For a day, the Women's College World Series takes a step out of the spotlight in Linkville...today, it's all about NCAA Baseball! Links!
- The Trib: Tigers picked for Oxford regional
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The Missourian: Catcher hopes to return for Missouri's appearance in NCAA regional
[Trevor] Coleman had two pins surgically removed from the injured hand last Thursday and immediately started trying to get his arm back in shape . Coleman plans to test out his arm, his swing and catching abilities in a scrimmage Tuesday.
“Throwing is a concern, but I think hitting is the biggest concern,” Coleman said.
While backup Ryan Ampleman has done a good job replacing Coleman, coach Tim Jamieson said Coleman handles the pitching staff in a completely different way than Ampleman and that’s to the Tigers advantage to have on the field when the NCAA tournament starts.
“Trevor has been around the block, and he’s also caught in two regionals,” Jamieson said. “We need him to be on the field to give us our best chance of winning."
- Post-Dispatch: MU baseball team faces W. Kentucky
- PowerMizzou: Tigers headed to Mississippi
- KC Star: Eight Big 12 baseball teams selected for NCAA field
Hyzdu Headquarters, a solid Pirates blog, is profiling a bunch of potential Pirate picks and took a look at Kyle Gibson yesterday.
Now to softball, where the Post-Dispatch takes a look back at Mizzou's slaying of the UCLA giant and a look ahead at Arizona State.
Thursday's game is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN after the WCWS opener between No. 6 seed Georgia and No. 3 seed Washington. The four teams will play a double-elimination tournament for a spot in the best-of-three national finals against Michigan, Alabama, Arizona or Florida.
And finally, Dave Matter's Case of the Mondays takes no vacation...
What does the 2009 Missouri offense have in common with the 1991 Missouri offense? Hopefully not much if the Tigers plan on playing beyond November this fall.
Bob Stull’s '91 team finished just 3-7-1 and was outscored by four ranked opponents by an average of 43 points. But that team shares something with MU’s 2009 offense: In 1991, Missouri had to replace its leading passer and top three receivers from the previous season.
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[T]he 1991 season brought sweeping changes to the Tigers’ passing game. The quarterback job changed hands from Kent Kiefer in 1990 to Phil Johnson and Jeff Handy. The top four pass-catchers in 1990 also departed following that 4-7 season: receivers Linzy Collins (56 receptions-957 yards-5 touchdowns) and Damon Mays (26-524-5), plus running back Mike Jones (41-405-3) and tight end Tim Bruton (31-360-1). The following season, Byron Chamberlain, Ronnell Kayhill, Kenny Holly and Victor Bailey emerged as the team’s top targets. However, MU’s scoring plummeted by 20 percent; the passing yardage fell 18 percent; the total offensive yardage dipped 15 percent.