Baseball Notes in .pdf format
Coming Attractions: The Arizona baseball team will kick off its 2001 season with a 2,860 mile road trip from the mainland to the Big Island of Hawaii. The Wildcats, 26-30 finishers a season ago, will take on Hawaii-Hilo in four-game set that includes a doubleheader sandwiched between two single games. The two schools have met 11 times in their respective histories with Arizona holding a 9-2 advantage. The two teams last met in 1999 with UA sweeping the three-game series. Arizona's last shutout was against the Vulcans, a 6-0 UA victory on January 28, 1999.
A Look at the Wildcats: Arizona begins the new season with a bevy of proven hitters and run scorers. The heart of the order will feature seniors Erik Torres (.286-8 HR-33 RBI) and Ernie Durazo (.365-11-51) and juniors Shelley Duncan (.338-11-40) and Kenny Huff (.305-6-25). The Wildcats will feature almost a completely new pitching rotation and bullpen and will call on a number of new faces to play key rolls in 2001. Junior Brian Pemble returns as the only starter from a season ago. Joining him on the mound will be newcomers Sean Rierson, David Brockman, Kevin Sears, Brian Anderson, Jason Marinez and Joe Little. All told the Cats will have 15 new pitchers on the staff this season. The Wildcats will host 37 of their 56 regular season games at Frank Sancet Field in Tucson.
It's a Rare Thing: For just the third time since 1960 the Arizona baseball team will open its season with a road trip. Joining the 1972 (UCLA), and 1997 (Hawaii-Hilo) squads as the only teams to leave the Old Pueblo to begin the season during that 40-year span, the 2001 Wildcats will have to face the Vulcans of Hawaii-Hilo on their home turf. The '72 team won the three game series with UCLA 2-1 and the '97 squad went 3-1 against Hawaii-Hilo.
Off and Running: The Wildcats are 4-0 in season openers under head coach Jerry Stitt and are 8-2 since 1991. Arizona has outscored its opponents 93-50 on opening day during that span.
Head Coach Jerry Stitt: Entering his fifth season as the skipper of Arizona baseball, head coach Jerry Stitt has compiled a 124-102 record in his first four seasons. In 1999 he took the Wildcats to the postseason for the first time since 1993. Only the fourth coach to lead Arizona since 1922, Stitt also played three seasons for the Wildcats from 1966-68. He joined the Arizona staff in 1978 as an assistant coach. In 1992 he was named associate head coach before being promoted to the head spot on July 3, 1996.
In Dedication to Kelsey: The Wildcats have dedicated the 2001 season to their teammate Kelsey Osburn. Osburn, an infielder for Arizona the past two seasons, passed away on July 17, 2000 after being struck by a ball during batting practice in a summer league game in New York. The Wildcats have his number, 41, stitched into the back of their caps and will retire his number in a pregame ceremony before UA's game against BYU on Jan. 27. The Osburn family has established a scholarship fund in his honor for future Wildcat athletes. Please contact the UA Development Office at (520) 621-8081 for more details about the scholarship fund.
Retired Numbers: Kelsey Osburn's #41 will join a select group on the left field wall of Frank Sancet Field. Arizona has retired only three numbers in its history; former head coach Jerry Kindall's #9, former assistant coach Jim Wing's #8 and former All-American Terry Francona's #32.
Preseason Honors: Junior outfielder Shelley Duncan has be named to two preseason All-America teams in 2001. A second-team All-American by Baseball America and a third-team Collegiate Baseball honoree, it is the second consecutive year that he has been named All-America by both publications. Duncan, who is recovering from a season-ending elbow injury suffered last year, hit .338 in 32 games while tying for the team lead in home runs with 11.
Touch Em All: Shelley Duncan needs only six home runs this season to become Arizona's all-time career leader in four baggers. Duncan swatted a freshman record 20 home runs in 1999 and tallied 11 in 32 games last season . His total of 31 currently is tied for fourth on the all-time list with Todd Trafton (1983-86). Kenny Corley, who played for Arizona from 1995-98, is the all-time leader with 36. Corley's brother, Klent, is a right-handed pitcher for the Wildcats.
New Faces: Wildcat fans may need a score card the first couple of games at the ball park this season. 20 newcomers to the program will suit up for Arizona in 2001, including 15 new pitchers.
The Class of 2005: Arizona has already signed 10 members to its 2001-2002 recruiting class. The class includes five infielders, three pitchers, a catcher and an outfielder. Says head coach Jerry Stitt, This is as good a recruiting class as we've have had in the last five years. Coupled with the outstanding 2000-2001 class, we have the makings of a very good squad.
Arizona Recruits
Jesus Cota- 1B- Tucson, Ariz./Pima CC
J.J. Hardy- SS/P- Tucson,Ariz./Sabino HS
John Hardy -INF- Boise, Idaho/ Centennial HS
Chris Marini- OF- Gelndale, Ariz./Ironwood HS
Will Miller - RHP- Poway, Calif./Poway HS
Rich Mercado- C- Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS
Chris Saenz- RHP- Tucson, Ariz./Pima CC
Jason Snyder- RHP- Sandy, Utah/Alta HS
Jason St. Clair- SS- Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista HS
Will Thompson- 1B- Missoula, Mont./Loyola Sacred Heart HS
