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College  | Story | 2/26/2015

Weekend Preview: Week 3

Patrick Ebert
Frankie Piliere
Jheremy Brown
Mike Rooney
Photo: South Carolina

College ball returns to LakePoint | National Notebook: Feb. 24

Weather continues to be the common theme heading into the third weekend of college baseball action for the 2015 season. Another round of snow hit the state of North Carolina hard, leaving several teams scrambling to find new venues, and opponents, to play at and against. In particular, the Irish Classic, which was supposed to be played in Cary, N.C., has already been cancelled.

As a result Notre Dame will travel to Macon, Ga., to play Akron, Belmont and Mercer at Mercer's home turf, while Cincinnati and Iowa will travel to Emerson, Ga., to play at the PG Park South Fields at LakePoint Sports. Maryland, who is just on the outside of the top 25, will also play at LakePoint this weekend in a three-game set against Appalachian State.

The two biggest series of the weekend, as detailed below, will take place in the state of South Carolina, between long-time in-state rivals No. 10 South Carolina and Clemson, as well as in Santa Barbara, as the Gauchos host the Oregon Ducks.


Top 25 in Action

Rk. Team Opponent Location
1 Vanderbilt home vs. Illinois State Nashville, TN
2 Virginia at Myrtle Beach tournament* Myrtle Beach, SC
3 Florida home vs. Stony Brook Gainesville, FL
4 UCLA home vs. Michigan State Los Angeles, CA
5 Texas Christian home vs. Cal Poly Fort Worth, TX
6 Louisiana State home vs. Princeton Baton Rouge, LA
7 Houston home vs. Columbia Houston, TX
8 Texas home vs. San Diego Austin, TX
9 Texas Tech home vs. Sacramento State Lubbock, TX
10 South Carolina home and away vs. Clemson Clemson, Greenville, Columbia, SC
11 Miami home vs. Wright State Coral Gables, FL
12 Louisville home vs. Xavier Louisville, KY
13 Oregon at No. 14 UC Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA
14 UC Santa Barbara home vs. No. 13 Oregon Santa Barbara, CA
15 North Carolina vs. Rhode Island at Francis Marion University Florence, SC
16 Florida State home vs. UNC Wilmington Tallahassee, FL
17 Arkansas home vs. Eastern Illinois Fayetteville, AR
18 Mississippi State home vs. Arizona, Samford* Starkville, MS
19 Texas A&M home vs. Dartmouth College Station, TX
20 Rice home vs. Stanford Houston, TX
21 Arizona State home for Phoenix Muni Classic* Phoenix, AZ
22 UCF home vs. Ole Miss Orlando, FL
23 Kennesaw State home vs.Connecticut Kennesaw, GA
24 Georgia at Georgia Southern Statesboro, GA
25 Oregon State home vs. Grambling State Corvallis, OR

*Virginia plays Hartford (Fri.), Seton Hall (Sat.) and Cornell (Sun.)
*Mississippi State plays Arizona (Fri. and Sat.) and Samford (Sat. and Sun.)
*Arizona State plays Bakersfield (Thurs. and Fri.), Purdue (Fri.), and Gonzaga (Sat.)



Marquee Matchup:

No. 10 South Carolina vs. Clemson

In what will be an intriguing early season showdown for bragging rights in the Palmetto State, South Carolina will face a difficult test in a difficult Clemson Tigers’ club. The Gamecocks are coming off a week in which they made a jump in the Perfect Game rankings and swept Northeastern in a three-game weekend set. And, Clemson enters the weekend on a strong note as well, as they are riding a four-game win streak.

While both of these teams have interesting offensive weapons that will come into play, this appears to be a series that will still very much be about pitching. South Carolina has made a minor change in their rotation, as sophomore star righty Wil Crowe will now slide into the Friday night starter role. Crowe has gotten off to an outstanding start in 2015, posting a 0.87 ERA over his first two starts. The hard throwing righty has struck out 17 while walking only three over that span.

Having a pitcher like Crowe on Friday nights gives them an ace that can stack up toe to toe with anyone in the conference. And, we can confidently say that based on not just the type of numbers he’s posted early, but the type of pure power stuff he’s shown. Crowe works consistently at 91-94 mph with his fastball and has superb command of his two different breaking pitches. He also has the changeup, which could be pivotal as he tries to combat the dangerous Clemson lefties like Steven Duggar and the red-hot switch hitting Tyler Krieger.

