What’s In This Issue?
• Special Report: Read all about Coach Matt Petry’s amazing system that has allowed St. Mary’s Prep (MI) to win 73 straight games with only one loss in its last 123 contests as the Eaglets have won two straight Collegiate Baseball national high school championships in 2021 and 2022.
• Will Extreme Defensive Shifting Be Eliminated In College Baseball?: With Major Leagues doing away with tactic in 2023, many times the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee follows pro baseball’s lead with rules. Virginia Head Coach Brian O’Connor doesn’t feel there is any merit to toss it aside on the college level.
• 26 Stolen Bases In Only 6 Innings: Benedict College under Coach Selwyn Young sets a new NCAA Div. 2 record as 9 players help steal historic number.
• Are Your Pitchers Having Command Issues?: Read the incredible system that Orel Hershiser used during a Major League career that stretched over 18 seasons, including 13 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He still holds the Major League record for most consecutive scoreless innings pitched with 59 during the 1988 season.
• Editorial: Umpires must put a stop to the hit-by-pitch epidemic that is taking place in college baseball. In the recent NCAA Div. I baseball statistics, it showed 7 teams that were on pace to shatter the all-time hit-by-pitch record of 152 set during the 2012 season by Delaware St.
• Ruleball With Rich Marazzi: Rules’ guru rolls out his annual quiz that will determine if you are an expert on baseball rules or a rank amateur.
• Junior College Notes: Will LSU-Eunice, 36-0, run the table with no losses the entire season? It has been 57 years since a team has been perfect for a full season, including the playoffs, on any level of college baseball.
• 2 Great Coaches Named To Michigan Hall Of Fame: Danny Litwhiler (Michigan St.) and Fred Decker (Western Michigan) will be inducted July 7.
• Outstanding Baseball Products: Here is a rundown on some remarkable goods that will help baseball teams across the USA.
• Mike Epstein On Hitting: Matching plane of swing to plane of pitch is crucial to maximize ball contact.
• Jack Dunn Column: Two problems surface with every baseball program.
• 1,940 Wins & Counting: Jim Peck has devoted 60 years of service to Minnesota youth baseball and is still going strong.
• National Players Of The Week Powered By Diamond: RHP Ryan Dromboski of Pennsylvania sets a school record with 15 strikeouts during a 5-2 win over Princeton, 1B/OF Brandon Pimentel of Texas Rio Grande Valley homers in 5 straight games, plus much more.
• CB’s NCAA Div. I Poll Presented By Big League Chew: Louisiana St. No. 1 with 26-5 record as the Tigers belt 59 homers, 60 doubles and 10 triples while averaging 10.3 runs per game.
• NCAA Div. I Notes: April Fool’s Day was no joke in college baseball as Oregon comes from 10 down to beat Arizona, Old Dominion erupts for 8 home runs during a 21-5 win over Marshall, plus much more.
• CB’s National H.S. Top 30 Poll Presented By Diamond Pro: Barbe (LA) No. 1 with 30-1 record, 5 straight shutouts. Read the top 30 and notes on every ranked team.
• High School Notes: Huntington Beach (CA) wins National High School Invitation over JSerra (CA), plus more.
• NCAA Div. 3 Notes: Bobby Pollock of Farmingdale St. hits for the cycle in one game and belts 3 homers in another, plus much more.
• Charlie Greene Column: Playing consistent defense is the hallmark of championship teams.
• NAIA Notes: Tucker Musgrove of Mobile goes on hitting spree with cycle, LSU Shreveport steals 131 bases in 154 attempts over 29 games, plus much more.
• Adam Sarancik Column: Breaking down a sure double play that goes south.
• Ingenius Primary Modality Test: Tony Abbatine comes up with a test to determine whether a player learns at the highest level through visual means, words or touch.
• Tough Question: If it is the last of the ninth, score tied, one out, and there is a runner on first and third with a ground ball hit back to the pitcher, would you shoot two or look the runner back at third and just go for one? John Herbold feels that if the shortstop is covering for a double play, the second baseman should stay absolutely still and not back up second. Read the great reason why.
