Mediaboss Marketing

WILD winds and heavy storms late last week ruined any chance of play on day one of Keilors Victorian Turf Cricket Association North Division grand final on Saturday.

Captain Danny Law and Doutta Stars counterpart Aaron Mato surveyed Saturdays damage - a sodden pitch courtesy of runaway covers during Thursday nights windy storm - and shook hands on a days abandonment knowing the loser of the toss would ultimately lose the game.

But thats where the comrade Leg 1 ship ended, and when the fickle spin of the silverware landed in Laws favour on Sunday morning, the Blues skipper had no hesitation inviting Mato and his charges to bat.

The lower-ranked side finished the day 6-162. I was happy to win the toss and I think he was a bit disappointed not to, Law said.

The Stars, at least early, grappled with the conditions with esteem. Jamie Anderson (31) and Hamish Moore (28) combined for a 60-run opening stand as Keilors quicks found the slow wicket unrewarding.

But then Shafraz Mohamed cleaned up Anderson and Rajan Aiyappan and Dan Schuppan chimed in to trap Moore in front and rattle Shannon Wigmores woodwork.

And that was before Mato had even entered the fray.

The former Premier Cricket gun, averaging 309 with the willow in the past month, saw wickets tumble from the non-strikers end but held his nerve until stumps.

Mato looked the likes of Schuppan and Law in the eye and did not flinch, clambering to 51 not out as Doutta finished the day 6-162.

Hes their main batsman. The pressure is on him to hold their innings together, Law said.

Visit link:
Flip-of-the-coin final

BOSTON C.J. Fair cracked a bit of a smile and then declined to answer the question. When asked about the difference in athleticism between Syracuse and Wisconsin, the SU sophomore wanted no part of that discussion.

Thats because there is no comparison. But Fair knew better than to create bulletin board material the day before the Sweet 16 matchup between the Orange and the Badgers.

Thursday night marks a date between two teams with polar opposite philosophies. Top-seeded Syracuse (33-2) has dominated teams this season by pushing the tempo and getting out in transition whenever possible. Wisconsin (26-9), by contrast, has the best scoring defense in the country and plays a methodical, slow-down game against its opponents.

Thus the battle over tempo becomes crucial, as each team will try to impose its very different style onto the other.

In the Big East we were able to play both (styles), SU guard Brandon Triche said. We had a few games playing in the 50s. A lot of teams tried to slow us down. I think the biggest thing for us is being able to rebound, try to speed them up a little bit as much as we can.

Bo Ryans team holds its opponents to 52.9 points per game this season, best in Division I and more than a full point of second-place Virginia.

Its a stark contrast from the points-happy team the Badgers face Thursday. All season long, Syracuse has run teams out of the gym with backbreaking stretches to blow games open. SU enters the game against Wisconsin scoring 74.5 points per game.

This isnt the first time weve faced a team like that, but obviously they are extremely good at (fast breaking) and extremely athletic, and they run with the best of them, Wisconsin forward Jared Berggren said. So we are going to have to do a good job of sticking to our system, taking care of the ball, getting good shots and thats the things that help us be successful.

Syracuse forward James Southerland said the Orange must be prepared to defend for at least 30 seconds on every defensive possession. Offensive efficiency is the trademark of Bo Ryans swing offense, and his point guard, Jordan Taylor, is as efficient as they come.

Taylor holds the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the history of NCAA basketball among players with at least 400 career assists.

Read the original post:
MBB | Orange will look to push tempo against patient Badgers team

Preview ... Loz gives his tips and analysis for the week ahead. Source: FOX SPORTS

Fox Sports commentator and former Canberra premiership player Laurie Daley offers his thoughts and predictions for round four of the 2012 NRL premiership season.

Parramatta v Penrith, Parramatta Stadium, Friday, 7.35pm EDT

What do you say about the Eels? There were good signs in their first two games but they were completely outplayed last week. That sometimes happens when you play the Warriors; you get knocked around a bit and you don't come up the next week. Defensively they weren't on their game, it's a tough road trip up to Townsville but we were still expecting a lot more from them. They'll still struggle without Jarryd Hayne but I think they'll give a better account of themselves this week. With all the bagging they've got, I'd almost like to tip them in an upset. But Penrith have been steady. They weren't good enough last weekend, but South Sydney were very good. I think they'll have enough points in them to break down Parramatta's defence and with Tim Grant coming back it gives them another big body up the middle. Tip: Panthers

