Tag: Sonny DiChiara

The foundation to Auburn Baseball’s success is consistency

After a disappointing season in 2021, Auburn Baseball is back on track to continue the successes of the 2018 and 2019 teams.

The Auburn Tigers are the hottest team in college baseball. The Tigers swept the competition at last weekend’s Auburn Regional, outscoring their opponents 51-17 in the process.

Auburn dominated the regional in all three aspects. At the plate, Auburn hit 13 long balls, which included a three-home run game by [autotag]Cole Foster[/autotag] in Friday’s regional opener against Southeastern Louisiana. The confidence at the plate translated to the field, as Auburn only committed one error on the weekend. Pitching was also dominant, as the starting pitcher in two of the three games struck out ten batters a piece.

Some teams catch wind and have luck at certain points through the year. For Auburn, they are starting to see their consistent play throughout the season payoff.

Head coach [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] was quoted as saying “National Championship or bust” following last weekend’s regional win. He says that the team’s consistency has given him trust, as well as the confidence, to make that claim as they head to Oregon State to face the Beavers in this weekend’s Super Regional.

“We got to a certain point in the season where I said I trust this ball club,” said Thompson prior to the team’s departure for Corvallis, Oregon on Thursday. “This is a ball club of consistency. We have never lost more than two games (in a row) over the season. I don’t know if I have had that in my 30 years of coaching, so there’s a model consistency. I have had trust, and now I believe in them.”

The constant play of this team is the product of a solid build up. Prior to the 2020 season that was abruptly ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Auburn had developed into one of the nation’s best programs.

In 2018. Auburn won the Raleigh Regional in similar fashion to last weekend’s Auburn Regional, and appeared in their first Super Regional since 1999 before falling to SEC foe Florida.

Auburn built off that success in 2019 by appearing in their second-straight Super Regional. The Tigers went on to take two-of-three from North Carolina on the road, and went on to make their first appearance in the College World Series since 1997.

After a season of struggles in 2021, Auburn seems to have found their way back on track to getting to the ultimate goal of being national champion. The player’s energy has rubbed off on Thompson.

 “I feel the chip on their shoulder,” says Thompson. “For those guys to come back last season, a lot of people were like “they are done, they are no good”, and for them to trigger back in, I started feeling it last year.” 

Auburn will spend Friday practicing and adjusting to the climate that the state of Oregon presents, then will lock in and begin the Super Regionals late Saturday night against Oregon State. First pitch between the Tigers and Beavers is set for 9 p.m. CDT.

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Look: Auburn wins regional in dominant fashion

Auburn was unstoppable in their games.

For the third time in the past five seasons, Auburn is heading to the super regionals.

The Tigers beat UCLA 11-4 Monday afternoon to complete a dominant weekend that saw Auburn outscore its opponents 51-18 and never trail.

The celebration was delayed after a weather delay forced the game to be paused with Auburn up 9-0 in the sixth inning. The delay forced starter [autotag]Mason Barnett[/autotag] out of the game. He pitched 5.1 shutout innings, allowing just one hit, three walks, and striking out 10 Bruins.

The Auburn offense pounced on UCLA starter James Hepp to start the game. The first four Tigers reached with [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag] and Brooks Carlson each driving in a run to give Auburn the 2-0 lead.

Auburn added on in the fourth when DiChiara singled up the middle to score Nate LaRue and Blake Rambusch and stretch the lead to 4-0.

[autotag] Brody Moore[/autotag], the Regional MVP, led the fifth inning off with a home run and the Tigers scored three runs in the sixth to pull away from UCLA.

Here are the best photos from Auburn’s victory.

Look: Auburn crushes Southeastern 19-7 to open NCAA Regional

Take a look at some of the best shots from Auburn’s big win.

Auburn’s offense busted out of its slump in the first inning of Friday’s regional opener against Southeastern Louisiana. The Tigers scored 11 first-inning runs and went on to win 19-7.

[autotag]Cole Foster[/autotag] stole the show offensively. The second baseman smashed a two-run bomb from the right side of the plate to put the Tigers up 2-0. The sophomore came up to bat later in the inning and hit a grand slam, this time batting from the left side. His work was not done either, in the fourth he hit his third home run of the night, this time a three-run shot.

He was far from the only Tiger to have a big night, catcher Nate LaRue had two homers of his own, and Bobby Pierce and [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag] each hit one.

Auburn cruised to the victory and is set to face postseason rival Florida State Saturday at 6 p.m. But before we move on to that game let’s take a look at some of the best photos from Auburn’s win.

