FIU Panthers Prowl

GW = Garrett Wittels & Game-Winning (Video of GW Walk-off HR)

 
MONROE, La. -- GW is for Garrett Wittels and it might as well be for Game-Winning.

Don't they already cringe when they hear the initials FIU or T.Y. in Jonesboro, Arkansas? Now, it's GW. You already know about the Hilton Heave and the Hilton Weave that fueled FIU to last-minute football wins over Arkansas State in 2008 and 2010, respectively.

Sorry, Jonesboro, but here is the Wittels Walk-off Wallop.

As you followed on the LIVE BLOG here or watched on sunbeltsports.org, Garrett Wittels hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning on Wednesday afternoon to defeat Arkansas State, 13-10 on the opening day of the Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament. You can read our story HERE and SEE THE GW WALK-OFF VIDEO

With Yoandy Barroso as the potential winning run at third base in the bottom of the 10th inning with one out, Arkansas State had to pick its poison -- which Sun Belt Player of the Year to pitch to.

The Red Wolves intentionally walked Pablo Bermudez, the 2011 Sun Belt Player of the Year, and pitched to GW, the 2010 Sun Belt Player of the Year. On a 1-0 pitch, GW belted a 3-run shot over the right field wall. Exactly two weeks ago, May 11, GW did the same at Stetson in the 10th inning with a solo shot to right to help FIU win that game.

The photo above by Jeremy Stevens/ULM Athletics joins the photos of the Motor City Miracle in FIU Sports lore.

Arkansas State vs. FIU -- LIVE GAME BLOG

MONROE, La. -- Welcome to Warhawk Field here on the campus of ULM for the Sun Belt Conference   Baseball Tournament. FIU opens the tournament today against Arkansas State. The Panthers took two games from and tied another with the Red Wolves earlier this season.

 

We are experiencing a shaky wireless situation here at Warhawk Field so bear with us if the LIVE BLOG is temporarily interrupted during the game. Plus, we expect some really high on-line traffic for this game so your comments may not be displayed as quickly as they would in a regular season game.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE LIVE BLOG

Phil Haig (9-3, 3.43 ERA) gets the start for FIU. Right-hander Jacob Lee (5-4, 2.74 ERA) will go for ASU instead of ace Andy Ferguson. The Red Wolves will go with their best pitcher (Lee) this season instead of Friday night starter Ferguson.

Oh Henry! -- Jabari Shines at Sun Belt Home Run Derby

MONROE, La. -- Maybe it was the error in the Sun Belt Conference Baseball Championship Program or it was just Jabari Henry showing off the form that made him the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year last season. Whatever it was, Jabari clinched the Home Run Derby for his East Team on Tuesday night at Warhawk Field. CLICK HERE FOR JABARI HOME RUN DERBY VIDEO

Before the HR Derby began, the Panthers were passing around the tournament program which had a photo of Jabari listed as Pablo Bermudez in the FIU section of the magazine. By the end of Tuesday night, Jabari did his best Pablo impression at the plate and then added some Jabari power to hit 12 home runs -- the second highest total in the Derby.

Jabari (below) did not get off to the start that Arkansas State's Todd Baumgartner did on Tuesday night at the Derby. However, the Panthers outfielder had the best second round of any slugger to propel the East Team to a 48-37 win over the West Team.

 

Baumgartner was the first batter in the HR Derby and he put on a Josh Hamilton-like show. If you are not familiar with Hamilton (right), he is the Texas Rangers outfielder that tattooed 28 home runs in the first round of the 2008 MLB Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium. CLICK HERE  to see Hamilton's performance. The right-handed batting Baumgartner, who will hit cleanup against FIU on Wednesday afternoon, launched 15 home runs or moon shots in the first round at Warhawk Field. The dimensions at Warhawk Field are 330 feet down the lines, 375 in the power alleys and 400 to dead center. Baumgartner pulled most of his home runs into a forest beyond the left field wall. Some trees may have fallen from how hard the ASU masher hit his home runs.

Jabari -- who was on the East Team with Baumgartner, Louisiana's Mike Petello and South Alabama's Brent Tanner -- had four home runs in the first round. The West Team was made up of Troy's Boone Shear, WKU's Ryan Hutchinson, Florida Atlantic's Mike Spano, and UALR's Justin Barnes.

Jabari needed to warm-up and better batting practice pitching, according to his Panthers teammates. FIU assistant coach Scott Pittenger was Jabari's pitcher for the HR Derby.

The Panthers were saying that Pittenger (left, thanks Sam Lewis photo) was bringing the heat in the first round and had to take some miles per hour off his BP fastball. Like any good coach, Pittenger adjusted and started laying in some meatballs to Jabari in the second round. And boom! Jabari make ball go far as Pedro Cerrano might say.

 
 
With the East Team holding a slim 3-home run lead in the final round, Jabari stepped up to the plate and belted eight home runs to seal the Home Run Derby, 48-37, for the East. The eight bombas were the most of any batter in the final round.

After the Derby finished and before the other set of fireworks went off, fans surrounded Jabari for his autograph.

 
Before the HR Derby, the Sun Belt Conference handed out several academic awards and presented the All-Sun Belt Conference teams and Player, Pitcher, Freshman and Coach of the Year awards. You read in the previous post that Pablo Bermudez was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year and to the First Team along with Jeremy Patton. Phil Haig and Mike Martinez earned Second Team honors.

Among the Panthers to receive academic honors from the Sun Belt were: John Caballero, El Machine Jose Velazquez, Mason McVay, T.J. Shantz and Garrett Wittels.

Here are the Panthers All-Sun Belt representatives. From left to right: Phil, Mike, The General and Pablo.

 
And here is Pablo with Troy's Adam Bryant (second from the left), the co-Player of the Year. Former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher and ULM alum Ben Sheets is on the far right. Sheets threw out the first pitch of the Derby.

 

The Sun Belt Tournament begins on Wednesday and the Panthers open against the Red Wolves at 4 p.m. (Eastern time). We will be on-line at 3:49 p.m. with the start of the LIVE GAME BLOG from Warhawk Field.

 

Pablo is Sun Belt Player of the Year

 
MONROE, La. -- Congratulations, Pablo Bermudez, you have been named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. Pablo (above) is batting .380 with 4 home runs and 32 RBI. PB has stolen 17 bases and leads the team in slugging percentage (.534) and on-base percentage (.494). PB shares the award with Troy shortstop Adam Bryant, who was named co-Player of the Year. Pablo becomes the second consecutive Panther to win the Sun Belt Player of the Year Award after Garrett Wittels won it last year.

Pablo made the All-Sun Belt First Team along with the General Jeremy Patton. JP is batting .352 with 6 home runs and 47 RBI. With his 47 RBI, Patton (left) surpassed last season's total of 46.

The Panthers placed two players on the All-Sun Belt Second Team with Mike Martinez (right) and Phil Haig (below, left) earning the honors. MM is hitting .289 with a team-leading 13 home runs and 53 RBI. PH has a team-leading nine wins in his 9-3 record and sports a 3.43 ERA.

Oddly missing and certainly deserving to be on the All-Sun Belt teams are FIU's two Joses. Catcher Jose Behar has had a phenomenal season both behind the plate and in the batter's box. Behar is hitting .329 with five home runs and 29 RBI. El Machine Jose Velazquez has pitched in 31 games and has a sparkling 1.30 ERA. Unfortunately, voters only look at saves when picking All-Sun Belt relievers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the complete All-Sun Belt teams and award winners:

2011 All-Sun Belt First Team

SP - Paul Davis, Florida Atlantic

SP - Tyler Ray, Troy

RP - Hugh Adams, Florida Atlantic

C - Matt Rice, WKU

1B - Joey Rapp, Louisiana-Monroe

2B - Raymond Church, Florida Atlantic

SS - Adam Bryant, Troy

3B - Tyler Hannah, Troy

3B - Jeremy Patton, FIU

OF - Todd Baumgartner, Arkansas State

OF - Pablo Bermudez, FIU

OF - Kes Carter, WKU

DH - Nick Rountree, UALR

UTIL - Tyson Workman, Troy

2011 All-Sun Belt Second Team

SP - Phil Haig, FIU

SP - Tanner Perkins, WKU

RP - Nate Hill, Troy

C - Brent Tanner, South Alabama

1B - Mike Martinez, FIU

2B - T.J. Rivera, Troy

SS - Nick DelGuidice, Florida Atlantic

3B - Hank LaRue, Middle Tennessee

OF - Jared Andreoli, WKU

OF - Alex Hudak, Florida Atlantic

OF - Will Skinner, Middle Tennessee

DH - Lance Marvel, Louisiana-Lafayette

UTIL - Brad Hook - South Alabama

2011 Co-Players of the Year

Pablo Bermudez, FIU

Adam Bryant, Troy

2011 Pitcher of the Year

Tyler Ray, Troy

2011 Freshman of the Year

Justin Hageman, WKU

2011 Ron Maestri Coach of the Year

Bobby Pierce, Troy

** Thanks Sam Lewis photos 

Scenes from Tuesday's Practice at Warhawk Field

MONROE, La. -- We are less than 24 hours from the start of the 2011 Sun Belt Conference Tournament as FIU takes on Arkansas State at 4 p.m. (Eastern time) on Wednesday afternoon. LIVE GAME BLOG starts at 3:49 p.m. right here.

On Tuesday, the Panthers took infield and outfield at West Monroe High -- where ESPN filmed a reality series about the West Monroe football team called "Varsity Inc.". There the Panthers practiced on the West Monroe baseball field where they have a mini-Green Monster all the way around the outfield. After fielding practice, FIU got on a bus and went to ULM's Warhawk Field to take batting practice on the field where the tournament will be played. Each Sun Belt team received 50 minutes to use Warhawk Field on Tuesday.

Here are some photos of both practices taken from the phone. Click on the photos for a little better view. If the photos stink, my apologies. We will have better photos and video from tonight's Sun Belt Home Run Derby and Jabari Henry, who will be going for the fences for FIU.

The Panthers start loosening up at West Monroe

 
Turtle gathers the team before practice.

 

Mike Martinez, wearing number 24, prepares for a throw from T.J. Shantz
 

Pablo Bermudez taking batting practice at Warhawk Field

 

Garrett Wittels taking BP at Warhawk Field.

 
 

Making the Grade -- FIU's APR Scores Highest-Ever

The old APR (Academic Progress Rate) report is out and all 17 FIU teams improved their scores from the previous year and produced their highest multi-year scores in the history of the APR.

Sixteen of the Panthers 17 teams finished above the required score of 925. The men's basketball team improved its score from 886 to 910.

Six teams (women's cross country, softball, swimming & diving, women's tennis, women's indoor track & field and women's outdoor track & field) each recorded perfect scores of 1000.

For a complete story on FIU's APR: CLICK HERE

Good Morning From Monroe

MONROE, LA. -- I couldn't find a postcard from Monroe to send to you good people, but anyway, good morning from Monroe, Louisiana. After a seven hour-plus stay at the Dallas airport due to canceled flights and then delayed flights, the Panthers landed in Monroe at 11:39 p.m. Central time on Monday night (12:39 a.m. Tuesday morning in Miami time).

Somewhere there is a script for the sequel to "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" being written for the Panthers. Speaking of which the Panthers took some time out in the Dallas airport -- Who am I kidding taking time out? The team had seven hours to spare -- and made some videos for you good people.

By the way, if you happen to be stranded in the Dallas airport make sure to try the pulled pork at Cousins Bar-BQ. Pretty good pulled pork to rival the pulled pork at Sports Grill in the Hammocks (SW 147 Ave. & SW 104 St.). Also at the Dallas airport, we ran into Eva Longoria's cousin, who was on our flight and also stranded on her way back from Miami to San Antonio. Back to the FIU videos....

CLICK HERE to watch and listen to greetings from Jose Behar, Mason McVay and Mike Martinez. Then go to the video below that one and hear Spanish greetings from Danny DeSimone, Balla Leon, El Machine Jose Velazquez and Garrett Wittels.

Watch DD learn Spanish in the Dallas airport. Like my Spanish, GW's Spanish needs work so he just talked about Tamey. No truth to the rumor that the Panthers pitchers threw their bullpen sessions between Terminal B and D in the Dallas airport.

After being delayed twice from Miami and then in Dallas, FIU was supposed to leave Big D at 8:30 p.m. last night, but that got pushed back to nearly 10 p.m. At 9:52 p.m. the Panthers boarded one of those radio-controlled planes for Monroe. Mike and Jose had to spin the propellers to get us off the ground. There wasn't much room in the cabin as Mason McVay (right, thanks Alex J. Hernandez photo) went from being 6-7 to 5-7.

Regardless, here we are in Monroe, which was originally known as Fort Miro before being named Monroe in honor of the steam powered paddle-wheeler ship, the James Monroe. The City of Monroe is also known as the "Twin City" -- maybe that's an omen as in twin Sun Belt Championships (2010, 2011?). And that ladies and gentlemen are your history lessons for the day.

The Panthers practice at 12 noon today. Tonight is the Sun Belt Conference Home Run Derby where Jabari Henry (below, thanks Sam Lewis photo) will represent FIU. After the Home Run Derby, the All-Sun Belt Teams and Player of the Year along with Pitcher, Freshman and Coach of the Year awards will be revealed. FIU should be well represented. We will have all the details from Tuesday night's events on here and on FIUSports.com for you.

 
 

On Wednesday, the Sun Belt Tournament gets underway with FIU facing Arkansas State at 4 p.m. Don't forget you can follow every pitch right here on our LIVE BLOG, which begins at 3:49 p.m. You can also watch all the action on sunbeltsports.org.

PANTHER PAWSE

Congratulations to former FIU offensive lineman Andy Leavine, who is among the final three in  WWE's  "Tough Enough" reality show where the winner earns a WWE contract. Will Andy turn into the "Divine Leavine" when he wins? Stay tuned.

Q&A

FIU FPL: Pete, What are the different ways a team can get into the Regionals? 1.) First in conference? 2.) Winning tournament? 3.) By Invitation? (are invitations based on RPI)?

PP: All three scenarios that you mentioned help a team get into regionals. RPI factors into the invitations, but it is not the sole criteria.

gpantera: Pete, Did they give away the Mike Lowell jersey during the 7th inning of Saturday night's FIU Baseball v. FAU game as promised by Turtle on this video link? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vEUu5Zw1EQ I entered, went to the park pero me quede con las ganas. As always, Go FIU Panthers!

PP: The winner of the Mike Lowell jersey was notified via text. He was given directions on how to claim his prize.

roary: oye PP, I did not get my text for the Cerrano jersey?

PP: No, roary. Willie Mays Hayes got the text. He won the Cerrano jersey.

Come back a little later today as we're off to see the Wizard. The wonderful Wizard of Arbo.

 

 

Postcard from Dallas . . . On the Way to Monroe

 
DALLAS -- Still waiting for that first blog post from Monroe, Louisiana and the Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament? You'll have to wait a little while longer.

FIU's flight itinerary to the Sun Belt Tournament was supposed to be Miami to Dallas and Dallas to Monroe arriving at 4:35 p.m. for a 6 p.m. practice on Monday evening. Well, that's not going to happen.

The Panthers' flight out of Miami to Dallas was delayed 33 minutes. When the flight arrived in Dallas there were no open gates to deplane from so there was a wait on the tarmac for more than an hour. The 1-hour plus wait led to the Panthers missing the flight to Monroe.

 
So here we are at 6:38 p.m. central time in the Dallas airport waiting two hours for the next flight to Monroe at 8:30 p.m.

(Photo left to right: David Vazquez, Jeremy Bajduan, Garrett Wittels, Back of Jose Behar's head, back of yours truly's head, Trainer Gabe Casanova unsuccessfully trying to find a flight to Miami).

