Hitter of the week
Arturo Disla- Wayland Baptist (TX): 9-13, 6 runs, 4 doubles, 3 homeruns, 14 runs batted in, 3 walks, and 0 strikeouts.
Pitcher of the week
Gabriel Figueroa- Southwestern Christian (OK): 1-0, 7 inning no-hitter vs Dillard (LA), 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, and 12 strikeouts.
Other players receiving consideration this week: Dylan Martin- WIU, Alan West- CMU, Trevor Andrews- Mobile, Josh Logan- OKWU, Nolan Bowser- IUK, Andrei Beal- Milligan, Braden Spano- Milligan, Kendall Foster- KWU, Maximo Aristy- Bluefield, Eli Cook- Evangel, Nick Seamons- LCSC, Bryan Peck- Westmont, and Michael Wurtz- Tennessee Southern.
Touching Base- Week 2
In this edition of ‘Touching Base’ we take a look at week 2, as well. I review my trip to San Antonio to watch Our Lady of the Lake (TX) against #14 Central Methodist (MO). Don’t forget this week begins the Cajun Collision and we will have all of your coverage throughout the weekend!
East defeats the West in the first ever East/West Challenge by a final of 10-6. #1 Southeastern (FL) led the way with a 4-0 record for the East, including an 8-3 victory over #2 Lewis-Clark State (ID). The West had 3 of its 4 teams finish at 2-2, and had some good overall showings. LSU-Shreveport from the East had the next best overall record going 3-1, dropping the first game and going on to win 3 straight in the final 3 games. In 2024 the challenge shifts to the west coast next year in Arizona and looks to expand to 10 total teams.
Central Methodist (MO) sweeps through San Antonio in a 4-game series that featured 3 really tightly played ballgames. I got to make the trip north to San Antonio for games 3 and 4 of the series. Game 3 featured an absolute pitchers duel between CMU’s Alan West & OLLU’s Joshua Mendez, and both were phenomenal in their outings. CMU’s Alan West got the win going a complete game shutout, 2 hits allowed, 0 runs, 1 walk, and 13 strike outs. OLLU Joshua Menendez went 6 innings pitched in the loss, giving up 5 hits, 1 run on a Tommaso Giarola triple, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts. In game 4 CMU had 20 hits on 15 runs batted in to win going away by a score of 19-2 to complete the sweep.
How the teams shakeout- Central Methodist is a very solid, very well-coached program. They have two undeniable stars on their team first in Lyon transfer Alan West who, will be one of the best two way players nationally. West is an animal who can sling it in the high 80’s and be effective as a pitcher all while being able to hit in the middle of the order and play the field. When I asked Alan for an interview between games he was the first player to deny me one saying
“I have to get locked in for the next game, can we talk after” - Alan West
And I’ve never respected an answer more than that one. West is the definition of being a dude, glad I finally got to watch him play ball. The other star is Robbie Merced, who broke out last season with some insane 2022 numbers. Merced comes from true Major League Baseball lineage that runs deep, and when you watch him play defense smoothly or put together solid at-bats you can just tell by the way he carries himself with a quiet confidence that he is special. CMU’s lineup is not as eye popping as it was several years ago when they made the national title game, but the pitching is deep. This team has the makings of one who can put a run together in early to mid-May and catch you off guard.
OLLU, on the other hand, is 1-6 and maybe the most misleading record nationally, the Saints have played #19 Science & Arts, who will be a top 3 Sooner Athletic Conference team, and #14 Central Methodist. Pitchers Alec Martinez and Joshua Mendez will be dangerous weapons in the RRAC, and have held their own against two very good lineups. But the offense has faced some tough arms and so I cant give you a good grasp other than Tyler Vivier had some of the best overall at bats of the day on either side. First year head coach Matt Piker knows what he has, and it definitely feels like these games will help OLLU down the road in the Red River Athletic Conference.
- Robby Gutierrez