Local players' success in college

Travis Tolsma just threw his first CG of the season for WIU yesterday

I know there is not much talk about anything besides division one schools...but Ricky Angel (Glendbard West)is hitting .443 for IWU with 7 HR and 30 RBI

Matt German (Marmion Academy) set the saves record for NIU and was also named MAC pitcher of the week...On the season he is 3-1 with a .34 ERA 11BB to 35 K's....very impressive

Jamie Friel (Maine South) is hitting .291 at Deleware State and is also 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA

Chris Friedrich LHP Soph Eastern Kentucky, preseason All American, Loyola 2005.

So far this season is 2 and 1 with a 2.05 era in 42 innings. He has allowed 25 hits has struckout 60 and walked 15. Opponents are batting .154 against him. The bullpen has let him down a bit, should be around 5 and 1.

TRhit..ClevelandDad..gotwood4sale..BeenthereIL..soxnole..Mike F.....

I went out Friday and just came back Monday from watching his games, only two because of the snow and rain. Spent some quality time as well. He's doing really well starting in centerfield and with hitting. Had some "throw-outs" with runners trying to advance for extra bases, and has two double plays to his credit.

Thanks for all of the 'props' for Andy!! He's worked hard to get where he is at. He is playing, and that's what counts!

BoomerIL

Boomer, that is excellent news about andy..now tell everyone who got employee of the month as well....love ya man( boomer was employee of the month ) he is too embarrased to mention it so i thought i'd throw it out there for him...he is kinda shy. and when he got the award his wife was so happy she...oh i gotta go back to work i'll follow up later...btw ILL crushed ILL st tuesday night, it was ugly from my (isu) prospective and there goes my myth about the Big 10..i bow to those of you who beat me up on that subject..see as i said all along i dont know much about the game, i just ramble alot...ill have the crow for lunch ty

Sweaty,

I'ts not the worst thing to eat a little humble pie every now and then. I should know. My wife is feeding it to me way too often.

Say hello to Gino for me.

Boomer, thanks for the Andy update and keep us posted throughout the season. I love when outfielders throw out baserunners; it's always exciting! Let me clarify that...I love when my outfielders throw out baserunners. Having a runner thrown out on the bases is a real momentum killer.

Andy...

Congrats to you as well on the EoM.

Mike F

Mike F.....

I have no idea as to what 'sweaty' is referring to!!!!! Seriously!!!!

Modesty...a somewhat forgotten attribute in the 2007 world.

Boomer is the man!

sox......

Thanks!!! You no help!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by BoomerIL:
I have no idea as to what 'sweaty' is referring to!!!!! Seriously!!!!

Boomer, why do I get the feeling that this isn't the first time you've said that.

Mike F

I was playing along with the award theme that's all...just playing...i was bored at work and thought i'd fire the old guy up....it worked and look it brought out all my old friends...I wish I could write that my son was doing great in college ball(doing great in school at least) but he has something going on with his hand and hasn't batted in 3 weeks now..it is killing him..he doesn't like being out of the lineup..but it's an injury and not that he is bad...( i guess) he got a shot in his hand on tuesday...so we'll see if that helps by the weekend...big one vs evansville, who is hot at the right time...we gotta win that friday game...see ya all later...boomer relax I won't finish the part about your reward from Sherl(spellin) love ya man see ya down the line

Hope he gets better soon. Root beer might cure it.

Got to watch one of LT's boys pitch on college baseball tv today, Kyle Cochoran and MSU vs Minny...he had a rough 1st inng giving up 5 uns and throwing 41 pitches but it didn't effect him one bit..he got into the 6th of a 7 inning ball game and looked mighty impressive after an error filled 1st inning...my hat goes off to him and his family...he has really turned it up a notch. congrats Kyle and good luck the rest of the season. mr w.

sweaty,

Just a chance, but:

Have the Hokae Hamate checked under a flourascope.

Took some hot shot doc's and trainer's 2 months +

to find that injury to my guy. MRI's and Cat Scans

were repeatedly inconclusive. The flourascope might

show the healing area, it takes time off to begin that

healing process.

Hope it is worked out so Dan can get back to 100%.

