:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68723650/1152244687.0.jpg)
Earlier this week, I previewed the 2021 Vanderbilt Baseball Schedule. At that point, the only games that were confirmed were opening weekend against Wright State, and an SEC schedule starting on March 19th.
Well, the Vandyboys twitter account just confirmed that our long scheduled series with Oklahoma State at their new stadium will indeed happen this year.
My reaction? Let’s call it mixed.
Hmm. I live in OK. Covid is nightmarishly out of control here right now. I bet they'll let a whole stadium worth of fans in here, too, knowing Stillwater. Hope Corbs keeps the team hermetically sealed between games. https://t.co/S2wsTJliOf
— Andrew VU '04 (@AndrewVU041) January 26, 2021
In a normal year, this would have made my damned day, as I live but a 90 minute drive from Okie State’s campus, and you best believe I would be there decked out in black and gold. This year? No. I will not be in attendance.
Anyway, let’s preview the series:
2020 Record: 13-5. Former Vanderbilt assistant coach Josh Holliday’s Pokes squad opened their 2020 season in an ignominious fashion—dropping 2 of 3 to the Grand Canyon University Fightin’ Online Bryce Drews. The also dropped contests to UCLA (understandable), Illinois (less understandable), and Mizzourah State (spits). On the plus side, they did beat Arizona State and fellow Big XII foe aTm.
Player to Watch: #7 Sr. INF/C Max “Packard” Hewitt. The Connors State Juco transfer took advantage of the extra year of eligibility, and will likely be getting a graduate degree in animal husbandry or some such Okie State major. He’s from Ontario, CA, so he has already likely apologized for this. In 2020, he slashed .410/.479/.525 with 5 2Bs and a 3B.
Confidence Level: High (as is my Covid anxiety level).
The Dores still have two OOC weeks to fill. Expect those announcements soon.