It feels like just yesterday that the JOL community was carrying pitchforks and calling for a mid-season firing/retirement of Georgia Tech baseball head coach Danny Hall.
They looked lost. The transfer portal additions to the lineup looked more like expired band-aids than they did a bridge to the future contributors.
Pitching had regressed, and the team looked dead in the water. Any postseason hopes being discussed
The time has come to give this team, and coaching staff, some credit. Since being swept by BC at the end of March, things have changed drastically.
Going 12-6 on paper may not seem too impressive, but when you take a look closer at some of the results, you start to realize things may have actually be different-
4/2- W, 9-8 over Presbyterian
Trailing 7-2 in the 4th inning, Georgia Tech rallied late (including three runs in the 9th) to tie the game. Pitching was a disaster in this one, until Dawson Brown came in, pitched three scoreless and struck out seven which allowed the bats the opportunity.
The vibe on the board during this one was full of doom and gloom, and the fact that it took a suicide squeeze by Parker Brosius to beat Presbyterian certainly did not help matters.
But leading up to that moment was the comeback. The combination of the present and the future of GT Baseball on full-display. Matthew Ellis hit a solo HR, and from there Carson Kerce and Ryan Jaros both had big moments, and Drew Burress tied the game with an RBI walk with the bases loaded.
The vibe looking back, though, is one that really thinks this may have been the turning point of the season.
4/13- W 19-0 over Virginia Tech
Coming off an embarrassing 11-1 loss the night before, a big performance was needed and a big performance was given.
Cam Jones had already been impressive in spurts, but this start for him felt like the one that really flipped the switch for him as a starter. Jones came to Georgia Tech from in-state foe Georgia State to be able to have the chance to compete in environments like this. His start on Friday night vs. Clemson was rough, though.
In the best start of the season, and likely his college career, Jones pitched a complete game (7 IP, 3 H, 0 BB and 6 K) and saved the bullpen for a rubber match in which every arm was needed en route to a 11-7 win.
Overall, since the BC series, Georgia Tech is averaging 9.5 runs/game, and has run ruled Virginia, Miami, and Kennesaw State as well as the Hokies.
After rallying again from a big deficit in game two on Friday at Clemson, Georgia Tech has a chance to steal a series tomorrow against Clemson, a team being projected by experts at both D1 Baseball and Baseball America to be the No. 3 national seed when the NCAA Tournament regionals are announced later this month.
Clemson's struggles defensively this season have been discussed already on JOL this weekend, but in game two on Friday night, their struggles in that facet of the game played a big role.
Just as much of a factor the defense for the Tigers played, the exact opposite can be said about Georgia Tech in the same breath. After struggling a bit at SS earlier in the season, NC State transfer Payton Green has found himself defensively. In the last 10 games, Green has had just one error.
The same can be said for the team overall, having played clean baseball defensively during this stretch.
The names to keep a close eye on tomorrow are-
GEORGIA TECH
OF Drew Burress - Does this one even need to be explained? Burress has been such a big part of this team, and his success this season has to have GT fans excited knowing he still has two more years to play before entering the MLB Draft.
SP Tate McKee- The big question for tomorrow- which Tate McKee is going to show up? Another big member of the future of GT Baseball, McKee looked like himself again last week against Miami, pitching 5 innings of one-run ball with 9 K and two walks. The previous two outings (against VT, UVA respectively) he combined to give up 11 ER with just 2 K. In those outings, McKee simply wasn't missing bats, and got himself in trouble as a result.
If he's able to command the zone and void any big innings, the pressure on the bullpen in this one will decrease drastically.
If he's missing his spots and giving up hard contact, things could get out of hand in a hurry.
1B/OF Cam Jones- Jones, as has been discussed above, is coming off a rough start on Friday night on the mound. He's got a chance to redeem himself in a big way on Sunday, but he isn't on this list simply because of his bat. Jones has the type of speed and awareness on the basepaths that can change the landscape of a game quickly.
Against a Clemson defense searching for answers in a big way, Jones can keep them out of their comfort zone by continuin to hit the ball well and being aggressive on the bases.
Just not too aggressive.
CLEMSON
3B Blake Wright- Clemson's offense this season has revolved around Wright, for better or worse. Wright comes into Sunday's game already having 10 RBI in the first two games of the series, adding to his team-leading total now at 64. With just 24 K and 10 BB, Wright simply finds a way to make contact more often than not, which is something that McKee (see above) has struggled with at times this season.
SP Aidan Knaak- Knaak, a freshman from Florida that was highly-ranked out of high school, struggled earlier in the season when he was thrown into the mix due to injuries to the Tigers' rotation.
His last two outings have been dominant, though, and have the TIgers feeling confident heading into Sunday. After pitching 8 shutout innings against NC State, Knaak followed it up with another scoreless outing, this time against Pitt.
Knaak is a big strikeout pitcher, entering Sunday's start with 75 K in 59 IP.
The matchup between Wright and McKee, imo, is the matchup that will determine the fate of the game. Well, that matchup and Burress vs. Knaak.
Three of those four "x-factor" players listed above are freshman. The future is bright for the ACC.
Following tomorrow's matchup, Georgia Tech will host an Auburn team that entered play on Saturday 3-19 in the SEC before hosting Duke, another team expected to be a national seed, next weekend.
This team certainly has its flaws, and tomorrow may not go the way of the Jackets, but this team has done enough to solidify themselves on the bubble and they deserve your attention, regardless of your feelings on long-time head coach Danny Hall.
They looked lost. The transfer portal additions to the lineup looked more like expired band-aids than they did a bridge to the future contributors.
Pitching had regressed, and the team looked dead in the water. Any postseason hopes being discussed
The time has come to give this team, and coaching staff, some credit. Since being swept by BC at the end of March, things have changed drastically.
Going 12-6 on paper may not seem too impressive, but when you take a look closer at some of the results, you start to realize things may have actually be different-
4/2- W, 9-8 over Presbyterian
Trailing 7-2 in the 4th inning, Georgia Tech rallied late (including three runs in the 9th) to tie the game. Pitching was a disaster in this one, until Dawson Brown came in, pitched three scoreless and struck out seven which allowed the bats the opportunity.
The vibe on the board during this one was full of doom and gloom, and the fact that it took a suicide squeeze by Parker Brosius to beat Presbyterian certainly did not help matters.
But leading up to that moment was the comeback. The combination of the present and the future of GT Baseball on full-display. Matthew Ellis hit a solo HR, and from there Carson Kerce and Ryan Jaros both had big moments, and Drew Burress tied the game with an RBI walk with the bases loaded.
The vibe looking back, though, is one that really thinks this may have been the turning point of the season.
4/13- W 19-0 over Virginia Tech
Coming off an embarrassing 11-1 loss the night before, a big performance was needed and a big performance was given.
Cam Jones had already been impressive in spurts, but this start for him felt like the one that really flipped the switch for him as a starter. Jones came to Georgia Tech from in-state foe Georgia State to be able to have the chance to compete in environments like this. His start on Friday night vs. Clemson was rough, though.
In the best start of the season, and likely his college career, Jones pitched a complete game (7 IP, 3 H, 0 BB and 6 K) and saved the bullpen for a rubber match in which every arm was needed en route to a 11-7 win.
Overall, since the BC series, Georgia Tech is averaging 9.5 runs/game, and has run ruled Virginia, Miami, and Kennesaw State as well as the Hokies.
After rallying again from a big deficit in game two on Friday at Clemson, Georgia Tech has a chance to steal a series tomorrow against Clemson, a team being projected by experts at both D1 Baseball and Baseball America to be the No. 3 national seed when the NCAA Tournament regionals are announced later this month.
Clemson's struggles defensively this season have been discussed already on JOL this weekend, but in game two on Friday night, their struggles in that facet of the game played a big role.
Just as much of a factor the defense for the Tigers played, the exact opposite can be said about Georgia Tech in the same breath. After struggling a bit at SS earlier in the season, NC State transfer Payton Green has found himself defensively. In the last 10 games, Green has had just one error.
The same can be said for the team overall, having played clean baseball defensively during this stretch.
The names to keep a close eye on tomorrow are-
GEORGIA TECH
OF Drew Burress - Does this one even need to be explained? Burress has been such a big part of this team, and his success this season has to have GT fans excited knowing he still has two more years to play before entering the MLB Draft.
SP Tate McKee- The big question for tomorrow- which Tate McKee is going to show up? Another big member of the future of GT Baseball, McKee looked like himself again last week against Miami, pitching 5 innings of one-run ball with 9 K and two walks. The previous two outings (against VT, UVA respectively) he combined to give up 11 ER with just 2 K. In those outings, McKee simply wasn't missing bats, and got himself in trouble as a result.
If he's able to command the zone and void any big innings, the pressure on the bullpen in this one will decrease drastically.
If he's missing his spots and giving up hard contact, things could get out of hand in a hurry.
1B/OF Cam Jones- Jones, as has been discussed above, is coming off a rough start on Friday night on the mound. He's got a chance to redeem himself in a big way on Sunday, but he isn't on this list simply because of his bat. Jones has the type of speed and awareness on the basepaths that can change the landscape of a game quickly.
Against a Clemson defense searching for answers in a big way, Jones can keep them out of their comfort zone by continuin to hit the ball well and being aggressive on the bases.
Just not too aggressive.
CLEMSON
3B Blake Wright- Clemson's offense this season has revolved around Wright, for better or worse. Wright comes into Sunday's game already having 10 RBI in the first two games of the series, adding to his team-leading total now at 64. With just 24 K and 10 BB, Wright simply finds a way to make contact more often than not, which is something that McKee (see above) has struggled with at times this season.
SP Aidan Knaak- Knaak, a freshman from Florida that was highly-ranked out of high school, struggled earlier in the season when he was thrown into the mix due to injuries to the Tigers' rotation.
His last two outings have been dominant, though, and have the TIgers feeling confident heading into Sunday. After pitching 8 shutout innings against NC State, Knaak followed it up with another scoreless outing, this time against Pitt.
Knaak is a big strikeout pitcher, entering Sunday's start with 75 K in 59 IP.
The matchup between Wright and McKee, imo, is the matchup that will determine the fate of the game. Well, that matchup and Burress vs. Knaak.
Three of those four "x-factor" players listed above are freshman. The future is bright for the ACC.
Following tomorrow's matchup, Georgia Tech will host an Auburn team that entered play on Saturday 3-19 in the SEC before hosting Duke, another team expected to be a national seed, next weekend.
This team certainly has its flaws, and tomorrow may not go the way of the Jackets, but this team has done enough to solidify themselves on the bubble and they deserve your attention, regardless of your feelings on long-time head coach Danny Hall.
