Rice Baseball l 1 MEDIA INFORMATION Quick Facts 2-3 Roster 4 Roster Breakdowns 5 2014 Schedule 6 Covering The Owls 7 Reckling Park 8 2014 OPPONENTS’ INFO. Opponents 10 C-USA Championship 12 C-USA Composite Schedule 12 MEET THE OWLS Scholar-Athlete Profiles 16 Draft Dodgers 23 What’s Your College? 27 Head Coach Wayne Graham 58 Baseball Staff 70 2013 IN REVIEW 2013 Results 77 2013 Statistics 78 C-USA Season In Review 80 RICE BASEBALL HISTORY Year-By-Year With Rice Baseball 82 Rice Team Records 90 Rice Individual Records 98 All-Time Lettermen 106 Honors and Awards 112 The 2003 National Championship 117 Pipeline To The Pros 120 Rice University is committed to affirmative action and equal opportunity in education and employment. Rice does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or veteran status. 2014 Rice Baseball Fact Book Rice Baseball Rice Head Coach Wayne Graham is in his 23rd year at the helm of the Owls’ baseball program.
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Rice Baseball l 1
MEDIA INFORMATION Quick Facts 2-3 Roster 4 Roster Breakdowns 5 2014 Schedule 6 Covering The Owls 7 Reckling Park 8
MEET THE OWLS Scholar-Athlete Profiles 16 Draft Dodgers 23 What’s Your College? 27 Head Coach Wayne Graham 58 Baseball Staff 70
2013 IN REVIEW 2013 Results 77 2013 Statistics 78 C-USA Season In Review 80
RICE BASEBALL HISTORY Year-By-Year With Rice Baseball 82 Rice Team Records 90 Rice Individual Records 98 All-Time Lettermen 106 Honors and Awards 112 The 2003 National Championship 117 Pipeline To The Pros 120
Rice University is committed to affirmative action and equal opportunity in education and employment. Rice does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or veteran status.
2014 Rice Baseball Fact Book
Rice BaseballRice Head Coach Wayne Graham is in his 23rd year at the helm of the Owls’ baseball program.
2 l Rice Baseball l
GENERAL INFORMATIONName: Rice UniversityLocation: Houston, TexasEnrollment: 6,077Founded: 1891 (first classes in 1912)President: David W. LeebronFaculty Representative: Dr. Rob GriffinAffiliation: NCAA Division INickname: OwlsMascot: Sammy the OwlColors: Blue and GrayConference: Conference USA
ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATIONAthletics Director: Joe KarlgaardSenior Executive A.D.: Rick MelloSenior Staff: Stacy Mosely (Senior Woman Admin.); Dr. Jack Garrett (Sport Admin. & Support);
BASEBALL PERSONNELHead Coach: Wayne Graham Alma Mater: Texas, 1970 Record at Rice: 997-400, .714 (22 seasons) Collegiate Record: 1,572-513, .754 (33 seasons)Asst. Coach: Patrick Hallmark (Rice, 1995; 9th year) Office Phone: 713-348-8862Asst. Coach: Clay Van Hook (Texas, 2008; 3rd year) Office Phone: 713-348-8859Volunteer Coach: Scott Shepperd (Concordia, 2007; 2nd year) Office Phone: 713-348-8863Director of Baseball Operations: Daniel Watson Office Phone: 713-348-8864 E-mail: [email protected] Trainer: Donna PappangellinStudent Managers: Jared Broadman, Michael Kidd
HOME BASEBALL VENUEStadium (year opened): Reckling Park (2000)Capacity: 6,193Dimensions: 330, 375, 400, 375, 330Pressbox Phone: 713-348-4931
OVERNIGHT SHIPPING ADDRESS Rice University Athletics 6100 Main St., MS 548 Houston, TX 77005
ATHLETICS MAILING ADDRESS Rice University Athletics PO Box 1892, MS 548 Houston, TX 77251-1892
4 l Rice Baseball l Player Personnel
2014 Rice Baseball Numerical RosterNo. Name, position B/T Ht Wt Cl-Exp Hometown/Previous School
1 Leon Byrd, if/of S/R 5-7 170 So.-1L Cypress (Cy Ranch H.S.) 2 Shane Hoelscher, if R/R 6-0 195 Sr.-3L Belton (Belton H.S.) 3 Connor Teykl, if/p L/R 6-3 195 So.-1L Sugar Land (Kempner H.S.) 4 Hunter Kopycinski, c R/R 5-11 175 So.-1L Houston (St. Thomas H.S.) 5 Charlie Warren, of/p L/R 6-2 185 Fr.-HS The Woodlands (The Woodlands H.S.) 6 Beau Rathjen, of R/R 6-4 190 Fr.-Rs Houston (Memorial H.S.) 7 John Clay Reeves, c R/R 6-0 200 Jr.-Tr. Monroe, La. (Navarro/Neville H.S.) 8 John Williamson, of/p L/L 6-1 195 Jr.-1L Houston (Lamar H.S.) 9 Dayne Wunderlich, of R/R 6-0 190 Fr.-HS Brenham (Brenham H.S.)11 Ford Stainback, if S/R 5-11 185 Jr.-2L Dallas (Highland Park H.S.)12 Kirby Taylor, if/of R/R 6-0 185 Jr.-1L Bellaire (San Jacinto/Bellaire H.S.)13 Nick Orewiler, p R/R 6-3 180 Fr.-HS Galveston (Ball H.S.)14 Caleb Smith, p R/R 6-4 210 So.-Tr. Austin (Cisco/Regents School)15 Michael Aquino, of/if R/R 5-11 190 Sr.-3L The Woodlands (College Park H.S.)16 Max McElligott, p L/L 6-0 190 Fr-HS League City (Clear Springs H.S.)17 Keenan Cook, of L/R 6-0 195 Sr.-3L The Woodlands (College Park H.S.)21 Andrew Dunlap, p R/R 5-11 215 Fr.-HS Houston (Westbury Christian)23 Kevin McCanna, p/if L/R 6-1 185 So.-1L The Woodlands (The Woodlands H.S.)24 Brian Smith, of R/R 6-3 225 Sr.-Sq. Cypress (Grayson/Cypress Woods H.S.)
No. Name, position B/T Ht Wt Cl-Exp Hometown/Previous School
25 Chase McDowell, p/of L/R 6-2 190 Sr.-3L College Station (A&M Consolidated H.S.)26 Blake Fox, p/if L/L 6-4 220 So.-1L Bellaire (Episcopal H.S.)27 Jordan Stephens, p R/R 6-1 185 Jr.-2L Alvin (Alvin H.S.)29 Jon Duplantier, p L/R 6-4 210 Fr.-HS Katy (Seven Lakes H.S.)32 Connor Mason, p R/R 6-3 185 Jr.-1L Suwanee, Ga. (home school)33 Zech Lemond, p R/R 6-4 200 Jr.-2L Houston (Waltrip H.S.)34 Trevor Teykl, p R/R 6-7 225 Jr.-Tr. Sugar Land (San Jacinto/Kempner H.S.)35 Andrew Murphy, c R/R 6-0 195 Jr.-2L Shreveport, La. (Captain Shreve H.S.)36 Evan Rutter, p R/R 6-3 190 Jr.-2L Spring (Klein H.S.)38 Matt Ditman, p R/R 6-1 205 So.-1L Richmond (Lamar Consolidated H.S.)39 Holt McNair, p L/L 6-1 180 Sr.-3L Austin (Westlake H.S.)41 Ryan McCarthy, p R/R 6-3 195 So.-1L Plano (Plano H.S.)43 Austin Orewiler, p R/R 6-2 200 So.-Sq. Galveston (Ball H.S.)44 Skyler Ewing, if/c R/R 6-1 220 Jr.-2L Arlington (Arlington H.S.)
Head Coach: 37 Wayne Graham (Texas, 1970; 23rd season at Rice)Assistant Coach: 20 Patrick Hallmark (Rice, 1995; ninth season)Assistant Coach: 19 Clay Van Hook (Texas, 2008; third season)Volunteer Coach: 18 Scott Shepperd (Concordia, 2006; second season)
R - Matt DitmanAndrew DunlapJon DuplantierZech LemondConnor MasonKevin McCanna (util.) Ryan McCarthyChase McDowell (of )Austin OrewilerNick OrewilerEvan RutterCaleb Smith (Tr.)
Jordan StephensConnor Teykl (if )Trevor Teykl
POSITIONS
SeniorsMichael AquinoKeenan CookShane HoelscherChase McDowellHolt McNairBrian Smith
April1 Tues. Texas Reckling Park 6:30 pm4 Fri. East Carolina (C-USA) Reckling Park 6:30 pm5 Sat. East Carolina (C-USA) Reckling Park 2 pm6 Sun. East Carolina (C-USA) Reckling Park Noon8 Tues. Texas Austin 6 pm11 Fri. Tulane (C-USA) New Orleans, La. 6:30 pm12 Sat. Tulane (C-USA) New Orleans, La. 2 pm13 Sun. Tulane (C-USA) New Orleans, La. 1 pm15 Tues. Lamar Beaumont 6:30 pm18 Fri. UAB (C-USA) Reckling Park 6:30 pm19 Sat. UAB (C-USA) Reckling Park 2 pm20 Sun. UAB (C-USA) Reckling Park 1 pm22 Tues. Texas A&M Reckling Park 6:30 pm25 Fri. Southern Miss (C-USA) Hattiesburg, Miss. 6 pm26 Sat. Southern Miss (C-USA) Hattiesburg, Miss. 2 pm27 Sun. Southern Miss (C-USA) Hattiesburg, Miss. 1 pm
May7 Wed. Houston Baptist Reckling Park 6:30 pm9 Fri. UTSA (C-USA) San Antonio 6 pm10 Sat. UTSA (C-USA) San Antonio 2 pm11 Sun. UTSA (C-USA) San Antonio 1 pm13 Tues. Houston Constellation Field 6:30 pm15 Thur. Louisiana Tech (C-USA) Reckling Park 6:30 pm16 Fri. Louisiana Tech (C-USA) Reckling Park 6:30 pm17 Sat. Louisiana Tech (C-USA) Reckling Park 1 pm21-24 Wed.-Sat. C-USA Championship tba tba25 Sun. C-USA Final (TV) tba 1:05 pm30-31 Fri.-Sat. NCAA Regionals tba tba
June1 Sun. NCAA Regionals tba tba6-8 Fri.-Sun. NCAA Super Regionals tba tba14-24 Sat.-Tue. College World Series Omaha, Neb. tba
# - denotes games in the Astros in Action College Classic held downtown at Minute Maid Park; (C-USA) - denotes Conference USA league games; TV - denotes televised game; % - 2014 C-USA Championship Tournament games played Southern Miss.
Rice Baseball l Media Information l 7
Covering The Owls The Rice Baseball Fact Book may assist mem-bers of the media as a reference tool for the 2014 season, as well as for the history of the program. Assistant sports information director John Sullivan serves as the day-to-day contact for the baseball program and can be reached by phone at (713) 348-5636 (office) or (832) 250-9000 (cell). Additional information, including weekly news releases, photographs and video clips, is avail-able on request. The Rice sports information office is located in Room 1204 of Tudor Fieldhouse (next to the elevator).
During the WeekInterviews With Wayne GrahamRice head coach Wayne Graham is very acces-sible to the media and will participate in inter-views with advance notice. For telephone inter-views, the best time to reach coach Graham is 9:30-11:30 am, weekdays. Please call (713) 348-8864 to schedule interview appointments.
Player InterviewsAll interviews must be arranged at least one day in advance through the athletic news bureau. Players’ home/cell phone numbers will not be released. No interviews will be allowed before a game. The media will not be allowed in the Rice locker room, weight room or training room areas.
Postgame InterviewsThe Rice athletic news bureau will assist those writers and broadcasters wishing to interview Owls players and coaches following the game. Following a short cooling-off period, requested Rice players and coaches will be available in the Owls’ dugout area. Rice players and coaches are not available for interviews between games of doubleheaders.
Attending Practice The media is welcome at Rice practices. All Rice head coaches have the option to close a prac-
tice at their discretion. Giving advance notice to the athletic news bureau of attending a practice is helpful.
Rice On the Internet Information on Rice baseball, and all 16 intercol-legiate Owl sports, can be obtained through the Internet. To view updated Rice rosters, sched-ules/results, fast facts, biographies, pictures and much more, type in the following URL address: http://www.RiceOwls.com
The Reckling Park Press BoxThe press box at Reckling Park has a limited number of seats for working media. Admission is by credential only.
CredentialsRequests for single-game/series credentials at Reckling Park should be made to John Sullivan a few days in advance of the game to be cov-ered, preferably by e-mail. All requests should
come from sports editors or directors and will be carefully screened to ensure good working conditions. Spouses, dates, minors and non-workers will not be permitted in the press areas. No credentials will be mailed. Photo credentials will be granted on the same priority schedule as general media credentials.
ParkingDue to recent campus construction, there is no designated media parking at Reckling Park. All parking for Rice home games is in the main Rice Stadium parking lots.
TicketsCall the Rice athletic ticket office at 713-348-4068 to order game tickets. Most major credit cards are accepted for advance orders.
8 l Rice Baseball l Reckling Park
Reckling Park l Home of the Owls Other schools have tried to follow Rice baseball’s lead, often building bigger and more expensive stadiums, but Reckling Park remains the best place to watch and play a college game. The 2014 season is now the Owls’ 15th at the stadium. The facility is now better than ever with the latest addition, a custom wood trophy case that is befitting the program’s storied success. In 2013 a display honoring Owl great Philip Humber’s major league perfect game was added near the front entrance. Other renovations included the remodeling of the team’s lockerroom, weight room and fan areas. A new playing surface and state-of-the-art drainage system, as well as a padded outfield wall and warning track that surrounds the entire field, were added to improve player safety. A classic black cast-iron fence that circles the perimeter was another recent addition. For the fans, a grass berm and bleachers were added beyond the left field wall in 2008. A hospitality plaza on the third-base side and a sensational scoreboard with video display are fan-favorites. These improvements give Rice student-athletes a venue befitting its status as one of the top programs in the nation. Overflow crowds, like the more than 5,400 fans that came to the 10-6 victory over No. 2 Texas in 2010, are not uncommon. The park features a picturesque setting on the Rice campus facing the Texas Medical Center, the comfort of the more than 3,700 chairback seats (most with cupholders) and nine private suites.
There are spacious locker rooms and the best press box in college baseball. Every visitor has raved about Reckling Park. Rice baseball is completely housed in the facility. Head coach Wayne Graham and his assistants work in a spacious office suite that includes their private locker room, equipment storage areas and clerical areas. For the players, the Rice clubhouse is one of the best anywhere, adjacent to the weight and aerobic workout areas and athletic training room. In 2004, a new climate-controlled indoor hitting and pitching practice facility was constructed under the third base stands. On game day, the Owls and their guests use some of the largest dugouts in the country. Visiting teams and umpires also have use of large, functional locker room areas. Fans continue to flock to the stadium. Rice has averaged more than 3,200 fans per game the last ten seasons, ranking among the top draws in the nation. Those fans have access to a host of wide concession areas, a large novelty shop and clean rest rooms. For the media, the Reckling Park press box may be the largest in an on-campus stadium in the country. There are three radio booths, a television booth/photo deck and an area for more than 30 working writers and game personnel. In addition, the press box includes a large interview room, hospitality areas and a workroom for game officials.
Located on the southwest corner of the university cam-pus near Tudor Fieldhouse, Reckling Park was built on the site of Cameron Field, Rice’s baseball home from 1978 through 1999. The old stadium was demolished at the close of the 1999 season and work began immediately on Reckling. An improvement to Cameron that has lived on at Reckling is the enclosed batting cage area down the right-field line. That facility was dedicated to the memory of Earl “Lefty” Graham, a long-time umpire in the Houston area and the father of the Rice coach. Reckling Park measures 330 feet down the lines, 400 feet to center field, and 375 feet to the power alleys. A then-sellout crowd of 4,117 watched the first game played in the new park in 2000. Rice has won more than 80 percent of its games at Reckling Park, and the Owls’ 36 wins in 2002 stands as the most home wins in Rice history. Guy Jackson of Jackson & Ryan Architects, a Rice alumnus and former baseball letterman, was the principle designer of the sta-dium, and it was built by Miner-Dederich Constructors.
Facts l Capacity: 6,193; Dimensions: 330-400-330; Height of Wall: 8’ (padded); Playing Surface: Natural Grass (Bermuda); Opening Day: Feb. 8, 2000
Rice Baseball l Reckling Park l 9
Reckling Park l Home of the Owls
10 l Rice Baseball l Opponent Directory
East Carolina PiratesLocation l Greenville, N.C.Baseball Coach l Billy GodwinHome Venue l Clark-LeClair StadiumBaseball SID l Malcolm Gray Office Number l 252.737.4522 Email Address l [email protected] Site l ECUPirates.com
Florida Atlantic OwlsLocation l Boca Raton, Fla.Baseball Coach l John McCormackHome Venue l FAU Baseball StadiumBaseball SID l Brandon Goodwin Office Number l 561.756.0653 Email Address l [email protected] Site l FAUSports.com
FIU PanthersLocation l Miami, Fla. Baseball Coach l Henry “Turtle” ThomasHome Venue l FIU Baseball StadiumBaseball SID l Greg Kincaid Office Number l 305.348.1496 Email Address l [email protected] Site l FIUSports.com
Houston CougarsLocation l HoustonBaseball Coach l Todd WhittingHome Venue l Cougar FieldBaseball SID l Allison McClain Office Number l 713.743.9406 Email Address l [email protected] Site l UHCougars.com
Houston Baptist HuskiesLocation l HoustonBaseball Coach l Jared MoonHome Venue l Husky FieldBaseball SID l Russ Reneau Office Number l 281.649.3098 Email Address l [email protected] Site l HBUHuskies.com
Lamar CardinalsLocation l BeaumontBaseball Coach l Jim GilliganHome Venue l Vincent-Beck StadiumBaseball SID l Clay Trainum Office Number l 409.880.7845 Email Address l [email protected] Site l LamarCardinals.com
Louisiana Tech BulldogsLocation l Ruston, La. Baseball Coach l Wade SimoneauxHome Venue l Love Field at Patterson ParkBaseball SID l Anna Claire Thomas Office Number l 318.257.3314 Email Address l [email protected] Site l LATechSports.com
Middle Tennessee StateLocation l Murfreesboro, Tenn.Baseball Coach l Jim McGuireHome Venue l Reese Smith Jr. FieldBaseball SID l Russell Luna Office Number l 615.898.5270 Email Address l [email protected] Site l GoBlueRaiders,com
Old DominionLocation l Norfolk, Va.Baseball Coach l Chris FinwoodHome Venue l Bud MethenyBaseball ComplexBaseball SID l Carol Hudson, Jr. Office Number l 757.683.3395 Email Address l [email protected] Site l ODUSports.com
PurdueLocation l West Lafayette, Ind.Baseball Coach l Doug ScreiberHome Venue l Alexander FieldBaseball SID l Ben Turner Office Number l 765.494.3198 Email Address l [email protected] Site l PurdueSports.com
Sam Houston State BearkatsLocation l Huntsville Baseball Coach l David PierceHome Venue l Don Sanders StadiumBaseball SID l Paul Ridings Office Number l 936.294.1764 Email Address l [email protected] Site l GoBearkats.com
Southern Miss Golden EaglesLocation l Hattiesburg, Miss.Baseball Coach l Scott BerryHome Venue l Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson FieldBaseball SID l Jack Duggan Office Number l 601.266.5947 Email Address l [email protected] Site l SouthernMiss.com
Opponents
Rice Baseball l Opponent Directory l 11
OpponentsStanford CardinalLocation l Stanford, Calif. Baseball Coach l Mark MarquessHome Venue l Klein Field at Sunken DiamondBaseball SID l Brett Moore Cell Number l 309.212.6367 Email Address l [email protected] Site l GoStanford.com
TCULocation l Fort WorthBaseball Coach l Jim SchlossnagleHome Venue l Lupton Stadium & Williams-Reilly FieldBaseball SID l Brandie Davidson Office Number l 817.257.7969 Email Address l [email protected] Site l GoFrogs.com
TexasLocation l AustinBaseball Coach l Augie GarridoHome Venue l UFCU Disch-Falk FieldBaseball SID l Justin Moore Office Number l 512.232.9438 Email Address l [email protected] Site l TexasSports.com
Texas A&M AggiesLocation l College Station Baseball Coach l Rob ChildressHome Venue l C.E. “Pat” Olsen FieldBaseball SID l Thomas Dick Office Number l 979.862.5486 Email Address l [email protected] Site l AggieAthletics.com
Texas A&M-Corpus ChristiLocation l Corpus ChristiBaseball Coach l Scott MaloneHome Venue l Whataburger FieldBaseball SID l Brett Winegarner Office Number l (361) 825-3411 Email Address l [email protected] Site l GoIslanders.com
Texas-San Antonio RoadrunnersLocation l San Antonio Baseball Coach l Jason MarshallHome Venue l Roadrunner FieldBaseball SID l Brett Damaskos Office Number l 210.458.6460 Email Address l [email protected] Site l goUTSA.com
Texas State BobcatsLocation l San Marcos Baseball Coach l Ty HarringtonHome Venue l Bobcat Baseball StadiumBaseball SID l Joshua Flanagan Office Number l 512.245.4387 Email Address l [email protected] Site l TxStateBobcats.com
Texas Tech Red RaigersLocation l Lubbock Baseball Coach l Tim TadlockHome Venue l Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin ParkBaseball SID l Scott Lacefield Office Number l 806.742.2770 Email Address l [email protected] Site l TexasTech.com
Tulane Green WaveLocation l New Orleans, La.Baseball Coach l Rick JonesHome Venue l Greer Field at Turchin StadiumBaseball SID l Curtis Akey Office Number l 504.314.7271 Email Address l [email protected] Site l TulaneGreenWave.com
UAB BlazersLocation l Birmingham, Ala.Baseball Coach l Brian ShoopHome Venue l Jerry D. Young Memorial FieldBaseball SID l Anthony Prisco Office Number l 205.996.2576 Email Address l [email protected] Site l UABSports.com
Conference USAHeadquarters l Irving, Texas Founded l 1995Commissioner l Britton BanowskyAssistant Commissioner for Baseball& Football Ops l Russ Anderson Email l [email protected] Office Number l 214.774.1351Web Site l ConferenceUSA.com
12 l Rice Baseball l Composite C-USA Schedule
ChampionshipTournament Conference USA’s auto-matic bid to the NCAA Tour-nament will be on the line when the league Champion-ship returns to Mississippi on May 21-25. This year’s Championship is hosted by 2013 league co-champion Southern Miss at the Golden Eagles‘ Pete Taylor Park. The top eight teams in the C-USA regular season standings qualify for the event. The teams are seeded into two pools. All teams play three games with one off day. The one-game, Championship Final is slated for a live television broadcast. Rice is certainly no stranger to the Championship. The Owls have won the conference baseball tournament five times since joining the league in the spring of 2006, including the 2013 title that was played at Reckling Park. The 2013 tournament was the second time Rice had served as the host of the pres-tigious event.
Conference USA Championship / Composite ScheduleFri., Feb. 14Youngstown State at CharlotteJames Madison at East CarolinaRutgers at FIUSoutheastern La. at Louisiana TechMarshall vs. GeorgetownMiddle Tennessee at Kennesaw St.Old Dominion at Georgia TechRice at StanfordStony Brook at Southern MissArkansas-Pine Bluff at TulaneTennessee-Martin at UABSt. Peter’s at UTSA
Sat., Feb. 15Virginia Tech at CharlotteJames Madison at East CarolinaRutgers at FIUNotre Dame at FAU (DH)Southeastern La. at Louisiana TechMarshall vs. Towson (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Middle Tennessee at Kennesaw St.Old Dominion vs. VCU (Atlanta, Ga.)
Rice at StanfordStony Brook at Southern MissArkansas-Pine Bluff at TulaneTennessee-Martin at UABSt. Peter’s at UTSA
Sun., Feb. 16Youngstown State at CharlotteVirginia Tech at CharlotteJames Madison at East CarolinaRutgers at FIUNotre Dame at Florida AtlanticSoutheastern La. at Louisiana TechMarshall at Wake Forest (DH)Middle Tennessee at Kennesaw St.Old Dominion vs. Radford (Atlanta, Ga.)
Rice at StanfordStony Brook at Southern MissArkansas-Pine Bluff at TulaneTennessee-Martin at UABSt. Peter’s at UTSA
Tue., Feb. 18Charlotte at High PointCampbell at East CarolinaTenn. Tech at Middle TennesseeOld Dominion at LibertyTexas State at RiceSouthern Miss at UL-MonroeNew Orleans at TulaneUAB at Alabama A&MHouston Baptist at UTSA
Wed., February 19Stetson at FIUFlorida Atlantic at Miami (Fla.)Old Dominion at VCUHouston at RiceAlabama A&M at UAB
Fri., Feb. 21Canisius at CharlotteEast Carolina at VirginiaStony Brook at FIUMonmouth at Florida AtlanticTulane at Louisiana TechMarshall at North Carolina A&TApp. St. at Middle TennesseeSt. John’s at Old DominionPurdue at RiceUL-Lafayette at Southern MissYoungstown State at UABUTSA at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Sat., Feb. 22Canisius at CharlotteEast Carolina at VirginiaStony Brook at FIUMonmouth at Florida AtlanticTulane at Louisiana TechMarshall at North Carolina A&T
Miami (Ohio) at Middle TennesseeKentucky at Old DominionPurdue at RiceUL-Lafayette at Southern MissYoungstown State at UABUTSA vs. BYU (Corpus Christi, Tex.)
Sun., Feb. 23Canisius at CharlotteEast Carolina at VirginiaMonmouth at Florida AtlanticStony Brook at FIUTulane at Louisiana TechMarshall at North Carolina A&TIndiana State at Middle TennesseeSt. Joseph’s at Old DominionPurdue at RiceUL-Lafayette at Southern MissYoungstown State at UABUTSA vs. TCU (Corpus Christi, Tex.)
Tue., Feb. 25Alcorn State at Southern MissCharlotte at College of CharlestonFlorida Memorial at FIUFlorida Atlantic at North FloridaOld Dominion at RichmondSam Houston State at Rice
Rice Baseball l C-USA Composite Schedule l 13
Tulane at Nicholls StateDallas Baptist at UTSA
Wed., Feb. 26Charlotte at The CitadelEast Carolina at VCUFlorida Atlantic at North FloridaArk.-Little Rock at Louisiana TechAlabama at Southern MissUAB at Samford
Fri., Feb. 28Creighton at CharlotteWestern Kentucky at East CarolinaDartmouth at FIUSt. John’s at Florida AtlanticMinnesota at Louisiana TechMarshall vs. James Madison (Myrtle Beach)
Kent State at Middle TennesseeRutgers at Old DominionTexas vs. Rice (Minute Maid Park)
Troy at Southern MissSacred Heart at TulaneArkansas State at UABSouth Dakota State at UTSA
Sat., March 1Creighton at CharlottePittsburgh at East CarolinaDartmouth at FIUSt. John’s at Florida Atlantic
Minnesota at Louisiana TechMarshall vs. Duke (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
Marshall at Coastal CarolinaKent State at Middle TennesseeRutgers at Old DominionTCU vs. Rice (Minute Maid Park)
Troy at Southern MissSacred Heart at TulaneArkansas State at UABSouth Dakota State at UTSA
Sun., March 2Creighton at CharlotteOhio State at East CarolinaDartmouth at FIUSt. John’s at Florida AtlanticMinnesota at Louisiana TechMarshall vs. Rhode Island (Myrtle Beach,)
Kent State at Middle TennesseeRutgers at Old DominionTexas Tech vs. Rice (Minute Maid Park)
Troy at Southern MissSacred Heart at TulaneArkansas State at UABSouth Dakota State at UTSA
Tue., March 4Wake Forest at CharlotteBoston College at Florida AtlanticSouthern Miss vs. Florida (Pensacola, Fla.)
McNeese State at Louisiana TechUAB at Alabama StateIncarnate Word at UTSA
Wed., March 5East Carolina at UNC GreensboroFIU at Bethune-CookmanBoston College at Florida AtlanticMcNeese State at Louisiana TechVanderbilt at Middle TennesseeOld Dominion at VirginiaRice at Sam Houston StateUT-Pan American at UTSA
Fri., March 7FIU at CharlotteMarshall at East CarolinaFlorida Atlantic at UTSALouisiana Tech at Texas A&MMiddle Tennessee at UABOld Dominion at RiceSouthern Miss at MissouriTulane at California
Sat., March 8FIU at CharlotteMarshall at East CarolinaFlorida Atlantic at UTSALouisiana Tech at Texas A&MMiddle Tennessee at UAB
Old Dominion at RiceSouthern Miss at MissouriTulane vs. Arkansas (Berkeley, Calif.)
Sun., March 9FIU at CharlotteMarshall at East CarolinaFlorida Atlantic at UTSALouisiana Tech at Texas A&MMiddle Tennessee at UABOld Dominion at RiceSouthern Miss at MissouriTulane at San Francisco
Tue., March 11VCU at CharlotteUNC Greensboro at East CarolinaAlcorn State at FIUMaine at Florida AtlanticMorehead State at MarshallMiddle Tennessee at TennesseeTCU at RiceNew Orleans at Southern MissLouisiana-Lafayette at TulaneJacksonville State at UABUTSA at Sam Houston State
Wed., March 12Liberty at CharlotteAlcorn State at FIU
East Carolina vs. Wake Forest (Wilson, NC)
Maine at Florida AtlanticGrambling State at Louisiana TechMarshall at OhioVMI at Old DominionTexas A&M-Corpus Christi at RiceSouth Alabama at Southern MissUAB at Jacksonville State
Fri., March 14Charlotte at Middle TennesseeTulane at East CarolinaRice at FIULouisiana Tech at Florida AtlanticSouthern Miss at MarshallUAB at Old DominionColumbia at UTSA
Sat., March 15Charlotte at Middle TennesseeTulane at East CarolinaRice at FIULouisiana Tech at Florida AtlanticSouthern Miss at MarshallUAB at Old DominionColumbia at UTSA
Sun., March 16Charlotte at Middle TennesseeTulane at East Carolina
Rice at FIULouisiana Tech at Florida AtlanticSouthern Miss at MarshallUAB at Old DominionColumbia at UTSA
Tue., March 18FIU at Florida AtlanticMarshall vs. West VirginiaLipscomb at Middle TennesseeRice at Texas StateUL-Monroe at Southern MissSoutheastern Louisiana at Tulane
Wed., March 19Rider at CharlotteVa. Commonwealth at East CarolinaLiberty at Old DominionTulane at New Orleans
Thu., March 20UAB at Hawai’i
Fri., March 21East Carolina at CharlotteMarshall at FIUFlorida Atlantic at RiceOld Dominion at Louisiana TechMiddle Tennessee at TulaneUAB at Hawai’iUTSA at Southern Miss
14 l Rice Baseball l Composite C-USA Schedule
Sat., March 22East Carolina at CharlotteMarshall at FIUFlorida Atlantic at RiceOld Dominion at Louisiana TechMiddle Tennessee at TulaneUAB at Hawai’iUTSA at Southern Miss
Sun., March 23East Carolina at CharlotteMarshall at FIUFlorida Atlantic at RiceOld Dominion at Louisiana TechMiddle Tennessee at TulaneUAB at Hawai’iUTSA at Southern Miss
Tue., March 25Charlotte at WinthropUNC Wilmington at East CarolinaFIU at South FloridaFlorida Atlantic at North FloridaLouisiana Tech at Grambling StateMarshall at Ohio StateMiddle Tennessee at LipscombRice at HoustonSouthern Miss vs. Ole Miss (Pearl, Miss.)
LSU at TulaneTexas A&M-Corpus Christi at UTSA
Wed., March 26N.C. Central at East CarolinaFlorida Atlantic at North FloridaOld Dominion vs. VCU (Hampton, Va.)
Lamar at Rice
Fri., March 28Charlotte at Old DominionFIU at UABSouthern Miss at Florida AtlanticLouisiana Tech at UTSATulane at MarshallRice at Middle Tennessee
Sat., March 29Charlotte at Old DominionFIU at UABSouthern Miss at Florida AtlanticLouisiana Tech at UTSATulane at MarshallRice at Middle Tennessee
Sun. March 30Charlotte at Old DominionFIU at UABSouthern Miss at Florida AtlanticLouisiana Tech at UTSATulane at MarshallRice at Middle Tennessee
Tue., April 1USC Upstate at CharlotteBethune-Cookman at FIUFlorida Atlantic at FloridaAkron at MarshallMemphis at Middle TennesseeTexas at RiceSouthern Miss at New OrleansTulane at Louisiana-LafayetteTroy at UABUTSA at Texas State
Wed., April 2East Carolina at NC StateNorthwestern St. at Louisiana TechMemphis at Middle TennesseeWilliam & Mary at Old Dominion
Fri., April 4Evansville at CharlotteEast Carolina at RiceOld Dominion at FIUFlorida Atlantic at MarshallUAB at Louisiana TechMiddle Tenn. at Southern MissUTSA at Tulane
Sat., April 5Evansville at Charlotte (DH)East Carolina at RiceOld Dominion at FIU
Florida Atlantic at MarshallUAB at Louisiana TechMiddle Tenn.at Southern MissUTSA at Tulane
Sun., April 6Evansville at CharlotteEast Carolina at RiceOld Dominion at FIUFlorida Atlantic at MarshallUAB at Louisiana TechMiddle Tenn. at Southern MissUTSA at Tulane
Tue., April 8Florida G.C. at Florida AtlanticEastern Kentucky at MarshallBelmont at Middle TennesseeWofford at Old DominionRice at TexasSouthern Miss vs. Miss. St. (Pearl, Miss)
Tulane at Southeastern LouisianaUAB at AlabamaUTSA at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Wed., April 9NC State at East CarolinaFIU at Louisiana-MonroeFlorida Atlantic at Florida G.C.Ohio at Marshall
Middle Tennessee at Tenn. TechWofford at Old Dominion
Fri., April 11Charlotte at Florida AtlanticEast Carolina at Old DominionFIU at Louisiana TechMarshall at UTSARice at TulaneSouthern Miss at UAB
Sat., April 12Charlotte at Florida AtlanticEast Carolina at Old DominionFIU at Louisiana TechMarshall at UTSARice at TulaneSouthern Miss at UAB
Sun., April 13Charlotte at Florida AtlanticEast Carolina at Old DominionFIU at Louisiana TechMarshall at UTSARice at TulaneSouthern Miss at UAB
Tue., April 15Charlotte at Gardner-WebbEast Carolina at UNC Wilmington
Louisiana Tech at Ark.-Little RockMarshall at AkronMiddle Tennessee at VanderbiltOld Dominion at William & MaryRice at LamarSouthern Miss vs. LSU (Metarie, La.)
