Posted June 28th, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Baseball, Football, Recruiting
- RT @InsideTexas: Future Longhorn Marquise Goodwin sets national high school long jump
record: http://bit.ly/1q5rn5 - Former #UT recruit, Arky circus, and current 3rd string #USC QB Mitch Mustain is now apparently having grade issues: http://tr.im/q03B
- Good article on #UT baseball’s 2010 pitching staff from @aTrubow: http://tr.im/q4rv Never too soon to start towards another #CWS run.
- Ex-Longhorn Brian Robison is pushing for increased playing time & a starting spot in Minnesota: http://tr.im/pZMP #UT #NFL
- RT @nytimes: Farrah Fawcett Dies of Cancer at 62 http://bit.ly/FQ0dz Fawcett was discovered as a #UT student.
- Connor Rowe strikes out swinging to end it. #UT season over, 1 game short of the promise land. Lose in #CWS 11-4.
- Jungmann’s 126th pitch is a beauty to end this thing #UT 5, #LSU 1. Horns force a deciding game 3 tomorrow night. #CWS
- Maybe I’ve lost my mind, but Hershiser is an idiot right? A balk is an immediate dead ball. #UT #CWS
- ESPN hyperbole: “we can say without question that Jared Mitchell is the fastest player we’ve ever seen at #CWS.” Really? Time them? #UT #LSU
- During rain delay, ESPN showing last night’s #CWS game. Maybe they can stop it after 8 innings this time?? #UT #LSU
- Another good one from Dr Saturday: apparently Miami coaches were relying on Internet msg boards for recruiting decisions: http://tr.im/ppDi
- RT @RalphieReport Josh Smith’s Appeal for an Open Transfer Denied, Buff Fans Left to Wonder What’s Next? http://sbnation.com/e/685688
- Horns face uphill battle after heartbreaking game, can they rebound and win 2 straight? We’ll find out tomorrow night at 6pm. #UT #CWS
- ESPN announcers appear to believe 1-seed #UT is a 3 touchdown underdog in this thing. #CWS #LSU
Follow along below with our live thoughts and analysis during tonight’s final, College World Series finals deciding game 3 between Texas and LSU. The series is tied 1-1 and it’s winner take all tonight in the best-of-three series for the NCAA title. Texas will start pitcher Cole Green with the chance to win the Longhorns’ 6th all-time baseball championship tonight at ESPN at 6:00pm.
We will be posting live on Twitter at twitter.com/40AcresSports and it will also be embedded below. Follow along in either place to participate in the conversation and check back here later for news and analysis of the game. Hook ‘em! (more …)
Posted June 23rd, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Baseball, Feature, Live, World Series
Follow along below with our live thoughts and analysis during tonight’s rain delayed College World Series finals game between Texas and LSU. Texas is down 1-0 in the best-of-three series and will send out starting pitcher Taylor Jungmann to try to even up things on ESPN at 7:40pm.
We will be posting live on Twitter at twitter.com/40AcresSports and it will also be embedded below. Follow along in either place to participate in the conversation and check back here later for news and analysis of the game. Hook ‘em! (more …)
Posted June 22nd, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Baseball, Feature, Live, World Series
Follow along below with our live thoughts and analysis during tonight’s College World Series finals game between Texas and LSU. Texas starting pitcher Chance Ruffin will take the mound he’ll face LSU’s tough lineup tonight on ESPN at 6pm. The CWS championship round is a best 2-out-of-3 series, with games 2 and 3 (if necessary) taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
We will be posting live on Twitter at twitter.com/40AcresSports and it will also be embedded below. Follow along in either place to participate in the conversation and check back here later for news and analysis of the game. Hook ‘em! (more …)
Posted June 19th, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Baseball, Feature, Live, World Series
Follow along below with our live thoughts and analysis during tonight’s delayed College World Series game between Texas and Arizona State. Texas will start Cole Green and he’ll face ASU’s supposedly injured Mike Leake tonight on ESPN2 at approximately 7:45pm. If Texas wins, they’ll advance to face LSU for the championship.
We will be posting live on Twitter at twitter.com/40AcresSports and it will also be embedded below. Follow along in either place to participate in the conversation and check back here later for news and analysis of the game. Hook ‘em! (more …)
Posted June 16th, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Baseball, Feature, World Series
Cameron Rupp celebrates with his teammates after one of his two home runs. (ESPN.com)
In a fantastic and improbable performance, the Texas baseball team came back to win tonight from a 6-0 deficit against one of the top pitchers in college baseball. The Horns knocked off Arizona State and their ace Mike Leake by the final score of 10-6. Cameron Rupp had 2 home runs and freshman pitcher Taylor Jungmann was fantastic in relief of starter Chance Ruffin. The bats came alive throughout the lineup to the tune of 15 hits.
Texas is now 2-0 in their College World Series bracket and in fantastic shape to make it to the title game. Arizona State will have a rematch with North Carolina on Thursday for the right to to take on the Horns on Friday evening. Whoever they face, they’ll have to win two in a row to get past Texas.
See the game’s live blog for more opinions on the game.
Follow along below with our live thoughts and analysis during tonight’s College World Series winners’ bracket game against Arizona State. Texas ace Chance Ruffin will go up against one of the nation’s best in Mike Leake tonight on ESPN at 6pm. We’ll be posting live on Twitter at twitter.com/40AcresSports and it will also be embedded below. Follow along there to participate in the conversation. Hook ‘em! (more …)
Posted June 14th, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Baseball, Feature, World Series
Follow along below with our live thoughts and analysis during tonight’s opening game for the Texas Longhorns at the 2009 College World Series. Cole Green will get the start as the Horns take on Southern Miss at 6pm on ESPN2 and we’ll be posting live on Twitter at twitter.com/40AcresSports. Follow along there to participate in the conversation. Hook ‘em!
Live Game Updates
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RT @Dustin_McComas: That was one of the weirdest, best, worst, games I’ve ever seen. Baseball…it’s a bitch.
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The 2009 College World Series presented by Heineken. Judging by commercial breaks, apparently the only sponsor tonight.
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@superfan99 I’m expecting Orel to go off on a rant about kids today & rock music. Or maybe yell at the players to get off his lawn. #UT #cws
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@LingerfeltInt Any member of the greatest generation who saw my tweet should know the ‘old people’ comment doesn’t apply to them.
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@justinssilver I think it’s pretty clear neither of these guys watch much college baseball, so they have to fill time other ways. #cws #ut
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OMG SHUT UP about Twitter old people. This is embarrassing for everyone involved. Wish @ESPN_CWSKyle was doing more than Tweeting. #cws #UT
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@TBirdOmaha Haha. #CWS is special event thanks (in part) to city of Omaha. It’s clear they don’t really know much about college baseball.
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Moldenhauer with another good at bat but this one ends with a groundout. Nice play by USM 1B to stay on bag. After 3, #UT 2, USM 0
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#UT hits the ball solidly but goes quickly in the bottom of the 2nd. After 2 innings, it’s Texas 2, USM 0. #ws
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#UT game is about to get underway. First Erin Andrews sighting of the game on ESPN2 for piece on Southern Miss coach. #CWS
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Looks like #UT/Southern Miss winner will be facing Arizona St thanks to crappy UNC defense. ASU still has ace in the hole too.
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Ump was giving ASU pitcher a WIDE strikezone in 9th. Giving him calls off inside corner and a foot off outside corner. #cws
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RT @bevobeat: Blog entry: Horns will start Green against Southern Miss http://tinyurl.com/lpmlz7 #ut
Posted June 8th, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Baseball, Feature, World Series
Kevin Keyes' first inning homer set the stage for the Texas win. (Statesman.com)
The Texas Longhorns are headed back to Omaha for the 33rd time. The team topped TCU 5-2 to win their Super Regional and advance to the College World Series. The Longhorns won thanks to a complete performance in all facets of the game, getting great starting pitching, great defense, and great fundamental offense and power.
Freshman starter Taylor Jungmann allowed only 2 hits over 6 innings to earn the win. The offense was led by Brandon Belt and Kevin Keyes who helped get the Horns off to a quick 3-run lead in the first inning. Keyes homered in the first and nearly had another one later when he double off the top of the rightfield wall.
Texas will open CWS play Sunday against Southern Miss at 6pm on ESPN2. (more …)
Posted June 8th, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Baseball, Feature, World Series
Kevin Keyes and the rest of the UT lineup could only produce 2 runs. (TexasSports.com)
One day after giving Texas fans hope that the offense was hitting its stride at just the right time, the bats fell back to earth as the team fell to TCU 3-2 Sunday afternoon. Starting pitcher Cole Green spread 3 runs over 7.2 innings but the offense couldn’t back him up and fell short in a late comeback.
