Kent State's Andrew Chafin looking forward to Nov. 9
KENT --- Andrew Chafin is counting the days until Nov. 9.
''I can throw my first pitch since I underwent Tommy John surgery on June 9,'' the Kent State sophomore said. ''Even now, the shoulder feels 100 percent. But, it is important I follow the rehabilitation program to the letter.
''I am told I am a month ahead of schedule but that doesn't mean I will be able to throw 30 days earlier than scheduled,'' he added.
Chafin, a Western Reserve graduate, admits surgery was inevitable.
''Sure, everyone was optimistic that it was not as bad as it looked back on May 9,'' the son of Tania and Darryl Chafin said. ''But, even if it was just a slight tear, surgery was the only way to get it fixed. The surgery took no more than 50 minutes, an amazingly short time considering what it could mean to a career.''
Chafin continues a conditioning program in an effort to stay in shape.
Concerning the shoulder, it means lots of stretching with elastic bands as well as light weight shoulder workouts.
To see him on campus, it looks like nothing happened. He was out of a brace in four weeks. But, even now, he is very careful of the shoulder-slapping friend.
''Doctors have told me that I should be even stronger than I was before,'' Chafin said. ''I am going to do everything in my power to prove them right.''
If the truth be known, Chafin has the odds on his side.
In last year's draft, 30 percent of the pitchers in the top 10 rounds already had the operation.
Chafin's first workout will be limited to 35 lob throws.
After he is assessed and if everything feels right, Chafin will be allowed to throw 40 lob throws three times a week. It will take many sessions before that lob throw becomes his original 94-mile per hour fastball.
And just how does a pitcher know when he has suffered a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament?
''In my case, my pinky and ring finger were numb after a I threw the last pitch,'' said Chafin, a the human movement studies major. ''I could tell earlier in the game that my slider was not up to speed. I usually get it up there at 85 miles per hour but after I started to lose feeling, my miles-per hour was down to 68.
''I remained optimistic as did the Kent State trainer,'' he added. ''We waited a week with the hope that it was just a pinched nerve. But, it still hurt when I threw. We waited another week just to make sure. We were also waiting for the MRI results. When that was read, it was known for sure that if I was going to pitch again, I would have to head for Cincinnati for surgery.''
In Chafin's case, a tendon from his wrist was used as the replacement for his torn UCL.
Chafin will probably sit out this coming season, but that is not a certainty.
''At best, I would be available only for the last few weeks so I would expect they will red-shirt me, giving me three full seasons of eligibility if that's the way I want to go,'' he said. ''As far as a career in baseball, a lot will depend on just how well I perform once I get back into a throwing routine. It has always been my life's goal, but if it doesn't work out, I will have my degree and go on with life.''
In his freshman season, went 4-1 with a 1.26 earned run average and eight saves, which was second in the MAC, as the team's closer. He had 55 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings.
Chafin's performances got him Louisville Slugger All-American Freshman, Mid-American Conference Freshman Player of the Year, ABCA all-Mideast Region and first-team all-conference honors.
Chafin also received an invitation to try out for Team USA, one he had to turn down.
(c) Norwalk Reflector. All rights reserved.
Pioneer High freshman pitches no-hitter in Ecuador
Woodland's Zack Aukes struck out eight batters in four no-hit innings, leading the USA Baseball 14U National Team to a romping 10-0 victory over Puerto Rico this afternoon at La California Stadium in Portoviejo, Ecuador.
Aukes, a freshman at Pioneer High School, threw 70 pitches for Team USA (3-0), which backed his efforts with five runs in the second inning, three in the third, and two in the fourth.
In two at-bats, Aukes was 0-for-2, however, he scored one run and had one RBI.
Although Team USA recorded just 4 hits, it was able to take advantage of Puerto Rico's (2-1) five errors, contributing to the rout win in the final game of pool play at the Pan Am Championships.
Chris Rivera relieved Aukes in the fifth and final inning.
Aukes is one of 18 members of the USA 14-under national baseball team.
Listed as both a pitcher and infielder, Aukes was selected this week after participating in four days of practices and intra-squad scrimmages in Miami with 23 other players from around the country. The 24 players were split into two teams - Red and Blue - with Aukes playing for the Red squad.
In the three games the squads played against each other - all Red team wins - the 5-foot-10-inch, 165-pound Aukes previously had his best effort in Game 1, pitching two perfect innings of relief and gaining the 8-4 victory. He also pitched two innings in Game 3, surrendering two runs and two hits, walking two and striking out one. The Red team won 6-5.
Aukes is one of nine Californians on the national team roster. Among that group is pitcher/infielder Stephen Nogosek of Woodcreek High in Roseville.
In addition to Team USA and host Ecuador, countries represented at the Pan Am Championships are Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
(c) 2009 - Daily Democrat.
Southern Miss Announces 2010 Baseball Schedule
The Southern Miss baseball program and head coach Scott Berry announced today the 2010 baseball schedule highlighted by 30 home games at Pete Taylor Park.
''I think that we have a very balanced schedule this upcoming season,'' Berry said. ''We have a nice mix of home and road games against some quality competition.''
The 2010 season and the Scott Berry era at Southern Miss will begin on February 19 with eight game homestand including a three-game weekend series with both Northwestern State (Feb. 19-21) and LeMoyne College (Feb. 26-28). Along with the weekend series' will be home mid-week games with Mississippi Valley (Feb. 24) and Louisiana Monroe (March 3).
While LeMoyne College and Northwestern State may not be schools that Golden Eagle fans are familiar with, they both boast quality programs. LeMoyne has been to four NCAA Tournaments, most recently in 2007, and Boyd's World ranked their RPI at 120 last season.
Northwestern State has been a NCAA tournament participant three times and finished the 2009 campaign with RPI of 141. Both programs RPI compared with UAB (130), South Alabama (133), UCF (151) and UNO (160) at the end of the 2009 season.
The Golden Eagles hit the road for the first time for a weekend series at Louisiana Lafayette (March 5-7), before returning to Pete Taylor Park for a midweek contest with Troy (March 10) and a weekend series with Missouri State (March 12-14).
Missouri State is another quality program that Southern Miss fans may not be familiar with, the Bears have played in seven NCAA Tournaments and participated in the 2003 College World Series. Last season they posted a final RPI of 67.
Over spring break the black and gold will host UNO on March 16 before traveling to Louisiana Monroe on March 17, the only time of the season that Southern Miss has to play five games in a week, which had became the norm over the last two seasons with the new NCAA condensed schedule and unified start date. The NCAA added an extra week to the season this year to help schools from having to play so many midweek games.
Southern Miss will stay in Louisiana for the end of spring break as they travel to Louisiana Tech (March 19-21) for a weekend series.
On Tuesday, March 23 Southern Miss will travel to Pearl, Miss. to play Ole Miss at Trustmark Park before opening Conference USA play at UAB (March 23-26) and traveling to South Alabama for a midweek game (March 30).
Over Easter weekend, the Golden Eagles will welcome in St. Mary's College for a Thursday through Saturday three game set (April 1-3) for their last non-conference weekend series.
St. Mary's will travel to Hattiesburg from Moraga, California, which is near San Francisco.
On April 7, Southern Miss will travel to New Orleans to play the defending national champion LSU Tigers at Zephyr Stadium in the Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic, the game annually features over 12,000 fans at the New Orleans stadium.
C-USA play continues as UCF visits Hattiesburg (April 9-11) before the Golden Eagles hit the road for five games beginning with a single game at UNO (April 13) followed by a three game C-USA series at Marshall (April 16-18) and a single game at Ole Miss (April 20).
Houston visits for a weekend series (April 23-25) and South Alabama comes in for a midweek contest (April 28) before the black and gold travels to New Orleans to take on Tulane in a three game C-USA series.
Southern Miss returns to Trustmark Park to play Mississippi State on Wednesday May 5 and will host East Carolina May 7-9.
The trip to Houston will be come a familiar route for the team as they travel to Rice (May 14-16) only to return two weeks later as the University of Houston will host the 2009 C-USA Baseball Tournament.
Before travelling for the post season, Southern Miss will close out the regular season with Mississippi State at home on May 18 and the final C-USA series beginning on Thursday May 20 against Memphis.
The C-USA Tournament will begin on May 26 at The University of Houston with a new format this year featuring only six teams in pool play.
