Feb. 13, 2002
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this week in baylor baseball
On the weekend, 25th-ranked Baylor (1-3) begins a three-game series against No. 6 Southern Cal (2-2) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles - the second straight weekend the Bears get to play in a major league park.
The series begins Friday night at 6 p.m. PT (8 p.m. CT), with junior RHP Steven White (0-0, 1.35) squaring off against freshman LHP Matt Chico (0-1, 2.08). Saturday, the game kicks off at 1 p.m. PT (3 p.m. CT) as junior LHP Jared Theodorakos (0-1, 4.50) takes on freshman LHP J.P. Howell (1-0, 1.80). Sunday's first pitch is set for noon PT (2 p.m. CT), starters have yet to be announced.
Baylor enters the weekend coming off a strong 12-1 win over UT-San Antonio in their home opener, while USC has won two straight after dropping their first two games at Long Beach State. The Trojans are playing their first 22 games on the road (including this series at Dodger Stadium) while Dedeaux Field undergoes a $4 million renovation.
baylor vs. southern cal
The only previous meetings in the USC-Baylor series came in 1948, when USC beat Baylor twice (8-0, 16-3) in the NCAA Western Regional, played in Denver, Colo. The second loss came in the regional final, with USC advancing to the national final round, where the Trojans would win their first of 12 national titles.
At the time, the NCAA baseball playoffs were divided into only two four-team regionals, with the winner of each regional advancing to the final round. Since only eight teams were invited to the playoffs, those eight teams have often been credited with a College World Series appearance.
The 1948 regional was Baylor's first NCAA baseball postseason appearance. Since then, the Bears have been selected for postseason play nine times, including each of the past four seasons. Baylor has two College World Series appearances to its credit (1977, 1978).
quick notes
* Senior Tim Hartshorn was named the Most Outstanding Player at the Astros College Classic and Big 12 Player of the Week after going 10-for-15 with a double, two triples, a home run, four runs scored and four RBI last weekend (three games).
* When Baylor plays USC at Dodger Stadium this weekend, they will be playing in the second of three major league parks on the schedule this season. The Bears are believed to be the first NCAA team to play in three major league stadiums in one season, Baylor opened the season at Enron Field for the Astros College Classic, and the Ballpark in Arlington will be the site of this year's Big 12 Tournament.
last time out
The Baylor offense scored 11 runs in the first three innings and coasted to a 12-1 win over UTSA Wednesday night in the Bears' home opener.
Baylor (1-3) scored twice in the first, but it was an eight-run second inning that did in the Roadrunners (0-1). With one out in the second, OF Steve Dorneman hit a two-run homer to left -- his first in almost two years -- that really got things going for the Bears. The next six batters all reached base, culminated by a two-run triple by 1B Mike Huggins that knocked UTSA starter Scott Sanders (0-1) out of the game.
RHP Justin Taylor (1-0) got back on track with an excellent outing, throwing six shutout innings on just 59 pitches. The senior struck out four, walked no one, and gave up two hits.
Last weekend, the Bears suffered three one-run losses in the first three games of the season, played at Enron Field as part of the Astros College Classic.
Baylor opened the season Feb. 7 with a 10-9, 12-inning loss to No. 11 Rice. After trailing 9-2 through six innings, the Bears scored three in the seventh and four in the eighth to tie things up. Trey Taylor, Cody Hall and Kyle Edens pitched eight outstanding innings in relief of starter Justin Taylor, but it was Edens who allowed a solo home run to Rice's Dane Bubela (brother of former Baylor star Jaime Bubela) in the12th inning to give the Owls the win. Tim Hartshorn tied the school record for hits in a game with five in the losing effort.
In game two, it was again a last at-bat home run that did in the Bears, this time, Houston catcher Chris Snyder did the honors with a solo bomb in the ninth that gave the Cougars a 3-2 win. Snyder's shot barely cleared the 20-foot wall in left field and wasted a strong effort from Baylor starter Steven White, who went 6.2 innings, striking out five and allowing just one earned run.
Baylor tried to come back once more in game three against TCU, and once more, the Bears suffered defeat. The Horned Frogs topped the Bears 6-5 despite a valiant late-inning comeback powered by Michael Griffin's first collegiate homer, a two-run shot in the ninth that cut the lead to one. Jared Theodorakos took the loss for Baylor despite striking out eight batters in six innngs.
baylor in the rankings
After dropping three straight at the Astros College Classic last week, the Bears dropped to 25th in Baseball America and fell out of both the Collegiate Baseball and USA Today Baseball Weekly polls this week.
The highest preseason ranking in Baylor history came in 2000 (No. 10, Baseball America). The best final ranking in program history is No. 6 (Collegiate Baseball, 1978), while the highest ranking at any point was No. 3 (Baseball America, May 8, 2000).
rough start? so what!
Twice in the last 25 years (prior to 2002) have the Bears started a season 0-3. The most recent occurance came in 1998, when Baylor opened on the road against Arizona State and was swept in the series. The Bears finished 41-20-1 and qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time under coach Steve Smith.
Before that, the last time Baylor opened with three straight losses was 1978. That season, too, turned out okay, despite the start, the Bears advanced to the College World Series for the second straight year.
hartshorn starts season with bang
Senior co-captain Tim Hartshorn opened the season with a bang at the Astros College Classic (Feb. 7-9). Batting in the leadoff spot all three games, Hartshorn went 10-for-15 with a double, two triples, a home run, four runs scored and four RBI.
For his efforts, the senior was named Most Outstanding Player for the tournament. Hartshorn followed in the steps of former Bear Kelly Shoppach, who earned the same honor last season in the inaugural Astros College Classic. Hartshorn also was named Big 12 Player of the Week for games played Jan. 25-Feb. 10.
control freaks
As a staff, Baylor pitchers have compiled an astounding 5.8-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio through the first four games of the season. The Bears have struck out 35 opponents (in 38.1 innings) while walking just six batters. Junior LHP Jared Theodorakos leads the staff with eight strikeouts and no walks.
preseason honors
Baseball America included RHP Steven White in its preseason all-America listing (third team). White and OF Chris Durbin were picked to repeat their 2001 all-Big 12 first team selections. White was named the top draft prospect in the Big 12 for 2002, with Durbin ranking fifth in the conference. OF David Murphy was named the fourth-best prospect in the league for the 2003 draft. LHP Trey Taylor was predicted to be the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Baseball America picked the Bears to finish third in the Big 12 and earn their fifth straight NCAA tournament selection. Durbin was ranked as having the strongest outfield arm in the Big 12, and SS Mark Saccomanno was named as the best infield arm in the conference.
The Dallas Morning News named Durbin and RHP Justin Taylor to its preseason all-Big 12 first team and included White on the second team. The publication predicted the Bears would finish fifth in the Big 12 Conference in 2002.
white-washing the opponents
Junior RHP Steven White was named preseason all-America (third team) by both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball prior to the 2002 season. A first team all-Big 12 selection as a sophomore, White went 10-3 with a 3.49 ERA in 2001 and returns as Baylor's staff ace.
In its preseason issue, Baseball America named White the top draft prospect in the Big 12 for the 2002 amateur draft.
murphy missing
Sophomore outfielder David Murphy will miss the first four-to-six weeks of the season after breaking the hamate bone in his right (non-throwing) hand. Murphy had surgery on Jan. 22 and will be sidelined until late February. After his cast comes off, he will require 2-to-5 weeks of rehab before returning to the line-up.
three mlb parks in one season
If Baylor qualifies for the Big 12 Tournament in 2002, they will become what is believed to be the first NCAA team to play in three major league stadiums in one season. The Bears' first two weekends are to be spent at Enron Field in Houston for the Astros College Classic and at Dodger Stadium (three-game series vs. USC). The Big 12 Tournament will be played at the Ballpark in Arlington for the first time in 2002, previous Big 12 Tournaments were played at the minor league park in Oklahoma City.
home is where the wins are
Since moving into Baylor Ballpark early in the 1999 season, the Bears have compiled an impressive 77-24 record (.762 winning percentage).
o captain, my captain
Seniors Tim Hartshorn and Ron Zboril and junior Mike Huggins were elected co-captains by their teammates for the 2002 season. Combined, the triumvirate has been with the team for 10 years and played in 320 games entering the season.
experience counts
In 2002, Baylor returns 19 of 24 letterwinners from a year ago. Most notably, the Bears lost only one member of the pitching staff from last season. Two-thirds of the starting rotation from 2001 returns intact, with preseason all-American Steven White and 2001 all-Big 12 selection Justin Taylor.
working their way up the charts
Every save recorded by junior closer Zane Carlson adds to his school record for saves. Carlson has 23 career saves, he set the single season and career record with 15 saves as a freshman and added eight more as a sophomore. Carlson also has 49 career appearances, nine shy of cracking the top 10.
