Looking back at the preseason college baseball rankings, I’m reminded of Mark Twain’s famous quote: “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” Picked to finish last in the SEC West, Auburn baseball now sits a top of the South Eastern Conference.
For the straight second weekend the Tigers have beaten a team at the top of the league standings. Arkansas and Mississippi State both came into their series with the Tigers sporting the best records in the SEC. But Now Auburn sits a top the heap having swept the Bulldogs Saturday in a doubleheader 17-8 and 5-3 in Starkville.
Butch Thompson took over a program that was mired in controversy and obscurity and made it one of the nation’s best in less than two years. And he did it by crafting a team made up of veterans and talented newcomers. Twenty of the players on the roster are Thompson recruits. And they are contributing every week.
For the second weekend, Auburn was without Casey Mize, the SEC’s best pitcher but freshman Elliott Anderson came on in game two to earn the victory in his SEC debut while freshman Alvin Coker pitched the final 2 innings to record the save.
The Tigers were also without starting shortstop Luke Jarvis but it didn’t matter as freshman Will Holland filled the role nicely, recording the last put out of the series. Redshirt freshman outfielder Jeremy Johnson who here-to-fore had only made three game appearances came off the bench to start all three games in left field and went 3-for-3 at the plate in the final. Dylan Ingram hit a grand slam in the first game and a two-run homer in the second.
One would think the young guys would be awe stuck by playing in such big games in front of big crowds. Yet Saturday the Tigers defeated the hottest team in the league in front of nearly 10,000 fans at Dudy Noble Field..
Auburn (32-14, 14-7) has now won six of seven SEC series. The victory moved Auburn into a tie with MSU for both the SEC West and overall league lead. But if the season ended today Auburn’s win over the Bulldogs would be the tie breaker. The doubleheader sweep was the first for Auburn in SEC play since taking two with Alabama in 2011.
The way this team plays is reminiscent of the 2010 Tigers that hosted an NCAA Regional. And they are on track to return to the tourney and possibly win a SEC championship. Standing in their way this Friday will be the team that would like nothing better than to derail the Auburn train.
The Tigers will play Bama in a weekend series. first pitch will be at 6 pm CT at Plainsman Park. See you there and …
Beat Bama!
The post Butch Thompson Architect of Auburn Baseball’s Meteoric Rise to Top of SEC appeared first on Track 'Em Tigers, Auburn's oldest and most read independent blog.
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