Sonny DiChiara makes Collegiate Baseball All-American team

This will not be his last All-American nod.

[autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag] has already been named the SEC Co-Player of the Year but the senior is not done winning awards. He was named a Second Team All-America by Collegiate Baseball earlier this week.

DiChiara leads the SEC in on-base percentage (.555) and slugging percentage (.794) and ranks third in batting average (.383). His on-base percentage is the second-best in the country.

The senior’s 19 home runs are the most by an Auburn player since 2010, while his 62 walks are the most in the country and the second-most in the team’s single-season history.

He is the 32nd All-America honor in program history and is the seventh consecutive season an Auburn player has earned an All-America nod.

DiChiara and the No. 14 national seed Tigers (38-19) are set to face FSU  Saturday at 6 p.m. CT in the second round of the Auburn Regional. The winner will move on to the championship game. The Tigers have won their last seven regional games.

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Look: Photos from Auburn’s loss to Kentucky in the SEC Tournament

Auburn is headed home earlier than expected.

Auburn baseball was unable to avenge their regular-season series loss to the Kentucky Wildcats on Wednesday. The Tigers fell 3-1 to the Wildcats in the opening round of the SEC Baseball Tournament.

Auburn’s pitching staff had another strong outing, holding the Wildcats to three runs on eight hits and striking out 13 hitters. Unfortunately, the offense was unable to get going until [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag] hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to tie the game. Kentucky responded with back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the ninth to retake the lead and win the game.

The Tigers struggled to take advantage of scoring opportunities throughout the game. They finished just 1-11 with runners on base and were 0-9 with runners in scoring position.

Despite the early loss, the Tigers are still set to make the NCAA Regionals and even have an outside chance at hosting a Regional.

Here are the best photos from the game.

Auburn falls to Kentucky in their opening SEC tournament game

The Tigers couldn’t muster enough offense in this one.

It didn’t go their way as of late against the Kentucky Wildcats. After closing out the season in Lexington, the Auburn Tigers had to face them once again in the opening round of the tournament.

The Tigers would fall 3-1 with the go-ahead run at the plate. However, we did see strong pitching and defensive plays throughout this game.

The pitching staff was on their game early on as Carson Skipper took the mound. He lasted just three innings on the bump allowing just one hit and one walk to go along with his seven strikeouts. He threw just 42 pitches before giving the ball to Trace Bright, who would pitch into the sixth inning.

In the fourth inning, Auburn fans saw something you just don’t see every day. On a hit to shallow right field, Bobby Pierce threw out Daniel Harris at first base. This wouldn’t be the only time that Harris would get thrown out on a hit to the outfield.

Bright lasted 2.2 innings and surrendered the first run of the game. Carson Swilling would give the skipper 0.2 innings of shutout work giving way to Blake Burkhalter.

The Tigers did get some help from the defense in the top of the eighth inning. Centerfielder Kason Howell fielded the single and the cut off gunned down Harris at the plate.

Auburn wouldn’t fire back until the eighth inning when Kentucky hurler Daniel Harper decided to challenge the Tigers slugger, Sonny DiChiara. Bad move.

The SEC co-player of the year launched a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall to tie it up at one. Unfortunately, when Burkhalter took the mound in the top of the ninth, he was unable to shut down the Wildcats.

Oraj Anu and Adam Fogel each hit solo shots to give Kentucky the 3-1 lead late in this game. Auburn would need to rally in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Brody Moore opened up the bottom of the inning with a single up the middle and Howell was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. That would be as far as it went for the Tigers. Mason Land would strike out on four pitches to get the first out.

Mike Bello would pinch hit and pop up to second base. The final out came when Cam Hill struck out to seal the game for Kentucky.

Now Auburn awaits the selection for the NCAA Regionals.

LSU star outfielder Dylan Crews named SEC Co-Player of the Year

Crews led the SEC in home runs (21) and runs scored (63).

After the conclusion of what was a phenomenal sophomore season for [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag], the outfielder from Longwood, Florida, is taking home some hardware.

On Monday, Crews was named SEC Co-Player of the Year alongside Auburn’s Sonny DiChiara in a vote by the 14 league coaches. He was also named to the conference’s First Team All-Defensive Team.

Crews was named the national freshman of the year last season while earning second-team All-American and All-SEC honors. He followed that up with a fantastic run in 2022. Crews ranks second on the team in batting average at .345 — second only to top college prospect [autotag]Jacob Berry[/autotag] — and leads the way for the Tigers with 21 home runs, the most for an LSU player since [autotag]Ryan Schimpf[/autotag] knocked 22 out of the yard in 2009.

That home run total leads the SEC, and Crews also leads the conference in runs scored with 63. He ranks second in the league in triples (4), total bases (155), and RBI (67) while ranking third in hits (76) and fourth in slugging percentage (.705).

His play was a major factor in the Tigers securing a bye at the SEC Tournament this week in Hoover, Alabama. LSU’s tournament resume looks pretty good after a sweep of Vanderbilt, and a good showing this week could have this team in contention to host a regional if things can break its way.

If that’s going to happen, Crews will undoubtedly play a big role.

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Sonny DiChiara named semifinalist for Dick Howser Trophy

This honor is well deserved.

Auburn first baseman [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag] has been named a semifinalist for the 2022 Dick Howser Trophy, the National College Baseball Writers Association announced.

DiChiara, who transferred from Samford this offseason, wasted no time proving that he belongs in the SEC. The Hoover, Alabama native leads the SEC in walks (62), on-base percentage (.561), and slugging percentage (.782). He also ranks second in batting average (.382).

His 17 home runs are tied for the most by an Auburn player since 2010 and are the seventh most in the SEC.

DiChiara is one of 39 semifinalists for the award, which is one of college baseball’s most prestigious awards. The finalists for the award will be announced on June 9 and the winner will be named on June 17.  Criteria for the award include performance on the field, leadership, moral character, and courage.

DiChiara and the rest of the Tigers (37-18, 16-13 SEC) will return to action Tuesday night in the SEC Tournament. They are set to take on Kentucky (30-24 12-18 SEC) in Hoover.

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Sonny DiChiara, Joseph Gonzalez win SEC Players of the Week

Auburn baseball’s Sonny DiChiara and Sonny Gonzalez both took home weekly honors from the SEC.

Fresh off a series victory over Vanderbilt, first baseman [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag] and pitcher [autotag]Jospeh Gonzalez[/autotag] won weekly SEC awards. DiChiara was named Co-Player of the Week and Gonzalez was named Co-Pitcher of the Week, the conference announced Monday.

It is the first time in program history Auburn has had two players win an award in the same week. Gonzalez is Auburn’s first Pitcher of the Week this season and DiChiara is Auburn’s first Player of the Week since 2018.

DiChiara hit .412 over the weekend with three home runs, eight RBI, and hit safely in all four games last week. He led the league with 18 total bases.

Through eight weeks this season, the Hoover, Alabama, native leads the country in average (.452), on-base percentage (.595), and slugging percentage (.946) and leads the Tigers in doubles (13), homers (11), and RBI (32).

Gonzalez had Auburn’s first complete game on Sunday to lead Auburn to an 8-2 win over Vanderbilt and clinch the series. He is the first Tiger to throw a complete game since Casey Mize in 2018. He tied his career high with eight strikeouts and did not allow a walk.

In seven appearances and six starts, Gonzalez leads Auburn with a 4-0 record and 1.95 ERA. He’s 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA in a pair of SEC starts.

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Auburn first baseman named to Golden Spikes award watchlist

Sonny DiChiara is the sixth Auburn player since 2016 to make the watchlist.

An Auburn baseball player has been named to the Golden Spikes Award watchlist.

[autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag], the first baseman for the Tigers and a recent transfer from Samford, has been named as one of 45 players on the midseason watchlist for the award, which is awarded to the best amateur player in baseball across both high school and college by USA Baseball. DiChiara is one of 11 SEC baseball players named to the watchlist.

DiChiara is certainly one to watch. He currently leads the country in batting average (.461) and on-base percentage (.616) and is second in slugging percentage (.921). His on-base percentage is 25 points higher than anyone else in the country. He also leads the team in home runs and is tied for first on the team in doubles.

He’s the sixth player since 2016 to make the midseason watchlist as an Auburn Tiger, the most recent one being pitcher former Auburn pitcher and current Cleveland Guardians player Tanner Burns.

With DiChiara’s streak of hot play, Auburn baseball has started the season 19-9 overall and 5-4 in conference play. The Tigers are currently coming off an in-conference series win against LSU last Saturday.

DiChiara will look to continue his so-far stellar production when Auburn takes on UAB on Tuesday and then begins a three-game in-conference series against the Vanderbilt Commodores beginning on Friday.

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