Team USA takes Game 2 from Chinese Taipei

FROM USA BASEBALL RELEASE

BURLINGTON, NC— Roger Kieschnick (Texas Tech) hit his second home run of the series, the go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the ninth, to lead Team USA (7-1) to a 6-4 victory over Chinese Taipei (1-2) in the second game of the five-game series. Kieschnick finished with three RBIs, all coming in the last two innings.

Ryan Flaherty (Vanderbilt) had two RBI singles, while Jordan Danks (Texas) reached base safely three times, scoring three times on two walks and a single.

Chinese Taipei scored four runs in the eighth to tie the game at 4-4, after the Americans took a 4-0 lead in the top of the inning with three runs.

Closer Cody Satterwhite (Ole Miss) gave up a two-run, two-out double by Chuan Lin Yi to tie the game at 4-4. Back-to-back RBI doubles off of Josh Romanski (San Diego) cut the lead to 4-2. Satterwhite (1-0) ended up with the win, rebounding with a scoreless ninth.

Team USA finally solved reliever Wen Cheng Kai with three runs in the eighth to lead 4-0. Kai had retired the first six batters he faced, before giving up a leadoff walk to Jordan Danks (Texas). Danks came around to score for the second time in the game on a Kieschnick RBI single, before Flaherty followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0. A sacrifice fly by Justin Smoak (South Carolina) made it 4-0.

Jen Lo Chia pitched five strong innings for Chinese Taipei, allowing just one hit, but trailing 1-0. He walked three and struck out another three on 72 pitches. Jacob Thompson (Virginia) countered with six scoreless innings of two-hit ball. He struck out two and walked two, using just 79 pitches.

Flaherty drove in Danks in the third to give the Americans a 1-0 lead. Catcher Mu Chen Jui had two of the first three hits for CTBA. The second hit came in the eighth. CTBA finished with six hits.

TEAM NOTES
The Americans were the designated visitor after serving as the home team on Friday... the first half of the game saw a steady downpour of rain.... Team USA had a three-hit shutout last night and had 16 scoreless innings in the series until CTBA scored in the eighth... the game times tonight, Sunday and Monday (7 p.m. /12 p.m./10 a.m.) represent close to the same times the Americans will play at the Pan American Games next month (7 p.m. /11 a.m. /9 a.m.).

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The Chinese Taipei series will continue in Cary, NC at the National Training Complex (July 1-2) at noon on Sunday and 10 a.m. on Monday, before finishing off in Kannapolis, NC (July 3) at 7 p.m. The 10-game North Carolina home stand continues with Japan on July 4 to begin a five-game series.

Texas Tech to name a new coach??

Texas Tech has scheduled a news conference on Monday at 1 pm local time to make an important announcement about the baseball program. Oregon Live is reporting Dan Spencer who is the top assistant coach of the Oregon State program will make the move back to Lubbock to work with current head coach Larry Hays. This story will be followed closely by The College Baseball Blog as this could be great news for the Red Raiders program.

Oregon Live article
Double T Nation article

Blog Update

The College Baseball Blog has experienced great growth this season with over 15,000 visitors a month. We have added three additional writers with Djbfootball, Southern Miss Alum, and Wahoo Baseball joining the staff. All three writers cover their respective areas but we are always looking for some more writers especially on the West Coast to cover the PAC-10 and Big West conferences. We are also currently looking for someone to work on a new logo for the site which can be used to make some t-shirts and other merchandise for our loyal readers. Finally, We would love to have some more advertisers on the site but don't want to cover the entire site in ads so we are holding back from some opportunity but advertising the best available products on the Internet. If anyone is interested in anything or want to comment on the site feel free to e-mail us by clicking here.

Team USA takes Game 1 from Chinese Taipei

Team USA picked up a 7-0 victory over Chinese Taipei. The team was led again by Pedro Alvarez who went 3-3 with a walk, three doubles, and an RBI in the victory. The pitching staff for Team USA was outstanding again as Brian Matusz pitched four scoreless innings while allowing two hits and two walks while striking out seven batters.

Team USA Recap

Baseball America Predicts 2008 CWS Field

Baseball America published an interesting op-ed piece today, forecasting their predicted field for the 2008 College World Series. Obviously it's too soon to tell who will be a legitimate contender, with almost 2 months remaining before the August 15 deadline for MLB organizations to sign would-be college prospects, and injuries, weather and dozens of other factors looming on the horizon. But all the same, it's interesting to start thinking about it already as we watch the summer leagues take shape, and Aaron Fitt provides some interesting food for thought in the off-season. And no, as you near the end of the list, you'll discover that I am not unbiased in my evaluation of this article...

The lucky 8:

Arizona State
Miami

Baylor

Michigan

Missouri

UCLA

Vanderbilt

Virginia

Full Article

Wahoos in Summer Ball

Following a season that saw the University of Virginia Cavaliers host an NCAA Regional in Charlottesville, VA and finish 45-16, and saw a school-record six Wahoos drafted in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft, a number of Hoos are currently playing in summer collegiate wood bat leagues around the country.

Cape Cod League
David Adams (Falmouth Commodores)
Jeremy Farrell (Falmouth Commodores)
Jeff Lorick (Chatham A's)

Pat McAnaney (Orleans Cardinals)

Michael Schwimer (Orleans Cardinals)

New England Collegiate Baseball League

Tyler Cannon (Keene Swampbats)

Andrew Carraway (Newport Gulls)

Valley Baseball League

Patrick Wingfield (Winchester Royals)

New York Collegiate Baseball League

Brad Grove (Saratoga Phillies)

Corey Hunt (Saratoga Phillies)

Mark Riffee (Saratoga Phillies)

A number of Cavalier recruits are also playing in summer leagues:

Atlantic Baseball Confederation Collegiate League

Dan Grovatt (Protocall Starz)
Clark Griffith League

Jarrett Parker (Vienna Mustangs)

Chester County American Legion (PA)

Phil Gosselin (West Chester, PA)

LaSalle hires a new head coach

The LaSalle Explorers hired Mike Lake to head their baseball program. Lake is a 1982 graduate of the university and has spent the last four seasons as the top assistant coach to former head coach Lee Saverio who was let go earlier this season after a 17-32 season and an 8-19 record in the Atlantic-10.

LaSalle Release
A-10 Release

USA Baseball names National Team

FROM USA BASEBALL RELEASE

CARY, NC — USA Baseball announced its 22-man roster for the summer of 2007, featuring the best college freshmen and sophomores in the country. The team, which will play in the Pan American Games in Brazil in July and at the World Port Tournament in August, is highlighted by two-year veterans 3B Pedro Alvarez (Vanderbilt) and OF Roger Kieschnick, and newcomers 1B Justin Smoak (South Carolina), OF Jordan Danks (Texas), 1B Brett Wallace (Arizona State) and RHP Jacob Thompson (Virginia).

"After a successful first week, the team is really starting to come together. There is still a lot of work to do, but I think this group of guys can do it," said Manager Mike Weathers (Long Beach State). "I look forward to working with this group this summer."

Ryan Flaherty is batting a team-best .471 after finishing off his season at Vanderbilt with a 35-game hit streak. Smoak is batting .368 with a team-best three doubles, three homers, a 1.000 slugging percentage and team-leading eight RBIs. Logan Forsythe (Arkansas) leads the team with seven runs, while batting .313.

Team USA finished off its first week of the season in the North England Collegiate Baseball League, going 5-1. Seven pitchers did not allow an earned run, as the staff ERA is 1.62 after two shutouts and two one-run games.

The roster features six All-Americans in: Alvarez (a two-time first team selection), Smoak, Wallace, RHPs Thompson, Ryan Berry (Rice) and Brian Matusz (San Diego), and LHP Josh Romanski (San Diego). Berry was the 2007 National Freshman of the Year, while Wallace was the Pac-10 Player of the Year as a sophomore.

Three additions were also made to fill out the team of 22 in RHP Joe Kelly (UC Riverside), LHP Mike Minor (Vanderbilt) and OF/1B Jeremy Hamilton (Wright State).

Kelly was added to the 20-man roster after it was learned that USA veteran 2B Jemile Weeks (Miami) could not play due to injury. Kelly had a 2.08 ERA in two appearances after serving as the closer for the Big West Champion Highlanders during the season.

Minor and Hamilton were added to the 22-man roster, which will continue to play for the team, except in Brazil, when the roster is reduced to 20 players for the five-game tournament. This summer Minor did not allow a run in 4.0 innings of work, striking out a team-best seven, while Hamilton batted .308.

Roster available here

Five Cavaliers Earn VaSID Post-Season Honors

Five Cavaliers Named to 2007 VaSID All-State Baseball Team

Five Virginia baseball players have earned 2007 University Division All-State honors, as selected by the Virginia College Sports Information Directors (VaSID). Brian O'Connor was selected as Coach of the Year, Jacob Thompson (after an 11-0 season earning him a slot as a finalist for the Roger Clemens Award, with the winner to be announced July 11) was chosen as Pitcher of the Year, and shortstop Greg Miclat, OF and Chicago Cubs draftee Brandon Guyer and pitcher and Oakland Athletics first round sandwich pick LHP Sean Doolittle (pictured at left) garnering first-team all-state honors. Doolittle also earned second-team honors at 1B, and was joined on the second team by 2B David Adams.

The official press release can be found by clicking here.

2007 University Division VaSID All-State Team

First Team

1B Joe Mahoney, Richmond

2B Chris Fournier, George Mason

SS Sergio Miranda, VCU

3B Greg Sexton, William & Mary

OF Brandon Guyer, Virginia

OF Scott Krieger, George Mason

OF Kellen Kulbacki, James Madison

C Jason Bour, George Mason
DH Greg Miclat, Virginia

P Sean Doolittle, Virginia

P Anthony Shawler, Old Dominion

P Jacob Thompson, Virginia

Coach of the Year: Brian O'Connor, Virginia

Player of the Year: Kellen Kulbacki, James Madison

Pitcher of the Year: Jacob Thompson, Virginia

Rookie of the Year: Jason Bour, George Mason

Second Team

1B Sean Doolittle, Virginia

2B David Adams, Virginia

SS Davis Stoneburner, JMU

3B Alex Gregory, Radford

OF Robbie Bailey, Longwood

OF Garrett Young, Liberty

OF Mike Zahm, Old Dominion

C Tim Park, William & Mary

DH Tyler Childeress, Longwood

P Luke Foss, Norfolk State

P Dan Hudson, Old Dominion

P Luke Pisker, VCU

Wells goes back to Alabama

Jim Wells will return to the Alabama Baseball program as the head coach after about a week long retirement. He has led the Crimson Tide program to two SEC titles, six conference tournament championships, and been to the CWS on three occasions.

AP Article
Alabama Release

MSU's Easley wins Johnny Bench Award

WICHITA, KAN. — Edward Easley will fly to Arizona today.

He'll sign a contract, and when the ink dries, he will be a professional baseball player in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.

In case the former Mississippi State catcher needs any leverage for negotiating a signing bonus, he got it Wednesday when he won the Johnny Bench Award as the top catcher in college baseball.

"It is, for a fact, the most exciting news I've ever received in my life," said Easley, who helped lead MSU to the College World Series earlier this month. "Catching is what I love to do. It's what I love to do to help my team win. To be a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award is just a great honor, and to finally be picked is just a great honor."

Complete story

Serrano and Casey named Coaches of the Year

The Collegiate Baseball Newspaper has named Pat Casey as their Coach of the Year for the 2007 season. He led the Beavers to their second consecutive national championship after finishing the season below .500 in the Pac-10 conference.

Full Release from CBN

Dave Serrano of UC-Irvine was named the National Coach of the Year by Baseball America after leading the Anteaters to their first appearance in the College World Series. The Anteaters were the story in the College World Series as they won two extra innings games to advance to the final four before losing to Oregon State.

Baseball America Article

Making out the schedules

Scheduling big-name opponents has become a yearly struggle for the Southern Miss football program.

Then men's basketball team is beginning to have the same issues.

While both programs jump through hoops trying to secure home-and-home opportunities, the baseball program has done exactly that.

The Golden Eagles will travel to play a Cal State Fullerton for a three-game series beginning March 7, 2008, and the Titans will come to Pete Taylor Park in 2009.

Cal State Fullerton has 15 College World Series appearances and four national championships, including the 2004 title.

"In the last five years, we've enhanced our schedule and hopefully we can keep doing that," USM coach Corky Palmer said. "I'm just not big on the guarantee of going out somewhere, someone paying us a bunch of money and no return.

"We're fortunate in baseball, that you can do it. I know in other sports, people don't do it."

Complete story

Daniel Moskos Interview

I want to be a Sports Agent has an interview with Daniel Moskos of Clemson who was the number 4 overall pick in the 2007 MLB Draft. The College Baseball Blog saw Moskos in 2006 when he was closing for the Tigers and he impressed the staff mightily. The Full interview with Matt Vuckovich is available here.

Valley League Weekly Honors– June 26, 2007

FROM VALLEY LEAGUE PRESS RELEASE

Players of the Week

Kevin Dietrich (Monroe, N.C.), a senior outfielder for UNC-Pembroke and the New Market Rebels finished in the top-five in batting average (.429) and slugging percentage (.643). Dietrich led all players with 12 hits and six doubles while adding three RBIs and six runs in seven starts last week. This season Dietrich leads New Market with a .392 batting average, six doubles, one home run and has added seven RBIs in thirteen games.

Kurt Davidson (North Canton, Ohio), a junior from Akron, catches and plays the infield for the Waynesboro Generals. Last week, Davidson led the league in slugging (.714), total bases (20) and RBIs (11) while finishing third in doubles (4) and second in hits (11). Davidson helped lead the Generals to a 5-1 record overall as they sit just a game back of Harrisonburg in the Valley League. This season Davidson has started 19 games, hitting .307 with five doubles, one triple, two home runs and 21 RBIs.

Pitchers of the Week

Chad Sherman (Bullard, Texas), a freshman right handed pitcher from Panola J.C. threw a complete game shutout to lead Staunton on the mound. Sherman gave up three hits and struck out eight as the Braves shutout New Market 5-0 on Tuesday. Sherman needed just 90 pitches to get through the game and did not allow a runner to advance past second base. In the game Sherman faced just one batter above the minimum.

Ashur Tolliver (Sherwood, Ark.), a freshman from Arkansas-Little Rock went eight innings allowing just one run, on three hits and struck out 13 as Harrisonburg defeated Luray 6-1 on Friday. Tolliver finished the week with a 1.12 ERA walked just one batter to improve to 2-0 on the season. Overall, Tolliver has posted a 2.00 ERA, striking out 24 and allowing four earned runs in 18 innings pitched.

Full Weekly Release

OSU - back in Beaver Nation

Thousands of Oregon State University baseball fans — a sea of orange — packed Parker Plaza on campus to welcome home the Beavers on Monday and catch a glimpse of the national championship trophy.

“We’ve got the best baseball team in America right here in Corvallis, Oregon,” said coach Pat Casey, who guided the Beavers to back-to-back titles.

OSU defeated North Carolina on Sunday to clinch the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

Could a three-peat be in the works?

Complete story

NCBWA June 25 Division I Poll – Final 2007 Survey

FROM NCBWA RELEASE

DALLAS - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association continued its tradition of NCAA Division I polls for the 10th year with its 2007 weekly surveys. Weekly polls were circulated from Feb. 12-June 25 following the NCAA World Series in Omaha, Neb. Oregon State became the first school since LSU in 1996-97 to repeat as Division I champ after sweeping North Carolina last Sunday night at Rosenblatt Stadium.

The poll voters come from 32 college baseball writers and related media persons from throughout the nation. The final poll had representation by a season-most 14 conferences (tied for a weekly high for the fourth time in ‘07) among the 293 baseball-playing schools in the ‘07 NCAA Division I ranks, and 17 circuits had teams in the polls in ‘07. For more information or to join the NCBWA, please go to www.ncbwa.com

NCBWA POLL (FINAL)
Rk.	School	Conference	Overall	Week	Pvs.
1.	Oregon State	Pacific-10	49-18	5-0	10
2.	North Carolina	Atlantic Coast	57-16	4-3	2
3.	Rice	Conference USA	56-14	2-2	1
4.	Arizona State	Pacific-10	49-15	1-2	3
5.	UC Irvine	Big West	47-17-1	2-2	4
6.	Vanderbilt	Southeastern	54-13	-	5
7.	Louisville	Big East	47-24	1-2	12
8.	South Carolina	Southeastern	46-20	-	6
9.	Mississippi State	Southeastern	38-22	0-2	8
10.	Cal State Fullerton	Big West	38-25	0-2	13
11.	Texas A&M	Big 12	48-19	-	7
12.	Texas	Big 12	46-17	-	9
13.	Virginia	Atlantic Coast	45-16	-	11
14.	Florida State	Atlantic Coast	49-13	-	t14
15.	Clemson	Atlantic Coast	41-23	-	t14
16.	Wichita State	Missouri Valley	53-22	-	t14
17.	Mississippi	Southeastern	40-25	-	13
18.	Oklahoma State	Big 12	42-21	-	14
19.	Coastal Carolina	Big South	50-13	-	15
20.	Michigan	Big Ten	42-19	-	17
21.	Arizona	Pacific-10	42-17	-	16
22.	Arkansas	Southeastern	43-21	-	18
23.	San Diego	West Coast	43-18	-	19
24.	Charlotte	Atlantic 10	49-12	-	25
25.	Missouri	Big 12	42-18	-	23
26.	UCLA	Pacific-10	33-28	-	29
27.	Long Beach State	Big West	39-20	-	26
28.	TCU	Mountain West	48-14	-	28
29.	Louisiana-Lafayette	Sun Belt	45-17	-	27
30.	Creighton	Missouri Valley	45-16	-	30
Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Austin Peay (40-22), East Carolina (40-23), Kent State (33-26), Minnesota (41-18), Ohio State (38-24), Southern Mississippi (39-23), Rutgers (42-21), St. John's (41-19), UC Riverside (38-21), Western Carolina (42-20).
Dropped out: None.
By conference: Southeastern 5, Atlantic Coast 4, Big 12 4, Pacific-10 4, Big West 3, Missouri Valley 2, Atlantic 10 1, Big East 1, Big South 1, Big Ten 1, Conference USA 1, Mountain West 1, Sun Belt 1, West Coast 1.

