* I can't say I was too surprised by many results on the first weekend of play for NCAA Division I teams. Most of the schools were playing teams they should have beaten - and they did. State teams went 21-9. Five of those losses were to ranked teams (Charleston Southern's three to Florida and College of Charleston's two to Virginia Tech) and all nine losses were against teams with winning records last season. So, the early returns were encouraging.
* Here are a few interesting tidbits gleaned from the state's games (not just Division I) over the weekend.
-- Clemson stole 17 bases, including 11 in Friday's opener.
-- South Carolina hit 14 home runs and scored 49 runs.
-- The Citadel went into the bottom of the ninth inning of Saturday's game with Delaware State trailing 4-0 and left a 5-4 winner. Speaking of Delaware State, Trey Paige hit for the cycle in Sunday's game.
-- USC Sumter played 15 innings against Catawba Valley on Sunday and lost, 5-1.
* Here are a few interesting tidbits gleaned from the state's games (not just Division I) over the weekend.
-- Clemson stole 17 bases, including 11 in Friday's opener.
-- South Carolina hit 14 home runs and scored 49 runs.
-- The Citadel went into the bottom of the ninth inning of Saturday's game with Delaware State trailing 4-0 and left a 5-4 winner. Speaking of Delaware State, Trey Paige hit for the cycle in Sunday's game.
-- USC Sumter played 15 innings against Catawba Valley on Sunday and lost, 5-1.
-- Benedict became the final state team to open its season on Sunday. The Tigers fell behind Miles, 7-0, in the third inning of Game 1, but came all the way back to win, 9-8, with three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Quintin Watts kept Benedict in the game, allowing one hit and one run in six innings of relief.
-- Claflin suffered a 32-3 loss to Georgia Southwestern in the nightcap of a Saturday doubleheader and that was actually its better offensive performance of the day. The Panthers were no-hit in a 20-0 loss in Game 1. Claflin allowed 10 unearned runs in each game.
-- Limestone exceeded its win total of 2022 (four) in its 10th game of the season.
-- Lander and USC Beaufort played three one-run games, with the winning run coming in the ninth inning of the first two games.
-- North Greenville has a 10-winning streak this season and a 15-game skein dating back to last year.
-- Claflin suffered a 32-3 loss to Georgia Southwestern in the nightcap of a Saturday doubleheader and that was actually its better offensive performance of the day. The Panthers were no-hit in a 20-0 loss in Game 1. Claflin allowed 10 unearned runs in each game.
-- Limestone exceeded its win total of 2022 (four) in its 10th game of the season.
-- Lander and USC Beaufort played three one-run games, with the winning run coming in the ninth inning of the first two games.
-- North Greenville has a 10-winning streak this season and a 15-game skein dating back to last year.
* I got a taste of the hidden side of athletics at a Columbia hotel over the weekend. On Friday, the breakfast area was teeming with players and coaches for Easley Christian School's girls and boys basketball teams. They were in town for the private school state finals. (The girls won; the boys lost). Then, Friday night, I rode the elevator down with the parents of a Milligan University baseball player. They were in town to watch the Buffs play Columbia International. Later that night, I went to get some free coffee in the lobby and saw a Milligan player doing his homework. I admire his dedication.
* I'm thinking about scaling back on the number of Tweets/Retweets I make of in-game updates for @palmettobase. I believe that will enable me to pay better attention to games more games and get boxes and final scores posted to the Website in a more timely manner.
* It seems like arm issues are plaguing more and more pitchers each year. I am NOT writing this as a criticism of any coaching staff. I have no scientific evidence, but it seems to me that too many pitchers are throwing too many pitches at too young an age. That wear and tear seems to take a toll once pitchers get to college. South Carolina, which had to put together a pitching staff with baling wire and duct tape last season, has already lost Roman Kimball and Ricky Williams this year. On Sunday, the College of Charleston announced sophomore starter Daniel Brooks will miss this season. He was one of a bunch of returning players from last year's CAA regular-season championship team.
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| I never was much of an athlete, so I've tried to be an athletic supporter. |
What d'ya think?
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