Tigers named to all-tourney team
Published Feb. 23, 2007
After playing two top 15 teams three times and going 2-2 in Arizona, the MU baseball team is 5-2 on the season. Out of the gates, the Tigers had four players, senior infielder Gary Arndt, freshman infielder and pitcher Greg Folgia, sophomore pitcher Aaron Crow and sophomore outfielder Ryan Lollis on the Coca-Cola Classic all-tournament team.
Crow impressed the crowd in Surprise, Ariz., when he blanked Gonzaga for seven innings. Crow struck out four, giving up two hits and one walk and winning Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Tournament.
"It was real cool," Crow said. "It was the first time I'd ever gotten an honor like that, so I was pretty excited about it. You can't let that stuff go to your head though."
Crow navigated through his seven innings with two pitches left up in the zone, which resulted in both of Gonzaga's hits.
"I was just feeling really relaxed," Crow said. "Last year and the first outing I was too tense, and I was always trying to throw as hard as I could."
His performance was a marked improvement from his last start.
"He was shaky in his first outing against Florida International, and then he was outstanding the second," coach Tim Jamieson said. "That's what you see when guys put spikes on the first time."
The Tigers will need to count on Crow and sophomore pitcher Rick Zagone this season after the loss of their two top pitchers from last year, Nathan Culp and Max Scherzer. Crow and Zagone appear to have stepped into that role.
Lollis finished the weekend seven for 16 with three RBIs. He said his experience has made this season easier.
"I'm more relaxed at the plate," Lollis said. "A year's experience helped a lot, watching those guys last year you learn a lot, taking extra reps, working with the coaches."
Arndt, who batted a collective four for 13 with two RBIs, said the extra time he put in at the plate helped his bat.
"It's a lot of practice I've been doing," Arndt said. "I've been hitting with the coaches, trying to focus on having a nice consistent swing."
Folgia got his first collegiate win against Arizona State when he pitched the final 2.1 innings. He attributes his confidence on the mound to the defense behind him and the team's chemistry, despite seven errors during the series.
"I think knowing the fielders behind me are going to field everything is really calming for me," Folgia said.
Crow said the team has already clicked this early in the season.
"Our chemistry is a lot better this year," Crow said. "Last year, it took us until almost the end of the season to come together as a team, but I feel that same thing now as we did last year towards the end."
This weekend the Tigers head to the Service Academy Classic in Millington, Tenn., taking on Brigham Young, Akron, Memphis and Navy.