Hayes finishing out career on scoreless streak

By Eric Jones (Photo by John Russell)

Drew Hayes has given up just one hit over his last 8.2 innings pitched (six outings) including two and two-thirds innings today against Illinois State.

Boots, a nickname given to him by his teammates that has nothing to do with footwear, has become this season's Jonathan White. J-White made the most of his final weeks last year in a Commodore jersey with red-hot hitting in the post-season.

Hayes has been heating things up with his 95 mph fastball and slider combination to strikeout 11 opposing batters down the stretch while showing some real emotion. Needing a groundball in the first game of the Regional against Illinois State to end an inning, he got the groundball to his infielders to get out of a jam. The sprint off the mound with a righthanded uppercut was a nice show of emotion in what has proven to be a difficult time mentally for the Commodores and their fans.

Up 9-4 in the top of the 8th now against Illinois State, there is still no word on potential arms available for a potential nightcap against Louisville. Stay tuned.

Where is Kenny Loggins when you need him

By Eric Jones

As frustrating as today's loss to Louisville still is, you now have a chance to reach back into your memories and remember that movie that always showed the hero with their back against the wall. Pick your movie scene. Rocky Balboa in Rocky III losing to Clubber Lang is probably my favorite. Although Ralph Macchio's Karate Kid ending remains a close second, with the forgettable but catchy song, "You're the Best Around" echoing in your head. For me, it's that Eye of the Tiger moment when Stallone's character seems to swell and rise to the occasion as the movie audience cheers at the screen.

Maybe the Commodores need Survivor or Kenny Loggins to write a quick song that ignites the offensive spark needed to turn around the bats here in Louisville. Nashville is Music City after all. Regardless, this team needs a big day tomorrow. Stay tuned or better yet, come up and be part of what could be that Rocky movement, but please no Frank Stallone references.

Fall Baseball Update

by Eric Jones - It's hard to pass up a 75 degree day in October with Hawkins Field right across the street from the McGugin Center.

With the Black and Gold Series starting in just a week, I thought I might check out the Commodore baseball scrimmage on Thursday. It turned out to be the closest I got to a Cape Cod summer. There are a good many new faces to learn and as many nicknames to ponder. Today was all about names that you may have heard as veteran pitching highlighted the six-inning intrasquad that ended 4-2. Sophomore Jack Armstrong continued to build off of a very strong summer pitching for Wareham in the Cape Cod League (4-1, 2.57 ERA, 31K in 35 IP). Jack combined with Taylor Hill (2-1, 1.44 ERA, 35K in 31.1IP for Chatham in the Cape) for an impressive performance. In a three-inning start, Armstrong brought the heat striking out 4 including the side to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning. Armstrong was followed by Hill who retired all nine batters he faced with four punchouts to preserve the win.

Richie Goodenow started on the other side of the scorecard working three solid innings, but was victimized by some defensive miscues which allowed two unearned runs. Russell Brewer followed Richie to the mound and threw three scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Brewer was another top summer performer in the Cape where he teamed with Taylor Hill at Chatham. As closer, Russell was 2-1, with a 1.90 ERA and 33K's in 23.1 innings while finishing second in the entire Cape Cod League with 10 saves. The bottom line on this particular day - the summer seems to have been good for Commodore pitching. You can check out all the Commodore who played in the CCL and their summer stats (http://www.capecodbaseball.org/) for yourself.

Another New England Nugget: Freshman Regan Flaherty started at first base and went 2-for-2 with an RBI single and a double. His lefthanded swing is similar to his brother Ryan's and the speed (or lack thereof) was also evident as he got thrown out by homeplate umpire Sonny Gray trying to score from second on a Jordan Wormsley single.

I was just happy that Sonny Gray didn't throw his valuable right arm out of his socket when he called Flaherty out at the plate. Sonny has been watching too many Kimbo Slice snippets on YouTube.

Black and Gold Series: The Black and Gold Series will start on Thursday, October 15. Tim Corbin announced yesterday that the annual fall event will be going to a five-game series: October 15, 16, 18, 19, and 20. All games are scheduled to be broadcast via live audio on vucommodores.com. Stay tuned for times.