College Confidential

TCU takes two, forces rematch with Ole Miss Monday night in College Station

COLLEGE STATION – TCU has turned its fortunes around with three consecutive wins in the NCAA tournament at Blue Bell Park. After losing their first game Friday, the Horned Frogs have fought back to force a championship rematch at 6:35 p.m. Monday against Ole Miss. TCU (39-20) won twice Sunday, including 5-2 over the Rebels Sunday night to force the decisive game Monday. Earlier Sunday, the Frogs defeated Texas A&M 10-2 to eliminate the Aggies in their last game played in the Big 12 Conference. They move to the Southeastern Conference in July. The Frogs received stellar performances from starting pitchers Stefan Crichton and Brandon Finnegan to stay alive Sunday.
Crichton improved to 9-2 after pitching his first complete game against the Aggies. Crichton held A&M to six hits and struck out four.
In the nightcap, Finnegan, a freshman from Fort Worth Southwest High School, pitched perhaps the best game of his young career, going a career-high 7 1/3 innings while striking out seven and holding Ole Miss to six hits. The pitching finally took the spotlight away from the Frogs’ offense, which exploded for 28 runs against Dayton Saturday, and then scored 10 more to eliminate Texas A&M early Sunday.
Against Ole Miss (37-25), the Frogs scored just enough behind Finnegan’s arm.
Derek Odell turned on a fastball for a two-run homer to right to give the Frogs a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning. It was Odell’s second homer of the day. He hit a solo shot to put the Frogs up 3-2 in the third inning against the Aggies. TCU made it 3-1 in the fifth when Brance Rivera led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Keaton Jones and scored on Kyle Von Tungeln’s sac fly. TCU added a run each in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings on RBIs from Josh Gonzales, Kyle Von Tungeln and Kevin Cron. Justin Scharf pitched the final 1 2/3 to earn the save. Finnegan improved to 4-4 with the victory.
-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs

Crichton throws complete-game gem as TCU stays alive in NCAA tournament

COLLEGE STATION – TCU’s offense continued to score at a sizzling pace and pitcher Stefan Crichton had his best outing of the season as the Horned Frogs eliminated Texas A&M 10-2 Sunday at Blue Bell Park.

The Frogs (38-20) stay alive to play Ole Miss (37-24) at 6:35 p.m. Sunday night in the College Station Regional championship. If the Frogs win, the two teams play again at 6:35 p.m. Monday.

Stefan Crichton (9-2) pitched his first-career complete game in the biggest start of his life. He held the Aggies to six hits (including two misplayed balls) that led to two runs.

TCU, which scored 28 runs Saturday in an elimination game, scored runs in the first five innings against the Aggies. Kevin Cron’s two-run homer highlighted a three-run fourth to give TCU a 6-2 lead. The Frogs added three more runs in the fifth. Brance Rivera’s two-run double scored Derek Odell and Jerrick Suiter.

The loss is the Aggies' (43-18) last game as a member of the Big 12 Conference. Texas A&M moves to the Southeastern Conference this summer.

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs

 

 

Horned Frogs and Flyers try to hold off elimination day in College Station

COLLEGE STATION – TCU tries to stay alive in the NCAA tournament at 12:35 p.m. Saturday against Dayton at Blue Bell Park. The Flyers (31-29) lost 4-1 to Texas A&M Friday; the Horned Frogs fell to Ole Miss 6-2. The No. 7 Aggies meet the Rebels in the winners' bracket game at 6:35 p.m.

The Frogs (36-20) turn to right-hander Andrew Mitchell (5-3), who is coming off a disappointing performance at the Mountain West tournament. He started the season as TCU’s Friday night ace but has struggled at times this season. Flyers’ right-hander Tim Bury (8-2) didn’t make his first start until March 3, but the senior leads Dayton with a 3.14 ERA in 103 1/3 innings.

Dayton (31-29) likes to run, and run a lot. The Flyers lead the nation with 163 stolen bases and 849 total bases. Five players have more than 15 stolen bases, including shortstop Bryan Blasik who has 36 steals in 39 attempts.

The Frogs’ offense managed just five hits Friday against Ole Miss hurler Bobby Wahl. The bottom six hitters were a combined 1 for 20 with 10 strikeouts and reached base just twice. Both of those were by freshman Jerrick Suiter who had a single and was hit by a pitch.

