A makeup date for the series is in discussions and will be posted at a later time. Meanwhile Georgia heads down to Tallahassee to face the 23rd ranked Seminoles of Florida State next weekend for a 3 game set.
A quick introduction to Georgia Club Baseball fans for the rapidly approaching 2010 season:
Georgia stands less than 3 weeks from opening day for the 2010 season. Coming off a 2008-2009 season which saw a conference championship over rival Clemson and a 2009-2010 fall season which saw them manhandle national powers Clemson and North Carolina, Georgia comes into 2010 with a depth of talent and high expectations. Returning 16 players from their 2008-2009 SAE conference championship team, including 2 All Americans and 6 All conference selections, Georgia is likely to be among the preseason favorites in the country. When asked about their prospects for the upcoming season, head coach David Emadi, who is entering his 3rd season at the helm of the team, would only admit that, “This is a talented team. Yea, we do bring back alot of guys, including a couple All Americans. And I think we might have 2 or 3 All Americans on this team in newcomers to the club on top of the 2 guys (Vernon and Lavigno) who were named to it last year. But talk is cheap. We were talked up alot, and we were supposed to take down the ‘27 Yankees last year as well, but instead we watched Clemson, who we beat for the conference crown, take it to the rest of the Region tournament and head off to the CWS Championship round while we went off on Summer Break. Our focus is on winning the games in front of us one at a time and we’ll let the big picture take care of itself. I think, or at least I hope, that we’ve learned from last year and know not to drink the Kool-Aid too soon.”
When asked about newcomers and challenges he saw his club facing going forward, Emadi said that there were “obviously alot of talented returners,” but also admitted excitement about the new faces by saying that, “we have a couple new comers that make this team more exciting then any I’ve ever seen here. Michael Adams gives us significant power and speed from the 2 hole that we didn’t have last year. He must have gone 9 for his first 12 up at UNC and he did so with power out of Centerfield. On most teams he could hit 3rd. Here we have the luxury of Watson Lavigno hitting there, but that is something we struggled to get production out of last year (CF) with Adam Weingarten hurt. Adam will hopefully finish off his rehab in the coming month or two and be ready to go and make us that much tougher, but we won’t miss a beat one way or the other moving forward. We couldn’t say that last year. Similarly, Matt McCarthy gives us power we needed last year. He could pop off more home runs than either of the All-Americans we bring back and it won’t surprise any of us. We add alot of depth behind the dish with Cameron Nester, Chris Holmes, and Matt Riccardi. Kyle Betz and Taylor Landrum are both impact arms that make us a better ballclub as well. We couldn’t keep our pitching healthy last year and that hurt us. But this year, if we stay healthy, we will have our best staff in a while and one of the best in the country. So yea, y’know the newcomers are exciting for this team. There’s a ton of potential for us, but right now all we are focused on is Florida. A quality, top 15 nationally ranked, team who will give us a real challenge early on.”
Georgia obviously has the potential to accomplish some special feats this year, but following the huge playoff disappointment of last season there is also alot of skepticism, a fact that assistant coaches Daniel Weingarten and David Vernon admitted to as well. Both coaches agreed that there was more danger in the offense this season from top to bottom than the 08-09 Bulldogs could offer on even their best day, and that the pitching staff was just “a little bit better, and hopefully more healthy.” But everyone surrounding this team seems to acknowledge that after a season filled with hype and unfulfilled promise, the 09-10 team needed to focus more on winning games than rankings. Whether this Georgia team can find the right harmony and balance between producing on the field while also striving to achieve their big picture goals, only time will tell. One this is for sure, however, this will be one of the most talented and interesting Georgia Club Baseball teams we’ve ever had the opportunity to follow.
- Bob Marley III reporting
The Bulldogs finished their shortened fall pre-season strong, thumping a talented conference and national rival, Clemson, by scores of 17-1 and 5-1 in their 2 game set over the weekend. Starting pitching was dominant for the Dawgs, as Michael Elliot threw 6 1/3 innings of shutout baseball in Game 1, allowing 2 hits 0 runs, issuing 0 walks, and striking out 8 Tigers. Not to be outdone, Taylor Landrum threw 7 innings of shutout baseball, issuing 2 walks (1 intentional), allowing 5 hits and striking out 6 Tigers. The bullpen was strong as well with Penn Collins, Joseph Batrous, and Kyle Betz all overpowering the Tigers toward the end of the games.
Offensively, Georgia was once again led by Michael Adams and Matt McCarthy. McCarthy set the tone in game 1 with a 2 run home run in the first inning. The shot proved to be all the offense the Dawgs would need, but they tacked on 15 more for good measure. Adams contributed 6 hits on the weekend, with multiple run scoring doubles. Game 1 saw 2nd baseman Clark Wright and Shortstop Luke Walker each contribute with 3 hit performances while 1st team All American Watson Lavigno was issued a remarkable 5 walks. Tyler Hampton and Clete Wilson also contributed multiple hits on the weekend as the Bulldogs clicked on all facets.
The Bulldogs finish the fall with a record of 4-1 and will now take a 3 month hiatus before they return to action in late January as the regular season gets under way.
An injury riddled and short staff Georgia baseball team limped into Chapel Hill, North Carolina for a 3 game set to begin their Fall season against the Tar Heels of UNC-Chapel Hill. A Georgia offense which looked to be among the nation’s most potent this season struggled mightily in Game 1, posted just 2 runs while stranding 6 runners in scoring position. All-American Watson Lavigno lead the Georgia attack with 3 hits (2 of which were Doubles) and 2 RBI’s. The veteran Sr. righty, Justin Pannell, made the start for Georgia, allowing 4hits and 1 unearned run over 5 strong innings in the no decision. Pannell gave way in the 6th to Jr. Jonathan Vines, who allowed zero runs in relief last year during the regular season, but struggled with control in the cold Carolina air, allowing 3 runs in 2/3 of an inning of work. Closer Luke Walker came in to finish off the 6th but the damage had been done and Georgia fell to the former National Champions by a final score of 4-2.
A resilient Georgia team came back firing in Game 2. Jr. transfer Taylor Landrum got the nod, throwing 4 1/3 innings of work in a mixed bag of results. Landrum was dominant through 3 innings and change allowing just 2 hits with 4 strikeouts. As he ran out of steam however, Landrum allowed 4 runs, 3 earned, over the next inning plus, departing with a slim 7-4 lead. Vines and Walker again teamed up in relief for a short manned bullpen closing the game out to preserve the Georgia lead. Offensively the Dawgs were led by Fr. Centerfielder, Michael Adams, who went an astounding 8-10 on the weekend with 5 extra base hits, including a 3 run home run in Game 2. Georgia cruised to a victory by a final score of 11-5.
Game 3 was more of the same. With Sophomore Michael Elliott debuting off of his dominant Freshman year which saw him post a 2.2 ERA, Elliott threw 6 dominant innings, allowing just 2 hits, 1 run, while running up 7 strikeouts. Offensively the Dawgs were paced by 1st baseman Matt “Diablo” McCarthy who had a double and 3 run home run in the contest. Every Bulldog starter either scored or drove in a run and Georgia blitzed the Tar Heels to take the series by a final score of 15-1.
The Dawgs return to action, slightly healthier, this weekend at home at Smith Field for a 2 game set with conference rival Clemson. Games are scheduled for 12 on Saturday, and 11 on Sunday.
Yesterday, Georgia concluded baseball tryouts which stretched over the large parts of 2 weeks, resulting in the 2009-2010 UGA Club Baseball Roster officially coming into focus today. Tryouts saw just over 60 players come out in a bid to make the team, equating in an outpouring of talent which included multiple Division 1 and JUCO transfers, along with a host of talented freshman. When asked, head coach David Emadi called the tryout “…an enormous showcase of talented baseball players…” and that cutting the roster down to 23 was “…virtually impossible with this many genuinely talented guys. Some very good players were casualties of the unbelievable depth we had this year.” The Georgia coaching staff and front office thank everyone who tried out.
The Bulldogs now head into the 2009-2010 season with large expectations placed on their shoulders, and they look to meet those expectations behind a 23 man roster which includes 16 returners, 5 All-Conference players, and 2 All-Americans from their Conference Championship team of 2008-2009. The Bulldogs welcome 7 newcomers to the squad and will work behind a 9 man pitching staff, of whom 3 are 2-way players.
Georgia opens their fall campaign at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill on October 17th. The following week they will host Conference rival Clemson at home. A 3rd Fall series is still TBA.
Note: To those who made the team, practices begin next Tuesday at Smith Field. Be there promptly at 4 o’clock.
