Liberty @ VT - Fall Scrimmage

 The new look Liberty Flames took the field under new coach Bradley LeCroy for the first time Wednesday afternoon in Blacksburg.   The revamped lineup pounded out 24 runs in the 2 games that totaled 15 innings.  The Flames won Game 1 16-10 and Game 2 (6 innings) 8-2.  Liberty lost a ton of impact players via the transfer portal after former coach Scott Jackson departed for UNC.  Only Camden Troyer, Tanner Marsh & John Simmons return from last years top 100 offensive attack.  Juco transfer Easton Swofford paced the offensive attack with 6 hits including 3 doubles and a homer.  Mikey Robertson, Camden Troyer, Riley Decandido, Tucker Moore & Jaxon Sorenson had multiple hits.  Liberty also played error free ball over the course of the 15 innings which is a welcomed change as defensive miscues have plagued the Flames on the infield the last couple years.  Liberty threw 14 pitchers in the 2 games.  Blair & Mclaughlin allowed 8 or 10 runs that VT scored.  I wouldn't be too alarmed about that as those are 2 of the Flames top returning arms that showed they could produce at this level.  Delaware transfer Tyler August drew rave reviews from D1 Baseball writer Aaron Fitt who mentioned him in several tweets.  He was up to 98 on the mound.  Mathieson, Webb, Gibson, Potts, Swink & Troyer all recorded clean innings as well.  Potts and Troyer each touched 94.  Troyer continues to give it a run as a 2 way player which he did a bit at Clemson.  If he can hit 94 out of the pen from the left side he could be an impact late inning arm for the Flames.  

Here's how the Flames lined up:

Robertson CF

Marsh SS

Decandido 1B

Sorenson 3B

Troyer RF

Moore DH/C

Fulk LF

Swofford 2B

Christmas C/DH

Freshman Landon Scilley has looked good in the scrimmages I've seen as well.  He could factor in the middle IF and LF mix.  It looks like the Flames could have 12-13 guys that could get in the lineup.  The pitching staff will have to continue to develop throughout the fall and into the Spring but it looks like the Flames have found some talented arms out of the JUCO & portal ranks that hadn't put it together at their previous stops yet to supplement the returners.  There's also still time for the Freshman to make an impact.  From what I've seen so far the Flames are going to run a big physical lineup out there than can play defense.  We know Blair can be a difference maker on the mound and guys like Mathieson & Mclaughlin showed they could be useful pieces of the pen.  The rest will depend on how the Flames can fill in behind those guys.  

Flames fans will have 2 chances to see the new look Flames in the friendly confines of Liberty Baseball stadium the next week before the Flames shut it down for the Fall.  Liberty takes on a team from Canada at 4 PM tomorrow and then they play host to Longwood at 4 PM next Wednesday.  Expect a lot of the freshman to get opportunities in the game tomorrow.  

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