AAC Conference Tournament

[WuDrWu]

AAC POY Connor Norby led off the bottom of the 1st with a HR on a 1-0 count, but otherwise this game is trucking along. Smith for ECU and Stinnett for Memphis are throwing strikes with regularity and little screwing around. Top of the 3rd already and we haven't been on the field 20 minutes I think. Great pace to try and get things back on track.

I don't want to be playing into Tuesday morning.

Edit: Not paying attention, ECU got cute with the rotation. Smith has walked the bases full (1 HBP) with no out and the game has slowed.

[WuDrWu]

Cincinnati is unreal. How do you score 10 and lose? They probably should have scored 17-20. They swing the bats with very bad intentions. This is one reason I thought it so important to be in the other bracket.

Talked to an AAC guy and as I suspected anyway, there's NO way we're playing at the scheduled time. Obviously the next 2 games will dictate, but the idea now is 730-8 Wichita time, and if we get one more game close to this fiasco, it will be 9 before our game starts. With any luck ECU run rules Memphis 10-0 after 7 (yes the run rule is in effect until the Championship game).

Hunter ******* may hit 5 dingers against Cincy pitching tomorrow. It won't be enough, but could be fun to watch.

[1972Shocker]

I don't know who we'll go with tomorrow (ok I do but not saying). It's so important to win this first game. I hope the guys are ready from the 1st pitch.

Well if you go by who had the best overall season Jace Kaminska is the easy choice. However, if you go by who performed the best in the series split with UCF about 10 days ago you probably would go with Liam Eddy. Against USF Jace went in game 1 and gave up 7 runs in 4.2 innings in a 2-8 loss, Liam went in game 2 and gave up 2 runs in 7 innings in a 9-3 win. Snavely has only made it past the 5th in 1 of his last 6 starts in which he posted an ERA of 9.12 and Gareth Stroh has an 8.62 ERA in his 4 May starts.

On the other hand who do you want available to start the Championship game most likely against ECU. Jace was very good against ECU giving up on 2 runs in 7 innings. Liam was horrible in his start against ECU giving up 5 runs and only recording 1 out.

So yeah, this first game is huge. The odds of making the Championship game fall drastically if they don't win this first game.

I hope the Shocks are ready to play as well. In their 8 AAC series this year they a 2-6 in Game 1 of the series and those 2 wins came in series against Houston and Memphis, the bottom two teams in the standings.

If it is my decision I go with Jace in this game.

[jdmee]

According to the stats, Cincy left 13 people on base. Usually that doesn't came around and bite you when you score 10 runs.

[Wuzee]

Cincy loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but the guy who homered in the eighth lined out to left. 14-10 final.

[Wuzee]

Bearcats strike back with a two-run homer to close it to 13-10. On to the 9th.

[Wuzee]

UCF just blew open the first game with a 9-run 8th inning. 13-8 over Cincy.

[WuDrWu]

Been to Columbia, love it. Special, unique place. Will try one of your suggestions, thank you!

[Shocker1976]

Good deal! Enjoy the games. Does your brother have any suggestions near the Ballpark in between games?

Lots of places within walking distance of Bay Park but our wives are going and they like -

Marina Cantina - 7 miles West on Highway 60

Poke Havana - 7 miles West - Cuban food

Sea-Guini - 8 miles West

Seaweed - 9 miles West

Columbia Restaurant - 10 miles West but a great place for Cuban food

[WuDrWu]

Certainly we struggled with USF 2 weeks ago, but then so did ECU last week so............

Listening to people that know, the consensus down here might be that USF has best overall pitching in the league. They are deep, and I wouldn't argue that. They don't have a Gage Williams I know, but top to bottom they are good.

I don't know who we'll go with tomorrow (ok I do but not saying). It's so important to win this first game. I hope the guys are ready from the 1st pitch. The program is improving, and we'll be even better sooner than later....are we ready to raise the Cup this weekend? I don't know, but I'm interested in finding out.


Go Shocks!

[WuDrWu]

Maybe I missed it, but All Conference was announced today. Shocks had 5 on first team. Kocis, Bartlett, Wallace, Haase and Kaminska. Jace was the Newcomer Pitcher of the Year.

Congrats to all of these young student athletes.

http://theamerican.org/news/2021/5/24/east-carolinas-norby-williams-earn-top-individual-baseball-honors.aspx

[WuDrWu]

Good deal! Enjoy the games. Does your brother have any suggestions near the Ballpark in between games?

[Shocker1976]

Visiting brother in Tampa; he has purchased tickets for the tournament. We are staying all week, so I hope I get to watch at least a couple of the Shockers' games

Edit - Tournament pass was $18 while the WSU Hat was $32 - go figure.

[WuDrWu]

In our 2 previous visits to Clearwater, we had to dodge some coastal type rains, but this week is supposed to be warm and sunny. Today certainly is.

Guys had practice on the field (there is a 2nd field to take BP and then they take in and out on the main stadium field. It's a big time stadium, perfect for this tournament, if more people would attend. I realize it's tough and expensive to get here, but it's a great vacation site.

Looking forward to starting the tournament tomorrow! Go Shocks!

[1972Shocker]

I hope the AAC site has the Away/Home as a misprint. WSU shouldn't be the visiting team as the higher seed.

I think that schedule does have WSU and USF flip-flopped. The higher seed is listed as the home team in the other 3 games. The bracket has WSU as the home team I think. Isn't the home team listed on he bottom of the bracket.