Sophomore Ryan Garton will make the first start of his FAU career on Friday at Louisiana-Lafayette. (FAUOwlAccess.com file photo)
Going with Garton
Ryan Garton will get his first shot in the starting rotation on Friday when FAU opens a three-game Sun Belt series at Louisiana-Lafayette.
Originally published on
3/25/2010
by
Chuck King
> GameCapsule: Our scouting report
BOCA RATON - Ryan Garton had a feeling he’d be the starting pitcher in Friday’s series opener at Louisiana-Lafayette.
That didn’t quell the enthusiasm he felt when FAU coach John McCormack made the call on Monday.
“I’m excited,” said Garton who spent much of the fall as a starter but moved exclusively to the bullpen for the season. “I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing for the team.”
This may be the first start of his FAU career, but Garton is accustomed to the bright lights of Friday night. He’s thrown 12 1/3 innings over the course of the last two Fridays pitching in relief of former Friday starter Taylor Everist. Garton won one of those games and kept the Owls close in the other.
Even though the Ragin’ Cajuns expect a carnival-like atmosphere as they celebrate the 1,000th ballgame at Tigue Moore field, Garton is not worried about making the transition back to the starting rotation.
“It’s a little different at the beginning of the game, but once that inning is passed it’s pretty much the same to me,” said Garton, who’s struck out 26 batters in 22 1/3 innings.
And he isn’t concerned about pacing himself.
“Every pitch I throw, it’s almost like I give 100 percent,” Garton said. “My teammates ask me, ‘How do you throw 100 percent every pitch?’ I’ve been going seven innings and felt fine. I haven’t felt tired until I’ve been taken out.”
Even considering how well Garton’s pitched on the last couple Fridays, he still wasn’t a lock to move into the rotation on Friday night, which is when coaches usually throw their ace.
FAU’s coaching staff considered moving Mike Gipson with his 4-0 record and 1.80 ERA from Saturday to Friday and using Garton later in the weekend. McCormack ultimately decided to leave Gipson where he was.
“Mike is doing so well where he is at that we didn’t want to bother him,” McCormack said. “Just let him stay on his routine."
FAU (12-7, 4-2 Sun Belt)
at Louisiana-Lafayette (11-10, 2-4 Sun Belt)
- When: Friday, 7 p.m., Saturday 4:07 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.
- Where: Tigue Moore Field
- Radio: Streaming live
- TV: CSS (Saturday)
- Scouting the Ragin' Cajuns: Official site
Pitching Probables:
Fri – FAU RHP Ryan Garton (2-0, 3.16) vs. ULL RHP Zach Osborne (2-1, 1.80)
Sat – FAU RHP Mike Gipson (4-0, 1.80) vs. ULL LHP T. J. Geith (2-1, 5.90)
Sun – FAU RHP Kevin Alexander (2-2, 6.04) vs. ULL TBA
Inside the Owls: FAU starting pitchers have allowed one run in their last 25 innings. …Taylor Everist leads the Sun Belt with seven starts, but will pitch from the bullpen this weekend. Wednesday’s winning pitcher R. J. Alvarez will also be available out of the pen. ...Mike Albaladejo has thrown out 10 potential base stealers this season. …Andy Mee’s 36 hits is tied for fourth in the Sun Belt.
Inside the Rajin; Cajuns: Chad Keefer has hit safely in his last 13 games and has thrown out 12 potential base stealers, tops in the Sun Belt. …ULL lost to No. 4 LSU 4-3 on Wednesday. ...ULL’s 3.53 team ERA is the lowest in the Sun Belt. ...FAU and ULL have each won four games in the teams’ eight meetings.