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Post by bogeyman on May 25, 2021 12:46:12 GMT -6
Less than 24 hours until our 1st tourney game vs. Lamar. In several ways this may be our stiffest opponent in the tourney. We recently played them and won all four, relatively close games. A key for us is the health of Mitchell Dickson--if he can't play then we have to scramble. He was our hitting leader for the series vs. Lamar (as he was in most of our series'). Losing the conferences' leading hitter might be a bitter pill to swallow and hard to overcome. A breakdown of our series with Lamar shows no runaway victories by the Cats, so it is imperative that we get a good pitching performance in game 1. Morgan was by far our most effective pitcher vs. them (7 innings pitched, 1 earned run), so I would expect him to be our game 1 starter. I would expect Douthit to be their starter (5.1 innings pitched, 1 earned run). Our top 6 batters all had good series AB's with Dickson (7 hits in 3 games), Cruz (5 hits in 2 games), Randle (6 hits in 3 games), Ladusau (4 hits in 2 games), Tatrow (3 hits in 1 game) and Eager (2 hits in game 3).
In an 8 team double elimination tourney the key game is game #1. Falling into the losers bracket right off the bat is likely a death knell for anyone's chances. It just takes too much energy to survive a round 1 loss (can be done, but not likely) especially when you are a hitting team, not especially deep in the pitching rotation nor defensively. The key for us is to go deep with our starting pitchers (each of the 4 has had some sterling games), allowing our hitters to get in a rhythm. The farther we go, I like our chances more--just because of our offense. So the keys are: win game one, good starting pitching and some quality innings by Huffling, Glaze, and Riley in relief, and get to Saturday.
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Post by catfanatic on May 25, 2021 14:36:20 GMT -6
Less than 24 hours until our 1st tourney game vs. Lamar. In several ways this may be our stiffest opponent in the tourney. We recently played them and won all four, relatively close games. A key for us is the health of Mitchell Dickson--if he can't play then we have to scramble. He was our hitting leader for the series vs. Lamar (as he was in most of our series'). Losing the conferences' leading hitter might be a bitter pill to swallow and hard to overcome. A breakdown of our series with Lamar shows no runaway victories by the Cats, so it is imperative that we get a good pitching performance in game 1. Morgan was by far our most effective pitcher vs. them (7 innings pitched, 1 earned run), so I would expect him to be our game 1 starter. I would expect Douthit to be their starter (5.1 innings pitched, 1 earned run). Our top 6 batters all had good series AB's with Dickson (7 hits in 3 games), Cruz (5 hits in 2 games), Randle (6 hits in 3 games), Ladusau (4 hits in 2 games), Tatrow (3 hits in 1 game) and Eager (2 hits in game 3). In an 8 team double elimination tourney the key game is game #1. Falling into the losers bracket right off the bat is likely a death knell for anyone's chances. It just takes too much energy to survive a round 1 loss (can be done, but not likely) especially when you are a hitting team, not especially deep in the pitching rotation nor defensively. The key for us is to go deep with our starting pitchers (each of the 4 has had some sterling games), allowing our hitters to get in a rhythm. The farther we go, I like our chances more--just because of our offense. So the keys are: win game one, good starting pitching and some quality innings by Huffling, Glaze, and Riley in relief, and get to Saturday. I endorse this analysis wholeheartedly! Go Wildcats!!
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Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on May 26, 2021 5:06:49 GMT -6
Less than 24 hours until our 1st tourney game vs. Lamar. In several ways this may be our stiffest opponent in the tourney. We recently played them and won all four, relatively close games. A key for us is the health of Mitchell Dickson--if he can't play then we have to scramble. He was our hitting leader for the series vs. Lamar (as he was in most of our series'). Losing the conferences' leading hitter might be a bitter pill to swallow and hard to overcome. A breakdown of our series with Lamar shows no runaway victories by the Cats, so it is imperative that we get a good pitching performance in game 1. Morgan was by far our most effective pitcher vs. them (7 innings pitched, 1 earned run), so I would expect him to be our game 1 starter. I would expect Douthit to be their starter (5.1 innings pitched, 1 earned run). Our top 6 batters all had good series AB's with Dickson (7 hits in 3 games), Cruz (5 hits in 2 games), Randle (6 hits in 3 games), Ladusau (4 hits in 2 games), Tatrow (3 hits in 1 game) and Eager (2 hits in game 3). In an 8 team double elimination tourney the key game is game #1. Falling into the losers bracket right off the bat is likely a death knell for anyone's chances. It just takes too much energy to survive a round 1 loss (can be done, but not likely) especially when you are a hitting team, not especially deep in the pitching rotation nor defensively. The key for us is to go deep with our starting pitchers (each of the 4 has had some sterling games), allowing our hitters to get in a rhythm. The farther we go, I like our chances more--just because of our offense. So the keys are: win game one, good starting pitching and some quality innings by Huffling, Glaze, and Riley in relief, and get to Saturday. I endorse this analysis wholeheartedly! Go Wildcats!! This is so true. I’ve coached girls softball teams in more tournaments than I care to recall and double elimination brackets of most sizes severely penalize teams that lose in the first round. In this case losing on day one forces teams to play and win double headers every day to stay alive,
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Post by bogeyman on May 26, 2021 10:23:43 GMT -6
What a turnaround! Corpus dominating Sam until the ninth. Sam hits a 3-run homer to tie the game. Poor managing by Corpus. Replaced a reliever who struck out his only 2 batters in the 8th, then staying with a 2nd reliever after he walks 2 batters in the ninth.
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Post by bogeyman on May 26, 2021 10:35:07 GMT -6
Corpus wins with a run in bottom of 9th. Scary team.
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Post by bogeyman on May 26, 2021 11:09:13 GMT -6
Dickson in starting lineup. A good omen?
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Post by bogeyman on May 26, 2021 12:18:08 GMT -6
After 2 1/2 ACU leads 3-1 on a Geiser 3-run homer. Morgan has thrown lots of pitches.
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Post by bogeyman on May 26, 2021 12:57:01 GMT -6
1st danger situation in the 5th. Morgan strikes batter out with bases loaded. 5-1 ACU, bottom 5th.
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Post by bogeyman on May 26, 2021 13:22:19 GMT -6
Geiser hits an absolute monster line drive over the left field wall for his 2nd HR of the game. 6-1 ACU. Still batting in the 6th.
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Post by bogeyman on May 26, 2021 13:43:58 GMT -6
Randle makes unbelieveable play to get us out of an 8th inning jam. 3rd out being challenged. Should be overturned. Still a fantastic play.
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Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on May 26, 2021 13:53:48 GMT -6
3 outs away from a 7-1 W,
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Post by bogeyman on May 26, 2021 13:53:54 GMT -6
Geiser doubles in another run in the 8th. 7-1 ACU. Going to the 9th. Geiser is a welcome addition to our batting lineup. Welcome back Hunter.
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Post by rc on May 26, 2021 13:53:55 GMT -6
Gieser is having a career day! Two homers and a double, 5 rbi's.
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Post by rc on May 26, 2021 13:58:42 GMT -6
Ok... ninth inning, three outs away and a new pitcher walks the first batter and is wild... That my friends is an absolute no no. Now walks two in a row. My old coach would not accept that. A double play saves him and then a sharp ground out ends the game -- Wildcats win. Nota Bene' We have a fine shortstop and he is a freshman!
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Post by bogeyman on May 26, 2021 14:03:00 GMT -6
Cats win 7-1. Play Corpus tomorrow. Goal #1 accomplished. Win game 1.
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