College Spring Season

After a tough weekend vs #1 Marietta, Rhodes set off to Florida for 6 games. We lost our first against Denison, then won 5 in a row vs Denison, Heidelberg Wooster, Utica, and Ohio Wesleyan.

I stayed in Memphis healing my arm after a little procedure we had done. I'm still hoping for a late-season return -- if that's not possible, I'll be looking at surgery because we've exhausted all options to get things comfortable throwing.

With how incredibly strong Rhodes' pitching was in Florida, it looks we may do just fine with or without me We gave up 4 (L), then 4, 0, 2, 3, and 1 in wins. Pretty stellar.

JP, your attitude and humility are absolutely commendable.

You have to be the ultimate teammate to be around.



YGD

JP I am hoping to meet you at the SCAC tournament later in the year.

My son’s team was ranked number 1 in D3 today, which is exciting for the program. As one coach told me however, this does not matter until the end of the season.

My son's team just broke into the top 25 D3 today. It is fun for the boys to see that.

quote:

Originally posted by philsfan:
My son's team just broke into the top 25 D3 today. It is fun for the boys to see that.

quote:

Originally posted by BOF:
JP I am hoping to meet you at the SCAC tournament later in the year.

My son’s team was ranked number 1 in D3 today, which is exciting for the program. As one coach told me however, this does not matter until the end of the season.

Congrats on the #1 ranking BOF! Very well deserved!!! Best defense I have seen in 3 years! Pitching and Hitting were stellar as well!

It's been a very busy College Spring Season for me so far. I've been to the majority of my son's local college games, and I've spent good quality time with several HSBBWebsters over the last month. I'm assisting a friend with his youngest son's 9-U baseball team. I've been to a number of the high school games, as my wife and I still have families that we're close to with kids playing. And I'm getting ready to go on a couple college visits with my seventeen year old daughter next week.

Yes, I'm busy...but unfortunately my Frosh son has been on the IR/DL for nearly four weeks with an Oblique Strain. He saw the UC sports medicine doctor yesterday afternoon (for the 2nd time) and the doc suggested another two weeks of rest and rehab, as there is still tenderness around his ribs. It's frustrating, because there's nothing he can do but complete daily stretches, ice, rest, and now they've implemented ultra-sound treatments. He can't play catch, swing a bat, or run for fear of doing further damage. The pitching staff at his university is pretty deep, but they're dealing with significant injuries to three other hurlers besides my son, not to mention their starting catcher (who's on the Johnny Bench watchlist) may be out for the season.

If you know any Magical Cures for Oblique Strains, please send me a PM. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

bsbl247,

Hope your son feels better soon.When my son was hurt his sophmore year it was a long haul to wellness.The best thing is rest,and not pushing it as you know.That is too bad about your catcher
and the other pitchers.

Rest,rest,rest is the only cure.

Fan...

Rest is the key word, and my son realizes that. His old man just needs to understand that and have some patience!

bsbl247 - praying for a speedy complete recovery for JR. Keep us posted! GED10DaD

Thank you GED10, I appreciate it. Bsbl-son played catch (very short distance) the last two days in pre-game. If he feels good next week he'll start a throwing program, I'm hoping for the best.

It's nice to see that your son is doing well at LCU...congratulations, I'm sure you're excited for him.

quote:

Originally posted by bsbl247:
Bsbl-son played catch (very short distance) the last two days in pre-game.

That's great news for K.D., keep the faith brother! GED10DaD

Our friend BUM's son is 4-1, picking up his 4th win of the season on Wednesday night against Florida Gulf Coast. On 3/19, Rusty gave a podcast interview to one of our local sports radio talking-heads. In the interview, Rusty talks about how this is the most talented team he's been a part of in four years of college ball and how they play with chip on their shoulder, determined to reach a regional.

Rusty talks about how he came to Lubbock, he talks about Pac10 v. Big X12 baseball, his role as a pitcher, and the upcoming week 2 of conference play.

Here is a link to the podcast: Rusty Shellhorn Podcast

Life's good! GED10DaD

Rhodes took 2/3 against Centre College this past weekend, using only 4 pitchers and giving up 3 runs across 3 games. 2 complete game shutouts and another strong outing by our third starter and his relief pitcher. Our ace, Austin Carden, won SCAC pitcher of the week and that's back-to-back weeks that Rhodes pitchers have won that honor. Last week, Rhodes took top pitcher and hitter honors.

We also took a game against conference foe Hendrix on Tuesday. We started out last year with a similarly difficult schedule to this year, but we have gotten out of that schedule with a much better record than last season. As long as we can remain strong in the conference schedule, we should be in line for a strong run in the SCAC tourney and perhaps a good chance at an at-large bid if that doesn't work out.

Personally, given the rate of my recovery and the strength of our pitching staff, I'll not be pitching for Rhodes this season. The better news is that I will get to start throwing about a week from now, so I'll at least finish the season with some sense of my future in baseball. It's been very odd spending my season rehabbing an injury that technically does not heal. There is a certain amount of uncertainty but my trainer/doctor are optimistic that I should throw comfortably again. If not, at least I'll know before I leave for the summer.

My wife and I made a promise that we'd see as many of my oldest son's college team games as possible this year. Their spring break trip was in our neck of the woods.....but I have to tell you I'm EXHAUSTED.

We've juggled our two high schoolers games during the week, college games on the weekend, and then there is that WORK thing that keeps getting in the way. Conference play starts this week...we're going. Next week they are on the road for more conference play.....we're going. I've used airline points, hotel points, rental car points to subsidize our trips and it is affordable. I keep telling myself to suck it up to drive these miles to see him pitch and the team play!

The senior parents have made these 18 away games to start the season exciting by making it a party atmosphere. Thank God for senior parents!

