BUDDY BOLDING TRIBUTE VIDEO (YouTube)
FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University is scheduled to play just one baseball game this week at George Mason University of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) on Tuesday, April 23 at 3 p.m. The Lancers swept their first-ever Big South Conference series April 19-21 against South Division opponent Gardner-Webb University, winning by scores of 2-1, 6-5 and 6-2, respectively, to improve to 20-21 overall, 10-8 in the Big South. Longwood, which has attained its 32nd 20-win season, will be idle for 10 days following the GMU game before returning to action May 3-5 for another three-game Big South series at home against North Division rival Radford University.
Series History Against George Mason
Longwood and George Mason have met 12 times since 1978 and the Patriots lead the all-time series, 7-5, but the Lancers have won the last three games played between the two schools, including a 9-5 decision on April 3.
The Head Coach
Charles Buddy Bolding is in his 35th year at Longwood during 2013. He has an outstanding overall record of 947-537-4 since taking over during the fall of 1978, including 31 winning seasons as mentor of the tradition-rich program. The University dedicated the baseball facility as Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium on October 3, 2009. Most recently, Coach Bolding was honored during Buddy Bolding Day on April 20, which included a special pre-game ceremony with presentations.
A Look At Longwood Offensively
Longwood is batting .270 through 41 games while averaging 4.4 runs with 19 home runs, seven triples, 85 doubles, 161 RBI and 36 stolen bases. Freshman
Colton Konvicka/Richmond (.313, 1 HR, 2 3B, 4 2B, 13 RBI, 16 R, 8 SB) has led the Lancers, and has 11 multi-hit and three multi-RBI games. Others hitting well are juniors
Scott Burkett/Williamsburg (.303, 2 HR, 10 2B, 20 RBI, 21 R),
Matt Dickason/Chesapeake (.301, 1 3B, 8 2B, 10 RBI, 14 R, 2 SB) and
Alex Owens/Purcellville (.286, 4 HR, 1 3B, 14 2B, 25 RBI, 22 R), senior
Justin Lacy/Glen Allen (.266, 1 3B, 5 2B, 9 RBI, 8 R), along with freshman
C.J. Roth/Yorktown (.262, 1 3B, 9 2B, 11 RBI, 16 R, 4 SB).
A Look At Longwood Pitching
Longwood has a 4.64 earned run average through 356.2 innings with 197 strikeouts.
Brandon Vick (4-4, 3.08 ERA, 64.1 IP, 23K) has led the Lancers, and has 10 appearances with 10 starts and two complete games. Others throwing well from the mound include sophomore RHP
Aaron Myers/Newport News (3-0, 3.09 ERA, 55.1 IP, 46K, eight saves, 18 appearances-three starts-one complete game), senior RHP
Kyler Morgan/Lancaster, Pennsylvania (4-4, 3.84 ERA, 58.2 IP, 31K, 10 appearances-10 starts), sophomore RHP
Tyler Wislocki/Annandale (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 30.0 IP, 10K, 13 appearances-three starts) along with freshman
Travis Burnette/Lynchburg (3-6, 4.65 ERA, 31.0 IP, 15K, one save, 15 appearances-one start).
Big South-Only
Through 18 conference games,
Scott Burkett (.353, 2 HR, 4 2B, 13 RBI, 8 R) has led Longwood, followed by
Colton Konvicka (.339, 1 HR, 2 2B, 7 RBI, 7 R, 4 SB) and
Matt Dickason (.298, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 5 R). On the mound,
Brandon Vick has led the Lancers (4-1, 1.43 ERA, 44.0 IP, 12K), followed by
Aaron Myers (2-0, 2.36 ERA, 34.1 IP, 23K, 3 saves) and
Kyler Morgan (3-3, 3.86 ERA, 37.1 IP, 19K).
NCAA Statistics
Through April 21, Longwood ranked 17th in Division I doubles (85), 81st in home runs (19), 97th in slugging percentage (.384) and 99th in hits (369).
Kyler Morgan and
Brandon Vick each ranked 21st in games started (10).
Aaron Myers ranked 33rd in saves (8).
Matt Dickason ranked 37th in toughest to strike out (15.4).
Alex Owens and freshman
Kyri Washington/Prospect each ranked 45th in doubles (14), and Owens also ranked 132nd in walks (24).
C.J. Roth ranked 113th in sacrifice bunts (7).
Big South Statistics
Through April 21,
Aaron Myers was tied for second in saves (8).
Alex Owens and
Kyri Washington were each tied for third in doubles (14), and Owens was also eighth in walks (24).
Brandon Vick was tied for third in complete games (2) and tied for eighth in innings pitched (64.1).
Climbing The Record Book
Aaron Myers has eight saves in 18 appearances on the mound this season to rank second all-time in season saves. He now has 13 career saves in 40 appearances to also rank second at Longwood. The record holder in both categories is Mark Montgomery, who had 10 saves in 2011 and 16 career saves. Montgomery was recently was named the New York Yankees' 2012 Kevin Lawn Award recipient as the club's minor league Pitcher of the Year. He is currently pitching for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre of the class AAA International League (0-1, 1.13 ERA, 8.0 IP, 15K).
Season Superlatives
Scott Burkett is the team leader with 14 multi-hit games and scored four runs against Norfolk State (3.16).
Colton Konvicka had six at bats at James Madison (2.20) and two stolen bases at Tennessee (4.2).
Travis Burnette had six at bats against Fairfield (2.23), 16 putouts at Campbell (4.12) and two sacrifice hits against Gardner-Webb (4.21).
Alex Owens had nine total bases at James Madison (2.20).
C.J. Roth had two sacrifice hits at Campbell (4.12) and 10 assists at High Point (4.6). Sophomore
Kenny Cassidy/Chesapeake had two sacrifice hits against UNC Asheville (3.15).
Kyri Washington had two stolen bases against both Temple (3.12) and George Mason (4.3).
Justin Lacy had 16 putouts at James Madison (2.20).
Matt Dickason had 10 assists at High Point (4.7).
Aaron Myers pitched 9.0 innings at High Point (4.7).
Brandon Vick pitched 9.0 innings against Gardner-Webb (4.20).
Streaks Of Note
Justin Lacy has the season's longest hitting streak of 12 games (15-45, .333), tied for fifth-best in the Big South this season, and the second-longest streak of reaching base at 14 games.
Alex Owens has the season's longest streak of reaching base at 19 games, and the second longest hitting streak of nine games (13-30, .433).
Colton Konvicka also has a nine-game hitting streak (15-40, .375) to his credit this season, and has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games overall (23-62, .371).
Kyri Washington has the fourth-longest hitting streak of eight games (12-30, .400).
C.J. Roth has the third-longest streak of reaching base at 13 games.
Matt Dickason has the fourth-longest streak of reaching base at 11 games, and has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games overall (21-67, .313).
Extended Road-Trip
Longwood endured a 19-day period of playing 13 of 14 games on the road between March 26-April 13. The Lancers were 6-7 in the 13 contests, including Big South wins at Liberty on March 30 (6-2), at High Point on April 6 (7-3) and April 7 (7-4) and at No. 25 Campbell on April 12 (3-2), along with a road win at Southeastern Conference member Tennessee on April 2 (7-5). Longwood will play eight of its final 14 games at home, including the upcoming league series against Radford (May 3-5).
It's My Day
Freshman
Blake Ream/Yorktown enjoyed quite a game during an 8-3 home win against UNC Asheville (3.16). The first-year player, who is primarily a right-handed pitcher, started in left field due to recent injuries and was 3-4 at the plate with two home runs, five RBI, two runs scored and nine total bases. He currently is the team co-leader with four homers among his 11 hits in 41 at bats.
What A Day
Longwood posted season-highs for runs (17), hits (20), home runs (2), doubles (6), RBI (17) and total bases (34) during a 17-4 home win against Norfolk State (3.16).
Kenny Cassidy (4-4, 4 RBI) had a double and a run scored,
Kyri Washington (3-4, 4 RBI) had a double and two runs scored, Sophomore
Brandon Delk/Newport News (3-4, 3 RBI) had a triple, two doubles and four runs scored, while
Alex Owens (3-5, RBI, 3 runs) and
Blake Ream (2-5, 2 RBI, 1 run) each hit home runs.
Perfect At The End
Longwood is a perfect 18-0 this season when leading after eight innings, 17-0 when leading after seven innings, and 15-0 when leading after six innings.
Home Field Advantage
Longwood has an overall record of 350-154 (.694) at Bolding Stadium, though is an uncharacteristic 12-11 at home this season. The Lancers are 90-65 (.581) in Farmville since becoming Division I-eligible for 2008. Longwood inaugurated competition at the completely renovated facility (formerly Lancer Stadium) in 1994, and won that first game 8-3 vs. Davis & Elkins (W.Va.) on March 12, 1994.
Up Next
Spring semester examinations, April 29-May 3.