McNeese State at TulaneAlabama State at UABTexas State at UTSA
Wed., April 16Florida Atlantic at Miami (Fla.)Alabama at UAB
Thu., April 17Tulane at CharlotteWest Virginia Tech at MarshallMiddle Tennessee at East CarolinaUTSA at Old Dominion
Fri., April 18Tulane at CharlotteWest Virginia Tech at MarshallMiddle Tennessee at East CarolinaFlorida Atlantic at FIULouisiana Tech at Southern MissUTSA at Old DominionUAB at Rice
Rice Baseball l C-USA Composite Schedule l 15
Sat., April 19Tulane at CharlotteWest Virginia Tech at MarshallMiddle Tennessee at East CarolinaFlorida Atlantic at FIULouisiana Tech at Southern MissUTSA at Old DominionUAB at Rice
Sun., April 20Florida Atlantic at FIULouisiana Tech at Southern MissUAB at Rice
Tue., April 22Charlotte at Wake ForestNorth Carolina at East CarolinaOld Dominion vs. Norfolk State-Texas A&M at RiceSouthern Miss at AlabamaUTSA at Houston Baptist
Wed., April 23Miami (Fla.) at Florida AtlanticMarshall at West VirginiaMiddle Tennessee at Austin PeayTulane at LSU
Fri., April 25Charlotte at UTSAEast Carolina at Florida Atlantic
St. Peter’s at FIUAlabama A&M at Louisiana TechMarshall at UABOld Dominion at Middle TennesseeRice at Southern MissWichita State at Tulane
Sat., April 26Charlotte at UTSAEast Carolina at Florida AtlanticSt. Peter’s at FIU (DH)Alabama A&M at Louisiana TechMarshall at UABOld Dominion at Middle TennesseeRice at Southern MissWichita State at Tulane
Sun., April 27Charlotte at UTSAEast Carolina at Florida AtlanticSt. Peter’s at FIUAlabama A&M at Louisiana TechMarshall at UABOld Dominion at Middle TennesseeRice at Southern MissWichita State at Tulane
Tue., April 29East Carolina at North CarolinaBethune Cookman at FAULouisiana Tech at Northwestern St.
Eastern Kentucky at MarshallTennessee at Middle TennesseeVirginia vs. Old DominionNicholls State at TulaneUAB at TroyLamar at UTSA
Wed., April 30Austin Peay at Middle TennesseeSouthern Miss at MississippiLamar at UTSA
Fri., May 2UAB at CharlotteFIU at East CarolinaFlorida Atlantic at Old DominionLouisiana Tech at Marshall (CH)UTSA at Middle TennesseeSouthern Miss at Tulane
Sat., May 3UAB at CharlotteFIU at East CarolinaFlorida Atlantic at Old DominionLouisiana Tech at MarshallUTSA at Middle TennesseeSouthern Miss at Tulane
Sun., May 4UAB at CharlotteFIU at East Carolina
Florida Atlantic at Old DominionLouisiana Tech at MarshallUTSA at Middle TennesseeSouthern Miss at Tulane
Tue., May 6Florida Atlantic at UCFSoutheastern Louisiana at Tulane
Wed., May 7South Florida at FIUUCF at Florida AtlanticSamford at UAB
Fri., May 9Charlotte at Louisiana TechEast Carolina at Southern MissMiddle Tennessee at FIUOld Dominion at MarshallRice at UTSATulane at UAB
Sat., May 10Charlotte at Louisiana TechEast Carolina at Southern MissMiddle Tennessee at FIUOld Dominion at MarshallRice at UTSATulane at UAB
Sun., May 11Charlotte at Louisiana TechEast Carolina at Southern MissMiddle Tennessee at FIUOld Dominion at MarshallRice at UTSATulane at UAB
Tue., May 13Winthrop at CharlotteHigh Point at East CarolinaFIU at Florida AtlanticMiddle Tennessee at BelmontOld Dominion at VMIRice vs. Houston (Constellation Field)
UAB at AuburnUTSA at Baylor
Thur., May 15Southern Miss at CharlotteUTSA at East CarolinaFIU at TulaneUAB at Florida AtlanticLouisiana Tech at RiceMarshall at Middle Tennessee
Fri., May 16Southern Miss at CharlotteUTSA at East CarolinaFIU at Tulane
UAB at Florida AtlanticLouisiana Tech at RiceMarshall at Middle Tennessee
Sat., May 17Southern Miss at CharlotteUTSA at East CarolinaFIU at TulaneUAB at Florida AtlanticLouisiana Tech at RiceMarshall at Middle Tennessee
Wed.-Sun., May 21-25Conference USA Championship (Hattiesburg, Miss., hosted by Southern Miss)
Fri.-Mon., May 30-June 2NCAA Regionals (Sites TBD)
Fri.-Mon., June 6-9NCAA Super Regionals (Sites TBD)
Sat., June 14-Wed., June 25College World Series (Omaha, Neb.)
All dates subject to change
16 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
”ah-QUEEN-no” Wayne Graham said — “Mike moves into the starting left-field position. He’s a high-level Division I hitter. He has power of course, with good speed.” Rice — 2013: All-Conference USA (second team, DH/Util.); Won the national edition of College Home Run Derby at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb., over the summer... Out-slugged seven of the top collegiate home run hitters from around the nation to claim the event title in an event televised nationally
Michael Aquino
OF l R/R l Sr.-3L 5-11 l 190 l The Woodlands, Tex. College Park HS15
by ESPN on July 4... Played in 63 of the team’s 64 games with a career-high 60 starts... Led the team RBI (43), slugging (.508) and total bases (126), and shared the team lead in home runs (9) and triples (4)... Finished second on the squad in batting average (.315), hits (78) and doubles (13), and was third in runs scored (45)... Made 55 starts as the designated hitter and five in left field... Started just three of the team’s first seven games before locking-in a spot in the batting order for the final 57 games... One of seven Owls to serve as the starting DH before he took over the role on a full-time basis on March 12... Batted clean-up 30 times, the most of any Owl, and hit as high as third in the lineup five times... Season debut was in left field on the second day of the season against national power Stanford, where he made it a memorable one by becoming the first Owl in three years to blast two home runs in a game... Knocked a home run in the Owls’ final game of the season in the Super Regional at NC State, part of a career-high tying four-hit day against the No. 7 ranked Wolf Pack... First four-hit day was the May 8 road game against future C-USA foe Louisiana Tech that featured two doubles, a career-high five RBI and raised his batting average to .352... Collected
two or more hits in a game a team-high 24 times... Longest hit-ting streak was eight-consecutive games in late March/early April... Reached base in 21-straight games during one stretch, the second-longest streak on the team... Drove-in two or more runs in a game a team-high 12 times... Maintained a .331 batting average and hit five of the nine home runs away from Reckling Park (four of the five road-home runs were in games played out-side the state of Texas)... Slugger who unselfishly had six sacrifice bunts, including two in the opening game of the NCAA Regional against San Francisco... Drew 18 walks and tied a career-high with two free passes at Houston... Reached base at a .468 pace (29-for-62) when leading off an inning... Error-free in six defensive chances in the outfield... 2012: Played in 23 games and worked his way into 16 starts, all as the designated hitter (usually against left-handed pitchers)... Served as a substitute DH two times, a pinch-hitter three times, and twice as a defensive replacement in the outfield... Batted .324, the third-highest average on the team, and reached as high as .345 in the final weekend of the regular season... Hit .385 (5-for-13) with a .538 slugging percent-age against Conference USA foes... Collected a career-best two
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 17
hits in a game four times, including UCF, Tulane, Dallas Baptist and in the opener of the NCAA Regional against Prairie View... Maintained a .421 average (8-for-19) against talented teams that played in the NCAA Tournament... “Night Owl” who batted a team-leading .450 in night games... Enjoyed a .438 batting av-erage when playing at home at Reckling Park... Batted as high as sixth in the lineup... Able to get on-base when leading off an inning 5-of-7 times (.714)... Played for The Woodlands Strykers of the Texas Collegiate League over the summer, where he led the TCL in batting average (.327) and home runs (10). Shared the TCL lead with 36 RBI, giving him the top spot in league’s triple crown categories... 2011: Appeared in 26 games in first season at the Division I level, including 13 starts... All 13 starts were in left field, and 10 were when the opponent started a left-handed pitcher... Made seven appearances as a pinch-hitter and remained in the game to play the outfield four times... Served as a pinch-runner four times and twice entered the game as a defensive substitu-tion in left field... Batted .279 for the full season, but maintained a .290 average (9-of-31) when starting... Finished second on the team in pinch-hits (2) and PH appearances (7)... Made collegiate debut on opening day as a pinch-runner in the ninth inning against Stanford and scored a run as Rice attempted to rally... First career start was in front of more than 5,000 fans against SEC foe Kentucky in a game played downtown at Minute Maid Park, where he went 1-for-4 with a run scored... Started again at Minute Maid Park two days later against Baylor and went 1-for-2
with an RBI single... Faced Baylor in the NCAA Tournament as a pinch hitter and delivered a one-out single in the ninth inning... Hit safely in each of the first four games where he recorded an at bat, and was hitting .333 (6-of-18) by the time C-USA league games began in March... Recorded a career-best two hits twice, in games against conference foes Houston and Memphis... Drew a career-high two walks in a road game at Sam Houston State... Proved to be a steady defensive outfielder with good range... Tal-lied a career-high five put outs in a C-USA start at East Carolina, the same game where he successfully stole second base... Played in the West Coast Collegiate League (Bellingham, Wa.) over the summer. High School — A 2010 graduate of College Park High School in The Woodlands, Texas... One of three former CPHS Cavaliers, along with Keenan Cook and John Simms, to join the squad... All-state outfielder as a senior (second team selection by the Tex-as Sports Writers, third team honoree by the Texas HS Coaches Assoc.)... First team 2010 all-Greater Houston according to the Houston Chronicle... First team Houston-5A by Houston5ABase-ball.com... Two-time first team all-District 14-5A... Helped lead the Cavaliers to a 22-10 record and district title as a senior... Batted .395 with 11 home runs, 31 RBI and an .884 slugging percentage... Coached by Jason Washburn, the 2010 District 14-5A co-coach of the year... Squad reached the Region II finals of the state tournament as a junior in 2009... Member of the National Society of High School Scholars.
Personal — Full name: Michael Vincent Aquino... Born: Jan. 15, 1992 in Houston... Parents: Vincent and Yvette Aquino of The Woodlands (three brothers, one sister)... Enjoys playing and com-posing music... College: Duncan.
Rice Highs2013 Season (also career highs) 7 at NC State, June 9 At Bats 3 at UAB, May 5 Runs Scored 4, twice Hits 2, twice Doubles 1, four times Triples 2, vs. Stanford, Feb. 16 Home Runs 5 at LA Tech, May 8 RBI 8 vs. Stanford, Feb. 16 Total Bases 2 at Houston, April 20 Walks 5 at East Carolina (in 2011) Put Outs none Assists
18 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
Leon Byrd
IF/OF l S/R l So.-1L 5-7 l 170 l Cypress, Texas Cy Ranch HS 1 Wayne Graham said — “Leon had a solid freshman cam-paign. He was valuable in centerfield, but we’re converting him to shortstop. He definitely has shortstop skills, a plus-arm, plus-speed and agility. We think he has a chance to be a great shortstop. Obvi-ously he has a great work ethic and we think he’s going to continue to grow as a hitter.” Rice — 2013: NCAA All-Regional; Conference USA All-Tournament; All-Silver Glove Series (games vs. Houston)... Only Owl freshman to play in every game... Started 63 of the
team’s 64 games, and all but one of the starts was in centerfield... Made one start at second base in place of all-conference hon-oree and eventual major league draft pick Christian Stringer (vs. Baylor at Minute Maid Park in the finale of the of the Houston College Classic)... Second on the team in on-base percentage (.420) and steals (9)... Led the squad, and 42nd among the NCAA statistical leaders, in sacrifice bunts (13)... Shared the team lead in walks (44), and was also hit by a pitch more than any other Owl (15 times, the most by a Rice player since 2008)... Tied for fourth on the team in at bats (233), doubles (9) and triples (1)... Finished with a total of 64 hits in 64 games played... Started 47 of the team’s first 49 games batting leadoff, then moved to the bot-tom half of the lineup for the last 15 games and posted dramatic results... Batted .408, maintained a .525 on-base percentage and scored 12 runs over the final 15 games to help the Owls tie for first in the C-USA regular season standings and win both the league tournament and NCAA Regional in Eugene, Oregon... Only other game not to bat leadoff was on March 1 against No. 1 ranked North Carolina where he went 1-for-3 with an RBI and sacrifice bunt... Hit a steady .333 (12-for-36) in all games against ranked opponents and batted .391 in NCAA Tournament games... Col-lected two or more hits in a game 19 times, including a career-high three hits against Memphis in the C-USA tournament to
Rice StatisticsYear Avg GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB ATT2013 .275 64 63 233 36 64 9 1 1 21 78 .335 44 15 37 2 .420 1 13 9 15
help send the Owls to the championship final... Knocked a home run and a double in a two-hit game against state foe Stephen F. Austin for a career-best six total bases... Ended the year with a season-long six-game hitting streak, as well as having reached base in 16-consecutive games (one away from career-best 17)... Drew two or more walks in a game 12 times, including a career-high four walks in the series-opener at future conference foe FIU... Finished 30th overall among the NCAA national leaders in walks... Scored twice in a game nine different times... Drove-in a season-best two runs in the series finale win at UAB... Converted on 9-of-15 stolen base attempts... Stole two bases in the final Super Regional game at NC State... Combined solid range with a strong arm in centerfield... Recorded 7-of-9 defensive assists throwing runners out from centerfield, including four that were directly to home plate, one to home on a relay, one at third base and one at second base... Registered an out and two assists play-ing second base at Minute Maid Park. High School — A 2012 graduate of Cypress Ranch High School, just west of Houston... Selected in the 25th round of the major league draft by the New York Mets after an outstanding prep career... Helped lead Cy Ranch to the 5A state champion-ship and a 34-8 record as a senior... First team all-state honoree by Texas High School Coaches Association and Texas Sports Writ-
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 19
ers... First team all-Greater Houston selection by the Houston Chronicle... Named first team Rawlings all-region... Batted .420 with a .566 on-base average, scored 37 runs, stole 20 bases and drove in 22 runs to lead the Mustangs to the 2012 state title... Selected to play in the Texas High School Coaches Association 5A all-star game (south team), as well as the 5A Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association all-star game (north team)... Four-year varsity letterman and three-time all-District 17-5A honoree under head coach John Pope, a 1988-89 Rice baseball letter-man... Joined fellow Owl signees Hunter Kopycinski, Kevin McCanna and Beau Rathjen as teammates at the 2011 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. Personal — Full name: Leon Andre Byrd, Jr... Born: February 27, 1994, in Houston... Parents: Leon and Lisa Byrd of Cypress, Texas (two sisters)... Father was a baseball letterman at Jackson State... College: Brown.
Rice Highs2013 Season (also career highs) 6, three times At Bats 2, nine times Runs Scored 3 vs. Memphis, May 25 Hits 1, nine times Doubles 1 vs. UCF, May 23 Triples 1 vs. SFA, Mar. 19 Home Runs 2 at UAB, May 5 RBI 6 vs. SFA, Mar. 19 Total Bases 4 at FIU, Mar. 8 Walks 2 vs. NC State, June 9 Stolen Bases 1, 13 times SAC Bunts 5 vs. Texas State, Apr. 1 Put Outs 2 vs. Baylor, Mar. 3 Assists
Keenan Cook
OF l L/R l Sr.-3L 6-0 l 195 l The Woodlands, Tex. College Park HS17 Wayne Graham said — “We’re moving Keenan to right field where we think he’ll be outstanding. He has improved as a ballplay-er every year, and we expect that to continue. He has a chance to be a very good Division I player this year.” Rice — 2013: All-Conference USA (second team); C-USA Academic Honor Roll; Played in 63 of the team’s 64 games with 60 starts... Every start was in the outfield, and 59 of 60 were in leftfield... Lone start in center was against Baylor in perhaps one of the most distinctive centerfield settings in the country down-
20 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
town at Minute Maid Park (a CF distance of 436 feet with a hill and flag pole in play)... Batted in as many as seven different spots in the lineup, the most of any Owl... Most starts were as the No. 5 hitter, a total of 22 times where he hit .318... Hit leadoff, and went 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI, in the third game of the series at Hawaii... Led the team, and finished fifth in C-USA, for batting average in league-only games (.352)... Batted .385 in the C-USA Tournament and delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 11th inning of the championship final to lift the Owls to the tourney title... Had five hits and drew four walks for a .529 on-base percentage in the four C-USA Tournament games at Reckling Park... Enjoyed the best overall home batting average (.349) along with a .416 on-base average in 32 games played at Reckling Park (minimum 25 at bats)... Finished third on the team in RBI (32) and sacrifice bunts (11)... Seven of the 11 sac bunts were in C-USA games, tying for the most by any player in the league... Second on the team with four sacrifice flies... Combi-nation of sac bunts and sac flies (total 15) was the most of any player in C-USA (15)... Placed fourth on the team in hits (68), runs (38) and steals (5), and tied for fourth in doubles (9)... Was fifth in both batting average (.292) and slugging, a .356 percentage
that has improved in every year of his collegiate career... Had more at bats with the bases loaded (14) than any other Owl and was a steady 6-for-14 (.429) in those opportunities... Managed to reach base at a .449 pace when leading off an inning (22-of-49)... Collected two or more hits in a game 20 times, including a career-high tying three hits four different times... Longest hitting streak was ten-straight games, the third-best mark on the team... Reached base in 14-consecutive games during one stretch... Drove in two or more runs in a game six times, with a career-high tying four RBI in the St. Patrick’s Day win over Har-vard... Tied a career-high with three walks in the May 25 victory over Memphis... Steady defensive outfielder with solid range and strong arm... Maintained a .981 fielding percentage in 106 total chances... Recorded defensive assists by throwing out seven runners on the base paths, including two in one game against UCF... Tied a career high with five put outs in the home win over Lamar... Moved from outfield to second base in the midst of the Texas A&M game and was error-free... Made one appear-ance as a pinch hitter, one as a pinch runner (before remaining in to play designated hitter), and once directly subbed-in as the new DH... 2012: Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic
Honor Roll; Played in 27 games with six starts, including four in left field and two as the designated hitter (usually against right-handed pitchers)... The 21 games played coming off the bench were the most of any Owl... Hit .370 in the second half of the season to raise his average 93 points and finish at .304... Thrived as a pinch-hitter, going 5-for-9 (.556) with a double and a walk in a team-leading 10 pinch-hitting assignments... Made seven appearances as the new DH, three as an outfield substitute, and was one of just three Owls called-on to pinch-run (one time, in which he did his job and scored a run)... Reached base 4-of-11 times (.364) when leading-off an inning... Batted .368 (7-of-19) against Conference USA opponents in the regular season, and was 2-for-4 at the C-USA Tournament... Went 5-for-10 with a .615 on-base percentage in games against nationally-ranked foes... Collected two hits in games against Grambling and Tulane... After the two-hit game at Tulane, he started the next day against the Green Wave and drew a pair of walks while batting second in the lineup... Registered the team’s fifth-best on-base percent-age (.385) for Owls who had his same number of at bats (46)... Converted on 3-of-4 stolen base attempts... Played for the Haymarket Senators in the Valley League over the summer... 2011: All Silver Glove Series; Played in 60 of the team’s 63 games, including 53 starts in first season at the Division I level... Finished sixth on the team in starts... Made 49 starts in the outfield (40 in left, eight in right and one in center)... Started twice at second base and twice as the designated hitter, with both DH starts in the very first series of the year against Stanford (including Open-
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 21
ing Day)... Forty-six starts were as the leadoff batter, a spot he had essentially locked-up the second half of the season... Batted .296 over the Owls’ last 30 games to raise his average 23 points... Hit a steady .284 in the No. 1 spot in the order and reached base at a .438 pace when leading-off an inning... Average was .288 against the talented teams that went on to play in the NCAA Tournament... “Night Owl” who hit 89 points higher in night games (.323) than day games (.234)... Batted .357 and scored four times in the season-long five-game Silver Glove Series against crosstown rival Houston... Recorded a career-high three hits in the first meeting against Houston, and later matched that total in the final home against Memphis... Collected 14 games with two or more hits... Maintained a career-best 10-game hit-ting streak that was tied for the fourth-longest on the team... Hit lone home run of the season in the NCAA Tournament against eventual College World Series participant California... Drove-in a career-best four runs in the finale against Louisiana Tech, and had two or RBI in a game four times... Finished second on the team in walks (31)... Drew a career-high three walks in the second Silver Glove game against Houston... Tied for second on the team with six steals, converting on 6-of-7 attempts... Fourth on the squad with seven sacrifice bunts... Recorded defensive assists from two different outfield positions - from left field against Louisiana Tech and from right field against Marshall... Made a dramatic, game-saving diving catch in left field in the C-USA Championship Final against Houston... Career-high put outs in a single game was five
against Baylor in the NCAA Tournament... Played in the Alaska League (Anchorage) over the summer. High School — A 2010 graduate of College Park High School in The Woodlands, Texas... One of three former College Park High School Cavaliers, along with Michael Aquino and John Simms, to join the Owls in 2010... Second team 2010 all-Greater Houston selection by the Houston Chronicle... All-Hous-ton 5A honorable mention by Houston5ABaseball.com... Twice selected first team all-District 14-5A... Two-time member of the Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association 5A all-stars (North-east)... Named to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Associ-ation Academic All-state team... Helped lead the team to a 22-10 record and district title as a senior... Coached by Jason Wash-burn, the 2010 District 14-5A co-coach of the year... Hit .362 with 34 hits and 36 runs scored in 32 games... Drove in 22 runs and stole 18 bases... Maintained a .334 average for his prep career... The Cavs reached the Region II finals of the state tournament in his junior season of 2009... Versatile two-sport star also earned three varsity letters in football and was named a second-team all-district honoree. Personal — Full name: Keenan Jackson Cook... Born: Janu-ary 10, 1992 in The Woodlands... Parents: Wes and Cindi Cook of The Woodlands (one brother and one sister)... Older brother, Aaron, played Division I baseball for Texas Arlington and Sam Houston State... College: Jones.
Rice Highs2013 Season Career7 vs NC State, June 9 At Bats 7 vs NC State, June 9, ‘13 3, twice Runs Scored 2, twice 3, four times Hits 3, six times4 vs. Harvard, Mar. 17 RBI 4, twice1, nine times Doubles 1, 17 times1, three times Triples 1, four timesnone Home Runs 1 vs. California, June 5, ‘114, three times Total Bases 4, five times3 vs. Memphis, May 25 Walks 3, twice1, five times Steals 1, 14 times1, 11 times Sac Hits 1, 18 times1, four times Sac Flies 1, seven times5 vs. Lamar, May 1 Put Outs 5, twice5 vs. UCF, April 13 Assists 3 at Arizona, Mar. 1, ‘11
22 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
was 5.7-to-1... All but one appearance was out of the bullpen - his collegiate debut as the Owl starter in the team’s fourth game of the season vs. Dallas Baptist (Feb. 19)... Was the pitcher of record against DBU after surrendering four runs in a career-long 2.2 in-nings with a career-high four strikeouts... Settled in to a reliever’s role after that DBU start where he proceeded to maintain a 2.63 ERA in his next 13.2 innings over a span of 14 appearances... Pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in the Conference USA Tournament victory over UCF... Maintained a 1.59 ERA in 5.2 frames against C-USA foes... Finished the year with 17 strikeouts, an average of 8.5 Ks per 9.0 innings... Fanned three batters in a game twice, a pair of 2.0 inning outings at home against Harvard and on the road at La Tech... Held all opposing hitters to a composite .278 batting average... 2012: Did not see game action in first season with the program... Served as a reserve catcher, who was given the task of helping prepare the Rice pitchers in the bullpen... Had the full-confidence of the Owl coaches to work with one of the top collegiate pitching staffs in the nation... Played locally in the Carl Young League over the summer. High School — A 2011 graduate of Lamar Consolidated High School in Rosenberg, Tex.... Third-team 4A all-state catcher by the Texas Sports Writers Association in 2011... Second-team 4A All-Greater Houston by Houston5ABaseball.com... Selected
Wayne Graham said — “Matt was sidelined for most of the fall, but we have high hopes for him because he has great stuff - a hard, moving fastball and a good curveball. He could be huge in middle relief or even late relief.” Rice — 2013: Conference USA Academic Honor Roll; Successfully made the move from serving as a bullpen catcher during a redshirt season to a contributing Division I pitcher... Tied for seventh on the staff in appearances (16) and finished eighth in innings (18.0)... Strikeouts-to-walks ratio for the season
Matt Ditman
C/P l R/R l So.-1L 6-1 l 205 l Richmond, Texas Lamar Consolidated HS38
to play in the Houston Area Baseball Coaches North-South All-Star game... Three-time all-District 23-4A honoree, including first team catcher as a senior... Helped lead the Mustangs to a 23-7 record, the quarterfinals of the 4A Region III playoffs, and No. 6 ranking in the state... Program won in three district titles in four years as a starter for head coach Phil Schwarz, the 23-4A co-coach of the year in 2011... Batted .350 with five home runs and 20 RBI as a senior... Maintained a .310 average with 60 RBI during prep career... AP Scholar with Honor... National Honor Society... Member of Speech & Debate. Personal — Full name: Matthew David Ditman... Born: August 13, 1992, in San Diego, Calif.... Parents: Mark and Diane Ditman of Richmond, Texas (one sister)... Father is an Associate Vice President at Rice... Chose to attend Rice over Baylor, Penn and Columbia... College: Baker.
Rice Highs2013 Season (also Career Highs) 2.2 vs. Dallas Baptist, Feb. 19 Innings 4 vs. Dallas Baptist, Feb. 19 Strikeouts 1 at Southern Miss, Mar. 22 Wild Pitches 1 vs. Dallas Baptist, Feb. 19 Hit Batters none Put Outs 1, four times Assists
Rice StatisticsYear ERA W L App GS CG SHO CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR BF O/Avg WP HBP2013 5.50 0 1 16 1 0 0 1 0 18.0 20 12 11 3 17 3 0 0 79 .278 1 1
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 23
Andrew Dunlap
P l R/R l Fr.-HS 5-11 l 215 l Houston Westbury Christian HS 21 Wayne Graham said — “In the fall we didn’t get to see as much of Andrew on the mound as we wanted. It is very important for us to be able to evaluate freshman pitchers as much as possible.” High School — A 2013 graduate of Westbury Christian High School... Was selected in the 33rd round of the 2013 ma-jor league draft by the Washington Nationals... Two-year varsity catcher for head coach Ricky Watkins who did not begin pitching until after the conclusion of his prep career... The Wildcats went 16-14 competing in the Texas Association of Private and Paro-
chial Schools (TAPPS) District 4A as a senior in 2013... Hit .333 with seven home runs and 26 RBI as a junior in 2012 to help the squad go 27-10... Member of the Texas Rangers team at the Area Code Games in the summer of 2012... Maintained a 3.70 grade point average. Personal — Full name: Andrew Bellows Dunlap... Born: Date May 4, 1994, in Houston... Parents: Frank and Alice Dunlap of Houston (two sisters)... College: Hanszen.
Draft DodgersA number of Owls on the current roster were selected in different Major League Drafts, but decided to forgo pro baseball in order to attend Rice. The current Owl draft dodgers include:
Player Pos. Rd Yr MLB TeamAndrew Dunlap RHP 33rd ‘13 WashingtonKevin McCanna RHP 22nd ‘12 San DiegoLeon Byrd SS/OF 25th ‘12 NY MetsChase McDowell RHP 30th ‘12 PittsburghZech Lemond RHP 50th ‘11 Pittsburgh
24 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
Wayne Graham said — “Skyler continued the good summer he had playing in the Cape Cod League and ended up leading our fall program in almost every offensive category. He has a chance to be a tremendous Division I player.” Rice — 2013: Appeared in 57 of the team’s 64 games with 47 starts... Made 43 starts at first base and four at catcher early in the year (did not play behind the plate after the first week of March)... Usual spots in the batting order were either eighth or ninth (30 total times), but once batted as high as cleanup... Tied
Skyler Ewing
IF/C l R/R l So.-1L 6-1 l 220 l Arlington, Texas Arlington HS44
Jon Duplantier
P l L/R l Fr.-HS 6-4 l 210 l Katy, Texas Seven Lakes HS 29 Wayne Graham said — “Jon is an outstanding freshman re-cruit with better than average control for a freshman. He has a good fastball and his other pitches continue to improve. Jon has tremen-dous potential.” High School — A 2013 graduate of Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Tex.... Multi-sport student-athlete who was a two-year varsity baseball starter and letterman... Went 6-2 on the mound with a 1.60 ERA in 13 appearances for the 2013 Re-gional III 5A bi-district champions... Finished senior year with 83
strikeouts in 65.2 innings, an average of 11.4 Ks per 9.0 innings... Served as team captain for Chargers team that finished with a 20-13 record... Earned both first team all-district and academic all-district honors in 19-5A... Pitched 22 innings with an ERA of 2.26 as a junior in 2012, earning second team all-district... Also contributed to the team as a left-handed hitting first baseman, hitting .316 with a .419 on-base percentage in 2012... Coached in baseball by Chad Payne... Standout football letterman... Named first team Academic all-state under head coach Lydell Wilson... Maintained a 4.32 grade point average on 4.00 scale... Member of the National Honor Society. Personal — Full name: Jon Christopher Duplantier. Born: July 11, 1994, in Newark, Delaware. Parents: Jon and Devra Du-plantier of Katy, Texas (one brother, one sister). Chose to attend Rice over Yale. College: Lovett.
for third on the team in home runs (4), and was fourth in both sac-rifice bunts (10) and times getting hit by a pitch (5)... Finished fifth on the squad in walks (23), seventh in slugging (.342) and eighth in RBI (23)... Did his best hitting in Conference USA league games, building a .298 batting average (17-for-57) with a .474 slugging percentage... Maintained a steady .274 average in 30 games away from Reckling Park... None of his four home runs (against Baylor, Southern Miss, UAB and La Tech) were hit at home... Went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the opening game of the NCAA Super Re-gional at NC State... Collected two or more hits in a game seven times, including a career-high three hits at Sam Houston State and at home against Tulane... Longest hitting streak was seven-straight games to raise his in-season average to its highest point (.274 on March 30)... Finished the year with an active streak of reaching base in seven-consecutive games... Reached base at a .429 clip in 42 times to lead-off an inning... Shared the team lead in pinch-hit appearances (6)... Never collected a pinch base hit, but did get on base by drawing a walk (three times) and get hit by a pitch (once), and he eventually went on to score three runs in those six pinch hit appearances... Scored all 16 runs in 16 dif-ferent games (and has never scored twice in a game)... Drove-
in two or more runs in a game four different times, including a career-high three RBI in the 6-3 road victory in the series finale at Southern Miss (a key win that eventually helped Rice clinch the C-USA regular season co-championship and No. 1 seed in the league tournament)... Drew a career-high three walks in the se-ries opener against UCF... Collected two sacrifice bunts in a single game against Stanford during the opening weekend of the sea-son, a feat only one other Owl (Aquino) managed to match over the next three months of the season... Successfully stole a base in his only attempt all year... Maintained a .985 fielding percent-age in 461 total chances at first base... Recorded a career-high 18 putouts against East Carolina, the second-highest single-game total by an Owl all season... Tallied 34 of 41 assists from first base... Appeared as a defensive substitute ten times, tied for the third-highest total on the team... Remained in the game to play defense after all six pinch hitting appearances, and each time it was as the new first baseman... Subbed directly in as the new first baseman four times... Played in the prestigious Cape Cod League over the summer (Hyannis Harbor Hawks), where he was named an All-Star with a .287 average, four home runs and 20 RBI... Won the home run derby event at the CCL’s All-Star Game... 2012:
Played in nine games with two starts as the designated hitter in first season at the Division I level... Made his Rice debut as a replacement DH on the second day of the season against an FIU team that was coming off an NCAA Regional appearance... First collegiate start was against Arizona (ranked No. 9 at the time but went on to win the National Championship)... Singled in his first at bat against the Wildcats (his second career at bat overall) and stole second base later in that inning... Also started on the road at Conference USA foe Memphis... Subbed-in to play first base for the first time the following week at Lamar... Late in the year he delivered a lead-off pinch hit in the bottom of the tenth inning in the second game of the C-USA series against crosstown rival Houston (where he was lifted for a pinch-runner, who went on to score the game-tying run on the way to a 4-3 Rice victory in extra frames)... Went 1-for-4 as a pinch hitter and 1-for-7 as the DH... Played in the Northwoods League over the summer, where he helped lead the Wisconsin Woodchucks to a 26-9 record and South Division title. High School — A 2011 graduate of Arlington High School... Versatile catcher/first baseman and pitcher who was named the 2011 District 4-5A Utility Player of the Year on a vote of the league head coaches... Three-year varsity starter and all-district honoree for head coach David Nix, the 4-5A coach of the year in 2011... Helped lead the Colts to the district championship as a senior and to the Region I quarterfinals of the state tournament... Bat-ted .443 with 13 home runs and 46 RBI in the team’s 40 games in 2011... Went 7-3 on the mound with a 3.26 ERA and 98 strikeouts
26 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
in 67 innings of work... Maintained a .450 batting average during prep career with 31 homers... Outstanding student... Named to the 2011 5A Academic All-State team by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA)... National Honors Soci-ety member... Principals Award recipient... Played locally over the summer for Kyle Chapman Red of the Premier Baseball League. Personal — Full Name: Skyler Blaine Ewing... Born: August 22, 1992, in Arlington, Texas... Parents: William and Doreen Ewing of Arlington (one brother, one sister)... Said he wanted to go to Rice since he was 10 years old when he “attended the College World Series in 2003.” Member of the Fellowship of Christian Ath-letes... College: Martel.
Rice Highs2013 Season (also career highs) 5, three times At Bats 1, 16 times Runs Scored 3, twice Hits 1, five times Doubles none Triples 1, four times Home Runs 3 at Southern Miss, Mar. 24 RBI 5, twice Total Bases 3 vs. UCF, Apr. 12 Walks 1, twice Stolen Bases 2 vs. Stanford, Feb. 17 SAC Bunts 18 at East Carolina, Apr. 6 Put Outs 5 vs. Texas A&M, Mar. 2 Assists
Blake Fox
P/IF l L/L l So.-1L 6-4 l 220 l Bellaire, Texas Episcopal HS26 Wayne Graham said — “We like how Blake continues to get better, all the time. He had a good fall, and was particularly sharp late. As a freshman he pitched, hit from the left side and played first base. We think he’s going to be a starter, but he will help us in a mul-titude of ways.”
Rice — 2013: Freshman All-America (third team reliever, Collegiate Baseball magazine); Conference USA All-Freshman Team; C-USA Co-Pitcher of the Week (May 6); One of three Owls with the versatile role of serving as both a hitter and a pitcher... Played in a total of 44 games as a true freshman, including 24 as a left-handed hitter/first baseman and 20 as a pitcher (none in the same game)... Undefeated in six pitching decisions, notch-ing a victory in a start against Lamar and wins in relief against Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, Texas State, UAB and UCF... Made two starts, both against Lamar... Fired a career-long 5.0 shutout innings in the second start against the Cardinals, scattering a pair of hits and a walk while striking out three... That game be-gan a season-long stretch consecutive scoreless innings that reached 11.1 frames over four appearances... Allowed just one run in an earlier 12.1 inning span (March 6 to April 6) that low-ered his in-season ERA to 2.04... Recorded a save in his collegiate pitching debut at Hawaii (Feb. 25) by blanking the Rainbows for 3.0 innings on two hits... Pitched 3.0 or more innings six differ-ent times... Recorded a career-high five strikeouts in the second of three meetings against La Tech... Averaged 5.6 strikeouts per 9.0 innings... Maintained a 1.8-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio... Held opposing hitters to a composite .288 batting average... Fin-ished with a 2.92 ERA in 12.1 innings of Conference USA league
Rice StatisticsYear ERA W L App GS CG SHO CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR BF O/Avg WP HBP2013 3.41 6 0 20 2 0 0 1 1 37.0 40 15 14 13 23 6 2 1 158 .288 2 2
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 27
What’s Your College?If you’re keeping score, here’s how the 2014 baseball team is grouped by their Rice College:Baker 4 (Dittman, Rutter, C.Teykl, T.Teykl)Brown 4 (Byrd, McCarthy, Warren, Wunderlich)Duncan 3 (Aquino, Mason, A.Orewiler)Hanszen 4 (Dunlap, Kopycinski, McElligott, Stephens)Jones 3 (Cook, Lemond, B.Smith)Lovett 3 (Duplantier, N.Orewiler, Rathjen)Martel 2 (Ewing, Murphy)McMurtry 4 (McDowell, Reeves, C.Smith, Stainback)Sid Richardson 2 (Hoelscher, Williamson)Wiess 1 (McNair)Will Rice 3 (Fox, McCanna, Taylor)
Rice StatisticsYear Avg GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB ATT2013 .241 24 14 54 0 13 0 0 0 7 13 .241 2 0 9 0 .268 0 1 0 1
games... Picked a runner off first base on the road at UAB... Key contributor on the mound, but pitching was only half the story... Worked his way into 14 starts in the batting order, played as a defensive sub at first base ten times and pinch hit three times... Made 13 starts at first base and one as the designated hitter... Slapped a base hit in his first career at bat on the second day of the season against national power Stanford... Started at DH three days later against Dallas Baptist and promptly went 3-for-3 with a walk and a pair of RBI... Was a perfect 4-for-4 in first four official at bats, and had reached first base in all five plate appearances... Recorded a hit in three-consecutive games where he had at least one at bat... Collected a pair of two-hit games late in the year - in the final C-USA series against Marshall and San Francisco in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament... Solid defensive first baseman who maintained a .986 fielding percentage in 145 to-tal chances... Also played error-free in 14 defensive chances as a pitcher. High School — A 2012 graduate of Episcopal High School in Bellaire, Tex.... Earned all-Southwest Preparatory Conference honors as a junior and senior... Helped lead the Knights to three-straight conference championships (2010-12)... Four-year var-sity letterman under head coach Matt Fox, (Blake’s cousin and a 1998-2001 Rice baseball letterman)... Went 7-2 on the mound
with a 2.48 ERA and struck out 85 batters in 62 innings as a junior in 2011... Also hit .390 with a .650 slugging percentage, 34 RBI and 28 runs scored in 36 games that season... Versatile student-athlete who was also a varsity basketball letterman. Personal — Full name: Blake Alexander Fox... Born: June 17, 1993, in Bellaire... Parents: Mike and Linda Fox of Bellaire, Texas (three brothers)... Continues a strong Rice baseball legacy as fa-ther, cousin (Matt Fox), and grandfather (Jim Fox), all played for the Owls before advancing to various levels of professional base-ball in different organizations... College: Will Rice.
Rice Highs2013 Season/Career 5.0 vs. Lamar, May 1 Innings 5 vs. LA Tech, Mar. 13 Strikeouts 1, twice Wild Pitches 1, twice Hit Batters
4, five times At Bats 3 vs. Dallas Baptist, Feb. 19 Hits 2, twice RBI 3 vs. Dallas Baptist, Feb. 19 Total Bases 1 at Hawaii, Feb. 22 SAC Bunts 14 vs. UAB, May 22 Put Outs 2, twice Assists
28 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
Shane Hoelscher
IF l R/R l Sr.-3L 6-0 l 195 l Belton, Texas Belton HS 2 Wayne Graham said — “Shane is a front-line Division I play-er, an outstanding fielder at a demanding position. He was our lead-ing hitter last year and we think Shane is still an evolving player.” Rice — 2013: NCAA All-Regional Team; Conference USA All-Tournament Team; Led the team, and was fourth among the C-USA league leaders, with the best batting average of his collegiate career (.320)... Finished third on the team with a career-best on-base percentage (.401) and was fourth in slug-ging (.380)... Was on the way to a career-best season across the
board, but suffered an injury in early March that sidelined him for more than a month... Returned as the everyday third base-man in early April and picked up where he had left off, helping lead the Owls to a 21-7 record heading into the Super Regional... Hit .321 and was second on the team in RBI, third in walks, and fourth in total bases over the final 30 games... Appeared in a total of 41 games with 40 starts, all at third base... In the 40 games he started he was third on the Owls in hits and RBI (with an ex-tra month of games his teammates went on to rank among the C-USA league leaders in those same categories)... Hit .339 in C-USA regular season games and .357 in the 4-0 run to the league tournament title... Maintained the team’s longest hitting streak of the season (13 games) just one week after he returned to action... Tied a career-high with four hits in a single game on two occasions (the finales vs Stanford and Louisiana Tech)... Col-lected two or more hits in a game 11 times... Drove-in two or more runs in a game seven different times, including three-RBI days against Memphis and on the road at Oregon in the NCAA Regional... Drew 17 walks and tied a career-high with three free passes in a game against Marshall... Batted fifth in the lineup 21 times, and as high as third in the order six times... Strong-arm
infielder who recorded 92 defensive assists at the hot corner, and was involved in six double plays... In his first start back in the lineup at Lamar the Cardinals tested him with bunts and ground balls in his direction, and he responded with a career-high sev-en assists and no fielding errors... Tallied at least five assists six different times... Ended the season with a streak of 24-straight chances without an error... 2012: All-Silver Glove Series team for his play in the annual season-long series against crosstown rival Houston; Started 59 of the team’s 60 games, all at third base... Tied for third on the team in starts, and for starts at just one posi-tion... Became only the second Owl in the last 11 years to record at least 50 starts at third base in consecutive seasons, and only one player has more career starts at the hot corner during that stretch... Most starts were batting fifth in the order (16 times), but hit as high as second and third... Batted a composite .346 (29-for-89) with a .413 on-base average in Rice’s 25 games against opponents that went on to play in NCAA Regionals... Collected two or more hits in a game 14 times, including a career-best four hits twice... Reached base in 14-consecutive games during one stretch... Drove-in two or more runs in a game four times, includ-ing a career-best four on Opening Day against an FIU team that
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 29
was coming-off an NCAA Regional appearance... Finished sec-ond on the team, and tied for eighth in Conference USA, with eight sacrifice bunts... Registered a career-best seven total bases twice (vs. Tulane and Grambling)... Scored a career-high four runs in a 12-4 win over New Mexico State... Drew two walks in a game four different times... 2011: Conference USA All-Freshman team; Houston College Classic All-Tournament Team; All-Sil-ver Glove Series team for the season-long best-of-five games vs. crosstown rival Houston; Started 58 of the team’s 63 games, the fifth-highest total on the team... Made 53 starts playing a new position for him in the field (third base), and did so while replac-ing 2010 national player of the year Anthony Rendon - all in his debut season at the Division I level... Also started once at short-stop, once at second base and three times as the designated hitter... Most starts were batting sixth in the lineup (24 times), but also hit as high as third in the lineup twice... Shared the lead in Conference USA with eight sacrifice flies, the highest single-season total by an Owl in five years (MLB player Josh Rodriguez had eight SF in 2006)... Tied for eighth in the conference, and was second on the team, in getting hit by a pitch (nine times)... Second on the team with 37 RBI (tied with Rendon)... Finished third on the team in home runs (3), doubles (13) and slugging percentage (.386)... Batted a steady .281 for the full season and .278 in C-USA league games... Went 4-for-11 (.364) in the NCAA Tournament with a double, two RBI, two walks and a sacrifice bunt, and was also error-free in the field in nine total chances... Hit .320 with the bases empty and reached base 19-of-50 times
(.380) when leading off an inning... Was at his best in high-profile contests, batting .353 (12-of-34) in nine games where the atten-dance was 4,000 or more fans... Maintained a .467 average (7-of-15) with a .600 slugging percentage and .565 on-base average in the year-long Houston series... Enjoyed a .292 average at home at Reckling Park and was a ‘night Owl’ who hit .316 in evening games... Went 3-for-6 with four walks as the designated hitter... Helped carry the team offensively when the Owls were beset by injuries the first six weeks of the season by batting .320 to rank second on the squad... Registered seven official at bats in the extra-inning game against eventual College World Series par-ticipant California, tied for most on the team by an Owl all year... Collected two or more hits in a game 16 different times, includ-ing a career-high three hits four times... Longest hitting streak of the season was nine games, and he hit safely in 19-of-21 games during one stretch... Drove-in two or more runs in a game eight times, the second-highest multi-RBI games on the team (behind Ratterree)... Tallied a career-best three RBI in C-USA victories over Marshall and Memphis... Improved defensively over the course of the year at the hot corner... Played each of the last 341.0 in-nings of the season at third base (38 games) and maintained a .962 fielding percentage in 105 total chances... Posted a career-high five assists five different times, all of which were in games in the second half of the season... Was error-free over the last 14 games of the year, a total of 41 chances without a miscue... In-volved in eight double-plays while at third base, and started one DP from second base in a home win over Southern Cal.
High School — A 2010 graduate of Belton High School in Belton, Texas... First team 5A all-state shortstop by both the Texas HS Coaches Association and Texas Sports Writers... Shared the MVP honors for District 12-5A and the all-area team... Member of the THSCA North All-Star team... Batted .411 with 14 home runs, 56 RBI, 52 runs scored and 16 doubles in 42 games as a senior... Paced the 2010 Tigers to a 34-8 record, the district championship and the Region II semifinals... Four-year varsity starter for coach Eddie Cornblum... Graduated in the Top 7 percent of his class. Personal — Full name: Shane Adam Hoelscher.. Born: Sept. 21, 1991 in Temple, Texas... Parents: Lenny and Dana Hoel-scher of Belton... (one brother, one sister). College: Sid Richard-son.
Rice Highs2013 Season Career 7 at Hawaii ,Feb. 22 At Bats 7, twice2, twice Runs Scored 4 vs. NMSU., Feb. 22, ‘124, twice Hits 4, four times3, twice Runs Batted In 4 vs. FIU, Feb. 17, ‘121, seven times Doubles 2 vs. La Tech, Mar. 19, ‘111 at Oregon, June 3 Triples 1, twicenone Home Runs 1, seven times5 at LA Tech, May 8 Total Bases 7, twice3 vs. Marshall. May 17 Walks 3, twice1, three times Stolen Bases 1, eleven times2, three times Put Outs 3, twice7 at Lamar, Apr. 9 Assists 7 at Lamar, Apr. 9, ‘13
30 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
Hunter Kopycinski
C l R/R l So.-1L 5-11 l 175 l Houston, Texas St. Thomas HS 4 Wayne Graham said — “We didn’t get to see Hunter in our fall program, but we still regard him as one of our top two catchers who will play a lot. He gave us a tremendous boost in the playoffs last year. He has a great arm.” Rice — 2013: Conference USA Academic Honor Roll; Appeared in 20 games with eight starts, including each of the last three games of the season in the NCAA Tournament... Seven starts were behind the plate... Did not play any other defensive position in first Division I season... First career start was March
12 against La Tech as the designated hitter... Fourth on the team in batting average and was the first Owl true freshman to fin-ish at .300 (or better) since 2009 (Gonzales-Luna & Rendon)... Hit .348 when runners were on-base and an eye-opening .462 with runners in scoring position... Was in a 2-for-16 hitting stretch and had started only one game since late March when he was thrust into the starting lineup in the deciding game of the Eugene Re-gional due to an injury to senior starting catcher Geoff Perrott... Responded with a career-best 4-for-5, four-RBI game with a triple and two runs scored against No. 9 Oregon to lift the Owls to an 11-4 victory... Started the next weekend at No. 7 ranked NC State and went 3-for-4 in the opening game of the Super Regional... Finished with an NCAA Tournament batting average of .467 (7-for-15) and a .600 slugging percentage... Two sensational out-ings in the NCAA Tourney helped give him a .450 batting aver-age in all games played away from Reckling Park, but he hit the program’s only grand slam of the season at home in the March 13 La Tech game when he made his first career start behind the plate... Cleared the bases with an inside-the-park home run that bounced off the centerfield wall, the Owls’ first grand slam since April of 2012... “Night Owl” who batted .409 in evening games... Proved to be a polished receiver who continued to improve on defense with experience... Charged with only one passed ball all
Rice StatisticsYear Avg GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB ATT2013 .300 20 8 40 3 12 0 1 1 11 17 .425 3 0 8 2 .341 1 1 0 0
year... Caught all 17 innings of the final game at the NCAA Super Regional... Rice went 5-2, while Owl pitchers maintained a 3.52 ERA with a .245 opponents’ batting average, in his seven starts behind the plate. High School — A 2012 graduate of nearby Saint Thomas High School... All-state selection in the Texas Association of Pri-vate and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) in each of the last two sea-sons... Batted .324 with 23 hits and 22 RBI for the 21-10 Eagles as a senior... Helped lead the squad to back-to-back TAPPS state championships in 2010 and 2011... Batted .447 with seven home runs, 52 RBI and an .835 slugging percentage as a junior in 2011... Four-year starter and letterman under head coach and former Houston Astros star Craig Biggio... Joined fellow Owl signees Leon Byrd, Kevin McCanna and Beau Rathjen as teammates at the 2011 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif.. Personal — Full name: Hunter Davis Kopycinski... Born: November 12, 1993, in Houston... Parents: Joey and Donna Kopy-cinski of Houston (one brother, one sister)... Brother, Jordan, was a baseball letterman at Texas State and Navarro College... Col-lege: Hanszen.
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 31
”ZACK la-MOND” Wayne Graham said — “Zech was our MVP last year and he’s back with the same 90-95 fastball, good change-up and good curveball. He deserves the preseason awards he’s received and there is every reason to expect he’ll be picked high in the upcoming draft.” Rice — 2013: All-America (third team, by both Baseball America magazine and the American Baseball Coaches Asso-ciation); All-Conference USA (first team, relief pitcher); Dell Morgan Award (as the Rice baseball program’s most valuable
Zech Lemond
P l R/R l Jr.-2L 6-4 l 200 l Houston, Texas Waltrip HS33
player)... Finished as the C-USA co-leader, and tied for 14th among the NCAA statistical rankings, with 14 saves... Established the new Rice single-season saves record and eclipsing the Owls’ previous mark of 13 that was shared by eventual major leagu-ers David Aardsma and Tony Cingrani... Posted a 7-2 record, 2.02 ERA and 1.018 WHIP... Ranked 52nd in the NCAA for WHIP and 47th in ERA... Struck out 71 in 75.2 innings and held opponents to a composite .207 batting average... Averaged 8.4 strikeouts per 9.0 innings and maintained a 3.4-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio... Allowed just 6.66 hits per 9.0 innings to rank 48th among the Division I leaders... Recorded two saves against Stanford, Southern Miss, Tulane and UAB (who all saw him at least twice in a weekend series)... Remaining saves were logged against Ha-waii, Memphis, Harvard, Marshall, Texas State and Houston... Led the staff with 31 relief appearances and 69.0 relief innings (the next closest Owl to those numbers out of the bullpen was Blake Fox with 28.2 in 18 games)... Often brought in before the ninth inning, having to earn 10 of the 14 saves with more than 1.0 in-ning of work... Averaged 2.1 innings per relief outing... Pitched at least 3.0 innings in relief seven times, including the Opening Day of the season against nationally-ranked Stanford for first save... Registered a career-long 6.2 frames in the 11-inning champion-ship final of the C-USA Tournament, notching his fifth win of the season after allowing just one run which was unearned... Fired 4.0 innings of no-hit relief a week later in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament to earn sixth win... Answered the call to start for the first time all season, and just the third time in his
Rice Highs2013 Season (also career highs) 6 vs. NC State, June 9 At Bats 2 at Oregon, June 3 Runs Scored 4 at Oregon, June 3 Hits none Doubles 1 at Oregon, June 3 Triples 1 vs. LA Tech,Mar. 13 Home Runs 4, twice RBI 6 at Oregon, June 3 Total Bases 1 vs. Harvard, Mar. 16 Walks 16 vs. NC State, June 9 Put Outs 3 at Oregon, June 3 Assists
32 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
collegiate career, three days later at No. 6 ranked Oregon in the Regional finale and responded with a career-high tying 6.2 in-nings... Struck out seven Ducks and walked only one for seventh win as Rice advanced to the Super Regionals for the first time since 2009... Pitched a total of 4.2 innings in two Super Regional appearances... Went 3-1 with a save and had a 3.52 ERA in 23.0 innings from six appearances in the Owls’ 10-game postseason run... Conference-only ERA in 30.0 innings from 15 league games was an austere 0.60, and he held all C-USA opponents to a com-posite .179 batting average... Opponents batted .163 and ERA was 0.76 when pitching at home at Reckling Park... “Night Owl” who went 3-0 with seven saves and a 1.88 ERA in night games... Yes, it’s true: appeared in one game as a pinch runner in the sec-ond game of the season against nationally-ranked Stanford (but did not get a chance to showcase his speed on the base paths when the Owls were retired just two batters later)... 2012: Re-corded a sound and solid debut season of Division I baseball... Went 1-0 with a save while maintaining a 2.52 ERA and holding opponents to a .216 batting average in 35.2 innings of work... Averaged 8.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings and built a steady 2.1-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio... Made 15 appearances and tallied the
second-most innings on the staff by an Owl freshman... Began as a reliever and allowed just one run on three hits in his first 8.0 collegiate innings, highlighted by 3.0 hitless frames against the University of Texas downtown at Minute Maid Park... The outings impressed coaches enough to earn his way into two consecu-tive starting assignments... Made first collegiate start against an Arizona team that was ranked No. 9 in the nation and went on to win the National Championship... Fired a career-long 5.0 innings against the Wildcats, allowing just two runs on four hits in a no-decision... Returned the following week to start against Lamar and struck out a career-high five batters in 2.2 innings... Moved back to the bullpen where he thrived in middle relief for the re-mainder of the season... Made nine relief appearances after the March 21 start, maintaining a 1.80 ERA and striking out 18 in 20.0 innings... Pitched 4.0 shutout innings for first career save against Conference USA foe UAB... Threw 4.0 innings against crosstown foe Houston in the regular season, then pitched another 4.2 relief frames against the Cougars in the opening game of the C-USA Tournament. High School — A 2011 graduate of Waltrip High School in Houston... Selected in the 50th round of the 2011 Major League
Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates... Two-time second team All-Greater Houston selection by Houston5ABaseball.com... Named the Most Valuable Player in District 21-4A as a senior in 2011... Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association (HABCA) 4A All-Star (North team)... Four-time first team all-District 21-4A honoree under head coach Jim Teel... District’s Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 2008... Helped the Rams claim back-to-back district championships and state playoff appearances in 2011 and 2010 with undefeated league records... Went 4-2 over-all with a save in eight mound appearances in 2011... Maintained a 0.95 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 37 innings as a senior... Also hit .359 with 27 RBI in 25 games played... Led the staff in innings (30) and strikeouts (25) as a junior, while hitting at a .320 pace with a .507 slugging percentage... Played football under head coach Anthony Zuccarini... Solid student who maintained a 3.75 grade point average... Member of the National Honor Society. Personal — Full name: Zechariah David Lemond, but pre-fers the nickname Zech (pronounced “Zack”)... Born: October 9, 1992, in Houston... Parents: Marvin and Rachel Lemond of Hous-ton (four brothers, one sister)... College: Jones.
Rice Highs2013 Season/Career 6.2, twice Innings 7 at Oregon, June 3 Strikeouts 2 vs. Southern Miss, May 26 Wild Pitches 2 vs. Sam Houston, Mar. 6 Hit Batters
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 33
Connor Mason
RHP l R/R l Jr.-1L 6-3 l 185 l Suwanee, Georgia home school32 Wayne Graham said — “Connor pitched for us last year and has possibilities this year because he has a good arm.” Rice — 2013: Conference USA Academic Honor Roll; Ap-peared in three games with one start... Maintained a 3.00 ERA in a total of 6.0 innings... Scattered five hits and a walk while strik-ing out four... Held opposing hitters to a composite .263 batting average... Made Division I debut against national power Texas A&M in the opening game of the College Classic downtown at
Minute Maid Park... Blanked the Aggies in 2.0 innings of work, which earned him a start against defending Southland Confer-ence champion Sam Houston State four days later... Pitched a career-long 3.0 innings against the Bearkats in a controlled start, where he matched his Rice season-high of two strikeouts... Last appearance was a shutout inning of relief in the series finale against Harvard (March 17)... 2012: Sat out the entire collegiate season... Worked hard to rejoin his teammates on the field as soon as possible... Pitched in the Owls’ fall training program... Played summer ball in Atlanta, Ga.... 2011: Was sidelined before the start of the 2010 fall practices... Did not see game action. International — Represented the United States on two different international teams before joining Rice... Member of the gold medal-winning 2009 18 & Under U.S. squad that won the IX COPABE “AAA” Pan American Junior Championship held in Venezuela... Pitched in relief in the championship final against Cuba, helping Team USA win its first Pan Am gold medal at the 18U level against a country that had won the last seven Pam Am championships... Also pitched 1.1 relief innings against Cuba earlier in that tournament... Finished the 2009 Team USA season with a 1.93 ERA in four appearances, allowing just two hits while striking out seven in 4.2 innings... Played on the 16 & under U.S. national team in the summer of 2008... Went 1-0 with the 16U
national team, maintaining a 1.80 ERA in two games... Recorded two strikeouts and allowed just two hits in 5.0 frames in 2008. Personal — Full name: Connor Paul Mason... Born: May 26, 1992 in Virginia Beach, Va... Plans to major in Mathematical Economic Analysis... Versatile athlete who competed in the Georgia state swimming championships... Parents: Michael and Cheryl Mason of Suwanee, Ga. (one older sister). Sister, Jessie, swam competitively at Georgia Tech and was a multiple ACC All- Academic honoree... College: Duncan.
Rice Highs2013 Season/Career 3.0 vs. Sam Houston, Mar. 6 Innings 2, twice Strikeouts none Wild Pitches 1 vs. Harvard, Mar. 17 Hit Batters
Rice StatisticsYear ERA W L App GS CG SHO CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR BF O/Avg WP HBP2013 3.00 0 1 3 1 0 0 1 0 6.0 5 2 2 1 4 0 0 1 21 .263 0 1
34 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
Kevin McCanna
P l L/R l So.-1L 6-1 l 185 l The Woodlands, Texas The Woodlands HS23 Wayne Graham said — “Kevin seemed to make a good jump in the fall with the addition of a solid slider to his repertoire. His con-trol improved, and he has a chance to be a weekend starter.” Rice — 2013: Pitched in 16 games with five starting assign-ments as a true freshman... Finished fifth on the staff in starts, fourth in relief appearances (11) and third in games finished (5)... Was sixth in innings (40) and seventh in both wins (3) and strikeouts (18)... Held all opposing hitters to a composite .216 batting average, the third-best mark on the staff for Owls with
at least 20 innings... Fired a career-long 7.0 shutout innings while allowing just one hit and two walks at home against Harvard in the second start of his collegiate career... Earned a win pitching 6.0 innings in a road start at future Conference USA foe La Tech... Allowed two runs on seven hits while matching a career-high five strikeouts against the Bulldogs... Fanned five in 4.2 innings of relief work in the finale of the FIU series... Winning pitcher in 2.1 shutout relief innings at Lamar... Made collegiate debut with 1.2 shutout innings against Dallas Baptist (Feb. 19), and was tabbed for first start five days later on the road at Hawaii... Statistics in 11 relief outings were slightly sharper than in starts, including a 3.32 ERA and .156 opponents’ batting average. High School — A 2012 graduate of The Woodlands High School, just north of Houston... Selected in the 22nd round of the major league draft by the San Diego Padres after an outstand-ing prep career... First team all-state pitcher by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA)... Montgomery County Pitcher of the Year and District 14-5A co-MVP as a senior in 2012... Went 9-1 on the mound with a 1.19 ERA and 93 strike-outs to help lead the Highlanders to the district championship... Two-year letterman and starter for coach Ron Eastman... Had a 3-0 record and 1.97 ERA as a junior, and also contributed as a left-handed hitter... Was selected to the Houston Area Baseball
Coaches Junior All-Star Team in 2011... Member of Team Texas in the Junior Sunbelt Classic played in McAlester, Okla.... Joined fellow Owl signees Leon Byrd, Hunter Kopycinski and Beau Rathjen as teammates at the 2011 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. Personal — Full name: Kevin Patrick McCanna... Born: Feb-ruary 1, 1994, in Joliet, Ill.... Parents: Patrick and Carey McCanna of The Woodlands, Texas (two brothers)... Father was a baseball letterman at Central Michigan University... College: Will Rice.
Rice Highs2013 Season/Career 7.0 vs. Harvard, Mar. 17 Innings 5, twice Strikeouts 1 vs. Texas Tech, Apr. 16 Wild Pitches 2 at LA Tech, May 8 Hit Batters
Rice StatisticsYear ERA W L App GS CG SHO CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR BF O/Avg WP HBP2013 4.50 3 1 16 5 0 0 1 0 40.0 30 25 20 17 18 4 0 2 166 .216 1 5
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 35
Wayne Graham said — “Ryan had great fall. He evolved into a three-pitch, pitcher. He has a moving fastball and a chance to be effective in numerous roles.” Rice — 2013: Appeared in two games, both out of the bull-pen... Totaled 1.2 innings, scattering three hits and a walk while striking out one... Made collegiate debut in the opening game of the Harvard series (March 15) and posted a strikeout... Returned a week later in the Conference USA opener at eventual league co-champion Southern Miss... Worked a career-long 1.1 innings
Ryan McCarthy
P l R/R l So.-1L 6-3 l 195 l Plano, Texas Plano HS41
against the Golden Eagles without allowing any runs on just one hit... 2012: C-USA Academic Honor Roll; Did not see game action in first collegiate season... Played for the Cowlitz Black Bears in the West Coast League over the summer. High School — A 2011 graduate of Plano High School... Named to the 2011 Dallas-Fort Worth All-Area team as a P/3B by the Dallas Morning News... Most Valuable Player of District 8-5A as a senior... Team MVP who helped lead the Wildcats to the pro-gram’s first 30-win season (30-8)... Went 8-1 on the mound with a 2.40 ERA, and batted .442 with 25 RBI, to vault Plano to the Region I semifinals of the state playoffs... Three-year starter was the Wildcats’ Newcomer of the Year who helped the team make the 2009 state playoffs for the first time since 1999... Finished third on the staff in innings (30.2) and strikeouts (24) as a junior and collected 24 hits in 27 games while leading the squad in home runs. Personal — Full name: Ryan James McCarthy... Born: Sept. 8, 1992, in Plano, Texas... Parents: Brian and Nancy McCarthy of Plano (one sister)... Chose to attend Rice because of the mix of elite academics and elite baseball... College: Brown.
Rice StatisticsYear ERA W L App GS CG SHO CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR BF O/Avg WP HBP2013 5.40 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1.2 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 9 .375 0 0
Rice Highs2013 Season/Career 1.1 at Southern Miss, Mar. 22 Innings 1 vs. Harvard, Mar. 15 Strikeouts none Wild Pitches none Hit Batters
36 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
Chase McDowell
RHP/OF l L/R l Sr.-3L 6-2 l 190 l College Station, Texas A&M Consolidated HS25 Wayne Graham said — “We’ve seen Chase throw complete-games, and last year he threw a complete game shutout. We know he absolutely has what it takes, he just needs more consistency. In the fall his best outings were toward the end. We’d love to have him pitch more, especially now that he added a good slider to the mix. Don’t rule him out as the DH against right-handed pitching this spring. He’s actually a good outfielder as well.” Rice — 2013: Conference USA Academic Honor Roll; One of three Owls with the versatile role of serving as both a hitter
and a pitcher... Finished fourth on the pitching staff in starts (6), fifth in innings (53.0) and sixth in appearances (17)... Held all op-posing hitters to a composite .246 batting average... Had almost twice as many relief outings (11) as starts, but compiled more innings as a starter (30.2) than out of the bullpen (22.1)... Aver-aged more than 5.0 innings for each of the six starts... Caught the coaches’ attention after 6.1 innings of shutout relief in the third game of the Hawaii series (Feb. 24) where he held the Rainbows to just a pair of singles on the road... That outing earned him his first start of the season a week later against California, where he was sensational in pitching a five-hit complete game shutout... Blanked the Golden Bears on just 91 pitches without allowing any walks and striking out two... Started and worked into the seventh against future Conference USA opponent UTSA, and pitched into the sixth against longtime opponents Texas State and Sam Houston State... Four pitching wins were recorded over Texas State, UTSA, California and Hawaii... Posted a season-high four strikeouts on the road at Sam Houston State... Shored-up the bullpen in the second half of the season with seven relief appearances... Posted slightly sharper statistics coming out of
the pen, including a 2.42 ERA and .202 batting average in 22.1 relief innings... Did not play any other defensive position... Only Owl to pitch and hit in the same game, the second game of the season vs. national power Stanford... Made one start as the des-ignated hitter, vs. Baylor in the finale of the Houston College Classic downtown at Minute Maid Park where he singled and drew a walk... Had one appearance as a pinch hitter in the home game against Sam Houston State... 2012: C-USA Academic Honor Roll; Was selected in the 30th round of the Major League draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates... Recovered from a 2011 injury to be one of only two Owls to see action as both a hitter and a pitcher... Played in a total of 26 games with ten starts (six as the designated hitter, two in left field and two on the mound)... Bat-ted second in the lineup in four of the ten starts... Hit a three-run homer as the DH against New Mexico State in first start of the season... Started on the mound the next day against NMSU and pitched a predetermined 1.0 inning in his first mound appear-ance in 11 months... Threw a season-high 3.0 frames in a start against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and struck out a season-best four batters in a no-decision... Collected a pair of base hits with a
double in the victory over Tennessee downtown at Minute Maid Park... Pitched and served as the DH in the same game in a win over Texas-San Antonio... Sat out three weeks during one stretch before getting a start in left field in the series finale against C-USA foe Marshall, where he responded with three base hits with a double and run-scored... The three-hit day against the Thunder-ing Herd helped him finish with a .429 batting average against C-USA teams... Did his best hitting away from Reckling Park (.375, 6-for-16)... Finished with a total of 10.0 innings pitched... Main-tained a strikeouts-to-walks ratio of 9-to-1... Did not allow any runs on just two hits in his final 5.0 frames... Played for Brewster in the Cape Cod League over the summer, where he was a team-mate of Evan Rutter... 2011: Appeared in a total of 13 games, and was on the way to a dynamic season as a multi-role player, before a season-ending injury in mid-March... Saw starting ac-tion as both a pitcher (four games) and outfielder (four games), with five bench or bullpen appearances... Fired a sensational, complete-game four-hitter against UC-Santa Barbara at AT&T Park in San Francisco (Mar. 13)... Held UCSB to one run on four hits and a walk while striking out four in his second win of the
season... Complete game was one of only three by the Owls all year... Started six days later at home against Louisiana Tech and had a perfect game for 4.0 innings, but left the mound after 4.1 in what proved to be his last Rice appearance of the season (Mar. 19)... Notched first career win on the road in a start at nationally-ranked Arizona, allowing three earned runs in 5.2 frames against the Wildcats... Finished with a 5.14 ERA in seven total games, but ERA in four starts was a steady 3.57... Averaged 6.1 strikeouts per nine innings... Maintained a 3.8-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio... Struck out a career-high five in first career start against eventual NCAA Regional participant Texas State... Also pitched against regional-bound teams Baylor and Stanford (on Opening Day)... Almost half of his total innings (13.1) were against the talented teams that went on to play in the postseason... Pitching was only half the story, finishing with a .313 batting average (5-for-16) that was the third-best mark on the team... Slugging percent-age (.500) was second-best on the team... Blasted a pinch-hit three-run homer in his first at bat of the season against Lamar... Tied a career-high with a pair of base hits against NCAA Super Regional-bound Dallas Baptist... Batted as high as third in the
order... Made two starts in centerfield and two in left... 2010: C-USA Academic Honor Roll; Played in a total of 22 games… One of four Owls who saw action as both a hitter/position player (18 games) and pitcher (four games)… All 11 starts were as the des-ignated hitter, third-most on the team in that role... Nine of his 10 hits were recorded as the starting DH (9-for-38)… Eight of the hits were in home games at Reckling Park… Batted fifth in the order five times and as high as third in the lineup three times… Helped keep the offense going when the Owls were threatening, batting 9-for-25 (.360) with men on base and 7-for-19 (.368) with runners in scoring position… Tied for third on the team with Anthony Rendon for hits with the bases-loaded (four hits in just five at bats)… Longest hitting streak was five games… Collected a career-best two hits in a game twice, in games against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and eventual NCAA Tournament participant Lamar… Knocked a double against TAMUCC and a triple on the road at Texas State that drove-in three runs… Also drove-in a career-high three runs in the home-opener against Lamar… Fin-ished fifth on the team in games played as a sub off the bench (7)… Delivered a pinch hit RBI single in the series-opening vic-tory over East Carolina… Played in the outfield three times (no defensive chances)… Made his Division I debut as a pitcher, throwing an inning of relief in the opening series of the season against nationally-ranked Stanford… Finished with a 3.86 ERA in 4.2 innings over four appearances… Pitched a career-long 2.0 in-nings against NCAA Tournament-bound Texas A&M, allowing no runs on just one hit while striking out two… Threw an inning vs.
38 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
Texas State and two-thirds of a frame in a C-USA league game against Southern Miss… Averaged 9.6 strikeouts per nine in-nings of work. High School — A 2009 graduate of A&M Consolidated High School in College Station.... Multi-faceted, three-year base-ball letterman under head coach Chase Mann... Helped lead the Tigers to two District 12-5A titles, including a 25-8 record as a senior and a 20-12 mark as a junior in 2007... Named the district’s most valuable player in 2009... First-team all-state (outfielder) and all-Brazos Valley (pitcher)... Hit .438 with 36 RBI and seven home runs as a senior... Maintained an .886 slugging percent-age and .584 on-base average... Went 7-1-1 on the mound with a 1.27 ERA... Held opposing hitters to a .149 batting average and struck out 60... Pitched in the 2008 Area Code games in California and was a Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association all-star... Batted .375 with a .563 slugging percentage as a junior...Twice named to the Brazos Valley All-Academic Team. Personal — Full name: Chase Harrison McDowell... Born: Dec. 14, 1990, in College Station, Texas... Parents: Jeff and Susan McDowell of College Station (one sister)... Two great grandfa-thers, Ross Mantala and Louis Dittman, were lettermen at Texas A&M in football and baseball, respectively... College: McMurtry.
Rice Highs2013 Season Career 9.0 vs. California, Mar. 4 Innings 9.0, twice4 at Sam Houston St., Mar. 26 Strikeouts 5 at Texas State, Feb. 23, ‘112, three times Wild Pitches 2, three times1, twice Hit Batters 1, three times
3, twice At Bats 5, twice none Runs Scored 2 vs. TAMUCC, Feb. 28, ‘10 1 vs. Baylor, Mar. 3 Hits 3 at Marshall, Apr. 15 none Runs Batted In 3, four times none Doubles 1, three times none Triples 1 at Texas State, Mar. 3, ‘10 none Home Runs 1, twice 1 vs. Baylor, Mar. 3 Total Bases 4, three times 1, twice Walks 2 vs. California, Mar. 13, ‘10
Max McElligot
P l L/L l Fr.-HS 6-0 l 185 l Friendswood, Texas Clear Springs HS 16 Wayne Graham said — “Max showed flashes that he could help us. He has a good curve ball. He’s young pitcher who continues to grow.” High School — A 2013 graduate of Clear Springs High School in League City, Texas... Two-year starting pitcher under head coach James “Chris” Floyd... Helped the Chargers go 20-11 and reach the Region III bi-district playoffs as the 2013 District 24-5A co-champions... Went 5-4 with a 2.72 ERA as a senior, strik-ing out 87 in 53.0 innings... Honorable mention Rawlings/Perfect
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 39
Game All-Texas High School Senior Team, honorable mention all-Houston team by Houston5ABaseball.com, second team all-Galveston County and first team all-District 24-5A in 2013... Houston 5A Baseball.com Pitcher of the Week on March 26 after throwing a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts vs. Dickinson... 2012 Per-fect Game WWBA South Qualifier All-Tournament Team... 2011 Under Armour National Team... Maintained a 3.88 grade point average... Member of the National Technical Honor Society. Personal — Full name: Maximilian Thomas McElligott. Born: July 21, 1995, in Arlington, Va. Parents: Vince and Paula McElligott of Friendswood, Texas (one sister). Father is the Execu-tive Director of Development at Rice University’s James A. Baker Institute for Public Policy. Sister, Maryan, played soccer at the University of Central Oklahoma and was a member of the Bronco team that advanced to the 2012 NCAA Division II National Tour-nament. College: Hanszen.
