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Special Report: Skin Cancer & Coaching

Special Report: Skin Cancer & Coaching

by • Featured Stories

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Skin cancer can kill. Former Southern Illinois Head Coach Dan Callahan lost his life battling neurotropic melanoma skin cancer in 2010.

Gonzaga associate head baseball coach Danny Evans died last April at the age of 41 from stage 4 melanoma cancer.

Head Coach Paul Keyes of Virginia Commonwealth also died of skin cancer in 2012.

Florida Gulf Coast University baseball coach Dave Tollett received a big scare after a biopsy was performed on a large bump near his right nostril in 2012.

The biopsy revealed basil cell carcinoma. Tollett had the tumor removed and endured 15 stitches.

Over the years, thousands of veteran coaches have suffered serious skin damage and even died from being in the sun an insane number of hours over a lifetime as a coach.

Louisville Head Baseball Coach Dan McDonnell estimates that he has spent 45,000 hours in the sun during his 30-year coaching career.

Collegiate Baseball estimates that the typical college coach has played baseball from the age of 8-21 and has spent an additional 8,100 hours in the sun. 

When you add it up, veteran coaches with 30 years of experience have spent approximately 53,000 hours in the sun when adding their playing days to the number of years they have coached.

No wonder the skin of veteran coaches in outdoor sports looks leathery and damaged.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.

Consider these important facts:

  • According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.
  • More than two people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour while more than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day.
  • More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined.
  • More than 5,400 people worldwide die of non-melanoma skin cancer every month.
  • An estimated 197,700 cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2022. An estimated 7,650 people will die of melanoma in 2022.
  • On average, a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if they have had more than five sunburns. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life.
  • Regular outdoor use of an SPF 30 or higher sunscreen reduces the risk of developing melanoma by 50 percent.
  • People who use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher daily show 24 percent less skin aging than those who do not use sunscreen daily.
  • An estimated 90 percent of skin aging is caused by the sun.
  • Sun damage is cumulative. Only about 23 percent of lifetime exposure occurs by the age of 18.
  • All skin cancers – basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma – are caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

The more years you are involved in the game of baseball, the greater the risk of skin cancer.

Since Collegiate Baseball was started in 1958, we have come in contact with thousands of veteran baseball coaches who have sustained serious skin damage since they work in the sun countless hours each year.

Of those, many have had cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions taken off their arms, face, neck and other body parts by freezing them with liquid nitrogen, surgically cutting out cancerous tissue, utilizing radiation or chemotherapy and also destroying skin cancer cells with a combination of laser light and drugs (see below for entire treatments).

In short, it can be hell going through such treatment.

Treat options for skin cancer and pre-cancerous skin lesions vary, depending on the size, type, depth and location of the lesions.

To read more of this story, purchase the Sept. 2, 2022 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE. The Sept. 2 edition includes three stories on the subject of Skin Cancer & Coaching. It includes the main report, a special feature about the University of Louisville’s Dan McDonnell and his skin protection advice after spending 45,000 hours in the sun over 30 years of coaching. In addition, we include a special question and answer session with one of the top dermatologists in the nation in Dr. Susan Chon of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Tex. who explains how to battle the sun with important tips, including clothing, protective sleeves and hats.

Is College Game Out Of Balance With Offense?

Is College Game Out Of Balance With Offense?

by • Featured


By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

OMAHA, Neb. — Is college baseball out of balance with too many home runs?

An all-time record of 452 home runs were hit during the 2022 NCAA Div. I baseball championship which includes the Regionals, Super Regionals and College World Series.

In fact, the new record was already set before the 2022 College World Series even started.

The recent CWS had 28 home runs over 15 games which is well short of the all-time record of 62 homers belted at the 1998 College World Series.

The 2022 championship total eclipsed the previous all-time record of 409 home runs set during the 2021 NCAA Div. I playoffs, according to Jeff Williams, NCAA Associate Director of Media Coordination and Statistics.

During the 2022 Regionals and Super Regionals, there were nine games where a team scored 20 or more runs.

A team scored 10 or more runs 56 times during the Regionals and Super Regionals.

If you have followed college baseball closely since 1998, it doesn’t seem possible that this could have transpired.

Here is a short history lesson.

During the 1998 College World Series, a record 62 home runs were hit which eclipsed the old standard of 48 hit during the 1995 CWS.

Louisiana St. and eventual national champion Southern California each hit 17 home runs to set a new record.

A look inside the 1998 College World Series home runs revealed:

  • LSU hit 17 homers by 10 different players.
  • Southern California hit 17 homers by seven different players.
  • Arizona St. belted 9 homers hit by seven different players.
  • In all, 62 homers were hit by 42 different players which was an all-time high.
  • The championship game was won by Southern California, 21-14 over Arizona St.

Game Out Of Balance
The immediate reaction to the record number of home runs at the 1998 College World Series and football score in the title game from the NCAA Div. I Baseball Committee and NCAA Rules Committee was swift.

Something had to be done about high performance bats that were being utilized by players in NCAA baseball.

An arms race was taking place by bat manufacturers who were now producing legal bats that were hitting balls harder and further than ever before.

A boiling point had been reached where the NCAA Rules Committee voted for hard-hitting new performance standards on bats which would make non-wood bats perform closer to wooden bats.

BBCOR specification bats were ultimately required with the 2011 season and offensive numbers plummeted in college baseball, as the home run had become nearly extinct.

The poster child for lack of offense took place at the 2013 and 2014 College World Series as only three home runs were hit each year. A number of balls that looked like home run shots were caught at the warning track.

It marked the lowest home run totals since 1966 when only two home runs were hit in 15 games.

From an all-time high of 62 homers at the 1998 College World Series, the numbers dipped lower and lower with 9 in 2011, 10 in 2012 and 3 in 2013 and 2014. These numbers closely mirrored the wood bat era in college baseball which took place up to the 1973 season.

Engineers who designed the BBCOR specification for bats to get the game back in balance did a superb job. In fact, the bats were so effective in reducing the speed of balls off bats that unscrupulous players began utilizing illegal bats that had been rolled or had the barrels shaved for more trampoline effect which meant the balls would fly further.

In some cases, you were seeing 6-7 batters from the same team using the exact same bat which was a telltale sign that an illegal bat was being used.

The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee ultimately approved in-season bat testing for all NCAA baseball schools to prevent such bat doctoring. This rule also has been in place for the NCAA playoffs.

Using Flat Seam Ball
During the 2011-2014 seasons, there was a serious lack of home runs in NCAA baseball because of the new BBCOR specification bats as stated above.

To correct that problem, beginning with the 2015 season flat seam baseballs were used throughout NCAA Division I baseball.

