By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

OMAHA, Neb. —The College World Series drew a record 361,711 fans in 16 games over two weeks which broke the all-time, single-year mark set in 2017.

The average crowd was over 22,000 per game as T.D. Ameritrade Park was allowed to have 100 percent fan occupancy through the entire College World Series by the NCAA.

There were essentially no precautions in place for this potential super spreader event for COVID-19.

According to ticket holders Collegiate Baseball talked to, there was no requirement that they be vaccinated before entering the stadium.

There was no social distancing as people were packed into the stadium like sardines in a can.

Nobody was required to wear a mask, and well over 99 percent of people had no mask on.

No temperatures were taken of people coming into the venue as a precaution.

Even more concerning was that there was no mechanism in place to track ticket holders after the event to see if they contracted COVID-19 or the Delta variant of this disease, which impacted 8 N.C. State players as the Wolfpack was sent home during the College World Series.

To read more of this in-depth article, purchase the July 16, 2021 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE.

The post How Dangerous Was College World Series? appeared first on Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Lemonis has been named Collegiate Baseball’s National Coach of The Year.

He led the  Bulldogs to their first national title in any sport by defeating Vanderbilt, 9-0 in the championship game of the College World Series finals.

Mississippi St. (50-18) played seven games at the College World Series and didn’t commit an error. It was the first time in the 74-year-history of the event that a champion has not made an error enroute to the national title.

A total of 136 years have passed since the Mississippi State baseball program played its first season. There have been 4,381 games, 11 Southeastern Conference championships, seven SEC Tournament titles, 39 NCAA Tournament appearances and 12 trips to the College World Series. Now the Bulldogs are national champions thanks to the teaching skills of Lemonis and his coaching staff.

Mississippi State led the nation by averaging 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings which shattered the previous Division I record of 11.1 set by Ball State in 2019. Three pitchers had over 100 strikeouts in Will Bednar (139), Christian MacLeod (113) and Landon Sims (100). Overall, the staff fanned 817 batters and walked only 266 in 68 games.

Mississippi State recorded its sixth 50-win season in program history. Lemonis joins former Bulldog Hall of Fame skipper Ron Polk as the only Bulldog head coaches with multiple 50-win seasons.

The Bulldogs finished second in the Southeastern Conference Western Division with a 20-10 record behind Arkansas. Then they were unceremoniously bounced from the SEC Tournament with two straight losses (13-1 to Florida and 12-2 to Tennessee).

Mississippi State regrouped and won a Regional and then a Super Regional and ultimately won the national title by winning two of three over Vanderbilt in the Championship Finals. After losing 8-2 to the Commodores, the Bulldogs pounded Vanderbilt 13-2 and 9-0 in the final two games to put an exclamation point on their first national championship.

The 18th head coach in the storied history of the program, a journey of nearly 40 years came full circle when Lemonis was introduced as Mississippi State’s new head coach on June 25, 2018. The son of a 1973 State graduate, Lemonis resided in Starkville as a child and now leads one of the perennial powerhouses in college baseball.
 
In his first season at the helm of the Diamond Dawgs in 2019, Lemonis became the winningest first-year head coach in SEC history and in the process led the team to the second-most victories in program history at 52.
 
Lemonis became one of just three SEC head coaches to advance to the College World Series in their inaugural season in the conference, joining Jake Gibbs (Ole Miss, 1972) and fellow Diamond Dawg skipper Pat McMahon (Mississippi State, 1998).
 
A school-record-tying 11 Diamond Dawgs heard their names called in the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft, including three taken in the first 10 rounds. Ethan Small became the 15th Diamond Dawg taken in the first round of the MLB Draft while SEC career hits leader Jake Mangum (4th; New York Mets) and Colby White (6th; Tampa Bay) each heard their names called in the first 10 rounds. The 11 selections in the MLB Draft were No. 3 nationally in 2019.

Previous Collegiate Baseball National Coaches of The Year include:

• 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

The post Lemonis CB’s National Coach Of The Year appeared first on Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

TUCSON, Ariz. — The 2021 Collegiate Baseball High School All-America teams, powered by Diamond Sports, are loaded with outstanding talent from across the nation.

Leading the team is Collegiate Baseball’s National High School Player of the Year SS Marcelo Mayer of Eastlake H.S. (Chula Vista, CA).

Known for his great defensive skills, he was one of the top high school hitters in the nation this season, belting 13 home runs. As the season winds down, Mayer has emerged as potential top pick in the upcoming Major league Drat by several analysts.

With games left, he was hitting .398 with 3 doubles, 13 home runs, 40 RBI and 40 runs. He was walked 29 times, struck out 5 times and stole 17 bases.

He signed with Southern California.

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 2021 Collegiate Baseball H.S. All-Americans, purchase the June 18, 2021 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE.

First Team
Pitchers

• Frank Mozzicato, LHP, East Catholic H.S., Manchester, CT
• Jack Walker, RHP, Barbe H.S., Lake Charles, LA
• Andrew Painter, RHP, Calvary Christian Academy, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
• Gavin Bruni, LHP, Alliance H.S., OH
• Chase Petty, RHP, Mainland Regional H.S., Linwood, NJ
• Gage Jump, LHP, JSerra Catholic H.S., San Juan Capistrano, CA
• Ben Kudrna, RHP, Blue Valley Southwest H.S., Overland Park, KS
• Anthony Solometo, LHP, Bishop Eustace Prep, Pennsauken, NJ
• Brock Porter, RHP, St. Mary’s H.S., Orchard Lake, MI
• Thatcher Hurd, RHP, Mira Costa H.S., Manhattan Beach, CA
• Michael Morales, RHP, East Pennsboro H.S., Enola, PA
• Shane Panzini, RHP, Red Bank Catholic H.S., NJ
• Josh Hartle, LHP, Reagan H.S., Pfafftown, NC
• Griffin Kilander, RHP, Livonia Stevenson H.S., Livonia, MI
• Brennan Phillips, LHP, Owasso H.S., OK
• Cam Day, RHP, Layton H.S., UT
• Niko Mazza, RHP, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Madison, MS
• Jackson Baumeister, RHP, The Bolles School, Jacksonville, FL
• Brodie Chestnutt, RHP, Houston County H.S., Warner Robins, GA

