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batted balls · 11-29-2006, 08:51 AM

April 19, 2008

Bristol, Conn.--Brad Ausmus wants to put last season behind him.

"I really let myself and the team down last year," Ausmus said. "I don't want that to happen again."

Coming off an MVP performance in the 2006 College World Series, Ausmus saw his 2007 season go sour quickly. The Ivy catcher wound up batting just .192.

"I really got into a funk and never got out of it," Ausmus said. "It wasn't for lack of trying. I took early hitting nearly every day. Maybe it was just meant to be."

Ausmus rededicated himself this past off-season.

"I worked out every day and changed my diet," Ausmus said. "Seems like it's paying off in big ways."

His fast start earned Ausmus All-American Baseball League East Player of the Week honors. He hit .500 with seven RBIs for the seven-day stretch. It marked the second time in his career that Ausmus has won the POW award.

"I definitely appreciate it more the second time around," said Ausmus (shown below).

Ausmus is batting .356 with three home runs and 12 RBIs. He has a seven-game hitting string as well.

"It's only April," Ausmus said. "But this is the start I wanted."

Diamond Notes: Charlie Gehringer of Michigan is closing in on the AABL record for the longest hitting streak. Gehringer has hit in 26 straight games, just one shy of the mark set last season by Steve Hovley of Stanford . . . Illinois continues to surprise. The Fighting Illini have won seven on their last 10 games and remain in first place. Illinois leads in virtually every pitching category. Illini catcher Darrin Fletcher is batting a robust .459, tops in the East . . . Six-foot-10 left-hander Chris Young may take over a starting slot in the Ivy rotation. Both Pete Broberg (1-2, 4.95 ERA) and Ted Olson (0-2, 5.14) are struggling to get batters out . . . Mississippi State manager Ron Polk says the East is wide open. "Anybody can win it this year," said Polk. "It's not so much that Ivy has slid back, but rather that everyone else has really improved."

Stat of the Week: Ivy right-hander Jim Beattie's two wins this season give him a career total of 42 victories. That's just one shy of career leader Mark Prior of Southern California.

East Standings

Team W L PCT GB
Illinois 12 4 .750 --
Ivy 10 6 .625 2.0
Miami 10 6 .625 2.0
Florida State 9 7 .563 3.0
Michigan 9 7 .563 3.0
Michigan State 7 9 .438 5.0
Louisiana State 6 10 .375 6.0
Minnesota 6 10 .375 6.0
Mississippi State 6 10 .375 6.0
Notre Dame 5 11 .313 7.0

11-29-2006, 08:51 AM	#304 (permalink)
batted balls All Star Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: White Sox Country Posts: 1,319 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	Ivy's Ausmus Out to Prove '07 Slump is Over April 19, 2008 Bristol, Conn.--Brad Ausmus wants to put last season behind him. "I really let myself and the team down last year," Ausmus said. "I don't want that to happen again." Coming off an MVP performance in the 2006 College World Series, Ausmus saw his 2007 season go sour quickly. The Ivy catcher wound up batting just .192. "I really got into a funk and never got out of it," Ausmus said. "It wasn't for lack of trying. I took early hitting nearly every day. Maybe it was just meant to be." Ausmus rededicated himself this past off-season. "I worked out every day and changed my diet," Ausmus said. "Seems like it's paying off in big ways." His fast start earned Ausmus All-American Baseball League East Player of the Week honors. He hit .500 with seven RBIs for the seven-day stretch. It marked the second time in his career that Ausmus has won the POW award. "I definitely appreciate it more the second time around," said Ausmus (shown below). Ausmus is batting .356 with three home runs and 12 RBIs. He has a seven-game hitting string as well. "It's only April," Ausmus said. "But this is the start I wanted." Diamond Notes: Charlie Gehringer of Michigan is closing in on the AABL record for the longest hitting streak. Gehringer has hit in 26 straight games, just one shy of the mark set last season by Steve Hovley of Stanford . . . Illinois continues to surprise. The Fighting Illini have won seven on their last 10 games and remain in first place. Illinois leads in virtually every pitching category. Illini catcher Darrin Fletcher is batting a robust .459, tops in the East . . . Six-foot-10 left-hander Chris Young may take over a starting slot in the Ivy rotation. Both Pete Broberg (1-2, 4.95 ERA) and Ted Olson (0-2, 5.14) are struggling to get batters out . . . Mississippi State manager Ron Polk says the East is wide open. "Anybody can win it this year," said Polk. "It's not so much that Ivy has slid back, but rather that everyone else has really improved." Stat of the Week: Ivy right-hander Jim Beattie's two wins this season give him a career total of 42 victories. That's just one shy of career leader Mark Prior of Southern California. East Standings Team W L PCT GB Illinois 12 4 .750 -- Ivy 10 6 .625 2.0 Miami 10 6 .625 2.0 Florida State 9 7 .563 3.0 Michigan 9 7 .563 3.0 Michigan State 7 9 .438 5.0 Louisiana State 6 10 .375 6.0 Minnesota 6 10 .375 6.0 Mississippi State 6 10 .375 6.0 Notre Dame 5 11 .313 7.0 Attached Images __________________ White Sox fan since 1972 Last edited by batted balls; 12-02-2006 at 04:23 PM.