Yes, I've neglected my blog severely. I was still recovering from Inception. I've actually had this entry sitting on my laptop for the last three days, begging to be finished. "But no," I said. "My mind has be turned to mush, and it must have time to reorganize." So here we are.
So, the Ladies missed the conference tournament for the first time in five years in 2009. What went wrong? Well, the obvious answer is "they didn't score enough goals," burying just 16 shots in 18 contests, but it's hard to score when you can't control the ball. It's a real shame they didn't make the tournament, because Megan Masch was having a spectacular year. The Lady Bucs gave up 346 shots to 162, and Megan Masch kept an .801 save percentage, third in the Atlantic Sun. She posted three clean sheets and gave that team a chance to win every time they suited up.
The key this year for the ladies will be controlling the ball, moving methodically down the field, and generating and capitalizing on set piece opportunities (something they didn't do much of last year). A major blow was struck to the offense with the departure of the team's only all-conference player, Jordan Monty, but it's not a void that can't be filled. Henson has plenty of veteran forwards to work with; Terri Miller and Rachel Van Horn will both be seniors, and Van Horn's height (5'11", tallest outfield player on the team by far) makes her an ideal target in the box. Sophomore Tori Head is also in the mix up front, but with so many other young forwards (Henson brought in four this spring), Head might drop back into the midfield to give Van Horn and Miller someone to get them the ball off the wing. Or, even better, Henson could stick with a Christmas Tree, with Miller at the head and Van Horn and Head as secondary attackers. That should go a long way to preventing scoring chances, and hopefully they can win games with fewer goals. It’s tough to say, though, because the Ladies have a good mix in the midfield as things stand.
With Brinkman in the middle and Petersen holding down one of the flanks, there’s margin for error. Not much, mind you, but some. Jessica Huntington or Morgan Jutras should get every opportunity to crack the starting XI in her senior year, which should round out the midfield nicely in theory, but seniors can falter just as much as they succeed (*coughJocolbyDaviscough*). The Ladies have a perfect developmental situation in the midfield as well, with four freshmen and two sophomores all looking to establish themselves behind this year’s senior class. Musacchio is very likely to see her role expanded, but a lot really depends on how the freshmen play in the early fixtures. Some of them, however, will likely have to slide back into defense.
There’s a legitimate reason for that: Henson has just five natural defenders this year, and that’s counting the return of Jen Altimier for her senior season, which gives the back line a huge boost if she’s healthy. Alex Meehan is also a senior, and Jessica Hiltenbrand is coming off a sophomore campaign in which she started every contest (as did Meehan). Incoming freshman Samantha Kron got a glowing review from Henson and will likely be the first choice for the flank opposite Hiltenbrand. Or Henson could just pull four names out of a hat the night before each match. It would probably be just as easy, since the defense’s main responsibility will be throwing bodies in front of shots (NOT an alcohol joke).
In the end, the season will ride on Masch and the midfield’s ability to control the ball. Forwards can finish, and defenders can defend, but a strong midfield and a very good goalkeeper are at the heart of every successful footy side. One out of two is not bad, but it won’t cut it if the Ladies want to get back into the thick of the A-Sun table.
Oh, and Inception is a really, really good movie. Go see it, or Leo will send Jackie Earle Haley to haunt your dreams.
(Yes, the conference preview is coming. It's not like anyone reads this anyway.)
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
2010 Season in Preview: Buccaneers FC
(First, assuming someone actually reads this drivel, an apology for the tardiness in getting this thing up: the inside of my laptop monitor is completely wrecked, and kept me away from a computer for the last three days.)
There is a
sense of anticipation of something very special in the offing this season for Bucs FC. After a resounding victory over Lipscomb (which featured the most baffling own goal I have ever seen), Scott Calabrese's side ran into the team's first real nemesis in its brief existence, the Stetson Hatters, in the semi-finals of the conference tournament. Now, loaded up on fresh faces and with some strong returning talent, Calabrese (left) and assistant Ian Luya have their best chance yet to bring a championship to the young program. We'll take a look at departing and incoming players, as well as the rest of the conference and how everything will fit together.
It's always tough to lose players before they graduate. Sadly, in lower-level conferences like the Atlantic Sun, this is a reality that must be dealt with (see Johneshia Good with the Lady Bucs in April). There are several players that Scott Calabrese depended on that will be gone this season. Here's the rundown of outgoing outfielders:
Kyle Franklin, Midfield
Tyler Hoek, Midfield
Tony Nunes, Midfield
Andrew Brown, Midfield
Mohsen Pourmorteza, Midfield/Defense
Nathaniel McElroy, Midfield/Defender
Conrad McCue, Defender
Tim Nixon, Midfield
Of this group, only Franklin and Hoek exhausted their eligibility. There were a lot of rumblings that several of the players had lost their scholarships and would be moving to a more affordable institution. Pourmorteza was supposedly going to Med School, but again, I have no definitive answers. I wish I did, because I'd really like to know what happened to these guys.
The big problem here is the loss of three regular players from the end of the season. Nunes, Brown, and Pourmorteza were in the starting XI that beat Lipscomb in the first round of the conference tourney. Pourmorteza finally seemed to find a home for himself at right back, and Brown was a huge asset on the wings who had worn the armband on more than one occasion. Nunes was essentially omni-gel, playing just about anywhere he was needed and doing a solid job in all respects.
The biggest loss for the team this year, however, is the one I didn't list: Scott Rosman, who was clear and away the best goalkeeper in the Atlantic Sun last year. It doesn't take long to see just how the numbers lean towards Rosman as a key part of the team, when you consider that the club had as many wins as he did clean sheets (though those numbers don't necessarily line up) and scored just 22 goals over 17 games (1.29 goals per contest, which isn't that great). When you consider how hard it is to come by good goalkeeping in the States (MLS keepers are by and large as effective as a piece of soggy cardboard), the Buccaneers can't expect James Holt to bail them out on a regular basis this season, especially after watching him in the spring games, where he didn't inspire much confidence (although he would make a great Aussie Rules player, probably a central forward, with the way he can launch the ball off his foot).
That's not to say there's no good news for the team. Based on what
I've said, one might get a feeling of gloom and doom about the team, but the returning group is still excellent. Guilherme Reis (right) will be one of, if not the best center back in the league by default. The fiery Brazilian, who has played every single minute for the Bradenton Academics in the Premier Development League this summer, will also likely be sporting the arm band as the team's only senior. He'll team up with Texan junior Jaron Westbrook to form a very solid tandem in the middle of the field. Matt Reed is a lock for the left back slot and will look to play forward quite a bit to help the attack.
Where things get tricky is on the right side. It would seem like Blake Pelton's spot to lose at first glance because of the size he adds in the backfield, but his lack of comfort with the ball may relegate him to role player status, with Calabrese putting him on to contain bigger forwards. Incoming freshman Henry Klein will likely have his best chance to get playing time at this sore spot in ETSU's lineup, but he could also move into another area of concern: the midfield.
Let's get the obvious out of the way: Sean Hoek will play. He'll play a lot. I suspect he'll be used as much as Calabrese can use him before his legs fall off. He's going to have to be the conduit between defense and offense for this team to be successful. Alongside him, Alesi Osorio will be looking to build off a strong freshman campaign, and if his past work ethic is any indication, he could be in for a breakout year.
On the flanks, things once again get tricky for ETSU. They have Mohammed Bowers coming back from a redshirt (he'll be a freshman), and he had a strong showing in the spring. Blake (or is it actually Blaike?) Woodruff was an ESPN RISE winter all-star in Texas. Mario Samperio is getting sparing playing time with Bradenton, and is more of a central player, but don't count him out just yet. Ultimately, I think Woodruff wins out on the right side, and Calabrese will put Theo Yang on the left.
No, I'm not out of my mind. Yang is suited for the wing because of his speed and ability to service great balls (I dare you to read that with a straight face). My reasoning for doing this can be summed up in two words: Itode Fubara.
Okay, so maybe those aren't actually words. But they are a name for a new footballer in the ETSU ranks up front. Fubara, while a very raw player, has a tremendous amount of skill with the ball at his feet. As he gets used to the more physical North American style of play, he'll become an integral part of the squad and should score quite a few very nice goals when paired with Aaron Schoenfeld. I had the pleasure of watching "Fuby" play this past spring, and if that's him when he's out of shape (most of the players were), then I can't wait to see him when he's on his game.
Also up front is another freshman to watch: local product David Geno. DG finished his career at Dobyns-Bennett with 101 goals in just over three seasons, making him the most prolific scorer in the school's history. He has good speed and a nose for the net, which can take you very, very far at this level.
And at last, we've come back around to goaltending. With the loss of Rosman, there are big shoes to fill between the pipes. Is 6'4" James Holt the man to fill them? Tough to say, really. If his play in limited time with the atrocious Nashville Metros is any indication, I see no reason why not. He has conceded three goals in two matches despite facing 34 total shots in 180 minutes (28 of which were on goal). The Metros, by the way, have conceded 26 goals total in 12 matches, and are an embarrassing 1-9-2. But at least they aren't last, right?
Also keeping the cage clean will be Steven Matlock. At 5'10", Matlock may not seem like the ideal keeper in an era when the likes of Petr Cech and Gigi Buffon are the most successful around, and, well, it's not. Matlock does have quite a bit of untapped potential as a keeper, but may be better suited to moving to the outfield to continue his career. Things are further complicated by the arrival of Ronnie Hreha from Lees-McRae College, where he lost out on the starting gig to Sean Paradise, who helped the team to a 17-3 record. I will avoid making any jokes about a name that sounds like it belongs to a public fornicator, mainly because they should make themselves.
So, what we're looking at, boys and girls, is a team assembled like this:
And for the reserves:
So what can that lineup do that makes it so special? It can score goals by the bucket load. Five of those starters (Schoenfeld, Fubara, Yang, Hoek, and Osorio) could account for as many goals among themselves as the whole team produced last year. They'll have to, because as big and athletic as Holt is, they can't depend on him to bail them out when they make a mistake up the field. If they can get 20-25 goals from those five guys, and five or six goals from the rest of the team, they're one of the best offensive sides in the conference, if not the best. They should play fluid, attractive football with lots of fancy footwork, but don't forget that this is an American side, and a lower-level side at that, so they won't forget their gritty roots.
Ultimately, I expect this team to get to the final of the conference tournament, even with the players the squad lost over the summer. Maybe those expectations are a bit high, but a team that wasn't nearly as good as this one is offensively blew out Florida Gulf Coast, the best defensive team in the conference last year. I have absolute faith in Scott Calabrese and Ian Luya to make this into a team that can contend for the school's first College Cup appearance in 2010. Who knows, a berth in the big dance might convince Stanton and Mullins to get Buc Brass out to Summers-Taylor?
On second thought, maybe that's a bad idea...
That's it for this time. On Monday, we'll have a look at the ladies, and, if you're on your best behavior, a look at the Atlantic Sun in men's soccer, as well.
There is a
sense of anticipation of something very special in the offing this season for Bucs FC. After a resounding victory over Lipscomb (which featured the most baffling own goal I have ever seen), Scott Calabrese's side ran into the team's first real nemesis in its brief existence, the Stetson Hatters, in the semi-finals of the conference tournament. Now, loaded up on fresh faces and with some strong returning talent, Calabrese (left) and assistant Ian Luya have their best chance yet to bring a championship to the young program. We'll take a look at departing and incoming players, as well as the rest of the conference and how everything will fit together.It's always tough to lose players before they graduate. Sadly, in lower-level conferences like the Atlantic Sun, this is a reality that must be dealt with (see Johneshia Good with the Lady Bucs in April). There are several players that Scott Calabrese depended on that will be gone this season. Here's the rundown of outgoing outfielders:
Kyle Franklin, Midfield
Tyler Hoek, Midfield
Tony Nunes, Midfield
Andrew Brown, Midfield
Mohsen Pourmorteza, Midfield/Defense
Nathaniel McElroy, Midfield/Defender
Conrad McCue, Defender
Tim Nixon, Midfield
Of this group, only Franklin and Hoek exhausted their eligibility. There were a lot of rumblings that several of the players had lost their scholarships and would be moving to a more affordable institution. Pourmorteza was supposedly going to Med School, but again, I have no definitive answers. I wish I did, because I'd really like to know what happened to these guys.
