The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Baseball Newsletter
March 12 | Baseball
Dear Zip Alumni & Friends:
Apologies for not sending an update out last week, but let me get you caught up on the last two weekends. Currently, the Zips are 6-6 with one more weekend of non-conference play before MAC play begins.
Two weeks ago we played in Dover, DE against Delaware St. because of a scheduling snafu. We had originally scheduled UNC Wilmington, and found out in September both of us had the correct day but a different month written down. We salvaged the weekend with only one win on Sunday, and didn't feel as if we adjusted too well with the type of pitchers we faced. One area we have focused intensely on with our hitters the last two weeks is making sure we don't miss the fastball and out of total respect to the pitchers we recently faced, an average fastball. We didn't adjust too well with Delaware State's first two pitchers who kept us out of rythtym with their changeup. Game three was much better for us as we came back twice to win 11-10. Fr. 2B Dom Iero had his first collegiate hits this weekend with his second being one we all dream about. Down 6-1 and bases loaded, Dom hit a ball that practically put a hole in the right field scoreboard! Best part about it was the scoreboard didn't have a net to protect it and the noise that the aluminum made when the ball hit. Pretty cool for him! Disappointed with only one win but a huge lift in coming back in game three to salvage the series.
This past weekend at Austin Peay was successful by winning two out of three. So. LHP Johnny Valek was superb in game one as he's been his last three outings by throwing five shutout innings. With the rest of the bullpen, Zips win 10-0. Working ahead and controlling our off-speed pitches was our formula for success. Our hitters didn't miss too many fastballs! We saw a lot of easy ground balls the weekend before at Delaware State and the focus during the week was making sure we handled the fastballs much better and shooting them through the infield instead of burying them into the ground in front of home plate.
We were a totally opposite team in game two both offensively and on the mound vs. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Again, we didn't handle an off-speed pitcher well and our hitters chased too many balls out of the zone by not recognizing well. Our intent on the mound was to split the game with Jr. LHP Pat Dyer and So. RHP Michael Steensen as both are battling for the third spot in the rotation. Pat's first three innings were solid. He threw 39 pitches in those three innings and another 30 in the fourth! Pat hit the proverbial wall. Michael took over and didn't work ahead along with inconsistency in his off-speed pitches. Zips lose 13-5. Disappointed we gave back all the runs we were stingy with on the day before.
Zips come back on Sunday vs. Milwaukee with So. RHP JT Brubaker throwing extremely well. We kept JT until Sunday as he had a blister on his finger from two weekends ago vs. Duke and wanted to give him as much time as possible to recover. JT has matured very well in a year with his mound presence which was his demon last year. JT has a great arm and now compliments his fastball with a much more controlled breaking ball. Offensively, we didn't miss fastballs and didn't chase out of the zone. There were many highlights throughout the weekend offensively, but two guys stand out. RSJr. OF Devan Ahart is another young man who has matured and figured out how important mental focus and discipline is in being consistent. So far, each coach we've faced has expressed how impressed they were with Devan as a player. His tools have always been there, he just couldn't figure out how to get them out of the tool box and use them! I hope I don't jinx him, but Fr. C Brian Lees has been very good behind the plate and as a hitter. A good athlete who has made a couple simple adjustments and has played very consistent so far. Keep an eye on him.
We're off to Cincinnati this weekend to play the Bearcats before we begin MAC play the following weekend. During next week, we are scheduled to play at Ohio State and home vs. Pittsburgh. Not sure if Lee Jackson is up to it by then but we must figure out how to dry it out by the weekend with Eastern Michigan coming to town.
Follow along with the team this season through our webpage or social media on Twitter (@ZipsBB) and Facebook.
Sincerely,
GO ZIPS!!!
