The Book 2007 Ragin' Cajun Baseball

[Mineshaft]

Whatever dude. I love how you are interested in the score though. Afraid you might have to bite your tongue?

Quit it your embarrasing yourself-and you thought UL would come back and win. yea whatever........

[NewsCopy]

After falling behind by three to Northwestern, the Cajuns rallied to take a 10-5 victory and boost their record to a sparkling 10-0, while the Demons fell to 4-8. Leading the way for the Cajuns offense was junior catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who finished the sultry night 4-for-5, with six RBIs. "We know that we're a good hitting team," Lucroy said. "At any point any one of us can step up and hit a homerun and get the team going. We're a dangerous team and we knew we could hit their pitchers and put some runs on the board." Lucroy's biggest blast of the night came in the sixth inning when he pounded a pitch that did not lose its battle with gravity until clearing the pine trees in left field, giving the Cajuns a six-run cushion and Lucroy his first homer of the season. "Today was the first day that I saw the ball real well," Lucroy said. "I was able to step in the box, take a deep breath and just relax. That's my job as the three-hole hitter - to come out every night and get those big hits." The rest of the story Grant Alexander Sports Correspondent

[CajunRed]

Cajuns now have an RPI of... "45". It would be even higher, but our Strength of Schedule (184) is hurting us a bit. That SOS will begin to go up from this weekend moving forward.

http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2007/rpi

[Cajun Express]

Cajuns now have an RPI of... "45". It would be even higher, but our Strength of Schedule (184) is hurting us a bit. That SOS will begin to go up from this weekend moving forward.

http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2007/rpi

We are killing our competitors, until they win some games it won't get much better. A good week end in Hattisburg is just what the doctor ordered.

[GoneGolfin]

Here is a quick rundown of the Southern Mississippi squad and probable starting rotations for the weekend.

Friday - Hunter Moody (1-0, 0.00 ERA, .071 OBA) vs. Ryan Belanger (2-0, 0.60 ERA, .151 OBA)

Saturday - John Zorich (2-0, 1.80 ERA, .254 OBA) vs. Barry Bowden (1-0, 3.75 ERA, .256 OBA)

Sunday - Buddy Glass (3-0, 1.93 ERA, .279 OBA) vs. David Clark (0-1, 7.04 ERA, .276 OBA)

Overall, Southern Mississippi pitching seems improved from last season, despite losing outstanding closer Daniel Best. While they have yet to enter CUSA play, USM sports a team 2.25 ERA and a very solid .969 fielding percentage. Their #1 and #2 starters are improved (especially ace Belanger) and the Golden Eagles have some nice young recruits.

Senior Ryan Belanger has had a fantastic start, off the heels of a solid offseason. Belanger is a smallish rightie with a decent fastball, but his curve is his best pitch. He developed a nice changeup since last season which has helped him immensely. Ryan is the younger brother of former Tulane All-American Brandon Belanger (played in '99 and '00). Brandon was a submarine style closer that did not have great velocity, but had good stuff overall, location, and movement. Sounds a lot like the pitcher Ryan is developing into. Ryan Belanger finished last season as the #2 starter and was tagged with both losses to Troy in the NCAA Tournament.

Junior Barry Bowden finished last season as the #1 starter and is the #2 this season behind Belanger. Bowden started the opening round NCAA Tournament game against Troy and lasted only three innings in a no decision, before being relieved by Belanger. Bowden is a rightie that throws a fastball, breaking ball, and changeup, with his change being his best pitch. Junior rightie David Clark has struggled some this year, but is slated to be the Sunday starter at this point. Clark relies heavily on a solid fastball and slider. Senior closer Patrick Ezell possesses good control and throws three pitches for strikes (fastball, curve, and changeup). The Golden Eagles have two solid freshman in the bullpen in Todd McInnis and Todd Cavenaugh. McInnis pitched six innings and earned the win against SLU last night. McInnis was regarded as one of the best players in Mississippi High School baseball last season and throws a true 12-6 breaking ball.

Offensively, the Golden Eagles are not as potent as they have been in the past. Especially in the power department. But USM is still capable of putting up a lot of runs. USM returns seven position players if you include transfer James Ewing. Ewing started as a freshman for Dave Van Horn at Arkansas before hurting his foot in the latter part of the 2006 campaign. USM lost power hitters Marc Maddox (18 HR) and Toddric Johnson (11 HR) from last year's team that hit 81 HRs and .314. Thus far the Golden Eagles have managed only two round-trippers while hitting .296.

The sophomore Ewing brothers (Michael and James - twins) should lead the way offensively this season, hitting for both power and average. They can also both run. Michael Ewing (OF and 1B) was a Freshman All-American at USM last season as was James Ewing (3B) at Arkansas despite his season being shortened due to injury. Interestingly, Michael bats and throws left while James is a pure rightie. Michael Ewing batted .313 with 8 HR last season while brother James batted .366 for Arkansas. Defense has been a problem at times for James Ewing.

Other top returnees include 1B/2B Trey Sutton (.375, 4 HR in '06), shortstop Brian Dozier (.368, 3 HR, 11 SB in '06), OF/DH Luke Adkins (.286, 8 HR in '06), and outfielder Jody Blount (.294, 10 HR in '06).

Brian

[southernmiss]

not trying to argue here but james ewing was a freshman all-american along with brian dozier, and luke adkins.

http://www.baseball-news.com/allamer...lamericans.htm

[GoneGolfin]

not trying to argue here but james ewing was a freshman all-american along with brian dozier, and luke adkins.

http://www.baseball-news.com/allamer...lamericans.htm

That is right. James was.

I was not providing an exhaustive list but was focusing on the Ewing brothers.

Thanks,
Brian

[NewsCopy]

HATTIESBURG - Southern Miss, off to a 8-1 start in baseball, faces a seven-game stretch that coach Corky Palmer calls the toughest of his career. Beginning with a three-game home series with unbeaten Louisiana-Lafayette - with Alabama in the middle - and ending with a three-game series at LSU, Palmer is ready for the challenge. "This is the toughest since I've been here," Palmer said. "But this is what we needed. Last year, even winning 39 games, our RPI was low, in the 40s. I felt like we needed to strengthen the RPI. When it all shakes down, even if you don't win them all, it will help out. "I've told people all along that we'll found out where we are after this stretch. Louisiana-Lafayette has their best team since getting to the World Series, and we all know about the traditions at Alabama and LSU." Ironically, Southern Miss placed third in the Tuscaloosa Regional last season and played in the Baton Rouge Regional three years ago. The Golden Eagles enter the ULL matchup hitting .296 as a team with seven doubles, one triple, and two home runs. The leading hitter is junior second/first baseman Trey Sutton at .400 with five doubles, 10 RBIs and 10 walks. The rest of the story By AL JONES afjones@sunherald.com

[NewsCopy]

Friday's Game Starts at 6:30 p.m., Saturday's and Sunday's Game Will Start at 1 p.m. HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss baseball team comes home this weekend to host Louisiana-Lafayette in a three-game weekend series on Friday-Sunday, March 3-5, at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field. Friday's game starts at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday's and Sunday's games begin at 1 p.m. All Southern Miss games will be carried on the radio and on-line at www.SouthernMiss.com. All three games will be carried locally on WXHB-96.5 FM. John Cox and Lance Pittman will broadcast the games for the entire weekend. Fans can also follow each game via GameTracker on-line at www.SouthernMiss.com. This marks the 22nd meeting between the two schools with UL Lafayette holding a 13-8 series advantage. The two schools haven't played since 2001 when Southern Miss swept the Ragin Cajuns at "The Pete", 5-1, 6-4 and 4-2. Southern Miss (8-1) enters the weekend series after defeating Southeastern Louisiana, 4-2, on Wednesday night in Hammond, La. The Golden Eagles opened the season, winning the Coca-Cola Southern Miss Baseball Classic, defeating Southern Illinois, 9-0, Louisville 6-5 and Northwestern (La.) State, 10-7. After winning two midweek games over South Alabama (6-1) and New Orleans (4-1), Southern Miss defeated Georgia Southern (7-1) and Indiana (15-4) before dropping a 3-2 decision to Troy in the championship game of the Wiregrass Classic on Sunday, Feb. 25. The rest of the story

[NewsCopy]

UL's red-hot baseball team faces a team almost as hot this weekend when the Cajuns face their first extended road test of the season. The unbeaten Cajuns (10-0) travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., today through Sunday for a three-game series against Southern Mississippi's Golden Eagles (8-1). The teams match pitching aces Hunter Moody and Ryan Belanger in tonight's 6:30 p.m. opener at Pete Taylor Park, with the balance of the series at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. UL is 4-0 on the road this year with a three-game sweep at Texas-San Antonio and a single-game win at Southeastern La. last week, but the Golden Eagles provide a major step up in level of opposition - especially on the mound. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[RaginCajun918]

One of my friends who is a USM fan ran into Corkey Palmer today eating lunch in Hattiesburg and asked him about this weekend, Corkey tells him to expect a sweep and that Hunter does not throw hard and is not that good. My friend says, "Yeah he is a preseason All American because he isnt any good." He said Corkey didnt have much to say after that.... Gives me a little more motivation for this weeked. Geaux Cajuns.

[CajunDreDog]

Louisiana @ Southern Miss
Pete Taylor Park
Fri - 6:30 *** Sat - 1:00 *** Sun - 1:00

Fri Live Stats: http://southernmiss.cstv.com/gametra...&startschool=&

Sat Live Stats: http://southernmiss.cstv.com/gametra...&startschool=&

Sun Live Stats: http://southernmiss.cstv.com/gametra...&startschool=&