The big problem here is the loss of three regular players from the end of the season. Nunes, Brown, and Pourmorteza were in the starting XI that beat Lipscomb in the first round of the conference tourney. Pourmorteza finally seemed to find a home for himself at right back, and Brown was a huge asset on the wings who had worn the armband on more than one occasion. Nunes was essentially omni-gel, playing just about anywhere he was needed and doing a solid job in all respects.
The biggest loss for the team this year, however, is the one I didn't list: Scott Rosman, who was clear and away the best goalkeeper in the Atlantic Sun last year. It doesn't take long to see just how the numbers lean towards Rosman as a key part of the team, when you consider that the club had as many wins as he did clean sheets (though those numbers don't necessarily line up) and scored just 22 goals over 17 games (1.29 goals per contest, which isn't that great). When you consider how hard it is to come by good goalkeeping in the States (MLS keepers are by and large as effective as a piece of soggy cardboard), the Buccaneers can't expect James Holt to bail them out on a regular basis this season, especially after watching him in the spring games, where he didn't inspire much confidence (although he would make a great Aussie Rules player, probably a central forward, with the way he can launch the ball off his foot).
That's not to say there's no good news for the team. Based on what
I've said, one might get a feeling of gloom and doom about the team, but the returning group is still excellent. Guilherme Reis (right) will be one of, if not the best center back in the league by default. The fiery Brazilian, who has played every single minute for the Bradenton Academics in the Premier Development League this summer, will also likely be sporting the arm band as the team's only senior. He'll team up with Texan junior Jaron Westbrook to form a very solid tandem in the middle of the field. Matt Reed is a lock for the left back slot and will look to play forward quite a bit to help the attack.Where things get tricky is on the right side. It would seem like Blake Pelton's spot to lose at first glance because of the size he adds in the backfield, but his lack of comfort with the ball may relegate him to role player status, with Calabrese putting him on to contain bigger forwards. Incoming freshman Henry Klein will likely have his best chance to get playing time at this sore spot in ETSU's lineup, but he could also move into another area of concern: the midfield.
Let's get the obvious out of the way: Sean Hoek will play. He'll play a lot. I suspect he'll be used as much as Calabrese can use him before his legs fall off. He's going to have to be the conduit between defense and offense for this team to be successful. Alongside him, Alesi Osorio will be looking to build off a strong freshman campaign, and if his past work ethic is any indication, he could be in for a breakout year.
On the flanks, things once again get tricky for ETSU. They have Mohammed Bowers coming back from a redshirt (he'll be a freshman), and he had a strong showing in the spring. Blake (or is it actually Blaike?) Woodruff was an ESPN RISE winter all-star in Texas. Mario Samperio is getting sparing playing time with Bradenton, and is more of a central player, but don't count him out just yet. Ultimately, I think Woodruff wins out on the right side, and Calabrese will put Theo Yang on the left.
No, I'm not out of my mind. Yang is suited for the wing because of his speed and ability to service great balls (I dare you to read that with a straight face). My reasoning for doing this can be summed up in two words: Itode Fubara.
Okay, so maybe those aren't actually words. But they are a name for a new footballer in the ETSU ranks up front. Fubara, while a very raw player, has a tremendous amount of skill with the ball at his feet. As he gets used to the more physical North American style of play, he'll become an integral part of the squad and should score quite a few very nice goals when paired with Aaron Schoenfeld. I had the pleasure of watching "Fuby" play this past spring, and if that's him when he's out of shape (most of the players were), then I can't wait to see him when he's on his game.
Also up front is another freshman to watch: local product David Geno. DG finished his career at Dobyns-Bennett with 101 goals in just over three seasons, making him the most prolific scorer in the school's history. He has good speed and a nose for the net, which can take you very, very far at this level.
And at last, we've come back around to goaltending. With the loss of Rosman, there are big shoes to fill between the pipes. Is 6'4" James Holt the man to fill them? Tough to say, really. If his play in limited time with the atrocious Nashville Metros is any indication, I see no reason why not. He has conceded three goals in two matches despite facing 34 total shots in 180 minutes (28 of which were on goal). The Metros, by the way, have conceded 26 goals total in 12 matches, and are an embarrassing 1-9-2. But at least they aren't last, right?
Also keeping the cage clean will be Steven Matlock. At 5'10", Matlock may not seem like the ideal keeper in an era when the likes of Petr Cech and Gigi Buffon are the most successful around, and, well, it's not. Matlock does have quite a bit of untapped potential as a keeper, but may be better suited to moving to the outfield to continue his career. Things are further complicated by the arrival of Ronnie Hreha from Lees-McRae College, where he lost out on the starting gig to Sean Paradise, who helped the team to a 17-3 record. I will avoid making any jokes about a name that sounds like it belongs to a public fornicator, mainly because they should make themselves.
So, what we're looking at, boys and girls, is a team assembled like this:
Schoenfeld-Fubara
Yang-Hoek-Osorio-Woodruff/Pugh/Bowers
Reed-Reis-Westbrook-Pelton/Klein
Holt
Yang-Hoek-Osorio-Woodruff/Pugh/Bowers
Reed-Reis-Westbrook-Pelton/Klein
Holt
And for the reserves:
Purcell-Geno
Campbell-Samperio-Haba-Woodruff/Pugh/Bowers
Hodges-Dykes-???-Pelton/Klein
Hreha/Matlock
Campbell-Samperio-Haba-Woodruff/Pugh/Bowers
Hodges-Dykes-???-Pelton/Klein
Hreha/Matlock
So what can that lineup do that makes it so special? It can score goals by the bucket load. Five of those starters (Schoenfeld, Fubara, Yang, Hoek, and Osorio) could account for as many goals among themselves as the whole team produced last year. They'll have to, because as big and athletic as Holt is, they can't depend on him to bail them out when they make a mistake up the field. If they can get 20-25 goals from those five guys, and five or six goals from the rest of the team, they're one of the best offensive sides in the conference, if not the best. They should play fluid, attractive football with lots of fancy footwork, but don't forget that this is an American side, and a lower-level side at that, so they won't forget their gritty roots.
Ultimately, I expect this team to get to the final of the conference tournament, even with the players the squad lost over the summer. Maybe those expectations are a bit high, but a team that wasn't nearly as good as this one is offensively blew out Florida Gulf Coast, the best defensive team in the conference last year. I have absolute faith in Scott Calabrese and Ian Luya to make this into a team that can contend for the school's first College Cup appearance in 2010. Who knows, a berth in the big dance might convince Stanton and Mullins to get Buc Brass out to Summers-Taylor?
On second thought, maybe that's a bad idea...
That's it for this time. On Monday, we'll have a look at the ladies, and, if you're on your best behavior, a look at the Atlantic Sun in men's soccer, as well.
Monday, July 12, 2010
A Midsummer Classic That Means Something?
I woke up about 90 minutes before the start of the Spain-Netherlands game on Sunday (which was not a very interesting match of soccer, if you missed it – and yes, soccer can be interesting), but as it turns out, that was just in time to catch the TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby on CBS before the World Cup Final started. In the past, I've been skeptical about the appeal and validity of the continuation of the Home Run Derby at the Major League level, as well as the All-Star Game in itself (especially since it is still being used in the Hall of Fame selection process). For this, however, my interest was piqued. It was the final collegiate event to take place at Rosenblatt Stadium. It's an opportunity for the top power hitters in the nation to show off their wares (which is something that MLB teams will no doubt covet in coming drafts with the revival of quality pitching and mandatory drug testing). Not to mention that home runs are one of the most exciting parts of the sport.
The lineup was full of collegiate offensive studs, including the national leader in dingers, Fresno State’s Jordan Ribera, and his closest competition, Siena’s Dan Paolini. The list also included sophomore Matt Skole of Georgia Tech, nephew of our beloved (or maligned, depending on how you view his approach to small ball) skipper, Tony Skole.
A late invite to the competition was ETSU’s first baseman, Paul Hoilman. Hoilman may have caught a break in preparation, though, when Rosenblatt got absolutely poured on the afternoon of the competition. It would certainly seem that way, because Hoilman won the CHRD by a landslide.
Touch ‘Em All Paul got a rare opportunity to go yard at Rosenblatt Stadium before it’s demolished to make room for some penguins that no one in baseball really cares too much about, and he absolutely made the most of it. Hoilman went yard a dozen times in the final round, while Skole hit only one and Mr. Ribera went o’fer in the final round.
Even though the relevance of the home run derby in general has fallen into question, this was actually quite an impressive exhibition of power hitting. Well, on paper, anyway. Likely because of the rain, most of the hitters didn’t perform well at all. Only Hoilman, Skole, and Ribera went yard three or more times during the competition.
Omaha.com reported that Hoilman’s first hit ball was a line drive down the left field line that hit a kid shagging balls square in the mouth. The kid lost a couple of teeth, and Hoilman put the competition on hold and went down to check on the kid personally, which, to me, shows a lot of class.
What really got me excited, though, was how the commentators were absolutely gushing over Hoilman. They invited Andre Dawson to the booth and he had a good bit of praise for Paul, and by all indications, he’s returning for his senior season to keep his options for future employment open.
Paul is playing for the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape Cod League this summer. Through 22 contests, Hoilman is hitting a less-than-stellar .232 and has struck out 25 times, but also has seven doubles, a pair of home runs (the league leaders are tied at three) and has been walked thirteen times, one of the highest totals in the Cape Cod League.
Alumni Tracker time! Believe it or not, the Buccaneers have more than one alumnus to track in baseball. Chas Byrne turned pro after getting the call in the 16th round by Kansas City this year, and has been flat-out dominant with the nearby Burlington Royals. In thirteen full innings of work over six games, Byrne has allowed just six hits and one run, striking out sixteen batters while walking just two. He has a team-best WHIP of 0.62 and an equally impressive 0.69 ERA, as well as a pair of saves.
Honestly, this surprised me quite a bit. The move to the bullpen seems to have done him more than a little good, but I never would have expected such a drastic improvement. It could also be indicative of just how bad ETSU’s defense was last season, or the level of competition, but any way you slice it, it’s good to see Byrne putting on a strong performance in Burlington. If you live out that way, you may want to go see them play: you may not get many more chances to watch Byrne live.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Hall (2006) has clawed his way up another rung of the developmental ladder this season to AA, but he may be stuck with the Montgomery Biscuits for a while. With the Marlins’ AA affiliate, Hall has posted a 4-5 record, 3.35 ERA, 33 walks and 58 strikeouts in 94 full innings of work. Not bad, but a far cry from his stellar performance in A-advanced last season. At 26, he still has a little time, but it’s hard to see him doing much beyond the AA level.
In golf alumni news, Rhys Davies carded a three-over 74 to finish in a five-way tie for 21st place with a one-over 285. Davies earned USD $51,617 for his performance. Edoardo Molinari won the competition at twelve under par.
That’s all for Monday’s edition. On Friday, we’ll take a look at Scott Calabrese and Buccaneers FC!
The lineup was full of collegiate offensive studs, including the national leader in dingers, Fresno State’s Jordan Ribera, and his closest competition, Siena’s Dan Paolini. The list also included sophomore Matt Skole of Georgia Tech, nephew of our beloved (or maligned, depending on how you view his approach to small ball) skipper, Tony Skole.
A late invite to the competition was ETSU’s first baseman, Paul Hoilman. Hoilman may have caught a break in preparation, though, when Rosenblatt got absolutely poured on the afternoon of the competition. It would certainly seem that way, because Hoilman won the CHRD by a landslide.
Touch ‘Em All Paul got a rare opportunity to go yard at Rosenblatt Stadium before it’s demolished to make room for some penguins that no one in baseball really cares too much about, and he absolutely made the most of it. Hoilman went yard a dozen times in the final round, while Skole hit only one and Mr. Ribera went o’fer in the final round.