Ok, how far would you drive to watch him play on the weekend?

What's the breaking point?

quote:

Ok, how far would you drive to watch him play on the weekend?

What's the breaking point?

LOL

Son playing in Pullman Washinton this weekend.Two planes and three hour drive approx.I beleive.
Snow and rain 70%.We are NOT going.Thankfully this is the first weekend that Washinton State baseball will webcast their games.So computer plugged into our 40 inch TV,Homemade spaghetti and beverages.

BUT we have gone to just about everything else.

It only happens once for most of us.

I am a senior parent and this season has been a lot of fun so far.

quote:

Ok, how far would you drive to watch him play on the weekend?

What's the breaking point?

We live in Dallas and son plays ball in in South Dakota. We will fly once and drive once to SD to see weekend series. Have already driven to Kentucky once and Arkansas twice. Flown to Illinois and will drive to Omaha in a couple of weeks. Might even try to make the series in Utah. This is his senior year and we are trying to get in all that we can.

So is a 1600 mile round trip drive this weekend a bridge (tank of gas) too far?

quote:

So is a 1600 mile round trip drive this weekend a bridge (tank of gas) too far?

igball,

Yes! I'm drawing the line at 8 hours and a day off from work. Anything past 8 hours is a plane ride, and some frequent flier points based on the price of airline tickets right now.

It would be nice if you could plan some metings in the Southeast area at just about the same time as one of the weekend series (leave Friday.....comeback on Monday)? It has been known to happen...the world is full of coincidences.

Fan- when son played in Washington several weeks ago there was a 30 minute delay.......snow delay! The cold weather is brutal, we now have 3 key players out with hand injuries. The ball is much harder in 40* weather.

Good luck to your son & his team.

CaBB,

Game was four hours 42 degrees.So Cal boys in 42 not good.LOL

Rally in the 6th for five runs,gave them back,down by 3 runs in the ninth,we came back and scored 8 runs and won.Incredible comeback when cold and tired and traveling.Sloppy game BUT a win none the less.16-8 on the season so much improved.Son enjoying his senior year as a player,leader and mentor.Awesome stuff.

Oh suppose to snow tonight.Might have to stay for Monday.Another day of missed class.UGH

quote:

Originally posted by fanofgame:
Son enjoying his senior year as a player,leader and mentor.Awesome stuff.

I am really happy for Matt and your family. I am not overstating it, but he is playing like an All-American and although I am not there watching, it is not a stretch to imagine that he is having the time of his life. Encourage him to keep having fun and cherish each day. The future will take care of itself if he gets the most out of each day and based on the results thus far - he certainly is doing that!

Thank you CD that means a lot
To
Me

Congrats to FenwaySouth's son for throwing a 7-inning no hitter over Dartmouth today!

quote:

Originally posted by Swampboy:
Congrats to FenwaySouth's son for throwing a 7-inning no hitter over Dartmouth today!

Wow! Awesome!

quote:

Originally posted by Swampboy:
Congrats to FenwaySouth's son for throwing a 7-inning no hitter over Dartmouth today!

I just saw the box score. Great stuff by fenwaysouth's son. He has become the ace of the Big Red!

quote:

Originally posted by Swampboy:
Congrats to FenwaySouth's son for throwing a 7-inning no hitter over Dartmouth today!

Indeed. A thrill that will not soon be forgotten, a memory that will last a lifetime!

A fine looking young man!

Awesome!

Wow, congratulations!

Tough weekend at Rhodes, dropping 3 to #24 Birmingham Southern. Can't say any particular facet of our game was off, but there were opportunities to grab a game or two that we didn't capitalize on. A lot of credit to BSC though, they have been a machine for a while now and Division 3 needs to watch out now that they are tournament-eligible. They are going to be a household name in the South region for a while.

Get to know the name Bruce Maxwell if you follow D3 baseball because that kid can rake. He entered this weekend with a ~1.700 OPS, 7 HR, and 15 doubles IIRC. Oh yeah, and this is a junior. He's been hitting like this for almost three years now. Look for him in the All-American lists.

quote:

Congrats to FenwaySouth's son for throwing a 7-inning no hitter over Dartmouth today!

Thanks everyone! It was incredibly exciting, and we're so glad we decided to go up to Cornell this weekend for the Harvard/Dartmouth series. The whole team was incredibly pumped after the no-hitter, and they mobbed my son after he caught a popup for the last out. It is a lifetime memory. We were told it was Cornells first no-hitter against an Ivy rival.

Congratulations!

quote:

Originally posted by fenwaysouth:
We were told it was Cornells first no-hitter against an Ivy rival.

Congrats! Pretty special place in the Cornell record books.

Atta-boy Connor!!! Doin' WORK son.... GED10DaD

Congratulations to your son, fenwaysouth. I watched Dartmouth play here on the west coast recently. They were a much better team than their record reflected, IMO. They had several left handed bats, and put the ball in play...Cornell's first no-hitter against their league rival is very impressive!

My guys regular season is coming to a close. Possibly his last six or ten games. College will be over, the ride may be coming to a stop.

Interesting times ahead to be sure. What happens next? There is no summer team to prepare for for the first time in ten years. Wow.

Obviously many posters that have come and gone have experienced this, I guess one does in fact survive this! LOL.

floridafan, I hope yall have a long run in the playoffs and hope we do also. Maybe our teams will meet again. We owe yall one after that 2-1 loss yall gave us in Vadosta. Congratulations on your son's fine season and I hope he gets that shot at playing at the next level. I know he has the talent to do so.

I cannot believe the regular season is almost over for you guys already.It has gone by so fast.

You will go far in playoffs.Your son will still be playing,keep the faith.