BASEBALL: Ball State coaching search progressing well
Before the head coaching position for the Ball State baseball team opened up, the future wasn't looking bright after two season with only 14 and 15 wins.
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Before the head coaching position for the Ball State baseball team opened up, the future wasn't looking bright after two season with only 14 and 15 wins.
When Cal Bowling was informed he broke his right pitching hand on April 9, he wasn't convinced that his future in baseball was over. After missing four weeks while nursing his injury, Bowling returned for the final two weeks of Ball State's season. In that span, Bowling worked 18.2 innings while recording 22 strikeouts to just five walks. Being cleared to play by his doctors was the first piece of good news. The second and perhaps the most exciting news came on Monday, when Bowling was informed he'd been signed by the Chicago White Sox, just over a week after the Major League Baseball draft. Bowling wasn't too worried about being selected in the draft. He was notified that he would likely be signed during the days following the draft, which turned out to be the case. Bowling said he threw for Mike Shirley, the scout who signed him, multiple times over the last few weeks, and was pleased with his performance. "I knew that going into it that if I threw well enough and showed him what he needed to see, that he was going to sign me," Bowling said. "We talked for a couple minutes afterwards and he said, 'alright, let's do this.'" For Bowling, having the opportunity to continue playing the game he loves is a dream come true. "This is what I've been working towards my whole life, to have a chance, to make the most of it and work even harder," Bowling said. Bowling's signing was made official on Wednesday at a dinner with his parents and Shirley. Now that the paperwork is out of the way, Bowling plans to make a smooth transition into the minor leagues. He'll depart from Indiana on Saturday en route to Great Falls, Montana, where he'll throw a bullpen session in front of a pitching coach before he begins his journey through the minor leagues starting in rookie ball with the Great Falls Voyagers on Monday for his first game. "I'm excited to get out there and learn on the fly," Bowling said. "Just giving me a chance to prove what I can do."
Despite a subpar 14-36 season that ultimately resulted in coach Alex Marconi's resignation, some encouraging news surfaced from the Ball State baseball program Wednesday.
As Kent State's improbable run in the NCAA baseball tournament continues, it begs the question on the state of Ball State's own baseball program.
As Kent State's improbable run in the NCAA baseball tournament continues, it begs the question on the state of Ball State's own baseball program.
As soon as the announcement was made that Alex Marconi was resigning as Ball State's baseball coach, the level of interest in the job became noticeable.
Ball State announced the resignation of baseball coach Alex Marconi on Wednesday according to athletic director Bill Scholl in a press release.
Before a three-game series with Northern Illinois, the Ball State baseball team already knew it's fate for postseason play after a disastrous 10-game losing streak when Ball State needed wins the most.
In the last series of the season, all Ball State (11-36, 6-18) is looking ahead to is ending their current 10-game losing streak.
After having it's best stretch of the season, winning four of five games at one point on April 22, the Ball State (11-36, 6-18) baseball team has hit it's roughest stretch of the season.
With the bases loaded, Ball State had a chance to complete a rally to tie the game and possibly take the lead in the top of the ninth.
Just when it looked as if its luck had changed, the Ball State baseball team was dealt another harsh blow in what has become a less than impressive season.
Having dropped six straight and seven of its last eight games, and allowed its opponents to score five or more runs in four of its last six defeats, Ball State (11-32) will look to snap its current misfortunes when it travels to in-state rival Valparaiso for the final mid-week non-conference game of the season.
Two home runs from junior first baseman Billy Wellman weren't enough for Ball State (11-32, 6-15) to salvage a win in the home finale in the 9-7 loss Sunday against Western Michigan (20-24, 10-10).
Poor defense cost Ball State (11-31, 6-14) three runs against Western Michigan (19-24, 9-10) on Saturday. It was all the Broncos needed in its 3-2 victory over the Cardinals.
T.J. Weir caught Vinnie Booker, the first Western Michigan hitter of the game, looking at strike three for the first out of an important three-game, Mid-American Conference West divisional weekend series. After what appeared to be the start of a good afternoon for Weir was quickly washed away thanks to an hour and nine minute rain delay, as the Broncos defeated the Cardinals 10-5 at Ball Diamond Friday afternoon. Coach Alex Marconi didn't assume the Cardinals were going to be in control after Weir struck out the first hitter of the afternoon. "You hate to assume after one hitter what the game is going to be like," he said. "It was just normal T.J. Weir. He goes out there and gets some outs. They got some hits today and scored some runs and that's just the way it goes." The Broncos' next two batters reached base via singles before third baseman Ryan McMillin drove in his first of four RBI with a one-out sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring designated hitter Zach Thoma. The third inning proved to be a back-breaker for Weir with McMillin coming through yet again. With one out in the third inning, McMillin launched a two-run home run to left-center field. It was the first of back-to-back home runs for Western Michigan in the inning. McMillin has grown accustomed to hitting at Ball Diamond over the last couple of seasons. Counting last season, McMillin has 16 at-bats against Ball State and has nine hits, including three home runs and 11 RBIs.
After a taxing week jam-packed with final exams, Ball State will return to the diamond, rounding out its home portion of the 2012 regular season with a three-game weekend series against conference foe Western Michigan, starting Friday at 3 p.m.
After a taxing week jam-packed with final exams, Ball State will return to the diamond, rounding out its home portion of the 2012 regular season with a three-game weekend series against conference foe Western Michigan, starting Friday at 3 p.m.
After a taxing week jam-packed with final exams, Ball State will return to the diamond, rounding out its home portion of the 2012 regular season with a three-game weekend series against conference foe Western Michigan, starting Friday at 3 p.m.
It was a tough weekend series for the Ball State baseball team against Toledo.