Even though the relevance of the home run derby in general has fallen into question, this was actually quite an impressive exhibition of power hitting. Well, on paper, anyway. Likely because of the rain, most of the hitters didn’t perform well at all. Only Hoilman, Skole, and Ribera went yard three or more times during the competition.
Omaha.com reported that Hoilman’s first hit ball was a line drive down the left field line that hit a kid shagging balls square in the mouth. The kid lost a couple of teeth, and Hoilman put the competition on hold and went down to check on the kid personally, which, to me, shows a lot of class.
What really got me excited, though, was how the commentators were absolutely gushing over Hoilman. They invited Andre Dawson to the booth and he had a good bit of praise for Paul, and by all indications, he’s returning for his senior season to keep his options for future employment open.
Paul is playing for the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape Cod League this summer. Through 22 contests, Hoilman is hitting a less-than-stellar .232 and has struck out 25 times, but also has seven doubles, a pair of home runs (the league leaders are tied at three) and has been walked thirteen times, one of the highest totals in the Cape Cod League.
Alumni Tracker time! Believe it or not, the Buccaneers have more than one alumnus to track in baseball. Chas Byrne turned pro after getting the call in the 16th round by Kansas City this year, and has been flat-out dominant with the nearby Burlington Royals. In thirteen full innings of work over six games, Byrne has allowed just six hits and one run, striking out sixteen batters while walking just two. He has a team-best WHIP of 0.62 and an equally impressive 0.69 ERA, as well as a pair of saves.
Honestly, this surprised me quite a bit. The move to the bullpen seems to have done him more than a little good, but I never would have expected such a drastic improvement. It could also be indicative of just how bad ETSU’s defense was last season, or the level of competition, but any way you slice it, it’s good to see Byrne putting on a strong performance in Burlington. If you live out that way, you may want to go see them play: you may not get many more chances to watch Byrne live.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Hall (2006) has clawed his way up another rung of the developmental ladder this season to AA, but he may be stuck with the Montgomery Biscuits for a while. With the Marlins’ AA affiliate, Hall has posted a 4-5 record, 3.35 ERA, 33 walks and 58 strikeouts in 94 full innings of work. Not bad, but a far cry from his stellar performance in A-advanced last season. At 26, he still has a little time, but it’s hard to see him doing much beyond the AA level.
In golf alumni news, Rhys Davies carded a three-over 74 to finish in a five-way tie for 21st place with a one-over 285. Davies earned USD $51,617 for his performance. Edoardo Molinari won the competition at twelve under par.
That’s all for Monday’s edition. On Friday, we’ll take a look at Scott Calabrese and Buccaneers FC!
Congratulations, Reg. It's a... Blog.
... and much like the squid which this blog replaces in that reference, you'll think it's cute until it spits up all over your brand new suit. Poor Will Smith.
So yes, this is a blog. It's a blog about the ETSU Buccaneers. We - or rather, I - will be covering every team sport the Bucs have to offer: men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, baseball, softball, and volleyball. Who knows, I might squeeze some tennis and golf coverage in as well.
What I'm shooting for here is a semi-weekly blog (more frequently once the seasons start up) that disseminates information about the various programs along with the Colbert journalism that won't be found in ETSU press releases, and that modern Internet users have come to expect from these sorts of operations. As the blog evolves, my tools will hopefully evolve as well, and we can have some real high-quality stuff. And if this gets enough attention, I might even end up on SB Nation. How awesome would that be?
Expect the first blog tomorrow afternoon sometime!
So yes, this is a blog. It's a blog about the ETSU Buccaneers. We - or rather, I - will be covering every team sport the Bucs have to offer: men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, baseball, softball, and volleyball. Who knows, I might squeeze some tennis and golf coverage in as well.
What I'm shooting for here is a semi-weekly blog (more frequently once the seasons start up) that disseminates information about the various programs along with the Colbert journalism that won't be found in ETSU press releases, and that modern Internet users have come to expect from these sorts of operations. As the blog evolves, my tools will hopefully evolve as well, and we can have some real high-quality stuff. And if this gets enough attention, I might even end up on SB Nation. How awesome would that be?
Expect the first blog tomorrow afternoon sometime!
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