Catchers

• Harry Ford, North Cobb H.S., Kennesaw, GA
• Joe Mack, Williamsville East H.S., East Amherst, NY
• Wilson Weber, Sam Barlow H.S., Gresham, OR
• Jayden Melendez, Westminster Christian H.S., Miami, FL
• Cole Messina, Summerville H.S., SC

Infielders

• Marcelo Mayer, SS, Eastlake H.S., Chula Vista, CA
• Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit Dallas H.S., Dallas, TX
• Brennen Norton, SS, Cullman H.S., AL
• Brady House, SS Winder-Barrow H.S., Winder, GA
• Kahlil Watson, SS, Wake Forest H.S., NC
• Wes Kath, SS.3B, Desert Mountain H.S., Scottsdale, AZ
• Carson Williams, SS Torrey Pines H.S., CA
• Izaac Pacheco, SS, Friendswood H.S., TX
• Alex Mooney, SS/2B, St. Mary’s H.S., Orchard Lake, MI
• Maxwell Muncy, SS, Thousand Oaks H.S., CA
• Slate Alford, 3B, Bob Jones H.S., Madison, AL
• Cody Schrier, SS, JSerra Catholic H.S., San Juan Capistrano, CA
• Mason Guerra, SS Westview H.S., Portland, OR
• Cooper Kinney, 3B/C, Baylor School, Chattanooga, TN
• Danny Corona, SS, Baylor School, Chattanooga, TN
• Casey Saucke II, SS, Greece Athena H.S., Rochester, NY
• Peyton Stoval, 2B, Haughton H.S., LA
• Hunter Hines, 1B, Madison Central H.S., Madison, MS
• Kendall Diggs, 3B, Saint Thomas Aquinas H.S., Overland Park, KS
• Brody Green, SS, Owasso H.S., OK
• Cade Sadler, 1B, Parkview H.S., Lilburn, GA

Outfielders

• Tyler Whitaker, Bishop Gorman H.S., Las Vegas, NV
• Tommy DiLandri, Palo Verde H.S., Las Vegas, NV
• Lonnie White, Malvern Prep, Malvern, PA
• Bryce Chance, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Madison, MS
• Trayson Miller, Roff H.S., OK
• Josh Baez, Dexter Southfield School, Brookline, MA
• Lorenzo Carrier, Appoquinimink H.S., Middletown, DE
• Mike Bello, Pope John XXIII H.S., Sparta, NJ
• Treylen “TJ” White, Dorman H.S., Roebuck, SC

Multi-Position Athletes

• Jackson Jobe, RHP/SS, Heritage Hall H.S., Oklahoma City, OK
• Bubba Chandler, RHP/SS, North Oconee H.S., Bogart, GA
• Dylan Lesko, RHP/SS Buford H.S., GA
• Phillip Ard, RHP/1B, North Oconee H.S., Bogart, GA
• Braden Montgomery, OF/RHP, Madison Central H.S., Madison, MS
• Camden Hayslip, OF/LHP, Friendship Christian School, Lebanon, TN
• Samuel Dutton, RHP/OF, Westbrook Christian H.S., Rainbow City, AL
• Micah Ottenbreit, RHP/1B, Trenton H.S., MI
• Coleman Willis, RHP/DH, Houston County H.S., Warner Robins, GA
• Will Rogers, C/RHP, Mounds View H.S., Arden Hills, MN
• Rawley Hector, SS/RHP, Anna H.S., TX
• Michael Braswell, SS/RHP, Campbell H.S., Smyrna, GA
• Jayden Davis, SS/RHP, Cookeville H.S., TN
• Christian Howes, RHP/OF, Danville H.S., KY
• Ryan Spikes, SS/RHP, Parkview H.S., Lilburn, GA

Second Team
Pitchers

• Joel Pinero, RHP, Westminster Christian H.S., Miami, FL
• Drew Christo, RHP, Elkhorn H.S., NE
• Frank Oschell, RHP, Malvern Prep, Malvern, PA
• Christian Rodriguez, RHP, Stoneman Douglas H.S., Parkland, FL
• Brayden Jones, RHP, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Madison, MS
• Alex Luna, RHP, Lufkin H.S., TX
• Chris Canada, LHP, Orange Lutheran H.S., Orange, CA
• Louis Rodriguez, RHP, Orange Lutheran H.S., Orange, CA
• Jackson Ferris, LHP, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
• Brett Foss, RHP, Rock Hill H.S., Frisco, TX
• Jay Dill, RHP, Baylor School, Chattanooga, TN

Catchers

• Max Soliz Jr., Bob Jones H.S., Madison, AL
• Luke Moeller, Desert Mountain H.S., Scottsdale, AZ
• Cal Kilgore, Blue Valley Southwest H.S., Overland Park, KS

Infielders

• Henry Kaczmar, SS, Walsh Jesuit H.S., Cuyhoga Falls, OH
• Drake Varando, SS/2B, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
• Vito Valincius, 1B, Baylor School, Chattanooga, TN
• Zen Hiatt, 1B, Alonso H.S., Tampa, FL
• Mateo Matthews, 1B, Ayala HS, Chino Hills, CA
• Josh Livingston, 3B, Rock Hill H.S., Frisco, TX
• Jordan McCants, SS/2B, Pensacola Catholic H.S., Pensacola, FL
• Marcus Franco, 1B, Doral Academy, Miami, FL
• Max McGwire, 1B/3B, Capistrano Valley H.S., Mission Viejo, CA
• Kurtis Reid, SS/2B, Hamilton H.S., OH
• Cameron Clayton, SS/2B, Lakeridge H.S., Lake Oswego, OR
• Will Doherty, 2B/3B, Francis Howell H.S., St Charles, MO
• Matthew Polk, 2B/OF, Orange Lutheran H.S., Orange, CA