Junior outfielder Chris Durbin began 2002 with the 10th best career batting average in school history at .338 and the eighth best career slugging percentage at .574. He has 32 career doubles (nine short of 10th place) and 17 career home runs (four shy of 10th place).
Through games of Feb. 13, senior reliever Kyle Edens ranks third for career winning percentage with a 9-2 record (.818). He also ranks seventh in Baylor history in career games relieved with 45, and his four career saves are tied for 12th all-time.
Junior Mike Huggins' 36 career doubles are five short of 10th place in school history.
Senior RHP Justin Taylor ranks fifth in career games relieved (49), fifth in career winning percentage (18-6, .750) and eighth in career games pitched (62). His 18 wins are two shy of 10th place.
Junior RHP Paul Thorp ranks 10th in school history in career relief appearances (39).
bears in the pros
Catcher Kelly Shoppach topped a list of five Baylor players taken in the 2001 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Shoppach was taken in the second round by the Boston Red Sox (48th overall), and was actually Boston's first pick of the draft.
Trevor Mote (15th round, Houston Astros), Matt Williams (15th round, St. Louis Cardinals) and Josh Scott (25th round, Philadelphia Phillies) each signed after completing their careers at Baylor.
First baseman Mike Huggins was taken in the 25th round by the Colorado Rockies, but elected to return for his junior season.
Three Baylor signees were also taken. Outfielder Alan Moye (3rd round, Cincinnati Reds) and infielder Josh Barfield (4th round, San Diego Padres) each chose to go pro, while LHP Trey Taylor turned down the Colorado Rockies, who used a supplemental pick before the third round on him.
Baylor alums and former first-round draft picks Jason Jennings and Kip Wells will enter 2002 contending for spots in major league rotations -- Jennings with the Rockies, and Wells with the Pittsburgh Pirates (after an offseason trade). In all, 15 former Bears are active at some level of professional baseball.
head coach steve smith
Head coach Steve Smith is in his eighth season as head coach at Baylor, in that time, he has compiled a 263-157-1 record. Smith led the Bears to their first-ever 50 win season in 1999 and a Big 12 Championship in 2000, and has piloted the team to four straight NCAA appearances. Through the 2001 season, Smith ranked 40th among active coaches in winning percentage with a .629 mark.
The 2000 Big 12 Coach of the Year, Smith came to Baylor from Mississippi State, where he was an assistant under Ron Polk for five seasons. Prior to that, he served as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M.
A former standout pitcher at Baylor in 1982-1983, Smith led the Southwest Conference with a 1.72 ERA as a junior, bettering league foes and future major leaguers Norm Charlton, Roger Clemens, Doug Drabek and Calvin Schiraldi.
An accomplished pitching coach, Smith has tutored five pitchers in the last 10 years who were selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft. He has also had at least one pitcher named to the all-conference first team in each of the last 10 years. In 1999, right-hander/designated hitter Jason Jennings won the Golden Spikes Award and was the 16th overall pick by the Colorado Rockies.
In Smith's seven full seasons as head coach, the Bears have produced three first-round draft picks, eight all-Americans, five GTE/CoSIDA Academic all-Americans, one GTE/CoSIDA Academic all-American of the Year, 21 first-team all-conference performers, three freshman all-Americans, and three conference players of the year. Baylor has also placed 25 players on the Academic All-Big 12 first team in the past five seasons.
baylor on the air
Catch every inning of Baylor baseball in 2002 on the flagship station for Baylor athletics, News/Talk Radio KRZI 1660/1580-AM.
John Morris, Baylor's Director of Broadcasting, heads up the team as he begins his seventh season as the "Voice of the Bears." Morris is also the signature voice for Baylor's football and men's basketball broadcasts and serves as co-host of the weekly TV show "Inside Baylor Sports."
Mark Rogers, a former Baylor pitcher and currently a sports reporter for KCEN-TV in Central Texas, enters his third season providing color commentary for the baseball broadcasts.
Pete Kenworthy, Sports Director and weekday sports anchor for KWTX-TV, Tom Barfield, Program Director and on-air personality for flagship station KRZI, and Trent Weaver, a Baylor baseball letterman in 1988-89, will also be a part of the broadcast team for several games.
All Baylor Baseball games in 2002 will be available world-wide on the internet at www.gobaylorbears.com. Baylor baseball is also a staple of the daily "Baylor SportsBeat" hosted by John Morris and airing weekdays at 7:25am and 5:25pm on KRZI 1660/1580-AM.
