College Ball 2014

Traveled home and watched the boy pitch in two games, including a complete game.  It's a long haul from Asia but well worth it.  Hopefully I'll catch more games next year.  Good luck to all your boys, I really enjoy reading about the spirit of some of your sons.  They're just determined to play, period.

My son was the starting pitcher for the first game of spring break. Went 7 innings and now has 2 wins on the season.

Leaving for Arizona for a few days.  Son and team left today for a couple of weeks.  Looking forward to sunshine and a lot of baseball.

Freshman son D2 got his first start/appearance pitching down in Florida yesterday.  5 IP, 2 Runs, 4 hits, 5 K's.  They ended up losing in extra innings.  Wish I was there for him.  He said he felt good.  1st pitch strike right down the middle!  Very proud of him he has worked so hard like all of our posters kids.  Good Luck to everyone this year!

In the Midwest we're just delighted that we can see some peeks of grass. Freshman son leaves next Tuesday for the spring trip to Florida . . . he's so excited that he even texted us a picture of his locker today. He's ready.

Halfway through the schedule and the boy has thrown 42.1 IP, 4.25 ERA, and is 1-6. 

Jr had an interesting month/week/day. Team was ranked No.1 this week. He turned 21 and picked up his first win of the season on the same day coming out of the pen. 

 

Long story but he was the starting DH, broke his finger (glove hand) and went back to pitching only for now, found some unexpected velo and is now a late inning/closer from the pen. New experience and he is having fun with it. 

 

One of those "you never know" just keep working hard stories. 

 

We had a guy last year that was a position player his whole college career.  Halfway thru his senior season, they started to use him to close.  Scout showed up one game, clocked him at around 93-94 and he wound up getting drafted as a pitcher.  You just never know.

 

And congrats on the #1 ranking.  Must be exciting BOF.

Haven't posted about bballson much this season. Thought I'd give a quick update/comparison of where he stands compared to last year.

Last years line as of today - 15 IP, 33 hits, 26 runs, 20 ER, 8 BB, 11K, 12.00 ERA.
This year - 19.1 IP, 20 hits, 3 runs, 3 ER, 5 BB, 14 K, 1.4 ERA.

I'd like to say it's much easier on us this year than last, and in many ways it is. I still get nervous every time he goes out there on the bump. The life of a pitchers parent can be very cool, but very stressful as well.

Every outing hasn't been great, he still has some mechanical things he's working on, but he's limited the damage pretty effectively. I hope, knock on wood, that his good fortunes continue!!

Along the same lines as BOFs' son....sometimes you just have to go with the flow and play the hand that your dealt.  Congrats to BOF's son for having a great impact for his team.  

 

My oldest son was injured last year (junior year) after a very good soph year.  This year he's had to prove himself all over again.  There were 6 players for 4 starting pitcher spots.  Initially, he wasn't one of the four.   He's been coming out of the pen to get some innings under his belt and get some reps in a gametime situation.   Last week, he put some 0's on the board in a slugfest to get them back in the game.   This week, he's pencilled in to start a non-conferernce game this weekend.  He's slowly trying to make his way back to the starting rotation his senior year.  There are 6-7 weeks + any post season play left in his baseball career.  He's going to give it everything he's got because he's got nothing to lose.

I really enjoy the stories of players like BOF's son who keep working, overcome adversity, find new ways to add value to their team, and take advantage of the opportunities they create for themselves.  Great stuff, BOF!  

BOF that's fantastic!

bballman Great turnaround. May it continue.

Fenway-It aint over till its over, all the best to him!

Just got back from spending the weekend with our son. He and the team had a pretty good weekend.  Lost the 1st game of a doubleheader 5-2 - mostly due to uncharacteristic fielding errors, but rebounded in the 2nd game to win 12-3.  Then they won today's rubber game 9-5 (stopped after 6 1/2 innings due to steady rain and worsening field conditions (home plate and the mound were getting bad).

 

Son had a great weekend going 7-12 at the plate with 2 doubles, 4 RBI's and 3 runs scored.

 

Took him out for dinner Saturday night to celebrate his 20th birthday.  

 

All in all, a very good weekend. 

It was a rough Sunday afternoon for 247-son & his team, as they lost 9-1 at home, failing to complete the sweep.  He gave up 2 hits, 2 BB's, and 2 runs in 1/3 of an inning.  It didn't appear that he was comfortable on the bump today and his outing reflected that.  I can say that he was due to have a bad game, as those were the first two earned runs he's allowed after 8 appearances and 15 innings out of the pen.  He's had a pretty darn good start to his collegiate career following TJ Surgery. Hopefully he gets back on the horse with confidence his next opportunity.

Your boy has had a wonderful start to his college career. Rough outings are really just  opportunities to learn. Competing on the next level is tough, and the competition is always out there and scouting. He will work hard, learn, and adjust, just like he has to get back on the field. 

bsbl247 Like a hitter going into an unfortunate period a bad outing for a pitcher is bound to happen. He has had a wonderful start so I am sure he will go back out there next time and give hitters fits!

One so called bad outing in eight is nothing to worry about. He is having a great year. What I like about you as a Dad is that you post the good, the bad and the ugly. Most only post the good.

 

Well, I should have learned from past jinxes.  Bballson had gone 7 outings without allowing a run and had not allowed a run in conference play.  Then I posted last week about how he's doing and low and behold, he allowed his first conference run of the season.  Figures.  

 

His team did well.  Won their mid week game in which son pitched two scoreless, hitless innings.  Then swept a conference series over the weekend.  Bballson pitched two bridge innings giving up one hit and one run.  Fortunately, it didn't hurt the team.  In his 2nd inning of relief, he gave up a well placed double down the opposite field line.  Then a ground out moved him over one base and a sac fly scored him, followed by a strike out.  Not the worst thing in the world, but I'm mad at myself for putting the old jinx on him.  

 

Last week his team moved into the D2 top 25 for the 1st time since 2012.  With the sweep for the week, they have moved up to #19 in most polls this week.  I really hope I'm not jinxing anything here, but it is pretty cool that they are having such a good run.  They have gone 21-3 in their last 24 games.  It's fun to watch.  Tough mid week game this week against a top 5 team, then an out of state conference series.  Keep your fingers crossed for them!!

Ohhh bballman, yeah.....as a pitcher's parent, I also believe there are "things we do not mention," primary of which are scoreless inning streaks.  The darn jinks!  I am guessing that was why bsbl247 wasn't posting about his son's scoreless streak to start the season, until after it was broken?  Chime in 24/7???

 

Our son, a Junior in college, had a pretty nice streak going as well this year - 17 1/3 innings, but I ended up mentioning the streak in an email to someone, I mean I did not even say it out loud, and someone promptly scored a run on him this weekend.  Granted, it was a top 20 team with a great hitting lineup, but I was reminded once again, we just can't mess with the karma.

 

Best of luck to your son, and let's all remember to keep our mouths zipped about those "things that must not be mentioned!!!"

Yeah, I should have known better.   I didn't even mention a streak, just a general comparison between last year and this year. It was enough to knock the kharma gods out of whack though. 

 

Mouth zipped is always the best option though. Gotta keep that in mind. 

Yep...you got that right, like2rake. 

Great to hear about all your boys, keep the posts coming!

How about my son's former teammates? Duke sweeps UNC this weekend! 

 

A big big deal for a program on the rise,

Yes it is Rob. That program is def on the rise.

Not much posting on this thread lately. Missing the stories. Hope I didn't chase everyone away with the talk of jinxs. 

bballman,

 

Great to hear that bballson is settling in and getting it done. Congrats! Are you able to get to many games? Sounds like they're playing some really good ball down there. Keep us posted!

Hey Tribe. Hope all is well and everything on track for GSU in the fall. Yes,we have been to a lot of games this spring. Usually try to go for the double headers on the weekends. Thought we had his spot in the relief rotation figured out for a while there, then it got changed up, so we're never sure when to go now. Haha. Lately there has been the possibility he pitches in two of the weekend games, so we've gotten to see him pitch fairly regularly. Heading down to Milledgeville this weekend to watch the whole series. We are 1/2 game behind the other team for the conference lead, so it should be exciting. Keep in touch. 

bballman - no jinx, just been a bit busy.

 

Since I last posted in this thread son's team has won 4 more games (non-conference) and now have a 22-8 overall record - 13-3 in the conference and in 1st place by 1/2 game.  Son is doing very well - batting .371 through 28 games with 12 doubles.  His doubles are good enough for 2nd leading among JuCo D2 teams nationwide.

 

Wife wanted to go this weekend, but I had to remind her that it is Opening Day for our daughter's LL team (Sr Softball).

... and now less than three weeks left in the regular season.  Wow, that went quick!

 

Thought I'd update on Cabbage's season for those who were kind enough to ask me to do so.  He got that inning and then some, making good on his opportunities.  Situational AB's, defensive sub chances and spot starts have evolved into more regular PT and he is making it hard for HC to take him back out of the lineup.  I attribute it all to HSBBW karma

 

We are most proud of his growth outside of the lines.  I posted about that a few weeks ago..  "22 At Bats".

https://community.hsbaseballweb.com/topic/22-ab-s

 

 

...but back to the field.. 

some interesting developments during the season -

 

Opportunities for non-starters can come from others' injuries, performance dips, and the team dropping from playoff contention, among other things.  As much as he wanted opportunity, he did not want any of these other things to happen.  Not only did injury and performance dip occur but it happened to his two best friends on the team.  Bittersweet, to say the least - take your best friend's spot.  Fortunately, the team is still clinging to playoff hopes but barely. As one of the only underclassmen, he knows that if they fall out of contention, he will likely pick up even more PT finishing the year.  He hates to lose and is good about team-first.  Again, bittersweet.

 

Size continues to be a topic here on HSBBW.  His team has a 5 8 club (5'8" and under), of which he is a member and there are five.  All five are contributing quite nicely to the success of the team.  Four position players are hitting a collective .370 with about a .460 OBP and the P has an ERA of 2.65.  This is in a very competitive Southern Calif. JC Conference with four teams that have been ranked this year, including his.

 

Old Dog, New Tricks - Cabbage used to salivate on first-pitch fastballs in HS until his senior year, when he was pitched backwards constantly.  He learned real plate discipline that year.  College HC recognized this and requires him to take until he gets a strike.  I don't like the approach.  His OBP is through the roof.  What do I know?

 

Appreciation - Although much has transpired since the start of the season, neither he nor we have forgotten that it was just a year ago that he sat with a cast on and several pins in his wrist, thinking he would likely never be able to hit again.  Every moment on the field or in the dugout is truly special and to be celebrated.

 

Continued best wishes to y'all and keep the stories of the season comin'!

Great post Cabbage. Sounds like your son is on the right path!!

Bballson played last night. We were playing for the lead in the conference. He comes in in the 7th with a 4-2 lead. 1st pitch - Bomb - his first given up this season. Proceeds to give up 2 more, 1 earned (me and everyone else there thought both the other 2 were unearned, but...). Gave up a double, then a 2 out chopper infield single with an overthrow to 1st that scores a run and a misplayed bloop single for the other run. Teams down 5-4. But we come back in the top of the 8th to take the lead for good and we won 8-7. Bballson gets the backhanded win and team takes the lead in the conference. Two more big games against same team today. This is some exciting baseball. Just glad to be here and watching it!!!

Thanks bballman.  Great to hear bballson is in a such a great spot... playing for conference lead, ranked team and coming out on top even when he has a rare rough outing!  Very cool.

Cabbagedad,

 

Thanks for the update!  As the parent of a player who is working his way back from a serious injury, I enjoy reading about how your son beat the odds and earned playing time on his college team.  As the parent of a player who is 5'8 (and a half) I enjoy reading about how your son overcame the "size bias" that seems to be the norm in college baseball and earned playing time.  Most of all though, I enjoyed reading your post "22 college at bats" because as the parent of a soon to be college freshman, I hope that my son's freshman year in college will be a time of transformation from being a great kid who happens to love baseball, to a great man ready for independant adult life (and some playing time on his college team would also be nice!) 

Hey CD,

 

Funny that you posted that update. I had just checked last week and saw he was hitting a hair under .300 but want to say anything, jinx! Then I read your update and check his stats and now he's a hair under .350. CONGRATS!

 I hope you and the wife are getting to some games. 

Ive been lucky enough to get to 23 games so far and loving every minute. I can't believe how quickly it has gone. Down to the final 23 and I hope to get to all but 4 of those. A lot of miles, flexible work scheduling and longer hours some days, but well worth it.

Continued success to Alex!

Hi 2014.  I hope I didn't give the impression that the process of transformation to a man ready for independent life is anywhere near completion and hasn't come with many hilarious mis-steps

Sent you a return PM.

Thanks Picked Off... Looks like Dillon is definitely making the most of his opportunities as well!  Still hoping to make a Bulldog game and will look you up if I can.  That's awesome that you are able to make so many games.  My wife and I have one more trip planned before the season winds down.

I have never done this before but since many of you have met my son at HeadFirst Showcases (he works the LI sessions), you will be happy to know that Matt was named to the National Team of the Week today (a first in his school's history).  In 4 appearances last week he had 2 wins and a save, yielding only two hits and no runs over 13 innings.  Pretty good week.  He had a string of 20 innings without a run broken today - a school record (he's on pace to break a few others).  Said he's glad the streak is over.  It's his senior year and its finally all coming together.  What a struggle he's been through to get here!

Awesome news!!!  Congratulations!!

A few weeks ago my son caught the flu but because they had an important conference three game series against a ranked opponent, he played with a 102 temperature and after puking during warmups, fighting dry heaves throughout the doubleheader. He made two great diving catches but didn't do too much with the bat as he said it seemed like it weighed a ton. After the game the team doctor had to give him two bags of IV fluid. This kind of all led to a 2 for 17 streak over five games in six days. This past week his strength was back as he just finished going 16 for 20 at one point, the greatest sustained short streak of hitting he has ever had and was named Gulf South Conference Player of the Week!

leftyss - congrats on son's accomplishments and accolades!  I gotta say, though, 4 appearances and 13 innings in a week made me do a double-take.  Hopefully those were REALLY efficient innings and he can stay healthy.

Don't know which part I like better... refusing to come off the field for a big series or the amazing subsequent streak.  Awesome!