Those bats will be a big key for Clemson as they tried to disrupt a pitcher in Crowe, who appears to be locked in. But if you’re looking for a small edge to give Clemson, Crowe was on a limited pitch count last week as they readied him for his move into the Friday night slot. Now, that doesn’t figure to be any sort of significant issue, but like any elite pitcher, the more patient the Tigers can be and the quicker they can push Crowe out of the game, the better off they’ll be.
Tyler Krieger (Photo: Clemson)

But, Clemson’s hopes do center on what they can get out of those high upside hitters in their lineup. Their star catcher, Chris Okey, has gotten off to a slow .222 start at the plate, but is too polished of a hitter to be held down for long. They will need a strong weekend from him, and will hope the hot-hitting ways of their designated hitter, Tyler Krieger – who is hitting .462 through his first seven games – continues. And the team will be watched closely throughout the spring by pro scouts because of the intrigue surrounding their toolsy right fielder, Steven Duggar. Duggar is arguably one of the most athletic players in the nation and has blistering game-changing speed to go with his cannon of a throwing arm.

Duggar has yet to truly catch fire this spring, and in a way that’s a microcosm of how we can currently view this Clemson team. They are 5-2 without all of their top hitters fully clicking on all cylinders. And the hope if you are the Gamecocks is that you can get out of this series before that happens.

What South Carolina has going for them to hold these Clemson hitters down is the depth in their rotation. Aside from Crowe, they will send former Friday night starter Jack Wynkoop to the mound on Saturday, a crafty lefty with exceptional command and feel for his secondary pitches. The Gamecocks have a bullpen that is packed to the rafters with power arms, and it’s a bullpen that hasn't fully pitched to its potential so far. Sophomore righty, Taylor Widener has been outstanding at the end of games, posting a 2.08 ERA and striking out eight batters over his first 4 1/3 innings of work.

As good as South Carolina is on the pitching side of things, their lineup may be even more dangerous. One star that Clemson will have their work cut out for them trying to slow down is freshman phenom Alex Destino. The South Carolina coaching staff seemed to have a hard time containing their excitement when it came to the lefty slugger and now it’s easy to see why. Destino is hitting a robust .458 and has already clubbed two home runs in the young season. He already looks to be evolving into one of the most feared hitters in the SEC, and it will be incumbent upon the lefty heavy Clemson rotation to try to slow him down. On the flip side, it will be a fascinating early season measuring stick for Destino to see how he fares against top-flight lefties.

It’s those top-flight lefties that will keep Clemson in contention in this series. Led by polished juniors Matt Crownover and Zack Erwin, the Tigers have a one-two punch that makes them an incredibly challenging team to take a series from, even for a team like South Carolina. Crownover only tops out around 90 mph with his fastball, but he commands about as well as any pitcher in the nation. He has yet to walk a batter through his first 13 innings this spring, and he’s also yet to allow a run. He’s also struck out 15 batters in that span. Erwin has started nearly as hot, posting a 0.66 ERA over 13 2/3 innings. Erwin, in particular, has the arsenal, led by a big curveball which he knows how to vary the speed and shape of, to keep this tough Gamecocks lineup off balance. And, he does have the juice on his fastball, working mostly at 87-91 mph, to keep hitters honest.



Mound Matchup:

Dillon Tate (UC Santa Barbara) vs. Cole Irvin (Oregon)

The Friday night matchup in the Oregon-UC Santa Barbara series features Dillon Tate of the Gauchos and Cole Irvin of the Ducks. While both pitchers are highly regarded and draft eligible, there are significant differences in their arsenals and also their current status in the scouting community.

Tate has gone from undrafted high school arm to a player who is the hottest new candidate to be the first overall pick in this year's June draft. Tate's late development – he threw just three innings as a freshman before emerging as the Gauchos' closer last year – belies his impressive athleticism.

Tate has a live body at 6-foot-2 and 185-pounds but his arm strength garners the most attention. His fastball sits at 94-96 mph and he touched 99 mph last summer while closing for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team. The arm action is easy which makes Tate an even more enticing prospect.
Dillon Tate (Photo: J.D. Dickstein)

Tate's wipeout slider, which is consistently in the mid-80s, gives him a second plus pitch and it is almost a hybrid cutter/slider. He shows a plus changeup as well but the slider is his go-to pitch. Ironically, his fastball is the least likely of the three to generate a swing and miss, and if we are nitpicking then this is a possible concern.