But an offensive explosion is unlikely to happen. TCU pitchers have become used to an offense batting .266 and providing only a modicum of run support.

That puts the onus on Mitchell, who hasn’t looked sharp in his last two starts. He was roughed up last week against San Diego State at the MWC tournament. He surrendered six runs on eight hits in three innings.  He has lasted seven innings only once this season, April 13 against Air Force. His last strong outing was also against Air Force May 12, when he struck out seven and held the Falcons to two hits. Mitchell’s most impressive recent start was May 6 when he held a great-hitting New Mexico team to three hits and struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings. That performance came two days after his start against the Lobos was stopped after one inning because of rain.

TCU is playing a Dayton team in its first NCAA tournament with few expectations and nothing to lose. The Frogs were ranked No. 15 in Baseball America’s preseason national rankings and were still in the Top 20 last week. Several Frogs, including catcher Josh Elander and outfielder and Kyle Von Tungeln, are trying to extend what could likely be their final seasons. Seniors Brance Rivera, Davy Wright and injured Jason Coats are also staring at the end of their TCU careers.

The Flyers, with 10 seniors, feel a similar urgency.

“We have 10 seniors so every pitch is important for them and the guys behind them will play very hard,” Dayton coach Tony Vittorio said. “We need more quality at bats [Saturday] so we’ll be fighting for quality at bats to get on base and get back to our running game. We’re excited about [Saturday] and putting a little more pressure on TCU.”

Scharf sets record
TCU pitcher Justin Scharf made his 34th appearance this season, breaking Jeff Baker's 1994 record of 33 in a season. Scharf (2-2, 3 saves), a transfer from Paris Junior College, has been excellent in his first year with the Frogs, posting a 2.97 ERA in 39 1/3 innings.   

 -- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

 

 

 

Departures continue to make dent in TCU's depth

TCU’s depth was the big question this spring while the Horned Frogs prepared for their first season in the Big 12 Conference.

Now, three months before the season opener, the Frogs’ depth keeps taking hits.

Offensive lineman Carter Wall and linebacker Deryck Gildon are no longer on the team, several sources said. They join running back Ed Wesley, who left the team for family reasons, and offensive lineman Nykiren Wellington, who transferred last week to Trinity Valley Community College. Gildon is still on the roster but the others have been removed.

That brings the total number of players lost this spring to eight, including four players kicked off the team in February. Linebacker Tanner Brock, defensive lineman D.J. Yendrey, offensive lineman Ty Horn, and defensive back Devin Johnson were kicked off the team during drug-selling sting.

The loss of Wesley, who led the Frogs in rushing with 1,078 yards in 2010, is a blow to the backfield, but TCU has Waymon James and Matthew Tucker returning. They both rushed for over 700 yards in 2011. Aundre Dean, a former Parade All-American is a senior who has been used in a limited role the last two years after transferring from UCLA.

The loss of Wall and Wellington hurts the already thin depth at offensive line.

The reasons behind the four latest departures remains unclear, but several sources said they are all grade related.

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

 

Wind advisory could be a factor tonight in Las Vegas

I hear it's really windy back in Fort Worth today. Same here in Las Vegas. Winds are blowing with gusts of up to 65 mph at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. San Diego State has already been aided by two wind-blown home runs in the first inning and leads UNLV 7-0 early in an elimination game. Here's a sampling of what it looks and sounds like:

   

The National Weather Service issued a severe wind warning until 11 p.m. today with peak winds coming between 2 and 6 p.m. (PT). 
TCU plays New Mexico at 9 p.m. (CT) tonight.

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs

TCU's epic meltdown-turned-comeback brought out mixed emotions from Horned Frogs' fans

Many tweets and messages came spilling in after TCU’s emotionally-draining 16-15 win Thursday over San Diego State. One popular sentiment had fans sharing something along these lines: “Frogs should never have given up 11 runs in the 9th." 

