Can anyone tell me about the quality of baseball in the SCAC and the programs at Southwestern, Millsaps and Rhodes?
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prufrock, the SCAC is on par with the best DIII baseball conferences nationally. You will find, however, a considerable gap from top to the bottom in quality of play and facilities. Of the schools mentioned, Rhodes would be, by a fair distance, the weakest. Millsaps and Southwestern are very competitive each year. Southwestern is very rural in Georgetown, TX, about 35-40 minutes North of Austin. Milsaps is in the center of Jackson, Miss. Southwestern plays small ball and does it very well while Millsaps is a very aggressive team in every aspect of the game. I would be happy to answer questions you might have as I have seen a lot of SCAC baseball over the past few years... Will try and hide any bias or favoritism to Trinity University that I blatantly am proud to admit. 
Thanks, infield dad! No need to hide your bias, dad's get to be homers!
I'll second Infielddad's claim that the SCAC if one of the top DIII conferences in the country.
Millsaps and Southwestern are both programs that have about 35-40 players while Rhodes has about 20. Rhodes is significantly worse than the other two, but due to talent and roster size immediate playing time is more of an option there.
I have seen Southwestern typically play more of a power baseball game with less bunting and more station to station while they wait for a extra base hit. Millsaps has been the definition of a small ball/execution team. They hit and run, sacrafice, bunt, and steal to perfection. Their position players are guys that I would classify as the high school players who were a little too short for DI but who can really play. Their pitching staff is full of 6'3" to 6'5" guys who throw in the low 80s. Again, seems like the guys who were a but short of DI. But take that as players who can't play: they all can.
Millsaps and Southwestern are both programs that have about 35-40 players while Rhodes has about 20. Rhodes is significantly worse than the other two, but due to talent and roster size immediate playing time is more of an option there.
I have seen Southwestern typically play more of a power baseball game with less bunting and more station to station while they wait for a extra base hit. Millsaps has been the definition of a small ball/execution team. They hit and run, sacrafice, bunt, and steal to perfection. Their position players are guys that I would classify as the high school players who were a little too short for DI but who can really play. Their pitching staff is full of 6'3" to 6'5" guys who throw in the low 80s. Again, seems like the guys who were a but short of DI. But take that as players who can't play: they all can.
DBL, has Southwestern changed that much in the transition from Coach Mallon to Coach Shelton. Under Coach Mallon who I got to know some and really respected, at least against Trinity, he would bunt the 3 hitter, the 4 hitter, hit and run, do anything to advance runners and put pressure on the defense. During those years, Trinity had very good success against Southwestern which I understand was a change from prior years.
Millsaps is fun to watch and my son says they are a terrific group of guys. Understand their shortstop is being scouted very heavily and may give the SCAC their 2nd draft choice in two years. Wetzel is certainly not undersized and has improved incredibly which seems to happen with Millsaps players. Agree that Coach Page does take very talented, but undersized for DI players, and he really goes after folks on the ballfield.
Millsaps is fun to watch and my son says they are a terrific group of guys. Understand their shortstop is being scouted very heavily and may give the SCAC their 2nd draft choice in two years. Wetzel is certainly not undersized and has improved incredibly which seems to happen with Millsaps players. Agree that Coach Page does take very talented, but undersized for DI players, and he really goes after folks on the ballfield.
I think that Southwestern has changed in the coaching transition. There were obvious bunt situations this year where the hitters were swinging away. Also, I think the difference may have to do with the opposing team. Against a Trinity type team, perfect execution is needed while against other teams he may feel he can sit back and let his hitters do the work. Just a guess. And I agree that Coach Mallon had no problem bunting anyone in any situation.
Wetzel by no means is undersized, however I have heard that his future may have him on the mound rather than at short. Aparently, he possesses a low 90s fastball but due to a fear of what defensive lapses may happen when he would pitch, he is being kept at short this year. With him being drafted, that would make 3 in 3 years, rememebr Blanton (LHP) from Hendrix. He went to the Cadinals in the 22 round.
Wetzel by no means is undersized, however I have heard that his future may have him on the mound rather than at short. Aparently, he possesses a low 90s fastball but due to a fear of what defensive lapses may happen when he would pitch, he is being kept at short this year. With him being drafted, that would make 3 in 3 years, rememebr Blanton (LHP) from Hendrix. He went to the Cadinals in the 22 round.
DBL, great point. I very much apologize to Matt Blanton. He was really good and very deserving of his draft selection.
Interesting what you have heard on Wetzel. I have also heard a change of position is likely. I saw him in San Antonio and was really impressed with how athletic he is. Information/rumor I heard was possibly catcher because of his body size and strong arm, and it is a very strong arm.
BTW, congrats on the nice season. Several big wins that show the program is headed in the right direction. Congrats also for being one of those who stuck through things and provided the leadership in getting your program headed toward success.
Interesting what you have heard on Wetzel. I have also heard a change of position is likely. I saw him in San Antonio and was really impressed with how athletic he is. Information/rumor I heard was possibly catcher because of his body size and strong arm, and it is a very strong arm.
BTW, congrats on the nice season. Several big wins that show the program is headed in the right direction. Congrats also for being one of those who stuck through things and provided the leadership in getting your program headed toward success.
Thanks, I appreciate your kind words. While the program is on the way up, it is a bit frustrating because my career will be over after this year. But the important part is that the program is turning around and the future is bright.
