after opportunity. We repeatedly failed to get the one clutch hit to put us back in the ball game. Over the first five games of the season, our pitchers have struck out an impressive 51 batters in just 41.1 IP, but because of the high frequency of free passes, coupled with two ill-timed errors, the staff ERA is 4.39, despite a very impressive .219 batting average against. On offense, we're hitting just .241, with Dom DiCaprio, Charlie Warren and Robbie Lammons the only players hitting over .280. Our LF and CF spots, which were expected to be key producers in the lineup, have combined for just 2 hits in 35 at bats (.057 AVG). Now, in fairness, we have faced quality competition, with both Texas and DBU considered by many to be Top 30 caliber teams, and the Longhorn pitching staff will likely be one of the two best (along with Stanford) that we will face during the regular season. However, we need to get on track offensively (which was supposed to be our strength heading into the season), and do so earlier in games.
As for the pitching, aside from the control issues mentioned above, one has to be encouraged, especially since three of our best returning pitchers (Glenn Otto, Willy Amador, Jackson Parthasarathy) have not yet seen action or have been used sparingly due to injuries. Dane Myers, Ricky Salinas, Evan Kravetz and Zach Esquivel all have impressed, while true Freshmen Matt Canterino, Roel Garcia and Addison Moss all flashed signs of dominance before struggling with the strike zone (which is not unusual for pitchers seeing their first D-1 action). Once we become healthy and our young guns gain a bit more experience and consistency, this pitching staff could be quite deep and stout.
Looking ahead, this weekend we face another consensus Top 50 team and post-season regular-- our old friends from last year's Baton Rouge regional, the Southeastern Louisiana (SELA) Lions. Game times are 6:30pm CT Friday, 2:00pm Saturday, 1:00pm Sunday. The Rice Fans/Parents Tailgate will be this Friday, starting at 5:00pm at Audrey Moody Ley Plaza, the same location as last year. Please bring your favorite snack and beverage to share. All are welcome!
Though the Lions are without last year's Southland Conference POY and all-american (Jameson Fisher), as well as two-thirds of their weekend rotation, they do return their staff ace and consensus preseason Southland Pitcher of the Year (Mac Sceroler), their closer from last season who is now their Saturday starter (Kade Granier), and 8 of 9 starting position players. This is an experienced, veteran team with only one non-upperclass position starter (5-tool So. SS Brennan Breaud).
Due to rainouts, SELA has played only 3 games so far, all at home-- beating Hofstra and Tulane, while losing to Murray State. Jr RHP Sceroler was absolutely dominant in their opener against Hofstra (5.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 BBs, 11 Ks), but Jr RHP Granier struggled in taking the loss against Murray State (4.2 IP, 7 hits, 3 runs, 3 BB, 2 Ks). It's not clear who will be their Sunday starter since both pitchers who saw action against Tulane on Tuesday (So LHP Payton Robinson, Fr RHP Bryce Tassin) threw 60 - 70 pitches apiece. Also of note. SELA follows our weekend series with back to back mid-week road games at Vanderbilt, requiring them to hold back some arms. Their pitchers have surrendered just 3 walks (all by Granier) in their first 3 games vs. 29 Ks (whereas we have surrendered 27 BBs vs. 51 Ks over 5 games). Consequently, it may behoove us to take a more aggressive approach at the plate this weekend. Offensively, they're hitting just .250, but two players are hitting over .500: Drew Avans (.556/.636/.889, 2 extrabase hits, 3 RBIs) and Taylor Schwaner (.545/.583/.818, 2 extrabase hits, 4 RBIs). The Lions' lineup could pose problems for our RHP-laden pitching staff since it features 4 left-handed hitters, as well as one switch hitter.
Not that it's particularly relevant for this year, but we did hit both Sceroler (5.1 IP, 9 hits, 4 runs, 1 BB, 1 K) and Granier (2.0 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 1 BB, 3 Ks) hard in last year's Baton Rouge regional; whereas both Myers (Save, 3.0 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 0 BB, 2 Ks) and Salinas (Win, 7.1 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 BB, 4 Ks) pitched well in their outings last June against SELA.
Last year we struggled to a 9 - 9 record out of the gate before gaining some level of consistency and going on a roll. Let's not wait that long this year. Time to gain some confidence and momentum before taking on the consensus #1 ranked TCU Froggies in Fort Worth on Tuesday. Let's bring the focus, energy and aggressiveness this weekend. Go Owls!