The underlying attitude stuck to many of the comments was that the blown 10-run lead in the ninth Thursday somehow is so horrible that the Frogs’ eventual clutch comeback victory in the bottom of the ninth is tarnished.
Hogwash.
To me, it was an overwhelming sign of supreme resiliency within the team that the Frogs came right back to snatch victory from a potential disaster.
Besides, to those voicing the obvious that TCU should never have blown a 10-run lead, I say: Thanks, Dr. Baseball Expert. There’s not a coach or player on the Horned Frogs’ roster that wouldn’t agree that the 11-run meltdown is unacceptable. But as TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle said afterward, “Baseball is crazy."
Frogs’ third baseman Jantzen Witte called it ridiculous. Pitcher Andrew Mitchell challenged me to write a story that did the game justice. (I don’t think that’s possible unless my editors agreed to a six-page special section with huge charts, diagrams and in-depth analysis of about 15 different plays that deserved more attention than I could give them in a 140-line game story.)
I asked Schlossnagle if he’s ever been involved in a ninth inning such as Thursday.
“Never,” he said. “I’ve heard of it happening to other people. And as it was happening to us I was thinking, ‘I guess it’s our turn.’ How do you explain it?”
Others have complained that catcher Josh Elander should not have been rested before the ninth inning, as if Davy Wright, who replaced Elander, was the reason for the 11-run Aztec rally. Ridiculous. True, Wright has only been behind the plate a few times in his career. But the wild pitches were hardly his fault. He made a wild throw to first on a tapper in front of the plate, but that didn’t open the floodgates. Reliable bullpen staples Justin Scharf and Kevin Allen failed to do what they’ve done nearly every time out this season and allowed two runs apiece and failed to record an out. Trey Teakell, who for five innings pitched valiantly in relief of Brandon Finnegan’s three-inning start, allowed the first seven runs of the Aztec rally. Stefan Crichton, in his first relief appearance since last season, finally came in and got the final two outs.
Most importantly for TCU, Thursday’s win keeps the Frogs in the winner’s bracket with a loss to spare in the Mountain West tournament. A win Friday night vs. New Mexico and they’ll play for the tournament title Saturday night.
Fans obviously have a reason to be disgusted with the ninth-inning meltdown and are free to share their opinions with me 24/7 in e-mail and Twitter. I love it. Keep them coming. Just remember to enjoy a win as much as you disdain a blown lead.

After Thursday’s game Schlossnagle evoked TCU football coach Gary Patterson’s often-used mantra of “We just want to win by one point.”
“For the rest of the season the only thing that matters is having one more run than the other team,” Schlossnagle said. “There’s no such thing as style points. You just have to keep winning.”
You could call it an ugly win, many on Twitter have. I say it was anything but ugly. It was everything that’s great about college baseball, baseball in general, and being a sports fan.

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs

TCU's Morrison and Coats in rarefied Mountain West air in Frogs' final weeks in the league

TCU pitcher Preston Morrison became the first player in Mountain West history to earn the league’s Pitcher and Freshman of the Year honors in the same season and five other Horned Frogs received accolades.
Pitcher Andrew Mitchell joined Morrison on the first team, along with outfielder Jason Coats. Coats is the third MWC player to earn first-team honors three times.
Third baseman Jantzen Witte, outfielder Kyle Von Tungeln and relief pitcher Kevin Allen were named to the second team. New Mexico’s DJ Peterson and Mitchell Garver were named Co-Players of the Year.
Lobos’ coach Ray Birmingham earned Coach of the Year honors after New Mexico tied TCU for the regular-season title. It’s the first time in seven seasons in the league that the Horned Frogs didn’t win title outright.
Morrison led the MWC with a 5-0 record and 1.54 ERA in 46 2/3 innings.
“It has to be more of a team thing because I’ve gotten so much help from my outfield and infielders and [catcher] Josh [Elander],” Morrison said. “I couldn’t have had my success without them.”
New Mexico led the All-MWC team with 11 selections, including six on the first team. TCU and UNLV each had six players on the team. Last place Air Force had three players selected while San Diego State had none. 

