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Valpo Sports => Other Sports => Topic started by: valpotx on March 04, 2014, 02:28:25 AM

Title: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 04, 2014, 02:28:25 AM
This is driving me crazy that I can't watch my former team play in my own state, especially since this is the first trip ever for Valpo baseball in Texas (according to the Valpo website).  Luckily, I get the Longhorn Network for the baseball game tomorrow, so I can have that on TV, while watching Valpo basketball on my computer.  With my wife about to burst any day now, I just couldn't risk the wrath of my significant other by leaving for yet another Valpo thing :).  Hopefully we represent well! 

Augie is a great guy if any of you have the chance to meet him.  I was fortunate to meet him when he was recruiting my HS team for my teammate to play at UT, and he treats everyone with respect.  A true legend in college baseball, if not THE legend.  The Texas, Texas State, and Incarnate Word games are fairly close in location, but I don't envy the drive down to CC and back up to San Antonio.  You never realize how large this state is until you drive around.  I think that it is 12 hours East (Texarkana) to West (El Paso), and around 12 hours from North (Amarillo) to South (Rio Grande Valley).

@ Texas - 3/4
@ Texas State - 3/5
@ Texas A&M CC - 3/7
@ Texas A&M CC - 3/8
@ Texas A&M CC - 3/9
@ Incarnate Word - 3/11 (new to D-1 this year)
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: jetz on March 04, 2014, 09:54:50 AM
Yeah I had the glorious pleasure of driving from Corpus Christi to California about 25 years ago.  Drove 75 mph for 13 hours or so on the first day and got to El Paso.  Didn't even get out of the state.   :snore:
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: Hanson23 on March 04, 2014, 09:57:24 AM
Valpotx thanks for the information. I was wondering if you would want to help a parent out who wants to watch the game tonight by providing your Longhorn Network login credentials?? I know it's a long shot but unfortunately I don't have access in Illinois.   

Thanks.
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 04, 2014, 11:16:38 AM
Quote from: Hanson23 on March 04, 2014, 09:57:24 AM
Valpotx thanks for the information. I was wondering if you would want to help a parent out who wants to watch the game tonight by providing your Longhorn Network login credentials?? I know it's a long shot but unfortunately I don't have access in Illinois.   

Thanks.

The LHN is actually part of the cable package I have through AT&T U-Verse.  I didn't know that it came with login credentials for any online viewing, so I will have to find out what it is, if I have that part as well.  Basically, most cable providers in TX include the LHN in their extended sports packages, so it wasn't anything that I specifically requested.  The LHN is a joint production by UT and ESPN, for all types of UT sports and history.  I would liken it to the Big Ten Network, which is also in my package.
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: Hanson23 on March 04, 2014, 12:32:46 PM
Yes AT&T U Verse comes with a username and password so you can access your channels on your computer, phone, tablet etc. I can access my direct tv the same way but it doesn't offer LHN. The LHN actually lists AT&T U verse as one of the providers on their site.
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 04, 2014, 06:45:23 PM
Even though we are losing 3-0 in the top of the third, this is cool to watch our baseball team on a large network.  It gets exposure for our school overall, as they just played Bryce's shot, and listed some of our famous alumni.  They listed Adam Amin, Bryce, Jim Wacker, Lloyd McClendon, and Fuzzy Thurston.  Adam is apparently watching the game, as they showed him tweeting, 'I see that we are throwing around the word famous loosely,' or something to that effect.  Hopefully we get something out of this bases loaded opportunity!

Edit: spoke too soon, as we grounded out to end the inning.  We kind of look like the Pirates with these uniforms and socks.
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 04, 2014, 07:08:28 PM
UT having trouble with walks, but still up 3-1 in the bottom of the 4th.  Lundeen is living between 80-83 on his FB, mixing in some good offspeed
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 04, 2014, 07:19:15 PM
Impressive, as Lundeen just struck out one of the best hitters in the nation.  We are down 4-1 after 4 played
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 04, 2014, 07:39:39 PM
Several ropes by UT off of Haas, and we are down 7-1 after 5
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 04, 2014, 07:51:29 PM
They just showed Emory G Bauer field covered in snow from a pic on Monday, and mapped out our bus mileage so far this season.  Cool feature
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 04, 2014, 08:08:24 PM
Cool!!  Yoder is a side-armer.  Wish I could throw like that  :)
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 04, 2014, 08:38:16 PM
Good effort in a 7-1 loss
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 04, 2014, 09:21:26 PM
Like just about all UT teams over the last 20 years, their pitching carries them each game, with guys (righties and lefties) throwing high 80s to low 90s.  With our guys throwing low 80s, we need to rely on hitting our spots and pitching smart.  I hated seeing a Southlake HS guy finish the 9th against us, throwing low 90s.  I freaking hate that old HS rival :)
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: vu72 on March 04, 2014, 09:37:33 PM
I watched the stats for a few innings (too cheap to buy the video!) We gain great experience and confidence even while losing.  This will help as the season goes on.
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 05, 2014, 01:54:51 AM
I find it funny that the attendance says 4,551.  Disch-Falk Field allows for around 6,600, and it looked pretty empty based on all camera angles.  I would say that there was less than 1,000 at the game.  Any parents with kids on the team that can confirm this side?  Still a great experience, as you mentioned vu72.  I believe that the TX HS state championships are still held there, like they were when I graduated HS in 1999.
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 05, 2014, 10:24:54 PM
Good 10 inning 3-2 win over Texas State.  They are a program similar to Samford, Jacksonville State, and McNeese State.  Not a UT, but a solid win regardless.
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 07, 2014, 02:25:54 AM
Whoever writes the pre-game summaries for baseball lists some fun stats!  The one thing I would correct is when he/she mentions UT-Arlington as the Blaze.  Blaze is the mascot's name, while they are actually called the Mavericks :)
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 08, 2014, 10:35:19 PM
We take 2 of 3 from Texas A&M Corpus Christi to even our record at 7-7.  Some gems thrown in the 2 games today
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valporun on March 09, 2014, 10:20:24 AM
In terms of the Sports Info guy with baseball, did he go on the Texas trip, or is he working from the ARC, so he's just getting what information he can from the internet?
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: VU75 on March 09, 2014, 03:14:29 PM
Quote from: valpotx on March 04, 2014, 07:51:29 PMThey just showed Emory G Bauer field covered in snow from a pic on Monday,

Is there any hope the field will be ready by this weekend?
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: VULB#62 on March 09, 2014, 08:18:19 PM
Time to think about Field Turf on Em Bauer field for the 2015 season.   :twocents:
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: jetz on March 10, 2014, 10:04:01 AM
Quote from: valpotx on March 08, 2014, 10:35:19 PM
We take 2 of 3 from Texas A&M Corpus Christi to even our record at 7-7.  Some gems thrown in the 2 games today
Interesting move switching Mahoney to 1B from SS today.  Spence has struggled with errors this year, but started the season red hot from the leadoff spot.  He's cooled off some at the plate lately, but still a good leadoff option.  Edwards has come in to play well at SS.  No errors in the DH for the Crusaders.
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: jetz on March 10, 2014, 10:06:31 AM
Quote from: valporun on March 09, 2014, 10:20:24 AM
In terms of the Sports Info guy with baseball, did he go on the Texas trip, or is he working from the ARC, so he's just getting what information he can from the internet?
Brad Collignon is the SID.  He did not make the TX trip since he is spread thin with other sports...Pretty good writer, though!
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: jetz on March 10, 2014, 10:20:09 AM
Quote from: VU75 on March 09, 2014, 03:14:29 PM
Quote from: valpotx on March 04, 2014, 07:51:29 PMThey just showed Emory G Bauer field covered in snow from a pic on Monday,

Is there any hope the field will be ready by this weekend?
I have heard from players that in their opinion there is no chance the field will be playable by this Friday.  Snow still deep on the field.  Temps today and tomorrow get close to 50, then right back to the igloo with 25 degrees Wed and Thu.  BREAKING NEWS:  As I type this, I'm told a plan MAY be in the works to switch the UWM series on the schedule with Wright St.  We would then travel to Wright St. this weekend under this scenario.  This is NOT official yet, but I felt cool posting BREAKING NEWS.  So there you go.

We will definitely have to have a Plan B of some kind.  Our home schedule is set up to end in early May, meaning lots of home series in the early part of the year.  We'll need two weeks of weather in the mid 60s to get the field ready, IMO.  The turf field would be great, but if there's a plan to move EGB to campus in the next decade, I'm not sure that will happen short of one of you guys winning the Powerball and naming a stadium after yourselves.  Speaking of, construction has been slowed at the new Curtis Granderson Stadium at UIC due to weather.  They are close, but not sure when the new field there will be ready to go.  Granderson put $5M of his money into the project, and it will be far and away the nicest facility in the HL when it opens up.  Should be soon.
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 10, 2014, 10:33:42 AM
It would be good if they are able to switch the games, in order to keep our guys in game shape, not having to sit out this weekend.  How did you know my plans if I were to win the lottery? lol  It would still be Emory G Bauer Field, but at my name Stadium :)
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: VULB#62 on March 10, 2014, 12:12:11 PM
Quote from: jetz on March 10, 2014, 10:20:09 AM
Quote from: VU75 on March 09, 2014, 03:14:29 PM
Quote from: valpotx on March 04, 2014, 07:51:29 PMThey just showed Emory G Bauer field covered in snow from a pic on Monday,

Is there any hope the field will be ready by this weekend?

We will definitely have to have a Plan B of some kind.  Our home schedule is set up to end in early May, meaning lots of home series in the early part of the year.  We'll need two weeks of weather in the mid 60s to get the field ready, IMO.  The turf field would be great, but if there's a plan to move EGB to campus in the next decade, I'm not sure that will happen short of one of you guys winning the Powerball and naming a stadium after yourselves. Speaking of, construction has been slowed at the new Curtis Granderson Stadium at UIC due to weather.  They are close, but not sure when the new field there will be ready to go.  Granderson put $5M of his money into the project, and it will be far and away the nicest facility in the HL when it opens up.  Should be soon.

I asked ML about that move a short time ago and it came down to:  (1) the move is on the 30 year plan; (2) much else needs to be moved (and two buildings demolished) first before that will happen, and (3) he doesn't expect that to happen on his watch, but maybe the next AD's.

With that in mind, a Field Turf installation at Em Bauer as the interim solution (next 10 years?) makes better sense to me.  A turf field could be plowed by now and the remaining layer would have melted off by the end of the week.  But with all the snow and possibly a high water table as a result, the current field could be soggy for weeks after the snow melts.
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 10, 2014, 12:17:06 PM
Field Turf can be pretty expensive though, right?  It would be great to have such a thing to potentially play more home games, as we usually get 16-18 out of 60 games each season at EGB.  That puts you at a significant disadvantage versus warm weather teams, in addition to the lack of being able to practice outside for months before the season starts.  Groundballs on a gym floor just aren't the same lol. 
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valporun on March 10, 2014, 04:12:15 PM
What are the possibilities of the AD and baseball coach talking with the groundskeeper for the Gary Railcats coming with their tarp to help create a dome to help melt the snow a little quicker, with a possibility of getting the outfield and warning track dried out quickly too? I did see on milb.com that the Toledo Mud Hens have started this process, and have heard that the team in Beloit, WI might be considering this method as well. I mean if it can be done financially, and do something about independently contracting the Gary groundskeeper, this could get the field playable in a couple of weeks, couldn't it?
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: valpotx on March 11, 2014, 04:48:14 PM
Game in San Antonio is canceled today, leaving us at 7-7 heading into conference!  It would have been our first above .500 record since 1997 in non-conference (before any conference games started) had we won today.  We still have a chance to have an above .500 record in overall non-conference games, as there are always several played during the conference season.
Title: Re: Texas trip - March 4-11
Post by: talksalot on March 11, 2014, 08:19:18 PM
For those not in the Valpo area... we are in a WINTER STORM WARNING with something like 6" expected tonight (some are saying 8") with high winds through noon tomorrow.  There is no way we play at home this weekend.   I'm just thinking about those poor softball players and Jordan Stevens... suffering through that horrible Oahu weather.... what a shame.