The flat seam ball seemed like the perfect solution to bring the home run back into the game.

After several months of testing at the NCAA Bat Certification lab at Washington State University, results showed that the flat seam ball would travel further than a raised seam ball due to the “drag effect.”

The test was conducted with an average ball exit speed from a machine at 95 mph with a spin rate of 1,400 RPM and a launch angle of 25 degrees. These parameters were set because they replicate the settings of a typical home run or a hit that could become a home run.

The average distance the raised seam ball traveled was 367 feet while the average distance the flat seam ball traveled was 387 feet — 20 feet further.

Now the game was in balance.

With the record number of home runs in the last two NCAA Div. I baseball championships, the big question now is whether colleges should go back to the raised seam ball if there is concern that the game is out of balance with too many home runs.

To read more of this article, purchase the July 15, 2022 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE. Mike Buddie, chairman of the NCAA Div. I Baseball Committee, said his committee will monitor the record number of home runs being hit. He personally is concerned that the balance of the game is out of whack with the record number of home runs being hit the last two seasons. The story also asks whether any proposal is on the table by the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee to change the ball to the flat-seam variety that was used previously. Ole Miss Head Coach Mike Bianco also chimes in on the subject.

Bianco Named CB’s National Coach Of Year

Bianco Named CB’s National Coach Of Year

by • Featured

TUCSON, Ariz. — University of Mississippi head baseball coach Mike Bianco has been named Collegiate Baseball’s National Coach of The Year.

He led the  Rebels to their first national baseball title by beating Oklahoma two straight in the Championship Finals of the College World Series enroute to a 42-23 overall record.

It marks the second time in three years Bianco has been named Collegiate Baseball’s National Coach of The Year after also winning the honor in 2020 after leading Ole Miss to a 16-1 record in a COVID-19 shortened season. After losing their first game of the season, the Rebels won their next 16 games before the season ended.

It is the fourth consecutive year a coach from the Southeastern Conference has been named National Coach of The Year by Collegiate Baseball.

Chris Lemonis (Mississippi St., 2021) and Tim Corbin (Vanderbilt, 2019) also won the award after leading their teams to national championships.

During the six games the Rebels played at the College World Series, the Rebels led all teams with a 2.00 ERA and struck out 64 batters while only walking 14 batters over 54 innings. The person calling all of those pitches was none other than Bianco.

Ole Miss batters hit a CWS-high 9 home runs while the defense only allowed 1 stolen base in 2 attempts.

The Rebels hit a school record 108 home runs this season in 65 games.

Ole Miss struggled in the talent-rich Southeastern Conference with a 14-16 league record which was tied for the eighth best record.

The Rebels were the last team invited to the NCAA tournament as an at-large team and caught fire at the right time winning 10 of its 11 games in the NCAA playoffs.

In 22 seasons leading the program, Bianco has delivered 18 post-season appearances, including eight Super Regional berths and two trips to the College World Series. He has racked up 854 victories.

Those wins are the most in Rebel baseball history and rank third all-time among coaches in the SEC. He also stands as the winningest and longest-active coach in the SEC among the sports of baseball, men’s basketball and football. The Rebels have reached the 30-win plateau in each of Bianco’s 21 full seasons, including ten 40-win campaigns. 

The Rebels posted three straight 40-win seasons from 2005-07 for the first time in school history and have hit the program record of 48 wins three times, most recently a 48-17 (.738) season in 2018, which came as the best win percentage by a Rebel team in the past 48 seasons.

That 48-win campaign set in motion four 40-win seasons in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022.

Previous Collegiate Baseball National Coaches of The Year include:

  • 2021: Chris Lemonis, Mississippi St.
  • 2020: Mike Bianco, Mississippi
  • 2019: Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt
  • 2018: Pat Casey, Oregon St.
  • 2017: Kevin O’Sullivan, Florida
  • 2016: Gary Gilmore, Coastal Carolina
  • 2015: Brian O’Connor, Virginia
  • 2014: Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt
  • 2013: John Savage, UCLA
  • 2012: Andy Lopez, Arizona
  • 2011: Ray Tanner, South Carolina
  • 2010: Ray Tanner, South Carolina
  • 2009: Paul Mainieri, Louisiana St.
  • 2008: Mike Batesole, Fresno St.
  • 2007: Pat Casey, Oregon St.
  • 2006: Pat Casey, Oregon St.
  • 2005: Augie Garrido, Texas
  • 2004: George Horton, Cal. St. Fullerton
  • 2003: Wayne Graham, Rice
  • 2002: Augie Garrido, Texas
  • 2001: Jim Morris, Miami (Fla.)
  • 2000: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.
  • 1999: Jim Morris, Miami (Fla.)
  • 1998: Mike Gillespie, Southern Calif.
                Mike Batesole, Cal. St. Northridge
  • 1997: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.
  • 1996: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.,
                 Andy Lopez, Florida
  • 1995: Augie Garrido, Cal. St. Fullerton
  • 1994: Larry Cochell, Oklahoma
  • 1993: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.
  • 1992: Andy Lopez, Pepperdine
  • 1991: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.
  • 1990: Steve Webber, Georgia
  • 1989: Dave Snow, Long Beach St.
  • 1988: Larry Cochell, Cal. St. Fullerton
  • 1987: Mark Marquess, Stanford
  • 1986: Jerry Kindall, Arizona
  • 1985: Ron Fraser, Miami (Fla.)
  • 1984: Augie Garrido, Cal. St. Fullerton
  • 1983: Cliff Gustafson, Texas
  • 1982: Ron Fraser, Miami (Fla.)
  • 1981: Jim Brock, Arizona St.
  • 1980: Jerry Kindall, Arizona
Collegiate Baseball 2022 HS All-Americans

Collegiate Baseball 2022 HS All-Americans

by • Featured

TUCSON, Ariz. — The 2022 Collegiate Baseball High School All-American teams, powered by Diamond Sports, are loaded with outstanding talent from across the nation.

The 2022 high school spring season was able to return to normal schedules in most parts of the country after two years of interruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many of our All-Americans are top prospects for the upcoming Major League Draft which will be held in July, and numerous players have already received national awards as well as state and regional honors.

Leading the team is Collegiate Baseball’s National High School Player of the Year SS Jackson Holliday of Stillwater HS (OK).

Playing in Oklahoma’s 6A division against some of the state’s top teams, Holliday hit .685 over 40 games with 29 doubles, 6 triples, 17 home runs, 79 RBI, scored 74 runs and stole 30 bases. His first strikeout of the season didn’t happen until his 103rd plate appearance. In fact, he only had 7 strikeouts in 130 at-bats all season.

