Nick Enlow pitches against Jackson State

Nick Enlow started game one of a three game weekend series for UALR against Jackson State. He pitched 6 innings giving up 5 runs (4 earned) on 9 hits. He struck out 4 and walked 2. For the season, Nick has a 6.84 ERA, 13 Ks and 5 walks.



UALR story
box score
UALR season stats

Rodden 2 for 4 in NMSU loss to Texas Tech

Golden Giant Vince Rodden was 2 for 4 with a walk, a stolen base, and a run scored in NMSU's 7-4 loss to Texas Tech.

box score
NMSU story
Tech story
NMSU season stats

Rodden goes 0-3 in NMSU victory

Golden Giant Vince Rodden had no hits in 3 at-bats in today's second game, but did have 2 walks and a run scored. NMSU defeated Lamar 8 runs to 1.


NMSU story

Rodden bunts for base hit in NMSU victory

Vince Rodden had a bunt base hit and a run scored in 5 at-bats during the Aggies morning victory over the UT-San Antonio Roadrunners. The final score was 5-3.

box score
NMSU story

Washburn splits DH with #21 Wayne State

There was great weather in Topeka yesterday, and I was actually able to catch the last couple innings of Game 2. The Ichabods lost the first game 2-1, but came back to win game two, 6 to 4, against nationally ranked Wayne State.

Brian Martinek was behind the dish for both games. Combining both games he was 0 for 4, but showed a catcher's knowledge of the strike zone with 3 walks.

Randy Wild grounded out in a pinch hit at-bat in game 1. He played all of game 2 as the DH, going 0 for 3 with a walk.

Jake Lenherr pitched the first 4 innings of game 1, allowing 1 run on 3 hits, walking 3 and striking out 4.

Game 1 box
Game 2 box

Golden Giants name Tetuan as Bench Coach

The Topeka Golden Giants have named John Tetuan as their Bench Coach for 2005.

John Tetuan has pitched for Hayden High School, Wichita State, and in the Colorado Rockies organization.

Topeka General Manager Brett Cowdin says:

John will help with our younger players, he can teach the young men how the game is played.John is a player that I want our team to be like, a competitor. John wants to get into coaching, this will be a great opportunity for him to do that. The door is also open for John to pitch for us, that will be up to him.

Tyler Sweezey has 2 hits in Highland victory

Golden Giant Tyler Sweezey had 2 hits in Highland's first game of the year, against Monroe, NY at Florida's Cocoa Expo. Highland won the game with 15 runs to Monroe's 4.

Golden Giants sign Theo Heflin

The Golden Giants have signed Theo Heflin, a 6'1" left hander who has pitched for Topeka West, Hutchinson Community College and in the Seattle Mariners organization.

Golden Giant General Manager Brett Cowdin says:

Theo has experience and is someone that makes our team better. I am looking forward to working with him.

(Theo is the brother of Golden Giant first baseman Daniel Heflin.)

Golden Giants announce golf tourney

The Topeka Golden Giants will be holding a Golf Tournament on May 22nd. It will be a best ball tourney with 24 teams of 4. Teams and hole sponsors are needed. For more information contact Bruce Cowdin at 785-383-7662.

Sluggers post schedule

The Parkville Sluggers have posted their 2005 schedule.

Chris Mackey pitches against Ole Miss

Chris Mackey pitched the 8th inning for Southwest Missouri State against Mississippi on Sunday. He gave up 1 hit and a walk, but allowed no runs.

box score
SMS story
Ole Miss story

Rodden 2 for 4 as Aggies complete sweep

In Sunday's fourth and final game between Chicago State and New Mexico State, Golden Giant Vince Rodden was 2 for 4 with a walk and 3 runs scored. New Mexico State set a team record for most runs scored in a 4 game series with 88 this weekend.

Vince is currently hitting .405 with a .510 on-base percentage and has 6 stolen bases in 6 attempts.

box score
NMSU story
NMSU season stats

Nick Enlow pitches against #2 LSU

Golden Giant Nick Enlow threw 7 1/3 innings against some of the best hitters in the NCAA on Saturday. Nick gave up 7 earned runs on 14 hits to Louisiana State. If not for 3 errors resulting in 4 unearned runs the UALR Trojans might have gotten the upset, instead they lost 11 to 8.

box score
UALR story

Vince Rodden scores 5 runs in NMSU doubleheader sweep

Vince Rodden had 3 hits, 5 runs scored and 2 runs batted in in 2 games on Saturday. New Mexico State won the first game by a score of 25-12 and won the nightcap 10-2.

game 1 box
game 2 box
NMSU story
Chicago State story

NBC baseball in Amarillo

The old "Dilla Villa" (former home of the Central League Amarillo Dillas) in Amarillo, Texas will be home to an NBC-affiliated team called the Amarillo Aces.

Adam Schroeder pitches in SLU loss

Future Golden Giant pitcher Adam Schroeder pitched 2/3 of an inning for St. Louis University at Western Kentucky today. He gave up 7 earned runs on 4 hits and 2 walks and took the loss. The final score was 12-8.

box score
SLU story

Keith Lancaster pitches 7 shutout innings against Wayne State

Keith Lancaster started for the Pitt State Gorillas in game one of a doubleheader against Wayne State today. He pitched seven shutout innings with 4 Ks, allowing 4 hits and one BB.

box score

Rodden goes 2-3 in big NMSU win

Vince Rodden went 2 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base in New Mexico State's 32-4 win against Chicago State. Vince was lifted in the 5th inning of the blowout.

Box score
NMSU story

Official Site is Up!

The Golden Giants official site is now up at http://www.leaguelineup.com/topekagoldengiants. The league links on the sidebar will be updated shortly.

SLU and SMS season previews

A couple of season preview articles which briefly mention how a couple of future Golden Giants will contribute to their college teams this season.

Springfield News-Leader article featuring Chris Mackey
SLU article featuring Adam Schroeder

Cloud County goes 2-3 on opening road trip

Some news about the Cloud County road trip surfaced in the Concordia Blade-Empire today. The T-Birds were swept in the 3 game series with Weatherford on Friday and Saturday, then swept Redlands in a doubleheader on Sunday.

Information is still limited (no box scores availiable), but we know that Golden Giant Raub Kirkwood got a win in Sunday's first game, pitching 6 scoreless innings. Kirkwood gave up only 1 hit and no walks, striking out five. He also helped his own cause with a solo home run. Fellow Golden Giant Ryne Fraser picked up a save in the 7th (and final) inning of that same game.

Blade Empire article
Weatherford article on Friday
Weatherford article on Saturday

UALR sweeps UAPB

The Trojans of UALR swept a doubleheader against the visiting Golden Lions of Arkansas--Pine Bluff, winning 11-1 in a run-rule shorted game 1 and winning 9-5 in game 2.

Golden Giant Trevor Clay pitched 2 innings in game 2, giving up a single earned run on 2 hits and a walk.

UALR story
game 1 box (no GGs)
game 2 box
UALR season stats

Roster Addition: P/1B Randy Wild

The Golden Giants have signed Randy Wild, who is a sophomore pitcher and first baseman for Washburn University. Last spring Randy hit .372 in 86 at bats and had a 8.22 ERA in 3 appearances for the Ichabods. He will likely play in both roles for the Golden Giants as well. Randy throws right and bats left.

Pittsburg State swept at St. Edwards

Pitt State lost 2 games to St. Edwards in Austin on Sunday (first game 7-2, second game 7-0), and another today (11-10). In game one, the Gorillas featured 2 pitchers from the Golden Giants roster, Keith Lancaster and Mike Grosdidier. No Golden Giants participated in games 2 and 3 of the series.

