#7 Houston (15-7) vs. Arizona (15-12)
March 14, 2000
Sancet Field
THIS WEEK: Arizona (15-12) plays host to seventh-ranked Houston for a
single contest before opening Pac-10 play against California in Tucson this
weekend. Saturday's game will be played at Hi Corbett Field to avoid
congestion surrounding the University of Arizona campus which is serving as
host of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament First- and Second-Round.
WILDCAT NOTES: Erik Torres had
played in 80 consecutive games before sitting out the Cats' March 10
contest with UC Santa Barbara ... The Cats' three wins over Tulane
(2/25-27) marked the first time the Green Wave had been swept in a series
since losing three vs. Indiana (2/28-3/2/97) ... Wildcat pinch-hitters are
19-for-51 (.373) with two homers and 13 RBI this year after hitting
.191-0-4 with just nine hits in 1999 ... Arizona's 23 runs at TAMU-CC
(2/16) were its most in a single game since a 25-6 home victory over
Portland State (2/13/98) ... Ryan O'Donnell collected a pair of two-run
pinch-hit singles in the sixth inning of the Cats' 21-7 victory over San
Francisco (1/29). In one inning, O'Donnell matched Arizona's entire
pinch-hit RBI total from a year ago with four ... The Cats scored 12 runs
in the sixth inning of their Jan. 29 contest with USF, the most for a UA
team in one inning since posting 16 in the seventh inning of a 40-10
victory over St. Francis in Tucson (2/22/95) ... Arizona is 146-5 (.967)
dating back to 1993 in games it led after eight innings and 240-9 (.964)
going back to 1990.
SATURDAY'S GAME MOVED: The Cats' March 18 game with California has been
moved to Hi Corbett field to avoid conflict with the second-round NCAA
Basketball Tournament games being held at the University of Arizona.
DIGGINS' FIRSTS: Ben Diggins accomplished a pair of Arizona firsts in tying
a school record with six consecutive strike outs vs. UC Santa Barbara
(3/12). Though he is 10th Wildcat hurler to fan six straight batters, he is
the first to do so in a relief appearance. He also became the first UA
pitcher to strike out the first six hitters he faced.
WILDCAT RECORDS: Ben Diggins became the 10th pitcher in Arizona history to
strike out six consecutive batters vs. UC Santa Barbara (3/12). He is the
first Wildcat player to strike out the first six batters he faced and the
first reliever to fan six hitters in a row ... Shelley Duncan has a
school-record six career multiple-home run games ... Arizona batters were
hit by a school-record six pitches vs. Tulane (2/26) ... Shelley Duncan
equaled UA's individual record for hit by pitches in a game with three vs.
Tulane (2/26) ... The Wildcats tied their single-game school record for
triples with five vs. New Mexico (2/5) ... Arizona pitchers set a school
record by hitting six batters in a single game vs. San Francisco (1/30) ...
Though it pains me to say, Arizona set school records for runs allowed
(32), earned runs allowed (25), total bases allowed (54) and largest margin
of defeat (29) at Arizona State (3/4) and also matched the UA record for
home runs allowed (7) in a single contest.
DURAZO'S HIT STREAK: Junior first baseman Ernie Durazo didn't miss a beat
when he returned to the Wildcat lineup vs. UC Santa Barbara (3/12). After
missing six games due to a pulled hamstring, Durazo went 2-for-4 in his
first game back, extending his career-long hitting streak to 17. His run is
the longest by a Wildcat since Diego Rico hit in 21 straight Feb. 2-March
8, 1997. Only three players, Willie Morales (23), Rico and Robbie Moen
(19), had longer hitting streaks in the 1990s than Durazo, who has hit
safely in all 18 of his starts this season.
DUNCAN SETS MARK: Sophomore right fielder Shelley Duncan posted
back-to-back two-home run games against Nevada (2/12-13), becoming the
first player in Arizona history to have more than four multi-homer games in
his career. Duncan has done so six times. He joined Colin Porter (vs. USC,
3/20-21/98) as the only Wildcats to homer twice in consecutive games.
Dennis Haines had a pair of multiple home run games in both 1972 and '74.
In 1993, George Arias had four two-homer games.
Duncan has 28 home runs in only 74 career games, just eight shy of Kenny
Corley's career Arizona mark of 36.
