By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

STILLWATER, Okla. — Hitting discipline is becoming rare in baseball.

The highest amount of strikeouts took place last season in NCAA Div. I baseball over the past 50 years. Teams averaged a record 8.08 strikeouts per nine innings as the quest to hit more home runs grew.

Also consider the batting average for Division I teams was only .269 in 2019 — the lowest in the past 47 years.

The final year of wood bats being used in college baseball (1973) was the last time batting averages were lower (.266) in Division I baseball.

In the September 6 edition of Collegiate Baseball, we delved into the NCAA Div. I Baseball Statistics Trends report which was compiled by Jeff Williams, Associate Director of Media Coordination and Statistics with the NCAA.

In an effort to find out why hitting discipline is suffering so much, we contacted the greatest hitting coach of all time in Gary Ward, former head coach at Oklahoma State.

He has spent a lifetime studying hitting and why hitters thrive and fail.

In 19 years as the head coach with the Cowboys, his teams led all NCAA Div. I teams in run production six times.

During those 19 years, his teams averaged 9.2 runs per game.

What fueled that incredible run production was a remarkable on-base percentage by his hitters which was kick started by walks because of disciplined hitters who refused to swing at marginal pitches.

When you look at the on-base percentage of Ward’s teams during that time, his offense never had a lower on-base percentage than .423 after his first two seasons with the Cowboys.

During the 1987 and 1988 seasons, the on-base percentages were extraordinary at .500 and .517.

His teams walked more than any school in NCAA Div. I history as they averaged 7.1 walks per game.

In 15 of those 19 seasons, his batters walked at least 415 times a season with a high of 607 walks during the 1986 season. That year, OSU batters walked an average of 8.5 times per game.

In many of those years, his hitters walked 60 percent while striking out 40 percent when comparing the two numbers.

To read more of this article, purchase the Oct. 4, 2019 edition or subscribe by CLICKING HERE. Gary Ward delves into how his hitting system was arrived at by extensively studying golf, tennis and baseball mechanics, why reverse engineering is crucial, the importance of not dictating to hitters and allowing them to own everything they do along with the value of ball exit speed. This story is the first time he has shared his differential training system and what defines poor batting practice.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Vanderbilt landed the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, according to Collegiate Baseball’s 2019 evaluation of NCAA Division I baseball classes.

It marks the Commodores’ third national recruiting title by Collegiate Baseball with other top-ranked classes in 2017 and 2012.

Over the last three years, Vanderbilt’s recruiting classes have been No. 1 by CB in 2017, second in 2018 and first in 2019.

This is the 10th time in the last 11 years that a Southeastern Conference team has won the recruiting title.

It is the 37th straight year Collegiate Baseball has evaluated NCAA Division I recruiting classes.

Athletes who initially signed letters of intent with a school but then signed a pro contract after being drafted do not count in the overall evaluation.

Only athletes who came to school this fall are factored in as points are awarded to drafted players and the round they were chosen, All-Americans, All-State selections and All-Conference picks.

Collegiate Baseball also gives points for Conference Players of The Year, State Players of The Year and National Players of The Year.

The Commodores landed an impressive haul of 15 freshmen which features five drafted players, including:

• RHP Jack Leiter (Delbarton School, NJ), 20th round pick by Yankees.
• OF/LHP Spencer Jones (La Costa Canyon H.S., CA), 31st round pick by Angels.
• 3B Parker Noland (Farragut H.S., TN), 31st round pick by Marlins.
• C Maxwell Romero (Pembroke Pines Charter, FL), 38th round pick by Reds.
• SS Tyler McKenzie (The Benjamin School, FL), 39th round Cardinals.

Other exceptional players in the class include:

• RHP Michael Doolin (Andrean H.S., IN).
• SS Will Duff (Springfield Catholic H.S., MO).
• RHP Sam Hliboki (Harvard Westlake H.S., CA).
• OF Ryan Keenan (Calvary Christian Academy, FL).
• OF Troy LaNeve (Pine-Richland H.S., PA).
• SS Nick Maldonado (Seton Hall Prep, NJ).
• 3B/C/SS Chris McElvain (Summit H.S., TN).
• C C.J. Rodriguez (Mater Dei H.S., CA)
• RHP Thomas Schultz (Our Lady of Lourdes H.S., PA).
• SS Carter Young (Selah H.S., WA).

A complete rundown on the top 25 recruiting classes is featured in the Oct. 4 issue of Collegiate Baseball. To purchase the Oct. 4, 2019 edition, CLICK HERE.

2019 NCAA Div. I Recruiting Results
By Collegiate Baseball
(As of Sept. 23, 2019)

1. Vanderbilt
2. Florida
3. South Carolina
4. Mississippi
5. Texas Christian
6. Louisiana St.             
7. Alabama
8. Arizona St.
9. Auburn
10. Oklahoma St.
11. Arizona
12. Texas
13. North Carolina
14. Clemson
15. Miami (Fla.)
16. Arkansas
17. Mississippi St.
18. Utah
19. Georgia Tech.
20. Virginia
21. UCLA
22. Louisville
23. Oregon St.
24. Tennessee
25. Kentucky
26. Stanford
27. N.C. State
28. Coastal Carolina
29. Oklahoma
30. Grand Canyon
31. Florida St.
32. Missouri
33. Dallas Baptist
34. Rice
35. Missouri St.
36. Michigan
37. Texas A&M
38. Texas Tech.
39. Houston
40. East Carolina

Other Top Recruiting Classes: U.C. Santa Barbara, Cal. St. Fullerton, Maryland, Georgia, Brigham Young, San Diego St., St. John’s, West Virginia, Southern California, Washington, San Diego, U.C. Irvine, Wichita St., Minnesota, Duke, Oregon, Illinois, Cal Poly, Gonzaga, Southern Mississippi, Pepperdine, Stetson, Fresno St., Sam Houston St., Baylor, Kent St., South Alabama, Creighton, Connecticut, Louisiana-Lafayette, Troy, Nevada, Hawaii, Tulane, Michigan St., Bradley, Rutgers, Nevada-Las Vegas, Miami (Ohio), Virginia Tech., Indiana, California, Florida International, Northeastern, Tennessee Tech., New Mexico St., Notre Dame, Central Michigan, Stony Brook, Florida Atlantic, Ball St.

Source: Collegiate Baseball

Previous NCAA Div. I
Recruiting Champions
By Collegiate Baseball

2018: Louisiana St.
2017: Vanderbilt
2016: Arizona St.
2015: Florida
2014: Louisiana St.
2013: Florida
2012: Vanderbilt
2011: South Carolina
2010: Louisiana St.
2009: Florida
2008: Arizona St.
2007: Louisiana St.
2006: South Carolina
2005: South Carolina
2004: Louisiana St.
2003: North Carolina
MMMISouth Carolina
2002: Georgia Tech.
2001: Southern California
2000: Cal. St. Fullerton
1999: Southern California
1998: Georgia Tech.
1997: UCLA
1996: Texas A&M
1995: Arizona St.
1994: Mississippi St.
1993: Miami (Fla.)
1992: Florida St.
1991: Miami (Fla.)
1990: Arizona
1989: Florida St.
1988: Miami (Fla.)
1987: Stanford
1986: Stanford
1985: Hawaii
1984: Florida St.
1983: Arizona St.

Source: Collegiate Baseball