Obviously a good team....anyone know any strengths and possible weaknesses?
Ole miss scouting report?
- Thread starter maxmrnb1
- Start date
Ole Miss fan, here. I hope this comes across as friendly discourse, rather than an annoying opposing fan coming to your board.
Starting Pitching: We have a fantastic trio of starting pitching in Elliott, Rabe, and Townsend.
Rabe is our ace, but interestingly, he has been our Saturday starter. Elliott is the veteran leader on the team, so he has been the Friday night guy. Elliott started as a true freshman as "co-ace" with Delucia when we won the NC in 2022. However, he underwent two separate surgeries for season ending injuries in back to back years. He is now back on the mound, but he seems to lack the confidence he had as a true freshman in 2022. He is still really good, but in 2022 he was dominant during the postseason. I am interested to see who we roll out against y'all.
Bullpen: The bullpen is top-heavy. We have 2-3 guys who we can really rely on, but after that, reliable relief is pretty thin. We have lots of untapped potential, so for us to make a serious run at the title series, I imagine that an unexpected arm will have to help get us there.
Fielding: Average team in the field. We make a decent amount of errors, but that is offset by some "wow" plays.
Hitting: The Rebels have a risky approach at the plate. We have struck out more than any other tournament team, but we have also likely hit more home runs than just about anyone else. The team is built on power hitting, as we have two players (Utermark and Bissetta) with over 20 home runs this year. When the hitting is hot, I am not sure there is any team in the country that can stop us. However, if the hitting is cold, then I wouldn't be surprised to see a team shut us out--even one without stellar pitching. Our hitting has an incredibly high ceiling, but a very low floor.
Note: I do not know much about UNC baseball, but after reading some previews, it appears that both teams have really good starting pitching and capable bullpens. The difference here is in hitting--while Ole Miss can get hot or cold, it seems like UNC has the more consistent bats. If you can limit the long balls, then it may be a long day for Ole Miss, but if you let us get too hot, too quickly, then it may get out of reach to the point UNC cant chip away at the lead. It is all going to come down to whether or not UNC can rattle the Ole Miss pitchers early, forcing us to use our thin bullpen, and whether or not the UNC pitching can stop the seemingly hot Ole Miss bats. I bet this one is going to be one hell of a ballgame for the full 9 innings.
Thoughts?
Safe travels and Hotty Toddy!
Starting Pitching: We have a fantastic trio of starting pitching in Elliott, Rabe, and Townsend.
Rabe is our ace, but interestingly, he has been our Saturday starter. Elliott is the veteran leader on the team, so he has been the Friday night guy. Elliott started as a true freshman as "co-ace" with Delucia when we won the NC in 2022. However, he underwent two separate surgeries for season ending injuries in back to back years. He is now back on the mound, but he seems to lack the confidence he had as a true freshman in 2022. He is still really good, but in 2022 he was dominant during the postseason. I am interested to see who we roll out against y'all.
Bullpen: The bullpen is top-heavy. We have 2-3 guys who we can really rely on, but after that, reliable relief is pretty thin. We have lots of untapped potential, so for us to make a serious run at the title series, I imagine that an unexpected arm will have to help get us there.
Fielding: Average team in the field. We make a decent amount of errors, but that is offset by some "wow" plays.
Hitting: The Rebels have a risky approach at the plate. We have struck out more than any other tournament team, but we have also likely hit more home runs than just about anyone else. The team is built on power hitting, as we have two players (Utermark and Bissetta) with over 20 home runs this year. When the hitting is hot, I am not sure there is any team in the country that can stop us. However, if the hitting is cold, then I wouldn't be surprised to see a team shut us out--even one without stellar pitching. Our hitting has an incredibly high ceiling, but a very low floor.
Note: I do not know much about UNC baseball, but after reading some previews, it appears that both teams have really good starting pitching and capable bullpens. The difference here is in hitting--while Ole Miss can get hot or cold, it seems like UNC has the more consistent bats. If you can limit the long balls, then it may be a long day for Ole Miss, but if you let us get too hot, too quickly, then it may get out of reach to the point UNC cant chip away at the lead. It is all going to come down to whether or not UNC can rattle the Ole Miss pitchers early, forcing us to use our thin bullpen, and whether or not the UNC pitching can stop the seemingly hot Ole Miss bats. I bet this one is going to be one hell of a ballgame for the full 9 innings.
Thoughts?
Safe travels and Hotty Toddy!
Appreciate the insights, WhoDat! Thank you and good luck.
Not sure if it matters but the size of Omaha field should limit HRs. Which should play into UNCs hands.
Charles Schwab Field is large and prevailing winds tend to keep long balls in the park. If that holds true, it may help Carolina against the Ole Miss’ power hitters.
I'm not saying it wont prevent a few of the balls from leaving the park, but alot of these balls being hit would be out in any baseball stadium in the country. I guess this shows how hard our guys are swinging the bat--and how hard we whiff for strike 3 as well...
Should be an interesting game. Sounds like we matchup well when it comes to pitching. Hopefully we can keep you guys inside the stadium.
Posters above made the key point - Charles Schwab stadium is not conducive to home runs, so seems best path to success is gap-to-gap, taking extra bases and playing really good defense. The off days in the schedule should help both teams with top-heavy bullpens since won't have too many cases of asking bullpen guys to go back-to-back days.
Judd Utermark is a Charlotte kid - played his high school ball at Charlotte Christian (now coached by UNC/Christian alum Reid Fronk).
Judd Utermark is a Charlotte kid - played his high school ball at Charlotte Christian (now coached by UNC/Christian alum Reid Fronk).
Yep, I think it will be a great matchup. Whoever wins Game 1 will be in the driver's seat to reach the finals.
I also want to add regarding the stadium size:
Swayze Field (Our home field) dimensions:
- Left/Right Field: 330 ft
- Left/Right Center Field: 365 ft
- Center: 390 ft
Charles Schwab dimensions:
- Left/Right Field: 335 ft
- Left/Right Center Field: 375 ft
- Center Field: 408 ft
Omaha is definitely longer, but not as much of a difference as some are making it out to be. I guess, as one poster mentioned, the wind will play a much larger role--but that is dependent on the weather conditions.
If you ask Google AI about Charles Schwab Stadium being conducive to home runs......
No, Charles Schwab Field in Omaha is not conducive to home runs; it plays as a notoriously "pitcher-friendly" and expansive ballpark.
Several factors limit home runs at the stadium:
No, Charles Schwab Field in Omaha is not conducive to home runs; it plays as a notoriously "pitcher-friendly" and expansive ballpark.
Several factors limit home runs at the stadium:
- Large Dimensions: The park features deep outfields, measuring 335 feet down the lines, 375 feet in the power alleys, and 408 feet to straightaway center field.
- Stadium Orientation and Wind: The stadium faces a direction that invites strong winds blowing in from center field, routinely knocking down fly balls that would easily clear the fences in smaller parks.
- Heavy Air: Even on hot days, the atmospheric conditions and marine layer often prevent baseballs from carrying well.
It's way more than just the dimensions. It's the wind usually blowing in from center and the heavy air. Almost any ball in Omaha that is hit in the air towards the middle of the field is an out. Almost all the homeruns are down the line. That ballpark plays HUGE from gap to gap.
The annual breakdown of total home runs during the MCWS at Charles Schwab are as follows:
- 2025: 14 home runs hit in 14 games (0 grand slams)
- 2024: 30+ home runs
- 2023: 28 home runs
- 2022: 28 home runs
- 2021: 28 home runs
- 2020: Canceled - COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2019: 21 home runs
- 2018: 20 home runs
- 2017: 23 home runs
- 2016: 10 home runs
- 2015: 15 home runs (marked by the introduction of the flat-seam baseball).
- 2013–2014: Only 6 total home runs hit across 30 combined games due to deadened bat standards and deep dimensions.
- 2011–2012: Low offensive numbers during the stadium's inaugural years, averaging fewer than 1 home run per tournament.
@WhoDatRebel Seeing as you're from their conference, is Georgia's field a bandbox or do MSU and UGa just have some Ruthian sluggers? There must've been like 47 homeruns hit there in the Supers...
Speed and outfield ability also plays a larger than normal role in the success at Omaha. A great outfield can save a lot of runs vs. an average or below average outfield there.
Georgia's field is:
- Left Field: 350 feet
- Left Center: 370 feet
- Center Field: 404 feet
- Right Center: 365 feet
- Right Field: 314 feet
Last edited:
Their offense looks to be doing just enough in the post season to get by. Maybe a bit like us. They haven’t scored more than 6 runs in a game, I don’t think. Pitching well obviously. Might be headed for a 3-2 type of game.
Will be curious who gets the nod for us. Decaro or lynch. Guessing it will be 100 percent based on matchup/ potential matchup combo.
Will be curious who gets the nod for us. Decaro or lynch. Guessing it will be 100 percent based on matchup/ potential matchup combo.
Ole Miss Baseball Schedule Scores & Stats | WarrenNolan.com
The 2026 Baseball Schedule for the Ole Miss Rebels with line and box scores plus records, streaks, and rankings.
You’re right, they’ve played all close games. They had 7 but it was in extra innings. Big HR team + low offensive output overall seems pretty favorable for a matchup in Omaha. But they’ve been consistent and have kept opponent runs down which many other teams have not. If both teams are playing at their ceilings I think we are in a more favorable position but you gotta play the game.
Omaha has a Big Stadium. Don't think you will be hitting that many homers. Should be a good game.
Yeah, I think the size of the stadium gets overstated, but not because it doesn't play large, because the wind is a bigger reason.
The Missouri River is 600-800 feet wide in Omaha, and it's like 3 blocks past the outfield. On hot days in the summer, that's a recipe for constant winds off the water into the outfield.
Maybe it's to Ole Miss' advantage that it's a night game and the temperature will be dropping by the end.
The Missouri River is 600-800 feet wide in Omaha, and it's like 3 blocks past the outfield. On hot days in the summer, that's a recipe for constant winds off the water into the outfield.
Maybe it's to Ole Miss' advantage that it's a night game and the temperature will be dropping by the end.
Thank you. That is an intriguing report.
My guess is that it will be Rabe, who has really impressed me, starting against Carolina--unless y'all have a diminutive lefty who tops out at 87, but has 4 butterfly pitches that he can throw consistently for strikes.