The middle of the TCU lineup featuring Matt Vern and Matt Carpenter once again powered the offense, hitting a home run each to drive in all 3 TCU runs. It’ll be interesting to see if Texas pitches around those two hitters during Monday’s game and forces someone else to beat them.
The two teams face off for the right to move on to Omaha Monday at 6pm on ESPN2. Freshman starter Taylor Jungmann will be on the mound for the Longhorns.
Related Links
Texas plays TCU today for the right to go to Omaha, but first you get one last chance to win a copy of the Inning By Inning DVD. This time all you have to do to win is sign up on this entry form.
If you want to win a copy of the DVD, simply submit your name and address by 6:00am Central on June 9 using this entry form to win. Additional contest details on the entry form. Share the contest with your friends and check back every day this week for another chance to win.
A brief description of the documentary is below:
INNING BY INNING: A PORTRAIT OF A COACH is a fascinating look inside the world of University of Texas baseball coach Augie Garrido. Through unprecedented access to team meetings, practices, in-game conversations and the occasional tirade, the film examines this remarkable coach’s career and reveals Garrido’s Zen-like approach to the game that both inspires and changes lives. With a philosophy that places both baseball and his players in the larger context of life as a whole, Garrido has won five National Championships (3 at Cal State Fullerton and 2 at UT) and is the only coach to win National Championships in four different decades, and at two different schools.
The film includes interviews with former players, coaches, Alumni, baseball luminaries and friends, revealing the remarkable man behind the achievements. For coaches, players, and fans of baseball, Inning By Inning is a must see film that will forever change the way you look at the game - and perhaps the way you live your life.
Directed by Academy Award® nominee Richard Linklater (School of Rock, Before Sunset).
Posted June 7th, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Baseball, Feature, World Series
Texas senior 3B Michael Torres had 2 home runs against TCU. (Statesman.com)
Texas set an NCAA record Saturday with 7 sacrifice bunts but luckily Texas coach Augie Garrido let third baseman Michael Torres swing away. The senior from California had a career day leading the Longhorns going 4-for-5 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs (and zero sacrifice bunts) as Texas beat TCU 10-4 in the opening game of the Super Regionals. Starting pitcher Chance Ruffin gave up 3 homers but didn’t make many other mistakes during his complete game win.
The Longhorns play TCU today at 2pm on ESPN and if they win they’ll be headed back to the College World Series in Omaha.
Related Links
It’s a great day to be a Texas baseball fan. The Super Regionals start against TCU start today and you get another chance to win a copy of the Inning By Inning DVD. This time all you have to do to win is sign up on this entry form.
If you want to win a copy of the DVD, simply submit your name and address by 6:00am Central on June 7 using this entry form to win. Additional contest details on the entry form. Share the contest with your friends and check back every day this week for another chance to win.
A brief description of the documentary is below:
INNING BY INNING: A PORTRAIT OF A COACH is a fascinating look inside the world of University of Texas baseball coach Augie Garrido. Through unprecedented access to team meetings, practices, in-game conversations and the occasional tirade, the film examines this remarkable coach’s career and reveals Garrido’s Zen-like approach to the game that both inspires and changes lives. With a philosophy that places both baseball and his players in the larger context of life as a whole, Garrido has won five National Championships (3 at Cal State Fullerton and 2 at UT) and is the only coach to win National Championships in four different decades, and at two different schools.
The film includes interviews with former players, coaches, Alumni, baseball luminaries and friends, revealing the remarkable man behind the achievements. For coaches, players, and fans of baseball, Inning By Inning is a must see film that will forever change the way you look at the game - and perhaps the way you live your life.
Directed by Academy Award® nominee Richard Linklater (School of Rock, Before Sunset).
Posted June 3rd, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Baseball, World Series
Times and television have been set for this weekend’s CWS Super Regional for Texas and TCU. Game 1 will take place Saturday, June 6th at 5pm on ESPNU. Sunday’s game 2 will be at 2pm on ESPN. If necessary, the two teams will play in one of two time slots on Monday, either noon or 6pm on either ESPN or ESPN2. Tune in to 40 Acres Sports for all your College World Series coverage.
Another day and two two more Inning by Inning DVDs to giveaway courtesy of Virgil Films. Today’s trivia question is a little harder: What team did Garrido manage in the 1999 movie For Love of the Game? Head over to the entry form and submit your answer.
