 |
| Danny Collins is Troy's top home run leader with 11 (Lisa Ray photo via Troy University) |
I will be at the Thursday and Saturday games providing twitter updates @dothaneagletroy. This advance below ran in the Thursday print edition of the Dothan Eagle and online at dothaneagle.com, which you can view HERE.
BY DREW CHAMPLIN | dchamplin@dothaneagle.com
TROY – For the second straight year, a season-ending series against South Alabama comes with postseason implications.
Last year, Troy won two of three at South Alabama to clinch the Sun Belt regular season title. This year, the Trojans need two wins to feel good about just getting into next week’s Sun Belt Tournament in Bowling Green, Ky.
Troy (24-28, 12-15 Sun Belt) has won four of its last five series, and the Trojans are in a three-way tie for sixth place with UALR and UL-Monroe. Troy would be seeded sixth in the eight-team tournament if it began today, but those three teams are just a game ahead of Western Kentucky and UL-Lafayette in last place. They’re also just three games behind third-place FIU.
Today begins a three-game series against South Alabama (20-31, 14-13) at Riddle-Pace Field, with games the next three nights at 6 p.m.
“It always comes down to the final weekend for whatever positioning is trying to happen,” Troy head coach Bobby Pierce said.
The Trojans haven’t met preseason expectations of first place in the preseason poll, but the team dealt with injuries and other distractions early on and is just now coming together.
For instance, Troy had nine seniors at the end of last fall, but only four will be honored on Saturday for Senior Day. Pitcher Drew Hull re-tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow in late December, ending his career. He was recovering from elbow surgery last spring.
Outfielder Josh McDorman, after a tremendous fall at the plate, had season-ending shoulder surgery and got a medical redshirt. Catcher Blake Martz and pitchers Tyson Workman and Garrett McHenry aren’t with the team anymore.
The four seniors being honored will be pitchers A.J. Howard and Tyler Ray, shortstop Tyler Hannah and outfielder Boone Shear.
Several others had their seasons affected by injuries. Pitchers Ryan Sorce and Shane McCain had arm surgery last summer. Pitcher Adam Purdy broke his foot in a freak accident crossing the road when Troy went to Bethune-Cookman. Pitcher Jimmy Hodgskin was slated to be the No. 2 starter, but finally pitched in Tuesday’s 10-5 loss at Alabama for the first time in six weeks.
Outfielder Hayden Hillyer broke his foot and is out for the year. Starting center fielder Clay Holcomb missed time with a hand injury. Catchers Jake Harrell (hand) and Brandon Brown (thumb) have been affected by injuries either last fall or this spring. First baseman Kyle Brown had season-ending hip surgery.
“We’ve seen all the adversity and most of the down parts of the year,” first baseman Logan Pierce said. “We’re sticking together and we’ve (created) more team chemistry and more togetherness. We have the guys here now that have the true meaning of all in, all the time.”
Troy has had guys step up this year. Tyler Vaughn stepped into the second base role after two years of limited action and is hitting .318. Recently, Joe Hernandez and Ryan Brady have solidified starting spots in the weekend pitching rotation. The hope is that getting more guys healthy, plus improved morale, will keep the Trojans hot going into the close of the season.
“So many things went against us earlier in the year,” Vaughn said. “Some games we didn’t come out focused and we wanted to play victim a little bit. Some things have turned around and we’re getting a few breaks. All of that, combined with winning, have gotten us going in the right direction.
“We’ve got to come out and attack no matter what. Everyone’s fighting for something and we’re fighting to get in that tournament.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment