Congrats to Robert Woodard (Prepster's Son)

They just said he is 23-3 in his career. All he has done is win in his college career.

Congrats to Prepster and Robert

Awesome game Robert!!!

Congrats to all the Prepsters!

WOW...Great game. Great career.

Congrats to Robert Woodard and his family and friends...from Chicagoland.

I have been saying it for two years and on this site several times. He is awesome! He got a chance to do it in the national spotlight and he delivered! The man can just flat out pitch folks. I am so happy for him and Prepster and of course for all the Tarheel Nation. Go Woody!

Yep, I enjoyed observing the game.

Sho' fun, ain't it..........

i saw him pitch today for the first time on tv...very good stuff excellent command...3 hit shutout 7k's against a strong clemson team....prepster must be proud

Well, shoot - I was travelling and missed him! Sounds like an excellent day! Congrats to Robert, Prepster and family!!!!!

You're not just kidding, that was an excellent game for Robert and NC team and I would like to say..WOW, that ACC is loaded with players all the way around! Congratulations Prepsters!!!!
Peace, Shep

Fantastic! Would like to add our congratulations to Robert, Perpster, and family

Clayton, props to Robert . . . he's looking very good, as is the way UNC is set up for remaining play
and - I'll add that UNC has the respect, & support of our group
SDBB, I'll also add the props of your Hindel whom I met up with at our game today

WOW is right! Congratulations!

And, an appearance by Bee's son, too!

Way cool!

Phenomenal game. GO ACC!!!

Nice game on the best stage. It's one thing to play in a CWS game, it's another to dominate a game. My hat is off.

I also saw Woodard pitch his complete game shutout at UVA. Hard to believe no one drafted this guy until the 46th round. Somebody got a steal. After he showed his stuff on national TV last night, I'll bet there are some folks out there shaking their heads and wondering how they missed out!

Too much emphasis these days on height and MPH, not enough on whether somebody knows how to pitch! I guess if Greg Maddux had come along today, he might have gone in the 46th round, too.

UVA is an excellent team. I watched them dismantle Miami in Miami this year. To shutout Clemson in Omaha is on another level though. Clemson was riding pretty high too.

I would be interested in hearing why Woodard was drafted so late. It appears to me the whole issue is MPH and nothing else. If that is the case, what do we need scouts for? That is a rhetorical question that I don't need answered btw.

Seriously, Woodard's productivity is unquestioned. How hard does Jaime Moyer throw exactly? I know, I know, he is a lefty. Why can't a righty who knows how to pitch have similar success?

The Indians had this guy, a reliever in their system for years that all he did was get guys out and rack up saves. Their excuse for not bringing him up was that he did not throw hard enough. One year, team injuries forced them to bring this guy up late in his career and all he did was rack up saves in the big leagues. For many years he was the all-time saves leader for the Indians and he had success for several other big league clubs. His name was Doug Jones.

Too many scouts and MLB teams are blinded by velocity and do not look at pitching ability--This young man knows how to pitch--so what if he doesnt throw 90 MPH !!!!

Give me a pitcher anyday and his record shows how it works --and he is not pitching against "chopped liver" in his conference


Dad give me a call when you get a chance--would like to relive a few memories

Tom Rizzi
800-782-3672

Congrats to Robert and Prepster! It doesn't get much better than that!

Prepster...I'm just reading the good news. Congratulations to your son, Robert. Keep it going!!!

Also got to watch the "GEM" Robert pitched. He is definitely a pitcher in every sense of the word. His stats speak for themself. Kudo's all around!!

Prepster, Congratulations to Robert on his terrific outing and the 22...or more...that preceded this one. Can only imagine the feelings you very legitimately must be having. What a wonderful feeling and accomplishment.

How fun was that! Ok so maybe TPM didn't think so, but a fine performance by Robert. Looking forward to seeing Mike McKee, but the heels can keep him a bit longer....Just long enough to win the CWS!!

Prepster, Congratulations to Robert on a great outing and for all the other great outings he has had the past few years.

I watched the game.....Rob pitched a great game.....a true pitcher.......I called a few local kids who I work with and encouraged them to watch him pitch after I had seen the first two innings.......great job!

I will offer my congratulations, as well. It was a great performance and a great game. Maybe the Tar Heels will go all the way.

I wonder, though, where is the criticism of the coach for throwing the kid 130 pitchers that we usually see here?

Obviously the kid was ready and was not coming out. For that I tip my cap to him and hope he does it again, perhaps in the championship game. I especially like to see the son of a prominent poster here do so well. I just think it's funny that the usual and predictable and nearly automatic criticism is missing.

Prepster and Robert,

Even though i'm a Wahoo, i'm glad to see an ACC team be successful. Robert and Prep it's great to see a non prototype velocity pitcher succeed on the big stage. Congrats and good luck in the rest of the CWS.

quote:

Originally posted by 02^04Mom:
Ok so maybe TPM didn't think so, but a fine performance by Robert.

Regarding the above comments, ask Prepster and he can tell you I have been one of Roberts biggest fans for years. I was there and I agree with all, it was a great performance and I am very happy for this player that has been over shadowed by his pitcher mates for years (sorry Clayton had to say it out loud).
Just a bit of information for you all, once you play in this arena, you have much respect for all of the players and teams that are here. No one cares what conference you are from, what round you were drafted in (only the media does). There is much respect shown for each and every player and their families as well.