Outfielders

• Gage Harrelson, Houston County H.S., Warner Robins, GA
• Blake Burke, De La Salle H.S., Concord, CA
• Roman Anthony, Stoneman Douglas H.S., Parkland, FL
• Troy McCain, Ayala H.S., Chino Hills, CA
• Renzo Gonzales, Doral Academy, Miami, FL
• Gabriel Gutierrez, Doral Academy, Miami, FL
• Colton Bradley, Hartfield Academy, Jackson, MS
• Gavin Turley, Hamilton H.S., Chandler, AZ

Multi-Position Athletes

• Gavin Guidry, SS/RHP, Barbe H.S., Lake Charles, LA
• Will Noles, 3B/P, Westbrook Christian H.S., Rainbow City, AL
• Ethan Wood, RHP/1B, Danville H.S., KY
• Braeden Munger, OF/LHP, Westview H.S., Portland, OR
• Brock Selvidge, LHP/OF, Hamilton H.S., Chandler, AZ
• Lincoln Sheffield, LHP/1B/OF, Hartfield Academy, Jackson, MS
• Brenner Cox, OF/RHP, Rock Hill H.S., Frisco, TX
• Gavin Lash, 3B/RHP, Wapahani H.S., Selma, IN
• Gray Thomas, THP/1B, Heritage Hall H.S., Oklahoma City, OK

For in-depth information about each of the 2021 Collegiate Baseball H.S. All-Americans, purchase the June 18, 2021 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE.

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 post Collegiate Baseball 2021 HS All-Americans appeared first on Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

Collegiate Baseball is your source for current information on each of college baseball’s major tournaments. Click on any of the links below for information on these championships:

NCAA Div. 1 Championship

1st Round Pairings Set At CWS
Super Regional Hosts, Matchups
NCAA Regional Scores
64-Team Bracket
Top 16 National Seeds
Automatic Qualifiers & At-Large Bids
16 Regional Hosts Named
NCAA Div. 1 Latest News

Predicting 34 At-Large Teams

Collegiate Baseball Polls
Collegiate Baseball Top 30

Latest NCAA Team, Conference Scores
NCAA Div. I Scoreboard

Boyd’s World — Ratings & Analysis
Iterative Strength Ratings
Conference Iterative Strength Ratings

Warren Nolan Ratings
RPI Live
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RPI Nitty Gritty Report
RPI Team Sheets
RPI Team Sheets+
Predicted RPI
Predicted RPI Nitty Gritty Report
Predicted RPI Team Sheets
ELO Rankings
ELO Conference Rankings
Strength Of Schedule
Predicted Strength Of Schedule

NCAA Div. 2 Championship

NCAA Div. 3 Championship

NAIA Championship

NJCAA Div. 1 Championship

NJCAA Div. 2 Championship

NJCAA Div. 3 Championship

California C.C. Championship (no championship in 2021)

Northwest J.C. Championship (no championship in 2021)

The post 2021 College Baseball Championship Central appeared first on Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

LEWISTON, Idaho — One of the most fascinating subjects in baseball is how certain teams consistently peak late in the season just prior to the playoffs.

Since the playoffs are at our doorstep, Collegiate Baseball felt it was time to look at the ultimate system that allowed teams to peak at just the right time.

No coach in college baseball history was more successful than Ed Cheff, head coach at Lewis-Clark State, who led the program to 16 NAIA national championships.

He was with the Warriors for 34 years and amassed a 1,705-430-2 record for a .799 winning percentage before retiring in 2010.

“To get a team to peak late in the season, everything that has been done with a ball club comes into focus,” said Cheff.

“There are no shortcuts to success. A lot of hard work goes into successful teams which begins on the first day of practice. Ultimately, you are striving to have a hard-nosed team that is fundamentally sound in all phases of the game.

“You must have team chemistry, play a demanding schedule and learn how to win close games. I felt we had a good system that hit on all these points with precision.

“You can’t focus on a national championship from day one or through the season. That’s not the way to run a program.

“The reason we were successful late in the year is because of the buildup of experiences our kids went through which allowed them to peak consistently at the right time.

“You hope as a coach that all the goals you have set for your team in terms of interpersonal areas, baseball goals, etc. all come back into view late in the season.

“It’s an accumulation of doing all the right things that you think are right for your players from day one. If that involves winning a national championship, so be it.

“Having a tough schedule is important as well which hardens a team. We were fortunate to play some fine teams over the years and even made a few trips to Hawaii for tournaments. Having the toughest schedule you can for your kids is awfully important.”

Cheff said there are other important areas to consider.

“Sometimes as coaches, it is all about baseball, baseball, baseball. One of the things we tried to do with our players was have them understand that many areas contribute to a ball club becoming great other than just having a group of superb baseball players.

“In other words, they must have a respect and compassion for one another. Hopefully they mature off the field as well as on the field. Our goal was never to only make a baseball player the best he could be. We also strived to make each one a good person in the community and on campus as they matured.

“We found when players grew as a person in this way, the team would get better.

“I have never thought if we had more batting practice or took more ground balls and scrimmaged more that it would make us a team that could win the national championship.

“There were a lot of other factors involved in the relationship of the players and their maturity that allowed them to win a national title.

“It goes WAY beyond being just the best baseball player.”

Cheff said the maturation of team chemistry through the fall and spring was vital in his system.

“Team chemistry is really, really important and was a big thing for us. Having players deal with each other in a positive way was so important for success. You want players to respect each other.

“If you can earn your teammates’ respect for nine months, you have a pretty good chance to have a ball club that is close. There will be a lot of things that happen that go way beyond baseball and winning a national championship.”

Writing Own Legacy
One of the first things Cheff did with his teams each fall was have every player write his own legacy on a sheet of paper.

“The first team meeting, I wanted each player to write down how he wanted to be remembered by his teammates. This goes way beyond being the best shortstop or best pitcher. I want to know what sort of legacy each player will earn with his teammates.

“The answers were always intriguing.

“Then I would challenge all of our players to demonstrate mental toughness and positive reactions to negative situations. Can you get to that level in your baseball development? Can you demonstrate that you really care and believe in your teammates? You do that by sharing success.

