Rob Tate has been with the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, Mo. since August 2008 and is currently the assistant sports editor. Rob was born and raised in Clawson, Mich., just 14 miles north of Detroit and is an avid Tigers, Lions, Pistons, Red Wings and University of Michigan fan. He has also adopted the Rams and Mizzou to his favorites since moving to Missouri. He is a 2008 graduate of Oakland (Mich.) University where he received his bachelor of arts in journalism. Rob and his wife Sara live in Poplar Bluff.

OFC Fall Baseball Tournament

Posted Wednesday, September 29, 2010, at 1:26 PM

The seeds are in for this year's Ozark Foothills Conference tournament set to start Monday Oct. 4 at Roger Pattillo Field on the campus of Three Rivers Community College.

Clearwater is two-time defending champions. Twin Rivers gets the first-round bye after receiving six top-seed votes. The Royals are 5-0 in conference play with a makeup game to be played this afternoon vs. Neelyville.

Monday Oct. 4
(4) Neelyville (11-8) vs. (5) Naylor (11-7) -- 10:30 a.m.
(2) Clearwater (14-3) vs. (7) East Carter (8-7) -- 1 p.m.
(3) Greenville (10-6) vs. (6) Doniphan (6-5) -- 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday Oct. 5
(1) Twin Rivers (15-3) vs. Neelyville/Naylor -- 2 p.m.
Clearwater/East Carter vs. Greenville/Doniphan -- 4 p.m.

Thursday Oct. 7
Third place -- noon
Championship -- 2 p.m.

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This years OFC tourney seems to be very wide open...

-- Posted by baseballfan2010 on Wed, Sep 29, 2010, at 5:51 PM
Clearwater will win.

-- Posted by sports101 on Wed, Sep 29, 2010, at 9:08 PM
Got any predictions Rob?

-- Posted by thesmartestpersonyoudon'tknow on Thu, Sep 30, 2010, at 12:50 PM

Rob Tate
I'm not really one to make predictions but I agree with some of the other posts. I think this tournament is going to come down to how deep each team can go on the mound.
This is only my third year covering the OFC Tournament and the past two years rain played a factor in teams being able to plan on more time in between games to rest young arms. Last year, the start of tournament was played on Monday, the semis Wednesday and the final wasn't played until the following Monday. Right now, weather reports are looking really promising to get the games in on time so coaches will unlikely be able to plan those added days off.

Here is a look at the pitching situation coming into the tournament with some historical references mixed in.

For Twin Rivers, they have all three pitchers used in last years tournament back. Garret Stockton pitched three times in the 2008 tournament, making two relief appearances and then no-hit Doniphan in the 3rd place game. Last fall, he allowed just one run in the championship against Clearwater in a loss. Cole McBroom pitched the entire extra innings game and won and against East Carter in the semis. Ryan Nippe opened the tourney by beating Naylor.

Clearwater ace Logan Morris is 2-1 in the tournament, playing Doniphan in the semis all three times. The Tigers lost to Doniphan when Morris was a freshman. 2010 graduate Chris Kirpatrick was on the mound for both Clearwater championship wins the past two years.

The next team with most depth is probably Naylor with Cory Kovach, Dalton Woodard and Cody Collins each pitching well this fall. It will be interesting to see who starts on Monday.

Greenville's Scott Foster didn't allow a hit to the top-seed Royals until the sixth inning a couple weeks back.

Neelyville lost a lot of pitching last year but still feature senior Clint Crawley and underclassman Cody Boyers.

Wesley Smith for Doniphan started last year and allowed just one hit against Neelyville in an upset in the opening round.

East Carter also had a solid performance by Coleton Powell last year in the semis as he pitched the complete game in a loss to the Royals in extra innings.

I can't wait until Monday to see how all this unfolds.
I like Twin Rivers to win it over Clearwater because I dont think Clearwater can make it to the finals without using Morris. I just think right now, Twin Rivers has more pitching depth behind their ace (Stockton) than Clearwater does behind Morris.

-- Posted by baseballfan2010 on Fri, Oct 1, 2010, at 10:11 AM
Clearwater looked strong at West Plains. I thought they were much better than the 1st week of the season when we played them.

No matter whick team gets Stockton or Morris, they will have their hands full trying to score runs. I said several weeks ago after playing Clearwater that they will be more diffiuclt to beat as the season continues because the players will really come on as their innings and at bats start to accumulate. Stockton is the best we faced this fall but both teams # 2 better be good, cause saving # 1 for the finals sometimes doesn't happen.

-- Posted by mac baseball on Fri, Oct 1, 2010, at 12:08 PM
Twin Rivers will win it. Stockton has been just about unhittable this fall. TR beat Clearwater 5-0 at Clearwater with Morris and Stockton pitching.

-- Posted by semobaseballfan on Fri, Oct 1, 2010, at 2:26 PM
How many seniors did Clearwater lose to 2010 graduation?

-- Posted by sports101 on Fri, Oct 1, 2010, at 4:20 PM

Rob Tate
If I recall right, it was 8. Kirkpatrick (sorry for the mis-spelling in my earlier response), Haley, Hillis, Devenport, Buxton, Ezell, Fay and Ray.
Are there going to be drawmules type updates on the website for today's games?

-- Posted by thesmartestpersonyoudon'tknow on Mon, Oct 4, 2010, at 9:53 AM

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