USA BaseBlog - Ping Pong Elite Eight Update - University of South Alabama Athletics

Jan. 21, 2009 - Ping Pong Elite Eight

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.

Update: Additional results have been reported from Tuesday afternoon's action. Scroll to the break to see the latest news from the Jon Lieber Clubhouse Ping Pong Table.

USA Baseball's inaugural Jaguar Ping Pong Tournament took a day off in observance of MLK Day Monday, but the players were back to action Tuesday as the final two spots were claimed in the Sweet 16, before seven players moved on to the Elite Eight.

Freshman outfielder Matt Drake defeated Brandon Brown, and Nathaniel Lami knocked off Ryan Bohanan to claim the final two spots in the Sweet 16. However, Drake's celebration was short-lived, as he was quickly sent into the wrong side of the bracket by junior middle infielder Dominic Diaz. Lami is slated to meet Sage to battle for the final berth in the Elite Eight.

In what was arguably the best match of the tournament to this point, assistant coach Scot Sealy advanced by defeating junior right-hander Dustin Crenshaw. The Jags' pitching coach became the last remaining coach in the winner's bracket after Michael Logan defeated Seth Von Behren. Sealy and Diaz are scheduled to meet with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

Freshman Brad Hook became the last true freshman standing when he knocked off sophomore catcher Brad Hammac. He'll face the winner of the Lami vs. Sage matchup. Greg Johnson knocked off Chris LaGrow, and he'll meet Logan in the round of eight.

In a pair of close matches, catcher David Doss knocked off shortstop Derek O'Reilly in a battle of seniors, and Jake Overstreet defeated southpaw Lance Baxter. Doss and Overstreet then met in the Elite Eight, and though the experienced catcher went in as the clear favorite, Overstreet pulled off the upset and punched the first ticket to the Final Four.

On the wrong side of the bracket, Stuart Barton eliminated Miles Ethridge, a player previously thought to be capable of winning it all. However, Barton's comeback attempt fell short when he was sent packing by a rejuvenated O'Reilly. 37 players remain, though only eight have yet to lose a match.

Afternoon Update: Brandon Sage claimed the final spot in the Elite Eight by knocking off redshirt freshman Nathaniel Lami, leaving Brad Hook (freshman) and Jake Overstreet (sophomore) as the lone underclassmen still undeafeated. Sage wasted no time returning to the table, and he eliminated Hook to claim his spot in the Final Four.

Assistant coach Scot Sealy claimed the third spot in the Final Four by beating Dominic Diaz in three sets. Sealy will face Sage with each needing just three more wins to claim the title.

The last Final Four invitation went to Greg Johnson after he defeated Michael Logan in the round of eight. Johnson moves on to face Overstreet, with the winner to face the victor of Sealy vs. Sage.

On the wrong side of the bracket, Matt Jackson defeated Shane LeBlanc, and with LeBlanc's previous loss to Miles Ethridge, he becomes the fifth player eliminated from contention. Blake McCool joined Jackson on the sidelines after suffering his second loss of the tournament to Michael Meredith. McCool took his first loss at the hands of Johnson.

Not to be outdone, head coach Steve Kittrell recovered from his opening-round loss to eliminate two players Tuesday. Kittrell defeated Clint Reynolds in a match where Kittrell could be heard taunting his younger opponent. Video evidence shows Kittrell asking the question, "What's that song they sing? Nah, nah, nah, nah...?" Coupled with an earlier loss to David Doss, Reynolds was eliminated.

Kittrell quickly returned to the table and dealt the final blow to Zach Grichor, who suffered his first loss in a match against Lance Baxter. With Grichor's departure, 33 players remain alive in the bracket, though only four remain undefeated.

Additional updates will have to wait until Thursday, as the Lady Jags are preparing to take on UALR at 7:05 tonight. Come out and support the Lady Jags at the Mitchell Center.

SWEET 16	ELITE EIGHT	FINAL FOUR

Diaz	Diaz
Drake
		Sealy
Crenshaw	Sealy
Sealy

Sage	Sage
Lami		Sage

Hammac	Hook
Hook

Doss	Doss
O'Reilly
		Overstreet
Overstreet	Overstreet
Baxter

Logan	Logan
Von Behren
		Johnson
Johnson	Johnson
LaGrow