Designated for Assignment

Howell smiles after shaky start to senior year

2011-09-05T06:22:07+00:00

The numbers did not scream out in negative fashion.
Jimmy Howell, a veteran in his fourth tour, knew differently based on his ability.
Virginia’s punter booted three times on Saturday in the 37-point win, with his longest going 45 yards.
Expect better things, however, if Howell performs to his own expectations.
“I think I could have done better,“ Howell said. “I told Coach [Anthony] Poindexter and I told the guys they did a fantastic job and that I’ve got them next week.“
The Cavaliers travel to Indiana (0-1) on Saturday.

The sea of orangeL Virginia 10, St. John’s 2 (Final)

2011-06-05T07:16:59+00:00

Some experts had said the Charlottesville Regional was far tougher than the easy road that North Carolina was given to the Super Regional. It appears that both teams will make it to that perch with ease. Virginia smashed St. John’s 10-2 on Saturday and UNC whipped James Madison, kepping the ACC schools perfect.
Virginia, the nation’s top seed, did it on the mound and at the plate.
The Cavaliers (51-9) slapped out 14 hits and Danny Hultzen was brilliant on the mound as he struck out 12 in an outing that could have been reduced had the contest come in March.
What does it mean?
After ECU topped Navy 6-1 in a loser-go-home game Saturday, the Charlottesville Regional contains three teams standing.
There will be two after St. John’s tangles with East Carolina on Sunday. The loser leaves in the double-elimination format.
Virginia and stud pitcher Tyler Wilson can wait on the victor, knowing that the Cavs will advance to a Super Regional unless they are knocked off twice in as many days.
With a fresh bullpen (Whit Mayberry threw two innings Saturday as the first Cavaliers reliever this regional), chances are strong that UC Irvine, UCLA or San Francisco will be looking at boarding passes that read CHO.

What if?
Should Virginia fall behind early to ECU or St. John’s, Virginia coach Brian O’Connor could elect to save closer Braden Kline for Monday.
Kline could get the ball as the starter in the winner-take-all showdown.
The skipper has not said that yet, knowing that senior RHP Cody Winiarski is itching to take the bump.

Eddie in wating
Virginia has been solid in winning the coin toss with first-base coach Eddie Smith on staff.
It will not matter on Sunday.
As the rules are constructed, Virginia will be the road team should it face ECU and the Cavs are secured to be the home team if third-seeded St. John’s wins on Sunday in the opening game.
If Monday is needed, Smith will be part of the flip process that determines the home team.
Bet on Eddie to win.

Just draft the guy already

Virginia right fielder David Coleman is living on borrowed time.
The senior started as a rookie and sat on the bench the past two years as standouts roamed the outfield.
Could Coleman be drafted?
A scout at the game on Saturday said he expected the Virginia native to go around the “33rd round” and could be selected higher.
“The guys just keeps hitting,“ the undisclosed scout said. “There is a lot to like and he will come at a bargain. It is up to him to stick when he gets there.“

Sunshine fades to darkness

Few people in Charlottesville were upset Sunday when Oklahoma was knocked out of the TCU Regional.
The Sooners went 0-2 a season after winning a Super Regional against Virginia.

What’s next?

Virginia is guaranteed a Super Regional in Charlottesville if it wins the regional.
Who would they play?
It looks like UC Irvine could be headed to Central Virginia, looking to get revenge for the rough play the team displayed in 2009 as UVa won the Irvine Regional in three games.
Irvine needs just one win to advance, but top-seeded UCLA won on Saturday to stay alive. The Bruins or San Francisco must win three straight over the next two days to advance.

