Texas v. Central Arkansas March 22, 2022

[FWHORN]

Texas has gotten back to its winning ways with a four game win streak and the Horns look to make it five in a row with a Tuesday night game against Central Arkansas at 6:30 on LHN at the Disch.

Not sure if it will be DuPlantier or the freshman Stehle as Texas is looking for someone to step up in that four spot. The Horns sit at 17-5 which given the road schedule and Witt's injury is more than respectable to start the year. League play starts this weekend in Lubbock and the next mid week is aggy so this is really Pierce's last chance to tinker with his pitching.

 

[FWHORN]

Texassports preview and game notes:

No. 2 Baseball preview: Central Arkansas - University of Texas Athletics

2022 3 22 UCA (PDF) - University of Texas Athletics

Somewhat surprisingly Justin Eckhardt is listed as the Texas starter.

 

[Chop]

Good for Eckhardt. Hope he puts together 5+ good innings.
Eckhardt has a respectable 1.24 WHIP this year.
We've got to nail down the 4th and 5th starters.

 

[Chop]

CENTRAL ARKANSAS (purple bears...)

I can't see where Central Ark. has announced a starting pitcher yet. The following pitchers started this past weekend:

Cleveland
Barker
Fenton

Andrew Shoultz seems to be their 1st guy out from the pen for middle relief--we'll probably see some of him. Other top relievers include Fenton, Gregson, and Navarro. Gilbertson has started mid-week games before. They often string together a grab bag of pitchers.

Putting it all together, we're likely to see some combination of the following pitchers:

Logan Gilbertson
Andrew Shoultz
Trent Gregson
Tyler Navarro
Oliver Laufman
Jack Haley
Dillan Janak

 

[Chop]

ANDREW SHOULTZ
RHP
6'3" 210 lbs
3.91 ERA
29 Strikeouts
8 Walks
Transferred in from Frontier JC

Shoultz gets a lot of innings in middle relief. Throws fastball in the high 80s (maybe up to the low 90s now) with some movement to the arm side and good control. Uses the changeup a lot. Crafty/tricky pitcher with command of 3 pitches. Throws an 11/5 curveball with a good drop.


"Shoultz showed a smooth, clean arm action that generated good life through the zone with a fastball..."

"Also pitched utilizing a simple side step to high leg lift delivery. Stays tall on back side at gather and works to the plate with drop and drive actions. Loose arm circle at take back and released from a high three-quarters slot. Fastball created some downhill plane through the zone with running action to arm side in the low to mid 80's, topped at 85 miles per hour [in high school]. Curveball had 11/5 shape with good spin and late, hard depth in the upper 60's. Changeup flashed some fade to arm side in the low 70's. Showed good feel for all three pitches and consistently changed speeds while on the mound.

Shoultz comes from Scurry, Texas--a Trinity River floodplain just a bit Southeast of Dallas. He was more known to scouts as a catcher than as a pitcher.

Andrew Shoultz - 2022 - Baseball - University of Central Arkansas Athletics
Perfect Game USA - World's Largest Baseball Scouting Service
Andrew Shoultz Class of 2018 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

 

[George Bailey]

Midweek games like this one always worry me. Just looking at their 11 losses, you don't see many blowouts. And their roster includes a lot of Texas kids, those kids always seem to 'play up' when they come home.

 

[Chop]

LOGAN GILBERTSON
6'5" 220lbs
RHP
4.61 ERA
12 Strikeouts
3 Walks

Fastball in the high 80s (maybe up to the low 90s now) from a 3/4 arm delivery. Decent control. 3 pitch arsenal. Has thrown ok, against some suspect competition...

"Gilbertson is a 6-foot-5 190-pound right-hander with a projectable frame and an athletic build. He pitches from a H ¾ arm slot with a quick clean arm action. He does a sound job repeating his mechanics and rhythm. He uses a distinct balance point to allow him to drive to home plate, remaining balanced through out. His fastball works 83-85 mph with the ability to touch 88 mph. He has the ability to locate both his curveball (69-72 mph) and change up (72-75 mph). Overall Gilbertson is a projectable right-hander with a feel to pitch, he should throw harder as he continues to add strength."

