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re: Why didn't Ben Sheets go to LSU?
Posted on 1/26/10 at 3:14 pm to LSUnowhas2
Posted on 1/26/10 at 3:14 pm to LSUnowhas2
A couple of you are correct. Smoke coached him up at ULM. His fastball in high school was only in the low 80's. The coaches at ULM put some weight on him, some muscle and improved his velocity over 10 mph during his career at ULM.
He was not a serious candidate to play for most college teams coming out of high school as a pitcher, so noone missed on this one. It was just a college success story and maybe the best job of coaching ever done by Smoke Laval...if he even gets the credit for it.
He was not a serious candidate to play for most college teams coming out of high school as a pitcher, so noone missed on this one. It was just a college success story and maybe the best job of coaching ever done by Smoke Laval...if he even gets the credit for it.
3
Posted on 1/26/10 at 3:29 pm to BengalBrian
He received 1.5 scholarship offers from D1 schools, a full ride to NLU or a half scholly to Mississippi State.
He didn't pitch that much in high school, honestly, and didn't start to develop until midway through his sophomore year at NLU.
He didn't pitch that much in high school, honestly, and didn't start to develop until midway through his sophomore year at NLU.
Posted on 1/26/10 at 3:42 pm to Sheep
My high school faced him in the state championship in 1995, his junior year. He threw in the 90s and completely dominated our team that day. I am not sure why he didnt choose LSU though. it was always a mystery to me.
Posted on 1/26/10 at 4:11 pm to CardiacCats24
hate to disagree with you. He did not start throwing in the 90's until well into his college career. he was a low to mid 80's fastball in high school. Someone lied to you about his fastball in high school or else yall's bats were so slow it looked like he was throwing that hard....LOL. 
Posted on 1/26/10 at 4:15 pm to BengalBrian
He was the only pitcher to shut us down that year. He threw well that day and he didnt just throw in the low 80s. I threw that hard and trust me his arm was much better than mine. He was one of the best pitchers we faced all season.
Posted on 1/26/10 at 4:36 pm to CardiacCats24
wasnt recruited very hard by LSU. wasnt a big LSU fan, either. NLU had a pretty decent baseball team at the time (beat LSU several times while he was at NLU) so it was where he chose.
no, he doesnt have family in monroe. he met and married julie in monroe. now he has family there.
no, he doesnt have family in monroe. he met and married julie in monroe. now he has family there.
Posted on 1/26/10 at 4:40 pm to TheCaterpillar
he wasn't that great coming out of st amant
i know people who knew him around that time
i know people who knew him around that time
Posted on 1/26/10 at 4:40 pm to swamie
quote:
Sheets wasn't even the best pitcher on his team coming out of STA
this
Posted on 1/26/10 at 4:53 pm to SlowFlowPro
quote:Jeremy Robinson was the Ace. Ben was #2.
Sheets wasn't even the best pitcher on his team coming out of STA
Ben threw in the low to mid 80s coming out of high school. He wasn't highly recruited, but he had a great summer in American Legion ball. Athletic Center made it to the American Legion World Series in Oregon and came in second. Probably would have won it all if Jeremy Robinson hadn't quit the team the week before the WS to go to JUCO. Smoke Laval saw something in Sheets and thought he could be an elite pitcher and recruited him as such. He treated him as the Ace of the staff from day one at ULM. Started hitting 88-90 mph his freshman year at ULM. 90-92 by his sophomore, 93+ by his junior year.
Posted on 1/26/10 at 5:01 pm to StatMaster
PED's
Posted on 1/26/10 at 5:09 pm to StatMaster
Ben was overlooked because of other St Amant pitchers. If memory serves me right Ben was not recruited as a pitcher. He had velocity in HS but not much pitching experience. Pitching coach at NLU/ULM worked with Ben and was undefeated his last year at ULM except for the LSU regional game. He had a good game going before developing a blister on his finger. He came out fairly ealry and LSU won. He pitched against Cuba and won in Olympics in a brilliant performance. LSU had a very good pitcher in Ainsworth at the same time.
This post was edited on 1/26/10 at 5:10 pm
Posted on 1/26/10 at 5:15 pm to StatMaster
quote:
Ben threw in the low to mid 80s coming out of high school. He wasn't highly recruited, but he had a great summer in American Legion ball. Athletic Center made it to the American Legion World Series in Oregon and came in second. Probably would have won it all if Jeremy Robinson hadn't quit the team the week before the WS to go to JUCO. Smoke Laval saw something in Sheets and thought he could be an elite pitcher and recruited him as such. He treated him as the Ace of the staff from day one at ULM. Started hitting 88-90 mph his freshman year at ULM. 90-92 by his sophomore, 93+ by his junior year.
Shows that Smoke could spot and develop talent huh??? (Also this reminded us that Skip is human after all)
Posted on 1/26/10 at 5:20 pm to LSUMONSTER
Smoke received credit and eventually Lsu job based on his success at ULM but smoke was not the pitching coach.
Posted on 1/26/10 at 5:36 pm to ulmtiger
Ben makes millions and gives zero back to St. Amant. Some problems with the high school coach.
Posted on 1/26/10 at 5:47 pm to Simplemaaan
You hit it right there. Ben Sheets was told by Bob Lemons that he would never be a successful pitcher. Lemons went on to be successful and still is at STA but he was wrong concerning Ben.
Posted on 1/26/10 at 5:50 pm to 1984Tiger
he didn't have the want to recruit Sheets to LSU
Posted on 1/26/10 at 8:19 pm to BengalBrian
quote:
His fastball in high school was only in the low 80's. The coaches at ULM put some weight on him, some muscle and improved his velocity over 10 mph during his career at ULM.
I'm not lying when I said that I saw him the summer after his senior year clocking in at 91 mph. I was coaching against him... we lost.
Posted on 1/26/10 at 8:22 pm to Choupique19
Because our coach at St. Amant did not let Sheets pitch. Plus he developed so much more in college than he did in high school, whether it was being serious about training/lifting or what he just got better.
Posted on 1/26/10 at 8:35 pm to Number 3 is my Hero
I don't think y'all are giving Monroe enough credit as a city.
Posted on 1/26/10 at 9:09 pm to Rebel
I was suite mates with sheets his freshmen year. He was not offered by LSU (I think they went after Guidry instead), could not hit the side of the barn coming out of high school and took a liking to ole smoke ...
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