Diamond Talk
Kendall Rogers
Texas A&M Baseball
Regional Preview: Impact players, paths to victory in Houston
As a No. 3 seed in the Houston Regional, the Texas A&M baseball team
embarks on its road to Omaha beginning Friday against Baylor at Cougar Field on the campus of the University of Houston.
The Cougars will play host this weekend to Big Ten Tournament champion Iowa, Baylor out of the Big 12, and Texas A&M from the SEC. Weather permitting, play will begin Friday afternoon at 2:00 with the No. 2 seed Bears taking on the three-seed Aggies, while the top-seeded Cougars battle the No. 4 seed Hawkeyes in the 7:00 p.m. nightcap.
Here's a breakdown of all four teams in this weekend's regional:
No. 1 Seed: Houston Cougars
Season record vs. RPI teams:
Top hitters: Jake Scheiner (.347 BA, 17 HR, 57 RBI), Connor Wang (.297 BA, 25 stolen bases)
Keys to winning the regional: The Cougars have had an eventful ride in 2017. UH stumbled out of the gates in February to a slow start before rattling off 10 straight wins, including four road victories against nationally-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette and UC-Irvine. Then coach Todd Whiting had to deal with the saga of his most talented hurler. Seth Romero was suspended then ultimately dismissed after multiple off-the-field issues. During that stretch, the Cougars struggled with a 9-12 record and looked to be fading. However, the team finished strong, capturing the AAC Tournament and winning 12 of their last 15 games to earn a coveted regional host spot.
With Romero's departure, the Cougars aren't deep on the hill, but if they stay in the winner's bracket, the pitching will be more than sufficient to win the regional. Lefty Trey Cumbie filled the void left by Romero and then some. His 10-1 record and sparkling 1.88 ERA reflect his dominant season.
The issue at hand for Whiting and the Cougars is when to use him. Do they throw him in the regional opener against a hot Iowa team with a potent offense or do they hold him to start the critical winner's bracket game against either Baylor or Texas A&M? Holding Cumbie for Saturday doesn't do UH any good if the team loses to the Hawkeyes on Friday. UH has a capable closer in Aaron Fletcher (2.19 ERA) and solid starters in John King (2.99 ERA) and Mitch Ullom (3.45 ERA), but neither starter is an elite, front-line hurler.
Offensively, the Cougars are dynamic, hitting .290 as a team. They're led by All-American candidate Jake Scheiner, who leads the team with a .347 average, 17 home runs and 57 RBI. Houston not only has some pop in the lineup, but there's a lot of speed, as well. Lead-off hitter Connor Wong (.297) has 25 stolen bases to his credit on only 29 attempts. As a team, UH has stolen 80 bases, so speed will be a factor for their offense.
Chance to win Houston Regional: 40 percent
Marc Flores, TexAgs
Baylor beat Texas A&M in March, scoring five runs in the ninth inning, four of which came on a walk-off grand slam.
No. 2 Seed: Baylor Bears
Season record vs. RPI teams:
Top pitchers: Trey Montemayor (12 saves, 1.03 ERA), Montana Parsons (5-3, 2.81 ERA)
Top hitters: Aaron Dodson (.335 BA, 10 HR, 38 RBI), Shea Langeliers (.324 BA, 10 HR, 38 RBI)
Keys to winning the regional: The Bears aren't too flashy and don't have a lot of star power in the lineup, but they have few weaknesses with a .296 team batting average, an ERA of 4.28 and a very solid defense with a fielding percentage of .973. The lineup doesn't have any big run producers. The team-high for RBI is just 38, but six players have 29 or more. In comparison, Texas A&M has just three batters with 29 or more RBI. While there isn't a single dominant hitter, the lineup is filled with good, solid bats. Four starters are hitting better than .300, and no batter in the order hits below .264. That's a model of consistency.
The pitching staff doesn't have the same depth. In fact, Baylor's pitching is very thin and in a precarious position heading into a 3-4 day regional. The Bears have one reliable starting pitcher in Montana Parsons. who has a 5-3 record and a 2.81 ERA, but his hits-to-innings pitched ratio is right at 1.00, which isn't very good for a number one starter.
