Wolfpack’s Brackman goes hardball over hardwood.

NC State’s Andrew Brackman will skip basketball season to focus on pitching, reports ESPN. Brackman, who as late as last week was undecided whether he would report to the basketball team, considers this a redshirt year, and hasn’t outright quit the team. The 6′10″ pitcher/center missed most of last year’s baseball season with a stress fracture to his hip, but recovered in time to pitch well for Team USA in the summer international season.

Wolfpack b-ball coach, Sidney Lowe openly supports Brackman saying, “The door is always open. I wouldn’t close it on him. He’s one of our kids. He’s part of our family. He’s been on the team before. I’m just not one to close the door on family. He’s always welcome. The players feel the same way.”

But ask yourself one question.  How happy would you be if your only veteran big-man decided to sit out his junior year?

College Round-Up

The Oregon State Beavers opened up Goss Stadium to fans as they participated in an intra-squad scrimmage. The younger black squad rallied behind a 2-RBI double from catcher Erik Ammon to beat the orange squad. The win guaranteed that the orange team would stay late to do field maintenance and wake up early for morning running drills.

OSU opens up their season on January 25 on the Big Island against the University of Hawai’i-Hilo for a 4 game set.

Notre Dame Sophomore Brett Graffy pitched 5 good innings giving up one run on a hit leading his Gold squad to an 8-3 win over Blue in an intra-squad game.

Florida State will scrimmage the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007. Mike Martin will take his boys over to the Phillies’ Clearwater training facility, bringing with him a 2-6 record all time versus Major League ballclubs.

Quinnipiac Over Yale 19-6 for City Series

Quinnipiac defeated Yale 19-6 in the finals of the 2006 City Series. Tim Binkoski was named series MVP.  The Bobcats went into the ninth up 11-6, but dropped a snowman on Yale to put the game, and tournament, out of reach. Keep an eye on Quinnipiac’s website for a recap of the game.

Personally, I think it was a mistake for the Bulldogs to run #41 out as their first baseman. But Fall Ball is about trying new things.