Holt McNair
LHP l L/L l Sr.-3L 6-1 l 180 l Austin, Texas Westlake HS39 Wayne Graham said — “We’re happy Holt is back with us. He’s knowledgeable and handles pressure well. His experience and maturity can help us, as could his stuff from the left side.” Rice — 2013: Served as situational specialist against left-handed hitters, totaling 2.1 innings (seven outs) in seven appear-ances... Finished with five strikeouts in the 2.1 frames, an eye-opening average of 19.3 strikeouts per 9.0 innings... Struck out the only batter he faced in three of his seven outings... Needed just two pitches to induce a double-play grounder in the home
victory over Lamar (May 1)... Held all opposing hitters to a com-posite .250 batting average... Allowed two hits, one walk and hit one batter... 2012: Appeared in two games before being sidelined for the remainder of the season... Pitched one-third of an inning against an Arizona team that went on to win the National Championship... Saw action at home against Lamar... 2011: Appeared in 12 games, 11 out of the bullpen and one starting assignment... Worked mainly in situational duty against left-handed hitters... Maintained a 3.48 ERA for the full season... Held all opposing hitters to a composite .200 batting average... Maintained a 1.2-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio... Averaged 6.1 strikeouts per nine innings of work... Made 10 relief appearances before working his way into his first career start against even-tual NCAA Regional participant Texas State... Pitched a career-long 3.2 innings against Texas State, allowing just one earned run on a base hit in a no-decision... Registered a 1.59 ERA in five appearances against quality teams that went on to play in the NCAA Tournament... Tallied 1.2 shutout relief innings against UAB in the first game of the C-USA Tournament, where he also tied a career-high with a pair of strikeouts... Fired 4.1 consecu-tive scoreless innings during one stretch of the season... “Night Owl” who maintained a 1.29 ERA when playing under the lights... Recorded three defensive assists in the Texas State start... Played locally in the Karl Young League over the summer... 2010: Pitched in 15 games in inaugural collegiate season with every appearance coming out of the bullpen… Finished fifth on the team in relief appearances… Led the staff in picking runners off
first base (3)… Made NCAA debut in the season-opening series on the road at Stanford… Notched first win with 2.0 solid innings at home against nationally-ranked Texas… Began his collegiate career having allowed only one run, and one walk, in his first 8.0 innings… Pitched a career-long 3.0 frames on the road against Oklahoma State, holding the Cowboys scoreless on a pair of sin-gles… Fired a pair of scoreless innings against heavy-hitting East Carolina in the Conference USA Tournament… Threw at least 2.0 innings on four occasions… Did some of his best pitching away from Reckling Park, maintaining a 1.04 ERA in eight road out-ings… Registered a career-high two strikeouts in a game three different times (California, Memphis and Dallas Baptist). High School — A 2009 graduate of Westlake High School in Austin... Helped the baseball team to the 2009 state semifinals and to the regional semifinals in 2007 and 2008... Coached by James Ellison... Maintained a 1.29 ERA as a senior to earn first-team all-District 25-5A honors... Led the Chaparral’s to three- consecutive district titles from 2007 to 2009... Winning pitcher of the 2009 Central Texas All-Star game... Invited to the 2008
Area Code games try-outs... Played football one year, helping the Chaps to the state quarterfinals... Two-time District 25-5A all-Academic honoree. Personal — Full name: Holt Harrison McNair... Born: July 3, 1990, in Austin... Parents: Cary and Kate McNair of Austin (one brother and one sister)... College: Wiess.
Rice Highs2013 Season Career0.2 vs. Lamar, May 1 Innings 3.2 vs. Texas St., May 17, ‘111, five times Strikeouts 2, four timesnone Wild Pitches 1, twice1 at Oregon, June 2 Hit Batters 2 vs. Lamar, Feb. 22, ‘11
Welcome to C-USASeven new baseball-playing members (Charlotte, FIU, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Old Dominion and UTSA) joined Conference USA for the 2014 season. Those seven members join returning schools East Carolina, Marshall, Southern Miss, Tulane UAB and Rice to create a 13 team baseball league that will play a 30-game conference schedule this season. Here’s how the incoming members did a year ago:
Team From... Record LeagueCharlotte Atlantic 10 37-23 17-7FIU Sun Belt 26-32 13-17Florida Atlantic Sun Belt 42-22 19-11Louisiana Tech WAC 19-37 6-21Mid Tennessee Sun Belt 28-28 11-19Old Dominion Colonial 30-24 15-12UTSA WAC 35-25 15-11
Florida Atlantic and UTSA each won their conference championships and participated in NCAA Regionals. Florida Atlantic advanced to the Chapel Hill Regional final before losing to No. 1 national seed North Carolina in extra innings.
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 41
Andrew Murphy
C l R/R l Jr.-2L 6-0 l 195 l Shreveport, La. Captain Shreve HS35 Wayne Graham said — “Andrew has been an integral part of our last three teams. He’s a hard-worker and intelligent player.” Rice — 2013: Conference USA Academic Honor Roll; Rice Athletics Scholar Athlete; Primary role was as a catcher in the bullpen, preparing one of the top pitching staffs in the nation... Appeared in one game, the 11-5 victory over (future Conference USA foe) UTSA on March 20... 2012: C-USA Spirit of Service Award honoree as the baseball student-athlete in the league who recorded the most volunteer time in various charity
and community outreach initiatives; C-USA Academic Honor Roll; Registered three at bats in two games played, including one as a starter... Started as the designated hitter on Opening Day at home against FIU... Appeared as a pinch-hitter against New Mexico State... 2011: Sat out first season with the program... Gained experience working behind a talented crew of veteran Owl catchers... Played in the Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas (MINK) Collegiate League over the summer (Clarinda). High School — A 2010 graduate of Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport, La., where he was named the Student of the Year for the state of Louisiana... Multi-sport star for the Gators, earning 5A honorable mention all-state honors in base-ball under head coach Todd Sharp... Named first team all-city and a two-time all-District 1-5A honoree... Batted .449 as a senior with 40 RBI and 33 runs scored in 34 games played... Maintained a .735 slugging percentage and a .565 on-base average... Three-year varsity letterman in football... Honorable mention all-state lineman as a senior and first team all-city selection... Two-time, first team all-district... Academic all-state in both baseball and football... Member of the National Honor Society who main-tained a 3.94 grade point average... Earned the US Army Reserve
National Scholar/Athlete Award... Jefferson Scholar nominee... Served as vice president of the student council... Active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and his church youth group. Personal — Full name: Andrew Joseph Murphy... Born: April 20, 1992 in Shreveport... Parents: David and Peggy Murphy of Shreveport (one brother and one sister)... College: Martel.
42 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
Wayne Graham said — “Austin has good stuff and he con-tinues to work on his control. When he has control of the ball he can control the hitter.” Rice — 2013: Did not see game action... 2012: Was side-lined before the start of fall practices (2011) and did not see game action in the spring... Played locally for the Houston Wild-cats over the summer.
Austin Orewiler
P l R/R l So.-Sq. 6-2 l 200 l Galveston, Texas Ball HS43
High School — A 2011 graduate of Ball High School in Galveston, Tex.... Three-year varsity starter who saw action on the mound, behind the plate and in the outfield during his prep ca-reer... Two-time All-Galveston County honoree (catcher in 2011)... Served two seasons as the team captain... Batted .385 with a .585 slugging percentage and .437 on-base average as a senior in 2011 to help the Tornados reach the 4A Region III bi-district playoffs for the first time in eight years... Went 3-2 on the mound with a 3.15 ERA as a junior in 2010 when the team played in class 5A... Struck out 18 and walked only four in 20 innings of work... Coached by Steve Hecker... National Honors Society member... Maintained a 4.2 grade point average (5.0 scale)... Graduated with Honors. Personal — Full name: Austin Michael Orewiler. Born: May 18, 1993 in Tiffin, Ohio... Parents: Ryan and Katherine Orewiler of Galveston... Younger brother, Nick, is a freshman on the baseball team this season... Chose to attend Rice over Dartmouth and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point... Worked as a volunteer with a youth baseball team and coached a little league team that won the East Texas championship... College: Duncan.
Nick Orewiler
P l R/R l Fr.-HS 6-3 l 185 l Galveston, Texas Ball HS 13 Wayne Graham said — “Nick is one of our freshmen pitchers who showed enough in the fall to indicate that he will pitch for us in the future. He has good mechanics, a good work-ethic, his fast ball continues to improve and his breaking ball is satisfactory. He’s going to be a pitcher for us down the road.” High School — A 2013 graduate of Ball High School in Galveston, Tex.... Four-year varsity starter... Three-time all-Dis-trict 24-4A selection... Two-time All-Galveston County selec-tion and two-time Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 43
Beau Rathjen
OF l R/R l So.-Sq. 6-4 l 190 l Houston, Texas Memorial HS 9 Wayne Graham said — “Beau was sidelined in the fall. He is still an evolving player. He has potential and wants to be on the field.” Rice — 2013: Conference USA Academic Honor Roll; Did not see game action in first season with the program. High School — A 2012 graduate of Memorial High School in Houston... Sidelined during the spring of 2012... Earned honor-able mention all-state as a junior in 2011 after batting .390 with 13 home runs, 47 RBI and 14 stolen bases... First-team all-greater
Houston and all-District 19-5A... One-year starter and letterman for the Mustangs under head coach Jeremy York... When Rathjen signed with Rice in the fall of 2011, he was the Owls’ fourth sign-ee in five recruiting classes from Memorial H.S.... Joined fellow Owl signees Leon Byrd, Hunter Kopycinski and Kevin McCan-na as teammates at the 2011 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. Personal — Full name: Beau Harrison Rathjen... Born: September 14, 1993, in Houston... Father: Craig Rathjen... Moth-er: Jan Miller (three brothers, one sister)... Father played football at LSU in 1983-87... Older brother, Jeremy, was an All-Conference USA baseball honoree at Rice before being drafted and signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012... College: Lovett.
all-star... Served two seasons as the team captain and helped the Tornados win two District 24-4A titles... Helped squad go 17-8 and reach the 4A regional quaterfinals... Went 4-3 with a save while maintaining a 2.81 ERA in 32.1 innings of mound work as a junior... Hit .329 with 23 RBI and 21 runs scored in 35 games to help the Tors reach the bi-district playoffs in 2012... Coached by Steve Hecker. Personal — Full name: Nicholas David Orewiler... Born: January 1, 1995 in Fostoria, Ohio... Parents: Ryan and Katherine Orewiler of Galveston... Older brother, Austin, is a redshirt soph-omore pitcher with the Owls... College: Lovett.
44 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
John Clay Reeves
C l R/R l Jr.-Tr. 6-1 l 185 l Monroe, La. Navarro College/Neville HS 7 Wayne Graham said — “John Clay brings a plus-bat with him from Navarro. He’s a good catcher and intelligent player. He’ll be one of our top two catchers.” Navarro College — Named the 2013 Region XIV East All Conference Baseball Player of the Year while at Navarro College in Corsicana, Tex.... Helped Navarro post a 39-18 record while reach-ing the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado... Played in 56 of the team’s 57 games and led the Bulldogs with a .367 batting average... Drew 30 walks for a team-best .464 on-
base percentage... Tied for second on the squad in runs scored (41) and home runs (4), including a solo blast to centerfield on a three-hit day in the JCWS elimination game against Palm Beach State... Tied for third on the team in RBI (40) and doubles (11)... Maintained a .482 slugging percentage and finished the year with nine stolen bases... Charged with only one passed ball all season and threw out three would-be base-stealers... Coached by Whoa Dill... Participated in the city of Grand Junction’s Chal-lenger Baseball, a program where volunteers from the visiting juco world series teams help handicap children play baseball. University of Arkansas — Appeared in 28 games with 19 starts as a true freshman at the University of Arkansas in 2012... Helped the Razorbacks reach the College World Series and fin-ish tied for third in the NCAA Tournament... All 19 starts were at catcher, including each of the last two games of the NCAA Waco Super Regional against No. 4 ranked Baylor (after a loss in the opener)... Batted .281 for the season and an eye-opening .353 in eleven Southeastern Conference league games... Hit three doubles, drove in four runs and scored five times... Collected two or more hits in a game six times, including a career-best three hits against Stephen F. Austin... Reached base in five consecutive games during one stretch... Threw-out two runners attempting to steal a base and picked-off another two with snap-throws. High School — A 2011 graduate of Neville High School in Monroe, La.... Honorable mention Louisville Slugger All-Ameri-can as a senior, and was ranked as the No. 328 prep player in the country by Perfect Game... Three-time all-state, all-Northeast
Louisiana and all-District 3-4A selection... Played in the 2011 Lou-isiana High School Coaches Association All-Star Game after bat-ting .507 with seven home runs... Set the Tigers’ school record for home runs in a single season with 16 as a sophomore in 2009... Coached in baseball by Joey Williamson... Also earned a varsity letter and was named an all-district linebacker for the football team... Maintained a 3.70 grade point average and graduated in the Top 10 percent of his class... Member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Club... Helped the Midland Redskins win the Connie Mack World Series title in 2011 and was selected to the All-Tournament Team. Personal — Full name: John Clay Osborn Reeves... Born: Date November 10, 1992, in Longview, Texas... Parents: Donald and Amanda Reeves of Monroe, La., (one sister)... Active in a host of community-outreach programs, including the Salvation Army and building homes through Habitat for Humanity... College: McMurtry.
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 45
Wayne Graham said — “Evan showed in the fall that he can reach his true potential. He should be strong in the middle relief role or even in late relief.” Rice — 2013: Doubled his pitching production in second season with the program... Maintained a 3.86 ERA in a total of 14.0 innings over 11 appearances, all in relief... Began the year with 7.0 consecutive shutout innings spanning a four-game stretch... Pitched a career-long 3.0 innings and matched a career-best with two strikeouts in the dramatic 17-inning shutout win
Evan Rutter
P l R/R l Jr.-2L 6-3 l 190 l Spring, Texas Klein HS36
at Hawaii... Twelve of the 14.0 innings were non-conference games... Allowed only one extra-base hit in 14.0 innings... Sec-ond on the staff to All-America/major league draftee Austin Ku-bitza at getting hitters to ground out (80 percent) vs. fly out (20 percent)... 2012: Appeared in six games out of the bullpen in first collegiate season... Made his Division I debut on the road at No. 2 ranked Stanford and fired 1.1 shutout innings... Pitched a then career-long 2.0 shutout frames against Grambling the following week and followed that with four scoreless Conference USA out-ings... Struck out two in one inning against crosstown rival Hous-ton... Ended the year with three strikeouts and did not walk any batters in 7.1 frames... Played in the Cape Cod League over the summer, where he was a teammate of Chase McDowell. High School — A 2011 graduate of Klein High School in Spring, Texas... First Team All-Greater Houston selection as a senior by the Houston Chronicle... Named the Player of the Year by Champions Area-Sun... First team all-state pitcher by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA) and second team all-state honoree by the Texas Sports Writers Association (TXSWA)... Two-time first team All-District 13-5A, earning the honor as a pitcher in 2011 and third baseman in 2010... Went
13-2 on the mound with 129 strikeouts and 1.17 ERA as a senior to lead the Bearkats to the finals of the state tournament... Also batted .375 to lead the team finish with a 31-11 record... Helped Klein go 33-7 as a junior (the fifth-best win percentage in Texas) and advance to semifinals of the 2010 state playoffs... Went 3-1 with a save and a 4.31 ERA... Struck out 43 in 37.1 innings and maintained a 3.3-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio... Batted .322 with a 38 RBI, 29 runs, and a .455 slugging percentage.... Earned Second Team All-Greater Houston by Houston5ABaseball.com... Coached by Barry Smith... Played locally for the Northwest Wild-cats over the 2011 summer... Helped the Wildcats reach the finals of Stan Musial World Series. Personal — Full name: John Evan Rutter... Born: October 7, 1992, in Tulsa, Okla... Parents: John and Lisa Rutter of Spring, Texas (one sister)... College: Baker.
Rice Highs2013 Season & Career 3.0 at Hawaii, Feb. 22 Innings 2 at Hawaii, Feb. 22 Strikeouts 1 at FIU, Mar. 10 Wild Pitches 2, twice Hit Batters
OF l R/R l Sr.-Sq. 6-3 l 225 l Cypress, Texas Grayson College/Cy Woods HS24 Wayne Graham said — “Brian is one of the hardest workers on the team. He will do anything to help the ball club.” Rice — 2013: Conference USA Academic Honor Roll; Appeared in four games with three starts as the designated hit-ter, all against left-handed pitchers... Made Division I debut in the
second game of the season against national power Stanford... Collected first hit in the series-opener against eventual Confer-ence USA opponent FIU. Grayson College — Two-year starter at Grayson Commu-nity College in Sherman, Tex.... Helped lead team to the 2011 Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Col.... Batted .370 with 35 RBI, five home runs and ten doubles for the 45-16 Vikings in 2012... Was selected to play in the junior college regional all-star game... Finished two-years with a .350 career average... Coached by Dusty Hart... Played in the Northwoods League over the summer. High School — A 2010 graduate of Cypress Woods High School in Cypress, Tex.... Batted .388 with 30 RBI, four home runs and ten doubles for the 24-10 Wildcats... Earned second team all-District 15-5A honors as an outfielder... Varsity letterman under head coach Thomas Loria... Graduated Summa cum Laude and maintained a 6.54 grade point average on a 7.0 scale. Personal — Full name: Brian Scott Smith... Born: July 2, 1991, in Akron, Ohio... Parents: Scott and Susan Smith... Father and an uncle, Fred Smith, were both four-year football lettermen at Northern Michigan University... A cousin, Frederick Smith, played lacrosse for two years at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia... College: Jones.
Rice StatisticsYear Avg GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB ATT2013 .125 4 3 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 .125 0 0 5 0 .125 0 0 0 0
Caleb Smith
P l S/R l So.-Tr. 6-4 l 210 l Austin, Texas Cisco College/Regents School 14 Wayne Graham said — “Caleb probably showed the most dramatic improvement of the late fall. His last four outings were quite good. He has a good strong fastball in the 90s and an improv-ing breaking ball. He’ll eventually pitch a great deal here, it’s up to him how much this year.” Cisco College — Played the 2013 season at Cisco (Texas) College... Went 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA for the 40-13 Wranglers... Made three starts with five appearances out of the bullpen...
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 47
Held all opponents to a composite .239 batting average and posted 16 strikeouts in 17.0 innings... Coached by David White. Auburn University — Attended Auburn University in the 2011-2012 school year... Member of the baseball program, but did not play in any games for the 31-28 Tigers. High School — A 2011 graduate of The Regents School of Austin (Texas)... Two-year baseball starter under head coach Tom Bunch... Helped lead the Knights to the 2011 4A District 3 title in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS)... Earned first team all-district honors as a senior after posting six wins with a 1.53 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 65 innings... Versatile athlete was also a football standout, earning first team all-state state at quarterback in the fall of 2010... Passed for 30 touch-downs and served as team captain in leading the Knights to the TAPPS Division III state championship... Completed 5-of-9 passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns in the TAPPS championship game... Outstanding student, who maintained a 3.53 grade point average. Personal — Full name: Caleb Lee Smith... Born: Date April 22, 1993, in Austin, Texas... Parents: Marshall and Kimberly Smith of Austin (one brother)... College: McMurtry.
Rice Since 1999 (1st Year of Super Regionals)Using the 1999 season as the starting point (the year the NCAA expanded the postseason tournament field to 64 teams with the current Super Regional format), Rice baseball has maintained one of the nation’s top win percentages over the last 15 years. Here’s a closer look at the country’s winningest programs from 1999-2013:
Another way of looking at Rice’s .735 win percentage is that it is the equivalent of a major league team winning 119 games in a single season. Rice has maintained this elite pace since 1999.
48 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
Ford Stainback
IF l S/R l Jr.-2L 5-11 l 185 l Dallas, Texas Highland Park HS11 Wayne Graham said — “This season Ford moves to second base where he is truly a natural. He didn’t make hardly a wrong move in our fall workouts, and we think he could be one of the best second basemen in college baseball. He’s continually an improving hitter.” Rice — 2013: All-Conference USA (second team, infield-er); All-Silver Glove Series for annual games vs. crosstown rival Houston; C-USA Academic Honor Roll; One of three Owls to play all 64 games, but the only one start every game... Only Owl
since 2006 to play defensive every inning of a season at his posi-tion (shortstop)... Finished second among the NCAA leaders in defensive assists (221)... Averaged 3.45 assists per game... Twice recorded a career-high eight assists in a single game... Started or turned 47 of the team’s 73 double plays... Solid defense was only part of the story as he was also the C-USA leader in hits (81), at bats (275) and total plate appearances (310)... Managed to each base in each of the team’s final 47 games from March 12 (game two vs La Tech) until the end of the season... Finished third on the team in steals (6), fourth in batting average (.295), walks (27) and total bases (90)... Tied for fourth on the squad in doubles (9)... Made 52 starts batting in the top three spots in the order... Batted leadoff a total of 16 times, including each of the last 15 games of the season where he hit .292 to help the team go 12-3... Most starts were batting second - 25 times where he hit a composite .308 and the team went 18-7... Hit ninth in the order six times where he went 10-for-16 (.526), maintained a .609 on-base percentage and scored six runs... Posted the second-best batting average on the team at the NCAA Regional (.333), in 24 C-USA league games (.344) and in 32 games played away from Reckling Park (.324)... Collected a career-best five hits in a road
game at future C-USA foe FIU, the most by an Owl in any game all year, that raised his average to a season-best .306... Career-best hitting streak was in each of the last 11 games of the regular season... Ended the year with an active nine-game hitting streak in the postseason to give him base hits in 20 of the Owls’ last 21 games... Third on the team in multi-hit games, 22 times includ-ing three more hits four times... One two-hit game was a pair of doubles in the extra-inning win over state foe Stephen F. Aus-tin... Scored two or more runs in a game four times, one of which was the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning in the championship final of the C-USA tournament... Drove in two or runs in a game six times, highlighted by a pair of career-high three-RBI games against Harvard and FIU... Proved to be capable of delivering the clutch RBI late in games, like his game-winning run in the 17th inning at Hawaii, and the game-winner in bottom of the ninth 10 days later against Pac-12 power California... Field-ing percentage (.970) was a 38-point improvement from fresh-man campaign, and the best by the program’s regular shortstop since (eventual) major leaguer Paul Janish in 2004 (.983)... Ca-reer-high six put outs was in the finale of the Hawaii series (and not the 17-inning game)... Finished second in the nation in as-
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 49
sists and, for the record, had one game without recording any assists (the first meeting against Oregon in the NCAA Regional)... 2012: Conference USA All-Freshman; C-USA Hitter of the Week (May 14); C-USA Academic Honor Roll; All-Silver Glove Series team in the annual season-long series against crosstown rival Houston; Registered 47 appearances with 36 starts in first season... Made 35 starts at shortstop and one at second base... Played primarily as a reserve in the first 29 games (10 starts) but worked his way into starting 26 of the next 31... Started at short-stop in each of the last 15 games where he batted .321 to raise his season average 22 points to its final .289... Strong second half took a toll on C-USA opponents, where he batted an eye-opening .368 with a .476 on-base average in 21 league games... Hit a team-leading .348 in 66 at bats against elite opponents that went on to play in the NCAA Tournament... Disciplined ap-proach helped him finish third on the team in on-base percent-age (.411) and fourth in walks (30) despite being only ninth in at bats (142)... Drew two walks in a game eight different times... Finished second on the team in games batting leadoff, where he hit .329 to help the Owls go 13-6... Collected two or more hits in a game 11 times, including a career-high four hits in games against Texas A&M, Houston and UAB... Was sixth on the team in runs scored (30)... Scored two or more runs six times, with a career-high three in a win over UAB... Batted a steady .347 with runners on base and .341 with men in scoring position... Drove-in 17 runs and had two RBI in a game three times... Appeared as a pinch-hitter six times (2-for-4 with a pair of walks)... Maintained
a .933 fielding percentage... Turned or started 18 of the Owls’ 36 double plays... Tallied a career-high five defensive assists against Houston... Made four put outs three different times... Played for the Haymarket Senators in the Valley League over the summer. High School — A 2011 graduate of Highland Park High School in Dallas... Selected to play in the 2011 Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association all-star game... Honorable men-tion All-Area... Three-year starting middle-infielder and four-letterman for a Highland Park team that is annually ranked among the top 4A programs in the state... Helped lead the Scots to a 32-6 record and to the Region II quarterfinals of the 4A state tournament... Served as senior team captain for head coach Fred Oliver... Batted .412 as a junior in 2010, earning first team All-District 10-4A and helping the Scots to a 25-10 record and the bi-district finals... Played on to the Dallas Metro Scout League All-Stars in the Perfect Game tournament in Jupiter, Fla.... Versa-tile athlete was also a four-year letterman in tennis... Helped the Scots with three state titles in tennis with one finish as the state runner-up... Maintained a 3.92 grade point average (4.0 scale) to earn Academic All-State... Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes... Community Service Council member. Personal — Full name: Raiford Hammond Stainback (pre-fers the nickname Ford)... Born: January 19, 1993, in Dallas... Parents: Kent and Amy Stainback of Dallas... Father was a four-year golf letterman at Baylor (1978-81)... Grandfather, Bo Sexton, was a baseball and football letterman at the University of Texas (1954-57)... College: McMurtry.
Rice Highs2013 Season Career 8 at NC State, June 9 At Bats 8 at NC State, June 9, ‘13 2, four times Runs Scored 3 vs. UAB, May 12, ‘12 5 at FIU, Mar. 10 Hits 5 at FIU, Mar. 10, ‘133, twice Runs Batted In 3, twice 2 vs. SFA, Mar. 19 Doubles 2, three times5 at FIU, Mar. 10 Total Bases 6, twice 2, five times Walks 2, thirteen times 1, six times Stolen Bases 1, eight times 1, five times Sac Hits 1, eight times 1 vs. Harvard, Mar. 17 Sac Flies 2, three times6 at Hawaii, Feb. 25 Put Outs 6 at Hawaii, Feb. 25, ‘138, twice Assists 8, twice
50 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
Wayne Graham said — “Jordan should be one of the top ‘Friday-night’ guys in the country. At the end of last year it was hard to find a better starter. His good fastball is made better by his out-standing breaking pitch.” Rice — 2013: NCAA Eugene Regional Most Valuable Player/All-Regional Team; Conference USA All-Tournament Team; Ranked among the NCAA leaders with 17 starts (tied for 11th) and 100 strikeouts (tied 36th)... Led the Owls in innings (118.2), and was second on the staff in wins (8) and starts... Fin-
Jordan Stephens
P l R/R l Jr.-2L 6-1 l 185 l Alvin, Texas Alvin HS27
ished second on the team in strikeouts and was third in ERA (2.43) and appearances (21)... Also had four appearances out of the bullpen for a total of 21 games played... Averaged 6.1 innings per start and reached the seventh a total of nine times... Held all opposing hitters to an austere .219 batting average... Main-tained a 3.2-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio with an average of 7.6 strikeouts per 9.0 innings... Struck out a career-best 11 batters in a pair of road games, at conference foe UAB and then at Oregon in an elimination game in the NCAA Regional in Eugene... Fired a sensational two-hit complete game shutout against the No. 6 ranked Ducks for eighth win, and second complete game win, of the season... Pitched a complete game four-hitter on the road at Hawaii, scattering four singles and a walk while striking out 10 (then a career-high)... Posted remaining wins against Harvard and C-USA foes Southern Miss, Tulane, Marshall and UCF in the conference tournament... Primary stats as the No. 2 weekend pitcher in conference games were a 4-2 record, 2.92 ERA and .238 opponents’ average in team-high 52.1 innings... Made two appearances three days apart in the C-USA Tournament that added-up to just one earned run on three hits and two walks in a total of 9.0 innings... Left the NCAA Super Regional road game
at No. 4 ranked NC State with a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning, only to see the Owls lose the game by one run in the 17th in-ning (which brought the 2013 season to an end)... Final stats in four postseason outings were a 2-0 record, 0.74 ERA and .165 op-ponents’ average in team-high 24.1 innings... Almost lost in the dynamic starts are the quiet but critical four times he came out of the bullpen for a situational out or inning in midweek games... Picked-up first career save with 1.1 shutout innings against fu-ture C-USA foe La Tech... Recorded a 1.80 ERA in 5.0 innings over four relief appearances, striking out seven without allowing any walks... Though both complete game shutouts and all three double-digit strikeout games were on the road, his most consis-tent outings are all right at Reckling Park where he maintained a composite 1.95 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 55.1 home innings... 2012: Most Outstanding Player, Houston College Classic; Caught the coaches’ attention in the fall practices (2011) and earned the No. 3 starting spot in the opening series of the season... Went on to pitch in 14 games in debut season of Division I baseball... Fin-ished fourth on the team with eight starts... Was seventh on the staff in strikeouts (40)... Averaged 9.2 strikeouts per 9.0 innings... Held opposing hitters to a composite .277 batting average, tied
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 51
for the sixth-best mark on the team... ERA in first 25.1 collegiate innings was a sterling 1.07... Fired 18-consecutive scoreless in-nings during one early stretch that included two of his best outings of the year... Started against Tennessee at Minute Maid Park (one of the most hitter-friendly stadiums in the majors) and pitched 7.0 shutout frames while holding the Volunteers to just two hits and two walks while striking out a career-high eight for his first Rice win... Came back seven days later and started on the road at No. 2 Stanford, where he held the Cardinal to no runs on three hits for 6.2 innings... Extended the scoreless streak to 18.0-straight the next weekend with another 4.1 innings against Grambling... Made six appearances out of the bullpen, where he held opposing hitters to a tough .182 average... Struck out four in 3.0 hitless innings against eventual NCAA Tournament partici-pant Sam Houston State. High School — A 2011 graduate of Alvin High School in Alvin, Tex.... Second Team All-Greater Houston by the Houston Chronicle, and Honorable Mention All-Area by Houston5ABase-ball.com as a senior... Selected to play in the Houston Area Base-ball Coaches Association (HABCA) 2011 All-Star game for the 5A Southeast team (but was unable to participate)... Two-time first team All-District 24-5A pitcher who twice led the Yellowjackets to the Region III bi-district playoffs... Went 6-4 on the mound with three saves, a 2.35 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 66 innings of work during senior year... Struck out 10 or more in game four times, including a prep career-best 15 in one outing of just 6.1 innings... Posted a 7-3 ledger with two saves as a junior in 2010,
maintaining a steady 0.95 ERA with 119 strikeouts in 73.1 innings and a steady 3.3-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio... Member of the 2010 Texas Rangers Area Code Team who participated in the Area Code Tournament in Long Beach, Calif. Personal — Full name: Jordan Shane Stephens... Born: September 12, 1992, in Alvin... Parents: Roy and Molly Stephens of Alvin, Texas (two brothers)... College: Hanszen.
Rice Highs2013 Season & Career 9.0, twice Innings 11, twice Strikeouts 2 at UAB, May 4 Wild Pitches 2, twice Hit Batters
Title U.Here is a closer look at Rice’s run of winning either a conference regular season championship, a league tournament title, or both, in three different leagues over the last 18 years:
Year Conf. Regular Season Tournament2013 C-USA tied 1st 1st2012 C-USA 1st tied 5th2011 C-USA tied 1st 1st2010 C-USA 1st 2nd2009 C-USA 2nd 1st2008 C-USA 1st tied 7th2007 C-USA 1st 1st2006 C-USA 1st 1st2005 WAC 1st no tourney2004 WAC 1st no tourney2003 WAC 1st no tourney2002 WAC 1st no tourney2001 WAC 1st no tourney2000 WAC tied 1st no tourney1999 WAC 1st 1st1998 WAC 1st South Div. 1st1997 WAC 1st South Div. 1st1996 SWC tied 6th 1st
52 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
Kirby Taylor
IF/OF l R/R l Jr.-1L 6-0 l 185 l Bellaire, Texas San Jacinto Coll. / Bellaire HS12 Wayne Graham said — “Kirby was slowed in the fall, but we feel like he’s comfortable here now. He certainly capable of playing any spot we need him in the infield.” Rice — 2013: Conference USA Academic Honor Roll; Ap-peared in 12 games in first season with the program, working his way into four starting assignments... Started three games at first base and helped the Owls win each of those games... Start-ed once at third in the series finale against C-USA foe Tulane... Collected all four hits against just two opponents, Harvard and
Rice StatisticsYear Avg GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB ATT2013 .154 12 4 26 3 4 1 0 0 0 5 .192 0 1 3 0 .185 0 1 0 0
Louisiana Tech... Made Rice debut as the replacement designat-ed hitter in the middle game of the FIU series... Tied for third on the team in games played as a pinch hitter (5), but shared the team lead in plate appearances as a pinch hitter (6) when the Owls proceeded to bat-around after he subbed-in against UCF... Scored a run after entering the finale of the Harvard series as a pinch runner, then remained in to play third base where he even-tually doubled and scored again... Twice remained in the game to play the infield after pinch hitting, once at third base and once at first... Error-free in 38 defensive chances in the field... Recorded a career-high ten put outs in back-to-back starts at first base. San Jacinto College — Played 2012 season at San Jacinto College... Helped the Gators go 41-25 and finish as the nation-al runner-up at the 2012 Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.... Batted .276 with 42 RBI and pair of home runs... Coached by Tom Arrington... Was named a NJCAA Academic All-America. Texas A&M — Played the 2011 season at Texas A&M... Appeared in five games... Collected two hits in five at bats and scored two runs. High School — A 2010 graduate of Bellaire High School, in nearby Bellaire, Texas... Two-time honorable mention selec-tion to the Louisville Slugger National High School All-America
Team... Second team All-Greater Houston infielder as a senior in 2010 after batting .455 with five home runs and 38 RBI... Two-time first team all-District 20-5A selection... Helped the Cardinals reach the state playoffs in each of his three years as a letterman... Hit .456 with 14 homers and 93 RBI in his prep career... Coached by Rocky Manuel... Member of the National Honor Society. Personal — Full name: Kirby Michael Taylor. Born: February 10, 1992, in Houston. Parents: Keith and Gina Taylor of Bellaire (one brother, one sister). College: Will Rice.
Rice Highs2013 Season & Career 4 vs. Harvard, Mar. 15 At Bats 2 vs. Harvard, Mar. 17 Runs Scored 1, four times Hits1 vs. Harvard, Mar. 17 Doubles 2 vs. Harvard, Mar. 17 Total Bases 1 vs. SFA, Mar. 19 Sac Hits 10, twice Put Outs 1, twice Assists
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 53
the offense in the early going... Went 16-for-36 in his first 10 games as the starting third baseman for an eye-opening .444 average that was a full 84 points higher than the next-closest hitter over that same stretch... Highest in-season batting average reached .383 through the team’s first 20 games... Moved across the diamond to first base when Hoelscher returned and prompt-ly went 3-for-3 with an RBI, a double and a walk in a start against longtime rival Texas Tech... Starting assignments were 23 times at third base, five at first base, and once as the designated hitter... The Owls went 17-6 in his starts at third base... Batted as high as fourth in the lineup three times and was the No. 5 hitter six times... Collected two or more hits in a game seven times, includ-ing a career-best 4-for-4 day at home against future Conference USA foe La Tech... Batted .308 (16-for-52) with a steady .397 on-base average in 20 home games at Reckling Park... Something of a “Night Owl” who batted .286 in all evening games, the third-highest average on the team... Longest hitting streak of the year was four games... Reached base safely in eight-straight contests during one stretch... Proved to be the toughest Owl to get to end an inning, maintaining a team-best .414 average in 29 at bats where there were already two outs recorded... Posted a career-best two RBI in a game three different times... Fielding percent-age was .927 for the full season and .886 at third base... Recorded
Connor Teykl
IF l L/R l So.-1L 6-3 l 195 l Sugar Land, Texas Kempner HS 3 Wayne Graham said — “Connor showed great improvement late in the fall. Right now he is backing us up at all four infield posi-tions. I think he’ll play a lot.” Rice — 2013: Conference USA Hitter of the Week (March 18); Appeared in 41 games with 29 starts as a true freshman... Was thrust into the starting lineup in the third week of the sea-son when when veteran third baseman Shane Hoelscher was sidelined for more than a month with an injury... Ended up mak-ing a total of 23 starts at the hot corner where he jump-started
a career-high seven defensive assists at third base in a C-USA win over Tulane, and only one Owl had more assists in any game all year (Ford Stainback had eight in a game, twice)... Involved in a total of 16 double plays from his spots on the infield corners, including 10 at first base and six times at third. High School — A 2011 graduate of A 2012 graduate of Fort Bend Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas, just southwest of Houston... Helped lead the Cougars to a 30-7 record and to the 5A Region III finals before falling to the eventual state cham-pion... Two-time first team all-district shortstop who batted .402 with 41 runs scored, 32 RBI and 23 stolen bases as senior... Went 4-1 on the mound with a 1.65 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 29.2 innings... Earned honorable mention all-state accolades after a sensational junior season where he batted .467 with six home runs and 32 RBI... Posted a 3-1 pitching record with a 1.80 ERA in 2011... Four-year starter for head coach Marc Jones... Varsity basketball letterman as a freshman. Personal — Full name: Connor Harris Teykl... Born: October 20, 1993, in Sugar Land... Parents: Brian and Tibby Teykl of Sugar Land (one brother)... Father was a football letterman at the Uni-versity of Houston in 1983-84... Older brother, Trevor, is in his first season with Rice baseball... College: Baker.
Rice StatisticsYear Avg GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB ATT2013 .239 41 29 109 7 26 2 0 0 14 28 .257 11 1 11 0 .306 3 7 0 1
54 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
Rice Highs2013 Season & Career highs 5, three times At Bats 2 at FIU, Mar. 8 Runs Scored 4 vs. LA Tech, Mar. 12 Hits 1, twice Doubles 2, three times RBI 4, three times Total Bases 2, twice Walks 1, seven times SAC Bunts 1, three times SAC Flies 13, twice Put Outs 7 vs. Tulane, Mar. 29 Assists
Trevor Teykl
P l R/R l Jr.-Tr. 6-7 l 225 l Sugar Land, Texas San Jacinto Coll./Kempner HS 34 Wayne Graham said — “Trevor could be a big part of what we do. He has a good, moving fastball and good angles. He could be strong in the mix. It’s up to him how much.” San Jacinto College — Played at San Jacinto North College in the spring of 2013... Went 1-1 on the mound with a 4.50 ERA for the 30-13 Gators... Made three appearances with two starts, totaling 12.0 innings... Scattered seven hits and struck out nine. University of Texas — Spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons with Longhorns... Did not play in 2011 and appeared twice out of
the bullpen in 2012... Faced No. 7 ranked Baylor and No. 9 Texas A&M in a pair of league games... Totaled 1.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts... Named one of the Top 20 prospects of the North-woods Collegiate League in the summer of 2011 by Baseball America. High School — A 2010 graduate of Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas... Selected in the 2010 major league draft by the Texas Rangers (50th round)... Three-year starting pitcher... Preseason Rawlings All-America third team... First team all-Dis-trict 23-5A as a senior... Member of the 2009 Texas Rangers Area Code Team... Named the District 23-5A Newcomer of the Year in 2008... Coached by J.D. Sellers. Personal — Full name: Trevor Brian Teykl. Born: October 16, 1991, in Sugar Land... Parents: Brian and Tibby Teykl of Sugar Land (one brother, Connor, a sophomore infielder on the current Owls team)... Father was a football letterman at the University of Houston in 1983-84... College: Baker.
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 55
Charlie Warren
OF l L/R l Fr.-HS 6-2 l 185 l The Woodlands, Texas The Woodlands HS 5 Wayne Graham said — “In the fall Charlie was kind of break-through freshman. We don’t always know if the freshmen can play right away, but it appears he’ll be able to play a lot and start for us in the spring. He has outstanding speed and defensive skills, and is a good contact hitter. His speed is the equal of anyone on the team. Nobody’s faster.” High School — A 2013 graduate of The Woodlands High School... Helped lead the Highlanders to a 38-4 record, the 2013 5A state championship and No. 2 national ranking accord-
ing to MAXPreps.com... Three-year varsity baseball starter for head coach Ron Eastman... Second team all-state selection by the Texas Sports Writers Association... Earned second team all-Montgomery County and first team all-District 14-5A... Batted .321 while scoring 35 runs in the team’s 42 games... Second team all-district honoree as both a junior and sophomore... Member of the Academic All-State team with a 3.98 grade point average, who chose to attend Rice over Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth... Versatile athlete, earning second team all-district honors in foot-ball... Helped the Highlanders win the 14-5A title with an unde-feated district record and reach the Region II quarterfinals of the Division I state playoffs. Personal — Full name: Charles Matthew Warren... Born: April 4, 1994, in Fort Worth... Parents: Greg Warren and Tara Nos-ich (four brothers, one sister)... Father played college football at Baylor in 1980-1981... Served as chairman of Interact, a commu-nity service and outreach organization... College: Brown.
56 l Rice Baseball l Player Profiles
Wayne Graham said — “John continues to get better. He has outstanding speed and we think he’s in the mix to play in the out-field. He threw well enough in the fall that he could be a left-handed option out of the bullpen.” Rice — 2013: Conference USA Academic Honor Roll; Showed versatility by contributing to the team as both a position player/hitter and pitcher... Played in 25 games overall, including twice as a relief pitcher in the second half of the season... Started five games, including three times in the outfield and twice as the
John Williamson
OF/P l L/L l Jr.-1L 6-1 l 195 l Houston, Texas Lamar HS 8
designated hitter... Made Rice debut starting as the designated hitter on Opening Day against nationally ranked Stanford and Cardinal pitcher Mark Appel, the eventual No. 1 pick in the ma-jor league draft... Collected hits against Dallas Baptist and on the road at Hawaii... Tied for third on the team in games played as a pinch hitter (5)... Appeared as a pinch-runner one time, where he scored in the series-opener at FIU... Also scored on the road at Sam Houston State after drawing a walk in a pinch-hitting role... Error-free in six defensive chances in the outfield... Made first of two pitching appearances in the opening game of the road series against eventual C-USA co-champion Southern Miss... Pitched and recorded an out three weeks later in the C-USA series-opener against UCF... 2012: Conference USA Academic Honor Roll; Did not appear in any game action in first season with the program... Played for the Oahu Paddlers of the Hawaii Collegiate League over the summer. High School — A 2011 graduate of Lamar High School in Houston... Second Team All-Greater Houston selection by the Houston Chronicle, Houston5ABaseball.com, and the Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association (HABCA) as a senior in 2011...
Named the District 20-5A Player of the Year as a senior, help-ing lead the Redskins to a 33-7-1 record and to the 5A Region III semi-finals... Three-time all-district selection, including first team honors in 2011 and 2010... Twice played in the HABCA all-star game... Selected to play on Team Texas, which won the 2011 Heartland Classic in Norman, Okla... Hit .452 with seven home runs, 51 runs scored, 40 RBI and 20 stolen bases in the team’s 41 games... Went 9-2 with a 2.00 ERA on the mound, registering 79 strikeouts in 65 innings of work... Season highlight was pitching a no-hitter against district rival Bellaire... Served as a team co-captain for head coach Mike McGilvary... Was named to the 2011 Preseason All-Greater Houston team by the Houston Athletic Committee after a sensation junior season where he batted .445 with 11 home runs and had a .927 slugging percentage... Played on the West University Senior League World Series Champion-ship Team in 2009... Maintained a 4.39 grade point average and finished in the Top 10 percent of his class. Personal — Full name: John Garland Williamson... Born: September 27, 1992, in Houston... Parents: Jimmy Williamson and Ann Blackwood of Houston (two brothers)... Brother, James,
Rice StatisticsYear Avg GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB ATT2013 .100 23 5 20 6 2 0 0 0 0 2 .100 2 0 6 0 .182 0 0 0 1
Year ERA W L App GS CG SHO CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR BF B/Avg WP HBP2013 0.00 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 .500 0 0
Rice Baseball l Player Profiles l 57
Dayne Wunderlich
OF l R/R l Fr.-HS 6-0 l 190 l Brenham, Texas Brenham HS 9 Wayne Graham said — “Dayne came on strong late in the fall. He’s a very hard-worker, good speed. He’s going to play a lot here eventually, that’s up to him how quickly that is.” High School — A 2013 graduate of Brenham High School in Brenham, Texas... Two year varsity starter where he had a .465 career batting average and 14 home runs.... Coached by Lanny Williams... First team all-state honoree who helped lead the team to a 23-9 record and to the area round of the 4A Region III play-offs as a senior in 2013... Two-time all-Greater Houston and all-
District 18-4A selection... Earned Louisville Slugger Honorable Mention All-America as a junior in 2012 after leading the Cubs to a 25-11 record, the district championship, and to the final four of the 4A state tournament as the Region III champions... All-Brazos Valley honoree who maintained a .667 slugging percentage with 33 runs scored and 23 RBI in 33 games played. Personal — Full name: Dayne Edward Wunderlich... Born: January 9, 1995 in College Station, Texas... Parents: Terry and Nancy Wunderlich of Brenham, Texas, (two brothers). College: Brown.
was a four-year baseball letterman at William & Mary (2006-2009)... Rice College: Sid Richardson.
Rice Highs2013 Season/Career 3, three times At Bats 1, twice Hits 1, six times Runs 1, twice Total Bases 1, twice Walks 3 vs. Texas A&M, Mar. 2 Put Outs 2, twice Assists
0.1 vs. UCF, Apr. 12 Innings none Strikeouts none Wild Pitches none Hit Batters
58 l Rice Baseball l Staff Profiles
Wayne Graham
Head Coach 23rd Season At Rice Rice Record: 997-40037 There are some fairly common factors that measure coaching success in college baseball. The familiar criteria include a coach’s wins and win-percentage, NCAA Regional bids, trips to the College World Series, winning a national championship, conference cham-pionships, All-America honorees and molding young players into major league draft picks. It’s common criteria. Rice Owls head coach Wayne Graham has had uncommon success.
After 22 full seasons at the helm of the Rice baseball pro-gram, and his 33 as a collegiate head coach, Graham has been one of the top coaches in the country who has built a sky-scraper of a program at Rice. It was no surprise that in 2012 coach Graham was tabbed for induction into the College Baseball Hall of Fame. It was even less surprising, and in fact applauded, that (at then age of 76) he was rewarded by Rice with a five-year extension on his current con-tract. Clearly, the University administration realizes its Hall of Fame head coach is both a national and baseball treasure. At Rice Graham has amassed 997 wins and maintained a .714 win percentage. Another way of looking at the .714 win percent-age is that it’s the equivalent of a major league team winning 116 games in a single season -- except Graham has maintained that impressive pace over 22 full seasons at Rice. Speaking of win-percentage, Graham has led the Owls to the second-best composite win percentage in the nation over the last 15 full seasons. Using the year the NCAA tournament expanded to its current 64-team/Super Regional format (1999), and with Gra-ham firmly at the Rice’s helm, the Owls’ .735 win percentage from 1999 to 2013 has ranked second among all Division I programs (see page 47 for full list). Are all-America selections the criteria for an outstanding coach? Graham has coached 33 different Rice players to a to-tal of 49 all-America awards. Perhaps it’s molding a player into a professional prospect. More than 25 former Owls were playing pro baseball in 2013, including 11 in the major leagues - more
than enough to field a starting lineup. Of course that Rice total of Graham-coached players to reach the majors isn’t even counting the ones he tutored while at San Jacinto College (of which one, Andy Pettite, was still active in 2013). There were five of his Owls who were selected in the 2013 major league draft and a total of 41 Rice draftees over the last six years. It’s a steady draft rate to be sure, but consider in 2007 Graham had 14 Owls drafted by the majors in that year alone. The 14 Rice draft picks tied the college record for the most players selected from one school in a single year. It’s not just simply get-ting drafted, however. He developed 14 Owls into first-round major league draft picks, including as recently as 2011 when Anthony Rendon as the sixth player taken overall. Are team accomplishments the criteria? Consider Rice has won 18 conference championships in a row, including C-USA reg-ular season and tournament crowns, all nine Western Athletic Con-ference titles during the Owls’ tenure in that league (1997-2005) and the final Southwest Conference Championship in 1996. The 2013 season marked Rice’s 19th-straight appearance in an NCAA Regional and 19th-straight with at least 40 wins. The Owls have been to NCAA Super Regionals ten times since the format was adopted in 1999. The Blue & Gray has been to the College World Series seven times since 1997. In 2003, Graham led Rice to the school’s first team national championship in any sport. Pick the criteria for coaching success, and Graham has far-exceeded the standard. His work in 2013 may have been some
Rice Baseball l Staff Profiles l 59
Fast Facts on Wayne GrahamEducationHigh School: John Reagan, Houston, 1954. College: Texas, 1970, B.S., physical education; Houston, 1973, M.Ed., physical education.
PersonalFull Name: Wayne Leon Graham. Born: April 6, 1936, at Yoa-kum. Wife: Tanya. Children: Gary, Terry, Greg, Michael, Cindy, Matthew.
of his best coaching yet. Not only was Rice was a consensus Top 20 team all year long, the squad battled through some injuries and freshmen groing pains to share the C-USA regular season co-championship the last weekend of the season before sweeping through the C-USA Tournament. Graham’s Owls shocked college baseball followers by winning an NCAA Regional on the road at No. 9 Oregon to advance to the Super Regionals. In 2012 he led Rice to the C-USA regular season champion-ship on the last day of the league schedule on the road. The Owls played 22 games against nine different teams in the NCAA Tourna-ment, going 15-7 against the elite teams. Rice played the even-tual national champion Arizona Wildcats in the regular season and split that series 1-1. For his effort Graham was named the C-USA Keith LeClair coach of the year (for a fifth time). The head coach’s 2011 squad delivered despite being beset by injuries. He had to play two true freshmen on the leftside of the infield all year and turn to a freshman starting pitcher on open-ing day and in the Friday night games. Graham simply steered the team to its 17th-straight season of 40-plus wins. Rice won a share of the C-USA regular-season title before winning the league’s tour-nament title and earning a Top 8 national seed in the NCAA Cham-pionships. In 2010 he guided the Owls to the C-USA regular season title, an NCAA Regional bid and 40 wins in a demanding schedule that featured 26 games against elite teams that went on to national postseason play. Along the way he coached and developed An-thony Rendon into the National Player of the Year and recipient
of the Howser Trophy. At the end of the year he was named the C-USA Coach of the Year. Graham’s 2009 Rice squad finished among the nation’s Top 10. The Owls stormed to the C-USA Tournament Championship then hosted and won the NCAA Regional at Reckling Park. He coached Rendon to the National Freshman of the Year honors. The 2008 Rice squad rocketed to the upper echelon of the national Rating Percentage Index (RPI), finishing fourth overall. The high RPI made Rice an easy choice for a national seed in the NCAA Tournament and to host postseason games. Graham’s Owls justified that consideration with the program’s third trip to Omaha in as many years. The Blue & Gray dominated the C-USA regular season with a 21-3 league record. He was named the South Cen-tral Region Coach of the Year by his colleagues in the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and the C-USA Keith LeClair Coach of the Year. The 2007 Rice squad was second in the nation in wins (56) and third in the nation in win-percentage (.800). The Blue & Gray reached the semi-finals of the CWS and tied for third in the nation for a second year in a row. The team also had the No. 1 rat-ing percentage index (RPI) in the country. At the end of the year Graham was named the National Division I Coach of the Year by Fieldturf, the ABCA region coach of the year and LeClair Coach of the Year. His 2006 team had the best win-percentage in the country. The Owls reached the semifinals of the CWS and tied for third in the nation. For an incredible 2006 season, the College Baseball
Foundation named Graham one of its national coaches of the year. His fellow head coaches in C-USA named him the Keith LeClair Coach of the Year his first year in the league. It may be hard to imagine with all the success Graham has had at Rice for these many years, but at first there were small steps for a program which had never won even a conference champion-ship or advanced to NCAA tournament play. Year one in 1992 showed a 13-game improvement in the win column. Year two (1993) was another seven games better. In year three (1994), the Owls had their best finish ever in Southwest Con-ference play at 12-6 and their first appearance under Graham in
60 l Rice Baseball l Staff Profiles
the SWC postseason tournament. Year four (1995) boasted of 43 wins and Rice’s first bid to the NCAA tournament. Year five (1996): a SWC tournament title and NCAA bid. The Owls won the 1996 SWC championship in storybook fashion. Entering the last conference tournament in Lubbock as the number-six seed, Graham’s Owls swept through the field in four straight games, topped by a 16-8 romp past Texas in the final. It was Rice baseball’s most satisfying week in its long history as a member of the SWC. Then there was Graham’s sixth Rice season in 1997, the Owls’ first foray into the Western Athletic Conference. Led by a duo that Baseball America called “one of the greatest power packages in college baseball history” (pitcher Matt Anderson and first-base-man Lance Berkman), Rice soared to a 47-16 record and its first WAC team championship. A 13-game winning streak over the last month of the regular season ensured titles in the WAC-South and at the league tournament, resulting in an automatic NCAA bid. Rice returned to Lubbock for the 1997 Central Regional where the South Plains magic continued from the year before. The Owls romped through the regional, earning the school’s first entry into the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. It was a season that netted Graham kudos as the western region’s coach of the year as voted by the ABCA. In 1998, Rice posted a 46-17 overall record and was even more successful in the WAC. The Owls ran through their division with a 26-4 record and capped the year with another four-game sweep in the postseason tournament. Graham’s charges were the
top seed in the Central Regional in College Station, but a pair of slugfest losses ended the year prematurely. Damon Thames was the ABCA national player of the year, and Bubba Crosby was the Owls’ fourth first-round draft choice in four seasons. Graham won recognition as the WAC coach of the year by his peers. The 1999 season ran true to form. Led by one of the best pitching staffs in college baseball, the Owls never left the top 10 in any of the national polls, enjoying the school’s first number-one ranking in any sport on two different occasions and finishing at number five. Graham was named Baseball America’s national coach of the year, as well as repeating his WAC honor. The confer-ence tournament was another four-game sweep, but the return trip to Lubbock for the regional was a bit less routine. After an opening round upset at the hands of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the Owls swept through Rutgers, UWM and host Texas Tech twice for its second regional title. In the new Super Regional, Rice also dropped the opener to Louisiana-Lafayette before stop-ping the Cajuns twice to win the trip to Omaha. That was up to six straight wins when elimination was only one loss away. The head coach had convinced the squad to keep fighting. At Omaha, the Owls fell to eventual national champion Miami in their opener. Rice’s first-ever CWS win, over Oklahoma State, followed two days later. The 2000 season is one of Graham’s most outstanding coach-ing achievements. Adjusting to six new position players and the loss of all-America pitcher Jeff Nichols due to an injury, the Owls staggered through the first half of the schedule. After April 1,
though, the head coach righted the ship to lead the Owls from a sub-.500 record to their fourth straight WAC title on the final week-end of the season. More success followed in 2001. Led by an all-America pitch-ing staff featuring Kenny Baugh and Jon Skaggs, the Owls spent six weeks as the nation’s number-one team. The amazing come-back win over Baylor on Memorial Day clinched the Owls’ second trip to a Super Regional. In 2002, the Owls adjusted again after Baugh and Skaggs were first-round selections in the professional draft. Graham com-bined two new players in the weekend pitching rotation -- trans-fer Justin Crowder and freshman Philip Humber -- and five new position players with four returnees, keeping the Owls near the top of the national rankings most of the year. Graham was named the WAC and ABCA western regional coach of the year as the Owls again advanced to Omaha. In 2003, his 12th season, Graham’s mind and energy were focused squarely on the goal of Rice’s first national champion-ship. The team combined the best pitching staff in the nation with the best defense to win 58 of its 70 games. The Owls spent more than two months ranked as the top team in the nation, and the team ran off an eye-opening 30-game winning streak. Sophomore pitchers Jeff Niemann, Wade Townsend, Philip Humber and Josh Baker combined for a 47-5 record, and closer David Aardsma had a Rice-record 12 saves. Every Owl starter won at least one postsea-son honor and Graham was named the national and WAC coach of the year.
Rice Baseball l Staff Profiles l 61
A Rookie at Wrigley Field! Wayne Graham played for two leg-endary major league managers in his career, Gene Mauch with the Phillies and Casey Stengel with the Mets.
In 2004, the Owls went 46-14 and won another WAC title to qualify for another postsea-son appearance. Graham came up with yet another Rice first. The pitching trio of Humber, Niemann and Townsend were all selected among the first eight picks of the major league draft (numbers three, four and eight overall). It was the first time in MLB history that three pitchers, or even three players, from the same school had been selected that high in the draft’s first round. Freshmen were the bulk of the 2005 team, but that did not stop the Owls (45-19) from winning the WAC champion-ship. That young Rice team came within four outs of reach-ing the College World Series after nearly upsetting number one ranked Tulane on the road in the Super Regional. A native Houstonian who
had followed the Owls since his earliest days, he played high school baseball at Reagan High in the Heights. He had his first championship experience when he played his first year at Reagan, as a pitcher and outfielder in 1951-52, under coach Leroy Ash-more. In 1952 Reagan was the Houston city and Texas State base-ball champions on the strength of a 38-3 record. With Graham on the mound in 1953, Reagan won the city’s high school champion-ship. One of his battery mates throughout his prep career was Rice alum (‘58) Jerry Sims. The championship spirit was instilled at an early age and is still there. Graham matriculated to Texas, where he played two seasons under the legendary Bibb Falk. After his playing days as a Long-horn ended, Graham embarked on an 11-year professional career as a third baseman and outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets organizations. Despite several strong seasons in the minors -- he hit .300 or better in six of 10 minor league stops, including a .311 average with 17 home runs and 70 runs batted in at Dallas-Fort Worth in 1962 to earn Texas minor league player of the year honors -- Gra-ham had just two brief stints in the major leagues. The first came in 1963 when he appeared in 10 games for Gene Mauch’s Phila-delphia Phillies. A year later, Graham played 20 games for Casey Stengel and the New York Mets. Following his playing days, Graham returned to UT to receive his B.S. in physical education in 1970, and he added a master’s of education from the University of Houston in 1973.
Graham’s coaching career began at Scarborough High School in Houston. In nine seasons at Scarborough and one at Spring Branch, Graham’s teams compiled a 98-13 (.883) district record, won seven district titles and never finished lower than sec-ond place in the district race. After nine successful seasons on the high school level, Gra-ham moved on to San Jacinto, where he proceeded to turn the Gators into the nation’s most celebrated JC team. His first squad in 1981 (featuring freshman Roger Clemens) went 43-7 and finished second in the Texas JC ranks. The following two seasons brought 89 more victories (only 22 losses) and a pair of conference titles. Graham was just getting started. In 1984, he led the Gators to the first of seven consecutive 50-win seasons and the national JC tournament. A loss in the championship game only served to fuel the fires that would lead to three straight national titles in 1985-87. Another runner-up showing in 1988 was followed by two more titles in 1989 and 1990, giving the Gators five championships in a six-year span while preparing dozens of players for major college and/or professional careers. Graham’s honors at San Jac were nearly endless. He was named Collegiate Baseball Magazine’s Junior College Coach of the Century, as well as the newspaper’s Coach of the Decade for 1980’s. He was named the national JC coach of the year five times and the top Texas JC coach six times. His uniform number (37) was retired by San Jacinto and he was inducted into the junior college hall of fame in May, 1995. All of Graham’s coaching accomplishments naturally led to
62 l Rice Baseball l Staff Profiles
Year-By-Year With Wayne GrahamYear School Record Pct. Accomplishments1981 San Jac 43-7 .860 Conference champions, state runner-up1982 San Jac 42-12 .777 Conference champions1983 San Jac 47-10 .824 Conference champions, state runner-up1984 San Jac 50-11 .819 State, conf. champs, national runner-up1985 San Jac 54-7 .885 National, state, conference champions1986 San Jac 53-12 .815 National, state, conference champions1987 San Jac 52-9 .852 National, state, conference champions1988 San Jac 63-9 .875 State, conf. champs, national runner-up1989 San Jac 61-10 .859 National, state, conference champions1990 San Jac 62-11 .850 National, state, conference champions1991 San Jac 47-15 .758 Conference champions
Year School Record Pct. Accomplishments1992 Rice 29-26 .527 Series win over #16 Texas A&M1993 Rice 36-18 .667 School-record 29-game home winning streak1994 Rice 34-21 .618 12-6 in SWC (tied-2), best in school history1995 Rice 43-19 .694 2nd at NCAA South II Regional1996 Rice 42-23 .646 SWC Tournament champs; 2nd in NCAA Midwest Regional1997 Rice 47-16 .746 WAC champs; 1st College World Series appearance1998 Rice 46-17 .731 WAC champs; NCAA Central Regional1999 Rice 59-15 .797 WAC champs; College World Series; most wins ever2000 Rice 43-23 .652 WAC co-champs2001 Rice 47-20 .701 WAC champs; NCAA Regional champs2002 Rice 52-14 .788 WAC champs; NCAA Regional champs; College World Series2003 Rice 58-12 .829 NCAA champions; WAC champions; School-record 30-game win streak2004 Rice 46-14 .767 WAC champs; NCAA Regional2005 Rice 45-19 .703 WAC champs; NCAA Regional champs2006 Rice 57-13 .814 C-USA champs; NCAA Regional champs; College World Series semifinals2007 Rice 56-14 .800 C-USA champs; NCAA Regional champs; College World Series semifinals2008 Rice 47-15 .758 C-USA reg. season champs; NCAA Regional champs; College World Series2009 Rice 43-18 .705 C-USA tournament champs; NCAA Regional champs2010 Rice 40-23 .635 C-USA reg. season champs; NCAA Regional2011 Rice 42-21 .667 C-USA reg. season co-champs; C-USA tourney champs; NCAA Regional2012 Rice 41-19 .683 C-USA reg. season champs; NCAA Regional2013 Rice 44-20 .688 C-USA tourney & regular season co-champs; NCAA Regional champs;RICE Totals 997-400 .714 Best winning percentage in Rice history
his induction into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame at Fort Worth in 2003. In 2004 he was named one of Houston’s 38 Sports Legends to coincide with the city hosting Super Bowl XXXVIII. He was inducted to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. What is left for a man who has 40-straight winning seasons at the high school and collegiate level and has won nearly 80 percent of his games on the collegiate level (1,572-513 in 33 seasons at Rice and San Jacinto)? A second na-tional championship, to be precise. With Reckling Park as the Owls’ home and the venue for ten NCAA Regionals in 2001-02-03-04-06-07-08-09-11-12, plus Super Regionals in 2002-03-06-07-08, Graham has all the pieces in place to sustain Rice at the highest level. Graham and his wife Tanya live in Houston. She earned her Rice degree in hu-man performance and exercise science in May, 1999.
Rice Baseball l Staff Profiles l 63
Highs/Lows For Graham-Coached Rice Teams Rice Opponent Runs/Game 37 vs. Cincinnati (2/21/97) 27, New Mexico-a (4-12-98) 35 vs. McNeese State (2/14/97) 21, UT-San Antonio-a (5/5/94) 28 at New Mexico [WAC high] (4/11/98) 21, Baylor-a [SWC high] (4/8/95) 27 vs. S.F. Austin State (2/21/93) 20, San Diego State-a (3/6/94) 27 vs. Wisconsin-Milw.-n (5/29/99) 20, Washington-n (5-22-98)Hits/Game 34 vs. Cincinnati (2/21/97) 24, New Mexico-a [WAC high] (4-12-98) 33 vs. Wisconsin-Milw.-n (5/29/99) 23, Lamar-h (2/22/2011) 31 vs. McNeese State (2/14/97) 21, California-a (3/11/2011) 28 at New Mexico [WAC high] (4/11/98) 20, San Diego State-a (3/6/94) 27 at Marshall (5/18/06) 19, Texas Tech-a [SWC high] (3/26/93) 19, Fresno State-a (3/23/04)Errors/Game 10 at UNLV (3/15/97) 8, Texas Southern-h (2/18/92) 7 vs. Incarnate Word (3/23/93) 7, two timesFewest Hits/Game 1 at Cal State Fullerton (3/4/07) 0, Hawaii (3/14/98)Doubles/Game 11 at Memphis (4/15/06) Triples/Game 5 vs. McNeese State (2/14/97) HR/Game 10 at New Mexico (4/11/98) 6, New Mexico-a (4/12/98) 9 vs. Cincinnati (2/21/97) 7 vs. Massachusetts (3/9/96) 7 vs. McNeese State (2/21/97) 7 vs. Nevada (3/26/05) SB/Game 8 vs. St. Mary’s (2/16/94)
Rice Opponent Strikeouts 23 at Hawaii (2/22/13) 21 vs. Central Missouri St. (2/5/05) 19 vs. Louisiana Tech (4/9/05) 18 vs. Lamar (5/7/97, 12 inn.) 18 at East Carolina (4/8/2011)LOB 18 vs. Louisiana (4/5/2011) 18, McNeese State-h (4/11/00)Walks Received 21 vs. Texas Southern (2/22/95) Double Plays 6, six times 4, Cal. State Fullerton-n (5/26/96) Latest vs. San Jose State (5/13/00) 4, Saint John’s (3/6/07) 4, Texas Tech (3/6/10)Shutouts 12, 2013 (88 total since 1992) 4, 1992 (23 total since 1992)
Longest Game/Time 5:10: at NC State (6/9/13, 17 inn.) 4:48: at Hawaii (2/22/13, 17 inn.)Longest Game/Innings 17: Rice 2, Hawaii-h 0 (2/22/13) 17: NC State-h 5, Rice 4 (6/9/13)Quickest Nine-Inn. Game 1:38 vs. East Carolina-h (4/20/2012)Largest Margin of Victory 31: (35-4) vs. McNeese State (2/14/97)Largest Loss 20: (21-1) at UT-San Antonio (5/5/94)Largest Combined Score 53: New Mexico-h 27, Rice 26 (4/12/98)Most Combined Hits 45: Rice 21, New Mexico 24 (4/12/98)Most Combined Errors 13: Rice 10, UNLV-h 3 (3/15/97)Runs/Inning 13: (4th inn.) at S.F. Austin State (2/8/95)Longest Win Streak 30: (2/18/03-4/8/03)Longest Losing Streak 8: 3/20-31/96
1995 (3-4)SWC Tournament at College Station (0-2)My18 Texas A&M-h 8, Rice 6My19 Texas 6, Rice 0NCAA South Regional at Baton Rouge, La. (3-2)My25 Rice 8, James Madison 7My26 Rice 15, LSU-h 7My27 Cal State Fullerton 17, Rice 7
Wayne Graham’s Rice MilestonesFirst Win: Rice 6, UT-Pan American 5 (Jan. 31, 1992, at Edinburg)25th Win: Rice 6, Houston 1 (April 10, 1992, at Cameron Field)50th Win: Rice 2, Houston 1 (March 14, 1993, at Cameron Field)75th Win: Rice 12, Clemson 3 (Feb. 26, 1994, at Las Vegas, Nev.)100th Win: Rice 20, S.F. Austin State 3 (Feb. 8, 1995, at Nacogdoches)150th Win: Rice 21, UT-San Antonio 7 (Feb. 24, 1996, at Cameron Field)175th Win: Rice 1, Lamar 0 (April 23, 1996, at Beaumont)200th Win: Rice 14, Air Force 1 (March 8, 1997, at Cameron Field)225th Win: Rice 5, Utah 4 (May 15, 1997, at San Diego, Calif.)250th Win: Rice 7, Hawaii 6 (March 14, 1998, at Cameron Field)275th Win: Rice 10, TCU 5 (May 14, 1998, at San Diego, Calif.)300th Win: Rice 6, Houston 2 (March 16, 1999, at Cougar Field)325th Win: Rice 14, Air Force 3 (May 16, 1999, at USAF Academy, Colo.)350th Win: Rice 10, UT-San Antonio 3 (March 22, 2000, at Reckling Park)375th Win: Rice 3, TCU 0 (May 20, 2000, at Fort Worth)400th Win: Rice 11, San Jose State 7 (March 18, 2001, at Reckling Park)425th Win: Rice 7, Baylor 4 (May 27, 2001, at Reckling Park)450th Win: Rice 9, Fresno State 2 (March 29, 2002, at Reckling Park)475th Win: Rice 6, Texas Tech 0 (June 1, 2002, at Reckling Park)500th Win: Rice-h 20, Liberty 1 (March 21, 2003, at Reckling Park)525th Win: Rice-h 13, Fresno State 2 (May 24, 2003, at Reckling Park)536th Win: Rice-n 14, Stanford 2 - National Championship (June 23, 2003, at Omaha, Neb.)550th Win: Rice 14, San Jose State-h 2 (March 14, 2004, at San Jose, Calif.)575th Win: Rice 6, Baylor 4 (May 18, 2004, at Waco)600th Win: Rice 14, Nevada 6 (March 26, 2005, at Reckling Park)625th Win: Rice 9, LSU 7 (June 4, 2005, at Baton Rouge, La.)650th Win: Rice 3, Tulane 2 (Apr. 1, 2006, at Metairie, La.)
675th Win: Rice 5, Southern Miss 1 (May 25, 2006, at Reckling Park)700th Win: Rice 7, Cal Poly 2 (March 17, 2007, at Reckling Park)725th Win: Rice 7, Tulane 4 (May 13, 2007, at Reckling Park)750th Win: Rice 10, Winthrop 4 (March 14, 2008, at Reckling Park)775th Win: Rice 9, Texas State 1 (May 6, 2008, at Reckling Park)800th Win: Rice 4, Southern Miss 3 (Mar. 21, 2009, at Hattiesburg, Miss.)825th Win: Rice 7, Houston 2 (May 22, 2009, at Hattiesburg, Miss.)850th Win: Rice 3, East Carolina 2 (Apr. 24, 2010, at Reckling Park)875th Win: Rice 3, Southern Cal 2 (Feb. 27, 2011, at Reckling Park)900th Win: Rice 8, Houston 2 (May 6, 2011, at Cougar Field)950th Win: Rice 9, UCF 2 (May 18, 2012, at Orlando, Fla.)975th Win: Rice 3, East Carolina (April 5, 2013, at Greenville, NC)
Rice In The Post-Season Under Wayne Graham
Rice Baseball l Staff Profiles l 65
College World Series at Omaha, Neb. (0-2)My30 LSU 5, Rice 4Jn1 Auburn 10, Rice 1
1998 (5-2)WAC Tournament at San Diego, Calif. (4-0)My13 Rice 15, New Mexico 11My14 Rice 10, TCU 5My15 Rice 5, Fresno State 4 (10 inn.)My16 Rice 15, Fresno State 2NCAA Central Regional at College Station (1-2)My21 Rice 11, Oral Roberts 1My22 Washington 20, Rice 11My23 Mississippi State 15, Rice 14
1999 (11-4)WAC Tournament at Fresno, Calif. (4-0)My19 Rice 2, New Mexico 1My20 Rice 9, UNLV 6My21 Rice 4, San Jose State 2My22 Rice 18, TCU 3NCAA Regional at Lubbock (4-1)My28 UW-Milwaukee 8, Rice 4My29 Rice 6, Rutgers 1My29 Rice 27, UW-Milwaukee 1My30 Rice 3, Texas Tech 1My30 Rice 15, Texas Tech 11
NCAA Super Regional at The Astrodome (2-1)Jn4 Louisiana-Lafayette 12, Rice 8Jn5 Rice 10, Louisiana-Lafayette 1Jn6 Rice 8, Louisiana-Lafayette 3College World Series at Omaha, Neb. (1-2)Jn11 Miami (Fla.) 8, Rice 4Jn13 Rice 7, Oklahoma State 2Jn16 Alabama 6, Rice 5
College World Series at Omaha, Neb. (2-2)Jn15 Rice-n 15, Louisville 10 Jn17 Rice-n 14, North Carolina 4Jn20 North Carolina 6, Rice-n 1 Jn21 North Carolina 7, Rice-n 4
2008 (5-4)C-USA Tournament at New Orleans, La. (0-2)My21 UAB 8, Rice-n 2 My22 East Carolina 4, Rice-n 3 NCAA Regional at Rice (3-0)My30 Rice-h 3, Sam Houston St. 2My31 Rice-h 11, St. John’s 2 Jn1 Rice-h 7, Texas 4NCAA Super Regional at Rice (2-0)Jn8 Rice-h 9, Texas A&M 7Jn9 Rice-h 6, Texas A&M 5 College World Series at Omaha, Neb. (0-2)Jn15 Fresno State 17, Rice-n 5Jn17 LSU 6, Rice-n 5
2009 (7-3)C-USA Tournament at Hattiesburg, Miss. (4-0)My20 Rice-n 13, Marshall 0 My21 Rice-n 8, UAB 1 My22 Rice-n 7, Houston 2 My24 Rice 8, Southern Miss-h 6 NCAA Regional at Rice (4-1)My29 Rice-h 5, Sam Houston St. 2My30 Kansas State 7, Rice-h 6
My31 Rice-h 12, Xavier 5 My31 Rice-h 8, Kansas State 0 Jn1 Rice-h 13, Kansas State 4 NCAA Super Regional at Baton Rouge, La. (0-2)Jn5 LSU-h 12, Rice 9 Jn6 LSU-h 5, Rice 3
Assistant Coach Ninth Season At Rice20 Former Rice baseball letterman Patrick Hallmark is in his ninth year of coaching at his alma mater. Hallmark is in his second season as the Owls’ pitch-ing coach after previously working with the program in a host of different roles. Credit head coach Wayne Graham who made the innovative choice of having Hallmark, a longtime catcher by trade, as the Owls’ “rookie” pitching coach in 2013. The move may have seemed unconven-
tional, but was in fact simplistically brilliant. Hallmark the catcher had already worked with a host of different types of professional pitchers at the minor league level for the better part of a decade. It’s only been one year for Hallmark in the role, but it’s hard to say the move as anything other than a re-sounding success. Last season the Rice pitching staff set a new single-season school record, and finished second among the NCAA statistical leaders, for shutouts (12). The Owl staff also finished 12th in the nation, and led Confer-ence USA, in team WHIP (1.15), while also placing 18th in the country with the league’s best ERA (2.83). Along the way the rookie pitching coach saw his staff set the school record for strikeouts in a single game (23), as well as finish 31st in the NCAA in strikeouts-to-walks (2.5-to-1) and 37th in strikeouts per nine innings (7.7). Hallmark has helped train Owl relief pitcher Zech Lemond into earning preseason All-America status in 2014. Lemond was Hallmark’s first all-conference honor-ee in 2013 and his staff of Austin Kubitza, Jordan Stephens and John Simms all but swept the pitcher’s spots on the C-USA All-Tournament team. The major league draft was certainly an independent validation of Hallmark’s ability to develop pitchers. Both
Kubitza and Simms were selected in last year’s draft, and the duo went on to begin their respective pro careers. When the task of recruiting was added to his list of responsibilities Hallmark hit the ground running. As a for-mer Rice student-athlete, Hallmark is uniquely qualified to identify the top prospects from across the nation who could not only play at the elite level that the Owl baseball program has reached, but also thrive in the University’s challenging academic curriculum. In addition to a host of prep accolades bestowed on his classes of signees, two of Hallmark’s current Owls were drafted by the major leagues but chose to enroll at Rice. The 2013 season was Hallmark’s first year with the pitchers, but prior to that he also built a pretty impres-sive coaching resume working with other areas of the
Fast Facts On Patrick HallmarkEducationHigh School: Westbury, 1992.College: Rice, 2002, B.S., human performance (Brown College).PersonalFull Name: James Patrick Hallmark. Born: Dec. 31, 1973, at Houston. Wife: Jada. Children: Christian (8), Tanner (6), Grayson (4).
Rice Baseball l Staff Profiles l 71
program. Hallmark coached the Owl hitters, but he also trained the catchers and worked on the defensive skills and positioning of the outfielders. Hallmark helped the Owls rank among the C-USA leaders in hits, doubles and runs scored in 2012. That year Rice outscored its opponents by more than 140 total runs and averaged a steady 5.6 runs per game. With 106 doubles Hallmark’s hitters showed they could hit for ex-tra bases, but the players also had the skill from his daily training to lead the league in sacrifices and disciplined-enough to draw 279 walks in 60 games. Offense was only part of the story. On defense, Hallmark’s outfielders were well-coached, consistently put in the right spot, and reached a defensive-potential they might never even knew they had. In 2012 Hallmark’s outfielders threw-out an eye-opening 14 opposing run-ners who were attempting to reach an extra base. As a former catcher for coach Graham, Hallmark started 56 games in 1995 to help lead Rice to its first 40-win season in 11 years. In that second-to-last season of the Southwest Conference, he batted .354 against the league with a .430 slugging percentage, scored 57 runs, and 14 stolen bases in 16 attempts. Hallmark was selected by Kansas City in the 18th
round of the 1995 major league draft and played professionally for nine seasons. He reached the AAA level in the Royals’ organization. Hallmark was part of three consecutive championship teams in the minor leagues from 1997-99. Playing primarily as a catcher and outfielder, Hallmark hit over .300 three times and stole 30-plus bases five times in his pro playing career. He twice stole more than 40 bases (2000 and 2002) and was selected to play in two minor league all-star games. Hallmark continued to pursue his Rice degree in the off-seasons and earned it in human performance in 2002. He played his final pro season in 2003 and began his coaching career. He worked one season at nearby Saint Thomas High School before returning home to Rice (where he was a member of Brown College). A Houston native, Hallmark was a two-time all-dis-trict honoree in baseball in 1991 and 1992 at Westbury High School. He went on to earn all-conference honors at Alvin Community College in 1993 and 1994. He was named to the all-Southwest Conference team in 1995. Hallmark is married to the former Jada Sanders of Kingwood, Texas, a 2001 Rice graduate (Sid Richardson) and four-year letterwinner who set school records for the
Owls’ swim team. Jada served five seasons as an assistant swim coach at Rice. Both Hallmarks coached their respec-tive Owl teams to C-USA Championships in the spring of 2011. The couple have three children, Christian (8), Tan-ner (6) and Grayson (4), and are expecting their fourth in 2014.
72 l Rice Baseball l Staff Profiles
Clay Van Hook
Assistant Coach Third Season At Rice19 Clay Van Hook is in his third year with the Owls’ coaching staff. Van Hook served as Rice’s volunteer assistant coach during his first year with the program in 2012. He was promoted by Wayne Graham to a full-time position pri-or to the start of the 2013 season and has since added recruiting and coaching at third base on game days to his growing list of duties.
One thing that has not changed is that Van Hook will continue to work with the Owls as hitters, fielders and base-runners. Last season Rice led Conference USA and was among the top 40 teams in the nation in hits, averag-ing 9.6 per game. His daily work helping the hitters sharp-en their overall skills was a reason the Owls were able to lead the conference and finish third in the nation in sac-rifice bunts. Improved discipline at the plate also helped the squad stay atop the league in drawing walks (273 in 64 games). On the defensive side Rice finished second in the conference in fielding percentage (.974) and turned the sixth-most double plays in Division I. In 2013 one of Van Hook’s infielders, senior Christian Stringer, was named the most valuable player of the Con-ference USA Tournament where the Blue & Gray stormed to the league title. After working with Van Hook, Stringer went on to be selected in the major leagu draft and since has begun his pro career. Van Hook’s second Rice season was even better than his first where the Owl hitters finished among the C-USA leaders in doubles (106 in 60 games) and RBI (303). His fielders maintained a .975 percentage and turned a total of 46 double-plays. Prior to Rice Van Hook worked at McNeese State for
three years. He trained the infielders, helped with the team’s hitting, and served as the Cowboys’ third base coach. He had a role in recruiting and helped MSU post its first winning record in four years in his very first season in 2010. A native of Brenham, Tex., Clay played one season at Navarro College before becoming a three-year letterman at the University of Texas (2005-07). He earned second team all-Big 12 and was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the major league draft. Van Hook earned his degree at Texas in 2008 while serving one season as a student-coach with the Longhorns. Van Hook and his wife, Selina, live in Pearland, Tex. The couple have a daughter, Avery Michel, born on De-cember 30, 2012.
Fast Facts On Clay Van HookEducationHigh School: Brenham, 2003.College: Texas, 2008, B.S., Youth & Community Studies.PersonalFull Name: Clay Briscoe Van Hook. Born: January 18, 1985. Wife: Selina. Daughter: Avery Michel, born on Dec. 30, 2012
Rice Baseball l Staff Profiles l 73
Scott Shepperd
Volunteer Coach Second Season At Rice18 Scott Shepperd is in his second season wih the Owls coach-ing staff after joing the program as a volunteer in 2013. In addi-tion to a host of on-field coaching duties, he serves as the admin-istrator of the Owls’ popular Youth Baseball Camps. Shepherd previously served five seasons as a coach at his alma mater, Concordia University in Austin, where he was a four-year baseball letterman. At Concordia his main responsibility was as the team’s hitting coach. He also worked with the infield-ers and catchers and was the summer camp coordinator.
Shepperd was a member of Concordia’s American South-west Conference West Division Coaching Staff of the Year, as the Tornados were also ranked as high as fourth nationally during the season and finished with a school-record 37 victories (in the program’s NCAA Division III era). All of the regular starting infielders and catcher that Sheppard mentored garnered all-conference postseason honors while leading the Tornados to their second-straight ASC Tournament crown and NCAA West Regional appearance. All in all, Shepperd has mentored one D3Baseball.com All-American, one All-West Region selection, two ASC West Division Players of the Year, one ASC West Division Freshman of the Year, four All-ASC First Team selection and seven student-athletes who have been honorably mentioned for All-ASC laurels. Prior to coaching to Concordia, Shepperd served as an as-sistant at Sam Houston State University under head coach Mark Johnson during the 2007-08 academic year. In this position, he helped with the training and development of the infielders, catchers and hitters while also assisting with the playing surface of Don Sanders Stadium. With Shepperd on the staff the Bearkats squad won the Southland Conference Championship and made a second straight NCAA Division I Tournament appearance. Shepperd started his coaching career at Concordia as a vol-unteer assistant coach. He served as the first base coach, recruit-ing coordinator and assistant hitting coach for the 2007 season. He also gained coaching experience as an assistant on the An-
chorage Bucs staff in the Alaskan League during the summers of 2007 and 2008. Before beginning his coaching career, Shepperd lettered with the Tornados for four years (2003-06) as a catcher and was also a player-coach during his junior and senior seasons. He helped the squad advance to the ASC Tournament every year during his playing career. The Tornados posted a 103-62 record and were co-West Division regular-season champions in 2004. Shepperd, an Austin native, comes from a coaching fam-ily. His grandfather, Cliff Gustafson, was the former winningest coach in Division I baseball history, registering a 1,427-373-2 ledger over 29 seasons (1968-96) at the University of Texas, and is a member of the National Collegiate Baseball Hall of Fame. Shepperd earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Concordia in 2007 and is nearing the completion of a master’s de-gree in education. He is married to the former Vanessa Van Hook of Brenham, Texas. The couple is expecting their first child in 2014.
Fast Facts On Scott ShepperdEducationHigh School: Austin Bowie, 2002.College: Concordia, 2007, B.S., Kinesiology.PersonalFull Name: Scott Shepperd. Born: August 27, 1984. Wife: Vanessa.
74 l Rice Baseball l Staff Profiles
Donna Papangellin
Athletic Trainer SeventhYear At Rice
Donna Papangellin, ATC, CSCS, is in her seventh year as the baseball athletic trainer at Rice University.
A native of the San Francisco peninsula, Papangellin earned her bachelor’s degree in physical education and a certificate in athletic training from Long Beach State and then became certi-fied as an athletic trainer through the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Papangellin is also a certified strength and condi-tioning specialist, having earned the distinction through the Na-tional Strength and Conditioning Association in 1997. Papangellin began her athletic training career as the head athletic trainer at Los Angeles Harbor College, before moving to Fresno, Calif., where she became the athletic training coordina-tor for the Sports Medicine Center at Saint Agnes Medical Center. While working at Saint Agnes, Papangellin was offered the op-portunity to serve as the athletic trainer for the Fresno Suns, a
minor league baseball team that was co-opted to several major league organizations, as well as the Hanshin Tigers of the Japa-nese league. From the Fresno Suns, Papangellin moved on to the Texas Rangers organization, starting in class A with the Charlotte Rang-ers of the Florida State League, and then moving up to AA Tulsa of the Texas League. After a stint in the Arizona Fall League in 1994, she joined the San Francisco Giants organization, where she rapidly progressed to the AAA level and eventually was named the Minor League Rehabilitation Coordinator. After seven seasons with the Giants, she left the organization, and baseball, to stay closer to family. During her years in professional baseball, Papangellin had the honor of working the 1993 Texas League All-Star game. She was named the 1999 Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers’ So-ciety (PBATS) Texas League Trainer of the Year. Pappangellin was the 1999 PBATS Minor League Trainer of the Year. She is married to Doug Henderson, and has two step-daughters, Jessica & Laura. Donna and Doug are the proud grandparents of Maya, Liberty, Maiden and Colby.
Rice Baseball l Staff Profiles l 75
John Sullivan
Sports Information 13th Year At Rice
Julie Griswold
Academics Counselor 28th Year At Rice
Daniel Watson
Director of Operations 2nd Year at Rice 2010 Rice Grad. (Will Rice)
Jared Broadman
Student Manager First Year At Rice (Lovett)
Michael Kidd
Steudent Manager First Year At Rice (Lovett)
Rice Baseball l 2013 Review l 77
2013 Rice Results l Date Opponent W/L Score R-H-E R-H-E Inns Overall C-USA Rice Pitcher Attend Time Feb 15 Stanford W 5-1 5-7-1 1-7-2 9 1-0-0 Kubitza (W 1-0) 4317 2:21 Feb 16 Stanford L 2-3 2-7-0 3-7-0 9 1-1-0 Stephens (L 0-1) 3879 2:37 Feb 17 Stanford W 3-0 3-7-2 0-1-1 9 2-1-0 Simms (W 1-0) 4041 2:19 Feb 19 Dallas Baptist L 4-6 4-8-1 6-8-1 9 2-2-0 Ditman (L 0-1) 2887 2:57 Feb 22 at Hawaii W 2-0 2-8-1 0-11-0 (17) 3-2-0 Simms (W 2-0) 3071 4:48 Feb 23 at Hawaii W 3-1 3-11-1 1-4-1 9 4-2-0 Stephens (W 1-1) 2827 2:13 Feb 24 at Hawaii W 7-5 7-13-0 5-6-0 9 5-2-0 McDowell (W 1-0) 3067 2:42 Feb 25 at Hawaii W 5-0 5-10-0 0-7-1 9 6-2-0 Simms (W 3-0) 2593 2:19# Mar 1 vs North Carolina L 1-2 1-9-1 2-8-2 9 6-3-0 Lemond (L 0-1) 3868 2:48# Mar 2 vs Texas A&M L 3-8 3-4-2 8-11-0 9 6-4-0 Stephens (L 1-2) 6136 2:23# Mar 3 vs Baylor L 2-9 2-6-2 9-12-0 9 6-5-0 Simms (L 3-1) 3771 2:31 Mar 4 California W 1-0 1-12-1 0-5-2 9 7-5-0 McDowell (W 2-0) 2182 2:15 Mar 6 Sam Houston State L 0-3 0-7-1 3-7-1 9 7-6-0 Mason (L 0-1) 3054 2:57 Mar 8 at FIU W 7-2 7-8-2 2-9-2 9 8-6-0 Kubitza (W 2-0) 480 3:16 Mar 9 at FIU W 6-5 6-8-0 5-10-2 (10) 9-6-0 Lemond (W 1-1) 436 3:12 Mar 10 at FIU L 7-11 7-16-2 11-13-1 9 9-7-0 McDowell (L 2-1) 412 2:46 Mar 12 Louisiana Tech W 4-2 4-10-0 2-5-2 9 10-7-0 Simms (W 4-1) 3122 2:03 Mar 13 Louisiana Tech W 7-5 7-9-1 5-9-1 9 11-7-0 Fox (W 1-0) 3175 2:24 Mar 15 Harvard W 5-2 5-8-2 2-6-2 9 12-7-0 Kubitza (W 3-0) 3338 2:58 Mar 16 Harvard W 9-2 9-13-0 2-8-1 9 13-7-0 Stephens (W 2-2) 3475 2:42 Mar 17 Harvard W 12-0 12-11-1 0-1-3 9 14-7-0 McCanna (W 1-0) 3184 2:00 Mar 19 Stephen F. Austin W 3-2 3-9-0 2-6-1 (10) 15-7-0 Lemond (W 2-1) 3097 2:52 Mar 20 UTSA W 11-5 11-16-0 5-9-2 9 16-7-0 McDowell (W 3-1) 3052 3:15* Mar 22 at Southern Miss L 1-10 1-8-2 10-11-0 9 16-8-0 0-1-0 Kubitza (L 3-1) 2987 2:53* Mar 23 at Southern Miss W 3-0 3-8-0 0-4-0 9 17-8-0 1-1-0 Stephens (W 3-2) 2889 2:26* Mar 24 at Southern Miss W 6-3 6-11-2 3-7-2 9 18-8-0 2-1-0 Fox (W 2-0) 2925 2:41 Mar 26 at Sam Houston State L 3-9 3-10-2 9-15-2 9 18-9-0 McDowell (L 3-2) 1112 2:42* Mar 28 Tulane W 4-2 4-10-0 2-6-0 9 19-9-0 3-1-0 Kubitza (W 4-1) 2923 2:41* Mar 29 Tulane W 6-3 6-11-1 3-9-0 9 20-9-0 4-1-0 Stephens (W 4-2) 3174 2:52* Mar 30 Tulane L 6-7 6-6-1 7-8-1 9 20-10-0 4-2-0 Simms (L 4-2) 3825 3:05 Apr 1 Texas State W 4-3 4-13-0 3-7-2 (12) 21-10-0 Fox (W 3-0) 3013 3:35* Apr 5 at East Carolina W 3-0 3-8-0 0-5-1 9 22-10-0 5-2-0 Lemond (W 3-1) 2442 2:27* Apr 6 at East Carolina L 2-3 2-5-0 3-12-3 (13) 22-11-0 5-3-0 Simms (L 4-3) 3420 3:37
* Apr 7 at East Carolina W 8-7 8-13-2 7-10-1 9 23-11-0 6-3-0 Lemond (W 4-1) 2189 2:31 Apr 9 at Lamar W 9-8 9-5-2 8-11-4 9 24-11-0 McCanna (W 2-0) 875 2:51* Apr 12 UCF L 1-5 1-8-2 5-11-0 9 24-12-0 6-4-0 Kubitza (L 4-2) 3868 2:53* Apr 13 UCF L 7-11 7-12-3 11-11-1 (12) 24-13-0 6-5-0 McCanna (L 2-1) 3387 4:00* Apr 14 UCF W 7-6 7-8-1 6-10-0 9 25-13-0 7-5-0 Fox (W 4-0) 2988 2:39 Apr 16 Texas Tech W 11-2 11-13-2 2-2-2 9 26-13-0 Kubitza (W 5-2) 3208 2:56* Apr 19 at Houston L 7-8 7-9-2 8-10-1 9 26-14-0 7-6-0 Stephens (L 4-3) 1315 3:28* Apr 20 at Houston W 4-0 4-4-2 0-3-0 9 27-14-0 8-6-0 Kubitza (W 6-2) 1730 2:43* Apr 21 at Houston W 11-1 11-12-0 1-6-1 7 28-14-0 9-6-0 Simms (W 5-3) 1663 2:30 May 1 Lamar W 6-1 6-11-2 1-5-0 9 29-14-0 Fox (W 5-0) 3585 2:34* May 3 at UAB L 9-10 9-14-3 10-7-1 9 29-15-0 9-7-0 Kubitza (L 6-3) 103 2:51* May 4 at UAB W 5-4 5-13-1 4-7-1 9 30-15-0 10-7-0 Stephens (W 5-3) 444 2:59* May 5 at UAB W 7-3 7-14-1 3-7-0 9 31-15-0 11-7-0 Fox (W 6-0) 454 3:00 May 8 at Louisiana Tech W 15-2 15-21-0 2-8-0 9 32-15-0 McCanna (W 3-1) 904 2:28* May 10 Memphis L 3-6 3-5-3 6-10-0 9 32-16-0 11-8-0 Kubitza (L 6-4) 3016 2:57* May 11 Memphis L 1-3 1-6-2 3-6-1 9 32-17-0 11-9-0 Stephens (L 5-4) 2947 2:18* May 12 Memphis W 1-0 1-8-1 0-6-0 9 33-17-0 12-9-0 Simms (W 6-3) 3119 2:30 May 14 at Texas State W 5-4 5-10-0 4-9-6 9 34-17-0 McDowell (W 4-2) 1404 2:59* May 16 Marshall W 4-2 4-6-0 2-7-1 9 35-17-0 13-9-0 Kubitza (W 7-4) 3629 2:40* May 17 Marshall W 13-0 13-12-0 0-5-0 9 36-17-0 14-9-0 Stephens (W 6-4) 3216 3:09* May 18 Marshall W 6-0 6-11-0 0-5-0 9 37-17-0 15-9-0 Simms (W 7-3) 3342 2:46% May 22 UAB W 3-1 3-7-0 1-3-2 9 38-17-0 Kubitza (W 8-4) 3482 2:38% May 23 UCF W 5-1 5-7-2 1-2-1 9 39-17-0 Stephens (W 7-4) 3471 2:33% May 25 Memphis W 10-1 10-14-2 1-4-0 9 40-17-0 Simms (W 8-3) 4160 3:05% May 26 Southern Miss W 5-4 5-7-3 4-7-0 (11) 41-17-0 Lemond (W 5-1) 2057 3:26^ May 31 vs San Francisco W 3-2 3-9-0 2-6-0 (11) 42-17-0 Lemond (W 6-1) 1003 3:40^ Jun 1 at Oregon W 1-0 1-8-0 0-2-0 9 43-17-0 Stephens (W 8-4) 2591 2:42^ Jun 2 at Oregon L 0-11 0-3-2 11-15-1 9 43-18-0 Simms (L 8-4) 1465 2:38^ Jun 3 at Oregon W 11-4 11-15-0 4-9-1 9 44-18-0 Lemond (W 7-1) 2719 3:42$ Jun 8 at NC State L 3-4 3-12-1 4-6-0 9 44-19-0 Lemond (L 7-2) 3051 3:09$ Jun 9 at NC State L 4-5 4-11-3 5-16-0 (17) 44-20-0 Simms (L 8-4) 3051 5:10
(# - denotes Astros In Action College Classic Tournament at Minute Maid Park; * - Conference USA league game; % - C-USA Tournament, played at Reckling Park; ^ - NCAA Regional played at Eugene, Ore.; $ - NCAA Super Regional played at Raleigh, NC;
x- regular season co-championsy- tournament champions
Official NCAA R.P.I.The final 2013 NCAA Ratings Power Index
25. Rice .564
67. Houston .535
83. East Carolina .527
96. Memphis .523
108. Southern Miss .518
126. Tulane .509
142. UCF .504
170. UAB .487
228. Marshall .475
Rice Baseball l 2013 Review l 81
2013 Conference USA League AwardsKeith LeClair Coach of the YearDaron Schoenrock, Memphis
Player of the YearChris Taladay, Sr., 3B, UCF
Pitcher of the YearErik Schoenrock, Jr., LHP, Memphis
Newcomer of the YearFrankie Ratcliff, Jr., SS, Houston
Freshman of the YearJustin Montemayor, Fr., 1B, UH
C-USA First TeamIF John Frost, Sr. UABIF Chase McDonald, Jr., ECUIF Issac Rodriguez, Sr., USMIF Chris Taladay, Sr., UCFOF Isaac Ballou, Sr., MarshallOF Erik Hempe, Sr., UCFOF Michael Ratterree, Sr., RiceC Chase Fowler., Sr., Southern MissDH/UT Drew Reynolds, Jr., ECUP Aaron Blair., Jr., MarshallP Sam Moll, Jr., MemphisP Andrew Pierce, Sr., Southern MissP Erik Schoenrock, Jr., MemphisRP Zech Lemond, So., Rice
C-USA Second Team IF Zach Houchins, Jr., East CarolinaIF Justin Montemayor, Fr., HoustonIF Frankie Ratcliff, Jr., HoustonIF Ford Stainback, So., RiceOF Keenan Cook, Jr., RiceOF Mason Robbins, So., USMOF Kyle Survance, Fr., HoustonC Geoff Perrott, Sr., RiceDH/UT Michael Aquino, Jr., RiceP Jeff Hoffman, So., East CarolinaP Ben Lively, Jr., UCFP David Lucroy, Fr., East CarolinaP Austin Pruitt, Sr., HoustonRP Jonathan Van Eaton, Jr., Mem.
All-Freshman TeamC Travis Watkins, East CarolinaOF Richard Carthon, TulaneOF Jake Little, MemphisOF Kyle Survance, HoustonIF Justin Montemayor, HoustonIF Josh Vidales, HoustonIF/P Blake Fox, RiceP Zac Favre, UCFP Ian Gibaut, TulaneP Jake Lemoine, HoustonP David Lucroy, East Carolina
All-Tournament TeamC Keaton Aldridge, MemphisIF Shane Hoelscher, RiceIF Zach Houchins, East CarolinaIF Justin Montemayor, HoustonIF Christian Stringer, RiceOF Blake Brown, Southern MissOF Leon Byrd, RiceOF Dillon Day, Southern MissDH Drew Reynolds, East CarolinaP Jake Drehoff, Southern MissP Austin Kubitza, RiceP John Simms, RiceP Jordan Stephens, Rice
Overall Conf.Year W-L Pct. W-L-T Pct. Coach1991 16-34 .320 6-15 (7) .286 David Hall1992 29-26 .527 15-21 (5) .416 Wayne Graham1993 36-18 .667 7-11 (5) .389 Wayne Graham1994 34-21 .618 12-6 (2) .667 Wayne Graham1995 43-19 .694 15-9 (2) .625 Wayne Graham1996 42-23 .646 6-15 (T6) .286 Wayne Graham1997 47-16 .746 20-9 (1) .690 Wayne Graham1998 46-17 .730 26-4 (1) .867 Wayne Graham1999 59-15 .797 25-5 (1) .833 Wayne Graham2000 43-23 .652 19-11 (T1) .633 Wayne Graham2001 47-20 .701 26-10 (1) .722 Wayne Graham2002 52-14 .788 28-2 (1) .933 Wayne Graham2003 58-12 .829 25-5 (1) .833 Wayne Graham2004 46-14 .767 24-6 (1) .800 Wayne Graham2005 45-19 .703 21-9 (1) .700 Wayne Graham2006 57-13 .814 22-2 (1) .919 Wayne Graham2007 56-14 .800 22-2 (1) .919 Wayne Graham2008 47-15 .758 21-3 (1) .875 Wayne Graham2009 43-18 .705 16-8 (2) .667 Wayne Graham2010 40-23 .635 17-7 (1) .708 Wayne Graham2011 42-21 .667 16-8 (T1) .667 Wayne Graham2012 41-19 .683 17-7 (1) .708 Wayne Graham2013 44-20 .688 15-9 (T1) .625 Wayne Graham
*Charley Schwartz was coach for the last half of the 1928 season; Gene Bailey was the coach for the first game in 1930 (0-1);**Only three league teams in 1943 (Rice, Texas, Texas A&M); Rice competed in the Southwest Conference during the 1914-96 seasons, in the Western Athletic Conference in 1997-2005, and Conference USA starting in the spring of 2006.***Special thanks to Bob Willard for his detailed research of this list.
84 l Rice Baseball l History
Rice Coaching Records Overall Conf.
Coach W-L Pct. W-L Pct.
Philip Arbuckle (1913-17) 28-45-2 .387 9-26-1 .264
Harold Stockbridge (1949-52) 29-38 .433 10-33 .233
Dell Morgan (1953-61) 77-113-1 .406 52-76 .406
Joe Gallagher (1962) 10-12 .455 4-9 .308
Doug Osburn (1963-80) 270-322 .456 122-215 .362
David Hall (1981-91) 338-267 .559 85-145 .370
Wayne Graham (1992-current) 997-400 .714 415-169 .711
NOTE: Documented additions or corrections to this list are welcomed.
Rice Baseball l History l 85
Photo of a head coach who is “Out-standing In His Field!” Consider that Wayne Graham has won more games in 22 years at Rice than the entire Owl baseball program won in the three-quarters of a century before he arrived .
Single Game Team SuperlativesLargest Margin of Victory31: Rice 35, McNeese State 4 (Feb. 14, 1997)28: Rice 37, Cincinnati 9 (Feb. 21, 1997)26: Rice 27, UW-Milwaukee 1 (May 29, 1999, at Lubbock)25: Rice 26, Texas Southern 1 (Feb. 18, 1992)
Largest Margin of Defeat28: Oklahoma State 31, Rice 3 (March 17, 1986, at Stillwater, Okla.)
At Bats76 at Texas (May 15-16, 1981, at Austin)
Runs Scored37 vs. Cincinnati (Feb. 21, 1997)35 vs. McNeese State (Feb. 14, 1997)28 at New Mexico (April 11, 1998)27 vs. Stephen F. Austin State (Feb. 21, 1993)27 vs. UW-Milwaukee (May 29, 1999, at Lubbock)26 vs. Texas Southern (Feb. 18, 1992)26 at Houston (March 19, 1994, Cougar Field)26 at New Mexico (April 12, 1998)26 at Marshall (May 18, 2006, at Charleston, W.V.)26 vs. California (March 13, 2010)25 vs. Texas Tech (March 22, 1985, at Lubbock)
25 vs. Oklahoma State (Feb. 22, 1997)25 vs. Southwest Missouri State (May 25, 1997, at Lubbock)
Runs Scored In an Inning13 at Stephen F. Austin State (Feb. 8, 1995)
Hits34 vs. Cincinnati (Feb. 21, 1997)33 vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee (May 29, 1999, at Lubbock; NCAA Tournament record)31 vs. McNeese State (Feb. 14, 1997)28 at New Mexico (April 11, 1998)27 vs. Memphis (April 15, 2006)26 at TCU (April 19, 1983)25 at Houston (March, 19, 1994, at Cougar Field)25 at Houston (May 10, 1996, at Cougar Field)25 vs. SW Missouri State (May 25, 1997, at Lubbock)25 at Utah (April 18, 1998, at Salt Lake City, Utah)24 vs. Texas Southern (Feb. 18, 1992)24 at UNLV (March 15, 1997)24 vs. San Jose State (March 29, 2003)24 vs. California (March 13, 2010)
Doubles11 at Memphis (April 15, 2006)
Rice Baseball l Team Records l 93
Triples5 vs. McNeese State (Feb. 14, 1997)4 at Lamar (April 23, 1996)
Home Runs10 at New Mexico (April 11, 1998)9 vs. Cincinnati (Feb. 21, 1997)7 at Texas Tech (April 26, 1983)7 vs. Massachusetts (March 9, 1996)7 vs. McNeese State (Feb. 14, 1997)7 vs. Nevada (March 26, 2005)
Stolen Bases8 vs. Texas Tech (May 12, 1994, at Austin)
Bases On Balls21 vs. Texas Southern (Feb. 22, 1995, at MacGregor Park)
Most Sacrifices5 vs. Lamar (April 20, 1982, at Cameron Field)
Most Left on Base18 vs. Texas (March 31, 1953, at Rice Field)18 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (April 5, 2011, at Reckling Park)17 vs. Tulane (Feb. 16, 1996, at Cameron Field)17 vs. Texas State (Apr. 1, 2013, at Reckling Park)
Most Assists24 at Hawaii (Feb. 22, 2013, at Reckling Park)22 vs. California (March 12, 2011 at San Francisco)21 vs. Lamar (April 20, 1982)21 vs. Louisiana (June 4, 2010, at Austin)20 vs. Texas (May 18, 1996, at Lubbock)20 vs. Long Beach State (Feb. 16, 2007)20 vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Mar. 11, 2007)20 vs. Houston (April 3, 2010)20 at Lamar (Apr. 9, 2013, at Reckling Park)
Most Errors10 vs. UNLV (March 15, 1997, at Las Vegas, Nev.)7, several times; latest vs. Incarnate Word (Mar. 23, 1993)
Most Rice Batters Hit by Pitch5 at Sam Houston State (April 3, 1996)5 vs. Brigham Young (May 14, 1997, at San Diego, Calif.)5 vs. Nevada (March 27, 2005)5 vs. Cal. State Fullerton (Mar. 3, 2006)5 at Texas A&M (Apr. 4, 2006)5 vs. UAB (Apr. 8, 2006)5 vs. Marshall (May 18, 2006)5 at Marshall (Mar. 22, 2008, at Charleston, W.Va.)
