2008 Woodie Awards
Leathernecks set to face consecutive Big XII opponents
Jon Oakley
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: Sports
The Leatherneck baseball team continues road play Tuesday against the pinnacle of its non-conference competition, starting a five-game stretch against the Big XII.
Western (0-2) is scheduled to play one game against Mizzou (5-2) and then travel to Oklahoma on Friday to start a four-game series against the Sooners (4-2).
The Tigers were ranked 13th in the nation by USA Today/ESPN Coaches' preseason poll and feature the Baseball America top pitcher to be drafted to the MLB, Aaron Crow. The right-hander has touched the high 90s with his fastball and is the favorite to start the home opener for the Tigers on Tuesday.
"Mizzou on paper looks as tough as any team in the country that we will play this year," said head coach Stan Hyman. "They boast the No. 1 pitcher in the nation in Aaron Crow, (and) there is a good possibility we will see him, and he has it all. He throws in the mid-90s, (and) he's got incredible breaking stuff."
The weather projections on Missouri's Web site put Tuesday's contest in jeopardy. With a 50 percent chance of snow forecasted for Tuesday evening and temperatures dropping to the mid-20s that night, the 'Necks could dodge the Tigers ace.
If the game is not cancelled, the cold weather will benefit the pitchers and make staying loose in the batter's box and in the outfield very difficult.
"You have to block out that other
stuff and play not worrying about (the weather)," said starting junior catcher Cooper Stewart. "Really, cold weather is tough but everybody is hitting in it. It is not really an advantage for (either team)."
The coaching staff for Western is preparing for a chilly night of baseball and not relying on a cancelled game.
"It's going to be a war of attrition," Hyman said. "Whoever makes the least mistakes is going to win. We need our pitchers to have short innings. The best way we can help our outfielder is for our pitchers to have short innings."
Despite the 'Necks' record, the expectation from Hyman is to compete at the Big XII level and grab some victories in this tough stretch of games.
"There are no moral victories for this program anymore," Hyman said. "I don't want to go into Oklahoma and lose like we did a year ago, 1-0 or 7-6, and come back and say 'Wow, we really played them well, we're a good ball club.' That won't wash anymore … that's the expectation for this program."
The first pitch for Tuesday's game at Missouri is slated for 7 p.m.
Western (0-2) is scheduled to play one game against Mizzou (5-2) and then travel to Oklahoma on Friday to start a four-game series against the Sooners (4-2).
The Tigers were ranked 13th in the nation by USA Today/ESPN Coaches' preseason poll and feature the Baseball America top pitcher to be drafted to the MLB, Aaron Crow. The right-hander has touched the high 90s with his fastball and is the favorite to start the home opener for the Tigers on Tuesday.
"Mizzou on paper looks as tough as any team in the country that we will play this year," said head coach Stan Hyman. "They boast the No. 1 pitcher in the nation in Aaron Crow, (and) there is a good possibility we will see him, and he has it all. He throws in the mid-90s, (and) he's got incredible breaking stuff."
The weather projections on Missouri's Web site put Tuesday's contest in jeopardy. With a 50 percent chance of snow forecasted for Tuesday evening and temperatures dropping to the mid-20s that night, the 'Necks could dodge the Tigers ace.
If the game is not cancelled, the cold weather will benefit the pitchers and make staying loose in the batter's box and in the outfield very difficult.
"You have to block out that other
stuff and play not worrying about (the weather)," said starting junior catcher Cooper Stewart. "Really, cold weather is tough but everybody is hitting in it. It is not really an advantage for (either team)."
The coaching staff for Western is preparing for a chilly night of baseball and not relying on a cancelled game.
"It's going to be a war of attrition," Hyman said. "Whoever makes the least mistakes is going to win. We need our pitchers to have short innings. The best way we can help our outfielder is for our pitchers to have short innings."
Despite the 'Necks' record, the expectation from Hyman is to compete at the Big XII level and grab some victories in this tough stretch of games.
"There are no moral victories for this program anymore," Hyman said. "I don't want to go into Oklahoma and lose like we did a year ago, 1-0 or 7-6, and come back and say 'Wow, we really played them well, we're a good ball club.' That won't wash anymore … that's the expectation for this program."
The first pitch for Tuesday's game at Missouri is slated for 7 p.m.
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