If you want to win a copy of the DVD, simply submit your trivia answer along with you name and address by 6:00am Central on June 4 using this entry form to win. Additional contest details on the entry form. Share the contest with your friends and check back every day this week for another chance to win.
A brief description of the documentary is below:
INNING BY INNING: A PORTRAIT OF A COACH is a fascinating look inside the world of University of Texas baseball coach Augie Garrido. Through unprecedented access to team meetings, practices, in-game conversations and the occasional tirade, the film examines this remarkable coach’s career and reveals Garrido’s Zen-like approach to the game that both inspires and changes lives. With a philosophy that places both baseball and his players in the larger context of life as a whole, Garrido has won five National Championships (3 at Cal State Fullerton and 2 at UT) and is the only coach to win National Championships in four different decades, and at two different schools.
The film includes interviews with former players, coaches, Alumni, baseball luminaries and friends, revealing the remarkable man behind the achievements. For coaches, players, and fans of baseball, Inning By Inning is a must see film that will forever change the way you look at the game - and perhaps the way you live your life.
Directed by Academy Award® nominee Richard Linklater (School of Rock, Before Sunset).
Posted June 3rd, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Baseball, World Series
SI NFL expert Peter King was apparently up watching with us as Texas and Boston College played a 25-inning marathon Saturday night. He devoted an entire page of his weekly Monday Morning Quarterback column to Texas pitcher Austin Wood, heaping high praise on him and providing some really good quotes from Austin and Coach Augie Garrido.
Stat of the Week/Hero of the Week
[...] “In my 41 years of coaching,” said Texas coach Augie Garrido, “the effort by Austin Wood was the best pitching performance I have ever seen.” [...]
When he walked off the field, just after midnight, everyone in the stadium rose and cheered. The Longhorn bench emptied and met him with cheers and high-fives and hugs in front of the dugout. The BC dugout cheered.
“The coolest feeling I ever had on a baseball field,” Wood said. “I can’t lie. I wanted to soak in every second of it. The BC kids, what class. That was incredible. I just wanted to make sure I enjoyed the best moment I’ve ever had in baseball. But I wasn’t satisfied. Not at all. We had to win this game.”
Austin Dicharry, the reliever, got two quick outs to send the game to the 21st. and Texas won it in the 25th, finally, on a Travis Tucker RBI single to right — after Tucker had gone one-for-11 up to that point.
Wood heard what Garrido said about him, about how it was the greatest pitching performance he’d seen in 41 years. “Now that is pretty cool,” Wood said. “I can’t lie — that’s some unbelievable praise.”
There may have been higher praise. “But I have to tell you what was the most incredible thing after the game. The president of the university came to me after the game, and this is a direct quote. He told me, ‘That’s probably the best athletic performance ever at the University of Texas.’ I mean, wow. Earl Campbell, Vince Young.”
Now there came the physical toll. “As soon as I started icing it,” he said, “I knew it was going to hurt. And it did. It does. But boy, is it worth it. I was on Cloud 9 all night. I couldn’t fall asleep. I got to bed around 4:30, I guess.”
“Did you sleep OK?” I asked.
“About four hours,” Wood said. “But I’ll tell you this: Fell asleep smiling, woke up smiling.”
And that is why we love sports.
Day 2 and we’ve got two more Inning by Inning DVDs to giveaway courtesy of Virgil Films. This time it’s a trivia question: In what year did coach Augie Garrido win his first national championship? Head over to the entry form and submit your answer. (The answer was 1979.)
If you want to win a copy of the DVD, simply submit your trivia answer along with you name and address by 11:59pm Central on June 2 using this entry form to win. Additional contest details on the entry form. Check back every day this week for another chance to win.
A brief description of the documentary is below:
INNING BY INNING: A PORTRAIT OF A COACH is a fascinating look inside the world of University of Texas baseball coach Augie Garrido. Through unprecedented access to team meetings, practices, in-game conversations and the occasional tirade, the film examines this remarkable coach’s career and reveals Garrido’s Zen-like approach to the game that both inspires and changes lives. With a philosophy that places both baseball and his players in the larger context of life as a whole, Garrido has won five National Championships (3 at Cal State Fullerton and 2 at UT) and is the only coach to win National Championships in four different decades, and at two different schools.
The film includes interviews with former players, coaches, Alumni, baseball luminaries and friends, revealing the remarkable man behind the achievements. For coaches, players, and fans of baseball, Inning By Inning is a must see film that will forever change the way you look at the game - and perhaps the way you live your life.
Directed by Academy Award® nominee Richard Linklater (School of Rock, Before Sunset).
Day 2 of contest has ended. Check back here to find more ways to win or buy the DVD at InningByInning.com.
Posted May 31st, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Baseball, World Series
The Texas baseball team provided us with two straight nights of heartstopping baseball and again on Sunday night they pulled out the victory. This time it only took 9 innings, but the Longhorns had to come back from 4 runs down in the bottom of the 9th inning to beat Army and close out the Austin Regional.
Down 10-6 to start the half inning Texas rallied to tie it at 10 off a nearly gamewinning walk-off grand slam Brandon Loy. A few batters later with the game still tied, Preston Clark only need to put the ball in play to win but instead put the ball over the left field wall. Clark’s walk-off slam gave the Longhorns the 14-10 and ended the regional tournament with the hosts on top.
There are no dates or times available yet, but next up Texas will host the TCU Horned Frogs in Austin for the best-of-three Super Regional.
Check out our live game tweets from @40acressports below:
- #UT wins Austin Regional with come from behind 14-10 win over Army, with 8 runs in the bottom of the 9th. Hook ‘em!
- WOOOHOO AGAIN!! Walk-off grand slam comes just a few batters later!! Clark over the LF wall for the #UT win!!
- Ball 4 to Belt & the bases are loaded. Winning run now just 90 feet away with Preston Clark hitting. #UT just needs decent fly ball to win.
- Walk puts runners on 1st and 2nd for Brandon Belt. #UT just needs one more hit.
- RT @CedGolden: One good “Belt” and this game is over. #UT
- Bases loaded double by Brandon Loy deep off left centerfield wall ties the ball game at 10-10!! #UT was 5 feet from gamewinning slam.
- WOOOOHOOOO! #UT
- RBI groundout and then a 4 pitch walk means #UT has bases loaded now and winning run at the plate in Brandon Loy. Army leads 10-7.
- Slow chopper isn’t handled by Army shortstop. Bases loaded and still no outs for #UT. Tying run coming to plate in David Hernandez.
- First two runners reach for #UT in bottom of the 9th. No outs, Texas pinch hitting.
- Double play ends the top of the 9th. #UT has three outs to pick up 4 runs and extend this game for 16 more innings.
- Back to back for Army. A DEEEEEEP homer over centerfield wall stretches lead a little more. Now it’s Army 10, #UT 6
- Army matches #UT homer with a 2 run shot of their own in the top of the 8th. Lead back to 3 for Army.
- Grounder to 3rd ends the inning. #UT gets the 2 runs from Keyes homer but squanders chance for more. Texas trails Army 7-6 going to 8th
- If you’re bunting with 2 strikes with the intent to sacrifice give yourself up. Stay in the freaking box and get the bunt down. #UT
- Kevin Keyes hits a long home run to cut the Army lead to 1 run. Score now 7-6, still no outs in the bottom of the 7th for #UT.
- Triple followed by single up the middle gets Army another run. #UT now trails 7-4
- Ahhhhhhh! Belt hits a deep one to right but Army RF catches it slamming into the wall for the final out of the 6th inning. #UT trails 6-4
- Bases load and 2 outs again for #UT. Let’s hope they can capitalize this time and Brandon Belt comes through.
- RT @SI_PeterKing: Writing Monday Morning Quarterback. You’ll be surprised about the big star of this week’s MMQB: Austin Wood. #UT
- Not baseball: #CU speedy WR Josh Smith announces he’s transferring due to lack of rap career options in Colorado: http://tr.im/mZGr
- @CedGolden Not a good secondary lead by Rowe cost him 3rd base. He should have been at 3rd easily. (IMO)
- Balk nullifies a #UT sac bunt and gives the Horns a runner on 2nd and no outs.
- Cameron Rupp strikes out with bases loaded to end the 5th inning. #UT
- Cameron Rupp up with the bases loaded and 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th. ANother great chance for #UT.
- Brandon Belt singles in Michael Torres to make the score 6-4 in favor of Army. Clark now up for #UT.
- Longhorns are hitting the ball pretty well tonight. Deep double by Cameron Rupp gives #UT runners on 2nd & 3rd with 1 out.
