The Seawolves really had nothing to lose. They were sporting a 4 seed and a 63 RPI. LSU had everything to lose and they did. I don't think Stony Brook is done yet.
Stanford tends to recruit for physical talent. SPARQ has always been a part of the Stanford camp. I've seen some recruits I questioned as a result and some that seemed to be can't miss types. Mayberry was and Wilson is a great athlete at Stanford and look the part.
I couldn’t believe how hard I was rooting for Stony Brook, our arch rival, as they battled LSU in the Baton Rouge Super Regional. The Stony Brook win represented all of the teams who had to walk into stadiums of southern teams for years without getting a drop of respect. I am not sure Stony Brook themselves even realize just how big this accomplishment is. I can’t tell you how many emails had been passed back and forth between me and my friends the next day, not to mention the message boards and ESPN.
It is one thing if a Uconn or other Big East program did this but for a mid-major to conquer these mega teams with unlimited budgets and massive stadiums (LSU had more fans in attendance last night than Stony Brook had all season), it truly is impressive.
There are no more excuses for teams now who consistently lose. You have to ask yourself how could Stony Brook, with a bunch of local New York kids, do what the likes of San Diego State, Pepperdine, and Kansas never do?
The level of play is finally evening out and it is no longer automatic for a top player to go down south. There are only 9 players who can play at a time which meant last night 20 LSU players (at least) were watching from the bench as their team lost. LSU and company only have X amount of scholarship dollars which means that a top player can get a much better deal from a northern program at times.
With the facilities (thank you Joe Nathan for your $500,000 donation for a new Stony Brook field), coaching, and players now playing all year in some form, there are more great northern players than there are spaces down south. I expect to start seeing more “Stony Brook Cinderellas” as time goes on.
One other interesting point is the 7 guys drafted. Clearly the strategy is to go after the guys just below the Big East/southern conference level and develop/coach them to the next level. Then you fill your team out with some JuCo guys. It does prove that there are enough guys in the north that you can compete with anyone.
Ken Jacobi
Member of America East: 2005-2009 (Binghamton)
Author of "Going with the Pitch: Adjusting to Baseball, School, and Life as a Division I College Athlete"
It is one thing if a Uconn or other Big East program did this but for a mid-major to conquer these mega teams with unlimited budgets and massive stadiums (LSU had more fans in attendance last night than Stony Brook had all season), it truly is impressive.
There are no more excuses for teams now who consistently lose. You have to ask yourself how could Stony Brook, with a bunch of local New York kids, do what the likes of San Diego State, Pepperdine, and Kansas never do?
The level of play is finally evening out and it is no longer automatic for a top player to go down south. There are only 9 players who can play at a time which meant last night 20 LSU players (at least) were watching from the bench as their team lost. LSU and company only have X amount of scholarship dollars which means that a top player can get a much better deal from a northern program at times.
With the facilities (thank you Joe Nathan for your $500,000 donation for a new Stony Brook field), coaching, and players now playing all year in some form, there are more great northern players than there are spaces down south. I expect to start seeing more “Stony Brook Cinderellas” as time goes on.
One other interesting point is the 7 guys drafted. Clearly the strategy is to go after the guys just below the Big East/southern conference level and develop/coach them to the next level. Then you fill your team out with some JuCo guys. It does prove that there are enough guys in the north that you can compete with anyone.
Ken Jacobi
Member of America East: 2005-2009 (Binghamton)
Author of "Going with the Pitch: Adjusting to Baseball, School, and Life as a Division I College Athlete"
The results show just how hard it is to get to the championship and never take anything for granted.
The road to Omaha is long and difficult, regardless of talent, good coaching, some teams just become burned out at a certain point.
Case in point many of those from the top conference did just that.
I just can't believe that two SEC team face each other their first game.
Should be a very interesting series!
The road to Omaha is long and difficult, regardless of talent, good coaching, some teams just become burned out at a certain point.
Case in point many of those from the top conference did just that.
