Team Updates

[Mmgord77]

I know there are a few of you on here that have friends or family that you keep up with on the College and JUCO ranks...

Please post your updates here.

I will be keeping up with North Central Texas (JUCO), Cowley County (KS), and SNU... Have family and former youth playing on those teams.

[Mmgord77]

North Central won their first game today vs. Cedar Valley (DIII in Dallas), 17-5.

Oklahomans Chad Keefer and Caleb Harren belted homeruns in the route.

[parkplace]

I can'tbelieve they are already playing. Did Mac get to play any today?

[Mmgord77]

Yeah... Feb 1st is about a month and a half earlier than the Washington boys got to start ever. Whole team was sick about weeks ago from practicing outside on a 29 degree day. But, they had to get it out of the way. Those Texas boys aren't used to cold weather.

Mac didn't get to play today. Game didn't even go 5 innings. But, starting 3B (a DI signee with U of Pittsburgh) broke his foot and is out for season. I wouldn't be surprised if he got decent playing time with a double header tomorrow against a #14 preseason ranked Texarkana at home. I'm going down... may throw an update or two in. NCTC has 6 Okies that should see quite a bit of playing time: P Tanner Chitwood (OU signee), OF Caleb Harren (OU recruit), SS Matt Wolf, C Chad Keefer (Dodgers Draft pick), 3B/C/P Mac Gordon (Washington,Ok), OF Jon Gelnar (Hobart).

Cowley's season starts on Feb. 12th, I believe. I'm not sure about SNU. They have a new coach, so there's some excitement there. See if they can compete with my alma mater, OCU.

[parkplace]

Thanks for the update. I'm gonna go see Rogers State next weekend in Claremore. I'll let you know how they do.

Playing this early jus doesn't seem right. When i was at OU, our first games were played n Edinburg TX over spring break. It was just 90 in South TX so it was nice. We snuke down to Padre one night, Coach Semore found out and ran our butts off the next day. :cool: Never did that again.

Thanks for the update, always good to hear OKies doing well.

[CBRdrummer]

I'll post for Connors State as info comes.

[parkplace]

CSC, GO COWBOYS.

Thanks CBR, let me know how Jimbo Miner and Brandon Smith are doing. Those are two of my favorite kids.

[CBRdrummer]

I know of Jimbo...had a couple classes with him. I'm unfarmiliar with Brandon Smith though.

[Mmgord77]

North Central Texas (NCTC) split the double header on Saturday with Texarkana.

It was a rusty game for both teams. About 12 scouts there to watch the pitching and a few position players. Both coaches pulled their starters early (NCTC pulled in 4th with 67 pitches)... game kind of got sloppy after that. Texarkana pulled out the first game in extra innings 4-3.

In the 2nd game, NCTC took control early and was up 8-0 after two innings and held on to win 9-2. Gives them a 2-1 record.

They head to Murray St. in Tishamingo on Monday for a single game at noon.

Also, Cowley County starts their season next Tuesday, February 12th at Seminole for a double header. They are ranked 10th in the preseason poll.

[Mmgord77]

Here's the JUCO Div. I Baseball Preseason Poll:

http://www.njcaa.org/sports.cfm?sid=7&divid=1&gender=m&slid=3&menu=2

[Mmgord77]

NCTC beats Murray St. 15 - 9. More rusty pitching to start out for NCTC, but good bats this game.

Mac Gordon (washington, ok) came in for 4+ innings of work, only giving up 2 earned runs.

Win puts them at 3-1 with a good double header with Seminole (4-2, I believe) coming up this Saturday.

[parkplace]

Glad to hear Macs gettig some playing time. :thumbsup:

As for the ranking, where is Seminole, are they that down? They used to be the top JC around the area. :eek:

[Mmgord77]

Yup... Seminole has had a few down years. They are on the way back up though, from what I've heard.

Their coach that had been there forever (Hendrickson or something like that) got some type of brain cancer or something. He had to quit a couple of years back. I think he was there something like 25+ years. So, they had a transition time. I know they've had some decent recruiting classes this year and last.

Connors is the one that has to pick it up a little. They have a great ranking year in and out, but haven't had much luck making it to the tourney. Cowley and Butler have been the new "hot" teams from the area. New Mexico has been stout the last 3 or 4 years.

[parkplace]

Simmons was the legendary coach who is know the Rookies coach for the Florida Marlins. Eric Meyers took oer after "0" left. Eric passed away a few months ago, he was a great man and coach.

Jeff Schafer is the current coach. Jeff was the Shawnee HS coach. Jeff coached in the summer in the minor leagues, I think in the Twins (AA)organization in North Carloina.

[Mmgord77]

Yeah... that's it. I thought it was the older coach that passed away and his replacement didn't do so hot and got replaced. But, you are correct. I remember reading that he passed away. Pretty sad.

The new coach seems to be doing pretty well. He's got a ways to go to get them back to the level of their glory days, but he's on the right track.

[Mmgord77]

I was looking over the roster for Seminole State (since NCTC plays them Sat. and Cowley plays them Tues), and I ran across some interesting names...

I knew Ellis from Pawnee was there... knew Cody Cole from Leedey was there... both good ball players.

Two names that surprised me:

Joe Patterson: Stud from Owasso. He orginally committed to Arkansas and they messed him around a little, so he signed with Oral Roberts. I think he may have got some pt up there as a fresh. Now, I see he's down at Seminole?!?!? Anyone here anything about this? I know he swings a HUGE bat. When he was Owasso, he could absolutely mash the ball!

Second name I saw was ol' (in)famous Tucker Brown. Now, my question is, how can you play football in the fall for high school and be on the Seminole State College baseball team in the spring? Just odd to me. Parkplace, you know anything about a rule like this? Any other baseball coaches on here know about this? Just curious. I figured if this could happen, it would happen a ton more. Football players are increasingly on campus during the spring of their Senior year. If you're a good ballplayer that could get drafted, why would you not do this to improve your chances?

Seminole's team looks to be pretty good this year, as far as names that I recognize and have seen play in their lineup.

[elk3730]

I'll ask some questions about that. I might have you an answer by the weekend.

[Mmgord77]

Hey elk... you get a chance to talk to Ellis's?

I saw them at the games, but didn't know how much they would like someone from Washington talking to them :)

Meant to write this on Sunday or Monday, but just didn't get around to it...

Seminole beat NCTC twice on Saturday. Seminole looks to be very good this year. I think they were unrated because of some question marks, but they will be in top 15 before you know it. Patterson at catcher is a freaking stud. A lot (ALOT) littler than I expected but but has a cannon of an arm, stops anything around him, and can mash at the plate. Ellis (from Pawnee) had a great day Saturday. He really struggles at the plate, but can battle. He bunted every at bat for 2 games (swinging and traditional). But, out in the field, the kid's a stud. Great signing for SSC. They have a very well rounded lineup: speed up front, some power and consistancy through the middle, and some more speed at the end. Pitching was above average but not great.

On NCTC side, that was a terrible display of baseball. 9 base running errors. Mostly by the kids, which forced the coaches to be a little more aggressive and made a couple of mistakes on steal call and sending runners. Looked like a rattle high school team. Hitting wasn't too great either. Just looked off... Got beat 6-2 and 7-3. On the day, the Oklahoma boys scored all five runs for NCTC. Caleb Harren (Carl Albert, MWC) and Chad Keifer (Byng) hit solo shots in the first game. Keifer hit a 2-run shot in the 2nd game and Mac Gordon (Washington) hit a deep sac fly.

NCTC moves on to play what I consider a glorified scrimmage today against OBU JV. A DH starting at 1.

Seminole moved on to play #10 ranked Cowley County yesterday. They had no hangover and ended up spanking the highly ranked Tigers, 13 - 7. Seminole is on a roll starting out.

Anyone got any info on Connors?

As I have it:

NCTC (3-3)
Seminole (3-0)
Cowley (0-1)

[CBRdrummer]

Connor's has its first game tomorrow at 1. I'm planning on going so I'll tell how it goes when I get a chance.

[elk3730]

Cale and Zac talked weekend before last, but I haven't had a chance to visit with him or his dad. Think Cale was in Stillwater. I never see mine anymore. . .

Yeah, Ellis has super quick reflexes and loves baseball. He's really been working hard in the weight room since graduation. Think its paying off. . .

I watch Seminole back in November @ OSU. They came up for a scrimmage with Crowder (if I remember correctly). Ellis was at second then, also.

Nice updates on Baseball. Basketball has my world tied up right now. . . .

[CBRdrummer]

Connors beat Bacone today...12-2

[MinerBob]

Eastern in Wilburton just took two from Paris and are 7-2 on the short season.

