Interesting baseball projection

May 13, 2009

By Drew Champlin

Most people have Troy barely on the outside looking in as far as the NCAA regional projections.

Not Kendall Rogers of rivals.com. He’s got Troy as an at-large, 3-seed in the Tuscaloosa Regional, opening up against No. 2 Missouri.

Check his picks out HERE.

EDIT - Baseball America also has Troy in the field, as a 4 in Tuscaloosa.

Wednesday reading

By Drew Champlin

HERE is a story I wrote on Troy strength and conditioning coach Richard Shaughnessy, who got a prestigious honor last week. It talks a little bit about his first days at Troy.

Found out that ESPN’s E:60 show is doing a story on DeMarcus Ware. They came by Troy and interviewed Shaughnessy and Larry Blakeney. I thought it was going to run sometime later this month, but the E60 found me on twitter and said it was scheduled for the summer run, which begins July 28. If I find out an exact date, I’ll let you know.

Also last night, Josh Storm set the career saves record with 18 in Troy’s 4-2 win over Kennesaw State. Storm has had a rough year statistically and hurt his pitching hand earlier this year, but has pitched through it. He hasn’t had the command he had last year (maybe it’s back) and Chris Sorce is now the closer, but head coach Bobby Pierce said it hasn’t stopped Storm from working hard and being a positive influence in the dugout. He’s still a main cog in the bullpen.

Troy is at South Alabama Thursday through Saturday. Sun Belt Tournament starts next Wednesday at Troy and the Trojans will likely play the last game of the day, the 7:30 p.m. game.

JUCO safety is third 2010 commitment

May 12, 2009

By Drew Champlin

Safety Aaron Ward, who is at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, is Troy’s third commitment for the 2010 class. Ward confirmed his commitment to re-sign with the Trojans next year to me a little while ago. He signed with Troy in 2008 from Alma Bryant High School in Bayou La Batre but had grade issues and took the JUCO route.

“Troy’s closer to home,“ Ward said. “Troy was really the only one on me in high school, so I just took it and ran with it.“

Ward said he is a strong safety and is 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds. Troy’s starting strong safety for this season is senior Courtland Fuller.

*****Admittedly I couldn’t find much info on Ward, but will look for more Wednesday and if I can find out, will post it. I’m thinking he redshirted last year in JUCO, but could be wrong.

The other two 2010 commitments are also from the JUCO ranks - Coffeyville (Kan.) CC offensive lineman Teavis Durgin and linebacker Talris Brown. Both are 2008 re-signs.

Troy baseball’s NCAA chances, and other links

May 11, 2009

By Drew Champlin

Should Troy win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, which is in Troy May 20-23, it will get an automatic berth to the NCAA baseball tournament.

What about not? Well, the Trojans need to win a bunch of games, but it’s possible they can get an at-large still. Their RPI hovers in the early 50s depending on who you ask and with wins (and wins by teams it has beaten), it should improve. Troy plays Kennesaw State at home Tuesday and at South Alabama Thursday through Saturday.

So, I asked the esteemed Mark Etheridge of the college baseball Web site sebaseball.com, and here is what he had to say. He usually has regional projections up in the middle of the week.

Troy right now is in a pack of six or eight teams outside the field. The sweep of Louisiana-Monroe helped a lot. If they can win at South Alabama things get real interesting for the Sun Belt Tournament. Playing at home, you have to like their chances for a tournament run. They don’t have to win it, but if they can mount some wins they can get one of the last at large bids.
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OTHER LINKS - HERE is the basketball story I wrote, and HERE is the report on Tim Lamb’s troubles.

A couple of late, late Troy/NFL notes

By Drew Champlin

Just spoke with strength and conditioning coach Richard Shaughnessy and asked him about how the Troy players now trying their luck with NFL teams. I should have more tomorrow, but here’s a couple of late names.

***Offensive lineman Chris Jamison got picked up late by the Atlanta Falcons and was in their camp over the weekend.

***Running back Xavier Moreland got passed over by the NFL teams, but got a tryout with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.
So, here’s a list of Troy players that got looks with NFL teams after the Draft, be it by tryout or actual free agent deals, or the NFL Draft itself

Sherrod Martin - Carolina Panthers
Kenny Mainor - New York Giants
Dion Gales - Kansas City Chiefs
Steve McClendon - Pittsburgh Steelers
Terence Moore - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Trevor Ford - Green Bay Packers
Dion Small - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Jamison - Atlanta Falcons