Indiana State Falls At Illinois State On Sunday, 2-0

[Jason Svoboda]

The Indiana State baseball team was shut out behind a complete-game four-hitter from Illinois State starting pitcher Brad Sorkin as the Redbirds completed the weekend Missouri Valley Conference sweep with a 2-0 shutout victory on Sunday from Duffy Bass Field.

Read more at GoSycamores...

 

[bluepower]

Well,we were supposed to have kept doing the things we did last weekend again this weekend! This is a very disappointing turn of events,as we were clicking on all cylinders. Now, we seem to have blown a couple of cylinders...mostly in the batting department. Our stature in the standings took a dive and we have eliminated ourselves from any hope of first place, barring a miracle!

 

[Bluethunder]

Bluejays going for the sweep on ESPNU right now. Up 3-0 in the second, left bases loaded in the bottom of the first so it could have been worse for the Salukies.

 

[ISUCC]

oh well, so much for postseason hopes for ISU unless they win the MVC tourney at ILS

 

[bent20]

What an up and down year.

 

[Bluethunder]

What an up and down year.

Reminds me of the basketball season. Sweep Purdue and Creighton, then lose to SIU-Edwardsville and Illnois State. Frustrating.

 

[BankShot]

The dropoff in run production this season is terrible. To many LOB's (small ball principles in advancing runners/pressuring the "D"?) and a lack of batting LINEUP consistency...simply can't have the periodic droughts @ the top or bottom of the ISU batting lineup. Heller better be beating the Indiana bushes hard to reestablish Warn's once dominant territory in Indiana baseball. Look where IU's rated this season...nice new stadium obviously helps offset the former ISU advantage during the Warn Era:


http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/slideshow-iu-baseball-stadium-nears-completion-44744/

Last week Baseball America Poll (IU #19):

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/college-top-25-april-15-north-carolina-remains-no-1/

 

[The Fungo]

IU is a nice story this year, but let's see where they are next year. The Big Ten is one on the most overrated conferences in baseball. No school backs it up year after year in the Big Ten. The new stadium is nice, but no stud D1 kid is going to play at IU or anyother northern school just because they have a nice facility. Truth is ISU recruits more in state kids than IU. Last I looked IU had more out of state kids on the roster than in state.

 

[BankShot]

We're letting BIG TIME names leave the area for alleged greener pastures...the 2 kids from THN (Stanford P/KY 1B/P/OF) are a couple that come to mind.

Agree re: Big Ten baseball, but differ re: the impact of quality facilities. I've been around Florida baseball for just short of 3 decades now, and have seen a number of high quality baseball recruits depart for "northern schools" (TN, KY) because of facilities. They can make a difference. Any idea what Florida players do when it rains? Miami & TB have "domes," but colleges & HS's must deal w/ the elements. It's time consuming to groom the fields, and poorly groomed fields contribute to injury. I'll never forget an international tournament I umpired @ Cocoa Expo a few years ago...2 weeks long/5 games per day. Morning's were the sloppiest conditions ever because of the moisture - had to use a towel v. brush to clean home plate - rotate baseballs following ground balls thru the grass. Have you ever thrown a wet baseball? Impact on safety?

Just a reminder that conditions down south aren't as "honky dory" as many think. A good coach w/ nice facilities & scheduling can recruit SOUTHERN talent to play in the NORTH.

 

[The Fungo]

I respectfully disagree that kids pick a school for facilities. IMO the choose the following first
1) Playing time
2) type of offense or defense based on sport and position played
3) playing time
4) money (as in scholorship money not being paid)
5) location (most not all will stay fairly close to home so mom and dad can see them play)
6) weather ( no one likes to play in the cold)
7) girls (the warmer the weather the nicer the women)
8) facilities (kids don't want to play in a dump, but they do want to play. why sit the bench in a brand new stadium when I can start in an old one.

One kid left Terre Haute for KY because he is playing in the SEC. What baseball kid doesn't jump at that chance. It's close to home and playing every week against the best compatition.

 

[bluepower]

Kids need to be realistic about the playing level they would best succeed at. So, if you want playing time, look for a school who's level of league competition is commensurate with your abilities. It's fun to be a big fish in a smaller bowl.