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Location J.D.MorganCenter,325WestwoodPlaza LosAngeles,CA90024-0044AthleticsSwitchboard (310)825-8699CentralTicketOffice (310)825-2101Chancellor GeneBlockDirectorofAthletics DanGuerreroSr.AssociateAthleticDirector(baseball) KenWeinerFacultyAthleticRepresentative DonaldMorrisonEventManagement DaveMartinezHomeField(capacity) JackieRobinsonStadium(1,250)PressBoxPhone (310)794-8213Enrollment 37,500Founded 1919Colors BlueandGoldNickname BruinsConference Pacific-10NationalAffiliation NCAADivisionI
HeadCoach(AlmaMater) JohnSavage(Nevada‘91)RecordatUCLA(Years) 141-150(fiveyears)CareerRecord 229-234-1(eightyears)AssistantCoaches RickVanderhook,StevePearse,P.C.ShawDirectorofOperations TrevorRyanBaseballSID AlexTimiraosSIDE-mail [email protected] (310)206-4008SIDFax (310)825-8664DirectorofSportsInformation MarcDellinsWebSite www.uclabruins.com2009OverallRecord 27-292009Pac-10Record 15-12(t-3rd)LettermenReturning/Lost 17/12ConferenceChampionships(Last) 6(2000)NCAATournamentAppearances(Last) 15(2008)CollegeWorldSeriesAppearances 2(1969,1997)
About the Media GuideON THE COVER:Thecoverofthe2010baseballmediaguidefeaturesTrevorBauer,BlairDunlap,GarettClaypool,GerritCole,JustinUribeandRobRasmussen.PhotosbyDonLiebig,ScottJamesandAaronSprecher.
CREDITS:The2010UCLAbaseballmediaguidewaswrittenanddesignedbyAlexTimiraos.PhotographybyASUCLACampusStudio(DonLiebig,ScottQuintardandToddCheney),ScottJames,AaronSprecher,LarryGoren,IconSportsMediaandGettyImages.PrintingbyMarinaGraphicsCenter.SpecialthankstoGettyImages,ASUCLAPhotography,AndrewBernstein,theLosAngelesVisitorsandConventionBureauandDonLiebigfortheirphotosintheUCLAExperience,andaspecialthankstoDennisHubbardforhisphotosfromthe1997CollegeWorldSeries.PhotosintheBigLeagueBruinssectioncourtesyofMajorLeagueBaseball,itsrespectiveteamsandtheirphotographers.SpecialthankstoMilesKennedy,JonWilley(ArizonaDiamondbacks),BradNewton (TexasRangers),DanMendlik (ClevelandIndians),MissyMikulecky(SanFranciscoGiants),DenisBancroft(FloridaMarlins),DanDonovan(St.LouisCardinals),LarryBabcock(LosAngelesAngels)andMarkLangill(LosAngelesDodgers).
PURCHASE: Copies of the baseballmedia guide can be purchased inpersonatUCLA’sSportsInformationOfficefor$8.Bymail,makecheckspayablefor$10toUCRegentsandmailtoUCLASportsInformationOffice,BaseballGuide,P.O.Box24044,LosAngeles,CA90024.Pleaseincludeyournameandreturnaddress.
Quick Facts
General InformationMediaInformation 2SteeleFieldatJackieRobinsonStadium 4GiffordHittingFacility 6SeasonOutlook 8Roster 9TV/RadioRoster 10
Coaching StaffHeadCoachJohnSavage 12AssistantCoaches 15SupportStaff 17
Meet the BruinsVeterans 18-34Newcomers 34-37
2009 in ReviewDrafted/GraduatedPlayers 40SeasonResults 43SeasonStats 44Superlatives 48Pac-10Review 50HonorsandRankings 52
Opponents 54
Big League BruinsBruinsintheMajors 62BruinsFomerlyintheMajors 64BruinsintheMinors 69MLBDraftHistory 70
RecordsGame-by-GameResults 72Year-by-YearSummary 80StartingLineups 82Year-by-YearLeaders 84SingleSeason,CareerRecords 88MiscellaneousRecords 90BruinAll-Stars 91
TraditionTeamUSAandUCLA 92JackieRobinson’sLegacy 94BruinTradition 98NCAATournamentHistory 104JerseyHistory 106All-TimeStatistics(since1975) 108BaseballHallofFame 113Letterwinners 114UCLAAdministrators 116
Table of Contents
THIS IS UCLA BASEBALL
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NewspapersLos Angeles Times202WestFirstSt.LosAngeles,CA90053(P): 213-237-7145(F): 213-237-7876sports.latimes.com
Los Angeles Daily News21860BurbankBlvd.(Ste.200)WoodlandHills,CA91367(P): 818-713-3600(F): 818-713-3436dailynews.com
Orange County Register625N.GrandAve.SantaAna,CA92711(P): 714-796-7817(F): 714-565-6765ocregister.com
Long Beach Press Telegram604PineAve.LongBeach,CA90844(P): 562-499-1338(F): 562-437-8914presstelegram.com
Pasadena Star News San Gabriel Valley Tribune1210N.AzusaCanyonRd.WestCovina,CA91790(P): 626-962-8811(F): 626-856-2758pasadenastarnews.comsgvtribune.com
Media OutletsRiverside Press Enterprise351214thSt.Riverside,CA92502(P): 909-368-9533(F): 909-368-9029pe.com
South Bay Daily Breeze5215TorranceBlvd.Torrance,CA90509(P): 310-540-4201(F): 310-540-3067www.dailybreeze.com
UCLA Daily Bruin308WestwoodPlazaLosAngeles,CA90024(P): 310-825-2095(F): 310-206-0906dailybruin.ucla.edu
Wire and StatsAssociated Press221So.Figueroa,S300LosAngeles,CA90012(P): 213-626-1200(F): 213-346-0200ap.org
Sports Ticker(P):800-766-1899(F):800-336-0383
Stats, Inc.(P):847-585-2100(F):800-357-8525
TelevisionFS West/Prime Ticket1150SouthOlive,Suite350LosAngeles,CA90015(P): 213-743-7800(F): 213-763-4633
ESPNESPNPlazaBristol,CT06010(P): 860-766-2000
CBS College Sports8510thAve.,3rdFloorNewYork,NY10011(P):212-342-8700(F):212-342-8899
MLB Network40HartzWaySecaucus,NJ07094(P):201-520-6400(F):201-520-4736
CBS-2, KCAL-94200RadfordAve.StudioCity,CA91604(P): 818-655-2400
NBC-4 (Ch. 4)3000W.AlamedaAve.Burbank,CA91523(P): 818-840-4237(F): 818-840-3076
KTLA (Ch. 5)5800SunsetBlvd.Hollywood,CA90028(P): 323-460-5907(F): 323-460-5333
KABC-7500CircleSevenDr.Glendale,CA91201(P): 818-863-7677(F): 818-863-7889
KTTV (Ch. 11)/KCOP (Ch. 13)1999S.BundyDr.LosAngeles,CA90025(P): 310-584-2030(F): 310-584-2450
RadioKLAC 570 (FOX Radio)3400W.OliveAve.#550Burbank,CA91505(P): 818-559-2252(F): 818-566-6114or 818-566-6105
KSPN 710 (ESPN Radio)800W.OlympicBlvd.,Ste.A200LosAngeles,CA90015(P): 310-840-2492(F): 310-558-5648
uclaradio.com308WestwoodPlazaLosAngeles,CA90024(P): 310-825-9104
Baseball MediaBaseball America600S.DukeStreet,Box2089Durham,NC27702(P): 919-682-9635(F): 919-682-2880baseballamerica.comAaronFitt(collegebaseballwriter)[email protected](editor)[email protected]
Collegiate BaseballP.O.Box50566Tucson,AZ95703(P): 520-623-4530(F): 520-624-5501collegiatebaseball.comLouPavlovich,Jr.(editor)[email protected]
RIVALS.com College Baseball9215GreatHillsTrail,#206WAustin,TX78759rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/baseballKendallRogers,editor(P):512-584-8403
USA Today10866Wilshire#890LosAngeles,CA90024(P): 310-443-8900(F): 310-443-8923usatoday.com
BRUINS GETTING AIRTIMEHavingreachedtheNCAATournamentinthreeofthepastfourseasons,theUCLAbaseballprogramhas received increased exposure and mediaattention,bothlocallyandnationally.LosAngeleshassevenlocalnetworkaffiliatesorindependenttelevisionstations,andthebaseballprogramhasbeenbroadcasteachspringonFoxSportsNet.The Bruins have had 11 games broadcast ontelevision the past three years, including sevennationallytelevisedcontests.
Baseball Weekly1000WilsonBlvd.21stFl.Arlington,VA22229(P): 800-872-3410ext.4495(F): 703-558-4677baseballweekly.com
College Baseball InsiderP.O.Box8235Richmond,VA23226collegebaseballinsider.com
USA BaseballDurhamBullsAthleticPark403BlackwellStreetDurham,NC27701(P):919-474-8721,x.225(F):919-474-8822JakeFehlingDirector,MediaRelations
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SPORTS INFORMATIONAlex Timiraos enters his fourth seasonastheUCLAbaseballsportsinformationdirectorin2010.Inaddition,heassistswith the men’s basketball team andserves as the contact for the men’sandwomen’swaterpoloprogramsandwomen’s rowing team. A lifelong LosAngeles resident, Timiraos graduatedfrom Boston College in May 2006,earning a Bachelor of Arts degree incommunication.
UCLA BASEBALL RADIO NETWORKJohn Ramey will call the action at allUCLA home games and selected roadcontestsin2010.Livestreamingaudioof UCLA’s baseball games is availableat uclabruins.com, the official website of the UCLA Athletics Department.Audio frompreviouslybroadcastgamesis archived and can be listened onlineaftereachgame.UCLA’sradionetworkis headed by Mike Sondheimer, Associate Athletic DirectorforAcademicAdmissionsServices.Forupdatedschedulesofbroadcasts,fansareencouragedtovisituclabruins.com.
LIVE FROM JACKIE ROBINSON STADIUMJohn Ramey enters his first seasonas the play-by-play broadcaster forUCLA baseball. Ramey joins the UCLAbroadcastingstaffafterhavingspentthelast three seasons as the voice of theUCRiversidebaseballprogram.
In addition, he has been the play-by-play voice for the UC Riverside men’sbasketballteamthelasttwoseasons.
A residentof theSilverLakedistrictofLosAngeles,Rameyworksasasportsanchor,writerandseniorwebeditorforKNX 1070 Newsradio in Los Angeles. He has also been seenorheardonFOXSports,CNN’sNancyGraceandtheDr.DrewShow. He spends free time working as a musician, singer andsongwriter,havingreleasedseveral independentrecordings.HehasperformedinsouthernCaliforniaandthroughoutthenationwithhisact,JohnRameyandtheOrchestra.
DannyReesandNickTheodorouwillserveascolorcommentatorsonUCLAradiobroadcaststhroughouttheseason.Reeswillenterhis redshirt senior seasonon theUCLA football teamnext fall.Last season, he servedas the team’s holder on special teamsfor All-America kicker Kai Forbath. Rees has a background inbroadcastingandlookstopursueacareerinthecommunicationsfieldaftergraduatingfromUCLA.
TheodorouexcelledintheBruinbaseballprogramfrom1995-98afterredshirtingthe1994season.ThenativeofRialto,Calif.,spentnineseasonsplayingintheminorleagues(1998-2006),includingthefirsteightyearswiththeLosAngelesDodgersorganization.Theodorou was selected in the 27th round of the 1998 MLBDraftbytheDodgers.HecurrentlyservesasAssistantDirectorforMajorGiftsintheUCLAAthleticDevelopmentOffice.
CREDENTIALS:Allmediacredentialrequestsshouldbemade,preferably via e-mail, to [email protected], or byphone(310-206-4008)asfarinadvanceaspossible(nolaterthan24hoursbeforegametime).Credentials forgamesandaccesstocoachesandstudent-athletesaregrantedtomajornews-gatheringpapers,magazinesorwebsites.
PHOTO CREDENTIALS: Credentials will be issued on a per-gamebasisandmustbeworn inplainsightatall times.Onlycredentialedphotographerswillbegrantedaccesstobullpens.
TELEPHONES: The press box phone number (for mediascoringupdatesonly)is310-794-8213.Additionalphonelinesareavailable ona sharedbasis in themainpressbox.Radiopositionsandadditionalmedia seatingwill beallocated in thepressboxoradjacenttothebroadcastbooths,ifnecessary.
RADIO LINES: One telephone line can be made available tothedesignatedradiostationofthevisitingteam.PleasemakearrangementsthroughtheSportsInformationOffice([email protected](310)206-4008)wellinadvance.
PAC-10 GAMES (2006-2009)Team Wins Losses Pct.ArizonaState 70 29 .707UCLA 55 43 .561OregonState 52 46 .531Arizona 52 47 .525Stanford 47 52 .475WashingtonState 47 52 .475Washington 46 53 .465USC 43 56 .434California 42 57 .424Oregon 4 23 .148
THE BEST ARE OUT WESTCollege baseball’s national champion hasoriginatedfromtheWestCoastinthreeofthelastfouryears.Locally,UCLAfacesprominentprograms such as Cal State Fullerton,Pepperdine, San Diego State, UC Irvine, UCRiverside,UCSantaBarbaraandUSC.
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET:Thepressboxisequippedwithhigh-speed,wirelessInternetforworkingmediaonly.Additionalhigh-speeddatajacksarenotavailable.
INTERVIEWS:Coachesandplayersareavailableforpostgameinterviewsoutsidetheclubhouse(third-baseside)afterabriefcooling down period. Midweek interviews can be conductedbeforepractice(besttime,between12-2p.m.)orafterpractice.All interview requests must be facilitated through the SportsInformationOffice.
UCLABRUINS.COM:TheofficialwebsiteoftheUCLAAthleticsDepartment,uclabruins.comprovidesup-to-dateresults,news,schedules, player biographical information, statistics, in-gamescoring and links to audio webcasts. Fans can also shop forBruinmerchandiseattheUniversity’sonlinestore.
Timiraos’OfficePhone:(310)206-4008SportsInformationFax:(310)825-8664Timiraos’E-mail:[email protected]
MEDIA GUIDELINES
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Locatedon thesiteofoldSawtelleField,JackieRobinsonStadium provides one of the most comfortable collegebaseball settings in the West. The stadium was madepossiblebyaprivategift fromHoytPardee (UCLA ’41),aclassmateof JackieRobinson.WithoutHoyt, thestadiumwouldnotbeareality.
Attheendofthe1984season,thesecondmajorphaseofthestadium’soriginalconstructionwascompleted.Anewclubhouse, press box, concessions stand, and permanentrestrooms were added. The clubhouse contains trainingand equipment rooms, a meeting room, offices and theUCLABaseballHallofFame,whichdisplaysplaquesofallitsmembers.
Themainpressboxisflankedbytwobroadcastboothsandprovidesamplespaceformembersofthemedia.Camerapositionsfortelevisioncoveragearelocatedatopbothdugoutsandontheconcourse.Controlsforthepublicaddresssystem,electronicscoreboardandlightingsystemsarelocatedinthemainpressbox.Theconcession is locatedabovethefirstbaseseatsalongwithpublicrestrooms.Onselectweekends,a second concession stand provides food and beveragesabovethethirdbaseseats.
JackieRobinsonStadium,theprogram’ssixthhomefield,canbeaccessedviatheSanDiegoFreeway(405)andWilshire
Steele Field at Jackie Robinson Stadium opens its 30thseasonasUCLA’shomebaseballfieldin2010afterhavingundergonesignificantrenovationssince2006.Followingthe2009season,thefieldreceivednewgrassontheinfieldandarenovatedwarningtrack.
Among the facility’s most recent improvement is theconstructionoftheJackandRhodineGiffordHittingFacility,a10,500-squarefootpracticecomplexlocatedbehindrightfield (seepage6).Amongthepremier facilitiesof itskindincollegebaseball,thispracticecomplexfeaturesmultipleretractablenetsforhittinganddefensivedrills.
Midwaythroughthe2008season,UCLAupgradeditsstadiumlights, making necessary improvements to meet NCAAstandardsforhostinganNCAASuperRegional.InJanuary2008,UCLAinstalledastate-of-the-artplayingsurface,amajorupgrademadepossiblebytheSteeleFoundation.
Priortothe2007season, thebaseballprogram installeda major-league quality net behind home plate, improvingsightlines for fans, photographers and television crews.Othermajorimprovementshaveincludedtheadditionofover1,000chairbackseatswithcupholdersinFebruary2006.The stadium welcomed a new hitter’s eye, draped abovethecenterfieldwall,andtheBruinsscoreboardreceivedawell-deservedfacelift.
Blvd.LocatedonConstitutionAvenue(westoffSepulvedaBlvd.),thestadiumisminutesawayfromtheUCLAcampus.
JackieRobinsonStadiumwasdedicatedonFeb.7,1981with an exhibition game between the Bruins and the LosAngelesDodgersthatdrew2,500fans.Thefacilityhostedthe1986WestCoastConference playoff gamebetweenPepperdine and Loyola Marymount. One week later, thestadiumhostedthe1986NCAAWestRegionalTournament.Loyola Marymount, UC Santa Barbara, Hawaii, and UCLAparticipatedintheregional,wonbyLoyolaMarymount.The1986WestRegionalwastheLosAngelesarea’sfirstNCAApostseasontournamentsincethe1978District8Playoffswere hosted at USC’s Dedeaux Field. The 1986 regionalchampionshipcontestbetweenLoyolaMarymountandHawaiidrewacrowdof1,815.
JackieRobinson,forwhomthestadiumisnamed,wasthefirstAfrican-AmericanbaseballplayertocompeteinthemajorleagueswhenhejoinedtheBrooklynDodgersin1947.Asa student-athlete at UCLA, Robinson became the Bruins’firstfour-sportletterman,playingfootball,basketball,track,andbaseball.AbronzestatueofRobinsonis locatednearthe concession stand on the concourse level. The statuewasdedicatedonApril27,1985,beforetheUCLA-ArizonaStategame.
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Year Record Games2009 16-10 262008 18-13 312007 19-11 302006 19-12 312005 7-19 262004 17-13 302003 15-13 282002 13-16 292001 19-9 282000 20-10 301999 17-10 271998 15-12 271997 21-7 281996 19-11 301995 14-16 30
Year Record Games1994 14-15 291993 19-11 301992 23-9 321991 13-15 281990 21-10 311989 17-15 321988 14-10 241987 20-6-1 261986 23-12 351985 19-9-1 291984 17-13 301983 17-13 301982 28-10 381981 13-18 31
28 years, 491-338-2 record (.592)
UCLA’s Home Baseball FieldsField (Site) YearsMooreField(VermontAvenue) 1920-29CampusDiamond(UCLA) 1930-32SawtelleField(VAGrounds) 1933-38JoeE.BrownField(UCLA) 1939-63SawtelleField(VAGrounds) 1964-79EddyD.FieldStadium(Pepperdine) 1980JackieRobinsonStadium(VAGrounds) 1981-Present
Jackie Robinson Stadium Collegiate FirstsFirst Collegiate Game:................................................................................................................................. Feb.14,1981(Pepperdine9,UCLA6)First Collegiate Pitch:...................................................................... strike-UCLA’sEricBroersmatobatterJohnDamon(TimGudin,C).First Strikeout: ..................................................................................................................... UCLA’sEricBroersmatoPepperdine’sJohnDamonFirst Hit:............................................................................................................................Pepperdine’sRonDearthoffEricBroersma(2ndinning)First UCLA Hit:....................................................................................................................PaulConleyoffPepperdine’sJonFurman(3rdinning)First Run:...............................................................................Pepperdine’sJohnWyman(RBI,AlanAscherl)offEricBroersma(3rdinning)First UCLA Run:.......................................................... DavidMontanari(RBI,LindsayMeggs3-rundouble),offJonFurman(4thinning)First Home Run:..................... UCLA’sGregNorman(MikeGallegoatfirst),offChapman’sCharlieDeeds(4thinning),2/18/81First UCLA Win:................................................................................................................................................Feb.18,1981(UCLA10,Chapman3)
Year-by-Year at Jackie Robinson Stadium
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TheUCLAbaseballprogramcompletedconstructionof theJackandRhodineGifford Hitting Facility in February 2009 and has taken full advantage of the10,500-squarefootpracticecomplex.ThefacilitywasgenerouslyfundedbythelateJackGiffordandhiswife,Rhodine.JackplayedbaseballatUCLAintheearly1960sbeforegraduatingin1963.
UCLA’shittingfacilitystandsbehindtherightfieldfence,extendingfromtheright-fieldfoulpoletowardthestadium’sscoreboardincenterfield.ConstructionofthefacilitybeganinearlyDecember2008,andtheprojectwasfullycompletedbyearlyFebrurary2009.
UCLA’s state-of-the-art hitting facility allows natural lightandalsofeatures interior lighting.Thefloorconsistsofhigh-qualitysyntheticturf. Inall,thecomplexallowsfortwo30-x-70-footcagesandthree20-x-60-footcages,allwhichfeature retractablenetting.Playersandcoachesalsohave theoption toexpand thecagesfordefensivedrillsandpitchinginstruction.
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KEY FEATURES OF UCLA’S GIFFORD HITTING FACILITY• Dimensions of the practice complex run 23-feet high, 70-feet wide and 150-feet long• Practice complex features an adjustable interior design, accomodating up to five hitting cages at once• Cages include multiple pitching machines, including one capable of throwing breaking balls• Accomodates room for defensive drills and pitching instruction on the south-facing half of the complex• Spacious tee area within the facility allows for additional hitting drills• State-of-the-art synthetic turf allows position players to practice fielding
“WeareverythankfultoJackandRhodinefortheirvisionwiththisstate-of-the-arthittingfacility.Thisbringsanewdimensionofplayerdevelopmenttoourprogram.Ourplayersandcoachesareveryexcitedabouthavingournewtrainingfacility,onethatisamongthenicestinthecountry.TheJackandRhodineGiffordHittingFacilityisaspecialplaceforallBruinplayers.”
-UCLAheadcoachJohnSavage
Jack and Rhodine Gifford
The Jack and Rhodine Gifford Hitting Facility was built in less than five weeks, spanning from December 2008 through January 2009. Photos to the right (clockwise from top) show the construction of the hitting facility in December 2008. The project was completed in time for the Bruins’ preseason practice schedule in February 2009 and has been invaluable to the program throughout the year. The Bruins’ practice complex has become most needed on rainy days.
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UCLAlookstowardthe2010seasonwithexcitement,knowingthatitspotentialon themoundcouldnotonlypushtheBruins towardaPac-10Conferencetitle,butalsoadeeprunthroughtheNCAATournament. Sophomore right-handers Trevor Bauer and GerritColewillbecountedupontoliftUCLAthisspring,andacoregroupof returning position players – headlined by seniors Blair Dunlap and Justin Uribe – will be expected to help energize an offense that lost severalofitsmostpotentweaponstotheMLBDraftlastJune.
While the Bruins’ strength should be on the mound, the team’soffensehas the speed, patienceandability to helpUCLAmakeapushtowarditsfourthNCAARegionalappearanceinfiveseasons.TheBruinsmissedoutonthepostseasonin2009,endingtheyearwitha27-29recorddespitefinishingthirdinthePac-10Conferenceforthefourthconsecutiveseason.TheBruins’streakofthreeNCAApostseasonberthswassnappedbeforetheprogramsawsevenofits eightMLBDraft selections (five juniors, twoseniors) leave forminorleaguebaseballinJune.
SeveralofUCLA’smostproductiveplayersfromlastspringreturnin2010,givingtheBruinsplentyofreasonstobeoptimistic.
PITCHINGLetterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/4Weekend Starters Returning/Lost: 2/1
UCLA will look no further than Bauer and Cole to lead the staff.After earning Louisville SluggerNational FreshmanPitcher of theYearaccoladeslastseason,BauerlookstoimproveupononeoftheBruins’most successful freshmancampaigns in programhistory.The right-hander fromValencia,Calif.,went9-3witha2.99ERA,registering 92 strikeouts and 27 walks in a team-leading 105.1innings. Equally remarkable, he graduated from Hart High SchoolonesemesterearlytoenrollatUCLAforthe2009winterquarter.
“Trevor had as good a season as any freshman in the country,”Savagesaid. “Weexpectedhimtobegood,buttoputtogetherafreshmanseasonlikethatisaremarkableachievement.We’lllookforhimtobecomeamorecompletepitcher.LikeGerritCole,he’saguywhowantstopitchdeepintoballgames.”