- RT @aTrubow: Workman gets the strikeout to end the inning. #ut trailing 6-3 at the end of the inning. Offense needs to show up.
- Amazing catch by Army centerfielder running directly backwards and catching the ball just short of the warning track. Incredible play. #UT
- Slow rolling fielder’s choice nets Army another run in the top of the 3rd. Army now leads #UT 4-3.
- Fantastic at bat by Army with half a dozen foul balls before drawing a bases loaded walk form Jungmann. #UT now tied at 3.
- #UT pitcher Taylor Jungmann struggling in the 3rd. 2 hits and now a walk to load the bases with only 1 out.
- Longhorns get two runs on an infield single by Travis Tucker. Runners were going with 3-2 count & 2 outs. After 2 innings, #UT now leads 3-2
- Army pitcher is struggling to throw strikes. Loads bases with a walk and now 3-0 on Travis Tucker. #UT
- If you’re at your computer, #UT baseball game is again being streamed live by CBS/NCAA at http://tr.im/mZjM
- #UT on the scoreboard for the first time tonight. Preston Clark with solid single up the middle to score Belt. #UT now trailing 2-1
- Looping double down the LF line by Brandon Belt to leadoff the bottom of the 2nd inning for #UT against Army.
- RT @aTrubow: Jungmann with a wild pitch and Army takes a 2-0 lead in the first inning. #ut
Thanks to the great people at Virgil Films and Entertainment, we’re happy to announce that all this week we’ll be giving away DVD copies of director Richard Linklater’s excellent documentary Inning by Inning: A Portrait of a Coach. It’s a great look at Texas head baseball coach Augie Garrido, the Texas Longhorns, coaching, and leadership in general.
We’ll be running various different contests through out the week, but we’re starting simple. If you want to win a copy of the DVD, simply submit your name and address by 11:59pm Central on June 1 using this entry form to win. Additional contest details on the entry form. Check back every day this week for another chance to win.
A brief description of the documentary is below:
INNING BY INNING: A PORTRAIT OF A COACH is a fascinating look inside the world of University of Texas baseball coach Augie Garrido. Through unprecedented access to team meetings, practices, in-game conversations and the occasional tirade, the film examines this remarkable coach’s career and reveals Garrido’s Zen-like approach to the game that both inspires and changes lives. With a philosophy that places both baseball and his players in the larger context of life as a whole, Garrido has won five National Championships (3 at Cal State Fullerton and 2 at UT) and is the only coach to win National Championships in four different decades, and at two different schools.
The film includes interviews with former players, coaches, Alumni, baseball luminaries and friends, revealing the remarkable man behind the achievements. For coaches, players, and fans of baseball, Inning By Inning is a must see film that will forever change the way you look at the game - and perhaps the way you live your life.
Directed by Academy Award® nominee Richard Linklater (School of Rock, Before Sunset).
Day 1 of contest has ended. Check back here to find more ways to win or buy the DVD at InningByInning.com.
Posted May 31st, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Baseball, Feature, World Series
Austin Woods was dominant and durable in relief.
The game lasted over 7 hours and ended after 1 am, but in the end the Longhorns came out on top of Boston College and have moved to 2-0 in their CWS Regional bracket. Next up for Texas will be a game tomorrow at 6pm against the winner of the BC/Army match-up. Texas will have two chances to win one game to advance on to the Super Regionals next weekend.
The heroes of the game on both sides were the relief pitchers. Until the winning run in the 25th inning, Texas had gone 23 straight scoreless innings and BC finished up with 18 scoreless in a row. For Texas, Austin Wood came into the game in relief of Chance Ruffin and proceeded to put on a historic pitching display. Wood threw 12+ innings of hitless, scoreless baseball before finally leaving 160+ pitches later in the 20th inning after giving up his first hit of the night. It was an incredible performance from both teams. (more …)
Posted May 30th, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Baseball, Feature, World Series
Travis Tucker attempts to slide into home against Army. (Statesman.com)
Behind 7 strong innings from starter Cole Green, the Texas baseball teamed open up 2009 College World Series play with a 3-1 win over Army Friday at Disch-Falk. The Horns never put a crooked number on the scoreboard but thanks to Green’s pitching the 3 runs were enough for the victory.
The win is a great start for the Horns in the double-elimination Austin Regionals. They will take on Boston College at 6 pm today, and if they can win again they’ll have two chances to advance to the Super Regionals starting Sunday night.
