Rolling...

It started out kind of shaky, but the Hoos were able to overcome some spotty pitching and bury the VCU Rams under an avalanche of runs in yesterday's first game of the CVille regional. The Hoos won in dominant fashion, 15-4.

Some assorted thoughts and facts:

-- Cody Winiarski (our #3, Sunday pitcher) didn't pitch very well at all. He faced two bases-loaded-with-no-outs jams in the 4th and 5th innings before surrendering VCU's four runs and ceding the mound to bulldog reliever Tyler Wilson. Winiarski still notched the win, but we will definitely need him to pitch better as we move forward (if we move forward...)

-- Speaking of Tyler Wilson, he was simply magnificent in long relief against the Rams. Three innings pitched, five strikeouts, no runs allowed, all on just 37 pitches. I love this guy.

-- With the Hoos up big late in the game, seldom-used reliever Corey Hunt pitched a marvelous 8th and 9th inning. If we can get a few good innings from Hunt here and there, it gives us great bullpen depth. These two innings were just his 13th and 14th of the season.

-- For us to beat VCU so handily, with them pitching their ace and us pitching our #3 starter bodes very well for the Hoos in the NCAA Tournament. I would actually even make the argument that Winiarski is our #4 starter --- I think freshman Branden Kline has surpassed him late in the season.

-- Offensively, the Hoos EXPLODED on the Rams. 15 runs on 16 hits, including a home run from Jarrett Parker that completely cleared the bleachers in deep right field. It was just a towering blast. All nine starters tallied at least one hit, and eight different Hoos knocked in an RBI. The offense is awake.

-- Ole Miss beat St. John's in the night game, 10-5. The Rebels pitched their ace, Drew Pomeranz, who went seven strong innings in the effort. The Hoos now face the Rebs tonight at 6:00 PM, with the winner taking a position of absolute strength in the double-elimination regional tournament. On the bump for the Hoos: our ace, Danny Hultzen.

-- The ACC was 6-2 in the tournament openers. The losers? NC State to College of Charleston and Virginia Tech to Citadel.

-- I'm a person who always has at least one wandering eye gazing ahead to the future. This 2010 edition of Virginia Baseball is loaded for bear, and (God willing / knock on wood) should be able to advance pretty far in this NCAA postseason, hopefully back to Omaha for the College World Series. But once this season is over and the dust settles, who are we losing, and who will return for the 2011 season? Among regulars, INF Tyler Cannon, C Franco Valdes, and relief pitcher Neal Davis are graduating. The draft-eligible juniors include OF John Barr, INF/OF Phil Gosselin, OF Dan Grovatt, OF Jarrett Parker, utility player Kenny Swab, closer Kevin Arico, Saturday starter Robert Morey, Sunday starter Cody Winiarski, and relievers Tyler Wilson and Corey Hunt. I'm guessing that JP and Goose are as good as gone, along with Morey. Grovatt, Arico, and Wilson will have tough decisions to make. I'm guessing Barr, Swab, Winiarski, and Hunt are all back for the 2011 season. Also returning are underclassmen INF Stephen Bruno, INF Reed Gragnani, INF/C John Hicks, INF Steven Proscia, INF Keith Werman, ace pitcher Danny Hultzen, and mid-week starter Branden Kline (who will likely move to one of the weekend roles next year). Oh yeah, we'll still be really good next year.


That's it for now. Tonight's game is absolutely HUGE. Win, and we're one win away from the super regional. Lose, and we face a tough three-game stretch of must-wins to make it out of this regional. Like I said, this game is HUGE. Tune in on the radio, or follow it on GameTracker!

GO HOOS!