Keith Lancaster started the game, and pitched 5 innings, giving up 6 runs, 5 of which were earned (but only 4 hits). Keith left the game in the 6th inning with a runner on second, and was replaced by Mike Grosidier. Keith left the game with 6 K's and 3 walks. Mike finished the game, giving up only a single unearned run.


game 1 box score
game 2 box score (no GGs)
game 3 box score (no GGs)

Game Report: Evansville at UALR

The Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans lost to the Evansville Purple Aces today by the score of 13-10. Future Golden Giant pitcher Nick Enlow started the game and picked up his second loss of the season, giving up 6 runs in 7 innings. He was relieved by fellow Golden Giant Trevor Clay, who didn't fare any better, giving up 4 runs in 1/3 of an inning.


Evansville story
box score

Game Reports: NMSU at NM doubleheader

New Mexico completed the sweep against New Mexico State today, winning 8-3 in game 1 and 14-12 in game 2.

In game 1, Vince Rodden was 1 for 3 with 2 walks, a run scored and an RBI. He did not reach base in the nightcap.

Nick Carlson did not play in either game.

game 1 box

Game Report: New Mexico State at New Mexico

The Aggies lost to the Lobos 13-9 on Saturday, but Golden Giant Vince Rodden was 4 for 6 with 2 stolen bases and 2 runs scored. Golden Giant Nick Carlson did not see action for the Lobos.

In his 6 games this season, Vince has 5 leadoff hits, 4 of them infield hits. His batting average has climbed to .360, and his on-base percentage is up to .385.

NMSU story
NM story
box score

NMSU season stats
NM season stats

Game Report: Evansville at UALR

Arkansas-Little Rock fell at home to the Evansville Purple Aces in 11 innings. No Golden Giants saw action in the game.

box score
UALR story
Evansville story


No word on NM-NMSU or Cloud-Weatherford yet.

The Front Office

The Golden Giants got a mention in the Capital Journal's business section last Sunday.

Golden Giants select directors -- Bruce Cowdin and Jerome Plunkett are the promotional and marketing directors for the new semi-pro baseball team, the Topeka Golden Giants.

Plunkett can be reached at (785) 267-6691. Cowdin can be reached at (785) 224-9997.

Golden Giants players include Jared Head, Jake Lenher, Brian Martinek, Daniel Heflin, Ryne Fraser, Raub Kirkwood and Tych Cowdin.

New Mexico-New Mexico State rained out

Friday's scheduled opener of the New Mexico-New Mexico State weekend series was rained out, and will be made up with a Sunday doubleheader.

No word yet on Cloud County at Weatherford.

Game Reports: New Mexico

Sorry folks, I missed some games last weekend. New Mexico opened it season with a three game series at twelfth-ranked Arizona. The Lobos were swept, losing 9-0, 14-5, and 15-6. Golden Giant Nick Carlson struck out in a single pinch hit at-bat in the 9th inning of the second game.

Game 2 story
Game 2 box

New Mexico also lost at Texas Tech earlier today, 18-6, but Nick did not see action.

Upcoming College Games (through 2/13/05)

College teams with players on the current Golden Giants Roster will be playing the following games in the next few days:

Friday, February 11th
Cloud County (Ryne Fraser, Raub Kirkwood) at Weatherford, 2 p.m.
New Mexico State (Vince Rodden) at New Mexico (Nick Carlson), 6 p.m.

Saturday, February 12th
Cloud County (Ryne Fraser, Raub Kirkwood) at Weatherford, 12 p.m. DH
Evansville at Arkansas-Little Rock (Nick Enlow, Trevor Clay), 1 p.m.
New Mexico State (Vince Rodden) at New Mexico (Nick Carlson), 2 p.m.
Pittsburg State (Mike Grosdidier, Keith Lancaster) at St. Edwards, 12 p.m. DH

Sunday, February 13th
New Mexico State (Vince Rodden) at New Mexico (Nick Carlson), 1 p.m.
Evansville at Arkansas-Little Rock (Nick Enlow, Trevor Clay), 1 p.m.
Cloud County (Ryne Fraser, Raub Kirkwood) at Redlands, 1 p.m. DH
Pittsburg State (Mike Grosdidier, Keith Lancaster) at St. Edwards, 12 p.m.