Tate is showing the scouting community everything they want to see in a first overall pick. He brings athleticism, multiple plus offerings, projection, durability and current performance as a starter. This Friday will be his stiffest test to date.

Cole Irvin was a 29th round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012 and he quickly validated that with a Freshman All-American season in 2013. As a true freshman that year, Irvin set a school record with 12 wins and finished with a 2.48 ERA in 16 starts. He logged 116 innings and punched out 60 hitters.

Irvin intrigues scouts with his loose arm and his 6-foot-4, 185-pound frame that screams projection. It all seemed to be coming together in the fall of his sophomore year when his fastball velocity increased to the 90-92 mph range. Unfortunately, Irvin then discovered that he was injured and he had Tommy John surgery in February of 2014.

Fast forward to today, Irvin's recovery has gone exceptionally well and he even started on Opening Day for the Ducks. He is on a strict pitch count but all signs have been positive so far. Irvin's velocity has been in the 87-90 mph range which is consistent with where he was at the end of his tremendous freshman season. His curveball is understandably not quite back but the slider and changeup have been outstanding through two starts.

Irvin will be on a pitch count of approximately 50 pitches on Friday. He has logged seven innings through his two starts to the tune of a 1.29 ERA. Irvin is technically a redshirt sophomore, so regardless of his continued development in 2015 he could return next year and still maintain a degree of draft leverage.

Oregon will test Tate with its patient approach and ability to execute the inside game. It will be interesting to see if the Duck's bunting and baserunning chicanery will affect Tate's raw stuff in any way. Oregon also brings more power to the party than usual and they currently boast a .421 slugging percentage. Finally, the Ducks can start as many as six lefthanded hitters which might neutralize Tate's power slider and force him to rely on his changeup, something scouts are eager to see more of.

Irvin will also be challenged in the contest as the Gauchos bring a very similar patient approach. With Irvin on a small pitch count, it would not be surprising to see this be his shortest outing of the year from an innings perspective.

The Series

Oregon and USCB come into this weekend series with rosters of College World Series caliber and both are programs poised to make a deep run into the NCAA tournament. Their styles are almost identical as Andrew Checketts was one of George Horton's original assistants at Oregon. This weekend will likely be a baseball clinic in pitching, defense, and some West Coast style "skilling it up."

Oregon remains an example of just how difficult getting to Omaha can be. Horton took Cal State Fullerton to the College World Series six times in his 11 seasons as the skippper, yet rebuilding the Ducks' program has proven more difficult.

Having said that, the Ducks have much to be proud of including being a Top 8 National Seed in two of the last three seasons. Additionally, Oregon's 146 wins since the beginning of the 2012 season are tied for the second most nationally during that time, trailing only LSU.

The main challenge over the last two seasons has been elite competition. In that time, Oregon is an alarming 0-9 in regular season series versus teams that qualified for the NCAA tournament.

Two key elements that could change that trend are the Ducks' newfound power and depth. Three junior college transfers – Matt Eureste, Brandon Cuddy, and Phil Craig-St. Louis – have made immediate contributions offensively. The continued production of veterans Shaun Chase and Mitchell Tolman make this the longest Oregon lineup that Horton has had.

The Gauchos have an edge in the strength of their starting rotation as Shane Bieber and Justin Jacome match up well with anyone in the Saturday and Sunday roles. Bieber brings a low three-quarters arm slot and frisbee slider and he has made a big jump since his freshman season in 2014. Jacome has stumbled out of the gate this year but he was a Cape Cod all-star last summer and he has been in the Gaucho rotation for three seasons, even spending some of the time in the Friday role.

Two non-household names who play big roles in this series are Oregon freshman lefthander David Peterson and UCSB two-way talent Robby Nesovic. Peterson is 6-foot-6 and has advanced pitchability. Through two starts he has a 2.38 ERA and 15 strikeouts over just 11 1/3 innings. Peterson will pitch on Saturday.

Nesovic has hit .325 or better in two consecutive seasons and the unconventional righty is at it again. Nesovic is hitting .483 with 10 runs batted in and he is the best pure hitter in the Gaucho lineup.

One other matchup of interest will be the back of the bullpens. Oregon closer Garrett Cleavinger is an experienced lefthander with a live fastball in the mid-90s. He rates as a top five round prospect and his bat-missing ability plays large in the ninth inning.

Since the Gauchos All-American closer is now their Friday night starter, the void in the ninth inning has been filled by junior college transfer James Carter. While largely unproven, Carter's fastball will play up to 94 mph as a reliever. Even without a true out pitch, Carter has been good so far and he has three saves already in 2015.

This series has the feel of an old-school West Coast Super Regional. These two teams offer identical styles and a plethora of pro talent. The ability to defend the "little game" will in all likelihood decide the series.



LakePoint in Action:

Ian Happ (Photo: Cincinnati)
As noted above, poor weather has continued to create re-scheduling nightmares for teams looking for playable fields, and for the second week in a row the PG Park South Fields at LakePoint Sports will once again play host to college baseball.

The University of Cincinnati and University of Iowa agreed to play a three-game series in Georgia even before the Irish Classic in Cary, N.C. was officially cancelled. Cincinnati features Perfect Game's No. 20 overall draft-eligible prospect for this year, switch-hitting outfielder Ian Happ, who is off to a blistering start to the 2015 season hitting .476 with three doubles and two home runs. Iowa boasts a prominent draft eligible prospect of their own in righthander Blake Hickman (No. 97 overall), who has a 2.45 ERA over his first two starts (7 1/3 innings) of the year.

Earlier this week it was already confirmed that the University of Maryland, who just missed this week's top 25, would also travel to LakePoint to take on Appalachian State. Maryland is 5-1 on the young season and is led by Friday starter Michael Shawaryn, one of the top prospects eligible for the 2016 draft, who is off to a 2-0 start this year giving up only two walks and six base hits in 13 innings, with 13 strikeouts. The Terrapins have five regulars in their everyday lineup hitting .300 or above, including two – LaMonte Wade and Nick Cieri – hitting better than .400.

Murray State and Dayton – who both participated in games at LakePoint last weekend – return to Georgia for a three-game set against one another, while Eastern Kentucky also returns, this time to play Bowling Green.

To view the weekend schedule please visit these links: Friday | Saturday | Sunday



National Notes:

• In a release sent out on Monday by the College of Charleston it was learned that sophomore righthander Bailey Ober would miss the 2015 season when it was determined he would undergo Tommy John surgery. “We hate to lose one of the nation’s best pitchers and a huge part of our program in Bailey Ober,” said head coach Monte Lee in the release. “We hope that by having the surgery now, he will be able to make a full recovery by the beginning of next season.” Ober went 10-3 with a 1.52 ERA during his Freshman All-American season.

• The long-awaited answer about where Brady Aiken would play during the 2015 season came on Thursday in a release from the IMG Academy. Aiken, who started the 2013 Perfect Game All-American Classic for the West squad and went unsigned by the Houston Astros as the first overall pick from last year's draft, will be joining the Astros' fifth-round pick from last year, Jacob Nix, at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. “We’re excited for Brady (Aiken) to join us at IMG Academy,” said IMG Academy’s Director of Baseball, Dan Simonds in the release. “At IMG (Academy) he will have access to everything from world-class coaches and performance experts to top-notch facilities and the latest technology.” IMG was rumored to be one of the options available to Aiken this spring, which included playing for an independent league team as well as a junior college.

• How about the boost that redshirt sophomore Mitchell Traver provides during the mid-week for the TCU Horned Frogs? After battling through injuries his first two years of college, the former Perfect Game All-American turned in his second consecutive quality start in the early portion of the spring. Going seven strong innings, Traver did an exceptional job of pounding the strike zone, striking out 12 batters while walking none and allowing just two hits. He worked in the 91-93 mph range with his fastball and topped at 95, just as he had last week, with a slider that sat in the mid-80s. As impressive as those numbers were here's a set that's better: Of the 83 pitches he threw, 60 of them were for strikes and Traver never found himself in a 2-0 count. With Traver solidifying himself as a legit starter during mid-week games, Texas Christian now has a four-man rotation that can match any in the country. After taking the series at nationally ranked Arizona State last weekend and a tight 1-0 victory last night against Texas Southern, the Frogs are riding momentum as they play Cal Poly at home during week three.
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