Tech scrambling for NCAA bid
Georgia Tech baseball coach Danny Hall is taking nothing for granted.
Asked if he felt the Jackets had done enough to make a case for an NCAA tournament bid, Hall replied, “I’ll never say that until I hear our name picked on Monday” on the tournament selection show.
The Jackets are in a different boat at the ACC tournament than they typically are. Their 32-24 record is one loss better than Hall’s worst season, record-wise, at Tech (32-25 in 2007). Tech’s 12-18 ACC record is Hall’s first season under .500 in ACC play. Tech needed a win or a Virginia Tech loss on the final day of the regular season to avoid missing the ACC tournament for the first time in school history. (The Jackets got both.)
Injuries on a scale unprecedented to Hall have taken a sizable bite out of the Jackets.
Tech will be the No. 8 seed and is in a pool with Florida State, the top-ranked team in the country, Virginia (No. 17 in Baseball America) and Clemson (No. 24 in RPI). So, certainly, if the Jackets can accomplish anything in Greensboro, they’ll get the notice of the NCAA tournament selection committee. Tech’s RPI as of Tuesday was No. 22.
“It’s different, but for me, the past two years, we’ve kind of been the top to beat up going up there,” third baseman Sam Dove said. “Now, we don’t have much pressure. We just get to go up there and play.”
And, should they get in the NCAA field, it may be the case they might be more tournament ready than in seasons past.
“I think we’ve been on a major grind for several weeks here just trying to keep our head above water here in the league, so I think we’ve been used to playing with some pressure on us,” Hall said.
Tech will pitch ace Buck Farmer in the tournament opener Wednesday at 11 a.m. He said he was leaning towards pitching freshman Cole Pitts in the second game, against Virginia Friday at 11 a.m., and Jake Davies on Saturday at 11 a.m. against Clemson. The team with the best record in the four-team pool will advance to Sunday’s championship game.
“Pitching staff-wise, I think we’ve done about as much as we can possibly have imagined or done when you look at who we’ve lost,” Hall said. “I think we’re playing pretty good. Is it going to be good enough? We’re going to find out.”
All games will be televised (Fox Sports South in Atlanta) and streamed online on ESPN3. The NCAA tournament field will be announced Monday.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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73 comments Add your comment
Go Jackets!
May 23rd, 2012
10:01 am
Going to be tough to get in. Better make some noise in Greensboro since only significant series win was UNC. Never imagined this program would end up starting multiple walk-ons in the field and using all sorts of position players on the mound.
Burdell
May 23rd, 2012
10:45 am
Injuries are brutal but a part of the game…something that must be overcome. Props to this team for hanging in there and fighting for the tournament spot. Good luck!
www
May 23rd, 2012
10:58 am
cool pic of CPJ and ken suguira talking: https://twitter.com/DeanBuchan/status/205066073308012545/photo/1
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
11:17 am
Game 1 on ESPN3….Davies goes deep in 1st inning, GT 2-0 early lead
Whoa...
May 23rd, 2012
11:18 am
…is CPJ a giant, or is Ken a “little person”…
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
12:38 pm
GT 5-0 bot 5th
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
12:41 pm
trouble brewing in bot 5th….FSU loaded the bases no one out
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
12:42 pm
Davies nice play….5-1 1 out
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
12:43 pm
single, 5-2, 1 out runners 1st & 3rd bot 5th
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
12:45 pm
sac fly 2 out 5-3 GT
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
12:49 pm
end 5, GT 5-3 need to get some runs and pad that lead
Burdell
May 23rd, 2012
12:50 pm
Again…thanks for the updates GT Lee!
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
12:56 pm
umpire giving FSU an extra 1.5 in of plate…1-2-3 6th for GT
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
12:56 pm
anytime Mr Burdell
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
12:57 pm
Farmer still pitching for GT 96 pitches……c’mon Buck!
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
12:59 pm
1 out walk bot 6
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:02 pm
ball tipped into glove for strike 3 and out # 2
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:03 pm
grounder to 3d for out 3 6 complete GT 5-3 Buck around 110 pitches I’d be very surprised if he comes out in 7th
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:09 pm
GT goes down 1-2-3 in top 7th…need to hold FSU where they are
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:09 pm
Just logged in and turned on the game. Go Jackets !!!
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:10 pm
Cruz pitching bot 7th….hope he doesn’t have another meltdown
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:15 pm
2 out bot 7th runner 1st
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:15 pm
Lee, I was thinking the same thing. I know he has a terrific record this year, but every time I have seen him, he didn’t get it done.
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:16 pm
And that play didn’t make me feel good about him, even though there was a fielder’s error to make it worse.
