The baseball team showed its swagger this weekend, sweeping Arkansas State to improve to 7-5 in league play. That was a big series win because ASU had a better Sun Belt record than Troy going in. Also big was UL-Lafayette sweeping Middle Tennessee and bringing the league race to a tight one up top. League leader Western Kentucky is 9-3, while Middle Tennessee is 12-4. FIU is 8-4, with ULL 8-6 and Troy 7-5. ULM is 8-7 and this week’s home Sun Belt opponent Florida Atlantic is 6-8. Read about the baseball action HERE. Troy is at Alabama and Samford for midweek games.
Troy’s football schedule has been finalized and the Trojans are on national TV again, hosting Middle Tennessee Tuesday Oct. 6 on ESPN2. That didn’t surprise me; what did was ESPN’s choice of the Sun Belt game the following week with Arkansas State at UL-Monroe. The only thing I can figure is that they wanted to get some variety on there and not just have Troy, MTSU and FAU every year. Arkansas State will compete, though. I’m not sure about ULM.
I should have some spring training final thoughts from coaches by midweek. In the meantime, enjoy Opening Day!
Posted by Drew Champlin on 04/06 at 11:44 AM
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Troy head coach Larry Blakeney talks about spring practice as it winds down. In the video, I asked him about senior defensive tackle Kevin Dixon, the bigger wide receivers Troy now has, sophomore offensive tackle James Brown, and opening up the year on a Thursday with Bowling Green.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 04/02 at 11:45 AM
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Just dropping a note saying I’ll be on “vacation” from Thursday till next Monday. Don’t worry, this is paid vacation, but I’ve got days so this is a good weekend to take them.
I did stop by Troy’s spring practice during the baseball game and did a video with head coach Larry Blakeney. That’ll be up sometime Thursday. I’ll also pre-load some spring videos you might have missed over the weekend.
HERE is my game story from Troy’s doubleheader loss to Southern Miss. After head coach Bobby Pierce talked with reporters, he was mentioning mental toughness and how this team currently lacks it. I think, with the talent they have, that’s absolutely true.
He did say to us that there’s plenty of time to turn the season around. He’s right, though I think at this point it’s also about making sure you don’t miss the Sun Belt Tournament altogether when it’s at your own field. The top 8 teams go. Last year, UL-Lafayette hosted and they weren’t very good for much of the year before catching fire late to sneak in (and beat Troy in the first round). Two years ago, South Alabama was the No. 8 seed when it hosted (and eliminated Troy on the tournament’s third day). Iin 2005, Western Kentucky hosted and barely got in as the 8 seed, though that team wasn’t very good.
So maybe there’s something connected to hosting the tournament and not having the best of years. Middle Tennessee and UL-Monroe host the next two tournaments.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 04/01 at 11:22 PM
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Checking in from Troy, Alabama, where Barry and Ricky are above me calling the games on the radio today. They called off last night’s game between Troy and Southern Miss because of anticipated bad weather, but word has it the teams could have played. They didn’t, so it’s the doubleheader of two 7-inning games starting in just a minute.
Currently, I count 41 people in the stands, and that includes guys keeping the radar gun and a security officer. Actually, that’s now 42, with 7 wearing black and gold. Good news, I hear, is that if you want to stay home and listen on the radio, Jerry Miller will be up here for Game 2. I do anticipate the crowd rising, but I’ve never counted a crowd before so I figured right before the national anthem a couple of minutes ago was a good time.
I may dip out for a couple of innings to head to football practice, but Travis Burge, Sunday’s starter who didn’t make it out of the first inning against New Orleans, is back on the mound for Game 1. Not sure what kind of pitch count he’s on, but I’m sure he’s looking for a better performance.
One pitch, one out on a flyout. Check you later.
GAME 1 - Troy was up 4-1 in the fifth with bases loaded and two outs and appeared to get a flyout to end the inning, but catcher’s interference was called. USM got four in that inning and five in the sixth and won 10-4. We’re in the top of the 2nd in Game 2 now.
GAME 2 - Troy shut out by a pitcher who came into the game with an ERA over 10. Beginning to think Troy’s not the team I thought it would be this year, but as head coach Bobby Pierce said after the game, “Seasons have a way of turning around and our challenge is to find a way to turn ours around.“
Final score 8-0 USM. Troy is 15-12 and plays at Arkansas State this weekend.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 04/01 at 01:55 PM
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