The NCAA post season will start on June 4 with the Regional Tournaments and the Super Regionals will start on June 11. The final College World Series inside Rosenblatt Stadium will begin on June 19.
2010 Opponents (Final 2009 RPI)
LSU (3)
Rice (10)
Ole Miss (14)
East Carolina (21)
Tulane (66)
Missouri State (67)
Troy (69)
Mississippi State (89)
Louisiana Lafayette (91)
Louisiana Monroe (95)
Houston (107)
Louisiana Tech (111)
LeMoyne (120)
UAB (130)
South Alabama (133)
St Mary's (135)
Northwestern State (141)
UCF (151)
New Orleans (160)
Marshall (167)
Memphis (171)
Mississippi Valley (257)
(c) WJTV.
4 Local Players Chosen for 2009 14U National Team
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - Four Northern California players were among those chosen to play on the 2009 14-Under National Team by USA Baseball.
USA Baseball announced its final selections after a three-day trials period at St. Thomas University in Florida.
An 18-man roster was selected from a pool of 24 players to represent the country at this year's 2009 COPABE Pan Am 'A' Championships in Portoviejo, Ecuador starting on Saturday.
The 18 players that were selected for the squad are as follows:
Zack Aukes / Woodland, Calif.
Dempsey Grover / Modesto, Calif.
Stephen Nogosek / Roseville, Calif.
Cole Bedford / Deer Park, Texas
John Paul Crawford / Lakewood, Calif.
Joe Dudek / Wall Township, N.J.
Grayson Ivey / Winder, Ga.
Jake Jarvis / Cypress, Texas
Ryan Kirby / Livermore, Calif.
Jordan Kron / Manteca, Calif.
Jesse Kuet / Huntington Beach, Calif.
Alex Martinez / Union City, Calif.
Cameron Miller / Bellaire, Texas
Nate Mondou / Bonney Lake, Wash.
Preston Palmeiro / Colleyville, Texas
Chris Rivera / Fullerton, Calif.
Matt Vogel / Medford, N.Y.
James Ziegler / Chandler, Ariz.
The team will continue to train in Miami Gardens, Fla. until Thursday when the players and staff will depart for Portoviejo, Ecuador for the Pan Am Championships.
"It's always tough having to make the final cuts," said head coach Dave Webb. "Most importantly, all 24 of these kids deserved to be here, and are great ball players. If they all continue to work hard, good things will happen for them," added Webb.
Of the 18 players selected, two will be making their second appearance with the club. Joe Dudek and Chris Rivera are both back for the their second stint with the team after participating on the 2008 team that outscored its opponents 102-1, en route to a 6-0 record at last year's Pan Am Qualifier in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
(c) 2009 News10.net. All rights reserved.
USA defeats Cuba to win gold at Baseball World Cup
The USA exploded for six two out seventh inning runs, and got a three run home run from Los Angeles Dodger prospect Lucas May and a solo home run from Tug Hulett to defeat Cuba 10-5 and successfully defend their World Cup title before a sellout crowd of 5,600 Sunday in Nettuno, Italy.
May's three run second inning home run off Norge Vera gave the US an early 3-0 lead, and it was 4-2 in the sixth when Cuba's Ariel Borerro hit a two run home run of his own off pitcher Brad Lincoln, to tie the score.
However, the USA answered right back in the seventh. With runners on second and third and two out, Trevor Plouffe reached on an error, scoring both Hulett, son of former MLB player Tim Hulett, and Buck Coates to give the US the lead again at 6-4.
Jon Weber followed with an RBI single off pitcher Pedro Lazo, and Terry Tiffee, Josh Kroger and May came right behind with RBI singles of their own to break the game open.
Alfredo Despaigne's record 11th home run cut the margin to 10-6 in the eighth, and Cuba had the bases loaded and two out in the ninth before Nate Field entered the game and got Despaigne on a fly to left to end the game.
Lincoln, a Pittsburgh Pirates prospect, got the win for USA, while May went 4-4 in the game.
The USA successfully defended its title, defeating Cuba for the second time in four days and reeling off 13 straight wins.
Justin Smoak, who set a Team USA record with nine home runs and is a top prospect for the Texas Rangers, was named tournament Most Valuable Player.
Cuba takes the silver medal for the second straight time, after nine consecutive titles, and Canada, which defeated Puerto Rico yesterday, took the bronze for their best-ever finish.
