Wichita State’s fall best-of-7 series starts Oct. 17. All games start in the afternoon to accomodate players with night classes and beat the cold weather (Shocker fans suffer enough under their blankets in the spring). If you can’t wait for the series, the Shockers scrimmage Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Watched a few innings on Tuesday afternoon.
- Freshman Erik Harbutz is doing good things. He homered in the first inning. He played second base. He does not seem overwhelmed by college baseball.
- Freshman outfielder Garrett Bayliff, who had hip surgery and sat out early practices, is practicing. Infielder Walker Davidson, knee surgery, is still hobbling. WSU coach Gene Stephenson expects Davidson to play when the series starts on Oct. 17. Johnny Coy, who missed some early practices with a hamstring tweak, is back at third base.
- Outfielder Travis Bennett homered. It’s nice to see some left-handed bats in the lineup. Newcomers Bennett, Bayliff and Preston Springer hit lefty. Returners Kevin Hall and Tyler Grimes are switch-hitting (at least for the fall). So does pitcher-turned-infielder Tyler Fleming. Last season, Ryan Jones and Chris O’Brien (a switch-hitter) were the only lefty bats in the lineup.
- Freshman outfielder Micah Green missed some practice with a frayed labrum. He will rehab it. Green will hit, and not throw, for the rest of the fall. Stephenson said the Shockers may use a 10-man lineup during the series in order to get enough at-bats for people.
- Senior pitcher Logan Hoch, who missed last season after shoulder surgery, will pitch in Sunday’s scrimmage