Baseball update

March 31, 2009

By Drew Champlin

Got an alert from media relations guru Ricky Hazel, who notified me that tonight’s game with Southern Miss has been postponed. The teams will play doubleheader Wednesday at 2 p.m. Games will be 7 innings each.

All high school games around here have been called off because of weather, including the big Class 6A area tilt between Northview and Enterprise I was supposed to cover.

I believe we’re supposed to get some more good storms and rainfall over the next few days.

CollegeInsider.com honors Troy’s Maestri, Delk

By Drew Champlin

CollegeInsider.com honored Troy head coach Don Maestri as its Coach of the Year and Richard Delk as its league Most Valuable Player (but not Player of the Year, as that went to Orlando Mendez-Valdez of WKU).

HERE is a release, with a link to the awards.

Riley’s injury supposedly not serious

March 30, 2009

By Drew Champlin

Right tackle Nic Riley went down with a knee injury in Saturday’s scrimmage, but coaches are getting reports that it’s not serious and that while he’ll be out for the final week of spring, he should be good to go for summer workouts.

A more serious injury would have been a huge blow for Troy and Riley, who probably will be the starter at right tackle this year. The Trojans are without offensive linemen Danny Franks (foot), Steven Adams and Tyrell Curtis (foot) this spring because of injury, though all should be back this fall with Adams (shoulder surgery) being the one question mark. Riley’s injury means redshirt freshman Kyle Wilborn gets plenty of first-team reps this week.

Troy finishes up with practices through Thursday, but with the limited depth on the OL this spring, there won’t be any tackling. Don’t fret, as plenty of newcomers come in this fall, led by JUCO tackle Nate Newland and high school tackle Jay Stansberry.

Baseball update

By Drew Champlin

Troy took 2-of-3 this weekend at New Orleans, losing the first one and winning the second. The bats really were alive all series, and the pitching was hit or miss. Travis Burge, who couldn’t get out of the first inning in Sunday’s 19-8 Troy win, will start Tuesday’s 6 p.m. against Southern Miss. Jeff Green will start the Wednesday 4 p.m. game, which I hope I’ll be able to cover. More rains are scheduled for the area this week, and some big ones. Keep the town of Geneva in your thoughts and prayers, because it’s an area that can’t afford to have much more water.

Troy is now 15-10, 4-5 in league play with a very winnable series at Arkansas State this weekend. Checking the stats, Brett Henry leads the team with a .378 average, and Ryan Ditthardt is the top run-producer with 7 homers and 34 RBIs with a .376 average. The pitching ERAs could come down, but a 4.96 team ERA in the metal bat era is decent.

Southern Miss brings a 16-9 record to Troy this week and will be one of the better teams Troy hosts this year. Golden Eagles scored 51 in three games at UCF last weekend. Get caught up with USM baseball HERE.

Looking at the Sun Belt standings, Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky are dominating. MTSU is 11-1 in league play and WKU, which had its bye from league play last week, is 8-1. Troy is sixth at 4-5.

Also, for the Sun Belt-leading softball Trojans, Ashlyn Williams was named SBC Pitcher of the Week for her efforts in Troy’s sweep of Western Kentucky.

Diamond/gridiron updates

March 29, 2009

By Drew Champlin

Saturday was an interesting day for the Trojans. The baseball team split a wild doubleheader at New Orleans. It sounded like a day for die-hard baseball fans to enjoy, though not every break went the Trojans’ way. The teams play in the rubber game today at 1 p.m.

Who is in first place in the Sun Belt softball standings? That would be your Troy Trojans, which had a pair of walkoff wins Saturday over Western Kentucky in Troy. The teams play the third game today at 1 p.m.
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In some football action, the Houma Conquerors opened camp Saturday, but Omar Haugabook will make his debut Monday. Coaches feel like he’s got a chance to win the starting job there.

Spring practice for Troy ends on Thursday. Say your prayers that no one else gets hurt before then.