Trojans’ season likely over

May 23, 2008

By Drew Champlin

Wow. Wonder which team went to bed last night thinking they had the game won, and which team didn’t?

I bet it was the opposite of which team actually won. UNO deserves it when pitcher Ryan O’Shea was able to get Troy’s best two hitters out with the bases loaded and get a home run in the top of the 10th to beat Troy 7-6.

Troy won’t be in a regional this year. Well I should never say never, but what was on their resume last year isn’t on their resume this year - such as victories over good teams (like Arkansas). They beat Alabama, Auburn and Wake Forest, but all three teams stumbled this year and the only one that has a regional shot is Alabama. Troy’s RPI coming into today was 67, and it will probably drop a spot or 2. Remember in 2005 when Troy dominated the Atlantic Sun, yet was upset in the tournament and didn’t make a regional? Its RPI was 65 then. I can’t remember what it was last year - I’m thinking low 40s - but everyone was surprised when they got selected.

We’ll look back on them a bit next week and see what the future holds. Personally, as long as the MLB Draft doesn’t hurt this recruiting class, I think Troy can be very good next year.

Troy lives another day

May 22, 2008

By Drew Champlin

Thanks to Mother Nature, though Troy’s got to really screw it up not to win this one. Troy and UNO continue their game Friday at 9 a.m. with Troy having the bases loaded with 1 out and a 6-6 score and Bryan Miller at the plate.

Here’s the revised schedule

Friday, May 23

9 a.m. – Resumption of Game 5 (Troy 6, UNO 6 – B9)
10 a.m. – Game 7 (No. 6 ULL vs. No. 7 USA)
1:30 p.m. – Game 8 (No. 1 ULM vs. No. 5 WKU)
5 p.m. – Game 9 (G5 Winner vs. G7 Loser)
8:30 p.m. – Game 10 – FAU vs. G8 Loser)

Saturday, May 24

9 a.m. – Game 11 (G7 Winner vs. G9 Winner)
12:30 p.m. – Game 12 (G10 Winner vs. G8 Winner)
G13 (if necessary) – 40 minutes after Game 12 (G11 Winner vs. G11 Loser)*
G14 (if necessary) – 40 minutes after Game 13 (G12 Loser vs. G12 Winner)**
4 p.m. – Championship Game (if neither ‘if necessary’ games are needed)

Sunday, May 25

10 a.m. – Championship Game (if one or both ‘if necessary’ games are needed)

* Game 13 will be necessary if the winner of Game 9 also wins Game 11
** Game 14 will be necessary if the winner of Game 10 also wins Game 12
*** Championship Game will be played at 4 p.m. Saturday if neither if-necessary games are played

Todd Stewart leaves the Sun Belt office

By Drew Champlin

Many of you don’t know Todd Stewart, but he’s basically been the right-hand man to Wright Waters in the SBC office as the Associate Commissioner for Communications for the past three and a half years. He’s been a tremendous help to myself and the rest of the SBC media. He’s taking over at Western Kentucky as Associate Athletics Director/Communications.

I replied back in the e-mail sent to me that at least he’s not going to a Conference USA school. Hopefully it was taken in humor. Western Kentucky’s gain is definitely the Sun Belt office’s loss.

Here is the official release on the Sun Belt site.

Oh, and how’s this for some baseball. Troy’s tied with New Orleans at 6-all. The bases are loaded with one out and Bryan Miller, the guy who arguably should have been the SBC Player of the Year, is up. Right as UNO makes a pitching change and Miller’s about to bat, a few bolts of lightning hit and the skies open up. So that’s where things are right now at the SBC Tournament.

Baseball update

By Drew Champlin

Troy’s up on UNO 3-0 in the top of the 2nd in an elimination game.

Surprisingly, UNO didn’t start SBC Pitcher of the Year Bryan Cryer. They went with Justin Garcia, who took a no-hitter into the 8th at Troy earlier this year. Today could prove that start to be a fluke. Troy catcher Beau Brooks already has a two-run home run.

In Garcia’s previous 2 starts against Troy before this year, he had given up 19 earned runs. Those are the kind of stats that get pitchers released in the pros. I’m guessing UNO has a bid to the NCAAs locked up because of their good record and RPI, but this wouldn’t be the time to test that.

2:05 p.m. UPDATE - And while Troy’s going to get their runs, it may not be able to stop UNO, which is now up 6-5 in the fourth. UNO has even made 3 errors to help this cause. Could end up a double-digit game, making the media who has to cover the late game very happy.

Troy loses first game

May 21, 2008

By Drew Champlin

ULL hurler Hunter Moody threw a complete game as the Cajuns beat Troy 6-1. Troy plays second-seeded New Orleans in an elimination game at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, where the Trojans likely see SBC Pitcher of the Year Bryan Cryer. Troy starter Jeff Green was decent, as one of the 2 runs he gave up was unearned. Troy got a rally in the sixth, but Beau Brooks was erased on a double play call that Barry and Jerry didn’t agree with. That came one batter after the Trojans had cut the lead to 2-1.

The next inning saw ULL’s Nolan Gisclair drill a 3-run home run. Had Gisclair and Scott Hawkins, who drove in the other 3 runs, stayed home, then Troy might have won.

What does this mean? Troy has to win five straight games in three days to continue its season into an NCAA Regional.

What do I think? With Troy’s lack of quality pitching depth, I stand a better chance of

winning

hitting a home run in next year’s SBC Tournament Media Home Run Derby (even with portable fences).

UPDATE - Here’s a quote from head coach Bobby Pierce as sent out by the Sun Belt. Remember, I’m not there, but that doesn’t mean I’m ignoring it, though I wish it could be better.  ..........  On bouncing back from tonight’s loss:

“Tomorrow is an elimination game and our backs are to the wall and tomorrow we won’t be holding anything back.  We are probably going to be facing a very good pitcher from UNO and they have a very good team, of course, they finished second in the league.  These guys have played enough baseball to know what an elimination game is all about so it is just about coming out and relaxing and putting up some runs early.  Then we have to go from there.  There is no tomorrow; you have to win.”