Cole arrived at UCLA after having been selected as a first-roundMajor League Draft selection by the New York Yankees in June2008. He pitched in the starting rotation all season, posting adeceptive4-8recordwhilecollectinga3.49ERAandateam-leading104strikeoutsin85.0innings.
“Gerritisapowerpitcherwhohasaveryadvancedthree-pitchmix,”Savagesaid.“Wearegoingtoworktocutbackonhispitchcountsothathecanlastdeeperintogames.HehasthecompetitivefireandthetoolstobeoneofthetoppitchersinthePac-10.”
Rob Rasmussen and Garett Claypool have both experiencedsuccess as starting pitchers at UCLA, and the expectation is nodifferent in2010.Rasmussenmissednearly his entire freshmanseason after a line-drive comebacker fractured his left foot in2008.Asasophomore last spring,heopened theseason in thestartingrotationbeforeBauerwasinsertedintheweekendlineup.Rasmussen, hailing from nearby Arcadia, Calif., had among themostsuccessfulsummersofanypitcherintheCapeCodLeaguein2009,beingselectedtostartintheleague’sannualAll-StarGameinBoston’sfamedFenwayPark.
“WhenyouhaveasstrongasummerasRobdidintheCapeCodLeague,thatshouldtranslatetosomebignumbersatyourschool,”Savagesaid.“Hehasallthepitchesandtherightmakeuptoexcelasastarter.He’sworkedextremelyhardonhismentalgame,andwe’rereallyexcitedtoseewhathebringstothemoundthisyear.”
AfreshmanAll-Americanin2007anda32nd-rounddraftselectionby the Oakland Athletics in 2009, Claypool returns as UCLA’smost experienced pitcher, having thrown 125.0 innings in threeseasons.ThenativeofWestHills,Calif.,hasbeenmostsensationalinmidweekstartsthroughoutthiscareer.Oneoffourseniorsontherosterin2010,Claypoolcouldbeexpectedtocontributeasbothastarterandreliever.
“GettingGarettbackishugeforthisprogram,”Savagesaid.“You’retalkingaboutaguywhobringsseniorleadershipandanunmatchedworkethictotheballpark.Heisveryfamiliarwithourprogramandknowsthegameplan.Wehopetokeephimasastarter,butwemayneedhimtocomeoutofthebullpenforusontheweekends,too.”
Otherpitchersexpectedtomakeasignificantimpact,mostlikelyinrelief,includeleft-handersMattGrace,MattDrummondandMitchellBeacomandright-handersErikGoeddelandDanKlein.Gracemade22 appearances in 2009, tops among UCLA’s returning arms.Drummondhadastrongsophomoreseasonin2008beforebeingsidelinedwithaninjuryin2009,andBeacomhadseveraldominantrelief outings as a redshirt freshman last spring, notching 14strikeoutsinnineinningsoutofthebullpen.
Kleinentersthe2010campaignpenciledinastheteam’scloser.Ahighly-toutedquarterbackandpitcheratServiteHighSchool,theredshirt sophomore overcame a shoulder injury before having adominantfallforUCLA.Goeddelmadenineappearancesinreliefasaredshirt freshman,overcominganelbowinjurythatkepthimoffthemoundin2008.
CATCHINGLetterwinners Returning/Lost: 1/1Starters Returning/Lost: 1/0
UCLAentersthe2010seasonwithamoreexperiencedanddeeperstaff behind theplate than it didone yearago.SophomoreSteveRodriguezmade34startsatcatcherasafreshmanin2009andisexpectedtoleadthegroupbehindthedishthisspring.Inaddition,theBruinswelcomefreshmenTrevorBrownandTylerHeineman.Brown isa formerbatterymateofBauer,asbothplayed forHartHighSchool’s varsity team in2008.HeservedasHart’sstartingcatcherasajuniorandsenior,securingfirst-teamAll-FoothillLeaguehonors in 2009. Heineman arrives in Westwood after havingexcelledasafour-yearvarsityletterwinneratWindwardSchool(LosAngeles).Heinemanwas nameda first-teamAll-CIF selection andtheDelphicLeagueMVPasasenior.
“Steve got much stronger in the offseason and should be muchmoreoffensivethanhewasoneyearago,”Savagesaid.“WelikeourdepthbehindtheplatewithTrevorBrownandTylerHeineman,andIthinkyoucouldseeallthreeguyscompetingforplayingtime.”
INFIELDLetterwinners Returning/Lost: 5/5Starters Returning/Lost: 1/3
TheBruins’ infield featuresdepthateachposition,ascompetitionforplayingtimeandstartingspotsmaybeonthetableduringthenon-conferenceportionofUCLA’sschedule.Atthirdbase,UCLAisencouragedbytheadditionsofsophomoretransferDeanEspyandfreshman Cody Regis. Espy batted .363 as a freshman at SouthMountainCommunityCollege(Phoenix)oneyearagoandbringsasavvy,veteranpresencetothehotcornerfortheBruins.Regis,aleft-handedhitterfromGlendoraHighSchool,hadamongthemostproductivecampaignsforUCLAduringitsfallpracticesandshouldpushforplayingtimeatthirdbase,shortstoporsecondbase.
“We’re very balanced around our infield, starting at third basewithDeanandCody,”Savagesaid.“Thosearetwoexcitingplayers,particularly from the offensive standpoint because Cody hits left-handedandDeanhitsright-handed.Dean isaveteranguy,havingbeenapolishedplayeratatopjuniorcollegeforoneseason.”
UCLAisequallyencouragedbyitstwoprimaryoptionsatshortstop– junior Niko Gallego and sophomore Adrian Williams. Gallego batted .273 in 55 starts at shortstop last spring and boasted a .300battingaverageplaying inall27Pac-10contests.AfterspendingthesummerplayingintheCapeCodLeague,Gallegoreturnstothefieldthisspringhavingplayedin74collegiatecontests.Williamsisexpected to push formoreplaying timeat shortstopand secondbase in 2010. Hailing from Moreno Valley, Calif., Williams hasdisplayedterrifichandsontheinfieldasaverysmoothdefender.
“NikoandAdrianhavebecomemorecomfortableatshortstopandeachguyisthatmuchmoreexperiencedthisseason,”Savagesaid.“They both went out and had productive summers – Niko playing intheCapeCodLeagueandAdriancompetingintheNorthwoodsLeague. They have both gotten stronger in theweight room, andwe’reexcitedtoseethemhavestrongseasonsin2010.”
Withthedepartureoffour-yearseniorEddieMurray,whostarted49gamesatsecondbasein2009,theBruinswilllookforsophomoreTyler Rahmatulla and senior Blair Dunlap to fill the vacancy.Rahmatullaplayed in35gamesaround the infieldasa freshmanlast spring, and Dunlap has worked to make the transition fromcenterfieldtosecondbase,apositionheplayedatSantaMargaritaHighSchool.UCLA’smostveteranplayer,Dunlaphadastrongjuniorcampaignin2009,batting.301whileleadingtheBruinsinhits(68),doubles(17)andstolenbases(15).
“BothTylerandBlairareveryoffensiveplayers,andourhopeistohavebothguys in thestarting lineup,”Savagesaid. “Blair isgoingtobeoneofourleaders,especiallyontheoffensiveend,andwe’rethrilled to have himbackwith us for his senior season. Tyler gotsomeplaying time in2009,butwe look forhim tobringamoreconsistentgameasasophomore.”
UCLA lost its primary two first basemen – Cody Decker and Casey Haerther – from the past three seasons, but will look toward senior JustinUribetomakeasmoothtransitionfromtheoutfieldtofirstbase.Uribe,whohasplayedat firstbase insummer leaguesandatFoothillHighSchool,enterstheseasonasoneofUCLA’smostexperienced hitters. He has batted above .280 in each of threeseasons,highlightedbyacareer-high.318averagelastspring.
“Justinhasreallytakentoplayingfirstbase,”Savagesaid.“He’sagreathitterandtakesprideinhisdefensearoundthebag.WehavedepthatthepositionwithMattMosher,anotherleft-handedbatterwhocanreallyhit.Mattcouldseesomeplayingtime,ifnotatfirstbase,thencertainlyoffthebenchinapinch-hittingrole.”
OUTFIELDLetterwinners Returning/Lost: 2/3Starters Returning/Lost: 1/2
Among UCLA’s most notable additions in 2010 are its four left-handed-hitting freshman outfielders – Beau Amaral, Jeff Gelalich, DennisHoltandCodyKeefer.Thosefournewcomerscombinedwith
thereturnofjuniorsChrisGiovinazzoandBrettKrillandsophomoreMarcNavarrohavetheBruinsexcitedabouttheirpotential intheoutfield.Twooftheteam’smostoffensiveoutfieldersfromoneyearago – Dunlap and Uribe – have moved to the infield, opening up spaceforseveralfreshmentocompeteforplayingtime.
Krilladdedtohisstrong6-foot-4,225-poundframeintheoffseasonand proved to be one of UCLA’s top power-hitting threats in fallpractice.ThenativeofLagunaNiguel,Calif.,hasplayed in just22gamesthepasttwoseasons,butabigseasonfromKrillcouldhelpsparktheBruins’offense.
“Ifyouwanttotalkaboutoneofourteam’sgreateststrengths,thenyou’vegottotalkaboutBrettKrill,whowefeelwillcomeintohisownthisyear,”Savagesaid.“Bothphysicallyandmentally,Brettisreadyforabreakoutseason.Hehadagreatsummer,andhe’sequallyexcitedtogethisjuniorseasonunderway.”
Giovinazzo showed that he was one of the team’s best athleteslast season. He batted .286 with 11 extra-base hits and figuresto have an even more productive campaign as a junior. Navarrowas the Bruins’ primary pinch-hitter and late-inning defensivereplacement and could push for time in the starting lineup as aredshirtsophomore.
“Chrisiscertainlyoneofthemostpolishedandtalentedathletesinourprogram,”Savagesaid.“Hehasaddedstrengthintheoffseasonand can really build off his successful sophomore season. Marcbroughtgreatvaluetoourteamoffthebenchin2009,andwasoneofourteam’sbetterhittersinthefall.”
Amaral,GelalichandKeeferwereeachselectedinthe2009MLBDraft and enter their freshmen campaigns with high aspirations.ThesonofformerUCLAstandoutandmajorleaguerRichAmaral,Beauisaleft-handedhitterwhocouldvieforthelineup’sleadoffspotastheteam’sfastestrunner.Gelalichwasatwo-sportstaratBonitaHigh School, excelling on the football field and baseball diamondbeforechoosingtosolelyconcentrateonbaseball.Atalentedhitter,Gelalichpossessesaverystrongarmandcouldemergeasaregularstarter ineitherofthecorneroutfieldspots.Keeferhadastrongsummer in2009,batting .292in39gameswiththeWenatcheeAppleSoxoftheWestCoastCollegiateBaseballLeague.
“Thosethreefreshmenareverytalentedleft-handedhitterswhohavehelpedgeneratealotofcompetitionintheoffseason,particularlyintheoutfield,”Savagesaid. “Theyareathletic,quickdefenderswhocangogettheballinanyofthethreeoutfieldpositions.Welookforeachofthemtopushforstartingrolesfromdayone.”
SCHEDULE
Knownforplayingamongthenation’smostchallengingscheduleseachseason,UCLA’s2010slateisequallydifficult.WhiletheBruinshaveaddedseveralmorehomegames,theprogramisexcitedaboutplayinginthreein-seasontournaments,includinggamesatDodgerStadiumand in theWhataburgerCollegeClassic, at thehome totheHoustonAstros’double-AaffiliateCorpusChristiHooks(CorpusChristi,Texas).Inall,UCLAwillplay33gamesathome,19ontheroad,andfouratneutralsites.TheBruins’27-gamePac-10slate,inadditiontoastrongselectionofnon-conferencemidweekgames,shouldhelppreparetheteamforadeeppostseasonrun.
“I think the first thing you’ll notice when looking at this team’sscheduleisthatweplaymoregamesathomethanwehaveinthepast,”Savagesaid.“We’regoingtowelcomesomegreatteamsfromsomepowerconferences,includingtheBig12,theSECandtheBigWest,toJackieRobinsonStadiumthisspring.Wehaveplayedwellathome,butwhenyouplay33regularseasongamesathome,youhavetobecomeadominantteaminyourownpark.”
