Friday link

February 22, 2008

Drew Champlin

Remember that feature on Troy pitcher Ryan Ellison I was telling you about?

Here it is.

Dothan Eagle: Troy’s Ellison looking for consistency

Troy plays Rhode Island tonight, TBD. I say that because I feel like they’ll play it, whether it’s at the scheduled 6 p.m. or much later. With the drainage system in place under the new surface, it would be ready to go 30 minutes after the rain stopped.

Troy baseball update

February 21, 2008

Drew Champlin

Spoke with head coach Bobby Pierce and senior pitcher Ryan Ellison today for a story on Ellison that will run tomorrow.

Friday is when Troy is supposed to open its baseball season at 6 p.m. against Rhode Island. Mother Nature thinks otherwise, as it’s supposed to rain, rain, rain and rain some more, but it may clear out by nighttime.

The NCAA in its almighty pompous ways decided to make the college baseball season start two weeks later to appease the Northern schools. In doing that, it makes it harder to make up rained-out games because there’s not enough time. They didn’t mess with the start of softball season, though…

So that’s why it is very important to get four games played this weekend. I asked Pierce about starting around 10 p.m. Friday night if need be or playing two 7-inning games Sunday morning starting around 7 a.m. He’s for it as a last resort. Sunday’s game is supposed to start at 10 a.m. so URI can catch its flight out. Saturday’s doubleheader starts at 1 p.m.

Ellison, a senior RHP, is going to start the season opener and will be counted on to be the ace. I’ll link the story tomorrow. He’s been the picture of inconsistency his whole career, but if he can stay on, he’s got first-team all-conference written all over him. If he’s on for most of the year, he could lead the league in strikeouts.

Two of the best games I’ve seen a Troy pitcher throw came from Ellison, both out of relief. Last year against Auburn, he struck out seven in three innings. Against Coastal Carolina, he struck out seven in four innings of hitless ball. He had it going on both nights.

He mentioned on how he didn’t need to be that good every time out, but he can’t turn in some C or D performances, either. (think C or D as report card grades)

Ellison has also added a cut fastball that could serve as a great knockout pitch.

Not sure how much baseball, if any, I’ll get to see this weekend, but baseball will be much-covered this spring.

Leodis McKelvin draft profile

Drew Champlin

Here is the NFL.com draft profile on Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin.