We're born again, there's new grass on the field

It would be hard to believe the first SMS Bears baseball game of the season is Friday were it not for the fact that I've already covered one baseball game this year, College of the Ozarks' 12-7 win over Kansas Wesleyan last Friday night. C of O hosts Sterling for three this weekend.

The Rice University Coca-Cola Classic is a stiff test for the Bears, with three teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last season. Rice and Ole Miss are ranked by Baseball America - 17th and 16th respectively - and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Lamar is getting votes in the NCBWA.

SMS will throw Brett Sinkbeil against Rice Friday at 4:30 p.m. The Bears need him to get out of the gate strong. I guess Paul Marsala will go against Lamar and either David Smith or Jake Shafer? I haven't seen confirmation of this.

Lamar doesn't list any line-up or potential starters. Here's what the Bears will face Friday and Sunday:

Rice (4-1) throws freshman Joe Savery, a lefty. He's already 1-0 this year with a 4.82 ERA. Savery went four innings against CMSU, giving up 5 hits and 2 runs - both earned. Savery walked 3 but struck out 10 - 10!!! - of the 19 batters he faced. He got his win against Oklahoma State, throwing 5 1/3. Struck out 9 and gave up 4 runs on 8 hits.

Ole Miss (1-0) will either start start junior Anthony Cupps, a righty, or junior southpaw Matt Maloney. Cupps got the start in the Rebels' 10-0 win over Arkansas State. He threw 6 shutout innings, scattering 3 hits and striking out 6. Maloney pitched 2 innings with a hit and a strikeout.

Interesting fact about Cupps: He threw against the Bears back in 2003, a game the Bears won (5 3/2 inn., 5 K's, 2H). Adam Pummill went 0-for-2 with a K against Cupps in that game.

Uni note:
It looks like SMS has dropped the traditional block "S" from the hats, replacing it with the Bear logo - worn here by Adam Pummill.


Meh, it's okay I guess. I'll have to see it on the diamond. It's just hard to replace this: