#Risewithus

  We're just under 3 weeks away from opening day where the Flames will head down to Mississippi for a mid major showdown with Southern Miss.  The Flames will look to follow in the steps of Football and win what would be a huge early series.  Scrimmages got underway this past weekend with a couple of challenging weather days and 1 very nice day Saturday.  Friday  Horn and Tepper (Hail State Transfer) started for each side respectively and went 3 Innings each with 4 punch outs a piece as well.  Horn allowed no hits and Tepper would allow 2 hits including a long home run to Clemson transfer Troyer.  Both Horn and Tepper were in the low to mid 90's in blustery conditions.  Freshman John Simmons paced the offensive attack as he reached base in all 4 plate appearances.  Sophomore Nathan Keeter also reached base twice and Juco transfer Dylan Edmands added a double.  Edmands is also in the 2B mix and could be the backup 3rd base mix and may also...

We're inside of 30 days now until the start of 23 season against Southern Miss.  The Flames have been back in practice for just a little over a week and will head into intrasquad scrimmages this weekend.   Friday - The Flames will square off at 3:30 with Horn & Tepper starting for each respective side.  Germanowski, Carter, Beamon and Willard are all expected to get extended looks.  Talor Grubbs and David Marshall are expected to get a look as well.  Saturday - Liberty will run it back at 1 PM with Nick Moran and NCSU transfer Trey Cooper starting on opposite sides.  Garret, Erickson, Butler, Johnson & Wilson are the expected pitchers out of the pen Saturday.  Sunday - The Flames will cap off the weekend with a shorter scrimmage Sunday at 1 PM with Winthrop transfer Garret Gainey on the bump on one side and righty Cole Hurtzler on the other side.  Troyer and Hudson are both expected to see innings Sunday.  On the defensive sid...

  Football Transfer Portal Thoughts & Notes Again, I don't delve into Football too much because Jon at ASOR does such a great job covering the program.  I just try to fill in on the recruiting and spring and fall scrimmages to help provide some color to those areas.  That being said the portal has been such a hot topic that I wanted to write a little bit about it's implications and how it's played out & the new coaching staff.   First regarding the portal.  Any time you have a coaching change your roster is going to take a hit.  Liberty had a very very talented and deep defensive roster this past year in an age that most programs really struggle to stop people.  Then factor in the SMU connection with former Liberty DC Scott Symons and DB coach Rickey Hunley plus the Freeze and staff factor at Auburn as well and it made for a tough situation.  Let's be honest, there wasn't a whole lot of our players that Freeze can take to Auburn....

We're a couple months removed from the fall signing period closing that saw the Flames sign another nice early class.  Liberty has added a couple more pitchers that will pitch in the Spring for their respective schools before enrolling in the Summer to be part of the 23 team. 23 & 24 Class Verbal Commits Brandon Clarke - Clarke is a big time get for the program.  He's a lefty that began his career at Alabama before transferring to State College of Florida where he will pitch this spring before enrolling at LU in the Summer.  Clarke is a hard throwing 6'4 LHP that was originally from Ashburn, VA.  He exhibits some nasty knee buckling type off speed stuff in his video that appears to have really been refined since his Bama days.  He can sit 92-94 but I've heard multiple reports of Clarke touching 97 mph.  If Clarke flashes he could get drafted fairly high with that kind of stuff.  He will definitely be one to keep an eye on in the Spring.  Comm...