Just getting the ball rolling before heading to SFO airport for my redeye flight to Houston...
The Rice Baseball Owls return to Reckling Park for their 2014 home-opener on Tuesday afternoon (an early 4:30pm CST game start) following a successful series road win vs. the #25 ranked Stanford Cardinal; the Owls first series win in California since the 2003 national championship season (after as long string of series losses vs. the likes of San Jose St., Cal St-Fullerton, Long Beach State, Cal-Poly, the AT&T Park tourney (vs. LBSU, UC-SB, Cal) and twice to Stanford (2010m 2012).
And while a series sweep would have certainly have been enjoyable, it is appropriate and fitting that Coach Wayne Graham wins his 1000th game at Rice (he's now just one victory shy of the milestone) at home in front of the Rice faithful at The Reck. Let's come out in force on Tuesday, and honoring him with a sold out crowd.
Another year of transition for the Texas State Bobcats as they move from the Southland to the WAC and now to the Sunbelt, where they're expected to compete for a regional birth (though the conference favorite is preseason Top 25 ranked Lousiana-Laffayette). They return their top two hitters from last year's squad, and most of their pitching staff. In particular, their two left-handers (midweek starter Lemke and closer Humpal) gave us fits last year in our two meetings.
Texas State had a successful home-opening weekend hosting a tournament-- beating Michigan 8-7 and Air Force 6-0, while losing 1-6 to Washington.
Here's the Texas State game notes for tomorrow's (an early 4:30pm start) home-opener at Reckling Park...
http://www.txstatebobcats.com/news/2014/...spx...with the
probable starters announced as Sr RHP Chase McDowell vs. true Freshman LHP Tyler Davenport making his college debut for the Bobcats
Texas State roster and first weekend stats...
http://www.txstatebobcats.com/roster.asp...=baseball&
http://www.txstatebobcats.com/cumestats....&year=2014
Eric Sorenson ranked Texas State #107 in his Top 302 countdown...
Quote:107- TEXAS STATE (29-29, 16-11 in the WAC)
2013 ISR: 113
Starters Returning: 5
Weekend Starters: 3
Mid-Week Starters: 0
Key Relievers (15+inns.): 6
A piece o’ crap 5-13 start soured last season, so they must avoid another cold start. Pitching should be a strength as RHPs Taylor Black (3-7, 4.43) and Scott Grist (5-2, 4.56) will be backed by bullpenners Donnie Hart (1-1, 2.13, .209OBA), Hunter Lemke (2-3, 2.28, 8svs, .227OBA), Lucas Humpal (5-2, 3.30) and Austen Williams (1-3, 3.41, .216OBA). The top four hitters also return in Cody Lovejoy (.337) and Austin O’Neal (.322-3-26).
Here's Baseball America's preview of the Sunbelt, with Texas State projected to contend for a post-season birth...
http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2...-sun-belt/
Quote:Freshman of the Year: Granger Studdard, 1b, Texas State.
A physical 6-foot-2, 185-pound lefthanded hitter, Studdard brings power to the middle of the Bobcats’ lineup, and he is an athletic defender at first.
The Bobcats need four freshmen to hit the ground running in everyday roles, but they have two skilled veteran leaders in the middle of the diamond in Sr. C Tyler Pearson and Jr. SS Garrett Mattlage. The smallish Mattlage is a switch-hitter with strength from both sides and good instincts at short, making him one of the league’s best players. Pearson is a standout catch-and-throw guy who has gotten bigger and stronger, prompting the Bobcats to predict a big year from him
Kendall Rogers and Perfect Game project Texas State to finish 3rd in the Sunbelt, behind ULaLa and Troy, but no Bobcat player was selected to their preseason all-conference team...
http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View...ticle=9350
Quote:• Texas State: After spending a season in the Western Athletic Conference, the Bobcats will test their luck in the Sun Belt Conference. The Bobcats welcome back their top two hitters in Cody Lovejoy and Austin O’Neal, who finished last season with batting averages well over.300, while the pitching staff is in good shape. Hunter Lemke is back after tallying a 2.28 ERA in 47 1/3 innings last season, while Lucas Humpal, Austen Williams and Taylor Black, all quality arms, are also back in the mix. Both Williams and Humpal are intriguing prospects to watch, with Williams a 2014 prospect, Humpal a 2015.