Jan. 7, 2003

WACO, Texas - The 10th-ranked Baylor baseball team returns to action Wednesday in preparation for the 2003 season. Preseason training runs all day Wednesday and Thursday with a partial day Saturday before classes begin Monday.

Also worked into this week's practice is the annual Baylor Baseball Coaches Clinic on Thursday afternoon from 1-4 p.m. Head coach Steve Smith said over 700 Texas high school coaches are expected to attend.

Baylor will begin the season ranked 10th nationally by Baseball America. Fifteen letterwinners return from a year ago, when the Bears finished the season 36-26 and lost in the NCAA Austin Regional championship to eventual national champ Texas. Baylor also welcomes 16 newcomers to the team.

Seven former all-Big 12 players return, led by top starters Steven White and Jared Theodorakos. Baylor career saves leader Zane Carlson appears to have returned to form after undergoing arm surgery a year ago, and will once more be closing out Bear victories. Seniors Chris Durbin and Ross Bennett and juniors David Murphy and Trey Webb will anchor the offense.

The Bears, who hold the best cumulative conference record in the Big 12 over the past five seasons, will also depend on returning sophomore starters Michael Griffin (3B/LF), Paul Witt (2B/3B) and Josh Ford (C). Sophomore Trey Taylor will likely round out the weekend rotation.

Baylor begins its 2003 schedule Feb. 4 at home against Southwest Texas before heading to Tucson for a three-game set against Arizona Feb. 7-9. The Bears then return to Texas for the third annual Astros College Classic, to be held at Minute Maid Park Feb. 14-16.