I just can't believe that two SEC team face each other their first game.
Should be a very interesting series!
quote:SPARQ has always been a part of the Stanford camp.
I won't argue that Stanford doesn't recruit big guys with lots of power attributes (core, velocity, etc...), but I don't think SPARQ was any part of the 2003 camp that our son attended.
No one needed a SPARQ score to figure out Mayberry or Wilson could play at any D1 level.
Another College World Series dominated by the SEC!
3 teams!
But I hate that 2 of the Top 3 teams (SEC) have to face each other right from the start.
I couldn't even tell you where Stony Brook is and yet I find myself a secret fan!
YGD
3 teams!
But I hate that 2 of the Top 3 teams (SEC) have to face each other right from the start.
I couldn't even tell you where Stony Brook is and yet I find myself a secret fan!
YGD
Wow! .... again
Long Island, New York...
and now Kent State... this is college baseball at its finest
and now Kent State... this is college baseball at its finest
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Oh the irony of it all...a Duck, in usually soggy and cloudy Western Oregon, loses the ball in the sun! Or was it a Golden Flash that blinded him?
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Oh the irony of it all...a Duck, in usually soggy and cloudy Western Oregon, loses the ball in the sun! Or was it a Golden Flash that blinded him?
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Actually Stony Brooks top pitcher is from California (draft pick). The conference Rookie of the Year is from Canada. Their second best pitcher is also from Canada (draft pick). Another sophomore pitcher is from California. All conference OF is from Canada. All Conference and second best pitcher is from California. Third best pitcher is from Florida. Draft pick second baseman is from Canada. First round draft pick CF is from Pennsylvania. Part time starter/reserve OF from California. It’s amazing to see a NE college program recruit 4 of their key players from California and Florida while getting 4 more from Canada. That is some great recruiting and great development of their players.
Kent State might be just as amazing of a story. They are coached by Scott Stricklin. He was the recruiting coordinator at Georgia Tech before becoming the head coach at Kent State. The Kent State roster is almost completely made up of kids from Ohio with some Pennsylvania kids scattered in. Not a single player from the south or the west.
While some northern schools are making excuses for lack of success, these two are among the eight teams playing in Omaha. They did it by beating teams from the super conferences in the South and the West. It might be more difficult in the north, but these two coaches have proven that it is possible.
Kent State might be just as amazing of a story. They are coached by Scott Stricklin. He was the recruiting coordinator at Georgia Tech before becoming the head coach at Kent State. The Kent State roster is almost completely made up of kids from Ohio with some Pennsylvania kids scattered in. Not a single player from the south or the west.
While some northern schools are making excuses for lack of success, these two are among the eight teams playing in Omaha. They did it by beating teams from the super conferences in the South and the West. It might be more difficult in the north, but these two coaches have proven that it is possible.
quote:Originally posted by CADad:
Stanford tends to recruit for physical talent. SPARQ has always been a part of the Stanford camp.
I think it began in 2004 or 2005. Of course, in recent years it has not been formally a part of the camp: that's against the NCAA rules. Players can pay separately for SPARQ testing which is done off-site. The test is optional. I know two current mainstream players at Stanford well, both with substantial scholarships. Neither has ever been SPARQ tested-- one opted to not do SPARQ testing at the camp, and the other didn't attend any Stanford camp.
Congratulations to all who advanced! One member of our 2009-2010 HS team going to the CWS!
Good Luck!
Murderer's Row!
Good Luck!
Murderer's Row!
I am originally from the north but my kids have spent a good time of thier lives growing up in the south and playing baseball. I honestly beleive that the best baseball is played in the warm weather states. I gotta admit that I absolutely loved seeing Stonybrook and Kent State beating up on their competition. It just goes to show that good talent exists everywhere. Glad to see that the scouting community spends sometime not relying on the big schools to do their homework for them and that great talent is everywhere. No more excuses mr. big ten commissioner. Cold weather teams with lesser facilities and name recognition are getting it done. So stop complaining and start playing baseball. It is bad enough that you get your lunch handed to you every year by the SEC in football.
