ASU Baseball: Highlighting the Good and Bad in the Alumni Scrimmage

Arizona State played its annual maroon and gold alumni scrimmage on Saturday and the 2013 Sun Devils put a beating down on the former Sun Devils by a 21-2 decision.

Though it is impossible to tell this early in the season just how good this 2013 team can be, scoring 21 runs is a good start (even if it was against some alumni players who are technically old enough to be their father).

With the season, right around the corner on February 15, fans got a chance to see a potential opening day roster that would feature Jake Peevyhouse, Casey Koffman and Trevor Allen in the outfield. Max Rossiter, Rouric Bridgewater, James McDonald, Drew Stankiewicz and Michael Benjamin all started in the infield for Saturday afternoon's game. However, the starters only played around five innings before being replaced by their potential counterparts.

After Saturday's game, based on pure talent, it is very acceptable to see the younger players of the group see some playing time this season. Rather than give this game a typical analysis, lets recap some of the good and the bad of the scrimmage.

The Bad:

- The wind. It was like Wrigley Field with the wind continuing to change directions all afternoon.

- Pitcher Darin Gillies threw four innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs. Though his two strikeouts came at critical times, he still gave up two free passes and has to work on getting ahead in the count when the season begins if he wishes to take the Sunday start for ASU.

- Tucker Esmay batted 1-3 and his only hit did not leave the infield.

- Max Rossiter was a tad wild on a few of his throw downs to second base. Though they were not airmail, he did not catch any alumni stealing.

- In the sixth inning, alum Raoul Torres pitched against one batter, his little brother Emilio, and he gave up a double to the right-center gap.

The Good:

- Freshman lefthander Brett Lilek pitched for three innings and only allowed one hit. Only one out of the ten batters he faced was able to get the ball out of the infield. Lastly, he struck out five batters, including striking out the side in the top of the 6^th and did not allow any walks.

- The Sun Devils scored five runs in the first inning and ten in the sixth.

- Nathaniel Causey finished the afternoon batting 2-3 with a wind-aided, two-run homerun, 3 walks and just one strikeout. The back-up catcher looks to start the season as the team's designated hitter

- The freshmen corner outfielders had great games. Cullen O'Dwyer and Christopher Beall combined for 4-6 on the afternoon with three doubles, 5 RBI and 4 runs scored.

- Freshman centerfielder Johnny Sewald has lightening speed since he beat out an infield single, executed a textbook hit and run, and drove in a run.

- Trevor Allen and Drew Stankiewicz both doubled

- Arizona State batted around in the same inning on two separate occasions.

- Jake Peevyhouse swiped two bags.

- Casey Koffman got a chance to highlight his speed by chasing down a few balls in centerfield.

- Jordan Aboites showed off his Derek Jeter like mobility and accuracy in the ninth inning.

- Frank Kush was in attendance

- Packard Stadium fans got over a dozen souvenir baseballs