Jan. 30, 2003
This is another "B" Line column, a periodic collection of news items of particular interest to members of the Baylor "B" Association. Contribute news about you or your teammates via e-mail to Lee Harrington (leenelaine@281.com), Dutch Schroeder (Dutch_Schroeder@baylor.edu), Reba Cooper (Reba_Cooper@baylor.edu) or Jack Loftis (Jack.Loftis@chron.com). The mailing address is Baylor "B" Association, P. O. Box 8120, Waco, TX 76714
EVEN CUPID INTERFERED - As they always say, "The best laid plans of mice and Bears . . ." Anyway, things have changed regarding plans by the "B" Association hosting Coach Steve Smith and his Baylor Bears baseball team during the 3rd Annual Astros College Classic at Houston's Minute Maid Stadium on Feb 14-16. Originally the luncheon was scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, three hours prior to the Baylor-Rice start. However, such a schedule would have overlapped with the team's pre-game preparations. When a Friday-night booking proved to be impractical because of Valentine's Day bookings at Houston private clubs and restaurants, a decision was made to feed the team at the Metropolitan Club on Thursday night. According to event coordinator Chip Hubbard, "B" members and guests will honor the previous reservation for Saturday's 4 p.m. meal and reception at the Houston Center Club. Hubbard hints that some VIPs will be on hand and urges all Baylor letter winners in the Gulf Coast area to attend and tell others. Meal tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children and parking will be free. More information on the event is available from Reba Cooper at the "B" Association office in Waco (PO Box 8120, Waco, TX 76714-8120). She may be contacted by phone at 1-254-710-3045 or e-mailed at Reba_Cooper@baylor.edu . . .
UT IS A NO-SHOW - The full schedule for the College Classic finds the current NCAA champion Texas Longhorns nowhere to be found. Filling the void are the Alabama Crimson Tide baseballers, who will open the Classic at 11 a.m. Friday against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Other opening-day games include Baylor-Houston (3 p.m.) and Texas A&M-Rice (7 p.m.) On Saturday Alabama plays Houston (11 a.m.), A&M meets UL Lafayette (3 p.m.) and Baylor takes on Rice (7 p.m.) Sunday games include Alabama-Rice (11 a.m.), Baylor-UL Lafayette (3 p.m.) and A&M-Houston (7 p.m.) . . . Astros Fanfest will coincide with the Saturday and Sunday games and College Classic ticketholders will be admitted free to meet Astros players and participate in interactive games. For ticket information call 1-800-ASTROS - 2 or go to www.astros.com . . . New Baylor football coach Guy Morriss is preparing for official visits with BU alumni and supporters around the state. He will be in Houston on Feb. 6 for an 11:30 luncheon at the Westin Oaks Hotel and in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Feb. 7. His Dallas appearance will begin at 1:30 p. m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Campbell Centre. He then moves on to Fort Worth for a 5:30 p.m. reception at the University Baptist Church. To arrange for tickets to any or all of these events call 1-800-BAYLOR-U option 6, or write to Karen_Edwards@baylor.edu . . .
WELLS AND JENNINGS - In other baseball news former Baylor pitcher Kip Wells, now a Pittsburgh Pirate, will be honored Friday night at the 18th annual Houston Baseball Dinner at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Wells, a graduate of Elkins High School, is being saluted by the Houston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association as the Houston area Major League Player of the Year. In his first full season in the majors, Wells, 25, won 12 and lost 14, but had a 3.58 ERA and worked 198 innings. As reported by Richard Justice of The Houston Chronicle, Wells had a losing record because he was winless in his last six starts. But in those six starts, he was 0-3 despite a 2.95 ERA. He never pitched fewer than six innings or allowed more than three runs, but the Pirates scored a total of just 12 runs in those six games . . . And former Bear Jason Jennings, the Colorado Rockies ace and national League Rookie of the Year, has gained another honor. Jennings, whose fans enjoy telling you that he outperformed highly paid teammates Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle in 2002, will get the Larry Doby Award for his rookie heroics. The trophy is presented annually by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to honor Doby, the first black to play in the American League. Jennings, who won 16 games, will receive the award on Feb. 7 in Kansas City, the home of the museum . . .
JACK LOFTIS
CHAIRMAN
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