Great win by Kent State. All of us alums are pumped! My emails, Facebook, Twitter was blowing up last night and this morning.
Im all GATORS...but i find myself pulling for the underdog STONY BROOK!...I do see a UF/FSU final...which would be awesome lol
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That was a good game last night between the Ducks and those really hot Flashes!
That Kent State team is strong, talented, and perhaps most importantly they're poised.
I would love to see a Kent State/Stonybrook championship...two high quality and very capable teams.
"Omaha ahoy! When it Flashes I spot Seawolves!
"Really? Cap'n spots Seawolves in the Flashes?"...
..."Yup, believe it!"
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That was a good game last night between the Ducks and those really hot Flashes!
That Kent State team is strong, talented, and perhaps most importantly they're poised.
I would love to see a Kent State/Stonybrook championship...two high quality and very capable teams.
"Really? Cap'n spots Seawolves in the Flashes?"...
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Considering my comment last night following the game I would guess the Duck's skipper and I are on the same page when it comes to Eugene's weather...
From the Eugene Register Guard® newspaper:
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Considering my comment last night following the game I would guess the Duck's skipper and I are on the same page when it comes to Eugene's weather...
From the Eugene Register Guard® newspaper:
- "There’s some irony for me that we lost a ball in the sun in Eugene and it ended our season," Horton said.
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Kent State's coach, Scott Stricklin, recruited our older son when he was an assistant coach at Georgia Tech.
I was immensely impressed with him back then and while I could not have predicted that he could take a MAC team to Omaha...I am certainly not surprised that he has had tremendous success as a head coach.
Outcoaching (or out-programming?) much bigger name schools in his area...all of the Big 10, Notre Dame, etc... He has really turned some heads in that region of the country. I hope he stays and continues to grow college baseball in his region.
Congrats!
I was immensely impressed with him back then and while I could not have predicted that he could take a MAC team to Omaha...I am certainly not surprised that he has had tremendous success as a head coach.
Outcoaching (or out-programming?) much bigger name schools in his area...all of the Big 10, Notre Dame, etc... He has really turned some heads in that region of the country. I hope he stays and continues to grow college baseball in his region.
Congrats!
From a high school baseball community in SW Ohio area (for those of you not familiar with Ohio, Kent State is in NE Ohio). Kent State is the shiny star to be recruited at in Ohio. When as player is being "recruited" by Kent, it is a big topic. much more so, than any other College in Ohio. It has been that way for several years.
quote:Originally posted by chefmike7777:
From a high school baseball community in SW Ohio area (for those of you not familiar with Ohio, Kent State is in NE Ohio). Kent State is the shiny star to be recruited at in Ohio. When as player is being "recruited" by Kent, it is a big topic. much more so, than any other College in Ohio. It has been that way for several years.
I see you are from the Dayton area. I grew up north of Cincinnati and went to UC for undergrad. With UC's facilities, it is a real head scratcher as to why they cannot even break the top-100 RPI playing in the Big East. Kent State gives them hope...but I think some big changes need to happen at UC first.
I was seated at a restaurant bar last night. Some people were ticked one of the four television was for the Kent State game. I was the only one watching. I let out a YES when Kent State won. Everyone looked at me like I was insane. The Sox were losing again. College baseball is as big in New England as tiddly winks.
Crazt fact having seen Stony Brook play many time over the past few years and know the coaching staff well, they may have had a better team last year!. They chose to have 1 bad weekend at the wrong time and lost the conference tournament to Maine. They had, I think 44 wins last year and weren't even mentioned as a thought for an at large bid because of the conference ranking, RPI, MPG, LOL and everything else they use to measure these teams.
Nick Tropiano was their ace last year and a 3rd rd pick. Even he wasn't really one of those 90+ guys. Stony Brook has proven that you can throw away the radar guns and stop watches. Just play hard and look at how much fun they have and what amazing team chemistry Coach Senk and Pennucci have built.
