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Good, competitive game. Got to see a lot of new faces.
Some observations and comments (keeping in mind that it was just one intra-squad game):
Gold Pitchers: Kris Gardner (RSFr LHP) went 5 innings allowing only 2 hits and no runs. Did not look overpowering but was certainly effective. Aaron LaBrie was greeted by a triple into the right field corner by Walker Davidson and a no-doubter blast over the scoreboard by Johnny Coy. Pitched a scoreless 7th. Cale Elam picked up the win pitching a scoreless 8th and 9th.
Black Pitchers: Albert Minnis went the 5.0 innings giving up 1 earned run (sort of) and striking out 8. I thought Albert looked pretty solid but the Gold team ran on him pretty easily including in the 3rd inning when Kevin Hall lead off with an infield single, was sacrficed to 2nd, stole 3rd and stole home. Donnie Baseball stole 2nd and 3rd in 1st on Albert. Otherwise Albert was throwing hard. A.J. Ladwing gave up 3 runs (2 earned) in his 4 innings but showed a good arm. Glad he decided not to sign pro.
Overall pitching was pretty solid.
Gold Offense: Kevin Hall went 3 for 4 for the Gold team. In his 1st two AB's he put the ball on the ground, one a high bouncer and the other a grounder up the middle. The result was 2 infield hits. In his 3rd AB he popped up a bunt attempting to sacrifice. He followed that with a walk and then the game winning RBI double to the gap in right center. Donnie Lambert and Tyler Coughenour had some good swings also.
Black Offense: Johnny Coy looked very good at the plate. I was pleased to see him go oppo for a single in his first AB. He picked up an infield single in his 2nd AB on a sharply hit grounder to 3rd. As previously stated he hit a bomb over the left side of the scoreboard in the 6th.
Newcomers: I think A.J. Ladwing can contribute on the mound this year. Harder to evaluate the freshman position players but most looked a little overmatched at the plate, although there were a few players that caught my eye:
Casey Gillaspie - played 1st base for the Gold team. Went 0 - 3 at the plate with 2 K's and a walk. While he wasn't productive he is an imposing physical presence. Think Pat Magness, although not sure he will ever approach Pat's hitting ability. Time will tell.
Mikel Mucha - listed at 6'2" and 170 lbs. Did not look that tall and he is at most maybe 170 lbs. He may have trouble standing up on some of our windy spring days. However, this kid can flat run. In the 7th he singled and then scored from 1st on a double down the left field line by Donnie Lambert. In the 9th he walked and scored the winning run from 1st on Kevin Hall's double to right center. Again, this kid can fly.
Sam Hall - the anti-Casey Gillaspie - played 3rd base for the black. A stockily built (think fire hydrant) player. Throws right, bats left. Doesn't really look like an athlete. But he made all the plays at 3rd and probably looked the best of the freshman at the plate. Had two solidly hit balls to left center that were both caught (one by Mucha and one by Hall). Kind of a funny throwing motion, but again he gets the job done. Again doesn't look like an athlete, but he does look like a player (one I think Shocker fans will eventually fall in love with).
Tyler Baker - played catcher for the Gold team. Not very big at 5'9", 170 lbs. Listed as a utility player. Looked a little overmatched at the plate but did a good job behind the plate. It will be interesting to see where else they can use this kid.
General Observations:
Pencil in Kevin Hall in CF and Donnie Lambert in RF. Johnny Coy at 1B and Tyler Coughenour at 2B.
Micah Green dropped an easy fly ball in left but had a few good swings and just looks like a player. See Mikel Mucha above. Perhaps others will be in the mix also.
Shortstop will probably be either Walker Davidson or Dayne Parker. Dayne had 2 errors tonight. Probably Walker if he can hit enough.
Third Base is also up in the air. Aaron Rea the Juco transfer from Cowley County and Sam Hall (see above) played 3rd tonight. Dayne Parker could also be in the mix if Walker wins the SS job.
Catcher is obviously going to be the toughest position to replace. Arens did not look that good throwing the ball tonight but that may actually have been more on his pitcher's (see Albert Minnis above). Ryan Hege could be in the mix here also. Tyler Baker might be an option but I don't think that will happen this year.
This team probably will not have a lot of power outside of Johnny Coy. We really need to find someone that can bat behind Johnny Coy with enough productivity to keep teams from totally pitching around JC. I think Hege (C or DH) and perhaps, Gillaspie (DH) would be candidates for that.