He broke the National High School single season hit record with 89 hits, according to his coach, Jimmy Harris. The National Federation of High School Sports record book says the single season hit record is 88 held by Jacob Realmuto of Carl Albert HS (Midwest City, OK) in 2010.

Additionally, he is one of the top defensive high school shortstops, committing only 3 errors in 150 chances. He had 11 assists and was involved with 23 doubles plays.

“Jackson has played in every big event that a high school kid can play in. He is the best team guy, teammate, hardest worker, and loves his team,” Harris said.

“Watching him this season was the most fun. He had such a great year and did it with all the pressure to perform each day.”

Holliday signed with Oklahoma State, but is expected to be a first-round pick in the MLB Draft.

Nominations for the All-Americans are submitted by the player’s high school coach, and the staff of Collegiate Baseball chooses the honorees.

For in-depth information about each of the 2022 Collegiate Baseball H.S. All-Americans, purchase the June 17, 2022 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE.

First Team
Pitchers

  • Eli Jerzembeck, RHP, Providence HS, Charlotte, NC
  • Riley Quick, RHP, Hewitt Trussville HS, Trussville, AL
  • Walter Ford, RHP, Pace HS, FL
  • Brody Fowler, RHP, Eastside HS, Taylors, SC
  • Griffin Stieg, RHP, McLean HS, VA
  • Jackson Ferris, LHP, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
  • Brock Porter, RHP, St. Mary’s Prep, Orchard Lake, MI
  • Andrew Dutkanych, RHP, Brebeauf Jesuit HS, Indianapolis, IN
  • Wyatt Danilowicz, LHP, Traverse City West HS, MI
  • Jacob Miller, RHP, Liberty Union HS, Baltimore, OH
  • Wyatt Wiatrek, RHP, Sinton HS, TX
  • Grayson Grinsell, LHP, Reno HS, NV
  • JD Thompson, LHP, Rusk HS, TX
  • Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford HS, GA
  • Isaac Sewell, LHP, The First Academy, Orlando, FL
  • Louis Rodriguez, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS, Orange, CA
  • Logan Salomon, RHP, Hamilton HS, Chandler, AZ
  • J.R. Ritchie, RHP, Bainbridge HS, Bainbridge Island, WA
  • Tristan Smith, LHP, Boiling Springs HS, SC
  • David Lally, RHP, Grand Blanc HS, MI
  • Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
  • Christian Rodriguez, RHP, Stoneman Douglas HS, Parkland, FL

Catchers

  • Malcolm Moore, CK McClatchy HS, Sacramento, CA
  • Ike Irish, St. Mary’s Prep, Orchard Lake, MI.
  • Rylan Galvan, Sinton HS, TX
  • Jared Jones, Walton HS, Marietta, GA
  • Ross Highfill, Madison Central HS, Madison, MS
  • Rashawn Galloway, Boerne HS, TX
  • Brady Thomas, Northwest Rankin HS, Flowood, MS
  • Dylan Maxcey, Friendswood HS, TX

Infielders

  • Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater HS, OK
  • Colin Houck, SS/3B, Parkview HS, Lilburn, GA
  • Xavier Isaac, 1B, East Forsyth HS, Kernersville, NC
  • Cutter Coffey, SS, Liberty HS, Bakersfield, CA
  • Fisher Ingersoll, SS, American Fork HS, UT
  • Sal Stewart, 3B, Westminster Christian HS, Miami, FL
  • Termarr Johnson, SS, B.E. Mays HS, Atlanta, GA
  • Jett Williams, SS, Rockwall-Heath HS, Heath, TX
  • Tucker Toman, 3B, Hammond School, Columbia, SC
  • Gavin Grahovac, SS, Villa Park HS, CA
  • Cole Young, SS, North Allegheny HS, Wexford, PA
  • Camden Kozeal, SS, Millard South HS, Omaha, NE
  • Jayden Hylton, 1B, Palm Beach Gardens HS, FL
  • Preston Barnes, SS, Danville HS, KY
  • Greg Pettay, SS, The First Academy, Orlando, FL
  • Henry Godbout, SS, Baylor School, Chattanooga, TN
  • Jackson Smith, 1B, Owasso HS, OK
  • Demetrio Crisantes, SS/2B, Nogales HS, AZ

Outfielders

  • Andruw Jones, Wesleyan School, Peachtree Corners, GA
  • Drew Burress, Houston County HS, Warner Robins, GA
  • Dakota Jordan, Jackson Academy, Jackson, MS
  • Gavin Turley, Hamilton HS, Chandler, AZ
  • Henry Bolt, Palo Alto HS, CA
  • Roman Anthony, Stoneman Douglas HS, Parkland, FL
  • Elijah Green, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
  • Justin Crawford, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas, NV
  • Jake Dresselhouse, St. Mary’s Prep, Orchard Lake, MI
  • Gage Harrelson, Houston County HS, Warner Robins, GA
  • Paxton Kling, Central Martinsburg HS, Martinsburg, PA
  • Jordan Taylor, St. Johns Country Day School, Orange Park, FL

Multi-Position Athletes

  • Owen Murphy, RHP/SS, Riverside Brookfield HS, Riverside, IL
  • Karson Milbrandt, RHP/OF, Liberty HS, MO.
  • Nick Monistere, SS/RHP, Northwest Rankin HS, Flowood, MS
  • Brennan Phillips, LHP/OF, Owasso HS, OK
  • Robby Snelling, CF/LHP, McQueen HS, Reno, NV
  • Jaden Noot, RHP/OF, Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, CA
  • Ethan Frey, C/RHP, Rosepine HS, LA
  • Cooper Dossett, RHP/CF, Har-Ber HS, Springdale, AR
  • Josh Tiedemann, 1B/RHP, Hamilton HS, Chandler, AZ
  • Gavin Guidry, SS/RHP, Barbe HS, Lake Charles, LA
  • Nolan Perry, SS/RHP, Carlsbad HS, NM
  • Logan Pruski, SS/RHP, Bishop Manogue HS, Reno, NV
  • Mason Swinney, SS/RHP, Phil Campbell HS, AL
  • Ben Barrett, RHP/3B, The First Academy, Orlando,
  • Trenton Shaw, LHP/1B, Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, TX
  • Max Clark, OF/LHP, Franklin Community HS, IN

Second Team
Pitchers

  • Owen Schexnaydre, RHP, Vanderbilt Catholic HS, Houma, LA
  • Mason Cirkel, LHP, Rusk HS, TX
  • Cade Perkins, LHP, Manhattan HS, KS
  • Alex Clemmey, LHP, Bishop Hendricken HS, Warwick, RI
  • Michael Forret, RHP, Providence HS, Charlotte, NC
  • Bradley Loftin, LHP, DeSoto Central HS, Southaven, MS
  • Ben Moore, LHP, Linganore HS, Frederick, MD
  • Jaxson Pease, RHP, Farragut HS, Knoxville, TN
  • Brayden Sharp, LHP, The Woodlands HS, TX
  • Jaxson Cahoy, RHP, Millard West HS, Omaha, NE
  • Evan Blanco, LHP, Austin Prep, Reading, MA
  • JJ Hollis, RHP, JSerra Catholic HS, San Juan Capistrano, CA
  • Max Tramontana, RHP, Archbishop Moeller HS, Cincinnati, OH