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:16 pm
runners 2d and 3d 2 out (single & error on Palka)
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:17 pm
intentional walk loads the bases for FSU
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:18 pm
WHEW……we escaped that one
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:18 pm
grounder to short ends 7th still GT 5-3
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:19 pm
Super Cruz was very good early on has faltered lately
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:20 pm
Injuries have hit this year’s team VERY hard
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:20 pm
new pitcher for FSU
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:21 pm
@ Lee……yeah, so I have heard, but he hasn’t shown it in any of the games I have watched. Glad he got out of that inning though. Now let’s get some runs in the 8th
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:23 pm
walk for Brandon Thomas to start 8th Davies up has hit 2 2-run homers today
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:27 pm
Davies called out on checked swing….home plate ump needs glasses, giving FSU at LEAST an extra in of plate
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:28 pm
Palka called out looking…see my last comment regarding ump
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:30 pm
grounder to 2d for out 3….bot 8 GT 5-3
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:31 pm
Lee, I agree on the checked swing mis-calls…..certainly the one on Davies.
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:32 pm
fly to left 1 out
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:34 pm
base hit to left
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:34 pm
The FSU coach looks like Bowden.
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:35 pm
slow roller to 1st 2 out runner 2d
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:35 pm
That looked like it COULD have been a double play, but it’s still 2 ours…….and here’s the 3rd
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:36 pm
Three outs to go. GO JACKETS !!!
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:36 pm
pop to 2d in shallow right end 8 GT 5-3
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:36 pm
Mike Martin been at FSU 33 years Super
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:38 pm
@ Lee……don’t know if I’ve ever seen him before, but my first thought when they showed him was that he sure looked a lot like Bowden out there.
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:39 pm
seeing lots of Braves hats/jersies in crowd
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:39 pm
ooops jerseys
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:39 pm
damn, that was almost out of there
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:40 pm
nice catch by FSU outfielder at the wall….almost another homer 2 out 9th
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:40 pm
single to left
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:41 pm
HOLD ON, JACKETS !!!!
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:42 pm
grounder to 2d for out 3…..GT 5-3 going to bot 9th….a win over No 1 ranked FSU would help our NCAA Tourney chances
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:43 pm
Cruz still pitching….c’mon Jackets!!!!!!!
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:44 pm
fly to left out 1
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:46 pm
tapper to pitcher for out 2…nice play bu Cruz on fast runner
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:47 pm
one more to go !!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:47 pm
DAMN !!!!!
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:47 pm
Ramsey goes deep, 5-4 GT
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:48 pm
TECH WINS !!!!!!!!!
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:48 pm
fly to center for out 3 UP WITH THE WHITE AND GOLD!!!! 5-4 final
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:49 pm
Super I really think dwagfan is your imposter
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:51 pm
next game Fri 11 am against no 4 seed UVA
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
1:53 pm
it will be tough, but IF we can somehow scratch and claw our way into the championship game tourney committee will have to give us serious consideration
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
1:53 pm
Lee……he could be; I don’t know. But for the most part, the imposter problem has been resolved. They have blocked every IP address he has used to log in from. He occasionally gets in now, but I think it’s only if he is able to log in from somebody else’s computer. Has dwagfan logged in any lately? If not, then that may validate your claim. I HOPE SO !!!!
GT Lee
May 23rd, 2012
2:09 pm
Super, I haven’t seen him lately but mostly it’s certain words and phrases he uses that makes me think that
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
2:17 pm
Lee, if that’s the case, then GOOD RIDDANCE !!! A couple of nights ago somebody posted under the name “super order, mutt” or something like that. It just didn’t have the same impact, and I actually got a laugh out of it. HOPEFULLY, he (or BOTH of them) are history.
Anyway, I’m outta here for a couple of hours.
Supersize that order, mutt
May 23rd, 2012
2:18 pm
Hmmmm, DwagFan (is that the usual spelling) just posted on the Bradley blog.
gt45
May 23rd, 2012
2:38 pm
Go Jackets! Keep it rolling!!!!
Crazy Robert
May 24th, 2012
6:37 am
I am not a big Danny Hall fan, he seems to be a mediocre coach at best, but beating FSU was great, now rest up today and go out and beat Virginia and Clemson, then the NCAA should be viable. I would love for the coach to prove me wrong, cause that means TECH WINS!!!
Buzz 2011
May 24th, 2012
8:13 am
Tech takes out the #1 Seminoles!!!!
GT Lee
May 24th, 2012
11:42 am
@Crazy Robert 800+ wins in 19 years…that’s OVER 40 a year….and that’s your idea of ‘mediocre’?
you have really earned your handle name
Crazy Robert
May 24th, 2012
1:54 pm
GTL The vast majority of those wins came in regular season, not bad, but the cream rises to the top which is post-season wins. What are those numbers? I don’t know thus I ask, but if I am not mistaken the Jackets have not spent too many days in Omaha over the past 19 years. Again, I want to be wrong, I want TECH to win every game and if Danny could get out of the Atlanta regional s every once in a while it would be nice.
Maybe if Danny can get Charlie Sheen to come back, maybe that would help like it did last year. [sic]