Some observations and comments (keeping in mind that it was just one intra-squad game):
Gold Pitchers: Kris Gardner (RSFr LHP) went 5 innings allowing only 2 hits and no runs. Did not look overpowering but was certainly effective. Aaron LaBrie was greeted by a triple into the right field corner by Walker Davidson and a no-doubter blast over the scoreboard by Johnny Coy. Pitched a scoreless 7th. Cale Elam picked up the win pitching a scoreless 8th and 9th.
Black Pitchers: Albert Minnis went the 5.0 innings giving up 1 earned run (sort of) and striking out 8. I thought Albert looked pretty solid but the Gold team ran on him pretty easily including in the 3rd inning when Kevin Hall lead off with an infield single, was sacrficed to 2nd, stole 3rd and stole home. Donnie Baseball stole 2nd and 3rd in 1st on Albert. Otherwise Albert was throwing hard. A.J. Ladwing gave up 3 runs (2 earned) in his 4 innings but showed a good arm. Glad he decided not to sign pro.
Overall pitching was pretty solid.
Gold Offense: Kevin Hall went 3 for 4 for the Gold team. In his 1st two AB's he put the ball on the ground, one a high bouncer and the other a grounder up the middle. The result was 2 infield hits. In his 3rd AB he popped up a bunt attempting to sacrifice. He followed that with a walk and then the game winning RBI double to the gap in right center. Donnie Lambert and Tyler Coughenour had some good swings also.
Black Offense: Johnny Coy looked very good at the plate. I was pleased to see him go oppo for a single in his first AB. He picked up an infield single in his 2nd AB on a sharply hit grounder to 3rd. As previously stated he hit a bomb over the left side of the scoreboard in the 6th.
Newcomers: I think A.J. Ladwing can contribute on the mound this year. Harder to evaluate the freshman position players but most looked a little overmatched at the plate, although there were a few players that caught my eye:
Casey Gillaspie - played 1st base for the Gold team. Went 0 - 3 at the plate with 2 K's and a walk. While he wasn't productive he is an imposing physical presence. Think Pat Magness, although not sure he will ever approach Pat's hitting ability. Time will tell.
Mikel Mucha - listed at 6'2" and 170 lbs. Did not look that tall and he is at most maybe 170 lbs. He may have trouble standing up on some of our windy spring days. However, this kid can flat run. In the 7th he singled and then scored from 1st on a double down the left field line by Donnie Lambert. In the 9th he walked and scored the winning run from 1st on Kevin Hall's double to right center. Again, this kid can fly.
Sam Hall - the anti-Casey Gillaspie - played 3rd base for the black. A stockily built (think fire hydrant) player. Throws right, bats left. Doesn't really look like an athlete. But he made all the plays at 3rd and probably looked the best of the freshman at the plate. Had two solidly hit balls to left center that were both caught (one by Mucha and one by Hall). Kind of a funny throwing motion, but again he gets the job done. Again doesn't look like an athlete, but he does look like a player (one I think Shocker fans will eventually fall in love with).
Tyler Baker - played catcher for the Gold team. Not very big at 5'9", 170 lbs. Listed as a utility player. Looked a little overmatched at the plate but did a good job behind the plate. It will be interesting to see where else they can use this kid.
General Observations:
Pencil in Kevin Hall in CF and Donnie Lambert in RF. Johnny Coy at 1B and Tyler Coughenour at 2B.
Micah Green dropped an easy fly ball in left but had a few good swings and just looks like a player. See Mikel Mucha above. Perhaps others will be in the mix also.
Shortstop will probably be either Walker Davidson or Dayne Parker. Dayne had 2 errors tonight. Probably Walker if he can hit enough.
Third Base is also up in the air. Aaron Rea the Juco transfer from Cowley County and Sam Hall (see above) played 3rd tonight. Dayne Parker could also be in the mix if Walker wins the SS job.
Catcher is obviously going to be the toughest position to replace. Arens did not look that good throwing the ball tonight but that may actually have been more on his pitcher's (see Albert Minnis above). Ryan Hege could be in the mix here also. Tyler Baker might be an option but I don't think that will happen this year.
This team probably will not have a lot of power outside of Johnny Coy. We really need to find someone that can bat behind Johnny Coy with enough productivity to keep teams from totally pitching around JC. I think Hege (C or DH) and perhaps, Gillaspie (DH) would be candidates for that.
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