College Confidential

Another interesting mock draft

Just read through another mock draft, and two things caught my attention - 1.) It had the Rangers landing Missouri ace Aaron Crow, which would be a huge get. He's one of the best pitchers in the Big 12. Pretty wild to imagine him and Blake Beavan in a rotation together. 2.) It also has the Mariners, not Detroit, selecting TCU closer Andrew Cashner with the 20th pick. -Trae

Hoelscher honored

TCU freshman right hander Sean Hoelscher was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.
Hoelscher finished 2008 with a 7-3 record, and 5.02 ERA. His seven victories tied for second on the team. In 66 1/3 innings, he had 53 strikeouts, 26 walks and held opponents to a .253 average.
-Trae Thompson

Projected Frogs lineup in 2009

The Frogs season is over, so now of course we look ahead to next year's team....Ok, Coach Schlossnagle I have your 2009 lineup and pitching staff put together. Classifications listed are what they will be next year. Check it TCU fans. This incoming class has starpower in it, but remember keep a close eye on the draft this week. This is also assuming all freshmen reach campus, which is probably far-fetched.

C=Bryan Holaday, Jr. (returnee)

1B=Matt Vern, Sr. (returnee)

2B=Ben Carruthers, Sr. (returnee)

SS=Taylor Featherston, Fr. (Katy Taylor)

3B=Matt Carpenter, Sr. (returnee)

LF=Matt McGuirk, Sr. (returnee)

CF=Brance Rivera, Fr. (Iowa)

RF=Chris Ellington, Sr. (returnee)

DH=Matt Curry, Jr. (Howard JC)

SP=Tyler Lockwood, Jr. (returnee)

SP=Kyle Winkler, Fr. (Fort Bend Kempner)

SP=Steven Maxwell, Soph. (returnee/Tommy John surgery)

SP=Trent Appleby, Soph. (returnee)

SP=Greg Holle, Soph./Sean Hoelscher, Soph./Walker Kelly, Fr. (Arl. Heights)

Closer=Kaleb Merck, Fr. (Keller)

Note: Assuming Seth Garrison will be drafted and sign. That possibility doesn't have a lot of life right now but just making a hunch.

- RH

TCU will watch MLB draft close

TCU will be keeping a close eye on the MLB draft this week. It could have a huge impact on the future of the program. Closer Andrew Cashner is expected to be a first-round draft pick, but we already know that much. But take a look at Baseball America's top prospects in Texas list for both college and high school. Let's see, No. 19 is supposed to be possibly the biggest impact freshman next year in RHP Kyle Winkler of Fort Bend Kempner. But here's the catch on Winkler, who some say may have the best stuff in the state. He's only 5-foot-11 and supposedly has told teams he intends to make it to TCU....Down the list is the club's SS of the future in Taylor Featherston, a stud from Katy.

Keller RHP Kaleb Merck is also on the list. That's three TCU recruits in the top 41. However, all three are not expected to opt for pro ball over the Frogs, according to draft analysts. That could always change when money is involved.

- RH

Larry Hays stepping down at Tech

An era is over for Texas Tech baseball. Texas Tech longtime baseball coach Larry Hays is stepping down after 22 years and Dan Spencer will become new head coach. Hays wants to focus on helping raise money to build a new stadium at Texas Tech.

Hays finishes as the winningest coach in school history and is the 4th winningest coach in NCAA history with 1,509 victories. He will remain on the staff for the final year of his contract and three additional years. But he will serve in a developmental role for the renovating of Dan Law Field.

-RH

Texas Tech holds press conference

The Texas Tech Red Raiders have scheduled an 11 a.m. press conference today. This could be to announce the retirement of longtime head coach Larry Hays. If so, it would be an end to a long and storied career for Hays in Lubbock. His successor is already in place with Dan Spencer, the former pitching guru at Oregon State. If Spencer, who was named associate head coach late in the year, takes over today he has a lot of work ahead of him. Also, Hays actually has one more year left on his contract.

Tech finished last in the Big 12 and that thing is a mess after going 25-30. The Raiders will also lose their best player (OF Roger Kieschnick) to the draft.

- RH

First pitch

Jordy Mercer hit a solo home run to center field.
Game over. Oklahoma State wins 9-8.

Guess what?

Ben Carruthers. Solo home run to left on an 0-1 count.
We're tied here. 8-8.

Hold on tight here

We've got a fun one here.
This is going to be a close one here at Reynolds Stadium.
A win here would be monumental for the Horned Frogs. Going to the ninth. -Trae

Kervin delivers, now 8-7

Bryan Kervin just cleared the bases, sending in three runs on a double to right center.
Jimmie Pharr just struck out looking.
Oklahoma State leads 8-7 entering the bottom of the eighth. This is a whole new ballgame, folks.

-Trae