Shriner’s Children’s College Showdown Game 3 vs. Oklahoma State: Game Thread

· Yahoo Sports

The Damascus Shriners mini cars wind their way north on South Avenue during the annual Lilac Festival parade on Saturday, May 13, 2017. | TINA MACINTYRE-YEE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After dropping a heartbreaker due to a throwing error against TCU, The Diamond Dores exploded for an 8th run 4th en route to run-ruling Texas Tech 13-3 in the 8th. Today, we face the rubber match against The Okie Pokes.

Three Stars from Saturday’s Win

#1. Brodie “The Brode Man” Johnston (3-5 with 2 HR, 1 2B, 2 RBI, and 3 R)#2. Braden “Man Mountain” Holcomb (2-3 with 1 HR, 1 2B, 2 BB 5 RBI, 2 R, and 1 SB)#3. Ryker “The Island” Waite (2-5 with 1 HR, 3 RBI, and 1 R)

The power surge that was more than hinted at with Collin Barczi’s 3 dongers and Brodie Johnston’s 1 against TCU continued, as Johnston had two more, Holcomb added his first, and even slick-fielding SS and 9 hole hitter Ryker Waite got in on the party. Let’s just say we’ll be happy if we average 4 dongers per game (“DPG” from here on out) this season.

On the Mound

Sunday @ 10:30am CT FloSports

#80 Vanderbilt So. RHP Nate “Nasty Nate” Taylor (0-0; 1.08 ERA*)vs. #16 Okie Poke So. LHP Ethan “The Grove” Lund (0-0; 5.79 ERA*)

*Record and ERA from 2025.

Neither sophomores Nasty Nate (8 & 1/3 IP for Ugga) nor The Grove (9 & 1/3 IP for The Okie Pokes) pitched all that much last year, so take those numbers with a grain of salt.

The Lineup

1 lf 19 Rigdon, Rustan BOTH .143
2 c 44 Barczi, Colin R .400
3 3b 9 Johnston, Brodie R .600
4 cf 26 Holcomb, Braden R .375
5 dh 25 Whitcomb, Mack R .333
6 2b 3 Johnstone, Carter L .000
7 1b 55 Jensen, Max L .000
8 ss 51 Waite, Ryker BOTH .250
9 rf 2 Johnstone, Logan L .500

Though The Rooster hasn’t hit all that well thus far, he did bunt for a single and steal a base during the monster 8 run inning yesterday and his 2025 pedigree speaks to an innate ability to be a table setter. Whitcomb is back at DH, following a murderer’s row of power in Barczi, Johnston, and Holcomb. Everyone else is the same, though the bottom of the order looks to have a few players looking to reset (CJ and Maximum Jensen) with less lineup pressure on them, one looking to continue Saturday’s offensive outburst (Waite) and the veteran who does the little things to turn the lineup over (LJ).

Are these lineup changes fully driven by facing our first lefty starter of the year? I’d say partially (especially the lack of L-R-L-R type lineup arrangement), but also Carter Johnston will need to heat up before earning the leadoff slot back.

See you in the comments.

Read full story at source