Catchers

  • Bryce Hubbard, Wesleyan School, Peachtree Corners, GA
  • Jaret Nelson, Nixa HS, MO
  • Easton Romero, Spanish Fork HS, UT
  • Brandyn Durand, Bishop Hendricken HS, Warwick, RI

Infielders

  • Dallas Macias, SS, Regis Jesuit HS, Aurora, CO
  • Tyler Triche, SS/3B, North Forsyth HS, Cumming, GA
  • Mikey Romero, SS, Orange Lutheran HS, Orange, CA
  • Mason White, SS, Salpointe Catholic HS, Tucson, AZ
  • Mike Cruz, 3B/1B, Reno HS, NV
  • Austin Hawke, SS, Reagan HS, Pfafftown, NC
  • Jacob Reimer, SS, Yucaipa HS, CA
  • Matthew Rose, 2B, Calvary Christian HS, Clearwater, FL
  • Gregory Melo, 3B, George Washington HS, New York, NY
  • Blake Grimmer, 3B, St. Mary’s Prep, Orchard Lake, MI
  • Cooper Blauser, SS, Wesleyan School, Peachtree Corners, GA
  • Jake McCutcheon, SS, Francis Howell HS, St. Charles, MO

Outfielders

  • Peyton Martin, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Madison, MS
  • Nicolas Nunez-Cabrera, George Washington HS, New York, NY
  • Kristian Sprawling, DeSoto Central HS, Southaven, MS
  • Solomon Skalnik, Owasso HS, OK
  • Kaden Martin, Buford HS, GA

Multiple Position Athletes

  • Brad Hodges, LHP/1B, St. Johns Country Day School, Orange Park, FL
  • Seth Keller, SS/RHP, Hanover HS, Mechanicsville, VA
  • Brady Morse, C/RHP, Danville HS, KY
  • Blake Mitchell, C/RHP, Sinton HS, TX
  • Mavis Graves, LHP/1B, Eastside HS, Taylors, SC
  • Brenner Cox, CF/RHP, Rock Hill HS, Frisco, TX
  • Davis Gillespie, 3B/RHP, Oak Mountain HS, Birmingham, AL
  • Ty Wisdom, 2B/RHP, Liberty North HS, Liberty, MO
  • Erik Blair, 1B/LHP, American Heritage, Plantation, FL
  • Jordan Medellin, SS/RHP, Bay Area Christian School, League City, TX
  • Jake Tucker, LHP/1B, Mount Paran Christian School, Kennesaw, GA
  • Jaquae Stewart, 1B/LHP, Sinton HS, TX
  • Brady Baxter, RHP/3B, Danville HS, KY
  • Eric Nachtsheim, RHP/1B, Reno HS, NV

About Diamond Sports
Diamond Sports manufactures high quality baseball and softball products for all levels. Diamond Sports is based in Southern California and is proud to be the Official Ball of many great college conferences, as well as leagues, tournaments and organizations nationwide. Diamond is the Official Ball of the American Baseball Coaches Association. You can find Diamond on the internet at diamond-sports.com

 

Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-Americans

Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-Americans

by • Featured Stories

TUCSON, Ariz. — The 2022 Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-American team, powered by Diamond Sports, features a wealth of baseball talent.

The squad is headed by Collegiate Baseball’s National Co-Freshmen Players of The Year in DH Tommy White (N.C. State) and RHP Chase Burns (Tennessee)

Here is the 2022 Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-American team.

Starting Pitchers

RHP Chase Burns (Tennessee): Collegiate Baseball’s Co-National Freshman Player of The Year, he was a second team Southeastern Conference selectin and member of the All-Freshmen team in the SEC.

Burns posted an 8-1 record, 2.69 ERA and struck out 98 batters with 24 walks over 73 2/3 innings.

LHP Ryan Feczko (Davidson): A second team Atlantic-10 pick and Rookie of The Year in the league, Feczko had a 10-0 record, 3.21 ERA and struck out 60 batters with 20 walks over 73 innings.

RHP Drue Hackenberg (Virginia Tech.): A first team ACC pick and member of the ACC All-Freshmen team, Hackenberg posted a 10-2 record, 2.83 ERA and struck out 80 batters with 15 walks over 86 innings.

RHP Ryan Gallagher (U.C. Santa Barbara): Named Freshman Pitcher of The Year in the Big West and a second team Big West pick, Gallagher was 8-0 with a 3.00 ERA and struck out 60 batters with 28 walks over 78 innings.

RHP Jacob Kmatz (Oregon St.): Kmatz posted an 8-1 record, 3.89 ERA and struck out 64 batters with 19 walks over 74 innings.

LHP Blake Morgan (Old Dominion): Named Freshman of The Year in Conference USA and a first team all-league pick, he was 8-0 with a 1.69 ERA and struck out 66 batters with only 8 walks in 69 1/3 innings.

LHP Devin Futrell (Vanderbilt): A member of the SEC All-Freshmen team, Futrell struck out 60 batters with 11 walks over 57 1/3 innings and posted an 8-3 record with a 3.77 ERA.

LHP Carter Holton (Vanderbilt): Holton posted an 8-3 record, 3.15 ERA and struck out 92 batters with 29 walks over 74 1/3 innings. He was a member of the SEC All-Freshmen team.

RHP Daniel Avita (Grand Canyon): Named Pitcher of The Year in the WAC and Freshman of The Year in the league, Avita struck out 107 batters with 16 walks and posted an 8-4 record and 3.59 ERA in 82 2/3 innings.

RHP Drew Beam (Tennessee): A second team SEC selection and member of the All-Freshmen SEC squad, Beam posted an 8-1 record, 2.60 ERA and fanned 60 batters with 17 walks over 72 2/3 innings.

RHP Ian Cooke (Connecticut): Cooke had a 7-1 record, 3.33 ERA and struck out 50 batters with 15 walks over 48 2/3 innings. He also posted 1 save.

RHP Landon Gartman (Memphis): A first team American Athletic selection and Newcomer Pitcher of The Year in the league, Gartman was 7-1 with a 3.56 ERA and struck out 94 batters with 29 walks over 86 innings.

