Oct. 25, 2009

Lineup Card

Lineup Card is a new feature on CollegeBaseballInsider.com, highlighting notes from around college baseball.

Oct. 19-25, 2009

Steven Sultzbaugh and Diego Seastrunk combined for seven RBI as host Rice defeated Texas State 14-6 in exhibition action on Sunday, Oct. 25, at Reckling Park. Sultzbaugh had two hits, including a three-run homer, and knocked in four. Seastrunk drove in three and scored once. Jeremy Rathjen had three hits, including two doubles, and scored twice for the Owls. Eight pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts in the 14-inning contest.

Adam Doleac had a three-run homer and knocked in four as host Southern Miss whipped William Carey 13-1 in an exhibition game on Sunday, Oct. 25, at Pete Taylor Park. Mark Ellis belted a two-run homer and had three RBI for the Golden Eagles. Eight Southern Miss hurlers combined to hold the opposition to seven hits with two walks and 15 strikeouts in 14 innings.

Russell Moldenhauer went 3 for 4 with two homers, four runs and four RBI as host Texas outscored Baylor 10-8 in exhibition action Sunday, Oct., 25, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Jonathan Walsh belted a two-run homer in the 13th for the Longhorns to snap an 8-8 tie. Max Muncy had an RBI single and a three-run homer for the Bears. Cal Towey went 3 for 4, including a two-run homer in the 10th for BU.

Loyola Marymount announced that six former Lions will play for Team Australia in the 1009 Men’s Senior Baseball League World Series Tournament from Oct. 26 through Nov. 1 in Phoenix, Ariz. The six players, Al Gad, Bernie Kruer, Bill Morris, Pat Mullen, Jim O’Keefe and Ron Russo, played for Loyola University between 1960 and 1964. Gad has been in Australia since 1969, teaching at the University of South Australia and involved actively in the development of baseball. The other five former Lions will be ‘honorary’ Australians for the tournament.

Maryland-Eastern Shore moved its baseball Alumni Game from Saturday, Oct. 24, to Saturday, Oct. 31, due to inclement weather. Registration will begin at 9 a.m., followed by batting practice at 10:30 a.m.  

Ohio State announced that seniors Cory Kovanda and Zach Hurley were voted 2010 captains by their teammates. Second baseman Kovanda is a three-year starter who batted .341 this past season with 11 doubles and 38 RBI. Hurley, an outfielder, hit .346 in 2009 with 12 doubles and 14 stolen bases. Freshman right-hander Brett McKinney was named rookie captain.

Texas A&M expects more than 50 former players to return this Saturday, Oct. 24, for the biennial Aggie Baseball Alumni Game at 2 p.m. at Olsen Field. Admission is free.

LSU will receive its national championship rings on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 4 p.m. in Alex Box Stadium. The ceremony will take place prior to the LSU-Tulane football game. The ceremony is free and open to the public. The Tigers will have an autograph session following the ceremony.

Cal will hold its annual Alumni Game on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. at Evans Diamond. Admission is free. The Bullpen Club Golf Classic will be Monday at 10 a.m.

LSU head coach Paul Mainieri will be inducted into the St. Thomas University Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday, Nov. 1. Mainieri was head coach at St. Thomas from 1983-88. He had four of his team ranked in the NCAA Division II Top 10, and 15 of his players advanced to professional baseball.

Former Miami (Fla.) standout and current Milwaukee Brewer All-Star Ryan Braun will be the guest speaker at the Hurricanes’ preseason banquet on Friday, Feb. 12, 2010. The weekend will include the alumni game on Saturday, Feb. 13 and a golf tournament on Monday, Feb. 15. Braun was the No. 5 overall pick of the Brewers in the 2005 MLB Draft. He has belted at least 30 home runs in each of his first three big league seasons.

William & Mary will conduct a free Youth Appreciation Camp at Plumeri Park on Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The camp is open to students in first through eighth grade.

Former Georgia All-American Gordon Beckham was named the 2009 American League Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News.  The third baseman for the Chicago White Sox batted .270 with 28 doubles, 14 home runs and 63 RBI in 103 games. Beckham was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2008 draft.

The Auburn Baseball Letterman’s Club will hold its annual golf tournament and banquet on Friday, Nov. 6.  Both will be at the Auburn University Club. Golf begins at noon, followed by the banquet. The 1963 SEC Championship Team and All-Americans from the 1960s will be recognized.

Former Loyola Marymount standout Ryan Wheeler was named the 2009 Arizona Diamondbacks Minor League Position Player of the Year. Wheeler was a fifth-round pick in the 2009 draft. The first baseman batted .363 with 28 extra-base hits and an on-base percentage of .461.

LSU can purchase or bid on memorabilia from old Alex Box Stadium at www.AlexBoxAuctions.net. Items include infield dirt, framed prints and photographs, pieces of the net behind home plate, seats and signs. Proceeds will be split between the LSU athletic department and the academic side of the University.

Maryland-Eastern Shore has named its captains for the 2010 season: juniors Remo Orsini, Matt Witte and Bryan Chaikowsky. Orsini, a middle infielder, was a captain a year ago. He batted .255 in 2009 in 48 games with eight doubles and 20 RBI. DH Chaikowsky was second team All-MEAC in 2009, batting .381 with 13 doubles, .619 slugging percentage and .486 on-base percentage. Right-handed pitcher Witte was 3-4 with a 6.45 ERA in 18 appearances this past season with 49 strikeouts in 67 innings.

Mel Bacon has been added as an assistant coach at Delaware. Bacon has been at Towson for the past seven years. He was head coach and physical education teacher at North East High School in Cecil County, Md., for 28 years. Bacon guided the Indians to seven state championship appearances and four titles. He was inducted into the Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1998. Bacon played at Frostburg State from 1969-72.

Houston will host Blinn College on Friday, Oct. 23, at 3 p.m.. The teams will play a 16-inning scrimmage at Cougar Field. The game is free and open to the public.

More than 110 former players, coaches and support staff will return this weekend for South Carolina Alumni Weekend. There will be a golf outing on Friday, Oct. 23, followed by the Alumni Game at 7 p.m. Admission to Carolina Stadium is free.

The Wright State baseball team which won the 2009 Horizon League Championship will receive its rings at halftime of the men’s basketball exhibition vs. Central State on Thursday, Nov. 5. The Raiders won the Horizon League title for the second time in four years.