Here are the SELA game notes for the weekend series, with So RHP Corey Gaconi, who has yet to pitch this year, slated to go against Matt Canterino on Sunday (meaning we're likely holding Zach Esquivel for TCU next Tuesday, though Zach may once again be called upon to close Friday or Saturday's game for us)...
http://www.lionsports.net/news/2017/2/23...eries.aspx
...and here's the Rice game notes...
http://www.riceowls.com/sports/m-basebl/...17aaa.html
Here are the various preseason previews and scouting reports on the Southeastern Louisiana Lions...
Collegesportsmadness,com ranked the Lions #44 in their Top 44 countdown, and projected them to finish 2nd in the Southland conference...
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/14002
Quote:Southeastern Louisiana made their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016. It was not a particularly memorable trip though. In two games against Rice, the Lions were outscored 22 to 2. They did manage to knock Utah Valley out of the NCAA Tournament in-between, but this time around SLU will hope to get another shot at the NCAA Tournament. In order for that to happen, the pitching staff needs to reload. Coach Matt Riser has a ton of newcomers, including some experienced junior college transfers, who will need to step up right away. Mac Sceroler is a fine starting pitcher and Kade Granier is the reigning conference relief pitcher of the year.
2016: 40-21, 22-8
2016 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Matt Riser
Key Departed Players:
Domenick Carlini, P, 2.03 ERA, 97.1 IP, 63 SO
Kyle Cedotal, P, 3.53 ERA, 94.1 IP, 82 SO
Jameson Fisher, .424 BA, 11 HR, 66 RBI
Sam Roberson, .288 BA, 1 HR, 17 RBI
Key Returning Players:
Mac Sceroler, P, 2.25 ERA, 96.0 IP, 93 SO
Kade Granier, P, 1.42 ERA, 38.0 IP, 34 SO, 7 SV
Carson Crites, IF, .291 BA, 8 HR, 34 RBI
Brennan Breaud, IF, .293 BA, 1 HR, 26 RBI, 20 SB
Webb Bobo, OF/IF, .283 BA, 7 HR, 42 RBI
Projection:
The loss of Southland Player of the Year Jameson Fisher is huge. He hit .424 with 11 homeruns and 66 RBIs last season. He did a lot for the Southeastern offense. However, there is talent returning and overall the unit should be nearly as productive. Carson Crites figures to be the new star after batting .298 with eight homeruns and 34 RBIs. Webb Bobo and Ryan Byers are good power hitters as well. Sophomore Brennan Breaud will be a key player after his superb freshman campaign. Breaud is a patient hitter who batted .293 last season and swiped 20 bases. If he can build off last season, Breaud will help catapult the Lions back to the NCAAs.
Eric "Stitchhead" Sorenson ranked SELA #48 in his Top 299 countdown...
https://d1baseball.com/columns/stitchhea...n-top-299/
Quote:48—SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (40-21, 22-8)
Projected Southland Finish: 2nd
2016 ISR: 43
Starters Returning: 8
Weekend Starters: 1
Mid-Week Starters: 0
Key Relievers (15+inns.): 6
Matt Riser’s success train just keeps on rolling, including last year’s 40-win season and NCAA bid. A ton of experience returns for 2017, including eight starters in the order, led by 2015 SLC POY Jacob Seward, who dipped to .270/15SBs last year, and the double-play duo of 2B Carson Crites (.298-8-34, 13SBs) and SS Brennan Breaud (.293, 20SBs). The big thing is the pitching. Sure, the Lions lost two weekend arms, but five of the top six ERAs are back and ace Mac Sceroler (10-4, 2.25) and closer-turned-Saturday starter Kade Granier (5-1, 1.42, 7svs) are both returning All-SLCers.
Baseball America also picked SELA to fnish just behind Sam Houston State in the Southland Conference race, with Jr RHP Mac Sceroler named preseason Southland Pitcher of the Year and second best 2017 draft prospect...
http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2...BHlTs8D.97
Quote:Pitcher of the Year: Mac Sceroler, rhp, Southeastern Louisiana. Sceroler handled the move from closer to starter last year, leading the Southland with 10 wins. He chose to come back to Southeastern Louisiana after being taken in the 36th round of last year’s draft as an eligible sophomore, a huge boon for the Lions as he’s the only returning starter from what was the league’s top pitching staff a year ago.
