The summer rolls on. Some of the players will be on campus for the summer session that begins on June 6th and the newest assistant coach, Brett Schneider, is trying to get the 2009-2010 non-conference schedule wrapped up. Coach McFerrin has already spilled the beans about adding Indiana and Missouri, coach McFerrin's alma mater, to the schedule for next year. We will also be returning a road game to Ohio University and have former C-USA member Saint Louis back on the schedule beginning next season. On Monday, June 1st, we'll also have the formal announcement of the new coaching staff. Coach wanted to announce both newcomers at once, so Monday we'll have the formal release up for Coach Schneider and our new Director of Basketball Operations.
University of Memphis Athletics
May 2009 Archives
May 2009 Archives
Summer is here and that means several Tiger baseball players will continue playing. Below is a list of our current players who are going to play in summer wooden bat leagues. I'll keep you updated on their progress this summer.
Brach Davis, North Adams Steeple Cats NECBL WWW.Steeplecats.com
Ryan Fraser, North Adams Steeple Cats NECBL www.steeplecats.com
Drew Martinez, Luray Wranglers, Valley League, www.luraywranglers.com
Jacob Wilson, Luray Wranglers, Valley League, wwwl.luraywranglers.com
Brandon Showmar, Luray Wranglers, Valley League, www.luraywranglers.com
Adam McClain, Madison Mallards, Northwoods League, www.mallardsbaseball.com
Heith Hatfield, Woodstock Riverbandits, Valley League, www.woodstockriverbandits.org
Shawn Ablett, Woodstock Riverbandits, Valley League, www. woodstockriverbandits.org
Alan Mathis, Hamilton Joe's Baseball Club, Great Lakes, www.hamiltonjoes.com
Robby Graham, Bravos Valley Bombers, Texas League, www.bvbombers.com
Michael Wills, Union City Greyhounds, KIT, www.ucgreyhounds.com
And, let's not forget our Tiger pros who are still playing.
Major League
Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins, National League
Japanese League
Johnathan Leicester, Orix Buffaloes
Minor League
Jarrett Grube, Colorado Springs SkySox, AAA, PCL (Rockies)
Brent Dlugach, Toledo Mud Hens, AAA, International League (Tigers)
Derek Hankins, Altoona Curve, AA, Eastern League (Pirates)
Neil Schenk, Bowling Green Hot Rods, A, South Atlantic League (Rays)
Scott McGregor, Quad Cities River Bandits, A, Midwest League (Cardinals)
Chirs Kirkland, AZL Mariners, Arizona Rookie League, (Mariners)
And finally, congrats to Tamika Whitmore, who is beginning her 11th year in the WNBA, playing for a second year with the Connecticut Sun.
Well, the season is over after getting swept this weekend at ECU. Long day yesterday as you can imagine, an early flight out of Raleigh, then we connected at Charlotte for the second leg home.
21-32 is not what anyone expected this year out of baseball, but there is a lot to build on. Unfortunately, after improving at the plate from .239 to .272, we were still last in the league in hitting, our bullpen was shaky at times as well. But, it was probably the most consistent starting pitching we've had in a while and four juniors who were in that rotation return next season. We'll also have a core of six freshman who will be sophomores next year.
It was a long season for everyone since we were on the road all year. A special thanks to John Daigle and the staff at USA Stadium at Millington as well as the folks at Plantation Inn and the Neighborhood Bistro where we were housed and fed on the weekends. Also thanks to Dave Chase and the Redbirds for the use of AutoZone Park and George Moreland and the Memphis Tiger AABC organization for the use of Gagliano Field.
It will be exciting to see the progress of FedExPark over the summer and it's completion this fall. Coach Daron Schoenrock said, on his video show today, that we will open the season next year at home against Middle Tennessee on February 20th.
We taped Coach Rock and Coach Thees season wrap-up shows today, they'll be on GOTIGERSGO.COM this afternoon. Thanks to everyone who made our first year of All-Access shows a success.
Hard to believe I just wrapped up my sixth season as a Tiger Broadcaster. This year I was able to call my first men's Basketball games for Memphis in Puerto Rico, with the addition of the men's and women's soccer as well as volleyball, my duties with aseball and women's basketball, and my prior games with softball, I have now done play-by-play for seven of the Tiger teams. I am truly living the dream.
Keep checking the /sports/2015/4/9/GEN_2014010184.aspx this summer, I'll keep it updated.
Getting ready to leave for the ballpark in a few minutes. Tigers now 1/2 game behind UCF for the final tournament spot. We'll need to win at least one of the two remaining games at ECU to get to Hattiesburg next week. Harding Academy's Brennon Martin gets the start tonight for the Tigers. He'll have a good shot at making All-Conference, I just sent my ballot in, but I'm not going to reveal my pics. LOL
SID Jason Redd and I are hanging out in our room at the City Bistro in Greenville watching the Today Show waiting for tonight's series opener with ECU. We need to play equal to or better than UCF this weekend to qualify for the CUSA Tournament in Hattiesburg next week. 2002-03 was the last time the baseball team failed to qualify in consecutive years, so we'd like to avoid repeating that feat. It will be a tough weekend, ECU may be the toughest place to play in the league, they usually draw good crowds and the outfield is loaded with tail-gaters, which they call "The Jungle". I'll have all three games on WUMR 91.7fm and you can email during the game at MEMPHISRADIO@HOTMAIL.COM. The games are at 5:00 Memphis time Tonight and tomorrow and 11am Memphis time on Saturday.