How sweet it is: Virginia rolls, ECU stumbles

2011-06-04T04:46:35+00:00

To a degree, things went Virginia’s way on Friday. The Cavaliers became the first program in the country to win their 50th game and did so as they registered their 15th shutout.
The offense started early, scoring two in the first and third innings, but Navy stayed in the game and never let Virginia coach Brian O’Connor turn to his bullpen.
It would have been nice if the Cavaliers could have thrown up crooked numbers in the middle frames and pulled Will Roberts.
The junior would have been a nice trump card in relief Monday if the regional extended that long, but it seems doubtful now.
Blame Navy pitcher Ben Nelson.
The right-hander was very solid, allowing four of the six runs that he allowed with two outs.
Since Navy had not played a team with an RPI higher than what Maryland had, Nelson should be applauded.
All that matters in C-Ville is that Virginia moved on and stayed perfect.
All eyes shift to what will be the biggest game of the season against St. John’s.
How will the Cavaliers respond?
The team seemed to fade with the pressure rising last year, falling in the Super Regional at home against Oklahoma.
The current bunch, however, seems to block out the world beyond Davenport with ease.
That means a ton this time of year.

Hultzen was a healthy scratch

2011-03-27T05:33:08+00:00

Virginia coach Brian O’Connor has leaned on Hultzen in a large fashion this season, perhaps more than the skipper would have liked.
On Saturday, Oak, as he is known by players, took Hultzen out of the equation and leaned on other players, namely redshirt rookie Ryan Levine. Virginia managed to win both games 4-2 in a doubleheader but Hultzen could have been used at spots in both games.
Don’t look for the future first-round pick in the next few weeks. O’Connor wants to let Hultzen focus on his pitching in the two-week period prior to a pivotal showdown with Georgia Tech.
While it could hurt the offense, the move could bolster the bench before the postseason for a program that could be ranked No. 1 on Monday after Florida and Vanderbilt lost Friday.

Bruno back on Tuesday?

2011-03-07T04:03:53+00:00

Following Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of Cornell and Rider at Davenport Field, Bruno said his hamstring is feeling better.
How much better?
The sophomore hopes to play Tuesday against Georgetown, which would be helpful heading into a weekend series with ACC foe Clemson on the road.
Bruno started the first four games of the season at shortstop but injured his hamstring making a throw against VMI on Feb. 23.
Before being sidelined, Bruno was batting .213 (4 for 19) and had scored three runs. He played stellar defense in the field, registering just one error.
More importantly, Bruno in the lineup allowed the coaching staff to move sophomore Chris Taylor to other positions on the diamond. With questions about outfield play still a hot topic, this is a win-win situation.
... It is also worth noting that Clemson’s starting pitcher on Sunday against South Carolina, redshirt sophomore Kevin Brady, was pulled with an arm injury after four innings. Clemson noted that Bradley will be re-evaluated during the upcoming week. Brady was injured as a rookie in 2009 and had been the best Tiger starter to date, at least on paper.

ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament quotes

2011-03-04T04:22:11+00:00

COACH DEBBIE RYAN: I thought it was a tale of two halves today. We started the game off strong and built ourselves a ten‑point lead. We let them back in the game before halftime, which was not our plan at all. We just did not get a lot of consistency from a group of players today. We kept having to substitute and try to find some consistency.
Then in the second half, we just did not defend very well, and that was really the tale of the tape. We allowed them to shoot 60 percent in the second half, which is not going to win any games for anybody.
So credit Wake Forest. They came out with a lot more energy out of the locker room the second half than we did, and we backed down instead of standing up.
THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Coach, Telia McCall gave you some great moments earlier in the game and was a good defensive force for you throughout. Talk about her play.
COACH DEBBIE RYAN: I thought Telia gave us good minutes today. She really came to play on the boards and gave us good scoring in the post. We couldn’t find another post player to go with her that could score consistently or defend consistently.
I thought that they really got a lot of good play out of players that you just don’t expect.
I thought Walker really hurt us. Toward the end of the game, every time we turned around, she was scoring. I thought they had better balanced scoring than we did. Telia picked up her part of it for sure.

Coach, why don’t you think you were able to get Ariana going today?
COACH DEBBIE RYAN: I don’t know. She usually plays a great game. I just didn’t see it in her today. I don’t know why. She was penetrating, and I thought she took some shots that she had contact on and couldn’t get a call. So that was one of the problems.
But she got the ball in the paint a lot. She tried to score, but she just couldn’t put it in the basket today. That’s not usually her game. She knew we had to get to the ball to the basket, and she was trying to do that, but she just couldn’t get it going today.