Most Opp. Batters Hit By Pitch10 vs. Washington (May 22, 1998, at College Station)
94 l Rice Baseball l Annual Leaders
Yearly Individual Statistical LeadersBatting Average1974 — Ted Nowak, .3011975 — Mike Macha, .3251976 — Mike Macha, .3331977 — Robert deLeeuw, .3141978 — Bob Burnell, .3311979 — Bob Burnell, .3211980 — Chris Russ, .2791981 — Frank Dishongh, .3211982 — Scott Johnson, .3261983 — Jay Bluthardt, .3461984 — Scott Johnson, .3421985 — Curtis Fox, .3851986 — Jay Knoblauh, .3401987 — Jay Knoblauh, .3721988 — Jay Knoblauh, .3431989 — Michael Grace, .3531990 — Jamie Cook, .3151991 — John Eierman, .3401992 — Donald Aslaksen, .3401993 — Dana Davis, .3641994 — Jose Cruz Jr., .4011995 — Mark Quinn, .3801996 — Lance Berkman, .398
1997 — Lance Berkman, .4311998 — Damon Thames, .4241999 — Will Ford, .3982000 — Eric Arnold, .3472001 — Austin Davis, .3462002 — Vincent Sinisi, .4282003 — Enrique Cruz, .3522004 — Chris Kolkhorst, .3712005 — Joe Savery, .3822006 — Brian Friday, .3532007 — Joe Savery, .3562008 — Diego Seastrunk, .3532009 — Anthony Rendon, .3882010 — Anthony Rendon, .3942011 — Anthony Rendon, .327 Michael Ratterree, .3272012 — Christian Stringer, .3432013 — Shane Hoelscher, 320
Hits1974 — Ted Nowak, 371975 — Mike Macha, 371976 — Mike Macha, 401977 — Robert deLeeuw, 44
1978 — Bob Burnell, 531979 — Bob Burnell, 501980 — Dave Edwards, 431981 — Frank Dishongh, 571982 — Scott Johnson, 611983 — Jay Bluthardt, Scott Johnson 661984 — Scott Johnson, 691985 — Curtis Fox, Carl Mikeska, 571986 — Jay Knoblauh, 801987 — Jay Knoblauh, 671988 — Jay Knoblauh, 691989 — Michael Grace, 661990 — Chris Feris, 651991 — John Eierman, 661992 — Donald Allen, 541993 — Jose Cruz Jr., 671994 — Jose Cruz Jr., 731995 — Mark Quinn, 951996 — Lance Berkman, 961997 — Lance Berkman, 1101998 — Damon Thames, 1201999 — Damon Thames, 1182000 — Eric Arnold, 912001 — A.J. Porfirio, 97
2002 — Vincent Sinisi, 1162003 — Vincent Sinisi, 972004 — Chris Kolkhorst, 822005 — Josh Rodriguez, 822006 — Greg Buchanan 1022007 — Joe Savery, 982008 — Diego Seastrunk, 912009 — Anthony Rendon, 942010 — Anthony Rendon, 892011 — Michael Ratterree, 852012 — Christian Stringer, 812013 — Ford Stainback, 81
Runs1974 — Ted Nowak, 371975 — Mike Macha, 301976 — Mike Macha, 261977 — Bob Burnell, 281978 — Bob Burnell, 251979 — Bob Burnell, 361980 — Dave Edwards, 251981 — Mike McGee, 411982 — Scott Johnson, 431983 — Jay Bluthardt, Scott Johnson, 43
1984 — Scott Johnson, .611985 — Jay Knoblauh, 411986 — Jay Knoblauh, 581987 — Jay Knoblauh, 481988 — Jay Knoblauh, 561989 — Michael Grace, 341990 — John Eierman, 371991 — Donald Allen, 441992 — Donald Allen, 471993 — Donald Aslaksen, 551994 — Jose Cruz Jr., 721995 — Jose Cruz Jr., 771996 — Jeff Venghaus, 771997 — Lance Berkman, 1091998 — Damon Thames, 881999 — Damon Thames, 862000 — Brett Smith, 572001 — A.J. Porfirio, 772002 — Vincent Sinisi, 652003 — Chris Kolkhorst, 772004 — Chris Kolkhorst, 592005 — Tyler Henley, 702006 — Tyler Henley, 742007 — Brian Friday, 62
Rice Baseball l Annual Leaders l 95
2008 — Aaron Luna, 612009 — Brock Holt, 672010 — Anthony Rendon, 832011 — Anthony Rendon, 582012 — Christian Stringer, 582013 — Christian Stringer, 50
Doubles1974 — Six players with 41975 — Mike Macha, 81976 — Mike Macha, 71977 — Robert deLeeuw, 101978 — Jimmy Michalek, 81979 — Bob Burnell, 111980 — Chris Russ, Dale Walters, 71981 — Frank Dishongh, Mike Horn, 111982 — Dave Edwards, 161983 — Jay Bluthardt, 131984 — Mike Fox, 141985 — Carl Mikeska, 131986 — Paul Dishman, Chris Tucker, 131987 — Jay Knoblauh, 171988 — Jay Knoblauh, 191989 — Michael Grace, 151990 — Chris Feris, 131991 — John Eierman, 161992 — Harry Duffey, 11
1993 — Don Aslaksen, David Brooks, 161994 — Jose Cruz Jr., 141995 — Lance Berkman, 261996 — J.Landry, T.McLaughlin, 191997 — Lance Berkman, 221998 — Damon Thames, 361999 — W.Ford, D.Thames, J.Baker, 242000 — Eric Arnold, 212001 — Hunter Brown, 252002 — Vincent Sinisi, 222003 — Austin Davis, 242004 — Adam Rodgers, 212005 — Adam Rodgers, 212006 — Tyler Henley, 262007 — Brian Friday, 292008 — Diego Seastrunk, 19 Aaron Luna, 192009 — Rick Hague, 172010 — Rick Hague, 20 Jeremy Rathjen, 202011 — Anthony Rendon, 20 Michael Ratterree, 202012 — Jeremy Rathjen, 142013 — Christian Stringer, 15
Triples1974 — Joe Zylka, 41975 — Mark Clark, 41976 — Mike Macha, 41977 — B. Burnell, S. Buckley, S. Hinson, 11978 — Robert deLeeuw, 61979 — Steve Grossman, 41980 — Dave Edwards, Dale Walters, 21981 — C.Russ, D.Edwards, C.Welch, 21982 — Scott Johnson, 61983 — Dave Edwards, 41984 — Carl Mikeska, 2 Bobby Eggleston, 21985 — Jeff Tousa, 41986 — Eric Graff, 51987 — Jay Knoblauh, 3 Tim Vannaman, 31988 — Jay Knoblauh, 51989 — John Eierman, 21990 — John Eierman, 41991 — Jason Ogden, 51992 — Donald Aslaksen, 31993 — Jim Miller, 41994 — Chris Boni, 51995 — Chris Boni, 71996 — Bubba Crosby, 6
1997 — Bubba Crosby, 111998 — Damon Thames, 71999 — Charles Williams, 92000 — Eric Arnold, 32001 — Jesse Roman, 42002 — Eric Arnold, 42003 — Chris Kolkhorst, 42004 — Chris Kolkhorst, 52005 — Tyler Henley, 42006 — Tyler Henley, 72007 — Jared Gayhart, 52008 — Jared Gayhart, 42009 — Steven Sultzbaugh, 62010 — Michael Fuda, 62011 — Ryan Lewis, 3 J.T. Chargois, 32012 — Michael Fuda, 3 Christian Stringer, 32013 — Michael Aquino, 4 Christian Stringer, 4
Home Runs1974 — Mike Macha, 91975 — Mike Macha, 81976 — Mike Macha, 51977 — Bob Burnell, Jeff Hays, 61978 — Bob Burnell, 5
1979 — Bob Burnell, 91980 — Mike Horn, 71981 — Mike Horn, Dave Edwards, 31982 — Mike Horn, 101983 — Scott Johnson, 81984 — Scott Johnson, 71985 — Mike Fox, 91986 — Jay Knoblauh, 131987 — Jay Knoblauh, 131988 — Tim Vannaman, 141989 — Michael Grace, 51990 — Jason Ogden, 71991 — Chris Feris, 51992 — Donald Aslaksen, 51993 — Jose Cruz Jr., 131994 — Jose Cruz Jr., 141995 — Mark Quinn, 181996 — Lance Berkman, 201997 — Lance Berkman, 411998 — Damon Thames, 261999 — Jason Gray, 202000 — Eric Arnold, 152001 — Eric Arnold, 152002 — Enrique Cruz, 162003 — Enrique Cruz, Vincent Sinisi 102004 — Lance Pendleton, 112005 — Josh Rodriguez, 11
96 l Rice Baseball l Annual Leaders
2006 — Aaron Luna, 162007 — Aaron Luna, 132008 — Adam Zornes, 122009 — Anthony Rendon, 202010 — Anthony Rendon, 262011 — Anthony Rendon, 6 Michael Ratterree, 62012 — Jeremy Rathjen, 92013 — Michael Aquino, 9 Michael Ratterree, 9
Runs Batted In1974 — Mike Macha, 241975 — Mike Macha, 291976 — M.Macha, R.Lamprecht, 191977 — Robert deLeeuw, Jeff Hays, 211978 — Bob Burnell, 221979 — Bob Burnell, 281980 — Mike Horn, 271981 — Mike Horn, 371982 — Mike Horn, 491983 — Mike Fox, 441984 — Mark Machalec, 491985 — Carl Mikeska, Mike Fox, 391986 — Jay Knoblauh, 521987 — Jay Knoblauh, 55
1988 — Jay Knoblauh, 551989 — Michael Grace, 341990 — John Eierman, 311991 — John Eierman, 371992 — Donald Aslaksen, 341993 — Jose Cruz Jr., 591994 — Jose Cruz Jr., 681995 — Mark Quinn, 891996 — Lance Berkman, 921997 — Lance Berkman, 1341998 — Damon Thames, 1151999 — Will Ford, 742000 — Eric Arnold, 592001 — Jesse Roman, 672002 — Vincent Sinisi, 802003 — Austin Davis, 632004 — Paul Janish, Adam Rodgers, 602005 — Josh Rodriguez, 542006 — Joe Savery, 662007 — Aaron Luna, 662008 — Diego Seastrunk, 612009 — Anthony Rendon, 722010 — Anthony Rendon, 852011 — Michael Ratterree, 532012 — Michael Fuda, 452013 — Michael Aquino, 43
Earned Run Average1974 — Larry Reneau, 2.301975 — Steve Buckley, 4.051976 — Allan Ramirez, 1.901977 — Allan Ramirez, 2.481978 — Allan Ramirez, 2.651979 — Allan Ramirez, 3.101980 — Matt Williams, 3.191981 — Matt Williams, 2.251982 — Norm Charlton, 2.491983 — David Hinnrichs, 2.581984 — Norm Charlton, 2.241985 — Ed Holub, 2.471986 — Steve Blackshear, 2.061987 — Todd Ogden, 5.071988 — John Polasek, 4.231989 — Rob Howard, 3.751990 — John Polasek, 3.281991 — Darrell Richardson, 5.201992 — Jim Miller, 2.421993 — James Madrid, 3.501994 — Tim Byrdak, 2.141995 — Matt Anderson, 2.511996 — Dana Davis, 3.981997 — Matt Anderson, 2.051998 — Mario Ramos, 3.39
1999 — Kenny Baugh, 2.262000 — Kenny Baugh, 2.222001 — Kenny Baugh, 2.172002 — Justin Crowder, 2.002003 — Jeff Niemann, 1.702004 — Wade Townsend, 1.802005 — Joe Savery, 2.432006 — Cole St. Clair, 1.822007 — Matt Langwell, 2.352008 — Chris Kelley, 3.032009 — Mike Ojala, 2.172010 — Jared Rogers, 3.832011 — Austin Kubitza, 2.342012 — John Simms, 2.562013 — Zech Lemond, 2.02
Wins1974 — Mike Pettit, 91975 — Tommy Smart, 5 James Emmons, 51976 — Allan Ramirez, 91977 — Allan Ramirez, 81978 — Allan Ramirez, Doug Watson, 41979 — Allan Ramirez, 61980 — Matt Williams, 61981 — Rick Kelley, 9
1982 — Pat Devine, 61983 — David Hinnrichs, 101984 — Norm Charlton, 111985 — Ed Holub, 51986 — Steve Blackshear, 7 Todd Ogden, 71987 — Todd Ogden, 81988 — John Polasek, 81989 — Rob Howard, 71990 — John Polasek, 111991 — Darrell Richardson, 61992 — Darrell Richardson, 101993 — Darrell Richardson, 101994 — Chad Feris, 81995 — Matt Anderson, 111996 — Matt Anderson, 91997 — Matt Anderson, Jeff Nichols, 101998 — Mario Ramos, Jeff Nichols, 121999 — Jeff Nichols, 152000 — Kenny Baugh, Jon Skaggs, 122001 — Kenny Baugh, 132002 — Steven Herce, 132003 — Jeff Niemann, 172004 — Philip Humber, 132005 — Josh Geer, 122006 — Eddie Degerman, 13
Rice Baseball l Annual Leaders l 97
2007 — Ryan Berry, Joe Savery, 112008 — Cole St.Clair, 102009 — Ryan Berry, Taylor Wall, 72010 — Jared Rogers, 82011 — Abe Gonzales, Tyler Duffey, 82012 — Matthew Reckling, 82013 — A.Kubitza, John Simms, 8 Jordan Stephens, 8
Strikeouts1974 — Mike Pettit, 841975 — Tommy Smart, Larry Reneau, 271976 — Allan Ramirez, 1341977 — Allan Ramirez, 971978 — Allan Ramirez, 931979 — Allan Ramirez, 941980 — Matt Williams, 571981 — Matt Williams, 1221982 — Norm Charlton, 461983 — Tim Englund, 681984 — Tim Englund, 821985 — Ed Holub, 361986 — Steve Blackshear, 911987 — Ken Sorenson, 531988 — John Pope, 791989 — Rob Howard, 78
1990 — John Polasek, 811991 — Darrell Richardson, 871992 — Darrell Richardson, 1271993 — Darrell Richardson, 1031994 — Chad Feris, 701995 — Matt Anderson, 631996 — Shawn Onley, 951997 — Matt Anderson, 1051998 — Jeff Nichols, 1171999 — Mario Ramos, 1462000 — Marc Gwyn, 1322001 — Kenny Baugh, 1632002 — Phillip Humber, 1302003 — Wade Townsend, 1642004 — Philip Humber, 1542005 — Joe Savery, 1292006 — Eddie Degerman, 1722007 — Ryan Berry, 1252008 — Ryan Berry, 862009 — Taylor Wall, 772010 — Taylor Wall, 612011 — Austin Kubitza, 1022012 — Matthew Reckling, 992013 — Austin Kubitza, 134
Innings Pitched1974 — Mike Pettit, 93.11975 — Tommy Smart, 61.01976 — Allan Ramirez, 90.01977 — Allan Ramirez, 87.01978 — Allan Ramirez, 78.01979 — Allan Ramirez, 87.01980 — Matt Williams, 79.01981 — Matt Williams, 123.11982 — Norm Charlton, 68.21983 — David Hinnrichs, 115.11984 — Norm Charlton, 112.21985 — Ed Holub, 80.01986 — Steve Blackshear, 104.21987 — Ken Sorenson, 87.21988 — John Polasek, 104.11989 — Mike Cooper, 100.21990 — John Polasek, 120.21991 — Darrell Richardson, 88.11992 — Darrell Richardson, 129.11993 — Darrell Richardson, 88.01994 — Bo Johnson, 85.11995 — Dana Davis, 76.01996 — Shawn Onley, 100.01997 — Jeff Nichols, 111.11998 — Jeff Nichols, 119.2
1999 — Mario Ramos, 154.22000 — Kenny Baugh, 141.22001 — Kenny Baugh, 141.12002 — Justin Crowder, 121.12003 — Jeff Niemann, 137.12004 — Wade Townsend, 120.12005 — Josh Geer, 124.22006 — Eddie Degerman, 130.22007 — Ryan Berry, 122.22008 — Ryan Berry, 104.02009 — Taylor Wall, 94.12010 — Jared Rogers, 87.02011 — Austin Kubitza, 100.02012 — Matthew Reckling, 87.22013 — Jordan Stephens, 118.2
98 l Rice Baseball l Individual Records
Individual Superlatives
Games PlayedCareer246, Michael Ratterree, (2010-13)241, Austin Davis (2001-2004)240, Diego Seastrunk (2007-10)234, Eric Arnold (1999-2002)224, Michael Fuda, (2008-12)219, Donald Allen (1989-92)210, Mark Machalec (1981-84)209, Craig Manuel, (2009-12)205, Jay Knoblauh (1985-88)203, Tyler Henley (2005-2007)203, Joe Savery (2005-2007)203, Jordan Dodson (2005-2008)
Season74, Jacob Baker (1999)74, Jason Gray (1999)74, Brett Smith (1999)74, Damon Thames (1999)74, Charles Williams (1999)70, Will Ford (1999)70, Craig Stansberry (2003)70, Vincent Sinisi (2003)70, Brian Friday (2006)70, Greg Buchanan (2006)70, Josh Rodriguez (2006)70, Tyler Henley (2006)70, Joe Savery (2007)
Batting AverageCareer (400 Career At-Bats).399, Damon Thames (1998-99).385, Lance Berkman (1995-97).382, Vincent Sinisi (2002-03).376, Jose Cruz Jr. (1993-95).371, Anthony Rendon (2009-11).356, Joe Savery (2005-2007).355, Bubba Crosby (1996-98).355, Chris Kolkhorst (2002-2004).353, Mark Quinn (1994-95).347, Jacob Baker (1996-99)
Season (2.5 At-Bats Per Team Game).431, Lance Berkman (1997).428, Vincent Sinisi (2002).424, Damon Thames (1998).419, Jim Fox (1962).401, Jose Cruz Jr. (1994).3983, Lance Berkman (1996).3977, Will Ford (1999).3938, Anthony Rendon (2010).3937, Bubba Crosby (1998).388, Anthony Rendon (2009)
At BatsCareer924, Austin Davis (2001-2004)899, Michael Ratterree (2010-2013)891, Eric Arnold (1999-2002)877, Diego Seastrunk (2007-10)822, Michael Fuda, (2008-12)792, Tyler Henley (2005-2007)750, Chris Kolkhorst (2002-2004)748, Donald Allen (1989-92)746, Rick Hague (2008-10)742, Jacob Baker (1996-99)
Season317, Charles Williams (1999)313, Damon Thames (1999)295, Greg Buchanan (2006)294, Jason Gray (1999)294, Jacob Baker (1999)287, Vincent Sinisi (2003)283, Damon Thames (1998)281, A.J. Porfirio (2001)280, Brian Friday (2007)278, Brett Smith (1999)
Game9, several vs. Texas (May 15-16, 1981)
HitsCareer309, Austin Davis (2001-2004)291, Eric Arnold (1999-2002)287, Diego Seastrunk (2007-10)285, Lance Berkman (1995-97)266, Chris Kolkhorst (2002-2004)261, Joe Savery (2005-2007)259, Michael Fuda, (2008-12)256, Jacob Baker (1996-99)253, Anthony Rendon (2009-11)252, Will Ford (1996-99)
Season120, Damon Thames (1998)118, Damon Thames (1999)116, Charles Williams (1999)116, Vincent Sinisi (2002)110, Lance Berkman (1997)105, Will Ford (1999)102, Greg Buchanan (2006)98, Joe Savery (2007)97, A.J. Porfirio (2001)97, Vincent Sinisi (2003)
Game6, Bubba Crosby vs. McNeese State (Feb. 14, 1997)6, Lance Berkman vs. Cincinnati (Feb. 21, 1997)6, Will Ford vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee (May 29, 1999,
at Lubbock)6, Paul Janish vs. Nevada (Apr. 3, 2004, at Reno)5 by many; latest by Ford Stainback at FIU
(March 10, 2013)
Consecutive Games Hitting Streak30, Bubba Crosby (1998)29, Charles Williams (1998-99)29, Damon Thames (1998-99)
Rice Baseball l Individual Records l 99
Runs ScoredCareer233, Lance Berkman (1995-97)223, Jason Richards (1996-98)223, Austin Davis (2001-2004)203, Jay Knoblauh (1985-88)203, Tyler Henley (2005-2007)201, Anthony Rendon (2009-11)200, Bubba Crosby (1996-98)199, Jose Cruz Jr. (1993-95)198, Chris Kolkhorst (2002-2004)193, Michael Ratterree (2010-2013)
Season109, Lance Berkman (1997)88, Damon Thames (1998)86, Damon Thames (1999)83, Anthony Rendon (2010)82, Charles Williams (1999)81, Joseph Cathey (1997)77, Jose Cruz Jr. (1995)77, Jeff Venghaus (1996)77, A.J. Porfirio (2001)77, Chris Kolkhorst (2003)
Game6, Joseph Cathey vs. McNeese State
(Feb. 14, 1997)6, Lance Berkman vs. McNeese State
(Feb. 14, 1997)6, Jason Richards vs. Cincinnati (Feb.
21, 1997)6, Aaron Luna vs. Marshall (May 18,
2006)5, by many; latest by Rick Hague at
Houston (May 27, 2010)
Runs Batted InCareer272, Lance Berkman (1995-97)243, Bubba Crosby (1996-98)217, Eric Arnold (1999-2002)203, Jose Cruz Jr. (1993-95)200, Diego Seastrunk (2007-10)194, Anthony Rendon (2009-11)190, Michael Ratterree (2010-2013)187, Damon Thames (1998-99)185, Jay Knoblauh (1985-88)179, Will Ford (1996-99)
Season134, Lance Berkman (1997)115, Damon Thames (1998)92, Lance Berkman (1996)91, Bubba Crosby (1998)89, Mark Quinn (1995)88, Bubba Crosby (1997)85, Anthony Rendon (2010)81, Jacques Landry (1996)80, Vincent Sinisi (2002)76, Jose Cruz Jr. (1995)
Game10, Jose Cruz Jr. vs. Southwest Texas St. (Feb. 9, 1995)9, Mike Fox at Texas Tech (March 22, 1985)8, Eric Graff vs. Lamar (April 9, 1985)8, Bubba Crosby vs. McNeese State (Feb. 14, 1997)8, Lance Berkman vs. Cincinnati (Feb. 21, 1997)8, Lance Berkman vs. Northwestern St. (Feb. 23, 1997)8, Damon Thames vs. TCU (April 3, 1998)8, Bubba Crosby at New Mexico (April 11, 1998)8, Vincent Sinisi vs. Southwest Texas St. (March 3, 2002)8, Anthony Rendon vs. California (March 13, 2010)
DoublesCareer65, Austin Davis (2001-2004)64, Eric Arnold (1999-2002)64, Lance Berkman (1995-97)62, Diego Seastrunk (2007-2010)60, Damon Thames (1998-99)56, Joe Savery (2005-2007)56, Rick Hague (2008-2010)55, Brian Friday (2005-2007)52, Michael Ratterree (2010-2013)51, Jay Knoblauh (1985-88)
Season36, Damon Thames (1998)29, Brian Friday (2007)26, Lance Berkman (1995)26, Tyler Henley (2006)25, Hunter Brown (2001)24, Jacob Baker (1999)24, Will Ford (1999)24, Damon Thames (1999)24, Austin Davis (2003)22, Lance Berkman (1997)22, Charles Williams (1999)22, Vincent Sinisi (2002)
100 l Rice Baseball l Individual Records
TriplesCareer20, Bubba Crosby (1996-98)15, Jay Knoblauh (1985-88)15, Chris Boni (1992-95)15, Charles Williams (1997-99)15, Tyler Henley (2005-2007)13, Damon Thames (1998-99)11, Lance Berkman (1995-97)11, Will Ford (1996-99)11, Michael Fuda, (2008-12)10, John Eierman (1989-91)10, Chris Kolkhorst (2002-2004)10, Josh Rodriguez (2004-2006)10, Chad Mozingo (2008-2010)
Season11, Bubba Crosby (1997)9, Charles Williams (1999)8, Jason Gray (1999)7, Chris Boni (1995)7, Damon Thames (1998)7, Matt Fox (1999)7, Tyler Henley (2006)6, Robert deLeeuw (1978)6, Scott Johnson (1983)6, Patrick Hallmark (1995)
6, Bubba Crosby (1996)6, Will Ford (1997)6, Damon Thames (1999)6, Steven Sultzbaugh (2009)6, Michael Fuda (2010)
Home RunsCareer67, Lance Berkman (1995-97)59, Bubba Crosby (1996-98)52, Anthony Rendon (2009-10)43, Jose Cruz Jr. (1993-95)42, Eric Arnold (1999-2002)39, Jay Knoblauh, (1985-88)39, Aaron Luna (2006-2008)37, Damon Thames (1998-99)33, Jacques Landry (1995-96)32, Enrique Cruz (2001-03)32, Rick Hague (2008-10)
Season41, Lance Berkman (1997)26, Damon Thames (1998)26, Anthony Rendon (2010)25, Bubba Crosby (1998)22, Bubba Crosby (1997)20, Lance Berkman (1996)20, Jason Gray (1999)20, Anthony Rendon (2009)19, Jacques Landry (1996)18, Mark Quinn (1995)
Game4, Lance Berkman vs. Massachusetts (March 9, 1996)4, Bubba Crosby at New Mexico (April 11, 1998)3, Carl Reynolds vs. Baylor (March 22, 1956)3, Eric Graff at TCU (March 27, 1987)3, Jose Cruz Jr. vs. Southwest Texas St. (Feb. 9, 1995)3, Damon Thames at New Mexico (April 11, 1998)3, Anthony Rendon vs. Rider (June 5, 2010 at Austin)
Doubleheader6, Lance Berkman vs. Massachusetts (March 9, 1996, at Cameron Field)
Most Home Runs in Back-To-Back Games6, Lance Berkman vs. Massachusetts (2/4, March 9, 1996)6, Bubba Crosby at New Mexico (2/4, April 10-11, 1998)5, Jose Cruz Jr. vs. S.F. Austin State, Southwest Texas State (2/3, Feb. 8-9, 1995)
Consecutive Games With At Least One Home Run7, Bubba Crosby (April 7-17, 1998)5, Lance Berkman (Feb. 8-14, 1997)5, Lance Berkman (Feb. 21-28, 1997)
Home Runs in Consecutive At-Bats4, Jose Cruz Jr. vs. Stephen F. Austin, Southwest Texas State (1/3, Feb. 8-9, 1995)4, Lance Berkman vs. Massachusetts (March 9, 1996)
Inning2, Jacques Landry vs. Texas (May 18, 1996, at Lubbock)2, Eric Arnold vs. TCU (April 1, 2000)Lance Berkman, 1995-1997
Rice Baseball l Individual Records l 101
Total BasesCareer572, Lance Berkman (1995-97)499, Bubba Crosby (1996-98)499, Eric Arnold (1999-2002)463, Anthony Rendon (2009-11)461, Austin Davis (2001-2004)449, Jay Knoblauh (1985-88)435, Damon Thames (1998-99)428, Diego Seastrunk (2007-2010)406, Rick Hague (2008-2010)404, Jacob Baker (1996-99)
Season263, Lance Berkman (1997)248, Damon Thames (1998)192, Bubba Crosby (1997)187, Damon Thames (1999)184, Jason Gray (1999)183, Bubba Crosby (1998)181, Anthony Rendon (2010)180, Lance Berkman (1996)177, Mark Quinn (1995)177, Charles Williams (1999)
Game18, Bubba Crosby at New Mexico (April 11, 1998)17, Bubba Crosby vs. McNeese State (Feb. 14, 1997)16, Eric Graff at TCU (March 27, 1987)16, Lance Berkman vs. Massachusetts (Mar. 9, 1996)14, Mike Macha at Texas Tech (March 21, 1975)
Slugging PercentageCareer (Min. 400 AB).772, Lance Berkman (1995-97).737, Bubba Crosby (1996-98).730, Damon Thames (1998-99).679, Anthony Rendon (2009-11).676, Jose Cruz Jr. (1993-95).617, Mark Quinn (1994-95).612, Jacques Landry (1995-96).609, Jay Knoblauh (1985-88).572, Vincent Sinisi (2002-03).570, Aaron Luna (2006-2008).560, Eric Arnold (1999-2002)
Season (2.5 at-bats per team game)1.031, Lance Berkman (1997).876, Damon Thames (1998).828, Bubba Crosby (1998).801, Anthony Rendon (2010).747, Lance Berkman (1996).744, Bubba Crosby (1997).742, Jose Cruz Jr. (1994).717, Jay Knoblauh (1987).708, Mark Quinn (1995).702, Anthony Rendon (2009)
Bases On BallsCareer186, Jose Cruz Jr. (1993-95)182, Jason Richards (1996-98)176, Anthony Rendon (2009-11)
Season80, Anthony Rendon (2011)76, Jose Cruz Jr. (1995)65, Jason Richards (1997)65, Anthony Rendon (2010)64, Jose Cruz Jr. (1994)60, Jason Richards (1996)59, Lance Berkman (1997)57, Lance Berkman (1996)57, Jason Richards (1998)57, Brett Smith (1999)
Game5, Jose Cruz Jr. vs. Texas Southern
(Feb. 22, 1995, at MacGregor Park)
Bubba Crosby, 1996-1998
102 l Rice Baseball l Individual Records
PutoutsGame23, Geoff Perrott at Hawaii (Feb. 22, 2013)22, Harold Stockbridge vs. SMU (April 30, 1948)
Passed BallsGame3, Jamie Cook at Arkansas (March 9, 1991)
Game4, Jose Cruz Jr., vs. Texas Tech (May 12, 1994, at Austin)
Most Times On BaseGame (Nine-Inn.)7, Jose Cruz Jr. vs. Texas Southern (Feb. 22, 1995, at MacGregor Park)7, Bubba Crosby vs. McNeese State (Feb. 14, 1997)7, Lance Berkman vs. Cincinnati (Feb. 21, 1997)7, Rick Hague vs. California (Mar. 13, 2010)
Most Hit By PitchCareer63, Tyler Henley (2005-2007)52, Aaron Luna (2006-2008)49, Chris Kolkhorst (2002-2004)
Season25, Chris Kolkhorst (2003)25, Aaron Luna (2006)22, Tyler Henley (2007)21, Tyler Henley (2005)20, Tyler Henley (2006)18, Chris Kolkhorst (2004)18, Aaron Luna (2008)16, Paul Doyle (1995)16, Lance Pendleton (2005)
Stolen BasesCareer86, Donald Allen (1989-92)84, Ben Mathews (1985-88)68, Jay Knoblauh (1985-88)56, Scott Johnson (1981-84)55, Chris Boni (1992-95)54, Jose Cruz Jr. (1993-95)46, David Brooks (1993-95)45, Jeff Venghaus (1994-96)41, Jason Ogden (1990-92)38, Brian Friday (2005-2007)
Season33, Ben Mathews (1988)31, Ben Mathews (1986)29, Jose Cruz Jr. (1994)28, Scott Johnson (1984)25, Jay Knoblauh (1986)24, Donald Allen (1992)23, Donald Allen (1990)23, Chris Boni (1994)20, Jay Knoblauh (1988)20, Donald Allen (1991)20, Jason Ogden (1992)
Rice Baseball l Individual Records l 103
PitchingAppearancesCareer109, Cole St. Clair (2005-2008)92, Marc Gwyn (1997-2000)92, Tyler Duffey, (2010-12)91, Jesse Kurtz-Nicholl (1996-99)88, Jeff Nichols (1997-01)83, Matt Anderson (1995-97)83, Stephen Bess (1996-99)79, Kenny Baugh (1998-01)78, Taylor Wall, (2009-12)77, Bo Johnson (1991-94)
Season40, David Aardsma (2003)38, Jesse Kurtz-Nicholl (1999)37, Cole St. Clair (2006)36, Tyler Duffey, (2012)34, Tony Cingrani (2011)33, Steve Blackshear (1986)32, Cole St.Clair (2005)32, Bryce Cox (2006)32, Matt Evers (2009)32, Zech Lemond (2013)
Games StartedCareer67, Kenny Baugh (1998-2001)66, Jeff Nichols (1997-2001)55, Rob Howard (1988-91)51, Mario Ramos (1997-99)49, Darrell Richardson (1991-93)49, Philip Humber (2002-04)48, Allan Ramirez (1976-79)47, Ryan Berry (2007-09)47, Austin Kubitza (2011-13)46, John Polasek (1987-90)46, Joe Savery (2005-07)
Season21, Jeff Nichols (1999)21, Kenny Baugh (2001)20, Mario Ramos (1999)20, Kenny Baugh (2000)20, Ryan Berry (2007)19, Eddie Degerman (2006)18, Rob Howard (1990)18, John Polasek (1990)18, Darrell Richardson (1992)18, Jeff Niemann (2003)18, Philip Humber (2003)18, Joe Savery (2007)
WinsCareer42, Jeff Nichols (1997-01)41, Kenny Baugh (1998-01)35, Philip Humber (2002-2004)34, Mario Ramos (1997-99)30, Matt Anderson (1995-97)28, Jeff Niemann (2002-2004)27, Allan Ramirez (1976-79)27, John Polasek (1987-90)26, Darrell Richardson (1991-93)26, Ryan Berry (2007-2009)
Season17, Jeff Niemann (2003)15, Jeff Nichols (1999)13, Mario Ramos (1999)13, Kenny Baugh (2001)13, Steven Herce (2002)13, Philip Humber (2004)13, Eddie Degerman (2006)12, Jeff Nichols (1998)12, Mario Ramos (1998)12, Kenny Baugh (1999)12, Kenny Baugh (2000)12, Jon Skaggs (2000)12, Wade Townsend (2004)12, Josh Geer (2005)
Consecutive18, Jeff Niemann (2002-03)17, Philip Humber (2002-03)
Earned Run AverageCareer (100 IP)2.00, Justin Crowder (2002)2.05, Ray Hooten (1966-67)2.05, Wade Townsend (2002-04)2.18, Zech Lemond (2012-13)2.25, Norm Charlton (1982-84)2.33, Austin Kubitza (2011-13)2.33, Ronnie Henson (1966-67)2.35, Bobby Bramhall (2005-07)2.36, David Pavlas (1981-84)2.41, Jeff Niemann (2002-04)
Season (1 IP per team game)0.98, Mike Pettit (1972)1.36, Ray Hooten (1966)1.37, Donnie Brogna (1969)1.52, Scott Wise (1970)1.70, Jeff Niemann (2003)1.76, Mickey Holder (1967)1.80, John Wolda (1956)1.81, Bill Palmer (1966)1.82, Cole St. Clair (2006)1.90, Allan Ramirez (1976)1.99, Ronnie Henson (1967)Jeff Niemann, 2002-2004
104 l Rice Baseball l Individual Records
Innings PitchedCareer460.0, Kenny Baugh (1998-2001)427.1, Jeff Nichols (1997-2001)377.0, Mario Ramos (1997-99)353.2, Philip Humber (2002-2004)342.0, Allan Ramirez (1976-79)338.1, Rob Howard (1988-91)332.1, Matt Williams (1978-81)330.1, John Polasek (1987-90)322.1, Marc Gwyn (1997-2000)308.1, Ryan Berry (2008-09)
Season154.0, Mario Ramos (1999)141.2, Kenny Baugh (2000)141.1, Kenny Baugh (2001)137.2, Jeff Nichols (1999)137.1, Jeff Niemann (2003)130.2, Eddie Degerman (2006)129.1, Darrell Richardson (1992)128.0, Philip Humber (2003)124.2, Josh Geer (2005)123.1, Matt Williams (1981)
Game15.0, Bobby Leggett vs. Texas (Mar.
31, 1953, at Rice)14.0, Matt Williams at Texas (May
15-16, 1981)
StrikeoutsCareer447, Kenny Baugh (1998-2001)422, Philip Humber (2002-04)418, Allan Ramirez (1976-79)392, Jeff Nichols (1997-01)363, Wade Townsend (2002-04)350, Mario Ramos (1997-99)317, Darrell Richardson (1991-93)317, Marc Gwyn (1997-2000)314, Eddie Degerman (2004-06)309, Austin Kubitza (2011-13)
Season172, Eddie Degerman (2006)164, Wade Townsend (2003)163, Kenny Baugh (2001)156, Jeff Niemann (2003)154, Philip Humber (2004)148, Wade Townsend (2004)146, Mario Ramos (1999)138, Philip Humber (2003)134, Allan Ramirez (1976)134, Austin Kubitza (2013)
Game19, John Hathorn vs. SMU (1919)17, Philip Humber vs. Hawaii (2003)16, John Hathorn vs. Texas A&M
(1918)16, Allan Ramirez vs. Texas (1976)16, Eddie Degerman vs. Fresno State
(2005)
SavesCareer27, Cole St. Clair (2005-08)15, Zech Lemond (2012-13)17, David Aardsma (2002-03)14, Matt Anderson (1995-97)14, Philip Barzilla (2000-01)13, Jesse Kurtz-Nicholl (1996-99)13, Wade Townsend (2002-04)13, Tyler Duffey (2010-12)12, Tony Cingrani (2010-11)10, J.T. Chargois (2010-12)
Season14, Zech Lemond (2013)12, David Aardsma (2003)12, Tony Cingrani (2011)11, Cole St. Clair (2006)10, Philip Barzilla (2001)9, Tim Byrdak (1994)9, Matt Anderson (1997)9, Cole St. Clair (2007)8, Jesse Kurtz-Nicholl (1999)8, J.T. Chargois (2012)
Kenny Baugh, 1998-2001
Rice Baseball l Individual Records l 105
Complete GamesCareer39, Allan Ramirez (1976-79)25, Matt Williams (1978-81)20, Rob Howard (1988-91)17, David Hinnrichs (1983-84)17, Tim Englund (1983-84)17, John Polasek (1987-90)17, Darrell Richardson (1991-93)14, Pat Devine (1979-82)14, Norm Charlton (1982-84)14, Mike Cooper (1988-90)14, Mario Ramos (1997-99)14, Kenny Baugh (1998-2001)
Season13, David Hinnrichs (1983)11, Allan Ramirez (1976)10, Mike Pettit (1972)10, Allan Ramirez (1978)10, Allan Ramirez (1979)10, Matt Williams (1980)10, Norm Charlton (1984)
ShutoutsCareer7, Mike Pettit (1972-74)7, Allan Ramirez (1976-79)4, Matt Williams (1978-81)4, Tim Englund (1983-84)4, Mike Cooper (1988-90)4, Rob Howard (1988-91)3, Rick Kelley (1980-81)3, Pat Devine (1980-82)3, Jim Miller (1991-94)3, Mario Ramos (1997-99)3, Marc Gwyn (1997-2000)3, Kenny Baugh (1998-2001)3, Ryan Berry (2007-09)3, Taylor Wall (2009-12)
Season5, Allan Ramirez (1976)3, Mike Pettit (1972)3, Mike Pettit (1974)3, Pat Devine (1981)3, Tim Englund (1983)3, Rob Howard (1989)3, Mike Cooper (1990)3, Jim Miller (1992)
Rice No-HittersRay Hart vs. SMU, April 18, 1931, 5-0Chester Klaerner vs. Baylor, April 7, 1932, 4-0Chester Klaerner vs. SMU, April, 1932, 4-0Larry Reneau, 1972Allan Ramirez vs. SMU, Feb. 28, 1976 (seven inn.)David Hinnrichs vs. St. Edwards, Feb. 13, 1983Jeff Nichols vs. Hawaii, Mar. 14, 1998
Best of Luck to Mike Ojala and Lee Ann Lassiter on their recent wedding and their future life together.
The Rice Baseball Program
Mike Ojala (Rice 2007-2010) ERA W L App GS IP SO 3.47 18 2 48 34 189.1 207
Chris Tucker, 1985-86-87Steve Turner, 1987-88-89Lee Tynes, 1936-37
UMatt Ueckert, 2003-04Wash Underwood, 1926-27-28
VPaul R. Vahldiek, 1948-49Griff Vance, 1917Velton Lee Vanderford III, 1979Glenn Van Dusen, 1944Tim Vannaman, 1986-87-88Jerry Van Noy, 1998-99-2000Jeff Venghaus, 1994-95-96Tommy Vickers, 1936-37-38Charles A. Vilbig, 1919Ernest Vogt, 1941Edward Vogt, 1942
W“Hans” Wagner, 1951-52Ronnie Waldo, 1964-65-66Henry Donald Walker, 1922-23
Taylor Wall, 2009-10-11-12John Wallace, 1936Donzel Waller, 1936John William Waltrip, Jr., 1920William Alphus Waters, 1921-22-23Doug Watson, 1978-79-81-82Chuck Weese, 1987-88Clinton Welch, 1981-82-83Dustin Wernecke, 2001Gary Wade West, 1960-61-62Claude W. White, 1956-57-58Ronald White, 1967-68-69 (capt.)John William Whitesides, 1916I. Marion Wilford, 1924-25-26G.E. Wilkin, 1944-45John Wilkins, 1963-64Robert S. Willard, 1945-47-48-49Bob Williams, 1936Bobby Williams, 1957Charles Williams, 1997-98-99Julian Williams, 1932Matt Williams, 1978-79-80-81Robert Parks Williams, 1921Matt Williamson, 1993-94Mike Wilson, 1992-93-94-95Steve Wilson, 1975-76-77Scott Wise, 1968-69-70-71
John Wissinger, 1936-38Harry Witt, 1936William W. Witt, 1951-52-53Arthur Wittman, 1930John Wolda, 1954-55-56Joseph Wood, 1939William Wood, 1939Jim Woodruff, 1967George Woods, 1925-26Hugh Woolever, 1987-88-89Clinton H. Wooten, 1913-14-15Russell Wright, 1985Travis Wright, 2009William D. Wright, 1949-50-51Joe Wylie, 1952-53-54
YJames O. Younts, 1932
ZAdam Zornes, 2006-07-08Joe Zylka, 1971-72-73-74
112 l Rice Baseball l Honors & Awards
Honors & Awards
College Baseball Hall of Fame2012 — Wayne Graham, coach
National Player of the Year1997 — Lance Berkman, 1b (NCBWA)1998 — Damon Thames, ss (ABCA)1999 — Mario Ramos, p (CBI pitcher of the year)2002 — Philip Humber, p; Vincent Sinisi, 1b (co-freshmen of the
year)2003 — Jeff Niemann, p (CBI.com)2005 — Joe Savery, p/1b (freshman of the year)2007 — Ryan Berry, p (freshman pitcher of the year)2009 — Anthony Rendon, 3b (freshman of the year)2010 — Anthony Rendon, 3b (ABCA, Baseball America, NCBWA,
Rawlings Sporting Goods)
Howser Trophy2010 — Anthony Rendon, 3B (national collegiate player of the
year)
Rice’s Anthony Rendon - 2010 Howser Trophy Award Recipi-ent as the National Player of the YearWayne Graham, Anthony Rendon, Jana Howser (College Baseball Founda-tion), Dr. Eddy Furniss (1998 Howser Trophy winner).
Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award2008 — Cole St.Clair, p (nation’s outstanding senior student-
athlete)
All-College World Series2003 — Enrique Cruz, 2b; Chris Kolkhorst, of; Jeff Niemann, p2007 — Diego Seastrunk, 3b;
All-America1932 — Chester Klaener, p1961 — Richard Kristinik, if (third team)1973 — Len Shelby, c1987 — Jay Knoblauh, of1993 — Jose Cruz Jr., of1994 — Jose Cruz Jr., of1995 — Jose Cruz Jr., of; Mark Quinn, 3b-dh1996 — Lance Berkman, 1b1997 — Lance Berkman, 1b; Matt Anderson, p; Bubba Crosby,
of (second team); Jeff Nichols, p (freshman); Mario Ramos, p (freshman, second team)
1998 — Damon Thames, ss; Bubba Crosby, of; Mario Ramos, p (third team)
Rice Baseball l Honors & Awards l 113
1999 — Kenny Baugh, p (third team); Will Ford, of (third team); Jesse Kurtz-Nicholl, p (third team); Mario Ramos, p; Damon Thames, ss
2000 — Kenny Baugh, p (second team); Eric Arnold, ss (third team)2001 — Kenny Baugh, p (second team)2002 — Steven Herce, p (third team); Philip Humber, p (second
team; freshman, first team); Vincent Sinisi, 1b (second team; freshman, first team)
2003 — Enrique Cruz, 2b (third team); Philip Humber, p (third team); Jeff Niemann, p (first team); Wade Townsend, p (first team)
2004 — Philip Humber, p (first team); Jeff Niemann, p (honor-able mention); Wade Townsend, p (first team)
2005 — Joe Savery, util. (second team); Josh Rodriguez, 3b (third team); Bobby Bell, p (freshman); Tyler Henley, of (fresh-man); Cole St.Clair, p (freshman);
2006 — Eddie Degerman, p (first team); Brian Friday, ss (first team); Cole St.Clair, p (first team); Josh Rodriguez, 3b (third team); Aaron Luna, of (freshman)
2007 — Joe Savery, p (first team); Ryan Berry, p (second team/freshman); Bobby Bramhall, p (second team); Aaron Luna, of (third team); Ryne Tacker, p (third team); Diego Seastrunk (freshman);
2008 — Cole St.Clair, p (third team); Rick Hague (freshman); Matt Evers (freshman);
2009 — Anthony Rendon, 3b (first team); Ryan Berry, p (first team); Taylor Wall, p (third team freshman);
2010 — Anthony Rendon, 3b (first team); Michael Ratterree, if (freshman)
2011 — Anthony Rendon, dh (second team); Austin Kubitza, p (freshman first team)
2012 — Matthew Reckling, p (second team); J.T. Chargois, util. (third team)
2013 — Austin Kubitza, p (third team); Zech Lemond, rp (third team); Blake Fox, rp (freshman)
CoSIDA Academic All-America1982 — David Edwards, 1b (third team)1983 — David Edwards, 1b (third team)1987 — Ben Matthews, 2b (second team)1988 — Ben Matthews, 2b (second team)1991 — Jason Ogden, of (third team)1999 — Mario Ramos p (third team)2003 — Jeff Blackinton, c (third team); Vincent Sinisi, 1b (third
team); Wade Townsend, p (second team)2004 — Chris Kolkhorst, of (third team); Wade Townsend, p (first
team/academic all-America of the year)2006 — Eddie Degerman, p (first team)2007 — Ryne Tacker, p (second team); Brian Friday, ss (third team);
All-NCAA Regional1995 (South at Baton Rouge, La.) — Jose Cruz Jr., of; Jacques
Landry, 3b; Mark Quinn, dh1996 (Midwest at Wichita, Kan.) — Lance Berkman, 1b; Jason
Richards, 2b; Jeff Venghaus, of; Tim McLaughlin, c1997 (Central at Lubbock) — Lance Berkman, 1b (most
outstanding player); Stephen Bess, p; Bubba Crosby, of; Jason Richards, 2b; Justin Berg, dh
1998 (Central at College Station) — Jason Richards, 2b; Justin Berg, dh
1999 (at Lubbock) — Jacob Baker, 1b; Kenny Baugh, p; Will Ford, of (most outstanding player); Mario Ramos, p; Damon Thames, ss; Charles Williams, of
2002 (at Reckling Park) — Eric Arnold, 2b; Hunter Brown, 3b; Justin Crowder, p; Austin Davis, of; Chris Kolkhorst, of; Vincent Sinisi, 1b (most outstanding player)
2003 (at Reckling Park) — Paul Janish, ss; Chris Kolkhorst, of (most outstanding player); Jeff Niemann, p; Vincent Sinisi, 1b; Craig Stansberry, 3b; Wade Townsend, p
2004 (at Reckling Park) — Adam Hale, of; Travis Reagan, c; Adam Rodgers, 1b
114 l Rice Baseball l Honors & Awards
2005 (at Baton Rouge) — Jordan Dodson, 1b; Josh Geer, p; Lance Pendleton, of; Josh Rodri-guez, ss; Joe Savery, p
2006 (at Reckling Park) — Eddie Degerman, p (most outstanding player); Jordan Dodson, of; Tyler Henley, of; Josh Rodriguez, 3b; Joe Savery, p/1b
2007 (at Reckling Park) — Joe Savery, p (most outstanding player); Tyler Henley, of; Jared Gayhart, of; Danny Lehmann, c, Matt Langwell, p
2008 (at Reckling Park) — Adam Zornes, c; J.P. Padron, 1b; Jimmy Comerota, 2b; Rick Hague, ss, Chad Mozingo, of
2009 (at Reckling Park) — Taylor Wall, p (most outstanding player); Diego Seastrunk, c; Brock Holt, 2b; Anthony Rendon, 3b; Steven Sultzbaugh, of
2010 (at Austin) — Anthony Rendon, 3b (most outstanding player); Michael Fuda, of; Chad Mozingo, of
2011 (at Reckling Park) — Anthony Rendon, DH 2012 (at Reckling Park) — Austin Kubitza, p 2013 (at Eugene, Ore.) — Jordan Stephens,
p (most outstanding player); Leon Byrd, of; Shane Hoelscher, 3b; Ford Stainback, ss; Chris-tian Stringer, 2b;
All-ConferenceSWC1922 — Eddie Dyer, p; Peg Melton, p1923 — Peg Melton, p1925 — George Woods, p1926 — George Woods, p1929 — Frank Austin, ss; Danny Allnoch, c1930 — Dick Dickinson, cf; Ray Hart, p1931 — Ray Hart, p1932 — C.F. Klearner, p; E.R. Jones, 1b; K. Scott, 3b1936 — Henry Hurley, rf1937 — Henry Hurley, rf1941 — Kemper Kaiser, 1b; Fred Barrow, c1943 — Virgil Eikenberg, 2b1944 — Bill Scruggs, 2b; Bill Wilkin, rf; Wood-
row Dryden, c1945 — Ed Murphrey, p; Robert Willard, c; Bill
Scruggs, if (util.); Robert Feldman, of (util.)1946 — Keltys Powell, 1b; Bill Bishop, p1947 — Keltys Powell, 1b1952 — Dave Devine, 1b1956 — John Wolda, p; Jerry Sims, c; Carl
Reynolds, 1b1957 — Jerry Sims, c1958 — Jerry Abernathy, p; Jerry Sims, c; Lyn-
wood Stallings, ss; Claude White, rf1959 — Paul Timme, p; Richard Kristinik, 3b;
Lynwood Stallings, ss
1960 — Richard Kristinik, 3b1961 — Jim Fox, c; Richard Kristinik, 3b1962 — Jim Fox, c1963 — Joel Tigett, 1b1965 — Andy Rooker, cf1966 — Ronnie Waldo, rf1969 — Dick Fuqua, 1b1970 — Billy Costa, ss1972 — Mike Pettit, p; Sheldon Kaufman, ss1974 — Joe Zylka, lf1976 — Mike Macha, 3b; Allan Ramirez, p1981 — Matt Williams, p1982 — Scott Johnson, of1983 — Scott Johnson, of; Tim Englund, p;
Clinton Welch, ss1984 — Scott Johnson, of; Tim Englund, p;
Derek Hoelscher, p; Norm Charlton, p1985 — Mike Fox, c1986 — Steve Blackshear, p1987 — Jay Knoblauh, of; Ben Matthews, 2b1988 — Jay Knoblauh, of1989 — Mike Grace, util., Rob Howard, p1991 — John Eierman, of1992 — Donald Allen, 2b; Darrell Richardson, p1993 — Jose Cruz Jr., of; James Madrid, p; John
Rodgers, c1994 — Donald Aslaksen, of; Tim Byrdak, p;
Jose Cruz Jr., of; Mark Quinn, 3b
1995 — Matt Anderson, p (freshman of the year); Chris Boni, 2b; David Brooks, ss; Jose Cruz Jr., of; Patrick Hallmark, c; Mark Quinn, dh; also: Lance Berkman, of (newcomer of the year)
1996 — Lance Berkman, 1b; Jacques Landry, 3b; Shawn Onley, p; Bubba Crosby, of
WAC1997 — Lance Berkman, 1b (player of the year);
Matt Anderson, p; Bubba Crosby, of; Joseph Cathey, ss (second team)
1998 — Damon Thames, ss (player of the year); Bubba Crosby, of; Jacob Baker, 1b (second team); Jeff Nichols, p (second team)
1999 — Justin Berg, dh; Jesse Kurtz-Nicholl, p; Mario Ramos, p; Damon Thames, ss; Charles Williams, of
2000 — Mitch Ackal, of (second team); Eric Ar-nold, ss; Kenny Baugh, p (pitcher of the year); John Lukin, c; Jesse Roman, dh; Brett Smith, 2b (second team)
2001 — Philip Barzilla, p (second team); Kenny Baugh, p (pitcher of the year); Hunter Brown, 3b; Austin Davis, of; A.J. Porfirio, of; Jon Skaggs, p
2002 — Eric Arnold, 2b (second team); Hunter Brown, 3b; Dane Bubela, dh (second team);
Rice Baseball l Honors & Awards l 115
Austin Davis, of; Steven Herce, p; Philip Humber, p; Paul Janish, ss; Chris Kolkhorst, of; A.J. Porfirio, of (second team); Justin Ruchti, c (second team); Vincent Sinisi, 1b (player of the year); Wade Townsend, p (second team)
2003 — Dane Bubela, of; Enrique Cruz, 2b; Austin Davis, of; Philip Humber, p; Paul Janish, ss (second team); Jeff Jorgensen, of; Chris Kolkhorst, of; Jeff Niemann, p (pitcher of the year); Justin Ruchti, c (second team); Vincent Sinisi, 1b; Wade Townsend, p
2004 — Philip Humber, p; Paul Janish, ss; Chris Kolkhorst, of; Lance Pendleton, of (second team); Adam Rodgers, c (second team); Josh Rodriguez, 2b (freshman of the year); Wade Townsend, p
2005 — Eddie Degerman, p (second team); Ty-ler Henley, of; Adam Rodgers, dh; Joe Savery, 1b & p (player of the year)
C-USA2006 — Eddie Degerman, p (first team); Brian
Friday, ss (first team); Cole St.Clair, p (first team); Bobby Bell, p (second team); Craig Crow, p (second team); Aaron Luna, of (sec-ond team/freshman); Josh Rodriguez, 3b (sec-ond team); Joe Savery, p/1b (second team)
2007 — Joe Savery, inf/p (first team/second
team, player of the year); Ryne Tacker, p (first team, pitcher of the year); Ryan Berry, p (first team, freshman of the year); Brian Friday, ss (first team); Jared Gayhart, of (second team); Aaron Luna, utl (second team); Diego Seast-runk (freshman);
2008 — Diego Seastrunk, if (first team); Ryan Berry, p (first team); Jared Gayhart, of (second team); Aaron Luna, of (second team); Adam Zornes, c (second team); Chris Kelley, p (sec-ond team); Cole St.Clair (second team); Matt Evers, p (freshman); Rick Hague, ss (freshman);
2009 — Anthony Rendon, inf (first team/freshman team, player of the year/freshman of the year); Ryan Berry, p (first team); Rick Hague, ss (second team); Chad Mozingo, of (second team); Mike Ojala, p (second team); Jordan Rogers, p (second team); Taylor Wall, p (freshman);
2010 — Anthony Rendon, if (first team/player of the year); Jimmy Comerota, if (second team); Rick Hague, if (second team); Jeremy Rathjen, of (second team); Diego Seastrunk, c (second team); Mike Ojala, p (second team); Taylor Wall, p (second team); Michael Ratter-ree, if (freshman)
2011 — Austin Kubitza, p (first team/fresh-man of the year); Michael Ratterree, if (first
team) Anthony Rendon, dh (first team); Shane Hoelscher, if (freshman); Austin Kubitza, p (freshman); John Simms, p (freshman);
2012 — Matthew Reckling, p (first team/pitcher of the year); Christian Stringer, if (first team); Jeremy Rathjen, of (first team); J.T. Chargois, dh/util. (first team); Ford Stainback, if (freshman); Jordan Stephens, p (freshman);
2013 — Michael Ratterree, of (first team); Zech Lemond, p (first team); Michael Aquino, dh (second team); Keenan Cook, of (second team); Geoff Perrott, c (second team); Ford Stainback, if (second team); Blake Fox, p/util. (freshman);
All-Tournament TeamsSWC1981 (at Austin) — Mark Machalec, of1983 (at Austin) — Clinton Welch; ss; Bryan
Foxx, 2b; Jay Bluthardt, of1984 (at Austin) — Curtis Fox, 1b; Tim Englund, p1994 (at Austin) — Jose Cruz Jr., of; Matt Wil-
liamson, 2b1996 (at Lubbock) — Jacques Landry, 3b (most
valuable player); Lance Berkman, 1b; Jason Richards, 2b; Jeff Venghaus, of; Tim McLaugh-lin, c; Dana Davis, p
WAC1997 (at San Diego, Calif.) — Lance Berkman,
1b; Matt Anderson, p (most valuable player); Joseph Cathey, ss; Will Ford, of; Jeff Nichols, p
1998 (at San Diego, Calif.) — Jason Richards, 2b (most valuable player); Bubba Crosby, of; Charles Williams, of; Damon Thames, ss
1999 (at Fresno, Calif.) — Jacob Baker, 1b; Jesse Kurtz-Nicholl, p; Mario Ramos, p; Charles Williams, of
C-USA2006 (at Reckling Park) — Joe Savery, p/1b
(most valuable player); Bobby Bell, p; Greg Bu-chanan, inf; Bryce Cox, p; Jordan Dodson, of
2007 (at Greenville, N.C.) — Aaron Luna, dh (most valuable player); Joe Savery, inf ; Matt Langwell, p; Danny Lehmann, c
2009 (at Hattiesburg, Miss) — Anthony Ren-don, inf (most valuable player); Rick Hague, inf; Steven Sultzbaugh, of; Ryan Berry, p; Taylor Wall, p;
2010 (at Cougar Field) — Michael Fuda, of; Rick Hague, inf; Anthony Rendon, inf; Jared Rogers, p; Chad Mozingo, of; Steven Sultzbaugh, of;
116 l Rice Baseball l Honors & Awards
2003 — David Aardsma, p; Jeff Blackinton, c; Enrique Cruz, 2b; Vincent Sinisi, 1b; Wade Townsend, p
2004 — Chris Kolkhorst, of; Wade Townsend, p2006 — Eddie Degerman, p; Craig Crow, p; Brian
Friday, ss; Tyler Henley, of; Joe Savery, p/1b2007 — Ryne Tacker, p; Brian Friday, ss; Danny
Lehmann, c;2008 — Chris Kelley, p; Cole St.Clair, p; Jimmy
Comerota, 2b;2010 — Jeremy Rathjen, of; Jimmy Comerota, 1b;2011 — Michael Ratterree, 2b;2012 — Jeremy Rathjen, of;
Rice Athletic Hall of Fame1970 — Tony Bell ’19 (1970); Eddie Dyer ’22;
Wash “Little Heavy” Underwood ‘271972 — Leslie Coleman ’23; Frank Carswell ‘411973 — Peg Melton ‘241974 — Chester Klaerner ’33; Tally Eaton ‘361978 — Cecil Grigg, Austin College ’17, coach1982 — Jerry Sims '581983 — Grandpa Wood ‘271984 — Richard Kristinik ‘611985 — Jim Fox ‘621989 — Allan Ramirez ‘791990 — Norm Charlton ‘86
1999 — Jay Knoblauh ‘882003 — Jose Cruz Jr. ‘962005 — Lance Berkman ‘982007 — Mark Quinn ‘952009 — Damon Thames ‘992011 — Kenny Baugh ‘012013 — Rice Baseball National Champions ‘03
Dell Morgan MVP Award1973 — Len Shelby, c1974 — Ted Nowak, of1975 — Mike Macha, 3b1976 — Allan Ramirez, p1977 — Jeff Hayes, of1978 — Allan Ramirez, p1979 — Bob Burnell, of1980 — Matt Williams, p1981 — Matt Williams, p; Rick Kelley, p1982 — Scott Johnson, of1983 — Dave Edwards, 3b1984 — Tim Englund, p; Norm Charlton, p1985 — Carl Mikeska, if1986 — Steve Blackshear, p1987 — Jay Knoblauh, of1988 — Tim Vannaman, of1989 — Mike Grace, p1990 — John Polasek, p
2011 (at Pearl, Miss.) — Tyler Duffey, p (most valuable player); Craig Manuel, c; Ryan Lewis, of
2013 (at Reckling Park) — Christian Stringer, if (most valuable player); Leon Byrd, of; Shane Hoelscher, if; Austin Kubitza, p; John Simms, p; Jordan Stephens, p;
C-USA Spirit of Service 2009 — Jimmy Comerota, 2b2012 — Andrew Murphy, c
CoSIDA Academic All-District VI1983 — David Edwards, 1b1987 — Ben Matthews, 2b1988 — Ben Matthews, 2b1990 — Steve Ramharter, 1b-p1991 — Jason Ogden, of1992 — Jason Ogden, of1992 — Antonio DiGesualdo, if1993 — Chris Boni, 2b1994 — Chris Boni, 2b1999 — Mario Ramos, p2000 — John Lukin, c; Brett Smith, 2b2002 — Hunter Brown, 3b; Steven Herce, p; A.J.
Porfirio, of
1991 — John Eierman, of1992 — Donald Allen, 2b1993 — John Rodgers, c1994 — Jose Cruz Jr., of1995 — Mark Quinn, p-dh1996 — Lance Berkman, 1b1997 — Matt Anderson, p; Lance Berkman, 1b1998 — Damon Thames, ss1999 — Mario Ramos, p2000 — Kenny Baugh, p2001 — Kenny Baugh, p2002 — Vincent Sinisi, 1b2003 — Justin Ruchti, c2004 — Wade Townsend, p2005 — Joe Savery, p/1b2006 — Eddie Degerman, p2007 — Joe Savery, p/1b2008 — Adam Zornes, c2009 — Ryan Berry, p2010 — Anthony Rendon, 3b2011 — Austin Kubitza, p2012 — J.T. Chargois, p/util.2013 — Zech Lemond, p
Rice Athletics Dept.Freshman of the Year 2009 — Anthony Rendon, 3b
Rice Baseball l The 2003 National Championship l 117
Rice’s Immortals! When Wayne Graham was introduced as Rice’s head baseball coach in May of 1991, one of his first pronouncements concerned the Owls’ ability to win a national championship. “I know it’s possible,” he said at the time, choosing to ignore the fact that Rice had never even won a conference championship, let alone even participated in the NCAA playoffs, since the program had its beginings in 1913. Over the next 11 seasons, a succession of conference championships and postseason ap-pearances had raised expectations of the faith-ful. Three times in those years had Graham led his team to the College World Series, and only one win in seven games in Omaha had failed to dampen his optimism for that championship. The 2003 season would prove to be differ-ent. With players such as starting pitcher Philip Humber, Vincent Sinisi at first base, shortstop Paul Janish, outfielders Chris Kolkhorst and Austin Davis and catchers Justin Ruchti and Jeff Blackinton returning from a College World
The 2003 College World Series Champions
118 l Rice Baseball l The 2003 National Championship
Series appearance in 2002, Rice was primed for another run at Omaha. It wasn’t a perfect team, but you couldn’t tell that over the first weeks of the 2003 season. After three wins to begin the sea-son, the Owls dropped a one-run decision to Alabama at Minute Maid Park. From that point until April 9, almost two months, the Owls didn’t lose. The 30-game winning streak saw victories over seven ranked opponents and a 12-0 start in Western Athletic Confer-ence play. The streak saw the emergence of Wade Townsend as a big-game pitcher after his wins over Nebraska, Baylor, Texas A&M and his domination of Houston in the Series for the Silver Glove. Defensively, the Owls emerged as the best in the coun-try with the glove. They had errorless streaks of 85.2 and 73.1 innings during the season and played errorless ball in 33 of 70 games. Rice won the WAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs for the seventh consecutive season by taking the championship by 4½ games over Nevada. The Owls led the WAC in hitting (.318), pitching (2.74 staff ERA) and fielding (.980). Rice’s run toward its national championship, however, was almost derailed before it started. The Owls had to go to extra in-
The 2003 College World Series Champions
Rice Baseball l The 2003 National Championship l 119
nings to defeat McNeese State in the first round of the regional at Reckling Park, but they settled down for back-to-back wins over Wichita State to advance to a home Super Regional. The series for the Silver Glove is the hotly-contested season series between Rice and Houston, but that series was nothing compared to the 2003 Super Regional at Reckling Park. This time, a bit more than a trophy would be at stake. With a trip to the College World Series on the line, the Cougars came out firing, taking a 5-2 win in the series opener. Jeff Niemann’s pitching performance sealed a 10-2 win game two. In the deciding third game, Townsend was again too much for the Cougars to handle. He struck out nine, allowed four hits and just one earned run in his eight innings on the way to a 5-2 victory. Niemann opened the title run in Omaha with a 4-2 win over over Missouri State. The team then posted back-to-back wins over rival Texas, 12-2 and 5-4, to advance to the new best-of-three final format against Stanford. Kolkhorst’s highlight reel catch against the leftfield wall in game one would help spark a dramatic 4-3 win in 10 innings. After the Cardinal bounced back with an 8-3 decision in game two, Rice put it all together with pitching hitting and defense to claim a 14-2 win and the school’s first national championship. Philip Humber was brilliant with a complete game victory while the offense banged out 14 hits.
While a host of players went on to earn individual awards and selection in various major league drafts, the group contin-ued to be successful after their Rice careers concluded. In 2013 the entire national champhionship team was inducted as a group into the Rice Athletics Hall of Fame.
120 l Rice Baseball l Pipeline To The Pros
Rice Baseball’s Major LeaguersDavid Aardsma, San Francisco Giants
(2004); Chicago Cubs (2005-06); Chicago White Sox (2007); Boston Red Sox (2008); Seattle Mariners (2009-11); New York Yan-kees (2012); New York Mets (2013)
Matt Anderson, Detroit Tigers (1998-2004); Colorado Rockies (2005)
Philip Barzilla, Houston Astros (2006) Lance Berkman, Houston Astros (1999-
2010); New York Yankees (2010); St. Louis Cardinals (2011-12); Texas Rangers (2013)
Tim Byrdak, Kansas City Royals (1998-2000); Baltimore Orioles (2005-06); Detroit Tigers (2007); Houston Astros (2008-10); New York Mets (2011-13)
Norm Charlton, Cincinnati Reds (1988-92); Seattle Mariners (1993, 1995-97, 2001); Philadelphia Phillies (1994); Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves (1998); Tampa Bay Rays (1999)
Tony Cingrani, Cincinnati Reds (2012-13) Bubba Crosby, Los Angeles Dodgers (2003);
New York Yankees (2004-06) David Aardsma Lance Berkman Tim Byrdak
Rice Baseball l Pipeline To The Pros l 121
Rice Baseball’s Major LeaguersJose Cruz Jr., Seattle Mariners (1997); To-
ronto Blue Jays (1997-2002); San Francisco Giants (2003); Tampa Bay Rays (2004); Arizona Diamondbacks (2005); Boston Red Sox (2005); Los Angeles Dodgers (2005-06); San Diego Padres (2007); Houston Astros (2008-09)
Eddie Dyer, St. Louis Cardinals (1922-27; manager, 1946-50; managed team to 1946 World Series Championship)
Josh Geer, San Diego Padres (2008-09) Marc Gwyn, Los Angeles Angels (2007) Dave Hilton, San Diego Padres (1972-75)Brock Holt, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red
Sox (2013) Phillip Humber, New York Mets (2006-07);
Minnesota Twins (2008-09); Kansas City Royals (2010); Chicago White Sox (2011-12); Houston Astros (2013)
Paul Janish, Cincinnati Reds (2008-12); Atlanta Braves (2012-13)
Kevin Joseph, St. Louis Cardinals (2002)Philip HumberBrock HoltTony Cingrani
122 l Rice Baseball l Pipeline To The Pros
Matt Langwell, Cleveland Indians, Arizona Diamondbacks (2013)
Lucas Luetge, Seattle Mariners (2012-13) Mike Macha, Atlanta Braves (1979); Toronto
Blue Jays (1980)Jeff Niemann, Tampa Bay Rays (2008-13) Dave Pavlas, Chicago Cubs (1990, 1992);
New York Yankees (1995-96)Lance Pendleton, New York Yankees (2011),
Houston Astros (2011) Mark Quinn, Kansas City Royals (1999-2002)Allen Ramirez, Baltimore Orioles (1983)Mario Ramos, Texas Rangers (2003-04)Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals
(2013) Josh Rodriguez, Pittsburgh Pirates (2011) Joe Savery, Philadelphia Phillies (2011-12) Craig Stansberry, San Diego Padres (2007-
09)Matt Williams, Toronto Blue Jays (1983);
Texas Rangers (1985)
Rice Baseball’s Major Leaguers
* Major League photos are copyrighted, and appear courtesy of the respective organizations. Paul Janish Lucas LuetgeMatt Langwell
Rice Baseball l Pipeline To The Pros l 123
Joe Savery
Rice Baseball’s First Round Major League Draft Picks1967 — Ronald Henson (Cleveland Indians, June-secondary phase)1976 — Mike Macha (Atlanta Braves, Jan.-secondary phase)1981 — Matt Williams (Toronto Blue Jays, fifth pick overall)1983 — David Hinnrichs (Philadelphia Phillies, June-secondary phase)1984 — Norm Charlton (Montreal Expos, 28th pick overall)1995 — Jose Cruz Jr. (Seattle Mariners; third pick overall)1997 — Matt Anderson (Detroit Tigers; first pick overall); Lance Berkman (Houston Astros; 16th pick overall)1998 — Bubba Crosby (Los Angeles Dodgers; 23rd pick overall)2001 — Kenny Baugh (Detroit Tigers; 11th pick overall); Jon Skaggs (New York Yankees; 42nd pick overall)2003 — David Aardsma (San Francisco Giants; 22nd pick overall)2004 — Philip Humber (New York Mets; 3rd pick overall); Jeff Niemann (Tampa Bay Devil Rays; 4th pick overall); Wade Townsend (Baltimore Orioles; 8th pick overall)2005 — Wade Townsend (Tampa Bay Devil Rays; 8th pick overall)2007 — Joe Savery (Philadelphia Phillies; 19th pick overall) - pictured left2008 — Bryan Price (Boston Red Sox; 45th pick overall)2011 — Anthony Rendon (Washington Nationals; 6th pick overall) - far leftAnthony Rendon
124 l Rice Baseball l Pipeline To The Pros
Rice’s Pro Players In 2013
Special thanks to the Rice University Baseball Players Association (RUBPA) for providing the list of Owls who were on major league rosters, as well as professional updates of where the former players finished their respective 2013 season.
Player Level TeamDavid Aardsma MLB New York MetsLance Berkman MLB Texas RangersTim Byrdak MLB New York Mets Tony Cingrani MLB Cincinnati RedsBrock Holt MLB Boston Red SoxPhilip Humber MLB Houston Astros Paul Janish MLB Atlanta BravesMatt Langwell MLB Cleveland Indians & Arizona DiamondbacksLucas Luetge MLB Seattle MarinersJeff Niemann MLB Tampa Bay Rays (DL)Anthony Rendon MLB Washington NationalsJoe Savery MLB Philadelphia Phillies Bobby Bramhall AAA Lehigh Valley PA IronPigsBryan Price AAA Columbus OH ClippersJared Rogers AAA New Orleans LA Zephyrs
Josh Geer AA San Antonio MissionsRick Hague AA Harrisburg PA SenatorsJosh Rodriguez AA Binghamton NY Mets
Player Level TeamTyler Duffey Hi-A Fort Myers FL MiraclesAustin Kubitza Hi-A Lakeland FL Flying TigersCraig Manuel Hi-A Potomac MD Nationals
Geoff Perrott A Hagerstown MD SunsJeremy Rathjen A Great Lakes MI LoonsTaylor Wall A Wisconsin WI Timber Rattlers
Andrew Benak SS Staten Island NY YankeesJohn Simms SS Auburn NY Doubledays
Michael Ratterree R Helena MT BrewersTyler Spurlin R AZL BrewersChristian Stringer R Great Falls MT Voyagers
