It's That Time Again

by dxf04 on Feb 16, 2012 10:45 AM CST

The 2012 Arkansas Razorbacks Baseball season kicks off on Friday. After last year's disappointing showing in the NCAA Tournament, the Diamond Hogs are returning a large core to make another run at Omaha. This includes an ace pitching squad of DJ Baxendale, Ryne Stanek, Randall Fant, and Nolan Sanburn, among others, as well as infielders Dominic Ficociello, Tim Carver, Bo Bigham, and highly touted freshman Joe Serrano. The Hogs have been picked to repeat as SEC West champions by the coaches (though hopefully they'll be able to improve on last season's 15-15 league record), and are ranked anywhere from 4th (Baseball America) to 8th (USA Today Coaches' Poll) in the country.

Arkansas fans are also going to get their first peek at outfielder Jimmy Bosco, who sat out last season after transferring from Cal (who, at the time, had decided to disband their baseball program, but eventually relented after outcries from fans).

The pre-season individual honors have been rolling in for Razorbacks, with Baxendale being named to 3 different All-American lists and Sanburn being named to the Stopper of the Year Watch List. Sanburn, Stanek, and Ficociello were named pre-seaon All-Americans by Baseball America.

Razorback baseball is scheduled to appear on TV 16 times this season, including home games against South Carolina, Alabama, and Auburn.

The season kicks off this Friday with a 3-game home series against Villanova. Other featured non-conference games include midweek series against BYU and Gonzaga, the Houson College Classic at Minute Maid Park (featuring games against Houston, Texas Tech, and Texas), and midweek game against Louisiana Tech in Dickey-Stephens Park in North LR.

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go go diamond hogs!

"I solemnly swear to tell the truth as I know it, the whole truth as I believe it to be, and nothing but what I think you need to know."

by TX_HogFan on Feb 16, 2012 11:12 AM CST reply actions

Thanks for the very comprehensive update

on the diamond Hogs. Hopefully this year won’t involve a trip out to the desert. I’ve had enough of Arizona State ruining our seasons. If we must meet, let them come to Fayetteville and have their season ruined in the Ozarks.

by KevinHog on Feb 16, 2012 12:57 PM CST reply actions

Funny story.

I got a bit ahead of myself during last season’s preview and very cavalierly stated tbat there was no way that we’d have to face Arizona State in the post season, because the NCAA had handed-down a post-season ban for some pretty hefty recruiting violations.

Well, they appealled that ruling, the NCAA dragged their feet, and ASU got to play in the post season after all, and luckily no one called me on my bravado.

But, their appeal has been officially denied, and they are definitely banned from the 2012 post-season. So, we won’t meet them at all, in the desert, Ozarks, or otherwise. I’m hopeful we can score a regional host spot this season. We really and truly deserved one last year (well, we deserved it more than UCLA, at least).

by dxf04 on Feb 16, 2012 1:31 PM CST up reply actions

That's good to know!

Seems like we got screwed over by the NCAA both in baseball and football (Ohio State) when it came to punishments last year.

by KevinHog on Feb 16, 2012 5:26 PM CST up reply actions

Schedule question

Does anyone know if the Memphis game will be played this year and if so where? My son and I went last year and had a blast. If this game is not on the schedule, are there any other off campus games besides LR that are nearby?

by OMHog on Feb 16, 2012 7:13 PM CST reply actions

Here's a link the the schedule.

Schedule

No Memphis game this year. Aside from the LR game, it looks like the closest games will be in Oxford and Starkville. If you live in (or close to) Tennessee, there’s some games in Knoxville this year. Hope this helps.

by dxf04 on Feb 16, 2012 8:26 PM CST up reply actions

Just a thought

Let’s start referring to Baum Stadium as “The Baseball Palace of the South”. It is the best on-campus baseball stadium, so why don’t we sing it’s praises?

If we get more baseball writers to include that in their writings, maybe more people will see it that way.

"I solemnly swear to tell the truth as I know it, the whole truth as I believe it to be, and nothing but what I think you need to know."

by TX_HogFan on Feb 20, 2012 11:19 AM CST reply actions