Did it feel like every time you were getting ready to start a run, Wake had the answer?
COACH DEBBIE RYAN: Yeah. And Walker hurt us a lot in that one or they hit a three. We weren’t doing a very good job with the penetration. We did not stop penetration all day today, and that was really killing us because they were just kicking out for open shots. That’s what I thought we needed to do a lot better was defend penetration.

Ataira had another great game and a strong freshman season. Can you talk about what she did today and the whole season.
COACH DEBBIE RYAN: She had a rough start with the foul trouble and ended up on the bench in the first half. You can see that we really struggle when she’s not on the floor. She spent a lot of time on the bench today. I thought those eight minutes or those ten minutes that she normally plays that she didn’t play today really hurt us. We need her on the floor.
And obviously she’s had a great, great year. She’s our most consistent player. But, you know, we can’t put her on the bench, and she’s got to stay out of foul trouble.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you all.

Wake Forest Quotes:
THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon. Couple quick introductions. Pleased to welcome Wake Forest Head Coach Mike Petersen to the podium as well as student‑athletes Brittany Waters and Sandra Garcia.
Coach, when you’re ready, opening comment.
COACH MIKE PETERSEN: I just thought, in this league, it’s just such a fine line between winning and getting drubbed sometimes, you know. And we got on the right side of that line in the second half.
Our effort and our energy was very good. And when you’re on the right side ‑‑ when we get especially ‑‑ I can’t speak for anybody else. When we get on the right side of that line, we’re pretty good. You know, in the second half, when they had to come and guard us man, and all of a sudden we’re cutting full speed and running our stuff, there’s a reason we shot whatever we shot in the second half, 60. Wow, 60’s a big number.
There’s a reason we shot 60 in the second half. We were on the right side of the energy line. We were on the right side of the execution line. We executed in really good shots. And then kids made some really big shots for us.
THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Brittany, just wondering what the difference was playing this time than from the first meeting when you guys played.
BRITTANY WATERS: I definitely think we came out with a little bit more energy. Coach stressed we should play with more pace. Definitely, this game we came out with more energy, and we kind of fed off each other and kind of just kept the momentum going.

Looked like a big play kind of changed hands a little bit, tied at 51, and then Douglas hit a big three‑pointer to put you guys up by three. How important was it to take back the momentum and then the comeback?
COACH MIKE PETERSEN: Yeah, it was big. That kid’s made a couple big shots in the last week or so. She banks in a three to get us to overtime against State, and then she makes two threes to start overtime and get us the lead, and she makes that one.
It was big because as coaches we all want to think our defense isn’t affected by our offense. They’re separate. No, they’re not. Everybody plays better on defense when shots are going in. We’re human, you know. And so I think as much as anything, as much as giving us the lead, I think it energized our defense a little bit. All of a sudden, everybody’s power fisting and high fiving and getting in the stands and slapping the floor and looking like they want to play D.
That was a pretty big deal both from a scoring standpoint and a defensive standpoint. I think it helped us on both ends.

This question’s for Sandra. Just talk about your matchup with Duke tomorrow, another team like this team that beat you pretty bad last time but you were able to come back today.
SANDRA GARCIA: I think tomorrow we’re going to have a lot more energy. We got film today. We’re going to see our mistakes and the positive and negative things we did. And we’ll come out tomorrow ready, and I think our team as a whole is going to have a lot more energy when we start the game.

Coach, I just wanted to ask you about Duke tomorrow, what your game plan is.
COACH MIKE PETERSEN: They’re really good. What do you want me to tell you? They beat us like by a hundred the first time, didn’t they? I blocked it out of my memory. I felt like Custer at the Little Big Horn. They’re good. But when we play good, we’re good too.
This league doesn’t make any sense. You know, the six degrees of Kevin Bacon game, you know what I mean? We beat BC. Didn’t BC beat Duke? So we’re separated by one game. So it’s ‑‑ again, we’ve been talking for the last two weeks with our group, and they’ve really responded well. It’s on us. You know what I mean?
If our energy is right and our effort is right and our attitude is right and our focus is right, the ball will take care of itself. And we’ve had those things correct here for the last several games. That’s why we’ve won three a row. That’s why we’ve beaten three teams that beat us the first go round. Why not tomorrow?