“You talk about a great work ethic. We had a lot of guys who wanted to be the first to practice and last to leave. We wanted players who didn’t fear losing. If an athlete does everything he can to help a team win, yet had an intellectual understanding that things don’t always go right, that was important as well.

“During key games, it is important all players are highly focused so they don’t miss signs.

“All of this and more are so important in the development of championship level kids and people. In the end, each kid ultimately wrote their own legacy in our program.

“By the time we got to the national championship game, hopefully all of those characteristics that you want to be remembered by would be there. Having them focus on this from day one of the fall instead of how great it will be to win a national title or how horrible it will be to lose was a better option.

“I have always believed in the old adage of its not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. There is a lot of wisdom in that phrase.”

Cheff said volunteering in the community also was a key component of building championship teams.

To read more of this in-depth article, purchase the May 21, 2021 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE.

The post Art Of Peaking Baseball Teams At Ideal Time appeared first on Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

The 2021 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 RHP Andrew Taylor (Central Michigan), C Daniel Susac (Arizona), SS Brooks Lee (Cal Poly), DH Jacob Berry (Arizona) and UT Paul Skenes (Air Force). 

Here is the 2021 Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-American team with statistics up to the start of Regionals.

Starting Pitchers

RHP Andrew Taylor (Central Michigan): Taylor is one of Collegiate Baseball’s Freshmen Co-National Players of The Year. A first team Mid-American Conference pick and Freshman Pitcher of The Year in the league, Taylor posted a 10-3 record, 1.33 ERA with 4 complete games and struck out 110 batters with 22 walks over 81 1/3 innings. He also was named a second team selection to Collegiate Baseball’s regular All-American team.

RHP Cam Schlittler (Northeastern): A first team Colonial Athletic Association pick and Rookie of The Year in the league, Schlittler was 8-0 with a 1.72 ERA and struck out 83 with 19 walks.

LHP Nick Pinto (U.C. Irvine): A second team Big West selection, Pinto was 7-3 with a 3.33 ERA and struck out 79 batters with 24 walks over 85.6 innings.

RHP Thomas Harrington (Campbell): Harrington was a second team Big South Conference pick and Freshman of The Year in the league. He posted a 6-2 record, 2.71 ERA and struck out 71 batters with 26 walks.

RHP Jace Kaminska (Wichita St.): A first team American Athletic pick and Pitching Newcomer of The Year in the league, Kaminska was 8-1 with a 2.32 ERA and struck out 51 with 19 walks.

RHP Carter Young (Grand Canyon): A second team Western Athletic Conference pick, Young was 7-1 with a 2.69 ERA and struck out 56 with 26 walks.

RHP Trey Gibson (Liberty): A second team Atlantic Sun pick and Freshman of The Year in the league, Gibson was 7-4 with a 3.32 ERA and struck out 70 with 21 walks.

Bryce Hubbart (Florida St.): A third team Atlantic Coast Conference pick and a member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Hubbart was 6-5 with a 3.97 ERA and struck out 92 batters with 27 walks.

RHP Will Hellmers (Louisiana St.): Hellmers was 6-2 with a 3.41 ERA and struck out 33 with 15 walks.

RHP Frank Elissalt (La Salle): Elissalt was a second team Atlantic-10 Conference pick and member of the All-Rookie Team in the league. He posted a 6-4 record, 3.42 ERA and struck out 95 with 39 walks.

RHP Cade Feeney (North Dakota St.): A first team Summit League pick, Feeney was 7-1 with a 3.39 ERA and struck out 53 with 16 walks.

RHP Cam Walty (Nevada): A first team Mountain West Conference pick, Walty was 5-3 with a 4.02 ERA and struck out 48 over 56 innings.

RHP Will Frisch (Oregon St.): Frisch was a first team Pac-12 selection and posted a 3-0 record, 2.17 ERA and struck out 51 with 22 walks.

RHP Brennan Stuprich (Southeastern Louisiana): A first team Southland pick and Freshman of The Year in the league, Stuprich was 6-3 with a 2.31 ERA and struck out 67 batters with 22 walks.

RHP Will Sanders (South Carolina): A member of the All-Freshmen team in the Southeastern Conference, Sanders was 6-3 with a 3.63 ERA and struck out 51 batters with 11 walks.

RHP Garrett Gainous (Troy): Named Freshman of The Year in the Sun Belt, Gainous was 9-5 with a 4.66 ERA and fanned 83 batters with 36 walks.

LHP Andy Bean (Belmont): Bean was a second team Ohio Valley Conference pick and member of the All-Freshmen team. He was 5-2 with a 4.10 ERA and struck out 62 with 24 walks.

RHP Jeremy Lee (South Alabama): A second team Sun Belt selection, Lee was 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA in 9 starts and fanned 68 batters with 9 walks.

Relief Pitchers/Closers

Carson Palmquist (Miami, Fla.): A second team Collegiate Baseball All-American and first team Atlantic Coast Conference pick, Palmquist posted 13 saves with a 1.74 ERA. He struck out 72 with only 6 walks in 23 appearances.

Tyler Cleveland (Central Arkansas): A third team Collegiate Baseball All-American, he was a first team pick in the Southland Conference and Relief Pitcher of The Year in the league. He posted a 6-3 record with 9 saves, 2.43 ERA and struck out 84 with 15 walks in 21 appearances over 66 2/3 innings.

Carter Benbrook (U.C. Santa Barbara):  A first team Big West selection, Benbrook was 7-1 with 5 saves and a 2.82 ERA with 61 strikeouts and 19 walks in 23 appearances.

Jacob King (U.C. Irvine): A first team Big West pick, King posted 8 saves with a 2-1 record, 1.96 ERA and struck out 41 with 9 walks in 27 appearances.

Christian Lothes (Charlotte): Lothes was a first team Conference USA selection and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league. He posted 8 saves, 4-0 record, 2.72 ERA and struck out 54 with 20 walks in 20 appearances.