Southeastern Louisiana was the only team to break Sam Houston’s run of Southland dominance, winning the regular season title in 2015, followed by its earning an at-large NCAA berth after finishing second last year. The Lions have to move forward now without All-American Jameson Fisher, the 2016 Southland player of the year and fourth-round draft pick, but the good news is every other key offensive contributor is back. They do like their depth on the mound as well, though the fact remains Sceroler is their only proven returning starter. Junior righthander Kade Granier (5-1, 1.42, 7 SV) moves from closer to Saturday starter, and the Lions will look for sophomores Payton Robinson (1-0, 5.18) and Carlo Graffeo (3-0, 4.80) to take steps forward as they also move from relieving to starting.
Perfect Game joins everybody else in picking the Lions to finish 2nd in the Southland behind SHS and naming Sceroler the conference Pitcher of the Year. Also named to the preseason all-conference was 2B Carson Crites, who last season hit .298 with 8 HRs, 13 doubles, 34 RBIs and 13 stolen bases...
https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/Vie...icle=13476
Quote:Southeastern Louisiana: Trying to replace a bat and overall offensive production like Jameson Fisher is never an easy task but luckily for the Lions plenty of experience returns to the offense. Aside from Fisher, Southeastern returns their top two power threats in Carson Crites, who hit eight home runs, and Webb Bobo, who hit seven, and will look to pace the offense. Crites, a senior second baseman, returns with a .298 average and possesses one of the top hit tools on the team while bringing back some speed (13 stolen bases last year). Bobo shows the team’s best power thanks to his physical build and big lefthanded bat speed, increasing his production the last three years. Hitting from atop the lineup will be Jacob Seward once again, the Southland’s Player of the Year in 2015, and he’ll look to put up numbers similar to that season while still bringing his fast-twitch athleticism to the bases and on defense. Sophomore shortstop Brennan Breaud shows an abundance of tools, hitting .293 last spring as a true freshman and brings his 6.6 speed to all facets of his game, leading the league with 59 runs scored while topping the team with 20 swipes. Taylor Schwaner will slot at Breaud’s right and man the hot corner after a productive fall as he continued to swing it from right side and has made nice defensive strides too. Since 2015, righthander Mac Sceroler has been lights out, first as a closer before jumping into the rotation last spring where he posted a 10-4 record with a 2.25 ERA. He’s physically built at 6-foot-4, 205-pounds and brings the staff’s biggest fastball to the bump, touching 93 mph with an above average curveball and outstanding command of the zone. Last spring Kade Granier served as the closer but like Sceroler will jump to the rotation this spring after being tabbed as the conference’s Relief Pitcher of the Year and brings with him an 88-90 mph fastball. Sophomores Payton Robinson and Carlo Graffeo will round out the rotation after spending 2016 in the bullpen, while Carlisle Koestler, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Hinds CC, will serve as the closer for the Lions. Freshman Austin Chastang is a physical righthander to monitor this spring as well thanks to an 88-92 mph fastball and a hard 82-84 mph slider.
D1Baseball projected the Lions to return to the post-season, but again finish behind SHS in the Southland. They, too, named Sceroler conference Pitcher of the Year...
https://d1baseball.com/analysis/2017-con...southland/
Quote:Southeastern Louisiana had a wealth of success last season with one of the nation’s best in Jameson Fisher leading the way offensively. He’s long gone, but the Lions have more than enough personnel to make some serious noise on the national stage. Carson Crites is a fire-starter who can steal bases and hit with some power, as shown by his eight homers and 13 stolen bases last season, while athletic shortstop Brennan Breaud looks to make a big impact again. Breaud is a fast-twitch infielder and a 6.6 runner. He has a mature offensive approach and can be a gap threat. There’s also veteran big bat Webb Bobo, who returns after hitting seven homers and knocking in 42 runs last season. He’s a physical lefthanded hitter with plenty of power potential again this season. Also keep close tabs on center fielder Jacob Seward, who hit just .269 last season, but who could be ready for a breakout campaign at the plate to go with his impressive defensive skill set … On the mound, it doesn’t get much more experienced on the mound in the SLC than righty Mac Sceroler. Sceroler tallied impressive numbers last season and is ready for yet another strong campaign. He possesses a four-pitch mix with a fastball ranging from 88-91 and up to 92. He also has an impressive 74-78 mph breaking ball, while his changeup has good fading action. RHP Kade Granier moves from the bullpen to the starting rotation and will show a four-pitch mix with a fastball sitting 86-89 and up to 90 mph with a quality slider, while the Lions are mighty confident when RHP Josh Green takes the mound on the back-end of games. Green struck out 29 and walked just seven last season and has a fastball that is only 88-91, but possesses wicked sink.
(This post was last modified: 02-23-2017 05:59 PM by waltgreenberg.)
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SELA Baseball Preview-- Searching For Consistency