Related Links
Posted May 25th, 2009 by Mike
Filed under: Baseball, Feature, World Series
The Texas baseball team holds the Big 12 Tourney trophy. (TexasSports.com)
The Memorial Day weekend got even better on Monday when ESPN announced that The University of Texas baseball team will be the number 1 seed in the upcoming 64 team College Baseball Tournament. The Longhorns will be joined by Texas State, Army, and Boston College in their opening regional bracket. The likely match-up in the super regional is TCU. If not TCU, it could be Texas A&M.
The number 1 seed ensures Texas won’t have to leave Austin to play a baseball game unless they make it to the College World Series in Omaha. A trip I’m sure they’d be eager to make.
Texas got the weekend started by winning three straight games in Oklahoma City to capture the Big 12 tournament championship. The team got off to a bumpy start in the tournament with an opening game loss to Baylor. But wins over Kansas and Kansas State followed by a championship game win over Pool B winner Missouri gave Texas their fourth tournament championship. The Longhorns win the tournament for the second straight year.
The Texas Longhorn baseball team wrapped up the 2009 regular season with a double header sweep over an overpowered Alabama A&M squad. Head Coach Augie Garrido used the late season matchup to get his staff ready for the upcoming Big 12 tournament in Oklahoma City.
The Longhorns will enter the conference tournament as the number #1 seed. Texas will face #8 seed Baylor on Wednesday at 12:30, Kansas on Thursday at 3:00, and Kansas State on Friday at 12:30. The finals take place the following day between the top teams in each pool. Oklahoma and A&M are the favorites in pool B.
Despite an occasional dry spell at the plate this year’s Longhorn team has performed better than any team since the championship squads. Texas sports the best pitching staff in college baseball, and in post season play pitching depth is as important as point guards in March Madness. Garrido’s group still has question marks behind the plate, but the lineup has shown the ability to score runs if they can get on a roll early.
Texas has all but locked up a top 8 national seed. The granting of a top 8 seed would guarantee the Longhorns wouldn’t have to leave Austin until the College World Series, if they were good enough and lucky enough, to make it.
Travis Tucker hit a grand slam Saturday against Baylor. (Image: Statesman.com)
The Texas baseball team took a huge step towards a Big 12 title over the weekend by sweeping Baylor in a three game home split series. That is now two sweeps of top conference foes in the last three series, the first came two weekends ago against Oklahoma. The Longhorns needed a big weekend following a 0-2-1 series at home against Kansas State.
Texas has relied on pitching for much of the season but in the first two games the Longhorn offense exploded for double digit run totals thanks in large part to horrible defense by Baylor.
Augie Garrido’s group hosted game one on Friday in Austin in a matchup between Chance Ruffin and Kendal Volz that aired on ESPNU. Volz, the closer for last year’s USA national team and a likely first round pick, struggled early with his control and Longhorn hitters took advantage. Kevin Lusson, playing at DH and on fire, came through with an RBI in the first inning. UT added another run on a Volz wild pitch to take a 2-0 lead after one.
The Longhorns added two more in the second, and following a Baylor run in the top of the third, added a fifth run in the third.
Up 5-1 with Ruffin cruising Texas looked to put the game away early but Baylor added two in the top of the fifth and one more in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 5-4.
The Bears had the momentum, and Volz had settled down by getting ahead of Texas hitters, but the Baylor defense couldn’t stay out of their own way. They committed seven total errors on the night, one of which was on Volz himself.
Texas scratched across four runs in the seventh and three runs in the eight to stretch the lead to 12-4 with closer Austin Wood on the mound. Wood pitched three total innings, a decision that was puzzling with an eight run lead and two more games left in the weekend, allowing no runs.
On Saturday the series moved to Waco. And it wasn’t a good day to be a pitcher. The two teams, both known for solid pitching, allowed a total 30 runs on 25 hits in the nine inning slug fest. It was the Longhorns once again that jumped on the Bears early with 10 runs in the first three innings.
The offense was led by the home runs of Travis Tucker, Brandon Belt, and Cameron Rupp. Connor Rowe had his second strong game in a row collecting four hits in six at bats on Saturday alone.
Cole Green got the start for Texas and he gave the Horns a very solid seven innings of work. The sophomore gave up five runs, only two were earned, with 10 strikeouts. Texas stretched the lead all the way to 19-5 going into the ninth inning where Baylor made a late push to bring the score closer but it was too little too late.