[Mmgord77]

North Central hit a little slump in the last week and a half.

It started with a Saturday 9 inning game against Seminole on 2/23. It was a pitcher's dual for the first 5 innings. Neither team could do much at the plate. Cale Ellis (.370, 1 HR, 10 RBI), playing SS for Seminole (from Pawnee), started it off by ending NCTC's no hit bid by blasting a triple into the gap in left center. Although, he ended up being stranded, this started to break the game open for both teams. Joe Patterson, DH for Seminole, hit a moon shot that actually bounced off the very top light on the pole in straight-away right field to put Seminole on the board 1-0 in the 6th. North Central responded with 3 runs on some good hitting and a Seminole error in the 7th. In the bottom of the 8th, Patterson comes up again, with a runner on 2nd, and for whatever reason, NCTC coaches to decide to come after him. He made them pay with a HR that never got above or below 20 ft off the ground. An absolute laser over RF fence. This tied the game at 3's. A couple of more hits and a NCTC error, Seminole plates the go ahead run and holds on for a 4-3 finish.

NCTC then play a good Paris team in a double header at Gainesville. There were 40+ scouts on hand to see the pitcher from Paris (and a few other players I'm sure). He was as advertised. He threw around 94, but had very little movement. Mac Gordon (Washington), playing 3rd for NCTC, broke up the Paris no-hit bid with a laser single to CF. 2 innings later, Gordon and Harren (Carl Albert), combine to get the pitcher pulled. For the last 2 innings, the Lions made a comeback bid but fell short, losing to Paris 7-4 (or something close to that). The second game was much better. As has been the case this year, North Central had a slow start and dug themselves in an early hole. They came back in the last few innings, only to fall short 5-4, for their 3rd loss in a row. On the day, Harren had 2 Hr's, Gordon went 3-6 with 3 runs scored, I believe Keifer (Byng) had a HR on the day also.

This last weekend, NCTC took a trip over to NE Texas JC to play in a tourney (festival, really). They played Eastern OK (Wilburton) and Murray St. (Tishamingo). In the 1st game, OSU signee and ace pitcher, Chance Deason (Piedmont) of Eastern had a gem going. NCTC struggled from the mound and found themselves in an early 9-0 hole in the 4th inning. But, as has been the MO for the Lions, that came roaring back (yes, the pun is intended!) The game ended with the Mountaineers winning 9-7 and some chippiness between the teams afterward. In the next game, against Murray St., the Lions started slow again, only to come back and win this one 5-3, I believe. Finally snapping a 4 game losing streak.

Lions are now, 8-8 on the year, and starts conference play today with a doubleheader at Temple, TX. They seem to be getting a little healthier, especially in the pitching dept. They have lost 6 pitchers this year due to quitting and injuries. That has really been hurting them early in the year.

A look at some of the other local schools: Eastern is now 13-4 (with only losses to Grayson CC, Cowley CC, and Longview CC). Seminole State is now 11-3 (with only losses to Blinn JC, and powers San Jacinto and Iowa Western). I couldn't find a record for Connors. Cowley County (KS) has struggled after a top 10 preseason rankings at 2-6 on the year. They've had some tough circumstances to deal with starting out the year and I look for them to improve greatly as the year continues.

If you've got any updates, please share...

[Mmgord77]

Just a few quick updates...

NCTC continues their roller coaster season with 2 wins against highly ranked Grayson County, on Wednesday. The bats finally woke up and the pitching held up well. The second game was won in walk-off fashion by Carl Albert's Caleb Harren. Exciting stuff... After losing 4 straight, they won these 2 and head for the rematch on Saturday at Denison, Tx (Grayson). Overall record is 10-12, I believe.

Cowley County has finally started to put things together, by reeling off 4 straight wins. This improves their record to 6 - 8.

Checking up on Seminole, they split a series with Western (Altus) 2-2. This brings their record to 13-5.

Eastern (Wilburton) has had to reschedule and move around some games last week due to weather. They take their 13-4 record into the Murray State Tournament this weekend.

Connors has not been updating their schedule/results, so if any of you know how they are doing, please keep us up on that.

Any other schools that you know about or are interested in, please post about them...

[MinerBob]

The Eastern Mountaineers are now 27-7 on the season winning 12 in a row. They are currently ranked 17th in the nation.