HI NOTES: Tigers & Bears, Strange Baseball

Tat-too much
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GAME DAY

♦ Champagne delivers consistency on base paths (The Maneater)

In the team’s series versus Kansas State this past weekend at Taylor Stadium, Champagne batted .500, scored twice and secured a game-winning walk in game two. He has now reached base safely in 30 consecutive games.

“My goal every game is to get on base two to three times every game,” Champagne said. “That’s just the type of player I am. My job is to get on base and score runs.”

Slotted in the two-spot, Champagne has been the lone Tiger not to be shuffled around in the order throughout the course of the season. Coach Tim Jamieson said Champagne brings a level of consistency that benefits the team when their big bats are walking to the plate.

♦ Voit making a big splash for Bears (Springfield News Leader)

Missouri State pitching coach Paul Evans entrusts catcher Luke Voit with most every move his staff – arguably one of the best in school history – makes during a game.

Voit calls pitches. He cajoles and scolds. He throws out would-be base stealers at a 47-percent rate.

“Luke deserves a ton of credit for our success,” Evans said of Voit, a junior who came to college known mostly for his hitting.

BASEBALL FANS

♦ Somebody please smack me upside the head if I ever become so obsessed with baseball that I tattoo my whole body with baseball images. Check out this story and the video.

♦ BIG 12

♦ West Virginia will apparently play their Big 12 "home games" at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston - approximately 160 miles away.