TV CHANGE: For the Utah game at BYU on April 24, there will be a channel change. Instead of the traditional telecast from BYUtv, the BYU-Utah game will be televised locally by KBYU-TV, Channel 11 and streamed on its YouTube channel.
GOCOUGS: Another uniform has been added to the equipment room this season for BYU baseball. COUGS is emblazoned on uniform tops originally designed as a batting practice top. BYU’s baseball team has worn the new navy blue COUGS top twice this season, adding it to the several uniform combinations sported by the squad. Adam Parker, BYU’s licensing and trademark manager, said the COUGS uniform goes along with the recently-released GoCougs campaign from the university which had its origins in social media with the #GoCougs hash tag.
IMPROBABLE RUNS: With 12 games remaining on BYU’s West Coast Conference regular season schedule, one need only recall the mid-season 19-15 record of College World Series Champion Fresno State (47-31) in 2008 as proof that a team can get on a hot streak. Or consider last year’s meteoric four-game run by BYU through the loser’s bracket to claim the WCC Tournament Championship and NCAA automatic berth. The WCC four-team tournament race is up for grabs with BYU coming off a bye-weekend for final exams and Santa Clara in non-conference action this past weekend, some dust has settled, but each remaining league series brings more clarity. Last year’s WCC tourney field wasn’t determined until the final week, as was the case in 2016 when the Cougars were the final qualifier.
ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT NOMINEES: BYU’s Jordan Wood (3.56 cumulative grade point average in exercise science) and Brock Hale (3.36, pre-management) have qualified as nominees for the CoSida (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-District voting. Should either get selected to that team, they would advance for Academic All-America consideration.
PRO BASEBALL ASSIGNMENTS: Here are the recent assignments for former BYU baseball players: Jaycob Brugman, Norfolk Tides AAA; Taylor Cole, Salt Lake Bees AAA; Jacob Hannemann, Iowa Cubs AAA; Mike Rucker, Tennessee Smokies AA; Adam Law, Arkansas Travelers AA; Kolton Mahoney, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp AA; Brennon Lund, Mobile Baybears AA; Maverik Buffo, Lansing Lugnuts A. Coach Littlewood’s son Marcus is playing for the Reno Aces AAA.
LOWDOWN ON SHAVER: Colton Shaver, drafted in 2017 by the Houston Astros in the 39th round, texts that he’s in extended spring training awaiting an assignment.
THE “SKINNY” ON MILLER: Adam Miller, a former BYU pitcher drafted in the 20th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013 and topped out throwing in the high 90’s two years ago. He sat out recuperating last season and recently texted: “I'm officially retired from baseball. My arm didn't heal the way I had hoped so I decided to hang it up. More important to hold my kids than to risk serious nerve damage throwing a baseball.”
COME ONE, COME ALL: Former BYU baseball coach Glen Tuckett, now 90-years-old, is joining some of his former players like Dr. Tom Fife (contact him at drtfife@gmail.com) and Jeff Bills in another retreat to the Bay Area. They encourage any of Coach Tuckett’s former players to join them when the Cougars play at San Francisco in May.