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Red Wolves sweep series against Jaguars with 18-11 win

Posted on May 22, 2023 by deltadnews

Red Wolves win marathon during senior day finale

By Jacob Wicinski | Contributor

Delta Digital News Service

May 21, 2023

JONESBORO, Ark. – The Arkansas State Red Wolves outlast the South Alabama Jaguars on senior day 18-11, completing a sweep of the Jaguars in the process.

The Jaguars would first add a pair of runs in the first inning. Second baseman Erik Orbeta (2) would start the game with a triple and was brought home thanks to an errand pickoff attempt from Red Wolves’ starting pitcher Tyler Jeans (14). Center fielder Will Turner (6) would reach home on a wild pitch, making it a 2-0 South Alabama lead.

Arkansas State would get a run from a wild pitcher from Jaguars’ starting pitcher Tyler Smith (23), letting second baseman Wil French (10) score. With the deficit now to 2-1, Red Wolves designated hitter John Hoskyn (19) would homer to right center, giving Arkansas State a 4-2 lead heading into the second.

South Alabama would tie it up in the top of the second inning with an Orbeta double and a Turner single, both driving in a single run each making it a 4-4 game.

A-State would take the lead right back as left fielder Brayden Caskey (15) sac flew, driving home French. A-State would head into the third with a 5-4 lead.

Three singles in the bottom of the third would drive home four more runs for A-State, expanding the lead to 9-4.

The Jaguars would cut the deficit down to two, as right fielder Austin Thrasher (19) walked in a run and left fielder Joesph Sullivan (7) singled driving home two runs. South Alabama would not only trail 9-7.

The Red Wolves would add two more runs in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a French fielder’s choice that batted in a run and third baseman Daedrick Cail (3) driving in a run of his own being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. After four long innings, Arkansas State would lead 11-7.

Red Wolves Second Baseman
Wil French (10)

After South Alabama trimmed the deficit by scoring three runs in the sixth, the Red Wolves would only add to their lead with first baseman Brandon Hager (11) homering to center, making the score 13-10.

The Jaguars would add a single run in the bottom of the sixth, though the Red Wolves would explode for five runs in the bottom of the seventh. After an inning and a half of scoreless baseball, the Red Wolves would win by a score of 18-11.

Following the win, Red Wolves fielder Blake Burris (9) pointed out his team’s quality at-bats, nearly setting a team record.

“We almost set a new record today, I think 38 quality at-bats,” Burris stated. “Even when we were making outs, we were hitting the ball hard. We didn’t strike out often, but when we did strike out it was eight to nine-pitch at-bats.”

On the series sweep, Red Wolves head coach Tommy Raffo emphasized the challenge that his team faced.

“It was a challenge for our guys this week. We felt like we were playing a lot better at the back end and scoring a lot of runs,” Raffo said. “The challenge for this core group was to finish the right way and finish in front of this home crowd with a three-game series, and win it.”

“It was a challenge for our guys this week. We felt like we were playing a lot better at the back end and scoring a lot of runs,”
Tommy Raffo, Red Wolves Head Coach

On how his seniors have impacted him, Burris stated that they truly made him a better person.

“The seniors do such a great job of leading this team,” Burris said. “I’m really proud and really glad that God has brought them into my life. On or off the field, they have made me a better person.”

On the topic of his seniors, Raffo could only praise them and the effect they have had on his team.

“It’s been fantastic. Those guys have been some of the leaders and vocal guys in the locker room,” Raffo stated. “We’re going to miss them, but they’re a part of our Arkansas State family now.”

The Red Wolves will look to play for postseason baseball in the Sun Belt Conference tournament, which begins Tuesday, May 23.

Jacob Wicinski is a 2021 graduate of Florida State University with a bachelor’s in communication and is currently seeking a masters of science in mass communication with a specialization in journalism at Arkansas State University.

Red Wolves down Jaguars 13-6 during game 2 of series

Posted on May 20, 2023 by deltadnews

Red Wolves win penultimate game of season

By Jacob Wicinski | Contributor

Delta Digital News Service

May 20, 2023

JONESBORO, Ark. – The Arkansas State Red Wolves baseball team win their penultimate game against the South Alabama Jaguars, 13-6.

The Red Wolves would get the scoring started in the first inning. first baseman Brandon Hager (11) singled to right center, driving home center fielder Blake Burris (9) who was situated on second base, making it a 1-0 ballgame.

Despite Red Wolves outfielder Nathan VerMaas’ (30) robbing a South Alabama home run, the Jaguars would tie the game 1-1 with South Alabama catcher Cole Kitzner (20) doubling and driving home third baseman Hunter Donaldson (4).

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Red Wolves would take back control of the lead. Second baseman Wil French (10) would walk in a run, while Hager would ground into a fielder’s choice, and third baseman Daedrick Cail (3) would walk in a run of his own. By the time the final out was made in the inning, the Red Wolves were up 4-1.

In the top of the fifth inning, Arkansas State pitcher Kyler Carmack (2) allowed a single and a walk but was able to get out of the inning unscathed. Carmack would leave the game with a 4-1 lead, allowing seven hits, one earned run, two walks, and two strikeouts on 92 pitches and five complete innings.

“Kyler was phenomenal. He just gutted it out,” said Red Wolves head coach Tommy Raffo after the game. “He had some moments to where he had runners on base, and he had to make pitches.”

Red Wolves Catcher & First Baseman
Dylan DeButy (23)

A-State would only expand on their lead, with catcher Dylan DeButy (23) hitting a three-run home run giving the Red Wolves a 7-1 lead going into the sixth inning.

“I didn’t really feel the ball off the bat, so I knew something good was going to happen,” DeButy said after the game. “I just tried to put something in play there and it just got up and went.”

However, at the top of the sixth, the Jaguars would come back to score four runs , hitting a combined six hits in the top stretch alone. After a South Alabama sac fly, four singles, and a wild pitch, all driving home a run, South Alabama would now only be trailing 7-5.

Arkansas State would immediately answer in the bottom of the inning with Wil French singling to left field, driving home designated hitter John Hoskyn (19) and shortstop Kody Darcy (36), expanding the lead to 9-5.

Wil French would also add to his total RBI, producing a sacrifice fly with Kody Darcy scoring on the play, with the lead now being 10-5. First baseman Brandon Hager would add to his team-leading slugging percentage with a three-run homerun of his own, enlarging the lead to 13-5.

“I didn’t really feel the ball off the bat, so I knew something good was going to happen,”
Dylan Deputy (23), Red Wolves First Baseman & Catcher

“As you pressure a team, you then get an opportunity for two guys that have some power,” Tommy Raffo said on DeButy and Hager’s homeruns. “They took advantage of some swings with some balls that were in the zone. When you see the ball fly out of the yard, it makes everyone happy in the dugout.”

South Alabama would add a run in the ninth, making Arkansas State’s lead now 13-6, with that being the final score.

With the Red Wolves scoring a combined 20 runs in their last two games, DeButy stated that he and his offense were striving for quality at-bats.

“We’ve been getting a lot of jobs done,” DeButy said. “We’re going for quality at-bats, or as we call them ‘QABs.’ In the dugout, it’s very important that every guy gets in there and gets a QAB.”

DeButy would also highlight his pitchers, speaking on how they handle adversity.

“The unsung heroes are our pitchers,” DeButy said. “Those guys face a lot of adversity. They just get in there and get after it. Whether we put up three runs or however many, it doesn’t matter as those guys come in and shove it.”

Raffo was excited though about his team winning a series at home after the year that they have had.

“We’ve played some very close games throughout the year, and they didn’t come out in our favor,” Raffo stated. “At the same time, these guys have been getting after it all year long and just excited to see them win a series here.”

Arkansas State will look to sweep their final series of the season against the South Alabama Jaguars today at 1 p.m.

Note: Feature photo by Jacob Wicinski.

Red Wolves upend Jaguars 7-2 during series opener

Posted on May 19, 2023 by deltadnews

Red Wolves snap 3-game losing streak

By Jacob Wicinski | Contributor

Delta Digital News-Service

May 19, 2023

JONESBORO, Ark. – The Arkansas State Red Wolves baseball team downed the South Alabama Jaguars 7-2 during the series opener at Tomlinson Stadium on Kell Field in Jonesboro, Ark. on Thursday, May 18, 2023.

After back-to-back batters hit-by-pitch and a successful bunt loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, South Alabama Pitcher Leif Moore (46) would walk consecutive batters. Arkansas State would go into the second inning up 2-0.

The Jaguars would answer with a run of their own, as Micah Morgan (8) singled to right field driving home shortstop JG Bell (9), making it a 2-1 ballgame.

In the bottom of the second, Moore would hit another batter and give up a single, as he was taken out. The Red Wolves would extend their lead to 3-1 after center fielder Blake Burris (9) grounded into a double play, driving home a run in the process.

The Jaguars would add a run though in the top of the fourth inning as third baseman Hunter Donaldson (4) would drive home Bell, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Red Wolves would extend their lead by three runs, with a walk, single, and fielder’s choice, all with the bases loaded, each driving home a run. Arkansas State would enter the sixth with a 6-2 lead.

After giving up a single and a walk in the top of the sixth inning, Red Wolves starting pitcher Hunter Draper (18) was removed. He would exit with 5.2 innings, two runs allowed, and seven hits given up on 99 pitches.

The Red Wolves would get yet another run in the bottom of the seventh, with right fielder Brayden Caskey’s (15) single forcing two errors on the same play. Third baseman Daedrick Cail (3) would score on the play, extending Arkansas State’s lead to 7-2.

Red Wolves relief pitcher Arlon Butts (16) tossed 3.1 scoreless innings, giving Arkansas State a 7-2 win over South Alabama. The win would snap a three-game losing streak for the Red Wolves, while the Jaguars would extend their losing streak to eight games.

On his team’s win, head coach Tommy Raffo applauded his team’s cleanliness.

“Anytime you get a Friday night win at home in the Sun Belt, it’s a big deal,” Raffo stated. “I’m proud of our guys. I thought we played pretty clean baseball, we had a great quality start from Hunter Draper and Arlon Butts followed it up right after that.”

“I’m proud of our guys. I thought we played pretty clean baseball,“…
– Tommy Raffo, Red Wolves Head Coach

In terms of how his team performed behind him, Hunter Draper stated that they made some huge plays that helped him get through his 5.2 innings.

“I was able to throw the ball in the zone and made [my teammates] stay ready in the field,” Draper stated. “They definitely made some good plays that saved me.”

When asked about where he felt Draper performed best, Head Coach Tommy Raffo stated that there was one area that particularly stood out.

“The Strike Zone. We were able to get some early outs in some at-bats that helped him,” Raffo said. “His pitch count later in the game got a little elevated, but he just competes, has a big heart, and we love him on the mound.”

On Arlon Butts’ scoreless relief effort, Raffo would praise his effort and celebrate his attitude in terms of finishing games.

“All year long, he’s been our guy out of the bullpen, he’s our first guy up. We want him to have the ball to win a game,” Raffo said. “It’s fun to see him feel good about finishing a game.”

With many of his team’s runs coming from a Jaguars mistake, Raffo expressed how important quality at-bats are to his team.

“Quality at-bats are a big deal for us. We went deep in counts and we were able to win some of those,” Raffo stated. “Our guys just played good team ball.”

The Red Wolves will face off against the South Alabama Jaguars for the second game of this three-game series today at 3 p.m.

Note: Feature photo by Jacob Wicinski.

Meet the Unsung Heroes of A-State Baseball

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Denton Postlewait

By Denton Postlewait
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO — Baseball fields ignite nostalgia. The crisply painted lines, clean-cut outfield and raked dirt take anyone who has ever picked up a ball glove back in time.

Some people forget about the crew that puts it all together. Arkansas State baseball managers, aka the unsung heroes of the team. They put in hours behind the scenes to make sure the field and the team stay ready for game day.

“We’re normally here three or four hours before a game,” said Brandon Little, a sophomore manager from Pocahontas. “The first thing we do is batting practice. Then we put the bases in, drag and water the field, and bring out the baseballs for pregame and the game.”

Little, along with Dylan Owens, a sophomore from Cabot and Tristan Thompson, a freshman from Pocahontas, make up the managers for the A-State Baseball team. They balance their school and social lives around a sport that they love. They do more than just make the field look pretty, though.

A-State baseball managers (from left) Brandon Little, Dylan Owens and Tristan Thompson (Photo by Jesse Kutzke)

“We set up the L-Screens in the batting cages to protect the person running the drill. We set up the ‘Turtle’ for batting practice and our biggest job is making sure the infield is properly managed,” Owens said. The “Turtle” — a large, shell-like cage — does not allow foul balls to go up or outside of the batter’s box.

Another part of the managers’ job involves what Little called “dirt maintenance.” This entailed adding a substance to the field to absorb the excess water. However, if the field is extremely wet, they use another method.

“We have sponges … that’s fun. We love that,” he said.

Most of the time, the managers and players will tarp the field to make sure the dirt does not get soaked. The spring, also known as “tarp season” and the managers will tarp the field several times a week. Tarping is a team effort, especially when it rains a lot.

To get the tarp off the infield with water on it, the managers and players make a funnel. Players and managers drag the tarp and the water down the first base line. Once everyone is in position, they all hold the tarp up and the water runs down towards the drains behind home plate. Then, one person gets under the tarp and pushes up to get the water off the tarp. This responsibility goes to Noah Stone, aka “The Lion,” according to the managers.

When the team travels, the managers do not get a break. They also travel with the team to away games to ensure the team can fully focus on the opponent. During home games, the managers also handle the opposing team’s laundry and they coordinate their weightlifting schedule on campus.

A lot of work goes into preparing everything, but the hardest part: laundry and “hula-hoeing.”

“Laundry takes the longest and it is the worst,” Thompson said. “Louisiana made me rewash their uniforms. They complained that it was wrinkled or something. Most of the time teams are not specific, so we do it the same way we maintain our uniforms. I guess they didn’t like it.”

Owens said hula-hoeing cuts weeds. According to www.planetnatural.com, the hula hoe “slices away weeds and other undesirable growth, without displacing topsoil.”

“If you go into the outfield, it’s a disaster because we weren’t here to maintain it during the break. It’s hours of work to get the weeds out,” he said.

Being a manager requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Little, Owens and Thompson said the best part of being a manager is being with the team.

“We’re all pretty good friends at this point. They don’t throw things at us too often,” he said. “They’re really good guys and it adds a lot to the job.”

Although the managers do not play, their love for the game keeps them close to the sport.

It may seem like the managers do a ton of work, but they love the sport. As the saying goes, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Laundry, hula-hoeing and waking up early for practice may tough, but the managers love America’s game. When driving past a baseball field, take a second and think about those who prepare it. Being a manager requires a balancing act, but A-State baseball would not be the same without theirs.