From there, starting pitching is a hodge-podge of several options. Cody Bradford and Nick Lewis have both pitched most of the year with 14 starts apiece, but they've been hit hard. They have ERAs of 4.91 and 6.10 respectively. Baylor's closer is top-notch if they can get to the late innings with a lead. Troy Montemayor has been masterful in that role with 12 saves and a 1.08 ERA.
In the end, for Baylor to punch its ticket to the Super Regionals, it must stay in the winner's bracket and win it in three games. The Bears don't have the pitching depth to navigate the longer path in the loser's bracket.
Chance to win Houston Regional: 25 percent
Marc Flores, TexAgs
Pitcher Corbin Martin's play will be key for the Aggies in Houston. The fire-baller needs to be sharp for Texas A&M to advance.
No. 3 Seed: Texas Aggies
Season record vs. RPI teams:
Top pitchers: Brigham Hill (7-3, 2.96 ERA), Kaylor Chafin (7-2, 2.54 ERA)
Top hitters: Braden Shewmake (.343 BA, 10 HR, 65 RBI), Nick Choruby (.307 BA, 51 runs scored, .438 OBP)
Keys to winning the regional: It's a pretty simple recipe for the Aggies this season. If they pitch well and play squeaky-clean defense, they have proven they can beat quality competition. If Brigham Hill or Corbin Martin can't deliver a quality start or the defense allows the opponent more than three outs in an inning, Texas A&M has a hard time winning.
The keys on defense will be the play of Hunter Coleman at first base and Austin Homan at shortstop. To date, Homan has been very good defensively, but toward the end of the season he had a couple of multi-error performances that hurt the team. He can't commit multiple mistakes and still expect to win the regional. The Barbers Hill senior must have a clean weekend, plain and simple. Coleman, who was pressed into first base duties when Joel Davis broke his foot, has to hold the rope at first base as he learns the position in a trial-by-fire manner. A leaky defense will spell a quick end of the road for this team. A good defensive effort this weekend will put the Aggies in the hunt for a regional title.
Christina DeRuyter, TexAgs
Aggie freshman Braden Shewmake will need help from the rest of the lineup while in Houston.
Now, the offense can make the path to victory that much easier with some run support and punch in the lineup.
Run production starts with Braden Shewmake in the three-hole, and he'll need runners on base when he comes to the plate.
That means senior Nick Choruby must reach base in any way possible. Choruby leads the team in walks and on-base percentage (.438) and is second on the team in batting average (.307), so he's been doing his part ... and he'll need to do it again this weekend to set the table for Shewmake.
Hunter Coleman has shown signs of establishing himself in the middle of the order behind Shewmake, so his productivity will be crucial this weekend. And finally, the team needs quality at-bats from the lower third of the order to put pressure on the opposing pitcher as the game moves along.
But in the end, Texas A&M's ultimate fate this weekend depends on the quality of the team's pitching and defense.
Chance to win Houston Regional: 30 percent
Season record vs. RPI teams:
Top hitters: Jake Adams (.339 BA, 27 HR, 70 RBI), Chris Whelan (.320 BA, .446 OBP)
Keys to winning the regional: Frankly, it's hard to see a path to victory in the regional for Iowa. The team is talented, especially on offense, and is led by Big Ten Offensive MVP Jake Adams with his 27 home runs and 70 RBI. The Hawkeyes can hit the ball, and that's reflected in the .283 team batting average and their 6.60 runs scored per game, which leads the regional field.
However, this team is so thin on pitching after Friday starter Nick Gallagher (8-1, 3.39 ERA) that it's hard to see a clear path to the regional crown without a couple of surprising pitching performances this weekend.
Chance to win Houston Regional: 5 percent
The Cougars will play host this weekend to Big Ten Tournament champion Iowa, Baylor out of the Big 12, and Texas A&M from the SEC. Weather permitting, play will begin Friday afternoon at 2:00 with the No. 2 seed Bears taking on the three-seed Aggies, while the top-seeded Cougars battle the No. 4 seed Hawkeyes in the 7:00 p.m. nightcap.
Here's a breakdown of all four teams in this weekend's regional:
No. 1 Seed: Houston Cougars
- RPI: 16
- Record: 40-19 (15-9 AAC)
- Team average: .290
- Team ERA: 3.37
- Fielding %: .971
- Offense: 6.32 runs/gm
- Defense: 4.17 runs/gm
Season record vs. RPI teams:
- vs. 1-50: 13-10
- vs. 51-100: 11-7
- vs. 101-200: 8-2
- vs. 200+: 8-0
The Cougars finished strong, winning the AAC Tournament and 12 of their last 15 to earn a host spot.
