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Texas Tech Friday Morning Notes - Rubbing Their Bats With Chicken Edition

By Seth C

Double-T Nation News:

New Masked Rider Ashley Hartzog has an interview with the Clovis News Journal. Here's Ashley on being part of the tradition:

Unmasked ambition: When I was 5 years old, my dad took me to a home game at Texas Tech. I was sitting there and suddenly the Masked Rider walks by down on the field. I was interested in horses at that point in time and it's so neat to get to see it. My friends and family encouraged me, saying you could do it, and I made it an ambition.

Texas Tech Football:

If you are looking for a free draft guide then look no further that Mocking the Draft's Matt Miller, who owns the scouting service, New Era Scouting, which has put out a free NFL Draft guide. Go get your draft on, and make sure and send good thoughts and mojo to Danny this weekend.

Texas Tech Baseball:

Date Texas Tech Oklahoma Result
Fri. 04/25/08 @ 6:05 p.m. Zach Stewart (2-1, 2.93) Andrew Doyle (5-3, 3.46) Boxscore
Sat. 04/26/08 @ 2:00 p.m. Chad Bettis (3-3, 5.21) Jeremy Erben (1-0, 4.40) Boxscore
Sun. 04/27/08 @ 1:00 p.m. Nate Karns (1-2, 10.12) Ryan Duke (5-3, 3.20) Boxscore

LAJ's George Watson previews this weekend's series with Oklahoma and also focuses on the return of junior left fielder Chris Richburg, who was out with an injury since March. Here's Richburg on coming back from injury:

"Anytime you get hurt it brings you back down to earth and makes you not want to take things for granted anymore," Richburg said. "When you have six weeks to sit out and think about all that stuff, all you want to do is get back because you cherish it a lot more."

DT's Ben Maki has all of the details on the Major League tradition of sacrificing a bucket of chicken to snap out of their current slump:

Tech pitcher James Leverton said the Texas Tech baseball team bought a bucket of KFC before Sunday's game and the Red Raiders have been rubbing their bats with the chicken, then refreezing the chicken for the next game.

Maki also covers the pitching changes due to the Ramos injury:

Tech closer Zach Stewart (2-1, 3.90 ERA) is scheduled to get the start today, his first of the season. He said he plans to pace himself more than when he is in the closer role.

"When I only throw one inning, I can come out and throw a little harder," Stewart said. "I'm gonna be on a pitch count, surely, so I'll probably have to take it easy as far as I've only thrown at most 40 pitches (in an outing) all year."

Leverton will move into the closer slot, and Hays said Leverton has what it takes to fill the void left by Stewart.

"James has got the mentality you want playing first, short, third, pitch, whatever," Hays said. "He's got the right mentality, and if he gets beat, it's because it's a physical situation for him, not a mental. He fits the role and he's kind of been that way. Our problem (is) our starting pitching hasn't been consistent enough to do everything coach (Dan) Spencer had set up Leverton and Cloud, left and right, giving the ball to Stewart, we just haven't had enough of those opportunities."

DMN's Brian Davis takes a look at the Big 12 Conference.

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