South Sydney v Brisbane Broncos, nib Stadium, 9.30pm EDT

If Souths can repeat their form and Taylor and Inglis can play as well as they did against Penrith, I think they can trouble the Broncos. I think that would have done their confidence a world of good. The Broncos are playing steady football, they're grinding away and that's the way they'll play it for most of the year I would think. They haven't jelled in terms of their attack yet but that will get better as the year goes on. Souths beat the Broncos over in Perth last year and they know one game doesn't make a season. So I think they'd like to back up what they did last week. Tip: Rabbitohs

Warriors v Gold Coast Titans, Mt Smart Stadium, 5.30pm EDT

Both teams have been disappointing so far. The Warriors have started slow in all their games this year, against Manly, Parramatta and the Bulldogs. That's a real attitude thing that they have to address so that will be a focus for them. They've got too much talent in their team but I still think they're missing the experience of Luck, Rapira and Lillyman. They are three tough forwards who consolidate the ruck for them. It will be difficult because I think the Titans were competitive against the Storm for 60 minutes last week. It was only the brilliance of Slater and Cronk that beat them. They will have to show the same resilience but I don't know if they can do that going across the Tasman. Their key position players are still struggling for combinations. If you shut down Prince, you've got a young hooker, a young five-eighth and Zillman hasn't played a lot of football. They'll have a go, but I don't know if they have the class to pile on the points. Tip: Warriors

St George Illawarra v Manly, WIN Jubilee Stadium, 7.30pm EDT

The loss of Williams is a massive blow for Manly as I thought he was close to their best on Monday night. There's no Matai on the left either and Glenn Stewart on the other side is missing as well. They might find it difficult going to Kogarah and taking on the Dragons. If the Dragons play as well as what they did last weekend, you'd think they'd be too good for Manly without those strike players. It's always a close, tough, grinding match between these two and with Manly having those injuries and the short turnaround, I think the Dragons can go back-to-back. Tip: Dragons

Link:
Loz's round four preview

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Trevor Bauer didn't mince words when asked what he had working in his start Tuesday against the Giants.

"Not a whole lot, to be honest," Bauer said. "I was kind of like, 'Well, everything kind of stinks today, so flip a coin, pick one and hope they don't hit it out of the park.' No, it was a little bit of a struggle control-wise today. I've had four outings now and I think this is probably the worst I've thrown the ball."

Still, the results were not terrible. The highly touted D-backs right-hander allowed two runs on six hits over three innings. Of his 53 pitches, 33 went for strikes.

A few of the six hits were hit hard, but there were a couple of grounders that went through the infield and a broken-bat bloop hit as well.

"What are you going to do?" Bauer said. "They hit one ball hard in three innings and ended up with six hits and two runs. I think I did a pretty job of disrupting their timing. Not really a whole lot to be displeased with other than being behind in the count a lot, which I haven't really done this spring."

Indeed, in 10 innings this spring, Bauer has fanned nine and walked just one. Command was a bit of an issue at times during his seven Minor League starts after he signed last summer. In 25 2/3 innings between Class A Visalia and Double-A Mobile, Bauer walked 12.

"I'm throwing a lot more strikes, and quality strikes at that, so overall I'm pretty pleased," Bauer said. "I haven't given up a whole lot of hard-hit balls. That being said, there are still plenty of areas I can improve on. I still can't figure out how to throw a curveball in the dirt when I want to, which is a little frustrating."

Despite his impressive spring, Bauer and his 3.60 ERA seem destined to start the season in the Minors with the D-backs rotation apparently set at Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson, Joe Saunders, Trevor Cahill and Josh Collmenter.

Whether or not he makes the team, his time at big league camp has paid off.

"I've learned a lot," Bauer said. "I've gotten to face some really high-quality hitters and I think I'm definitely a better pitcher now than I was four outings ago, so nothing wrong with that, right? I think I've actually thrown the ball better than I was hoping to."

More:
Despite 'worst' outing, Bauer happy with spring

The shootout, it has been said, is basically a coin-flip.

If thats true, the Calgary Flames are playing with a double-headed coin.

And they keep taking tails.

The Flames dropped their fourth straight shootout and eighth of 11 overall and saw their playoff hopes take a major hit in the process.

Flames centre Matt Stajan, who at least rescued a single point for his club with a massive third-period marker, said its deflating to watch the bonus points evaporate.

Its frustrating when you dont win in the shootouts, Stajan said after the 2-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Our record hasnt been too good this year in shootouts thats no secret.

Last year, it didnt seem like we could lose a shootout. Right now, thats a huge difference in picking up some points.

The Flames came away with an extra point in 9-of-16 shootouts last season.

If they were even 50% this season, theyd be in a playoff spot instead of desperately trying to stay in the race.

See the original post here:
Skills competition hurting Flames