For the players, just wondering how, like what made you get on the right side of the line. Like what’s the difference between being on the wrong side of the energy and execution of the line and the right side? How did you get over that?
BRITTANY WATERS: Well, Coach said, well, to go out there and just right a wrong. So your mindset going out there is you want to fix something that you have a chance to fix. So that kind of channels your energy, you know, to fix it.

Question for the players. When you look at today’s performance, what would be one single thing that you’d take away that you definitely want to repeat for the upcoming game? And on the flip side, what might be something in your performance that you definitely don’t want to happen in the next game?
SANDRA GARCIA: Something that I don’t want to happen. I would say maybe our ‑‑ we had a stretch in the first half today we didn’t have as much energy. You know, we kind of had blank looks on our faces. I want the whole 40 minutes to have a lot of energy and be very competitive.
BRITTANY WATERS: For me, I think my team did a good job hitting shots, and that’s what you need to do to win the game. So hopefully we can carry over and do the same thing tomorrow. And one thing I don’t want to happen is, again, like Sandra said, just play the whole 40 minutes with a lot of energy and don’t have a stretch where you’re kind of lagging.
THE MODERATOR: Everybody all set? Great. See you guys tomorrow.

Bringing the leather

2011-02-27T05:48:34+00:00

It happened to all three of Virginia’s outfielders.
Routine balls that should have been recorded as outs found a patch of grass to land during the second game of a series that was designed to match a pair of top-25 programs.
East Carolina is not there after a 2010 campaign that included tons of off-field drama.
Virginia (6-0) is slotted there in the polls, sitting and No. 10 and likely climbing, but simple plays will be needed in future weeks with ACC foes on the horizon.
During those three plays the services of Phil Gosselin, Dan Grovatt and Jarrett Parker were missed - greatly.
It is tough for Virginia fans to complain when they win a series against a baseball power of the likes of ECU (3-2), but the rotation in the outfield as long as shortstop Stephen Bruno is sidelined with an injury creates a head-scratching dilemma for the coaching staff.
Yes, the wind played tricks. Yes, the sun was brutal as I experienced during a short stint sitting in the Hoo Zone in leftt field. Yes, the new bats give different reads on balls.
I can only imagine the conversations that followed the miscues in the dugout, however.
The Cavaliers did win the game, the biggest thing for the massive crowd that braved the chilly temperatures hoping to watch something better than a men’s basketball game that was a laugher.
“Today was a tight ballgame, a great college baseball game,” Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said. “I’m proud of our team. It was a great team win. We didn’t do a lot of things right but we found a way to win and guys picked each other up and that’s what it is about being on a team.”
It may have gone unnoticed but this series includes four umpires. During the ACC portion of the series and almost all of the mid-week games you will find just three.
It mattered on Saturday and was something that was included in the contract for the home-and-home set with the Pirates.
Expect more of that in non-league showdowns with teams that expect to play in the postseason.
“You are starting to see it across college baseball,” O’Connor said. “Some non-conference series between top teams, you are seeing a four-man crew.”
It makes even more sense with so many close calls in tight games in the new-bat, non-ping era.
Plus, it gives O’Connor one more performance on the field to chase down and argue with. Who doesn’t like seeing that?

Extra bases ...

Former Virginia stud pitcher Jacob Thompson was at the game on Saturday. It had to be cool for the member of the Atlanta Braves organization to watch his brother blow ECU away out of the bullpen. ...Reports after the game from the Virginia coaching staf indicated that Swab (leg) was fine after making a running catch into the brick wall in foul territory down the first-base line.