I knew with Robert facing us, we were in trouble.

Jemaz,
Robert threw effortlessly a 130 pitches in a complete game which may or may not be his last this year. It's quite different throwing 130 now than a 130 from the first game of the season.

Both pitchers made CWS history, first time (I do beleive) two pitchers went head to head in complete games.

Way to go Robert!

TPM, that's neat to hear about CWS history being made in the game.

And while I am one who occasionally chimes in with info or links on pitch count recommendations for young pitchers, I wholeheartedly agree with not being alarmed by the 130 pitches. Very different story for a college pitcher to throw that many at this point in the season - in a CWS game (!!!!!) - than a 16-yr-old HS pitcher being allowed to throw 120-140 a few weeks into the season in a conference rivalry matchup.

Great job, Robert!

Besides, the wrestling match to get the ball out of his hand to take him out of the game when he got to 110 pitches could have injured his arm also!

I was TOTALLY impressed...Woodard OWNED that mound and most of the field.

Holy cow!! What an incredible...and nice...surprize from so many friends!! (...and, admittedly, it's a little embarrassing that this is the first time I've taken the time to check out the website since arriving in Omaha.)

A few off-of-the-top-of-the-head reactions:

First of all, I'd like to send our congratulations to Clemson's pitcher, Stephen Faris, who pitched a tremendous game, himself. If not for a couple of timely Tar Heel hits in the 3rd inning, we might still be out there playing!

Next, a heartfelt thanks to all of you. As I hope you know by now, my respect for you is immense; so, your praise of Robert's performance couldn't mean any more than it does.

Perhaps because the game was played on Father's Day, I'm particularly motivated to observe from a parent's perspective that performances like Stephen's and Robert's are the result of thousands of hours of dedicated effort; effort that stems from their passion rather than their parents'. We can guide, facilitate, and (occasionally) nudge; but, at the end of the day it's their translation of desire into the hard work from dedication that enables them to perform at a high level. Most of the gratification I feel comes from the knowledge that he understands that, and that it can be applied to the attainment of any goal he chooses. That knowledge will serve him well after he's hung up the spikes.

Regarding the pitch count: The count, which was the highest of his career, was as high as he, his coaches, and his parents would care for it to be. Going into the 9th inning it was understood that if a Clemson batter made it on base, his day was done. Fortunately for him and his team, he pitched an efficient 9th.

With respect to the draft: The draft often reflects a player's signability as much as his playing ability, and actual positions in the second day draft are frequently "placemarkers," allowing dialogues to continue. I'll leave it at that for now.

Again, many thanks to ALL of you!!

Unfortunately I missed that great performance by Robert. We were at our national and swamped at the time. However, the next day lots of people were talking about that game. The word "paint" was used a lot. I did catch the interview... What a super kid!

Congratulations on a great career and a great performance on the biggest stage in college baseball.

Stephen Faris, the cousin of a Hokie, indeed did a great job for Clemson. It is classy of you to point that out, Prepster. Again, best of luck to your son and the Tar Heels the rest of the way. I have no doubt he will get a substantial opportunity in professional baseball.

quote:

First of all, I'd like to send our congratulations to Clemson's pitcher, Stephen Faris, who pitched a tremendous game, himself. If not for a couple of timely Tar Heel hits in the 3rd inning, we might still be out there playing!

What a classy response Prepster! The interview with Robert was excellent after the game as well.

I can't believe how exciting and fresh college baseball is. There have simply been some classic games this year as there usually are every year.

I would love to see another UNC versus Clemson game. CSF was down to their final out against GT. I felt bad for Matt Weiters as anyone who has ever played baseball has experienced those feelings. I look forward to watching the games on TV each night

Fun, ain't it?

That performance was a pleasure to watch!

Lets talk about the interview after the game with Robert for a second. The whole time all he wanted to talk about was his teamates. He mentioned the defense and the play by Horton. He mentioned the timely hits that gave them the early lead. How can anyone not love the kind of young man he is? Gritty , smart , passionate about the game and a true team player. Everyone around the country that follows college baseball knows Miller and Bard both first round picks in the draft and deserving of all the attention they have gotten. But around these parts people that follow ACC baseball closely know that Robert is the most feard pitcher in the league. Undefeated last year folks. And just as good this year. It could not have happened to a better person than Woody on this national stage. Prepster my son and I were wondering , did you stand down the right field line? I could not help but think about you and all the emotions you were going through during and after that game. What a Fathers day present! Good luck the rest of the way.

quote:

CSF was down to their final out against GT. I felt bad for Matt Weiters as anyone who has ever played baseball has experienced those feelings

I was pretty bummed after Tech's loss, but to be honest it was pretty darned impressive that they made it to Omaha in the first place. I hope they all had a great time in Omah and are proud of what they accomplished this year. It was a little depressing when the reality set in that we likely won't get to see Steven Blackwood or especially Mike Trapani play ball again.

My funk was short lived though - that UNC/Clemson game was a classic. If you didn't get excited watching the pitching performances in that game you're not a baseball fan. Absolutely Awsome.