LHP Shea Sprague (Elon): A first team Colonial Athletic Association pick and Co-Rookie of The Year in the league, Sprague posted a 6-3 record, 1.89 ERA and struck out 41 batters with 13 walks over 62 innings.

LHP Garrett Horn (Liberty): A second team Atlantic Sun pick and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Horn was 6-1 with a 1.93 ERA and fanned 80 batters with 24 walks over 51 1/3 innings.

RHP RJ Sales (N.C. Wilmington): A first team Colonial Athletic Association pick and member of the All-Rookie team in the league, Sales was 6-1 with a 3.52 ERA and struck out 59 batters with 37 walks.

LHP Vincent Spizzoucco (Central Connecticut St.): Named Rookie of The Year in the Northeast Conference and a second team All-League pick, he posted a 6-2 record, 3.77 ERA, 3 saves and fanned 61 batters with 21 walks over 57 1/3 innings.

LHP Zach Garcia (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi): A second team Southland pick, he posted a 6-3 record with 2 saves, 3.86 ERA and struck out 65 batters with 19 walks over 67 2/3 innings.

LHP Hagen Smith (Arkansas): An All-Freshmen SEC selection, Smith struck out 74 batters with 37 walks and posted a 6-2 record and 4.85 ERA over 66 2/3 innings.

LHP Jack Findlay (Notre Dame): Fidlay posted a 5-2 record, 2.31 ERA and struck out 39 batters with 11 walks over 35 innings.

LHP Hunter Elliott (Mississippi): A member of the SEC All-Freshmen team, Elliott struck out 82 batters with 30 walks in 17 appearances and 9 starts. He posted a 3-3 record and 3.17 ERA.

Relief Pitchers/Closers

Alonzo Tredwell (UCLA): A first team Pac-12 pick, Tredwell posted 6 saves, 3-1 record, 2.14 ERA and struck out 56 batters with 5 walks over 42 innings in 23 appearances.

Ethan Flanagan (UCLA): A first team Pac-12 selection, Flanagan fanned 72 batters with 25 walks in 24 appearances as he posted a 3-0 record with 2 saves and a 3.51 ERA.

Ryan Brown (Oregon St.): A first team Pac-12 pick, Brown posted 9 saves, 4-1 record and struck out 33 batters with 12 walks over 29 1/3 innings.

Dylan Ray (Alabama): An All-Freshmen SEC pick, Ray posted 8 saves in 18 appearances and struck out 49 batters with 15 walks and had a 4.60 ERA.

Landon Kruer (Navy): Kruer posted 7 saves, 2-1 record and 1.89 ERA over 19 innings as he struck out 17 batters in 16 appearances.

Peyton Consigli (Canisius): Named the Relief Pitcher and Rookie of The Year in the MAAC, he posted 7 saves, 4-2 record, 3.15 ERA and struck out 53 batters with 21 walks in 22 appearances.

Carter Lovasz (William & Mary): A second team Colonial Athletic Association pick and member of the All-Rookie team, Lovasz had 5 saves, 2-1 record, 2.94 ERA and struck out 41 batters with 12 walks in 16 appearances.

Brady Tygart (Arkansas): A member of the All-Freshmen SEC team, Tygart posted 8 saves, 2.62 ERA and fanned 48 batters with 17 walks over 20 appearances.

Matt Ager (U.C. Santa Barbara): A second team Big West pick, Ager posted 5 saves, 2-0 record, 2.92 ERA and fanned 41 batters with 22 walks over 23 appearances.

Andrew Ronne (East Tennessee St.): A member of the All-Freshmen team in the Southern Conference, Ronne was 5-0 with a 2.97 ERA in 18 appearances and had 31 strikeouts with 18 walks.

Blake Purnell (Florida): Purnell posted 4 saves, 3-3 record and 2.50 ERA over 35 appearances and fanned 39 batters with 14 walks.

Brody Brecht (Iowa): A member of the Big Ten All-Freshmen team, Brecht fanned 44 batters with 25 walks over 22 2/3 innings and 17 appearances with a 3.18 ERA. His fastball was clocked at 101 mph.

Ryan Harland (Louisiana Tech.): A second team Conference USA pick and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Harland was 3-0 with a 3.27 ERA and struck out 46 batters with 6 walks over 18 appearances.

Cade Austin (South Carolina): Austin posted a 5-2 record with 2 saves, 3.17 ERA and struck out 55 batters with 19 walks over 27 appearances.

Matt McShane (Saint Joseph’s): McShane was 6-0 with 2 saves and a 2.40 ERA as he fanned 51 batters with 16 walks over 20 appearances.

Dominic Stagliano (Stetson): A member of the Atlantic Sun All-Freshmen team, Stagliano was 5-0 with 2 saves, 3.21 ERA and struck out 55 batters with 12 walks over 18 appearances.

Jay Woolfolk (Virginia): Woolfolk posted a 3-0 record, 3.00 ERA and struck out 53 batters with 19 walks over 27 appearances.

Ryan Brown (Ball St.): Named Freshman Pitcher of the Year in the Mid-American Conference and a second team selection, Brown was 4-2 with a 2.14 ERA and struck out 65 batters with 38 walks over 20 appearances.

Catchers

Owen Carapellotti (Georgetown): A member of the Big East All-Freshmen team, Carapellotti belted 18 doubles, 8 homers and hit .282 with 38 RBI.

Ryan Stafford (Cal. Poly): A first team Big West pick, Stafford hit 16 doubles, 3 homers and collected 33 RBI as he hit .321.

Hudson White (Texas Tech.): Named Freshman of The Year in the Big 12 and a second team All-League selection, White hit .265 with 6 homers, 10 doubles and 39 RBI.

Canyon Brown (N.C. A&T): A member of the Big South All-Freshmen team and an Honorable Mention All-League pick, Brown hit .276 with 7 homers, 10 doubles, 3 triples and 36 RBI.

Andrew Sundean (Central Florida): A second team American Athletic selection, Sundean hit .378 with 4 homers, 6 doubles and 22 RBI.

First Basemen

Donovan Cash (Kennesaw St.): Named Freshman of The Year in the Atlantic Sun and a second team All-League pick, he hit .356 with 10 homers, 20 doubles and 57 RBI.

Jacob Walsh (Oregon): Walsh hit .299 with 18 doubles, 6 homers and 38 RBI.

Nick Kurtz (Wake Forest): A third team ACC pick and member of the All-Freshmen ACC team, Kurtz hit .356 with 15 homers, 14 doubles and 54 RBI.

Brock Tibbitts (Indiana): A member of the All-Freshmen team in the Big Ten, Tibbitts hit .266 with 13 doubles, 9 homers and 43 RBI.

Breck Nowik (Illinois-Chicago): A second team Horizon pick and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Nowik hit .335 with 14 doubles, 9 homers and 42 RBI.

Blake Burke (Tennessee): A member of the SEC All-Freshmen team, Burke hit .358 with 12 homers, 3 doubles and 30 RBI.

Second Basemen

Ethan Gourson (UCLA): Gourson hit .294 with 22 doubles, 3 homers and 42 RBI as he swiped 7 of 8 bases.

Travis Bazzana (Oregon St.): A first team Pac-12 selection, Bazzana hit .315 with 14 doubles, 4 homers, 4 triples and 42 RBI. He also swiped 9 of 11 bases.

Nolan Tucker (Valparaiso): Named a first team Missouri Valley Conference selection, Tucker hit .365 with 14 doubles, 1 homer and 17 RBI.

Logan Beard (Louisville): A member of the All-Freshmen team in the ACC, Beard hit .309 with 11 doubles, 4 homers and 48 RBI.

Third Basemen

Josh Pyne (Indiana): Named to the All-Freshmen team in the Big Ten, Pyne hit .327 with 20 doubles, 6 homers and 57 RBI.

Nick Wang (Holy Cross): Named Rookie of The Year in the Patriot League, Wang hit .369 with 18 doubles, 3 homers and 21 RBI. He reached base in 37 consecutive games.

Anthony DePino (Rhode Island): A member of the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team, DePino hit .281 with 16 homers, 9 doubles and 39 RBI. He set a new program record for walks with 41.

Randall Diaz (Indiana St.): Diaz hit .304 with 17 doubles, 7 homers and 37 RBI.

Cade McGee (Gonzaga): Named Freshman of The Year in the West Coast Conference, he also was an Honorable Mention pick in the league as he hit .300 with 15 doubles, 10 homers and 30 RBI.

Payton Green (N.C. State): Green hit .256 with 12 doubles, 7 homers and 39 RBI. He also was 10-for-10 in stolen bases.

Luke Heefner (Dallas Baptist): Named Freshman of The Year in the Missouri Valley Conference and a second team All-League pick, Heefner hit .293 with 11 doubles, 7 homers and 28 RBI. He also swiped 11 of 14 bases.

Carson DeMartini (Virginia Tech.): Named to the All-Freshmen team in the ACC, DeMartini hit .333 with 13 homers, 12 doubles and 39 RBI.

Shortstops

Cody Schrier (UCLA): A first team Pac-12 selection, Schrier hit .293 with 18 doubles, 9 homers and 28 RBI. He swiped 11 of 15 bases.

Caleb Ketchup (Lipscomb): Named Defensive Player of The Year in the Atlantic Sun and a member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Ketchup hit .284 with 15 doubles, 5 homers and 24 RBI. He stole 32 of 35 bases.

Austin St. Laurent (Appalachian St.): Named Freshman of The Year in the Sun Belt, St. Laurent hit .305 with 13 doubles, 4 homers, 3 triples and 25 RBI.

Nick Rodriguez (Charleston Southern): Rodriguez hit .384 with 5 doubles, 1 homer and 18 RBI in only 73 at-bats. He also was 4-for-4 in stolen bases.

Outfielders

Keaton Anthony (Iowa): Named Freshman of The Year in the Big Ten and a second team All-League pick, Anthony hit .361 with 22 doubles, 14 homers and 55 RBI.

Dylan Nevar (Western Michigan): Named Freshman of the Year in the Mid-American Conference, Nevar hit .325 with 20 doubles, 11 homers and 49 RBI.

Vance Honeycutt (North Carolina): A third team ACC selection and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Honeycutt hit .279 with 19 homers, 9 doubles, 4 triples and 44 RBI. He also was 28-for-32 in stolen bases.

Cam Fisher (Charlotte): A second team Conference USA pick and member of the All-Freshmen team, Fisher hit .288 with 18 homers, 17 doubles and 60 RBI.

Tommy Barth (East Tennessee St.): Named Freshman of The Year in the Southern Conference and a first team All-League pick, Barth hit .369 with 16 doubles, 6 homers and 38 RBI.

OF Hunter Hines (Mississippi St.): Named to the All-Freshmen team in the SEC, Hines hit .300 with 16 homers, 13 doubles and 52 RBI.

Kennedy Jones (N.C. Greensboro): A second team pick in the Southern Conference and an All-Freshmen selection, Jones hit .374 with 16 doubles, 11 homers, 4 triples and 73 RBI.

Carson Paetow (Southern Mississippi): An All-Freshmen selection in Conference USA, Paetow hit .291 with 15 doubles, 13 homers and 45 RBI.

Carter Mathison (Indiana): A member of the All-Freshmen Big Ten team, Mathison hit .273 with 19 homers, 11 doubles and 58 RBI. He also was 8-for-10 in stolen bases.

Enzo Apodaca (Gonzaga): An Honorable Mention pick in the West Coast Conference and a member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Apodaca hit .272 with 19 doubles, 3 homers, 2 triples and 43 RBI. He also was 8-for-12 in stolen bases.

Jaime Ferrer (Florida St.): Named to the All-Freshmen team in the ACC, Ferrer hit .315 with 16 doubles, 8 homers and 39 RBI.

Casey Saucke (Virginia): A member of the All-Freshmen ACC team, Saucke hit .356 with 14 doubles, 7 homers, 3 triples and 44 RBI.

Spencer Nivens (Missouri St.): A second team Missouri Valley selection, Nivens hit .352 with 12 doubles, 9 homers and 48 RBI.

Mark Wolbert (U.C. Davis): A first team Big West pick, he was also named Freshman of The Year in the league as he hit .351 with 10 doubles, 2 homers, 3 triples and 15 RBI.

Tyler Sorrentino (College of Charleston): Named Co-Rookie of The Year in the Colonial Athletic Association and a second team All-League pick, Sorrentino hit .284 with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 1 homer and 32 RBI. He also swiped 15 of 18 bases.

Jacob Humphrey (UMass Lowell): A second team selection in the America East and All-Rookie pick, Humphrey was second in the nation with 46 stolen bases in 47 attempts. He hit .337 with 2 homers, 6 doubles, 3 triples and 23 RBI. He scored 50 runs with an on-base percentage of .456.

OF AJ Guerrero (Washington): Guerrero hit 10 homers with 14 doubles and 42 RBI for the Huskies as he started 56 games and hit .299.

Designated Hitters

Tommy White (N.C. State): Named Collegiate Baseball’s Co-Freshmen National Player of The Year, White had a remarkable season as he belted 27 home runs with 12 doubles and 74 RBI as he hit .362 with 85 hits.

He was a first team ACC selection as well as Freshman of The Year in the league. His 27th home run broke the NCAA freshman record.

It was a record that stood for 32 years and was previously held by Georgia Southern’s Todd Green in 1990.