Game Report: NMSU vs. ASU

Vince Rodden went 1 for 4 with a walk, a stolen base and 2 runs scored in New Mexico State's 11-10 loss to ninth-ranked Arizona State on Monday.

box score
NMSU story
ASU story

Game Report: Western Illinois at UALR

Arkansas-Little Rock won 2 out of the 3 game weekend series against Western Illinois.

Golden Giant Nick Enlow was on the hook for the one UALR loss in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader. Nick gave up 5 runs (only 2 earned) in 4 2/3 innings. He struck 2 batters out and walked 1. UALR lost to the Leathernecks 5 to 2.

Golden Giant Trevor Clay got the win for the Trojans in game 3 on Sunday. Trevor gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 8 hits with 3 Ks and no walks in 6 1/3 innings. UALR beat the Leathernecks 8 to 3.

Western Illinois story
Game 2 box
Game 3 box
UALR season stats

Game Report: Gonzaga vs. NMSU

The Aggies defeated Gonzaga 5-1 today, gaining their first victory of the season. Golden Giant Vince Rodden had 2 hits and a run scored.

box score
NMSU story
Gonzaga story

Game Report: Oregon St. vs NMSU

Another rough night for NMSU, they again lose to Oregon State, this time 11-2. Rough night for Golden Giant Vince Rodden as well, going 0-4 with 3 Ks.

Box score
NMSU story
OSU story

Game Report: NMSU vs. Arizona State

The New Mexico State Aggies were shut out again yesterday. This time by the Arizona State Sun Devils, 12 to 0.

Vince Rodden again led off the game with a hit, but was put out as part of an inning ending double play. He did not reach base again, grounding out to short in the 4th, striking out in the 6th, and grounding out to the 3rd baseman in the 8th.

The Aggies continue play in the Bob Schaefer Memorial tournament with a rematch against Oregon State at 6 p.m. CST today.

NMSU box score with play-by-play
NMSU story
Arizona State box score with play-by-play
Arizona State story

Game Report: Oregon St. Vs. NMSU

Well, future Golden Giant Vince Rodden did hit a single off OSU ace Dallas Buck in his first Division I plate appearance, but that was the only hit Oregon State allowed over 7 innings. The game was cut short by run-rule, with OSU leading 19 to 0.

It sounds like speed was a factor in Rodden reaching base. The hit was described as a high chopper to short. Vince was officially 1-3 with a stolen base and 2 strikeouts.

NMSU article
OSU article
box score

Technical Difficulties

Looks like the Aggies live stats software has some opening day bugs.

If the early information from before it went down was correct, Vince Rodden hit a single in his first Division I at-bat, and then stole second base. I guess we'll have to wait for tomorrow's articles to find out anything else.

And so it begins...

Future Golden Giant Vince Rodden and the New Mexico State Aggies will open their season tomorrow against Oregon State in Tempe, Arizona. Looks like Vince gets to open his 2005 season by leading off against All-American Dallas Buck (0.77 ERA against wood in the Cape Cod League last summer, 5.06 against aluminum for OSU last spring).

Look for a game report here tomorrow.

Elsewhere in the NBC

Here's another article about the breakup of the PIL, and the formation of WCCBL. Posted here only because it contains a good discussion of the various types of summer leagues that exist and the various philosophies of managing such teams. Non-profit vs. For-profit; NCAA-sanctioned vs. non-sanctioned; semi-pro vs. strictly summer collegiate.

The MINK league seems to operate somewhere between between the opposite positions of the PIL and the WCCBL. The MINK is semi-pro, but most teams recruit college eligibile players almost entirely. As far as I know, all the MINK teams are not-for-profit, but some teams do have a very minor-league like concern for the fan experience, especially in providing low-cost family entertainment to their communities.

Player Info: RHP Raub Kirkwood

Raub Kirkwood played primarily third base for Cloud County in 2003, then sat out the 2004 season. He will return to Cloud County's roster this spring.

In his junior year at Topeka High, Raub made the all I-70 league team twice, as an infielder on the first team and a pitcher on the second team and made all-city the same year. (In reviewing the linked articles you may notice that he was not the only future Golden Giant to receive some of those honors that year.)