Top pitchers: Trey Cumbie (10-1 record, 1.88 ERA), Aaron Fletcher (8 saves, 2.19 ERA)Top hitters: Jake Scheiner (.347 BA, 17 HR, 57 RBI), Connor Wang (.297 BA, 25 stolen bases)
Keys to winning the regional: The Cougars have had an eventful ride in 2017. UH stumbled out of the gates in February to a slow start before rattling off 10 straight wins, including four road victories against nationally-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette and UC-Irvine. Then coach Todd Whiting had to deal with the saga of his most talented hurler. Seth Romero was suspended then ultimately dismissed after multiple off-the-field issues. During that stretch, the Cougars struggled with a 9-12 record and looked to be fading. However, the team finished strong, capturing the AAC Tournament and winning 12 of their last 15 games to earn a coveted regional host spot.
With Romero's departure, the Cougars aren't deep on the hill, but if they stay in the winner's bracket, the pitching will be more than sufficient to win the regional. Lefty Trey Cumbie filled the void left by Romero and then some. His 10-1 record and sparkling 1.88 ERA reflect his dominant season.
The issue at hand for Whiting and the Cougars is when to use him. Do they throw him in the regional opener against a hot Iowa team with a potent offense or do they hold him to start the critical winner's bracket game against either Baylor or Texas A&M? Holding Cumbie for Saturday doesn't do UH any good if the team loses to the Hawkeyes on Friday. UH has a capable closer in Aaron Fletcher (2.19 ERA) and solid starters in John King (2.99 ERA) and Mitch Ullom (3.45 ERA), but neither starter is an elite, front-line hurler.
Offensively, the Cougars are dynamic, hitting .290 as a team. They're led by All-American candidate Jake Scheiner, who leads the team with a .347 average, 17 home runs and 57 RBI. Houston not only has some pop in the lineup, but there's a lot of speed, as well. Lead-off hitter Connor Wong (.297) has 25 stolen bases to his credit on only 29 attempts. As a team, UH has stolen 80 bases, so speed will be a factor for their offense.
Chance to win Houston Regional: 40 percent
Marc Flores, TexAgs
Baylor beat Texas A&M in March, scoring five runs in the ninth inning, four of which came on a walk-off grand slam.
No. 2 Seed: Baylor Bears
- RPI: 19
- Record: 34-21 (12-12 Big 12)
- Team average: .296
- Team ERA: 4.28
- Fielding %: .973
- Offense: 6.11 runs/gm
- Defense: 4.76 runs/gm
Season record vs. RPI teams:
- vs. 1-50: 16-13
- vs. 51-100: 8-7
- vs. 101-200: 4-1
- vs. 200+: 6-0
Top pitchers: Trey Montemayor (12 saves, 1.03 ERA), Montana Parsons (5-3, 2.81 ERA)
Top hitters: Aaron Dodson (.335 BA, 10 HR, 38 RBI), Shea Langeliers (.324 BA, 10 HR, 38 RBI)
Keys to winning the regional: The Bears aren't too flashy and don't have a lot of star power in the lineup, but they have few weaknesses with a .296 team batting average, an ERA of 4.28 and a very solid defense with a fielding percentage of .973. The lineup doesn't have any big run producers. The team-high for RBI is just 38, but six players have 29 or more. In comparison, Texas A&M has just three batters with 29 or more RBI. While there isn't a single dominant hitter, the lineup is filled with good, solid bats. Four starters are hitting better than .300, and no batter in the order hits below .264. That's a model of consistency.
The pitching staff doesn't have the same depth. In fact, Baylor's pitching is very thin and in a precarious position heading into a 3-4 day regional. The Bears have one reliable starting pitcher in Montana Parsons. who has a 5-3 record and a 2.81 ERA, but his hits-to-innings pitched ratio is right at 1.00, which isn't very good for a number one starter.
From there, starting pitching is a hodge-podge of several options. Cody Bradford and Nick Lewis have both pitched most of the year with 14 starts apiece, but they've been hit hard. They have ERAs of 4.91 and 6.10 respectively. Baylor's closer is top-notch if they can get to the late innings with a lead. Troy Montemayor has been masterful in that role with 12 saves and a 1.08 ERA.
In the end, for Baylor to punch its ticket to the Super Regionals, it must stay in the winner's bracket and win it in three games. The Bears don't have the pitching depth to navigate the longer path in the loser's bracket.
Chance to win Houston Regional: 25 percent
Marc Flores, TexAgs
Pitcher Corbin Martin's play will be key for the Aggies in Houston. The fire-baller needs to be sharp for Texas A&M to advance.
No. 3 Seed: Texas Aggies
- RPI: 45
- Record: 36-21 (16-14 SEC)
- Team average: .275
- Team ERA: 3.44
- Fielding %: .975
- Offense: 6.14 runs/gm
- Defense: 4.12 runs/gm
Season record vs. RPI teams:
- vs. 1-50: 10-16
- vs. 51-100: 6-4
- vs. 101-200: 8-1
- vs. 200+: 12-0
Top pitchers: Brigham Hill (7-3, 2.96 ERA), Kaylor Chafin (7-2, 2.54 ERA)
Top hitters: Braden Shewmake (.343 BA, 10 HR, 65 RBI), Nick Choruby (.307 BA, 51 runs scored, .438 OBP)
Keys to winning the regional: It's a pretty simple recipe for the Aggies this season. If they pitch well and play squeaky-clean defense, they have proven they can beat quality competition. If Brigham Hill or Corbin Martin can't deliver a quality start or the defense allows the opponent more than three outs in an inning, Texas A&M has a hard time winning.
The keys on defense will be the play of Hunter Coleman at first base and Austin Homan at shortstop. To date, Homan has been very good defensively, but toward the end of the season he had a couple of multi-error performances that hurt the team. He can't commit multiple mistakes and still expect to win the regional. The Barbers Hill senior must have a clean weekend, plain and simple. Coleman, who was pressed into first base duties when Joel Davis broke his foot, has to hold the rope at first base as he learns the position in a trial-by-fire manner. A leaky defense will spell a quick end of the road for this team. A good defensive effort this weekend will put the Aggies in the hunt for a regional title.
Christina DeRuyter, TexAgs
Aggie freshman Braden Shewmake will need help from the rest of the lineup while in Houston.
Run production starts with Braden Shewmake in the three-hole, and he'll need runners on base when he comes to the plate.
That means senior Nick Choruby must reach base in any way possible. Choruby leads the team in walks and on-base percentage (.438) and is second on the team in batting average (.307), so he's been doing his part ... and he'll need to do it again this weekend to set the table for Shewmake.
Hunter Coleman has shown signs of establishing himself in the middle of the order behind Shewmake, so his productivity will be crucial this weekend. And finally, the team needs quality at-bats from the lower third of the order to put pressure on the opposing pitcher as the game moves along.
But in the end, Texas A&M's ultimate fate this weekend depends on the quality of the team's pitching and defense.
Chance to win Houston Regional: 30 percent
No. 4 Seed: Iowa Hawkeyes
- RPI: No. 87
- Record: 35-20 (15-9 Big Ten)
- Team average: .283
- Team ERA: 4.40
- Fielding %: .979
- Offense: 6.60 runs/gm
- Defense: 5.29 runs/gm
Season record vs. RPI teams:
- vs. 1-50: 4-3
- vs. 51-100: 5-5
- vs. 101-200: 14-7
- vs. 200+: 12-5
Iowa is so thin on pitching after Nick Gallagher (8-1, 3.39 ERA) that it's hard to see a clear path to the regional crown.
Top pitchers: Nick Gallagher (8-1, 3.39 ERA)Top hitters: Jake Adams (.339 BA, 27 HR, 70 RBI), Chris Whelan (.320 BA, .446 OBP)
Keys to winning the regional: Frankly, it's hard to see a path to victory in the regional for Iowa. The team is talented, especially on offense, and is led by Big Ten Offensive MVP Jake Adams with his 27 home runs and 70 RBI. The Hawkeyes can hit the ball, and that's reflected in the .283 team batting average and their 6.60 runs scored per game, which leads the regional field.
However, this team is so thin on pitching after Friday starter Nick Gallagher (8-1, 3.39 ERA) that it's hard to see a clear path to the regional crown without a couple of surprising pitching performances this weekend.
Chance to win Houston Regional: 5 percent
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