Breaking out the bats

2011-02-20T06:03:30+00:00

Virginia pounded out 17 hits, none of which left the yard, and cruised past Auburn to improve to 2-0 on the season. It came in front of a large crowd that was stunned as the Cavaliers (2-0) dazzled on the mound and used late-game production to register a 13-2 win over the Tigers (1-1).
A day after pitching well in the season opener, Danny Hultzen had three doubles and drove in three runs as Virginia’s designated hitter. The score was so lopsided that Virginia coach Brian O’Connor pulled Hultzen from the game late and allowed the junior to rest from the punch.
I expected the offense to have some at the top of the order, but the bottom four hitters have been key to putting crooked numbers up on the scoreboard. It was also good to see the Cavaliers bounce back to score after allowing Auburn to plate its first run. Teams that can answer can play deep into the season.
It’s was great to see so many names in the boxscore, including the debut of Reed Gragnani in a pinch-hitting role. He delivered with a single before being pulled for a pinch runner.
Tyler Wilson, after 51 consecutive appearances out of the bullpen, made his fourth career start and had the Tigers tied in knots.
“Tyler threw the ball very well,“ Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said. “It was a great start to the season for him. I expect that to continue.“
In six innings of work, Wilson (1-0) allowed just three hits and Auburn did not get a runner to second.
Will Roberts worked well out of the bullpen and faced just three batters, leaving open the chance for the junior to start on Wednesday against VMI. The other option is rookie Zack Crockett, but he has been inconsistent at times in the preseason.
The Cavaliers will look for a weekend sweep today at noon against Arkansas State (0-2).

Danny does what Danny does

2011-02-19T05:15:41+00:00

I was shocked Thursday night when my special assistant Sara informed me that Virginia lefty Danny Hultzen had lost in games against Wright State and Duke. Had the jnuior pitched in just five games in his career it would have made sense.
Danny pitches in five a month, or so it seems, grabbing the ball every single Friday.
He is something special, something he showcased in the season opener.
With temperatures soaring at Auburn, Hultzen threw 97 pitches and showed why he was the ACC Pitcher of the Year. The southpaw gave up three hits and walked a batter in an epic performance considering it felt like a preseason game.
Hultzen is a special weapon, one that Brian O’Connor can use at the plate. Virginia is lucky.

Looking at the Opening Day lineup

2011-02-17T19:13:04+00:00

By Jay Jenkins

The Virginia baseball team has boarded a plane and departed for Alabama.
Yes, the start to another season is upon us.
With that in mind and predictions being thrown out prematurely, lets take a stab at the batting order that will be used today against UAB.
I think sophomore Chris Taylor will get the nod in the lead-off spot, something he said he has done before in high school. Taylor is not a Greg Miclat-like lead-off hitter, but can get on base and has excellent instincts.
The easiest spot to predict comes in the No. 2 hole. Brian O’Connor could have had his lineup cards made with Keith Werman’s name placed in the second spot. The junior hit .414 last year, knows how to advance runners in patient fashion and is the best bunter the program has had in over a decade.
Steven Proscia should start the season batting third, but that could be altered depending on his production. The third baseman hit .298 in league games last year, but had nine doubles, five homers and drove in 22 in those 30 games.
I have the feeling that junior Danny Hultzen will serve as the opening day starter on the mound and in the clean-up spot as the designated hitter. For better or worse, Hultzen was protected last year and did not get into a rhythm with the bat until late in the year. The southpaw registered just 15 at-bats in ACC games, but the team is not nearly as deep and Hultzen will play a ton more. Look for him to start at least one game this weekend in right field if an opposing team starts a right-handed pitcher.
Hultzen batting in No. 4 spot provides a righty-lefty-righty-lefty start to the batting order, a pattern that should continue with catcher John Hicks batting fifth. The junior will be key to the power production and must improve on weekends for the Cavaliers to get close to the winning percentage in the ACC that was posted last year (23-7). Hicks hit just .282 last year in league play, down from his overall season mark of.307.
Stephen Bruno starts the season in the sixth spot in the order but could be elevated at some point if he continues to swing the bat the way he has in the preseason. The sophomore saw extended time in league play last year, mainly at designated hitter, and hit .352 and hit two homers.
The bottom three will fluctuate the whole season but I suspect that first baseman Kenny Swab and outfielders David Coleman and John Barr will round out the group.
Look for Barr to be slotted in the lead-off spot on occasion.
Reed Gragnani, who ran into the outfield wall weeks ago, will join the mix when he is cleared to run full speed. Last weekend, the sophomore batted ninth during at least one scrimmage but was not instructed to run after making contact.