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Baseball stresses importance of midweek nonconference games

April 16, 2012

In recalling the way his season ended a year ago, Justin Scanlon doesn’t want to overlook the importance of midweek games.

The then-junior shortstop of the MSU baseball team was part of a group that was on the outside looking in as co-Big Ten champion Illinois nabbed the only Big Ten slot in the NCAA Tournament. Despite securing the program’s first Big Ten championship since 1979, many were left with sour feelings of being snubbed after a breakout campaign.

This time around, the team’s goal of winning at least 40 games and earning a spot to the NCAA Tournament rests on the ability to win the nonconference games in the middle of each week, Scanlon said.

“We kind of last year didn’t take our midweek games as serious, and we just kind of expected to win them and show up to the park and because we’re Michigan State — we’ll win,” Scanlon said. “Those teams have a lot of pride, and they look forward to playing us every year, so we need to be on the top of our game if we want to come out with a win.”

Another step toward securing postseason goals continues this week as the Spartans (22-12 overall, 5-4 Big Ten) have a pair of midweek games, starting at 3:05 p.m. on Tuesday against Western Michigan at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field and wrapping on the road with Central Michigan on Wednesday.

After struggling in a lopsided 13-5 loss to Eastern Michigan last week, head coach Jake Boss Jr. said his team knows better than to overlook former MSU assistant coach Billy Gernon’s Broncos (16-17).

The Broncos are 3-7 in their last 10 games, including dropping two of three to Toledo last weekend, but Boss said Gernon’s team presents a distinct toughness and will be ready to play.

“We know that they’re certainly going to compete and give us a great effort. There’s no question about that,” Boss said.
“They’re young and very talented. (Gernon) has the program going in the right direction.”

On the hill for the Spartans on Tuesday is Mick VanVossen, Boss said. The freshman pitcher — who was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft — is 1-0 this season with a 2.60 ERA in four appearances.

Even in pitching against a struggling nonconference team, VanVossen said he intends to attack the strike zone and prepare the way he would for any other team.

“Confidence is always a plus when I’m going out there,” VanVossen said.

“You can’t throw scared or anything like that. You know, just throwing strikes. I will continue to do what’s working for me.”

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