Jake Neuman (Central Connecticut St.): A second team Northeast Conference pick and Rookie of The Year in the league, Neuman was 5-0 with 8 saves, 1.50 ERA and 20 strikeouts over 16 appearances.

C.J. Culpepper (California Baptist): Named Freshman of The Year in the Western Athletic Conference, Culpepper posted 13 saves, 2-2 record, 3.30 ERA and fanned 38 batters with 15 walks over 22 outings.

Max Rajcic (UCLA): A first team Pac-12 selection, Rajcic posted 7 saves with a 2-1 record, 1.55 ERA and struck out 33 with 7 walks over 22 appearances.

Devereaux Harrison (Long Beach St.): A first team Big West pick and Pitcher of The Year in the league, Harrison posted 10 saves with a 3-1 record, 1.57 ERA and fanned 42 batters with 12 walks over 18 outings.

Eric Adler (Wake Forest): Adler had 6 saves with a 2.00 ERA and struck out 24 batters over 17 appearances.

Catchers

Daniel Susac (Arizona): Susac is one of Collegiate Baseball’s Freshmen Co-National Players of The Year. A first team Pac-12 pick, Susac is an exceptional defensive catcher. He hit .344 with 20 doubles, 12 homers and 59 RBI. He also was named a second team selection to Collegiate Baseball’s regular All-American team.

Kevin Parada (Georgia Tech.): A third team Atlantic Coast Conference pick and a member of the All-Freshmen ACC team, he hit .328 with 20 doubles, 7 homers and 37 RBI.

Bennett Lee (Tulane): A first team American Athletic pick as well as Position Player of The Year and Newcomer of The Year in the league, Lee hit .440 with 6 doubles, 4 homers and 28 RBI.

Kaden Hollow (Dixie St.): A first team Western Athletic selection, he hit .322 with 15 doubles, 9 homers and 41 RBI.

Kyle Gurney (Bowling Green): Named Freshman of The Year in the Mid-American Conference, Gurney hit .333 with 13 doubles, 6 homers and 40 RBI.

Cole Conn (Illinois-Chicago): A second team Horizon League pick and Freshman of The Year in the league, Conn hit .302 with 9 homers, 9 doubles and 34 RBI.

First Basemen

Jackson Feltner (Morehead St.): A first team Ohio Valley pick and Freshman of The Year in the league, Feltner hit .390 with 11 homers, 10 doubles and 43 RBI.

Tre’ Morgan (Louisiana St.): A second team SEC pick and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Morgan hit .370 with 15 doubles, 5 doubles, 4 triples, 37 RBI and 14 stolen bases.

Caden Grice (Clemson): A second team ACC pick and a member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Grice hit .317 with 15 homers, 9 doubles and 53 RBI.

Sam Brown (Portland): A second team West Coast Conference selection, Brown hit .315 with 16 doubles, 5 homers and 21 RBI.

Nolan Schanuel (Florida Atlantic): A second team Conference USA pick and a member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Schanuel hit .343 with 11 homers, 11 doubles and 56 RBI.

Adrian Figueroa (Florida International): Named to the All-Freshmen team in Conference USA, Figueroa hit .324 with 12 doubles, 2 homers and 32 RBI.

Elijah Buries (Grand Canyon): A first team Western Athletic Conference pick, Buries hit .365 with 10 doubles, 6 homers, 38 RBI and swiped 13 bases.

Chenar Brown (Jackson St.): A first team Southwestern Athletic Conference pick and Freshman of The Year in the league, Brown hit .366 with 10 doubles, 8 homers and 49 RBI.

Second Basemen

Carter Trice (Old Dominion): A second team Collegiate Baseball All-American, Trice hit .359 with 15 doubles, 13 homers, 53 RBI and swiped 7 of 9 bases.

Chase Engelhard (Tulane): Engelhard hit .299 with 10 doubles, 9 homers and collected 52 RBI. He also stole 11 bases.

Mitchell Daly (Texas): A first team Big 12 pick and a member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Daly hit .331 with 13 doubles, 2 homers and 28 RBI.

Sean McLain (Arizona St.): An Honorable Mention pick in the Pac-12, McLain hit .333 with 17 doubles, 7 homers and 35 RBI.

Matt Shaw (Maryland): A member of the Big Ten All-Freshmen team, Shaw hit .332 with 16 doubles, 7 homers and 30 RBI. He also swiped 7 bases.

Luke Keaschall (San Francisco): A first team West Coast Conference selection and Freshman of The Year, Keaschall hit .320 with 11 doubles, 4 homers, 4 triples, 30 RBI and swiped 11 bases.

Daunte Stuart (Northwestern St.): A second team Southland pick, Stuart hit .270 with 13 doubles, 7 homers and 30 RBI.

Paul Toetz (Indiana): A member of the All-Freshmen team in the Big Ten, Toetz hit .281 with 18 doubles, 1 homer and 24 RBI.

Andrew Pintar (Brigham Young): A first team West Coast Conference pick and Freshman of The Year in the league, Pintar hit .333 with 9 doubles, 9 homers and 32 RBI.

Dixon Black (Monmouth): A first team Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference selection and Rookie of The Year in the league, Black hit .350 with 9 doubles, 4 homers and 21 RBI.

Third Basemen

Tyler Locklear (Virginia Commonwealth): A third team Collegiate Baseball All-American and Player of The Year in the Atlantic 10, Locklear hit .344 with 16 homers, 12 doubles and 64 RBI.

Hunter Haas (Arizona St.): Haas hit .307 with 15 doubles, 2 homers, 29 RBI and swiped 12 of 13 bases.

Brayden Taylor (Texas Christian): A second team Big 12 selection and Freshman of The Year in the league, Taylor hit .316 with 11 doubles, 10 homers, 4 triples, 50 RBI and swiped 14 of 15 bases.

Max Anderson (Nebraska): A second team Big Ten pick and Freshman of The Year in the league, Anderson hit .337 with 8 doubles, 7 homers and 32 RBI.

Brock Wilken (Wake Forest): A third team ACC pick and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Wilken hit .279 with 17 homers, 11 doubles and 44 RBI.

Jacob Burke (Southeastern Louisiana): A second team Southland pick, Burke hit .254 with 11 doubles, 9 homers, 43 RBI and stole 23 of 28 bases.

Yohandy Morales (Miami, Fla.): A member of the ACC All-Freshmen team, Morales hit .277 with 13 doubles, 10 homers and 43 RBI.

Jacob Wilson (Grand Canyon): A first team Western Athletic Conference pick, Wilson hit .301 with 10 doubles, 3 homers and 27 RBI.

Zach Agnos (East Carolina): A first team American Athletic selection, Agnos hit .268 with 13 doubles, 6 homers and 38 RBI.

Kaleb Hannahs (Valparaiso): A second team Missouri Valley pick and Freshman of The Year in the league, Hannahs hit .296 with 6 doubles, 3 homers and 22 RBI.

Shortstops

Brooks Lee (Cal Poly): Lee is one of Collegiate Baseball’s Freshmen Co-National Players of The Year. A Co-Player of The Year in the Big West and a first team Big West selection, Lee hit .342 with 27 doubles, 10 homers, 3 triples and 57 RBI. He also was named a first team selection to Collegiate Baseball’s regular All-American team.

Jordan Sprinkle (U.C. Santa Barbara): A third team Collegiate Baseball All-American, first team Big West pick and Co-Freshmen of The Year in the league, Sprinkle hit .358 with 18 doubles, 7 homers, 30 RBI and swiped 25 bases.

Zach Neto (Campbell): A third team Collegiate Baseball All-American and Player of The Year in the Big South, Neto hit .414 with 17 doubles, 10 homers, 55 RBI and swiped 12 of 16 bases.

Pascanel Ferreras (Western Carolina): A second team Southern Conference selection and member of the All-Freshman team in the league, Ferreras hit .329 with 16 homers, 11 doubles and 56 RBI. He also was involved in a Southern Conference best 38 double plays turned at shortstop.

Nick Goodwin (Kansas St.): Named to the All-Freshmen team in the Big 12, Goodwin hit .277 with 13 doubles, 10 homers, 33 RBI and swiped 14 bases.

Jacob Gonzalez (Mississippi): A member of the SEC All-Freshmen team, Gonzalez hit .354 with 12 doubles, 10 homers and 51 RBI.

Outfielders

Enrique Bradfield, Jr. (Vanderbilt): A second team Collegiate Baseball All-American and first team SEC pick as well as Freshman of The Year in the league, Bradfield hit .365 with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 1 homer, 33 RBI and swiped 42 of 48 bases.

Dylan Crews (Louisiana St.): A second team SEC pick and a member of the All-Freshmen SEC team, Crews hit .350 with 13 homers, 14 doubles, 36 RBI and swiped 11 of 13 bases.

Alex Iadisernia (Elon): A first team Colonial Athletic Association pick and a member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Iadisernia hit .368 with 13 doubles, 10 homers and 30 RBI.

Reed Trimble (Southern Mississippi): A first team Conference USA pick, Trimble hit .319 with 14 homers, 12 doubles, 58 RBI and stole 11 of 13 bases.

Alan Roden (Creighton): Named Freshman of The Yar in the Big East, Roden hit .378 with 17 doubles, 9 homers and 47 RBI.

Nathan Church (U.C. Irvine): A first team Big West selection, Church hit .355 with 19 doubles, 8 triples, 3 homers, 47 RBI and 7 stolen bases.

Zach Rodriguez (U.C. Santa Barbara): A first team Big West pick, Rodriguez hit .363 with 10 doubles, 7 homers, 51 RBI and swiped 8 bases.

Jace Grady (Dallas Baptist): A second team Missouri Valley Conference selection, Grady hit .362 with 17 doubles, 4 homers, 3 triples, 39 RBI and stole 15 of 18 bases.

Ryan Cermak (Illinois St.): A first team Missouri Valley Conference pick and Defensive Player of The Year in the league, Cermak hit .284 with 11 homers, 10 doubles, 4 triples and 40 RBI.

Connor Kokx (Long Beach St.): A first team Big West selection, Kokx hit .366 with 10 doubles, 7 homers, 29 RBI and stole 14 of 17 bases.

Ryan Lasko (Rutgers): A member of the All-Freshmen team in the Big Ten, Lasko hit .231 with 11 homers, 5 doubles and 30 RBI.

Kade Kern (Ohio St.): A second team Big Ten pick and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Kern hit .325 with 10 doubles, 2 homers, 30 RBI and stole 9 of 11 bases.

Carmine Lane (South Florida): A first team American Athletic selection, Lane hit .326 with 14 doubles, 10 homers and 41 RBI.

Jack Costello (San Diego): Costello hit .338 with 14 doubles, 2 homers, 2 triples and 23 RBI.

Austin Kryszczuk (UNLV): Kryszczuk hit .361 with 9 doubles, 4 homers and 23 RBI.

Sam Ruta (Army): A first team Patriot League pick and Rookie of The Year in the league, Ruta hit .290 with 6 doubles, 4 homers, 3 triples and 31 RBI.

Designated Hitters

Jacob Berry (Arizona): Berry is one of Collegiate Baseball’s Freshmen Co-National Players of The Year. A first team Pac-12 selection, Berry hit .371 with 16 doubles, 15 homers, 5 triples and 64 RBI. He also was named a first team selection to Collegiate Baseball’s regular All-American team.

Ethan Long (Arizona St.): A second team Collegiate Baseball All-American and first team Pac-12 pick, Long hit .340 with 16 homers, 11 doubles and 53 RBI.

Kyle Teel (Virginia): A third team ACC selection and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Teel hit .311 with 8 homers, 8 doubles and 33 RBI.

Max Viera (Northeastern): A first team Colonial Athletic Association pick and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Viera hit .341 with 11 doubles, 5 homers and 25 RBI.

Brady Bunten (SIU-Edwardsville): A second team Ohio Valley selection, Bunten hit .280 with 13 homers, 12 doubles and 42 RBI.

Josh Moylan (East Carolina): A first team American Athletic pick, Moylan hit .329 with 6 doubles, 5 homers and 32 RBI.

Will Butcher (Charlotte): A second team Conference USA selection, Butcher hit .315 with 7 homers, 7 doubles and 37 RBI.

Jimmy Sullivan (UMass Lowell): A first team America East pick, Sullivan hit .341 with 8 doubles, 1 homer, 1 triple and 18 RBI.

Multiple Position Athletes

Paul Skenes (Air Force): Skenes is one of Collegiate Baseball’s Freshmen Co-National Players of The Year. A first team Mountain West pick and Freshman of The Year in the league, Skenes hit .410 with 21 doubles, 11 homers and 43 RBI on offense. As a pitcher, he posted 11 saves, 2.70 ERA and struck out 30 batters with 9 walks over 18 appearances. He also was named a first team selection to Collegiate Baseball’s regular All-American team.

Chris Veach (Presbyterian): Veach hit .344 with 6 doubles, 1 homer and 7 RBI. As a pitcher, he posted 4 saves, 2-0 record, 2.65 ERA and struck out 16 batters in 10 appearances.

Gabriel Hughes (Gonzaga): A second team West Coast Conference pick and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Hughes hit .247 with 4 doubles, 3 homers and 12 RBI. As a pitcher, he was 4-3 with a 3.23 ERA and fanned 67 batters with 30 walks.

To purchase the June 18, 2021 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 Kevin Kopps of Arkansas. 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 post Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-Americans appeared first on Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

NORWALK, Calif. — The holy grail for every college baseball coach in the nation is the elusive perfect season with no losses.

In the history of college baseball on all levels, Collegiate Baseball is only aware of one perfect season with teams that have played 40 or more games.

That magical season took place at Cerritos College under ABCA Hall of Fame coach Wally Kincaid as the Falcons rolled to a 40-0 record in 1966.

It has been 55 years since that magical season without any college baseball team running the table through the regular season and post-season.

In fact, Kincaid enjoyed the greatest college baseball winning streak in history at 60 games during the 1965-1967 seasons. His 1970 team came close to perfection with a 40-1 record.

He coached 22 seasons at Cerritos as his teams won six California Community College state titles, more than any other coach in California history.

Kincaid compiled a record of 678-163 and sent over 150 former players into professional baseball.

It is nearly impossible to go through a long college baseball season and have an unblemished record.

The longest winning streak to start a season in NCAA Division I is 34 (Florida Atlantic in 1999 and Texas in 1977).

The NCAA Division II record is 46 straight wins to start a season in 2000 by Savannah St.

Trinity (CT) owns the NCAA Division III record with 44 consecutive wins to start the 2008 season.

On the NJCAA level, Howard (TX) came close to pulling off the perfect season with a 63-1 record in 2009 and won 57 games in a row at one point.

Lansing Community College (MI) rolled to a 38-1 record this season with its only loss being 5-4 to Muskegon C.C. (MI) in 8 innings.

Two teams this season had lengthy winning streaks to start the year in Tennessee Wesleyan (22-0) and Fairfield (28-0) before those streaks bit the dust.

To read more of this story, purchase the May 21, 2021 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE. Read about Wally Kincaid’s system at Cerritos that allowed his teams to post a 40-0 record in 1966, have a 60-game winning streak over three seasons and also roll to a 40-1 record in 1970.

The post Elusive Quest For The Perfect Season Difficult appeared first on Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

WENHAM, Mass. — Recently, I wrote a story about a remarkable young man named Daren Manheimer at Clark College who plays the game with a metal right leg.

It delved into the challenges that he has faced since his Little League days and how he has become an accomplished third baseman through the years.

The story brought back a flood of memories for me about a young man named Dillon Coleman of Gordon College.

Eleven years ago, he was playing baseball at this school and did so without a left hand.

During the spring of 2011, the left side hitting Coleman, who played leftfield and centerfield with no left hand, did the unthinkable.

With only his front hand to guide a regulation 32 inch, 29 ounce bat through the strike zone, Coleman belted the first three home runs of his life over an 8-day span.

Colman put on a power display for the ages over those magical eight days — his only home runs of 2011.

Stop for a moment to realize how difficult it would be to hit a home run 300-plus feet with only the front hand essentially being utilized during the batting stroke and little help coming from the back arm.

The 6-foot-2, 160 pounder overcame great odds to play college baseball just as Daren Manheimer did.

Coleman was cut from his junior high baseball and basketball teams. His left eye was fractured when he was hit by a pitch as a youngster and also was hit in his right eye on another occasion when a ball ricocheted off his bat.

Through it all, his incredibly caring family encouraged him to keep playing the sport he loves in baseball.

And while many of his friends stopped playing baseball after Little League, junior high and then high school, this remarkable athlete kept playing as a starter.

Also consider that this trio of home runs were the first circuit clouts ever hit by anyone from his family. His dad Jeff never hit a home run in his baseball career, and neither did his two younger brothers.

As a lefthanded batter, Coleman utilized his front right hand, but he didn’t have a hand on his back left arm. As he stepped to the plate, he choked up on the bat about an inch with his right fingers on the bat.

The end of his other left arm is a small section of bone covered by flesh which rests against the bat next to his right hand. The athletic movements his body made to gain torque and power through the hitting zone was incredible.

To read more of this article, purchase the May 7, 2021 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE.

The post Imagine Being A Hitter With Just One Hand appeared first on Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

LINDSBORG, Kan. — Chase Lorg of Bethany College is without question the ironman of college baseball.

Few pitchers in the history of college baseball, if any, have ever taken on the massive workload this man has.

He has thrown 177, 161, 156, 141, 127 and 126 pitches in six games this season which simply doesn’t happen in this day and age of American baseball when 120 pitches is the maximum that is recommended for college age pitchers.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound righthander has unusual physical endurance to withstand these outings without tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow or sustain a shoulder injury.

So far this season, he has pitched in 11 games with 8 starts for Bethany and thrown 1,158 pitches while facing 326 batters.

There is no question he is a throwback to a previous generation.

According to The Cultural Encyclopedia Of Baseball,  pitch counts were not utilized for many years in pro baseball.

The main factor was how successful the pitcher was. If his velocity went down or he was laboring, the pitcher was simply taken out. Common sense ruled the day.

Sandy Koufax averaged 155 pitches per game in one season during the early 1960s which was not unusual for that era.

Washington Senators’ pitcher Tom Cheney threw 228 pitches in a 1963 game as he struck out 21 Orioles in a 16-inning contest.

Luis Tiant threw 163 pitches in a complete game win by the Red Sox over the Reds in Game 4 of the 1975 World Series.

In 1987, there were 106 performances where a pitcher threw at least 140 pitches in a Major League game. Eight years later in 1995, that total was only 36. The protocol by the late 1990s was 120 pitches as the limit to keep pitchers healthy.

If you think these numbers by starting professional pitchers years ago are excessive, the Japanese really push the envelope when it comes to high pitch counts.

In a story by Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports several years ago, he discussed Japan’s national high school baseball tournament which takes place twice a year. During a spring championship several years ago, a young 16-year-old boy named Tomohiro Anraku of Saibi High School threw 772 pitches over 46 innings in five days.

He started the tournament with a 94 mph fastball and threw 232 pitches over 13 innings in his first contest.

Then he threw 159, 138, 134 and 109 pitches in succeeding games. In his last game, not surprisingly, he could barely muster enough arm strength to throw fastballs 80 mph as he gave up nine runs during an eventual 17-1 drubbing.

According to Passan, the ultimate compliment for a baseball player in Japan is to be called Kaibutsu which translates to “Monster” and symbolizes an athlete who performs at a remarkable level during the national tournament.

Passan also pointed out that over a decade ago at the Japanese national high school tournament Daisuke Matsuzaka threw 250 pitches over 17 innings during a quarterfinal game. He pitched the next day in relief. And a day later, Matsuzaka fired a no-hitter in the finals.

He pitched eight seasons in Japan pro baseball dominating hitters and signed with the Red Sox for $103 million for six years. In his fifth year at 30 years old, he blew out his elbow which required Tommy John surgery.

When you look at pro baseball, the industry hemorrhages billions of dollars for pitchers on the disabled list every year because of elbow and shoulder injuries.

On the college, high school and youth baseball levels, elbow and shoulder injuries to pitchers cost parents millions of dollars each year.

Having a maximum pitch count is not the easy answer.

To read more of this story, purchase the May 7, 2021 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE. It explains how Chase Lorg has been able to take on this massive workload and what he did to prepare for the season so he would be injury free.

The post Meet College Baseball’s Ultimate Ironman appeared first on Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

By CHAD BISHOP
Special To Collegiate Baseball

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — One of the greatest streaks in college baseball history just unfolded.

Vanderbilt RHP Jack Leiter went 20 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing a hit before it was stopped by Louisiana St.

The start of the streak took place as he registered his final 2 outs against Oklahoma St. without a hit.

One week later, Leiter threw a 9-inning no-hitter against South Carolina with 16 strikeouts.

He followed that up by throwing 7 more no-hit innings against Missouri with 10 strikeouts before he was pulled.

A week later, the streak was halted when Collier Cranford of LSU singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth.

The NCAA Div. I Baseball Record Book doesn’t have a category for consecutive innings by a pitcher without allowing a hit.

But it does have Fewest Hits Allowed Per 9 Innings. The season record is 3.21 by George Dugan of Murray State in 1964 (20 in 56 innings).

Leiter is currently shattering that mark with a 2.14 figure as he has allowed just 10 hits in 42 innings.

He has posted a 7-0 record and 0.43 ERA with 71 strikeouts.

No pitcher in NCAA Div. I history has done what Leiter is currently doing with limiting hits in baseball games.

Over seven starts this season, he has faced 154 batters. While he has given up only 10 hits all year, no batter has had more than one hit against him all season in a game.

Remarkable Achievement
Scott Brown, pitching coach at Vanderbilt, said the streak Leiter had was unparalleled.

“I’ve coached a lot of good pitchers over the years,” said Brown.

“Jack has been extremely consistent so far this season as far as limiting hits.

“His ability to execute at a high level with four pitches has been really good.”

Brown explained what makes Leiter so difficult to hit.

“Jack has a great combination of things working for him now as far as a 4-pitch mix, good deception with pitches coming out of the same release point, utilizing pitching sequences to his advantage and having him throw to batters’ weaknesses.

“He has a very good intuition probably from the upbringing of his dad Al who pitched 19 years in the Major Leagues. I know he has talked at length with his dad on how to pitch from his many experiences in pro baseball and how to attack hitters.

“Jack is very deceptive as a pitcher. He gets down the mound very well and has very good extension. His fastball and other pitches come out of a little lower release angle in the vertical approach angle that may be a different look than most pitchers.

“His fastball (94 mph which tops out at 98 mph) has very good ride. It is very difficult to get on top of by hitters. Then you pair that with the ability to throw a breaking ball, slider, cutter and changeup off that and execute those pitches at a very high level with good command and deception, it makes it challenging for hitters.

“Every single pitch comes out of the same window, and he has tight release points with his pitches. At the beginning of last season, his curve was a little bit higher. But every pitch looks the same at release now which is difficult for hitters to pick up pitches.”

To read the rest of the story, purchase the April 23, 2021 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE. Vanderbilt pitching coach Scott Brown explains the remarkable deception Jack Leiter has, how his working tempo has been improved, the art of calling pitches, learning from his dad Al Leiter, a former Major League pitcher for 19 years, how the 2020 COVID-19 shortened season was an avenue to improve during the summer as he developed his pitches, and the importance of the 6 Leiter Ladies in his life (mom, 3 sisters and 2 female dogs). It also explains the 3-way dynamic of Al and Jack Leiter and pitching coach Scott Brown, plus more.  

The post Jack Leiter’s Unbelievable Pitching Feat appeared first on Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.