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

 

Coats' injury hits TCU teammates, coaches hard as postseason looms

The loss of Jason Coats for the Mountain West Conference tournament is much more personal to his coaches and teammates and about much more than what he brings to the TCU offense.
His teammates’ reaction to news that Coats will miss the MWC with a knee injury was understandably solemn. The Horned Frogs (35-17) open the MWC tournament against San Diego State (24-32) at 5 p.m. Thursday in Las Vegas.
“It’s really awful,” Catcher Josh Elander said. “Jason is probably my best friend on the team. We’ve spent the last couple summers playing together.”
Coats hurt his knee rounding first base Sunday. He’ll be reevaluated May 29 but the prospects of him being available for the NCAA Regional are unclear. He leads the Frogs in batting and RBIs. He was drafted last June but chose to return to TCU for his senior year. He had a shot at becoming the Frogs’ all-time leader in hits. He already owns school records for at bats and doubles and is second in RBIs.
TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle said he was planning on taking out his three seniors, including Coats, during the ninth inning on Senior Day Sunday to let the Lupton Stadium crowd pay one last tribute. Coats was injured in the sixth inning.
“Just to see him work so hard and take the chance to comeback to school and put all his chips on the table for everybody here at TCU was such a selfless decision,” Elander said. “Coach Schloss said sometimes bad things happen to good people. You just have to believe in the long run he’ll get what he deserves because he’s an unbelievable class act.”
TCU dealt with numerous injuries earlier in the season and were hounded by a disastrous set of injuries to its pitching staff last year that hindered the Frogs’ postseason. In contrast to last year, TCU is a lot healthier overall as the postseason begins, but the loss of Coats is a blow to the offense. Freshman Jerrick Suiter and senior Zac Jordan  are most likely to replace Coats in left field and at the plate in Las Vegas.
“All year long it feels like we’ve been taking body shots,” Schlossnagle said. “It has been a grind, but that’s the season and that’s life. It’s good mental preparation for the postseason.”
-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

TCU's Morrison earns third Mountain West weekly honor

Freshman pitcher Preston Morrison was named the Mountain West Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive week and third time this season after throwing his first-career complete game Saturday against San Diego State. He held the Aztecs to one hit and retired 21 consecutive batters after the second inning.
Morrison (9-0) leads the MWC with a 1.54 ERA, is tied for the lead with five wins, and is second to teammate Andrew Mitchell with an opponent batting average of .164.
Morrison is a strong favorite to earn MWC Pitcher of the Year honors when the league’s award winners are announced today.
TCU (35-17) opens the MWC tournament against San Diego State (24-32) at 5 p.m. Thursday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas.

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

 

 

 

 

 

Mitchell battled through tough first inning while TCU offensive struggles went nine

During the first inning Friday night at Lupton Stadium, it looked as if it was going to be a long night for TCU pitcher Andrew Mitchell. It was a long inning as the right-hander surrendered three runs on three hits and three walks. But Mitchell regrouped and held San Diego State to one hit in the next five innings. He finished with nine strikeouts and six walks, one below his career-high. (Which, incidentally, came at San Diego State April 20.)
The No. 20 Horned Frogs' offense never regrouped, however, and stranded 12 base runners, including five at second base. Aztec pitchers never allowed a runner to third and the Frogs failed to come up with a clutch hit.
“The difference in the game was two-out hits," TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle said. "Mitchell set the table and they got two hits [in the first inning]. We had base runners we just couldn’t get two-out hits.”
TCU third baseman Jantzen Witte, who had one of the Frogs' six hits, said Mitchell deserved better.
"Mentally he’s a warrior," Witte said. "He kept working for us and pushing through it. Three runs should still be attainable for us to pick up the win, but it just didn’t happen tonight.”
Trey Teakell held the Aztecs to one hit in three innings but the offense never was much threat. Mitchell took the loss and dropped to 5-3.
Derek Odell and Brett Johnson had two hits apiece but the rest of TCU was 2 for 24 Friday. Johnson led off the seventh and ninth innings with singles but he was stranded both times. In the second inning Kevin Cron and Derek Odell led off with walks but Aztec starter Cole Swanson struck out Kyle Von Tungeln and Keaton Jones and forced a ground out to Brett Johnson to escape the jam.
TCU (33-17, 16-6 in the Mountain West) is tied with New Mexico atop the league with two games remaining. The Lobos can clinch a share of the title (and the No. 1 seed in the MWC tournament) with a win Saturday against last-place Air Force. The Frogs have won the MWC outright in all six years in the league. TCU moves to the Big 12 next season.  With wins against San Diego State Saturday and Sunday the Frogs would be co-champions with New Mexico.
Preston Morrison (8-0) is scheduled to start for TCU Saturday.

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs