ATLANTA — John Cohen understands why anyone outside of his Mississippi State baseball team would label his team “scrappy.”
The Bulldogs don”t have an explosive offense or a stable of dominant pitchers. They”re not loaded with highly touted first-round picks. They had to claw their way into the Southeastern Conference tournament and then anxiously await an at-large bid to the NCAA field after going 0-2 in the league tournament in Hoover, Ala.
Shortstop Jonathan Ogden, is 5-foot-9. Leadoff hitter C.T. Bradford is 5-8 and 160 pounds. Luis Pollorena and Caleb Reed, arguably MSU”s most consistent pitchers this season, are 5-6 and 5-9, respectively.
Meanwhile, Georgia Tech, MSU”s opponent Sunday in the NCAA tournament”s Atlanta Regional, had just four players on its roster listed at less than 6-0, compared to 16 for MSU.
MSU”s sweep of the regional, capped by a 7-3 win against the host Yellow Jackets, should change the perception the Bulldogs advanced to a Super Regional simply by overachieving.
“This isn”t scrap, this is talent,” said Cohen when told of Austin Peay coach Gary McClure”s comparison of MSU to No. 9 Georgia Tech. “Even my daughter says, ”Dad, people are saying we have such a little, scrappy team.” You know, our first baseman (Ryan Collins) is 6-1, this dude (center fielder Jaron Shepherd) is 6-3. I think when you say kids are playing hard and ”busting” it on every play, I guess it”s compliment to say they”re scrappy. But kids are talented.”
Bradford, who earned regional MVP honors, backed up Cohen”s assessment of the surging Bulldogs, leading the team with five RBIs and going 7-for-13 in three games.
Not only is he one of the shortest players on the team, he also is a freshman.
First-year players typically struggle in the SEC — MSU experienced it last year — but like Bradford and classmate Evan Mitchell displayed Saturday in his eight-inning performance in Game 2, MSU”s talent is on par, if not greater, than its scrap.
In Year 3 under Cohen, the Bulldogs have rebounded from two lackluster seasons without postseason play and are two wins away from returning to the College World Series for the ninth time in program history.
To Cohen, the only way the Bulldogs could help the program recapture its tradition and compete in the SEC was to recruit top-notch talent, which he has done with back-to-back top-25 classes.
Cohen went 24-30 and 29-27 in his first two seasons as coach at the University of Kentucky before guiding the Wildcats to a SEC Eastern Division title, a trip to the NCAA tournament, and a 44-17 record in 2006, his third season.
“Since I”ve done this before, there”s something that happens in year three,” Cohen said. “I can”t put my finger on it, but something happens. The level of mental toughness that you can just see rise to the top. You can see kids really getting what our staff is trying to get across and you can see that skill level elevate. You can see a nice combination of old and new come together.
“It”s very difficult. The SEC doesn”t allow quick change. It”s just that good. They don”t care about scrappy; the SEC cares about skill level. That”s why we”ve been able to take that next step because we have skill level and we have kids who are mentally tough.”
Vickerson to be re-evaluated
Mississippi State second baseman Nick Vickerson left Sunday”s game after being hit near the ear with a pitch from reliever Luke Bard in the fourth inning.
Though Vickerson was cleared of any major injuries — he even joked he didn”t get out of the way of the pitch quick enough — Cohen said Vickerson could have a slight concussion and would be monitored throughout the night.
When Vickerson was hit, he immediately went to the ground and took off his helmet. He stayed down for several minutes under the supervision of trainers before walking off the field.
Vickerson has been MSU”s most consistent hitter in the past five games, notching nine RBIs and driving in the first run of the past three games.
Eight Bulldogs make all-tournament team
Led by Atlanta Regional Most Outstanding Player, C.T. Bradford, MSU dominated the all-tournament team, selected by the media.
MSU outfielders Bradford, Jaron Shepherd, and Brent Brownlee made the team, as did Vickerson and Cody Freeman.
After back-to-back 100-pitch performances, Mitchell, a Marietta, Ga., native who won Game 2, and Nick Routt, who threw MSU”s first complete game of the season, also were named to the team.
Southern Mississippi pitcher Todd McInnis tied with Mitchell for the final pitcher spot.
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