UALR Coach Dirk Kinney is entering his second season as the pitching coach/recruiting coordinator at UALR. Kinney came with head coach Scott Norwood from Ouachita Baptist, where the duo guided the Tigers to a second-place finish at the 2008 NCAA Division II College World Series and a school-record 51-16 campaign. Check out his blog here.
JOEY BERGMAN & JESSE SIMPSON - college of charleston cougars PING!BASEBALL PLAYER PROFILE
As we enter post season time, we look at a team that was on the outside looking in when the invitations were handed out Monday. Joey Bergman and Jesse Simpson starred for the College of Charleston Cougars who ended their good but not good enough year with a 35-22 record. The perennial SoCon stalwart was ranked in the top thirty during the second half of the season, but a six game losing skid which included an 0-2 showing in the conference tournament laid any extended post season plans to rest. However the close-but-no-cigar outcome was not due to the contributions of their leading hitter, Joey Bergman and top hurler Jesse Simpson.
Bergman finished among the nation's leaders with a .452 batting average on 100 hits. He also scored a SoCon record 88 runs, popped 15 home runs, and stole 24 bases in 26 attempts. For his offensive exploits he was justly named the Southern Conference Player of the Year.
How did Bergman reach such lofty numbers this season? “I pay attention throughout the whole game,” Bergman told Ping !Baseball. “I watch what a guy likes to throw and on what count (he likes to throw it)”. Bergman's started playing baseball at the age of four, experience a jump in his game just before high school. After graduation, Bergman went looking for a college to play at. On his way back from a recruiting trip to Western Carolina, Bergman decided to stop and check out the College of Charleston , as he knew a former high school teammate who played there. After talking to the coaches, he found the atmosphere and campus to his liking. Soon after, he became a C of C Cougar. When asked by Ping !Baseball how he felt about his stellar performance this season, Bergman replied that it was “very pleasing.” In a separate understatement of the year, when asked what it was like to date all those Playboy Bunnies, Hugh Hefner said it was “neat.”
Jesse Simpson found his way to the College of Charleston after two seasons playing at Ole' Miss. Despite the smaller crowds at C of C games, Simpson said there was not much difference in the competition on the field. The senior right handed pitcher has been the most consistent force in the Cougar rotation with a 9-4 record and inclusion on the All-SoCon Second Team. His ERA was an unflattering 5.52, but Simpson reminds that “the SoCon is a very hitting dedicated conference… everything we threw up was getting hit.” When asked what it takes to be a college pitcher, Simpson said it was all about dedication. “With baseball, the biggest thing is it's such a long season. You have to keep staying focused. Mentally, it's tough” he said.
Just for fun, and because we here at Ping !Baseball like to stir things up, we asked both Bergman and Simpson the following: two outs, bottom of the 9 th inning, two runners on base in a one-run game. Who wins in a matchup between you two? Bergman's response was confident, yet polite. “I think I would have confidence in my ability,” he said. “I would think he would probably walk me.” Simpson, however, was confident that he would win this mythical matchup. Why? “I'm probably just gonna peg him,” he said.
With the end of the season so is the career of Simpson who was a senior. Bergman's bat could return to campus for another season, but when you compile a .778 slugging percentage with a .551 on base percentage with speed, those are the kinda numbers that get noticed by scouts so he could be playing professionally this summer.
Nonetheless, both will rely on their athletic skills, and a little superstition as they continue their baseball playing careers whether it be as a Cougar, professionally or recreationally. Bergman will spit on his batting gloves between every pitch he sees. Simpson will wear the same belt on his uniform that he has worn with every start, after rocking out to “Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi before the game. While they won't be bringing a little Southern flair to Omaha this June, they'll still a pair wonderful athletes and students that make college baseball wonderful.
JOEY BERGMAN & JESSE SIMPSON - college of charleston cougars 
invitations were handed out Monday. Joey Bergman and Jesse Simpson starred for the College of Charleston Cougars who ended their good but not good enough year with a 35-22 record. The perennial SoCon stalwart was ranked in the top thirty during the second half of the season, but a six game losing skid which included an 0-2 showing in the conference tournament laid any extended post season plans to rest. However the close-but-no-cigar outcome was not due to the contributions of their leading hitter, Joey Bergman and top hurler Jesse Simpson. 
Despite the smaller crowds at C of C games, Simpson said there was not much difference in the competition on the field. The senior right handed pitcher has been the most consistent force in the Cougar rotation with a 9-4 record and inclusion on the All-SoCon Second Team. His ERA was an unflattering 5.52, but Simpson reminds that “the SoCon is a very hitting dedicated conference… everything we threw up was getting hit.” When asked what it takes to be a college pitcher, Simpson said it was all about dedication. “With baseball, the biggest thing is it's such a long season. You have to keep staying focused. Mentally, it's tough” he said. 
