What’s In This Issue?
• From Fractured Back To National Pitcher Of Year: Jimmy Adkins of Salisbury University wore a back brace for three months and then went through rehabilitation for six additional months. Then magic happened as he became the NCAA Div. III National Pitcher of The Year in 2022.
• Remarkable Baseball Journey: Grant Kerry of Tarleton St. has played the game in Kuwait, Australia, United States and Canada. His tale of playing the sport is fascinating.
• Lou Pavlovich Column: Wake Forest skipper Tom Walter has led the Deacs to a 13-0 record and recently won his 800th career win. What many people don’t realize is that he is a real superman and an inspiration to all of baseball with his selfless acts.
• Wild Baseball Game: Virginia Military Institute beats Mississippi St., 14-13 despite being outhit 17-7 and trailing at one time, 10-1.
• Editorial: NCAA Div. 3 teams must be treated with greater respect. Teams have been required to play 4 games in 24 hours during the playoffs. Also, Minnesota-Morris had to play 10 games over the final six days of the 2022 season. Is this right?
• National Players Of The Week Powered By Diamond: DH/1B Liam McFadden-Ackman of Northern Kentucky belted two grand slams in the same inning and hit for the cycle in the same game as he collected 10 RBI. RHP Ryan Brown of Ball St. strikes out 17 batters in 6 1/3 innings. Plus 1B Jac Caglianone of Florida hits 6 home runs with 10 RBI over five games, plus much more.
• CB’s NCAA Div. I Poll Presented By Big League Chew: LSU No. 1 after rolling to 6-1 record and only committing two errors in 234 chances over seven games and averaging 9.8 runs per game.
• NCAA Div. I Notes: Chase Mora of Texas St. has a remarkable start to his collegiate career as the true freshman hits a home run in his first three career plate appearances against Northwestern. Wake Forest pitchers Rhett Lowder and Sean Sullivan combine to strike out 20 Illinois batters during an 8-1 win, plus much more.
• Junior College Notes: SS B.Y. Choi of New Mexico Military Institute has been sizzling hot to kick off the 2023 season with a .604 batting average, 6 homers, 6 triples, 4 doubles and 32 RBI in just 16 games. On defense, he has only committed 1 error, plus much more.
• NCAA Div. 2 Notes: Wingate’s Seaver King hits for the cycle against Nova Southeastern, University of Mary sets a school record for runs (26), hits (24) and home runs (9) in a 26-14 win over Southern Nazarene, plus much more.
• Ruleball With Rich Marazzi: Your questions on baseball rules are answered in this special column.
• Jack Dunn Column: Strategic offensive considerations must be looked at in the quest for winning games.
• NCAA Div. 3 Notes: Two sets of identical twins star at Buena Vista University in Drew and Evan Taylor in addition to Jordan and Caden Mathewson. In a recent game, three of the four hit a home run. Pearce Bucher of Shenandoah University saw his hitting streak stop at 41 games, plus much more.
• Charlie Greene Column: Sliding skills can be honed with attention to details.
• CB’s National H.S. Top 30 Poll Presented By Diamond Pro: Calvary Christian (Clearwater, FL) No. 1 after racing to 3-0 record and outscoring opponents 31-4 followed by JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, CA), Barbe (Lake Charles, LA), Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV) and Jesuit (Tampa, FL).
• High School Notes: Will St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, MI) keep its 66-game winning streak alive this season? Eaglets have the seventh highest winning streak in high school baseball history and are chasing the all-time record of 89 straight wins.
• NAIA Notes: Scott Berry of Mayville State will retire at end of the 2023 season, Bryan College belts 10 home runs to beat Lindsey Wilson, 20-5, plus much more.