(c) 2009 USA TODAY.
Team USA beats Cuba, win streak at 12
NETTUNO, Italy -- Terry Tiffee homered, Lucas Harrell (3-0) got his third win of the tournament, pitching four innings of one-hit baseball in relief and Ehren Wassermann pitched 2 1/3 solid innings to push Team USA past Cuba, 5-3, at Stadio Borghese in Nettuno, Italy. The U.S. (12-1; 6-0) has won twelve consecutive games after dropping the opening game of the World Cup in Germany.
Trevor Plouffe reached on a fielding error at second base in the first inning and Ike Davis followed with an RBI double to the center field wall to plate the first run in the game.
Tiffee and Jason Castro extended the U.S. lead to four in the third inning. After Davis walked with two outs, Tiffee slammed a homer to deep left for his fourth home run of the 2009 World Cup. Castro later added an RBI through the right side to cap the scoring in the inning.
Buck Coats added an insurance run for the U.S. in the bottom of the eighth inning. With a runner on second base and a 4-3 lead, Coats hit an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score Josh Kroeger from second base and secured the victory for the defending World Cup champions.
B.J. Rosenberg gave up three runs in his fifth appearance in the tournament, and Cedrick Bowers forced a bases-loaded double play before Wassermann (1) closed the game for his first save.
USA starter Trevor Reckling left the game after the first inning after straining his left lateral muscle during his second inning warm-up. Reckling pitched a hitless first inning for the U.S.
The U.S. will face the Netherlands next in Round 3 Baseball World Cup action, Friday, Sept. 25th at Stadio Borghese in Nettuno, Italy. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. (1 p.m. ET).
Game Notes:
Team USA will make its twelfth appearance in a Baseball World Cup gold medal game, Sunday. The U.S. has won the Baseball World Cup three times in 1973, 1974 and .
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
ALVAREZ SETS WORLD BASEBALL CUP RECORD WITH THREE HOMERS
(TORINO, Italy) --- Pedro Alvarez hit three of Team USA's (6-1; 4-0) six home runs and the U.S. moved to 4-0 in Round 2 of the 2009 World Cup with a 14-3 victory over Chinese Taipei (4-3; 3-1) at Stadio Paschetto in Torino, Italy. Alvarez's three home runs broke the USA Baseball
World Cup record for home runs in a game.
Team USA jumped on Chinese Taipei for seven runs in the first inning to take a commanding lead early. Pedro Alvarez hit a three-run home run to right field and Jon Weber, Terry Tiffee and Buck Coats each added an RBI apiece. The U.S. followed with five more home runs over the next three innings as Weber added a tworun shot to right field and Alvarez hit his second of the night -- a solo shot to left to lead 10-0
after two. Tiffee and Lucas May added solo homers in the fourth inning and Alvarez hit his third home run to right-center field to hold a 14-0 advantage.
USA starter Todd Redmond (2-0) gave up three runs and struck out six batters in six innings pitched, for his second win of the World Cup. B.J. Rosenberg closed out the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, striking out one batter. The game was then stopped due to the
IBAF ten-run rule.
Alvarez finished the game 3-for-4 with six RBI. Weber also went 3-for-4 for Team USA, finishing with three RBI and three runs scored.
The six USA home runs tied the USA Baseball World Cup Team record for home runs in a game.
The U.S. will face Australia, Friday, September 18th at 8 PM (2 PM ET) at Stadio De Benedetti in Piacenza, Italy. Trevor Reckling (1-0) is expected to take the mound for the red, white and blue.
The box score and play-by-play of today's game accompanies this press release.
Game Notes:
* The game lasted 2 hours and 21 minutes.
* Pedro Alvarez hit three home runs in the game, breaking the USA Baseball World Cup Record for home runs in a game. Twelve USA Baseball players have hit two-home runs in a single World Cup game, including current teammate Justin Smoak.
* Team USA tied the USA Baseball World Cup record for home runs in a game with six. The U.S. has hit six home runs in only two other World Cup games -- in 2007 and 1988 -- both against Spain.
* Trevor Plouffe has registered a hit in the last six games, currently the longest hitting streak for Team USA in the 2009 World Cup.
(c) AltoonaCurve.
|