Stony Brook pitchers are mid to high 80's guys that have command of 3 or 4 pitches and they throw strikes. THey give their team a chance to win every game.
Good luck fellas, we're proud already, keep it up
Nick Tropiano was their ace last year and a 3rd rd pick. Even he wasn't really one of those 90+ guys. Stony Brook has proven that you can throw away the radar guns and stop watches. Just play hard and look at how much fun they have and what amazing team chemistry Coach Senk and Pennucci have built.
Stony Brook pitchers are mid to high 80's guys that have command of 3 or 4 pitches and they throw strikes. THey give their team a chance to win every game.
Good luck fellas, we're proud already, keep it up
quote:Originally posted by Coach Merc:
Stony Brook has proven that you can throw away the radar guns and stop watches. Just play hard and look at how much fun they have and what amazing team chemistry Coach Senk and Pennucci have built.
My kinda team! My son has a buddy playing for Arkansas, but I may have to root for Stony Brook.
justbaseball,
Always was a poor selection of words on my part.
SPARQ has played a role in the recruiting process at Stanford since it was made part of the camp, IMO. I'm not saying it was the only thing by any means. I have no idea how Appel scored on the SPARQ testing but anyone who saw him throw at the camp knew they were going to be trying to sign him. On the other hand I saw a player or two who didn't necessarily stand out otherwise to this unqualified viewer who had good SPARQ results and ended up at Stanford.
Always was a poor selection of words on my part.
SPARQ has played a role in the recruiting process at Stanford since it was made part of the camp, IMO. I'm not saying it was the only thing by any means. I have no idea how Appel scored on the SPARQ testing but anyone who saw him throw at the camp knew they were going to be trying to sign him. On the other hand I saw a player or two who didn't necessarily stand out otherwise to this unqualified viewer who had good SPARQ results and ended up at Stanford.
Im an avid SEC fan as most of you already know that (holds hands up over face to stop projectiles from hitting me in the face!), but I think it's second nature for us to always pull for the little guy.
So, as much as I want the SEC (AGAIN) to win the National Championship I can't help but to be pulling for the Sea Wolves or Golden Flashes just a little bit.
So, as much as I want the SEC (AGAIN) to win the National Championship I can't help but to be pulling for the Sea Wolves or Golden Flashes just a little bit.
quote:Originally posted by CADad:
justbaseball,
Always was a poor selection of words on my part.
SPARQ has played a role in the recruiting process at Stanford since it was made part of the camp, IMO. I'm not saying it was the only thing by any means. I have no idea how Appel scored on the SPARQ testing but anyone who saw him throw at the camp knew they were going to be trying to sign him. On the other hand I saw a player or two who didn't necessarily stand out otherwise to this unqualified viewer who had good SPARQ results and ended up at Stanford.
No prob. I've heard variations of the comment before and just thought I'd comment back for a change.
I love a cinderella story but I have to root for the #1 seed!
Experience has a lot to do with it, you would be surprised, that can work against the new comers.
Go Gators.
Experience has a lot to do with it, you would be surprised, that can work against the new comers.
Go Gators.
This bracket is the Omaha fans' dream. Two big underdogs in opposite sides of the bracket to cheer on. KS and SB are going to be BIG fan favorites in Omaha.
I'm pulling for a Gamecock 3peat and I'm so glad SB is in the opposite bracket so I can root for them for awhile. Can you even imagine the hype if these two were to meet in the last game?!
There will be a lotta hype if either Stony Brook or Kent State makes it to the finals.
There's really only 1 team in the CWS that I struggle to root for...and will hope they lose...which probably means they will win!
But I will wait and see.
There's really only 1 team in the CWS that I struggle to root for...and will hope they lose...which probably means they will win!
But I will wait and see.
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Don't worry just...
I don't think they made it to Omaha this year.