 

Closer Bryam Garcia trying to get a massage.

 
T.J. Shantz and Pablo Bermudez relaxing.

 
Left to right: Sergio Perez, R.J. Fondon, Aaron Arboleya

With two hours until the next flight, let's take a look at the latest polls:

FIU moved up two spots in two polls. The Panthers are ranked No. 22 in Baseball America and No. 22 in Perfect Game.

FIU is now No. 24 in Boyd's World RPI and the Panthers are No. 29 in Warren Nolan's RPI rankings.

Be back on here later with some more FIU Baseball.

LIVE GAME BLOG of FIU's first game of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Wednesday begins at 3:49 p.m. The 1st pitch between the Panthers and Arkansas State is at 4 p.m.

 

 ** Photos courtesy of world-renowned photographer Mat "I can only afford one T" Ratner.

FIU's Sun Belt Conference Tournament Schedule

Play hooky from work or skip class because FIU will be playing two weekday games to start the Sun Belt   Conference Tournament in Monroe, La. on Wednesday. (ALL FIU GAMES WILL BE LIVE BLOGGED RIGHT HERE ON THE PROWL)

 
WEDNESDAY -- The Panthers open the SBC Tournament against Arkansas State at 4 p.m.

THURSDAY -- is an off day for the Panthers.

FRIDAY -- FIU plays South Alabama at 4 p.m.

SATURDAY -- FIU plays Louisiana at 8 p.m.

The Sun Belt Tournament is now a round-robin format where every team plays a minimum of 3 games. After three games the team with the best record in each bracket advances to the Championship Game on Sunday at 2 p.m.

BRACKET A has No. 1 seed Troy, No. 4 WKU, No. 5 Florida Atlantic, No. 8 UALR

BRACKET B has No. 2 FIU, No. 3 Louisiana, No. 6 South Alabama, No. 7 Arkansas State

** If there is a tie in a bracket after three games, the higher seed automatically moves into the championship game, so it pays for Troy and FIU to be the No. 1 & 2 seeds.

The rest of Sun Belt Tournament schedule:

WEDNESDAY: FAU vs. WKU, 12 p.m.; Arkansas State vs. FIU 4 p.m.; UALR vs. Troy, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY: South Alabama vs. Louisiana, 12; WKU vs. UALR, 4; Troy vs. FAU, 8.

FRIDAY: UL vs. ASU, 12; FIU vs. SA, 4; Troy vs. WKU, 8.

SATURDAY: FAU vs. UALR, 12; SA vs. ASU, 4; FIU vs. UL, 8.

SUNDAY: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME at 2 p.m. (CSS/Sun Belt Network TV)

We'll have more on the Panthers later on and full coverage all next week for you from Monroe, Louisiana when we land with the team on Monday evening. On Tuesday is the Sun Belt Home Run Derby where Jabari Henry will represent FIU. On Wednesday, the Tournament begins.

For more info on the Sun Belt Tournament: CLICK HERE 

Florida Atlantic vs. FIU (Game 3) -- LIVE BLOG

Here it is the final regular season game and it's a big one for both FIU and Florida Atlantic. For the  Panthers, a win and a Troy loss to South Alabama and FIU wins the regular season Sun Belt title and is the No. 1 seed at the Sun Belt Tournament starting Wednesday in Monroe, La. The Del Boca Vista Phase II Hooters need to win to clinch the No. 4 seed.

We'll be on-line at 6:49 p.m. The 1st pitch tonight is at 7 p.m.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE LIVE BLOG

FIU right-hander Danny DeSimone (4-2, 3.71 ERA) takes the mound. Right-hander R.J. Alvarez (6-4, 4.45 ERA) starts for the Owls.

Should FIU remain the No. 2 seed after tonight, the Panthers will open play against either Arkansas State or UALR on Wednesday on the first day of the Sun Belt Tournament. Should FIU become the No. 1 seed, the Panthers would play either UALR or Middle Tennessee in the first round on Wednesday as well.