Logan Gilbertson - 2022 - Baseball - University of Central Arkansas Athletics
Prep Baseball Report - Player: Logan Gilbertson
Logan Gilbertson Class of 2017 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

 

[Chop]

TRENT GREGSON
RHP
the stache
5'10" 170lbs
6.87 ERA
21 Strikeouts
6 Walks

Trent comes from Longview, Texas. Throws a fastball up to the high 80s - maybe into the low 90s. Good control--doesn't give up many walks/will make you hit him. 11/5 curveball, also with good control. Throws around 70% strikes.

"Over on Field 4, Trent Gregson (2020, Longview, Texas) turned in an impressive outing of his own for Performance Baseball Texas 18u. Gregson allowed just one hit over four scoreless innings, striking out four and not allowing a walk. Gregson has a smaller frame from the right side and does a really good job of attacking hitters in the zone. With a 70 percent strike percentage, Gregson commanded the strike zone with both a mid-80s fastball up to 87 mph, and a mid-70s curveball he could land for strikes with 11-to-5 shape. The senior is committed to play his college baseball at The University of Central Arkansas."

Trent Gregson - 2022 - Baseball - University of Central Arkansas Athletics
Trent Gregson Class of 2020 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

 

[Chop]

TYLER NAVARRO
6'2" 215lbs
7.63ERA
17 Strikeouts
15 Walks

Good for an inning or two most games. Numbers show some potential control issues. Not much in the way of scouting reports on him.

Navarro comes from Waxahachie, Texas--which, interestingly enough, is 1 county North-Northwest of Navarro County.

Just rolled out of bed 15 minutes before the game, in need of a shave...

Tyler Navarro - 2022 - Baseball - University of Central Arkansas Athletics
Tyler Navarro Class of 2017 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

 

[Chop]

While baseball can be a cruel game, Central Arkansas is a team we most definitely should beat.

 

[FWHORN]

BON has their preview of game up:

No. 2 Texas hosts Central Arkansas - Burnt Orange Nation

 

[Chop]

Ivan!!!!!!

Solo HR to RF. That’s 10 for the year for Melendez.

3-0 Horns

 

[Chop]

Eckhardt doing well Good command. Fastball in the low to mid 90s. Sinker is really sinking. Only 58 pitches and no runs thus far through 4. Nice work Eckhardt.

3-0 Horns. Headed to the bottom of the 4th.

 

[Chop]

What a quick throw out move to 1st by C Ark pitcher. He’s gonna get some outs with that.

 

[Chop]

Faltine walk. Infield hit by Skye. Men on 1 and 2.

Now a bunt by Daly. Bauble by pitcher. Bases loaded no outs!!!

 

[Chop]

Sac fly by Constantine.

4-0 Horns.

 

[Chop]

Hodo!!
RBI double!!
Skye scores
Daly to 3rd



5-0 UT

 

[Chop]

C Ark pitcher gets the hook
Exit stage left
Hit the Showers
Enter Haley with his 8.5+ ERA

 

[Chop]

Another deep sac fly—this one for Kennedy.

6-0 Horns

 

[Chop]

Coach praised Eckhardt’s command, change up, sinker, and “tightened up” slider. Coach very pleased with Eckhardt.

 

[Chop]

Great sliding catch by Kennedy. Busted his belt buckle / Lost his belt…. Hike up your britches EK!

 

[Chop]

3 up 3 down in the top of the 5th.

Eckhardt dealin’

 

[Chop]

Silas w a stand up double! What a bat for a catcher!

 

[Chop]

Wild pitch!

Silas steals Home!!!!!!!!

7-0 Horns



We don’t see that every day.

 

[Chop]

Haley gets the hook
Exit stage left
Hit the showers

 

[Chop]

Enter Spencer Nelson with a 16.21 ERA

 

[Chop]

Skye Messinger with a hit and run single.
The big Coloradan is 3 for 3 tonight.
Runners on 1 and 3.

 

[Chop]

He beaned O Dowd.

WTF!?!?!

Bases loaded.

 

[Chop]

Nice piece of fielding by the third baseman for the purple bears. Saved two runs there.

 

[Horn6721]

I like how Keith and Swindell take the time to point out when the other team has good plays.