After opening the season playing in the third annual UrbanInvitational, the Bruins will help host the first annual DodgertownClassic, with the pinnacle game to be played Sunday, Feb. 28,against USC at Dodger Stadium. UCLA follows that weekend byhostingNebraskaforthefirsttimeinprogramhistory.Theteam’sweekend in Corpus Christi includes games against Texas A&MCorpusChristi,MississippiStateandOklahoma.Afterback-to-backhomeseriesagainstCalPolyandOralRoberts,theBruinswillopenPac-10playwithathree-gamehomesetagainstStanford.
UCLA’s conference slate at home will also feature three-gameseriesagainstOregon,ArizonaState,USCandWashingtonState.TheBruinswill hit the road inPac-10play to faceOregonState,Arizona, Washington and California. As has been the custom,UCLA’sschedulewillbelinedwithTuesdaygamesagainstlocalnon-conferencefoes,includingLongBeachState,Pepperdine,CalStateFullerton,UCIrvine,UCSantaBarbaraandUCRiverside.
“Welikeourschedule,andwe’reexcitedtogettheseasongoing,”Savagesaid.“OurfansaregoingtoseegreatopponentsrollingintoJackieRobinsonStadium,and I think theywill also recognize thatourteamwillbringanexcitingbrandofbaseballtotheballparkeachday.”
UCLA Baseball Seeks Return to Postseason, Trip to OmahaBruins enter 2010 excited about veteran pitching experience, potential throughout batting lineup
SEASON OUTLOOK
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ALPHABETICAL ROSTER No. Name Position25 BeauAmaral OF47 TrevorBauer RHP35 MitchellBeacom LHP34 ChaseBrewer RHP11 TrevorBrown C38 GarettClaypool RHP12 GerritCole RHP40 RyanDeeter RHP 8 MattDrummond LHP 9 BlairDunlap INF/OF14 DeanEspy INF 2 NikoGallego INF20 JeffGelalich OF21 ChrisGiovinazzo OF36 MattGiovinazzo INF33 ErikGoeddel RHP31 MattGrace LHP48 ScottGriggs RHP26 JordanHaver RHP32 TylerHeineman C17 DennisHolt OF/LHP 7 CodyKeefer OF23 DanKlein RHP24 BrettKrill OF44 MattMosher 1B30 MarcNavarro OF41 BrandonLodge RHP 5 TylerRahmatulla INF27 RobRasmussen LHP18 CodyRegis INF 3 SteveRodriguez C15 JustinUribe 1B 4 AaronWeimer INF 1 AdrianWilliams INF16 IanWilliams RHP
Coaching Staff22 JohnSavage HeadCoach(6thseason) Nevada’9128 RickVanderhook AssistantCoach(2ndseason) CalStateFullerton10 StevePearse AssistantCoach(2ndseason) SanFranciscoState’91 6 P.C.Shaw AssistantCoach(4thseason) CalStateNorthridge’94
NUMERICAL ROSTER No. Name Pos. Yr. B/T Ht. Wt. Exp. Hometown (Previous School) 1 AdrianWilliams INF So. R/R 6-0 170 1V MorenoValley,Calif.(CanyonSpringsHS) 2 NikoGallego INF Jr. R/R 5-11 180 2V YorbaLinda,Calif.(EsperanzaHS) 3 SteveRodriguez C So. L/R 6-1 195 1V Lomita,Calif.(St.JohnBoscoHS) 4 AaronWeimer INF Fr. L/R 5-11 175 HS Fresno,Calif.(BullardHS) 5 TylerRahmatulla INF So. R/R 5-11 180 1V MissionViejo,Calif.(MaterDeiHS) 7 CodyKeefer OF Fr. L/R 6-1 190 HS Davis,Calif.(DavisSeniorHS) 8 MattDrummond LHP RSJr. L/L 6-1 190 2V PasoRobles,Calif.(PasoRoblesHS) 9 BlairDunlap INF/OF RSSr. R/R 6-0 190 3V MissionViejo,Calif.(SantaMargaritaHS)11 TrevorBrown C Fr. R/R 6-2 170 HS Valencia,Calif.(HartHS)12 GerritCole RHP So. R/R 6-4 220 1V SantaAna,Calif.(OrangeLutheranHS)14 DeanEspy INF So. R/R 6-1 210 TR Mesa,Ariz.(SouthMountainCC)15 JustinUribe 1B Sr. L/L 5-11 175 3V SantaAna,Calif.(FoothillHS)16 IanWilliams RHP Fr. R/R 6-3 185 HS SantaRosa,Calif.(St.VincentHS)17 DennisHolt OF/LHP Fr. L/L 6-2 185 HS YorbaLinda,Calif.(EsperanzaHS)18 CodyRegis INF Fr. L/R 6-2 215 HS Glendora,Calif.(GlendoraHS)20 JeffGelalich OF Fr. L/R 6-1 195 HS LaVerne,Calif.(BonitaHS)21 ChrisGiovinazzo OF Jr. R/R 6-0 200 2V LagunaHills,Calif.(LagunaHillsHS)23 DanKlein RHP RSSo. R/R 6-3 195 1V LosAlamitos,Calif.(ServiteHS)24 BrettKrill OF Jr. R/R 6-4 225 2V LagunaNiguel,Calif.(AlisoNiguelHS)25 BeauAmaral OF Fr. L/L 5-10 175 HS HuntingtonBeach,Calif.(HuntingtonBeachHS)26 JordanHaver RHP Sr. R/R 6-5 210 3V LongBeach,Calif.(WilsonHS)27 RobRasmussen LHP Jr. R/L 5-11 170 2V Arcadia,Calif.(PasadenaPoly)30 MarcNavarro OF RSSo. L/R 5-11 175 1V LagunaNiguel,Calif.(SantaMargaritaHS)31 MattGrace LHP Jr. L/L 6-4 210 2V PalosVerdesEstates,Calif.(PalosVerdesHS)32 TylerHeineman C Fr. S/R 5-10 170 HS PacificPalisades,Calif.(WindwardSchool)33 ErikGoeddel RHP RSSo. R/R 6-3 185 1V Hillsborough,Calif.(BellarminePrepHS)34 ChaseBrewer RHP RSFr. R/R 6-4 210 RS ParadiseValley,Ariz.(ChaparralHS)35 MitchellBeacom LHP RSSo. L/L 6-8 235 1V SanDiego,Calif.(UniversityCItyHS)36 MattGiovinazzo INF Fr. R/R 6-1 190 FR LagunaHills,Calif.(LagunaHillsHS)38 GarettClaypool RHP Sr. R/R 6-2 180 3V WestHills,Calif.(ElCaminoRealHS)40 RyanDeeter RHP Fr. R/R 6-0 165 HS Newark,Calif.(NewarkMemorialHS)41 BrandonLodge RHP RSSo. R/R 6-2 185 RS CotodeCaza,Calif.(TesoroHS)44 MattMosher 1B RSFr. L/R 6-5 235 RS MenloPark,Calif.(Menlo-AthertonHS)47 TrevorBauer RHP So. R/R 6-1 175 1V Valencia,Calif.(HartHS)48 ScottGriggs RHP Fr. R/R 6-4 205 HS Alamo,Calif.(SanRamonValleyHS)
2010 ROSTER
Pronunciation GuideBeauAmaral BOHAM-er-allBauer BOU-wurNikoGallego NEE-kohgah-YAY-goGelalich JELL-uh-litchGiovinazzo JOH-vin-not-zohGoeddel guh-DELLHaver HAY-verMosher MOH-sherPearse purseRahmatulla rah-mah-TOO-luhRasmussen RASS-muh-suhnUribe yur-EE-bayWeimer WY-mer
JAMES CHENstudent manager
MIKE SONDHEIMERa.d., academic admissions services
JUAN MENDOZAstudent manager
JIMMY SMUDAstaff athletic trainer
HELEN CORDOVAstudent athletic trainer
JORGE SINCUIRstudent athletic trainer
RAY WEISENBARGERathletic performance
KEN RAVIZZAsports psychologist
PHIL HOLLENBAUGHequipment manager
AARON GIACOSAacademic advisor
DON MORRISONfaculty athletic representative
CHRIS MALMEmarketing
TYLER SMITHvideo coordinator
TOM SNYDERpublic address announcer
CHRIS ROMOfield manager
LEAH WALLERadministrative assistant
UCLA Baseball Program Staff
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TV/RADIO ROSTER
2 – Niko Gallego5-11, 180 – INFIELDER – JR.
YORBA LINDA, CALIF.
3 – Steve Rodriguez6-1, 185 – CATCHER – SO.
LOMITA, CALIF.
4 – Aaron Weimer5-11, 175 – INFIELDER – FR.
FRESNO, CALIF.
5 – Tyler Rahmatulla5-11, 180 – INFIELDER – SO.
MISSION VIEJO, CALIF.
1 – Adrian Williams6-0, 170 – INFIELDER – SO.
MORENO VALLEY, CALIF.
8 – Matt Drummond6-1, 190 – LHP – RS JR.
PASO ROBLES, CALIF.
9 – Blair Dunlap6-0, 190 – INF/OF – RS SR.
MISSION VIEJO, CALIF.
11 – Trevor Brown6-2, 170 – CATCHER – FR.
VALENCIA, CALIF.
12 – Gerrit Cole6-4, 220 – RHP – SO.SANTA ANA, CALIF.
7 – Cody Keefer6-1, 190 – OUTFIELDER – FR.
DAVIS, CALIF.
15 – Justin Uribe5-11, 175 – FIRST BASEMAN – SR.
SANTA ANA, CALIF.
16 – Ian Williams6-3, 185 – RHP – FR.
PETALUMA, CALIF.
17 – Dennis Holt6-2, 185 – OF/LHP – FR.
YORBA LINDA, CALIF.
18 – Cody Regis6-2, 215 – INFIELDER – FR.
GLENDORA, CALIF.
14 – Dean Espy6-1, 210 – INFIELDER – SO.
MESA, ARIZ.
21 – Chris Giovinazzo6-0, 200 – OUTFIELDER – JR.
LAGUNA HILLS, CALIF.
23 – Dan Klein6-3, 195 – RHP – RS SO.LOS ALAMITOS, CALIF.
24 – Brett Krill6-4, 225 – OUTFIELDER – JR.
LAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIF.
25 – Beau Amaral5-10, 175 – OUTFIELDER – FR.HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF.
20 – Jeff Gelalich6-1, 195 – OUTFIELDER – FR.
LA VERNE, CALIF.
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TV/RADIO ROSTER
27 – Rob Rasmussen5-11, 170 – LHP – JR.
ARCADIA, CALIF.
30 – Marc Navarro5-11, 175 – OUTFIELDER – RS SO.
LAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIF.
31 – Matt Grace6-4, 210 – LHP – JR.
PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CALIF.
32 – Tyler Heineman5-10, 175 – CATCHER – FR.PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIF.
26 – Jordan Haver6-5, 210 – RHP – SR.LONG BEACH, CALIF.
34 – Chase Brewer6-4, 210 – RHP – RS FR.PARADISE VALLEY, ARIZ.
35 – Mitchell Beacom6-8, 235 – LHP – RS SO.
SAN DIEGO, CALIF.
36 – Matt Giovinazzo6-1, 190 – INFIELDER – FR.
LAGUNA HILLS, CALIF.
33 – Erik Goeddel6-3, 185 – RHP – RS SO.HILLSBOROUGH, CALIF.
40 – Ryan Deeter6-0, 165 – RHP – FR.
NEWARK, CALIF.
41 – Brandon Lodge6-2, 185 – RHP – RS SO.
COTO DE CAZA, CALIF.
44 – Matt Mosher6-5, 235 – FIRST BASEMAN – RS FR.
MENLO PARK, CALIF.
47 – Trevor Bauer6-1, 175 – RHP – SO.
VALENCIA, CALIF.
38 – Garett Claypool6-2, 175 – RHP – SR.WEST HILLS, CALIF.
22 – John SavageHEAD COACH6TH SEASON
28 – Rick VanderhookASSISTANT COACH
2ND SEASON
10 – Steve PearseASSISTANT COACH
2ND SEASON
6 – P.C. ShawASSISTANT COACH
4TH SEASON
48 – Scott Griggs6-4, 205 – RHP – FR.
ALAMO, CALIF.