1/14/2009 6:00:00 AM

USA BaseBlog - Ping Pong Day Two Update

Jan. 14, 2009 - Ping Pong Day Two Update

Thank you for taking the time to browse the baseball page. If you have a question or comment, please feel free to e-mail me. The 2009 USA Baseball Season Outlook is now available online, as well as the latest edition of In the Dugout with ... featuring senior RHP Miles Ethridge.

South Alabama baseball players battled through the first round of the team's inaugural ping pong tournament Wednesday. Unconfirmed reports say freshman outfielder Brad Montgomery was the first player to be sent packing in the double-elimination tournament.

A pair of newcomers moved on in the top portion of the bracket with Dominic Diaz defeating Stuart Barton and Matt Drake dealing the first blow to Montgomery. Drake is slated to meet Brandon Brown, with the winner to take on Diaz.

Miles Ethridge was able to overcome the "In the Dugout with..." cover jinx to knock off Shane LeBlanc, and he'll move on to face assistant coach Scot Sealy. In a battle of southpaws, senior Brandon Sage showed the value of experience in defeating freshman Phillip Byrd. Sage has one of the best tournament draws, as he'll move on to face another freshman, this time from the opposite end of the battery, catcher Brent Mitchell.

Senior Ryan Bohanan overpowered assistant coach Alan Luckie, and he'll move on to face redshirt freshman Nathaniel Lami in a battle of two of USA's hottest hitters from the fall in what should be one of the best matches of the second round.

Team manager Corey Powell showed no ill effects from his battle with second-stage hypothermia. He made quick work of Jake LeBlanc and will move on to face lefty Brad Hook in the second round. Brad Hammac awaits the winner of that showdown.

Junior outfielder Clint Reynolds was unable to carry over any momentum from his history-making performance in Monday's Intangible Mile. He dropped out to David Doss, who will move on to face Derek O'Reilly. O'Reilly advanced by knocking off Chris Davis, who knocked off the legendary coach Steve Kittrell in Tuesday's action. Coach Kittrell remains stuck on 998 career wins.

In a battle of third basemen named Jake, sophomore Jake Overstreet was able to pull from the experience gained in his first year at USA and knock off freshman Jake Crain. Like Reynolds, Crain struggled to rebound from a solid performance in the Intangible Mile. Overstreet will face Zach Grichor, Jarrett Bailey or Lance Baxter in the second round.

Michael Logan knocked off Michael Raia in a battle of relief pitchers named Michael. Logan moves on to face another pitcher in the second round, when he'll take on Chris Brown. The winner of that match will face the winner of assistant coach Seth Von Behren and junior outfielder Adam Heisler. Von Behren was the only coach to win in the first round, but Sealy had a first-round bye.

Chris LaGrow showed how well he's progressed from offseason shoulder surgery by defeating freshman middle infielder Michael Meredith. He'll face the winner of Blake McCool and Greg Johnson in round two.

Best Match of Round One: Jake Overstreet and Jake Crain. These two battled it out for the rights to third base and the name Jake. With Jake LeBlanc dropping out to Corey Powell, Overstreet is the clear choice.

Look Forward To: Nathaniel Lami vs. Ryan Bohanan. USA's two best hitters from the fall battle it out to see which one has been able to maintain his hot stick. Also look forward to Derek O'Reilly vs. David Doss. Two veterans from opposite ends of the country duke it out in what is sure to be one of the closest matches of the second round.

Only a few players have yet to see their first action in the tournament, but additional updates will be provided on a daily basis.

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