STITT'S 100TH: Arizona's 5-2 victory over Saint Mary's (1/23) marked the
100th of head coach Jerry Stitt's career. In just his fourth season, Stitt
joins J.F. "Pop" McKale, Frank Sancet and Jerry Kindall as the only Arizona
coaches to reach the century mark in victories.
DIGGINS RECOGNIZED: Sophomore right-hander/designated hitter Ben Diggins
earned both national player of the week honors from Collegiate Baseball and
Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week recognition for his work during the Tulane
series (2/25-27).
Diggins struck out a career-high 13 batters while throwing his second
consecutive complete game Friday (2/25) in Arizona's 4-3 win. He allowed
just two earned runs in becoming the first Wildcat pitcher since Ryan Frace
in 1995 to pitch back-to-back complete games. Saturday and Sunday, while
serving as the Cats' designated hitter, Diggins reached base nine times in
10 plate appearances. In the second game of the series (2/26), Diggins
homered twice and set career-highs in hits (4), RBI (5) and total bases
(10), leading UA to a 17-9 victory. For the week, Diggins compiled a 1.714
slugging percentage.
BEST TOOLS: Baseball America has announced its list of "Best Tools" in the
Pac-10, and three Wildcats were recognized. Junior Keoni DeRenne was named
the league's top defensive shortstop as well as its best base runner.
Senior center fielder Troy Gingrich was named the Pac-10's fastest runner.
And sophomore right-hander Ben Diggins has the best fastball in the
conference, according to BA. The magazine also names a preseason All-Pac-10
team to which Duncan was listed as an outfielder and Diggins as the utility
player.
SHABANSKY RETURNS: Senior left-hander Rob Shabansky made his first start
since opening day, 1999, with three innings vs. Tulane on Feb. 27.
Shabansky allowed two runs on four hits while striking out two to earn the
victory.
DURAZO'S DEFENSE: Junior Ernie Durazo went 35 consecutive games without an
error before a throwing miscue vs. USF (1/29). That was the longest
error-free streak by a Wildcat first baseman since Arizona joined the
Pac-10 in 1979. Marc Wing went 34 straight contests in 1983 and '84 without
an error. Durazo accepted 291 straight chances without committing an error.
Here are the longest error-free game streaks by UA first basemen in the
last 22 years:
Player Year (s) Games
1. Ernie Durazo 1999-00 35
2. Marc Wing 1983-84 34
3. Todd Landry 1993 31
4. Billy Owens 1990 24
5. Jeff Gjerde 1995 23
PRESEASON HONORS: Three Wildcats have earned a total of five preseason
All-America honors.
Sophomore right-hander Ben Diggins was named a first-team All-American by
Baseball America. Sophomore right fielder Shelley Duncan earned second-team
honors from BA and third-team recognition from Collegiate Baseball. Both
Collegiate Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers
Association named junior shortstop Keoni DeRenne a second-team preseason
All-American.
KNST-RADIO: KNST, AM-790, will carry 30 regular season games this season,
including each Pac-10 contest, plus all postseason action. The station has
served as UA's flagship station for 19 years. Sports director Brian
Jeffries and Ryan Radtke will handle the play-by-play duties.
DIGGINS ELIGIBLE FOR DRAFT: Sophomore right-hander Ben Diggins is eligible
for the major league baseball draft following this season due to an
exception in MLB's rules. Ordinarily, players at four-year colleges are not
eligible for the draft until following their junior year. However, an
exception to the rule allows players who turn 21 within 45 days of the
draft to be eligible. Diggins turns 21 on June 13, less than two weeks
after the draft.
DRAFT PREVIEW: Sophomore right-hander/designated hitter Ben Diggins figures
prominently in Baseball America's 2000 draft preview. Voted the No. 2
prospect for the draft coming out of college this year (behind California's
Xavier Nady), Diggins is called the best two-way player and the hardest
thrower available. He is also listed as one of the best athletes and
possible the best power hitter possibly coming out of college this year.
Junior shortstop Keoni DeRenne is rated the 75th-best draft prospect and
named as one of the best defensive players.
Sophomore right fielder Shelley Duncan is listed as the sixth-best prospect
available in the 2001 draft.
TEAM USA '99: Junior Keoni DeRenne and sophomores Ben Diggins and Shelley
Duncan were all part of the 1999 USA Baseball national squad that posted a
24-15 overall mark.
DeRenne was the team's starting shortstop and hit .376 with a remarkable
.506 on-base percentage. He drew 32 walks while striking out just 12 times.
Diggins served as the team's closer, posting a 2.05 earned-run average in a
team-high 16 appearances. He allowed just 10 base hits in 22.0 innings
under Arizona pitching coach Bill Kinneberg, who filled the same capacity
for Team USA. Duncan saw limited action before joining the Jayhawk League.
SHABANSKY TOPS IN '90s: Senior left-hander Rob Shabansky was Arizona's
winningest pitcher in the 1990s, despite missing all of 1999 with an elbow
injury. Shabanksy's 15 wins edged out James Johnson's 12 victories. Here
are the Cats' winningest pitchers by decade:
Decade Pitcher Record
1950s Don Lee 36-7
1960s Rich Hinton 32-8
1970s Dave Breuker 29-10
1980s Ed Vosberg 29-19
1990s Rob Shabanksy 15-8
RED-SHIRTS/INJURIES: Sophomore catcher Chris Cunningham has an injury to
his right wrist and is out indefinately.
Junior first baseman Ernie Durazo aggravated a strained hamstring vs.
Tulane (2/26) and missed the next six (2/27-3/11) games. He returned to the
lineup March 12 and collected two hits vs. UCSB.
Senior right-hander Dave Abbott will red-shirt the season following Tommy
John surgery last April 20. He plans to return for the 2001 campaign.
Junior right-hander Sam Shelton will miss the season as well.
Junior right-hander Ben Vigeland will red-shirt the year.
Sophomore right-hander Peter Fredericks is out indefinitely with a stress
fracture in his left foot.
ZASA SHINES: Sophomore public address announcer Jimmy Zasa returns for his
third season as "The Voice of the Wildcats." A favorite of fans and players
alike, Zasa is best known for his familiar call "Home Run Sheeelleeey
Dunnncannn." Zasa's enthusiasm and exuberance always bring out the
excitement in Wildcat fans everywhere. Bear Down!
ALUMNI GAME: San Diego Padre Jake Thrower's bases loaded triple capped a
five-run first inning, leading the Alumni to a 7-6 victory in Arizona's
annual All-Pro Alumni Game (2/6).
The Alumni hold an 11-3-2 advantage in the series, which began in 1982.
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Curt Schilling served as the Alumni's
guest manager.
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Scott Erickson earned the win, allowing just
one unearned run. Florida Marlins southpaw Ryan Moskau picked up the save
with a perfect seventh inning. Freshman lefty Nathan Duarte took the loss
for the Cats. For Arizona, sophomore right fielder Shelley Duncan went
two-for-two including a home run.
The alumni won the pregame home run hitting contest, 11-9, behind Alan
Zinter's six long balls.
DRAFTED CATS: Fourteen current Arizona players have been chosen a total of
17 times in the Major League Baseball Draft. Mike Meyer, Trevor Mote and
Rob Shabansky have been selected twice. Here's a complete list of players
drafted:
Player Year Club Round
Rob Shabansky 1995 Royals 68th
Tony Milo 1996 Mets 7th
Sam Shelton 1996 Dodgers 68th
Mike Meyer 1996 Dodgers 69th
Kevin Huff 1996 Dodgers 71st
Peter Fredericks 1997 Astros 10th
Ryan O'Donnell 1997 Padres 32nd
Trevor Mote 1997 Twins 32nd
Ben Diggins 1998 Cardinals 1st*
Trevor Mote 1998 Royals 30th
Rob Shabansky 1998 Red Sox 39th
Ernie Durazo 1998 Mariners 46th
Kenny Huff 1998 Blue Jays 47th
Mike Meyer 1999 Giants 14th
Matt Abram 1999 Diamondbacks 10th
Ken Riley 1999 Marlins 31st
Klent Corley 1999 Angels 48th
*---Sandwich Pick
HEAD COACH JERRY STITT: Jerry Stitt leads the Cats in his fourth season as
head coach.
After three straight last-place finishes in the Pac-10 South, Stitt has led
the Cats to back-to-back-to-back winning seasons and a return to postseason
play thanks to improved pitching and defense and, under his direct
tutelage, the continued success of Wildcat hitters.
Arizona qualified for an NCAA regional last year for the first time since
1993. The year before, the Cats ranked among the nation's leaders in
doubles, triples, homers, runs scored and slugging percentage while
reaching as high as No. 2 in one national poll.
Stitt has posted an 110-84 (.567) mark in his three seasons at the helm of
the Cats, earning his 100th career win vs. Saint Mary's Jan. 23.
He follows J.F. Pop McKale, Frank Sancet and Jerry Kindall as the only
head coaches since 1922 and is only the 14th coach in the 93-year history
of Arizona baseball.
Stitt was an All-American at UA in 1968 as a senior and was drafted in the
32nd round by the Cleveland Indians. He played three years in the Tribe
organization before moving to coaching.He joined the Cats' coaching staff
in 1978 and had been its associate head coach since 1992.
SANCET FIELD: Frank Sancet Field is in its 34th season as the home park of
Arizona baseball. The Cats have an 853-361-3 (.702) all-time mark at Sancet
Field. UA has had just three losing records at Sancet. Arizona was 20-11 at
home last year. Sunday's game with Saint Mary's was the Cats' 1,200 at Sancet.
The spacious park is 360 feet down the foul lines, 380 to the power alleys
and 400 to center field. A 12-foot fence comes in to left and right center
before giving way to a six-foot fence across the center field area. New
chair-back seats were installed last season behind home plate.
EARLY SIGNEES: Collegiate Baseball preseason All-Americans Moises Duran and
Jake Whitesides lead a deep and talented group of 13 high school and junior
college players who have inked letters of intent during the early signing
period to attend Arizona and play baseball beginning in the fall of 2000.
Eleven high school seniors and two junior college sophomores comprise the
group, which includes nine pitchers.
This is as strong a recruiting class as we have had, Jerry Stitt, who is
entering his fourth year as Arizona's head coach, said. It rivals the
first class we signed in 1997, which was ranked fourth in the nation.
Our first need in the near future is pitching, and we met that need with a
great group of young arms. Brian Anderson is the top pitching prospect in
Tucson. Plus, the addition of Moises Duran, Stephen Hunt, Ryan Richardson
and Jake Whitesides solidify positions that were in need of filling.
Duran is beyond question the best player in Tucson. He has tremendous bat
speed. Whitesides is one of the best prospects to sign with this program in
a long time. He's a tremendous high school player, and he'll make a
tremendous college player. This is a great class.
Richardson is the younger brother of former Wildcat pitcher Jim Richardson
(1988-89). Right-hander Sean Rierson was a member of the Chapparal HS that
finished the year ranked 20th in Collegiate Baseball's national poll last
season and was listed among that publication's list of high school
underclassmen to watch. Whitesides was voted No. 70 on Baseball America's
list of the top 100 high school prospects for the 2000 draft.
ARIZONA VS. UH: The Cats swept the Cougars in the 1960 District 6 Playoffs
in the only meeting ever between the two schools, clinching their third
straight College World Series berth and their sixth in seven years.
No. 7 Houston is the highest-ranked non-conference opponent Arizona has
faced since playing seventh-ranked Texas A&M in College Station, Feb.
14-16, 1997. The Cougars are the top-ranked non-Pac-10 opponent the Cats
have hosted since No. 3 Texas A&M visited Feb. 18-20, 1994.
LAST TIME vs. HOUSTON
Date W/L Score WP LP Save
6/2/60 W 4-3 Ward Wilson Zeller
6/3/60 W 6-4 Bergthold Thompson Zeller
PITCHING PROBABLES vs. HOUSTON
Tuesday (7 p.m.)
RHP Bryan Harris (2-0, 6.75) vs. TBA
Probable Wildcat Lineup
No. Pos. Player Class Ht. Wt. Hometown
1. 2 CF Troy Gingrich (L) Sr. 5-10 180 Apache Junction, Ariz.
2. 25 3B Trevor Mote (B) Jr. 6-1 185 Kingman, Ariz.
3. 11 SS Keoni DeRenne (B) Jr. 5-7 146 Honolulu, Hawaii
4. 18 RF Shelley Duncan So. 6-5 210 Tucson, Ariz.
5. 33 DH Ben Diggins So. 6-6 230 Prescott Valley, Ariz.
6. 44 1B Ernie Durazo (L) Jr. 5-9 195 Tucson, Ariz.
7. 12 LF Ryan O'Donnell (L) Jr. 6-0 180 Casa Grande, Ariz.
8. 24 2B Matt Abram Fr. 6-0 180 Scottsdale, Ariz.
9. 4 C Mike Meyer Sr. 6-2 180 Tucson, Ariz.