Oregon State wins Back to Back Titles

Oregon State defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 9-3 in Game 2 of the CWS Championship Series to clinch their second championship in as many years. The Oregon State offense jumped on Tar Heel starter Luke Putkonen for three runs in the second inning which knocked him out after only 1.2 innings. Mike Fox, head coach of North Carolina replaced him with Andrew Carignan who acts as the team closer. Carignan ended up going 3.2 innings while giving up two runs. The Oregon State offense was led by many players but Darwin Barney went 2-5 with a homer and Jordan Lennerton hit a two run homer. Oregon State pitcher Mike Stutes struggled through 5.1 innings while giving up three runs on seven hits but picked up the win to give himself a 2-0 record in the CWS. The North Carolina offense was led by Dustin Ackley who went 2-4 with a homer and two RBI in the loss.

The Oregon State Beavers overcame many different obstacles this season who were on the bubble to make the NCAA Tournament when the selections were announced. They also had some major distractions this season with Mike Lissman's legal trouble. I would like to congratulate the team that started the entire College Baseball season with a trip to Hawaii-Hilo and ended it as the National Champions for the second straight season which is the first time it has happened in College Baseball since LSU won the championship in 1996-1997.

Oregon State Recap
UNC Recap
SeBaseball Recap
Baseball Daily Digest Recap

Team USA edges Newport

Team USA completed their tour of New England with a 5-4 victory over the Newport Gulls (NECBL). Team USA scored four runs in the first inning with the first run coming on a double by Justin Smoak (South Carolina). Brett Wallace (Arizona State) then followed up with a three run homer in his first at bat of the summer with Team USA. The coaching staff of Team USA used the game to get five pitchers work in the game. Jacob Thompson (UVA) started and gave up no runs on one hit and two walks. Mike Minor (Vanderbilt) came in for two innings while giving up two hits and striking out four batters. Eric Surkamp (NC State) then came in to pitch two innings but gave up one run on two hits. Josh Romanski (San Diego) came in relief of Surkamp and gave up three runs in his two innings of work. Cody Satterwhite (Ole Miss) gave up two hits but did not give up a run as he got his first save of the summer for Team USA. The team will be off until June 29th when they play Chinese Taipei in Burlington NC.

Team USA Recap
Newport Recap

Liberty hires Toman

Liberty University has hired Jim Toman to lead their baseball program. Toman was the Associate Head Coach at South Carolina before accepting this position. He has spent the last 18 years as a member of Ray Tanner's staff at South Carolina and previously at NC State. He is regarded as one of the top recruiters in the nation as he has lead the Gamecocks to a top 25 recruiting class every year for the last eleven years.

Liberty Release

Cape Cod Baseball League Awards for Week 2

The Cape Cod League has announced that Bobby Gagg (Coastal Carolina) of Yarmouth-Dennis was named the Coca-Cola Pitcher of the Week while his teammate at Yarmouth-Dennis in Gordon Beckham (Georgia) was named the Coca-Cola Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. Gagg started for Yarmouth-Dennis against Orleans on Tuesday. He pitched seven shutout innings while only allowing four hits. Gordon Beckham hit .360 on the week while driving in five runs. He also had two homers and two doubles on the weekend. The full CCBL Release is available here.

No TV, No Problem!

Game 2 of the College World Series Championship Series is tonight between Oregon State and North Carolina with Oregon State holding a 1-0 lead in the best of three series. Gametracker is available by clicking here.

Torrington edges Team USA

The Torrington Twisters (NECBL) edged Team USA 4-3 behind a strong start from Steve Strasberg who struck out seven out of the twelve batters he faced. The Torrington staff held Team USA to only three hits as Justin Smoak picked up two hits including a two run homer in the eighth inning. Garrett Green went 2-3 with two runs scored and a homer in the victory for the Twisters. Team USA will be back in action on Sunday as they finish their tour of New England when they visit the Newport Gulls.

Team USA Recap
Torrington Recap