Evin Sullivan (Binghamton): Named Rookie of The Year in the America East and a first team All-League selection, he hit .350 with 14 doubles, 7 homers and 41 RBI.

Caleb Lomavita (California): A first team Pac-12 pick, Lomavita hit .272 with 10 doubles, 7 homers and 46 RBI. He also was 15-for-17 in stolen bases.

Jeremiah Jenkins (Maine): A second team America East pick, Jenkins hit .284 with 7 homers, 7 doubles, 3 triples and 27 RBI.

Jacob Tobias (Arizona St.): A first team Pac-12 selection, Tobias hit .273 with 9 doubles, 7 homers and 29 RBI.

Multiple Position Athletes

Braden Montgomery (Stanford): Named Freshman of The Year in the Pac-12, Montgomery hit .301 with 16 homers, 15 doubles and 49 RBI. As a pitcher, he posted 2 saves in 14 appearances and struck out 25 batters in 17 innings.

Noah Sullivan (S.C. Upstate): Named Freshman of The Year in the Big South and a second team All-League selection, Sullivan hit .303 with 9 doubles, 3 homers and 42 RBI. As a pitcher, he was 6-0 with a 3.31 ERA and struck out 26 batters with 11 walks over 32 2/3 innings.

To purchase the June 17, 2022 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe, CLICK HERE. This edition includes the complete Freshmen All-American layout with photos and will also include the regular Collegiate Baseball All-American team with an in-depth story on Collegiate Baseball’s National Player of The Year Ivan Melendez of Texas. Plus, our High School All-Americans are featured along with much more in our College World Series preview edition.

About Diamond Sports
Diamond Sports manufactures high quality baseball and softball products for all levels. Diamond Sports is based in Southern California and is proud to be the Official Ball of many great college conferences, as well as leagues, tournaments and organizations nationwide. Diamond is the Official Ball of the American Baseball Coaches Association. You can find Diamond on the internet at diamond-sports.com

 

The Wit And Wisdom Of John Scolinos

The Wit And Wisdom Of John Scolinos

by • Featured

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

CLAREMONT, Calif. — Nobody had more wisdom than the late John Scolinos.

He led Cal Poly Pomona to three national championships (1976, 1980 and 1983) and retired in 1991 as the winningest coach in NCAA Division II history. He passed away at the age of 91 in 2009.

Scolinos was named NCAA Division II Coach of the Century by Collegiate Baseball for not only his coaching ability but the influence he had on thousands of baseball coaches across the nation and athletes who played for him.

Prior to becoming Pomona’s head coach, he spent 14 seasons at Pepperdine University where his teams went 376-213.

His all-time record in 44 years of coaching was 1,198-949.

Scolinos’ overall record is highly misleading since his teams always played the best teams in Southern California and Arizona, including all the top NCAA Division I teams.

This giant in the profession influenced more coaches than possibly any skipper has in the history of the game with the way he broke down the game during clinic sessions — often in front of standing room only crowds at American Baseball Coaches Association conventions.

And after almost every presentation, he would be given a standing ovation from the crowd.

Here are some of those priceless lessons coaches learned from Scolinos through the years that Collegiate Baseball has collected.

“On days when nothing goes right, I call them ‘jock games,’ ” said Scolinos.

“That’s when all the defense does is throw their jocks out there, the hitters get faked out of their jocks, and the pitchers get their jocks knocked off.

“If a team gets in a jock contest, they don’t have a chance.”

About the type of ball players there are in the game:

“There are a lot of puppy dogs and hot dogs with a few bull dogs scattered among the group. We want the bulldogs.”

Possibly the greatest moment I have of Coach Scolinos was as at the 1990 American Baseball Coaches Association Convention in New Orleans where he gave a clinic in front of thousands of coaches discussing the finer points of hitting.

He sternly told coaches in attendance they should never allow players to have their heads in their jocks.

To demonstrate the point, he quickly pulled a jock strap over his forehead. Every coach in attendance howled with laughter. But Coach Scolinos made his point.

Years ago, I interviewed former Cal. Poly Pomona assistant coach Steve Osaki who explained in detail Scolinos’ other legendary clinic sessions.

“At clinics, he was well known for giving his talk on handshakes to demonstrate fielding mistakes,” said Osaki.

“The first one was the halitosis handshake. Coach Scolinos and another coach would each shake hands but turn their heads away to demonstrate how a fielder turns his head away from the ball.

“The next one was the political handshake. Coach Scolinos would walk up to another coach on stage and extend his hand.

“Just prior to a handshake taking place between the two, Coach Scolinos would slip his hand back and flip his glove.

“The third demonstration was the mafia handshake. Two people were shoulder to shoulder embracing each other in a handshake as Coach Scolinos says, ‘Let’s make a deal.’

“Then comes the Japanese handshake. Two people walk up and bow to each other signifying the player who lets the ball roll through his legs.

“The final one was the best way to field called the American handshake. You look your opponent right in the eye with arms not locked and shake.”

Boxing Demonstrations
Osaki said Scolinos was also known for his boxing match demonstration during clinics.

“The whole point of the boxing match was to show that you must get up after suffering a setback in baseball.

“Coach would have another person work with him during this demonstration and knock him down with a punch to the jaw (actually fist misses player’s jaw by a few inches).

“The player would stay down as Coach discussed why players who stay down for the 10 count are finished in baseball.

“Coach then explained that the player must make adjustments such as blocking those punches.

“But if that player is knocked down again, he must bounce back up and make further adjustments.”

One of the keys to Scolinos’ amazing success was that he surrounded himself with outstanding people.

“But if you surround yourself with donkeys,” said Scolinos, “You’ll be in donkeyville.

“You just can’t afford to surround yourself with jerkballs, snotballs or donkballs.”

Coach Scolinos had this fabulous, yet unique way, of getting his point across to fellow coaches at clinics or his own players.

To read more of this tribute to the great John Scolinos, purchase the May 6, 2022 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE.

Once-In-A-Lifetime Home Run Cycle Achieved

Once-In-A-Lifetime Home Run Cycle Achieved

by • Featured Stories

MISENHEIMER, N.C. — Pfeiffer University made history as it became the first college team to hit for the home run cycle in one inning.

In a 17-2 win over Averett, Pfeiffer’s offense went on a hitting spree in the fourth inning.

The Falcons sent 18 batters to the plate and scored 14 runs, including hitting for the home run cycle, in order.

Jackson Leck belted a solo shot for the first homer of the inning.

Landon Evans followed with his first career home run, a two-run shot that put Pfeiffer up 6-2.

Several batters later, Austin Morton followed with a three-run homer to make it 9-2.

Later in the inning, with bases loaded, Morton came to the plate again and lifted a grand slam to left field to push the score to 16-2.