Beast of luck with the frustration.

thanks Pat, I just sent that info to Danny and asked him to ask the trainer about it...if he doesn't follow through, i guess i will...they want to be men but yet they are still kids when it comes to this...i'm a little frustrated, he on the other hand is out of his head...he hates sitting..he did get a shot on tuesday and it still feels the same..supposed to start swinging on tuesday again..we'll wait and see, meanwhile thank you for that info...

Brad Altbach Freshman RHP Bradley University, Glenbrook North class of 2006 is having a great year. He is 6 and 2 in 45 innings including a victory over the #8 ranked Wichita State Shockers. He has emerged as the Braves closer. His ERA is 3.35 .

TT, Brad looked pretty darn good this weekend vs ISU of course I might have looked good out there...lol just kidding, i stink....soxnole, danny started hitting today and said he felt pretty good, what a relief but i guess we'll see how he feels tomorrow and so fourth. I talked to the doc last monday and he said hokae is usually palm side related and dan's is on the topside next to the left pinkie finger. 2 xrays negative and one shot of cortizone and 3 weeks of rest...i hope he can get back to it for his sake , he needs a positive end of the year for his head and for the summer...

Ian Berger (OPRF) holds Texas to 2 ER over 4 2/3 innings to help Mizzou win the series!

Way to go Ian!

My Noles sweep Maryland to go 42-7 (20-4 ACC). (and...Boo Boo hit a Big Fly)

Illinois slows Michigan's Big 10 head of steam.

Ohio State derailed by Michigan State. (Sean Walker(Carmel) and John Dwan (Librtyville) played roles)

Hitting machine Ryne White (St. Rita) with yet another solid weekend at Purdue.

Ditto Ryan Curry (DGS) @ Bradley.

C'mon rosy, sweaty etc. I got in @ 3AM due to a Southwest delay...fill in my blanks!

Oh yeah...nice weekend for Mike Tokarski!

I'd like to fill in somebodies blanks i'll tell ya...same old song and dance, different conducter..got i can't wait til this is over, it has been a very trying year for our family...hard schedule in school and then the bus rides all over the place and getting in a strange hours and trying to get up for classes, I know you've been there done that..man it has been RUF...and now he is healthy and doesn't get a sniff,OOOO just get me thru these last 2 weeks so I can just have some fun in my life.....3 kids in college next year, time to join the hunting and fishing club so i can have access to the right stuff...GO Noles..I'll be cheering them on...

Sweaty Give George a call Maybe he will go fishing with you.

Hello everyone. Hope your seasons are going well.
I still follow a number of kids. I'm sure I'm missing a few but these came to mind as local kids having good seasons.
Tim Dennehy - Chandler Gilbert CC
Dean Anna - John Logan
Christian Friedrich - Eastern Kentucky
Ethan Hollingsworth - Western Michigan
Rick Zagone - Mizzou
Larry Gempp Jr & David Cales (great out of the pen) at UIC.
Jim Viscomi - 2 great years at Evansville.
Matt German - 2 great years as closer at NIU. Also for Huskies, Trevor Feeney very solid as Friday starter and Bob Stevens played some big-time shortstop.
Pat - great to see Ruairi's healthy and helping the noles to a huge year.

Forgot among others John Ely at Miami,OH and Mike Bowden in the minors. Mike is absolutely dominating in a hitters league, another move-up can't be too far off for him.

denisr400....Thank You.

Btw, he is not 100% and may not achieve 100% through the end of the season. The hammy still requires constant attention before and after games.

Will Gaff from Streator just finished the regular season as a sophmore at Parkland with some respectable numbers. He batted 390 with 9 home runs, 17 doubles and 59 RBI's. They start the post season with the conference tournament tomorrow in Springfield.

SHS,
Where is Will going to be playing next year?

He is uncommitted at this point? His major is mechanical engineering which reduces his options. Funny thing I asked him that same question last night.

Congrats to Boomers son, Andy---he was just named Conference Honorable mention as a Frosh at the University of Rochester--he hit .318 for the season


Way to go Andy

Way to go Andy! Thanks TR.

This is from the Bradley Website.

Altbach’s Personal Streak

• Bradley’s recent winning streak has been aided by the personal pitching streak of freshman Brad Altbach.

• The 6-foot-2 right-hander has closed out each of Bradley’s last five Valley games, going 1-0 with three saves in the four outings.

• Altbach’s fifth appearance may have been the most impressive of the group but did not count as a win or a save.