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Don't worry just...
I don't think they made it to Omaha this year.
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Didn't check to see if this had been brought up as yet but I thought the last pitch of the Florida / NC State game that sent Florida to the CWS was outside all the way. Obviously the batter did as well, since he went after the unpire and had to be pulled off by his coach.
Interesting to know what those of you who saw the prolonged reaction by the batter think about that reaction. I have a lot of empathy for the guy and I understand there was a lot of pent up 'energy' in the guy at that moment but.....
This UF highlight clip shows the pitch near the end and the State coach running out to pull the batter off the ump.
http://www.gatorvision.tv/medi...80595&db_oem_id=6500
Interesting to know what those of you who saw the prolonged reaction by the batter think about that reaction. I have a lot of empathy for the guy and I understand there was a lot of pent up 'energy' in the guy at that moment but.....
This UF highlight clip shows the pitch near the end and the State coach running out to pull the batter off the ump.
http://www.gatorvision.tv/medi...80595&db_oem_id=6500
He was completely hosed. Off the plate, outside of shiguards and reached for by the catcher. The guy just ended their season with a ridiculous strike call. He deserves an earfull, but that is it. No contact (I did not see any) should ever be tolerated. It looked like they got to him in time, but I think he is warranted in letting the umpire know that the call is horsepoop.
The NC State fans in my house (all of us) thought it was a strike in real time. We felt it caught the outside corner. Either way it was way too close to let pass by with 2 strikes and 2 outs.
Diaz has apologized.
Diaz has apologized.
Not even close. Shame the umpire had to end a wonderful game like that.
Might have been out, might not have been.
Definitely outside. The player had a right to be furious.
Players are taught to take anything close with two strikes. There is no accounting for a pitch at least 6" off the plate. I don't consider that close.
Players are taught to take anything close with two strikes. There is no accounting for a pitch at least 6" off the plate. I don't consider that close.
quote:Originally posted by fillsfan:
Definitely outside. The player had a right to be furious.
Players are taught to take anything close with two strikes. There is no accounting for a pitch at least 6" off the plate. I don't consider that close.
It was a good pitch that crossed the outside of the plate and was very close but a strike!
The umpire made a good call and the batter that fumed like a punk should have to sit out the next year.
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I suppose I'm dating myself, but back in the old days 'close' was the Eagle landing on the moon and not Mars.
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- "I don't consider that close."
I suppose I'm dating myself, but back in the old days 'close' was the Eagle landing on the moon and not Mars.
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quote:Originally posted by justbaseball:quote:Originally posted by chefmike7777:
From a high school baseball community in SW Ohio area (for those of you not familiar with Ohio, Kent State is in NE Ohio). Kent State is the shiny star to be recruited at in Ohio. When as player is being "recruited" by Kent, it is a big topic. much more so, than any other College in Ohio. It has been that way for several years.
I see you are from the Dayton area. I grew up north of Cincinnati and went to UC for undergrad. With UC's facilities, it is a real head scratcher as to why they cannot even break the top-100 RPI playing in the Big East. Kent State gives them hope...but I think some big changes need to happen at UC first.
I agree it is a head scratcher with UC. They seem to get good talent (although with a lot of depth in talent in Cincinnati/ Dayton area not much local). You are correct, the facilities are awesome, some of best 2014's summer team has played at (Dayton, Wright state, Wittenberg, Miami as well as UC so far this year). I don't know much about program specifically however. I do not see coaches watching summer tournaments like I see the afore mentioned colleges while at thier facilities. 2014 has been to 3 showcases, lots of other colleges attending, UC was not at any of these so not sure how they recruit versus other colleges.
Ohio State is making an effort to recruit more in state talent as well, They have verbals with #1,3, 10 prospects in 2014 class.
Wright State is doing well, great facilities. Miami and Dayton has a very nice facility, but very few seating (I would guess less than 150 seats). Wittenberg stadium is very nice, diamond itself is ok.