Mizzou Diaspora: Pitchers & Catchers Report

♦ Tepesch shines in first two double-A starts (Columbia Tribune)

With his bullpen depleted at the time, that showing was exactly what Frisco Manager Steve Buechele needed from his newest starter. It was also what he expected after hearing rave reviews about how well Tepesch had pitched in the Carolina League before his promotion.

"He's lived up to everything that I've heard. He pitched a game for us in Midland when we needed innings, got us into the eighth inning and pretty much dominated the game," Buechele said. "He's come as advertised. He's a great kid, fits in well with the guys. He's a hard worker. I do know that. He's certainly well thought of and has a great future."

♦ Tepesch excelling in Double-A stint (Examiner.net)

Tepesch allowed just two runs in seven innings that night and left with the score tied at 2-all in his first start as a RoughRider.

“When I left the game,” Tepesch said, “I was watching the game on the locker room TV, doing my normal postgame routine, when I found out that if we win, we’d clinch the first-half championship.”

♦ Missouri pitchers hone craft in collegiate league (Columbia Tribune)

John Miles is the most experienced of the Tigers trio, having pitched 491/3 innings in his first collegiate season. But after a couple strong late-season starts, Miles' innings dissipated down the stretch. Platts worked just seven innings, while Thomas pitched one. So for all of them, getting work is essential.

"Just getting innings for me right now is big — a big confidence-booster," said Thomas, who is sporting a 4.10 ERA through 132/3 innings in Sedalia. "Intersquad only does so much. Bullpen only does so much. Game situation, base runners, competitive adrenaline pumping, that's what pitching's about."

Also some good ink in that article about former MU pitcher Brian Carr.

♦ P Gerrion Grim, sr., Fort Zumwalt South (St. Louis Post Dispatch)

The Gateway North Conference player of the year, Gerrion Grim was a two-way threat — on the mound and at the plate — for the district champion Bulldogs. The Mizzou signee had a hard-luck 3-5 record with two saves and a 2.90 ERA in 72 1/3 innings over 13 appearances (11 starts). He struck out 94, walked 46 and held opponents to a .219 average. He hit .423 with four home runs, 33 RBI, 26 runs and .529 OBP.

♦ Westerners rally for win in 11th inning (newstimes.com)

Catcher Jake Ivory provided the earlier heroics by launching a game-tying home run well over the left-center field fence in the ninth inning, paving the way for Danbury's third win in its last four games.

"Ivory hitting that two-run homer was huge for us," Shevchik said. "Up to that point, the crowd was stale, the bench was stale. It was almost like we were in cruise control, and he put a spark up and got these guys going ... It's exactly what we needed at the perfect time."

♦ MLB ACADEMY BARONS 4, SLO BLUES 3

>The MLB Academy Barons scored four runs in the fourth inning and made it stand up in a 4-3 win over the San Luis Obispo Blues at SLO Stadium.

Trey Porter was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI, and Patrick Quintanilla was 2 for 3 with an RBI for the Blues (15-6, 10-4 California Collegiate League).

♦ Pelicans' bats come alive in win over Hillcats (newsadvance.com)

So it was a refreshing change Sunday for Pelicans pitcher Randol Rojas to be able to throw with a lead. His offensive provided the boost, scoring four times in the first inning of a 5-1 victory over the Hillcats at City Stadium. Catcher Brett Nicholas chipped in with a big blow, a three-run home run to gave the Pelicans a 4-0 lead.

“It was a great feeling,” Nicholas said. “The starting staff has done an unbelievable job for us all year. We just knew coming into the second half, we were going to have to make adjustments offensively. We’ve started to. Lynchburg’s a great team. Luckily, we were able to get a couple of runs early and take the wind out of their sails.”

♦ A great piece by Bernie Miklasz -- you'll want to click the link and read the whole article:

Scherzer shows uncommon courage (St. Louis Post Dispatch)

Some background: I don't know Max well, but for more than a decade I've exchanged emails with his father, Brad. I always enjoy hearing from Brad Scherzer, who is a kind, thoughtful and intelligent man.

Through the many emails, Brad never once bragged about Max, never talked him up. Obviously Brad and wife Jan are very proud of Max, as they should be. But Mr. Scherzer is such a dignified gentleman, he doesn't have it in him to boast of his son's pitching accomplishments. So in our emails, we'd talk baseball — but rarely did we talk about Max.

Because of Brad, my email buddy, I discard all pretense of objectivity when Max pitches. I'm an unabashed fan on those days. Saturday, I don't think I've ever rooted for an athlete harder than I rooted for Max.