-First, I really hope that's the last time we go to Kennesaw for awhile. Aside from it being about the most difficult place in suburban Atlanta to reach in the afternoon, the place is a glorified stadium that is simply not suitable for hosting an in-state team with even a modest following. The game was a sellout today (attendance was listed at 1,207....), resulting in at least dozens of fans being turned away. To Kennesaw's credit, they didn't keep selling "admit one" movie theater style tickets to a completely full stadium like Mercer did in 2011, but still, the facility is simply inadequate to host a major conference team with a large local alumni base. If we are going to play in other parts of the state in general, or Kennesaw State specifically, do so at the minor league park in Rome or Gwinnett, or even Savannah or Augusta. But we really, really need to stop making trips over to Kennesaw.
-As for the game, I can't think of the last time our first three hits came on three solo home runs. That was neat. None of the three were "cheap" but Daniel Nichols' shot was absolutely smoked. Nichols and Mitchell Webb both hit theirs to the opposite field, as well.
-I thought Kevin Smith was really good, once again. He draws a lot of early contact and just never seems to get hit very hard. It's fun to watch him work, especially with his very low key demeanor.
-After the 2nd inning, I thought that we were looking at a 12-2 type of win. It really felt like we were going to score at will. It was a warm day, the wind was blowing out and it's not a huge park, and three of our first eight hitters managed to homer. Unfortunately, it was a lot closer than that. Too many times this year we've had several consecutive zeros going up on the scoreboard. That's going to happen when you face good pitching, but should not have happened today. We've got to figure out a way to manufacture some runs here and there, or at least put some more pressure on the opposing defense/ pitcher.
-Add 1st Base Coach to the many hats worn by Heath Holder over the past five years. He's started games in LF, RF, DH, and 1B. He's been a starting pitcher, he's been a reliever. He's thrown conventionally and side armed. He's been a bullpen catcher. Today, with Jimmy Rider on the IR, Heath stepped up as our 1B coach... Even had the stop watch and everything out there.... Pretty neat stuff.
-Nice to see Nick King come back with two hits today. Stricklin said on the postgame show Sunday that the SS position was not yet settled. Nick probably earned the Friday night start with his offensive game today and was, as always, very good defensively.
-We did have a couple of defensive lapses though... The ball dropping in shallow RF being the worst, but we also failed to turn a couple of DPs that should have shown up. It's good to win when you aren't perfect, but we've got clean up that stuff for this weekend.
-How about Logan Moody's throw in, I think, the 8th inning? What a hose. It was either the 7th or the 8th as Drew Moody was still on the mound. It reminded me of some of those super athletic plays Hunter Cole used to make in the OF or at 3B when Dylan was pitching. Good looking out, there.... Logan is doing a really nice job.
-Mitchell Webb had a very good defensive game at Kennesaw State last year and then, in addition to another good defensive effort, hit the homer in his first AB today. Mitchell was recruited to play QB at Kennesaw and, as I understand it, likely would have gone there if not for getting the offer from us to play baseball. So I know it means something to him playing over there and I'm happy for him that he's had two of his better games at that place.
-Bo Tucker just overmatched the opposing hitters in the 9th inning. It wasn't quite the 6 consecutive K's like he had at Knoxville last year and the stakes weren't quite as high, but it was it was similar level of dominance on his part.
-Nice to leave Stillmore Stadium with a win... Made for a very pleasant drive back down I-75. We've won five in a row and are now 4-1 against in-state competition by my count. We've got to find another gear this weekend, but I think that the excitement over finally starting SEC play will go a ways toward that.
-As for the game, I can't think of the last time our first three hits came on three solo home runs. That was neat. None of the three were "cheap" but Daniel Nichols' shot was absolutely smoked. Nichols and Mitchell Webb both hit theirs to the opposite field, as well.
-I thought Kevin Smith was really good, once again. He draws a lot of early contact and just never seems to get hit very hard. It's fun to watch him work, especially with his very low key demeanor.
-After the 2nd inning, I thought that we were looking at a 12-2 type of win. It really felt like we were going to score at will. It was a warm day, the wind was blowing out and it's not a huge park, and three of our first eight hitters managed to homer. Unfortunately, it was a lot closer than that. Too many times this year we've had several consecutive zeros going up on the scoreboard. That's going to happen when you face good pitching, but should not have happened today. We've got to figure out a way to manufacture some runs here and there, or at least put some more pressure on the opposing defense/ pitcher.
-Add 1st Base Coach to the many hats worn by Heath Holder over the past five years. He's started games in LF, RF, DH, and 1B. He's been a starting pitcher, he's been a reliever. He's thrown conventionally and side armed. He's been a bullpen catcher. Today, with Jimmy Rider on the IR, Heath stepped up as our 1B coach... Even had the stop watch and everything out there.... Pretty neat stuff.
-Nice to see Nick King come back with two hits today. Stricklin said on the postgame show Sunday that the SS position was not yet settled. Nick probably earned the Friday night start with his offensive game today and was, as always, very good defensively.
-We did have a couple of defensive lapses though... The ball dropping in shallow RF being the worst, but we also failed to turn a couple of DPs that should have shown up. It's good to win when you aren't perfect, but we've got clean up that stuff for this weekend.
-How about Logan Moody's throw in, I think, the 8th inning? What a hose. It was either the 7th or the 8th as Drew Moody was still on the mound. It reminded me of some of those super athletic plays Hunter Cole used to make in the OF or at 3B when Dylan was pitching. Good looking out, there.... Logan is doing a really nice job.
-Mitchell Webb had a very good defensive game at Kennesaw State last year and then, in addition to another good defensive effort, hit the homer in his first AB today. Mitchell was recruited to play QB at Kennesaw and, as I understand it, likely would have gone there if not for getting the offer from us to play baseball. So I know it means something to him playing over there and I'm happy for him that he's had two of his better games at that place.
-Bo Tucker just overmatched the opposing hitters in the 9th inning. It wasn't quite the 6 consecutive K's like he had at Knoxville last year and the stakes weren't quite as high, but it was it was similar level of dominance on his part.
-Nice to leave Stillmore Stadium with a win... Made for a very pleasant drive back down I-75. We've won five in a row and are now 4-1 against in-state competition by my count. We've got to find another gear this weekend, but I think that the excitement over finally starting SEC play will go a ways toward that.