According to available college records on all levels, this feat has never been documented in collegiate baseball at any level.

The Falcons won all three of its games against Averett.

For more stories about all levels of college baseball across the USA, subscribe to Collegiate Baseball by CLICKING HERE.

What Really Allows Hard Contact By Hitters?

What Really Allows Hard Contact By Hitters?

by • Featured

By PERRY HUSBAND
Special To Collegiate Baseball

PALMDALE, Calif. — The biggest question in baseball is what allows hard contact by hitters?

Pitchers who limit hard contact dominate and hitters who create more of it are at the top of the sport. This is the core question that sparked all the research that went into the discovery of Effective Velocity.

Ev is the science that introduced Ev Pitch Tunnels, Movement Mechanics or the use of tilt axis, arm angle and spins to make the ball move, Pitch Recognition Training and much more.

Pitchers are throwing harder every year, and with modern technology, they are creating “better stuff.”

But are they using their “stuff” better? To do damage, hitters have to be close to 100% on time, and their swing needs to be at or near 100% efficient.

The Effective Velocity hitting term for perfect contact is 100-100, a line in the sand to measure all contact against. To break the sound barrier, planes must go 767 mph. If they get close, they’re going fast, but they didn’t create a sonic boom.

To measure anything, there must be a true north to measure from, and in hard contact, that is 100-100.

Think of all pitches as 1’s – 2’s – 3’s or 4’s.

Fastballs located up and inside are 1’s, fastballs away or down are 2’s, the harder off-speed pitches like cutters and splits are 3’s, and 4’s are slower off-speed, mostly curveballs.

This illustration above shows 3 different pitches going to 3 different locations at 3 different speeds from a RHP.

One pitch is a 93 mph fastball located away. The other is a hard split-finger that is 90 mph located middle and the last is a slider at 87 MPH located inside. 

All 3 pitches will “run into” the barrel at different points in the same swing, not the same time but the same swing timing.

This is Effective Velocity in a nutshell. 

All 3 pitches have the same EvMPH or “true reactionary speed.”

These pitches would be great examples of 2’s and 3’s in action and roughly 2/3 of all MLB pitches are 2’s and 3’s.

This is a hint as to the earlier question of whether pitchers are using their “stuff better.”

The bulk of pitches are being thrown directly into the speed range hitters are most geared to.

A pitchers’ next chess move will put hitting on a whole new level of difficulty if they change this approach.  

Hitter’s Attention
Ev Pitch Tunnels are when 2 pitches share the same horizontal and vertical planes for at least 20 feet of pitch flight, then split apart going to 2 different areas of the zone with large speed spreads between them.

To read more of this story, purchase the May 6, 2022 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE. This in-depth story delves into visual and reactionary skills, the reactionary test, experiment with 14,000 at-bats, 100-100 perfect contact, MLB data, Biola Ev study and Ev Pitch Sequencing which features a number of graphics and charts.  

Ohlone College’s Remarkable Mike Curran

Ohlone College’s Remarkable Mike Curran

by • Featured

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

FREMONT, Calif. — One of the most successful and fascinating college head coaches in the nation is Mike Curran of Ohlone College.

This incredible skipper led the Renegades to a 36-game winning streak this season in California Community College baseball and 40-3 overall record.

Curran has discovered that when his offense performs 4-5 specific jobs in games, his program has won its last 140 straight contests.

He also explains keys that have allowed his defense to be ranked No. 1 in California for 5 of the last 9 years and what his pitchers strive for in the quest for success.

If that wasn’t enough, he explains the 7 pillars of culture his program demands of players which is another integral part of his system.

Now in his ninth season with Ohlone, he has led the Renegades to a 269-71 record.

Curran has led Ohlone to 5 conference championships, 4 regional titles, 3 Super Regional championships, a sectional title and made 1 final four appearance in the California community college playoffs.

Over the last five seasons:

  • 22 players have gone on to NCAA Div. I schools.
  • 48 players have earned All-Conference selections.
  • 13 players have earned California C.C. All-State honors.
  • 7 players have earned All-American status.
  • His teams have been nationally ranked each season from 2017-2022.

Curran explained his remarkable system at Ohlone College.

“At the college level, you have to be relentless recruiters,” said Curran.

“I spend at least 3-4 hours every single day hunting guys from Oct. 1 to the middle of June, talking to prospective players and sending e-mails as well as text messages. You have to be willing to work your tail off at this level to get kids who will make a difference.

“I tell my assistant coaches here that we must initially cast a wide net to identify the right players. Hopefully, we will get 10 percent of them. That means you are bringing in 25-30 guys each year. If you do that, 10 percent of them must be difference makers. That means each year, you have 3 elite ball players. So in any given year on the JC level, if you have 6 difference makers on your ball club, you will win some ball games.

“It all starts with players for me.”

Creating Culture
Curran said once you have players, then it is about creating culture.

“What are your guys doing when you are not around? How are they acting, conducting themselves, what is their work ethic and decision making? Once you find talented players, you must create a good culture.

“We have 7 Pillars Of Culture we consistently talk about: 1. Expectations, 2. Accountability, 3. Trust, 4. Work Ethic, 5. Value, 6. Selflessness, 7. Attention to detail.”

Curran broke down each of these 7 components.

To read more of this article, purchase the May 6, 2022 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE. Mike Curran not only delves into the 7 Pillars Of Culture but explains his Offensive Jobs Chart that accurately predicts wins, plus much more.

Line Paint, Not Paint Thinner, Found In Cooler

Line Paint, Not Paint Thinner, Found In Cooler

by • Featured

LINDSBORG, Kan. — On April 24, Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU) contacted the Lindsborg Police Department to file a police report regarding a foreign substance found in their baseball team’s water cooler while at Bethany College for a game.

Shortly thereafter, Bethany College contacted the police department to report the same incident. A police report was filed and both colleges agreed to cooperate with the investigation.

Seven players and one coach for Kansas Wesleyan ultimately drank the tainted water.

Though the investigation is active and ongoing, it has been determined that no one associated with either college was responsible for tampering with the water cooler.

This incident generated wide-reaching media interest after initial comments on social media claimed that a college baseball program deliberately contaminated an opponent’s water cooler.

Allegations were made that the foreign substance found in the water of KWU’s cooler was paint thinner.

Based on information obtained through the investigation, it has been determined that the foreign substance was not paint thinner, but rather line paint used on the field and to touch up bases.

The Lindsborg Police Department has taken this incident seriously and has conducted over 60 interviews so far, collected multiple pieces of evidence, photographed the scene, and followed various leads. 

The Lindsborg Police Department has identified two male juveniles as being involved in this incident and are continuing to investigate this matter.

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