• After saving each of the first two weekend wins against Indiana State, Altbach inherited a bases-loaded, one-out scenario in the eighth inning Sunday and retired all five Sycamores he faced to end Bradley’s 8-2 win.

• For the season, Altbach is 6-2 with four saves and a 3.00 ERA.

Way to go Brad! It has been a pleasure to watch you develop from age 11 to now. This is just the beginning.

Chris Friedrich Soph LHP Eastern Kentucky is now 3 and 3 with a 2.3 ERA. He has 80 K's in 61 innings while allowing 23 walks. Opponents are only hitting .155 against him. He lost 1 to 0 last week after throwing a 1 hit, 8 K, no walks performance vs. Southeast Missouri last weekend.

You have had a couple of tough losses Chris, but your stats speak for themselves. Just keep firing away!

Great job Andy!!!

Elgin Community College Sophomore Chris Schultz finished the season 6th in JUCO D-II in batting average (.464), Teammates Kevin Schrader was 21st (.433), Bret Ehrlich 24th (.427), Adam Rice (.425), Jordan Tokarz (.421) and Bryan Mason (.419)



Link to D II JUCO STATS

http://www.njcaa.org/sports.cfm?menu=3&sid=8&stat_type=...9&requesttimeout=500

Congratulations to Brad Altbach and the fine job that he is doing at Bradley. Anyone who has seen Brad play, from the time that he was quite young, knew that he would be successful. I just didn't imagine it would be quite so soon.

TT41, I have been watching Brad play since he was 9 or 10 years old. Everyone knew that he would be good when on one of the first years that the kids actually pitched, when he was 9 or 10, he struck out 118 of the 128 batters that he faced. He was able to do it with only speed and location then and has now picked up the other necessary pitches to be successful at the college level. Awesome then, awesome now!!

Hopperhop- One pitch has always been a problem for Brad and that is the curve. We will work on it all Summer. He told me that he will not be going out to North Carolina to play in the Collegiate League out there. He wants to come home and play for Dupage and work on his curve. He has been using a slider in place of his curve, but he recognizes the need to have a good curve. He has always been a little less than 3/4 and that makes it very difficult to get on top of the curve. Thought we had it corrected the winter of his senior year, but it looks like it still needs some work.

tt41, just learned from another thread that the opponent batting average is a meaningless statistic.
Rosy told us.

So if a pitchers opponents are batting .1000 against him it is meaningless? LOL Please. I would agree that OBP is the biggest factor, but the batting average is a huge factor as well. So Chris Friedrich has an average against him of .151 and he has been projected as a high first round pick next year, he also averaged 13 K's per game last year which helps in lowering the batting average against him. Meaningless! I think not!

I loved the book Money Ball, but there are exceptions.

Pitchers who have a low batting average against with a low walk percentage are giving their respective teams a great chance to win PERIOD!

TT41,

What I said can be read on another thread by any literate individual. I said that, by itself, opponents batting average was just another statistic. Taken by itself, it does not necessarily translate into wins. I stated that the Cubs have the second lowest opponents batting average in the NL and how has that played out so far this season? Cub pitchers have gotten a lot of outs, but have given up walks and a hit at the wrong time. I meant nothing disparaging to any pitcher who holds down the opponents BA, and certainly not to Chris Fredrich.

TT, your point about OBA coupled with a low walk percentage is an almost unbeatable combination.

Rosy
I was not attacking you. I was attacking the statement made by 1954. I did not even read your tread to be totally honest with you. I was attacking a remark about being meaningless. I really did not intend my reply for you, rather the statement. I am confident your post was not in the literal sense. Some stats are better indicators than others, Money Ball changed the way I look at a lot of things in baseball, especially OBP!

TT, We're on the same page with "Moneyball". Billy Beane loses players to free agency and year after year he can re-load with players that fit his criteria based on the principles of "Moneyball".

I also never said that a low OBA was meaningless. For a reason that I don't understand, 1954 jumped all over me in a way that seemes personal in nature.

Rosy- Sounds good! Moneyball was a great book. The hard thing is applying those principles to high school baseball. The talent level is so wide on any given team, especially with the hitters. You may have a hitter up who is not able to put the bat through the zone against a pitcher who is throwing 85, so you may be forced to bunt and give up the all important out.