Texas needed the sweep on Sunday in Baylor to put an exclamation point on the series and that is exactly what they did. Texas teams in the past few years have lacked that killer instinct, hopefully a performance like this weekend’s propels them into the postseason.
Taylor Jungmann got a rare weekend start in place of Brandon Workman as he battles a few injuries and bad outings. And the freshman made a case to make the move permanent with a dominating performance. The former Georgetown star struck out 10 batters in six innings allowing only one run on three hits. Jungmann has the most upside of any pitcher on Texas’ staff and it was a great sign to see him step up in a big moment.
Baylor got a great pitching performance of their own from Willie Kempf, but the Longhorn bats managed to a few more runs than the Bears could match.
Texas’ offense was led by the three hits of leadoff hitter Michael Torres and the huge two run RBI homerun by Rupp, his second of the series.
Wood came in to close out his second game in three days to seal up the series.
The sweep puts Texas to the top of the standings along with A&M and Kansas State. The Longhorns will face A&M at home May 8th-10th in what could become a series to decide the regular season championship and the number one seed in the conference tournament. With a series win against the Aggies the Longhorns would essentially become a lock to be one of the top 8 seeds in the national tournament. That would mean Texas wouldn’t have to play outside of Austin until the College World Series if they were able to advance that far.
The Texas Longhorn baseball team got a much needed series win against Texas Tech over the weekend. Tech managed to sandwich a 4-2 win on Saturday in between Longhorn wins on Friday and Sunday. The series win couldn’t have come at a better time. The Longhorns sit at 4-5 in the Big 12 with a brutal schedule, starting with Oklahoma State next weekend. Texas has yet to win a conference game on the road and they’re sure to face Oklahoma State’s Andrew Oliver in the series opener.
Chance Ruffin got the win on Friday after giving up 4 in 6.2 innings of work. Ruffin moved to 4-2 on the season on a night he didn’t have his best stuff, but was able to command the strike zone. The Longhorn ace threw 98 pitches on the night and 71 counted as strikes. Closer ustin Wood came in with a one run lead in the top of the seventh to shut the door.
Texas only scored in two innings, but they made both of them count. The Longhorns scored five in the bottom of the third after Tech took the lead in the top half of the inning by scoring two. Texas also managed four runs in the bottom of the seventh to put the game away.
Both the Longhorns and Red Raiders recorded 11 hits, but it was the five Tech errors that were the difference.
The Longhorn bats went quiet in the second game. Texas has struggled at the plate, especially with runners in scoring position, all season and it continues to be what is holding this team back. Texas got off to a good start, scoring two runs in the first, but could manage nothing after that.
Brandon Workman had a tough outing and fell to 3-2. He gave up four runs in just four innings of work. Keith Shinaberry and Taylor Jungmann combined to shut out Red Raiders for the rest of the game. Texas never got a rally going however and Tech took the victory.
The Sunday game was about as much of a must win as a top 15 ranked team can have this early in conference play. After propelling the first in the polls after a series win over Stanford, which in hindsight isn’t that impressive because the Cardinal are falling apart, Texas has struggled to say the least. And with the schedule getting much tougher coming up Texas couldn’t lose another series to a bottom tier conference foe.
In the first real pressure situation of the year the Longhorns came through. Texas’ bats woke up by scoring in the first five innings. Cole Green only went 4.2 innings so he didn’t get the win, but he was superb only giving up one run. Austin Wood finished the second game of the series.
The top of the lineup played as well as they had all season, but 1-9 this team is still struggling. The move to get Michael Torres to third base and Brandon Loy to shortstop appears to be sticking. It really comes down to Loy’s bat because there is no question the defense will benefit from having him there. If Loy can get on base Augie Garrido can keep him there, but if he can’t Texas may not be able to afford having any more holes in the lineup.
This next weekend is very important for Texas. The last time this team was on the road they got swept by Kansas. The Jayhawks aren’t as bad as some thought, but the Cowboys are better. Texas already faced one of the aces in the conference when they took on Kyle Gibson and Missouri. The Longhorns were shut down that game and Oliver has that kind of talent. If Texas can win this series it will make up for the Kansas sweep because no team is running away with the conference lead, but if OSU takes two or all three of the games the Longhorns will have a huge hill to climb to get to the top of the conference.
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