Flames Open 2011 Home Slate This Weekend Against Binghamton
3/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Complete Baseball Notes (Binghamton)
After nine consecutive road games to begin the year, the Liberty Flames (3-6) open their 2011 home schedule with a four-game series against the Binghamton Bearcats (1-3), Friday-Sunday at Worthington Stadium. The Flames home and the series opener is slated for Friday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday, with the first game starting at 1 p.m. The first series between the two teams since 2004 will conclude Sunday at 1 p.m.
Last Time Out
Host Virginia Tech grab an early advantage which it never religuished in a 9-1 victory over Liberty, Wednesday afternoon at English Field in the first midweek game of the year for both teams. The game was the final of nine consecutive road contests to open the year for the Flames.
Designated hitter Justin Sizemore had two hits for the Flames, who managed four total in the contest.
On Deck
Liberty will host the Tribe of William & Mary in the first midweek game of the season at Worthington Stadium, next Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
On the weekend, the Flames will travel to Greenville, N.C., for the Keith LeClair Classic. Liberty opens the tournament on Friday at 1 p.m. against Rutgers. The Flames will also meet Monmouth and host East Carolina.
Following the Flames
Each game this weekend can be heard LIVE on the World Wide Web at LibertyFlames.com. Saturday's first game and Sunday's contest will also be broadcast on WWMC "The Light" 90.90 radio. Nick Pierce will handle the play-by-play and Doug Wallace color duties for the broadcast.
Home Sweet Home
For the past 32 years, the Flames have called Worthington Stadium home. Named for program architect and the first Liberty head baseball coach, Al Worthington, Liberty has compiled an impressive 524-238-5 record at the stadium for a winning percentage of .686 since the facility's inception in 1979.
The Flames posted a 19-9 record at home in 2010. Liberty is 49-26-1 at home under four-year head coach Jim Toman's guidance.
The Flames open the home portion of their 2011 schedule, Friday. Liberty and Binghamton are scheduled to play four games during the weekend.
Connections - Part I
Three Liberty Flames, catcher Casey Rasmus, third baseman Tyler Bream and infielder Austin Taylor, each have connections to Major League Baseball through family members.
Rasmus, a junior, is in his first season as a member of the Liberty roster. His brother Colby is a member of the St. Louis Cardinals and enters his third season as an outfielder with the team in 2011.
Bream, also a junior, is the son of former major leaguer Sid Bream. Sid Bream, a Liberty standout during his collegiate days, played 12 seasons in the majors (1983-94) with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros.
Taylor, a senior, is the nephew of former major leaguer Bill Taylor. Bill Taylor spent parts of eight seasons with the Oakland A's, New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays.
Connections - Part II
Three Flames are carrying on a family tradition, as a member of their family formerly played baseball at Liberty.
First baseman/outfielder Doug Bream's uncle Dave was a member of the Liberty baseball program from 1982-85.
Third baseman Tyler Bream's father, Sid, and two uncles, Dave and Sheldon, were members of the Flames. Sid, who went on to play in the major leagues, was a standout for Liberty on the diamond from 1979-81. The first baseman and Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame member was named a NAIA and NABC All-American in 1981, as the Flames reached the NAIA National Tournament.
Bream's uncles, Dave and Sheldon, were also members of the Flames baseball team during their college days. Dave played infield for Liberty from 1982-85, while Sheldon was an outfielder with the Flames from 1989-93. Tyler and Doug are second cousins.
Meanwhile, pitcher Garrett Baker begins his first season at Liberty. The junior left-hander's brothers, Jason and Steve, played for the Flames. Jason patrolled the outfield for the Flames from 1993-95, earning first team All-Big South honors in 1995. Steve was also an outfielder at Liberty from 1999-02. He was named to the Big South all-conference second team in 2002.
