Baseball Hoping for Better Weather at UC Santa Barbara
Feb. 25, 1998
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
Oregon State at UC Santa Barbara (2), noon
(Radio: KLOO-AM, 1340)
SUNDAY, MARCH 1
Oregon State at UC Santa Barbara, 1 p.m.
(Radio: KLOO-AM, 1340)
Oregon State (5-2 overall) returns to California for the second straight weekend, hoping for better weather than the last time around. The Beavers had two games washed away in last week's San Diego Baseball Classic in San Diego, and now stand four games behind schedule.
Both OSU and UCSB had games rained out at the tournament, and there is a chance this weekend's series could be extended to four games. A decision will be reached later in the week.
The series will be a rematch of a February 18 game in San Diego that saw the Gauchos take an 11-7 win.
"They're a good club," OSU head coach Pat Casey said of UCSB. "They swing the bats well and play good defense. They're a solid club. They played good baseball the day we played them."
The Beavers, on the other hand, played two of their poorest games of the year that day, also losing 6-3 to San Diego State. OSU will be out to make a better showing this weekend.
"I hope so," Casey said. "I don't think we played particularly well (against UCSB). It all starts on the mound, and we weren't too good on the mound. We couldn't get anybody out when we had to, and they scored a lot of runs with two out.
"We've got to do a better job of swinging the bats and we've got to do a better job of pitching."
UCSB (4-5-1) went 3-1 in the tournament, beating Oregon State 11-7, beating host San Diego State 20-1, losing to Washington 17-9, and beating New Mexico 12-3. The Gauchos are led by Chad Peshke, who is hitting .457 with 1 home run and 11 runs batted in; Justin Gemoll, who is batting .405 with 2 homer and 15 RBIs; Bryan LaCour, who is batting .394 with 1 homer and 14 RBIs; and Justin Lehr, who is batting .385 with 9 RBIs.
OSU Probable Lineup (batting order will vary)
C-Ben Bertrand, sr. (The Dalles, Ore./Chemeketa CC); .480, 2 HRs, 7 RBIs
1B-Matt Bailie, sr. (Hillsboro, Ore./Hillsboro HS); .500, 2 HRs, 14 RBIs; or Joe Gerber, so. (Portland, Ore./Grant HS); .00, 1 RBI
2B-Corrie Willkie, jr. (Mission Viejo, Calif./Saddleback JC); .406, 5 RBIs
SS-Troy Schader, jr. (La Center, Wash./Green River CC); .111; or Brian Duerr, so. (Bellevue, WA/O'Dea HS), .100, 2 RBIs
3B-Ryan Lipe, sr. (Klamath Falls, Ore./Mazama HS), .429, 1 HR, 10 RBIs
LF-Greg Conley, jr. (Sequim, Wash./Arizona Western CC); .263, 1 HR, 5 RBIs; or Drew Hedges, so. (Portland, Ore./Beaverton HS), 273
CF-Jason Stranberg, sr. (Ashland, Ore./Mt. Hood CC); .259, 1 RBI
RF-Rob Colley, jr. (Tenino, Wash./Lower Columbia CC); .333, 2 RBIs
DH-Greg Conley, jr. (Sequim, Wash./Arizona Western CC); 263, 1 HR, 5 RBIs; or Drew Hedges, so. (Portland, Ore./Beaverton HS), .273; or Curtis Davis, fr. (Corvallis, Ore./Corvallis HS), 333, 1 RBI
OSU Starting Pitchers (rotation will vary)
RHP-Andrew Checketts, sr. (West Linn, Ore./Florida), 2-0, 2.25
RHP-Chris Pine, jr. (Tigard, Ore./Tualatin HS), 1-0, 4.09
RHP-B.R. Cook, so. (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS), 0-1, 9.53; or LHP-Joe Gerber, so. (Portland, Ore./Grant HS), 1-0, 0.00; or LHP-Brody Percell, sr. (Portland, Ore./Beaverton HS), 0-1, 5.14
OSU Bullpen
RHP-Mike Boire, jr. (Tigard, Ore./Tigard HS), 0-0, 5.40
RHP-Jason Bronson, sr. (Roseburg, Ore./Mississippi), 0-0, 2.25
RHP-Matt Bailie, sr. (Aloha, Ore./Hillsboro HS)
LHP-Val Mencas, sr. (Medford, Ore./North Medford HS), 1-0, 0.00
Ancient History
All-Time Series vs. This Week's Opponents: Oregon State is 5-6 all-time against Cal-Santa Barbara in a series that dates back to 1968. The Gauchos are on a one-game winning streak after beating the Beavers 11-7 last week in the San Diego Baseball Classic at San Diego State; that ended a four-game win streak by the Beavers in the series.Ouch, That's Gotta Hurt
Injury Report: Oregon State will be without one player this weekend, and it's an important one - righthanded pitcher Mark Newell. Newell left the season-opener against South Florida in the top of the fourth inning with pain in his right elbow; an MRI exam showed a new tear in one of his elbow ligaments. It is possible that Newell could return this season, depending on how the arm heals.
The rest of the Beavers are healthy.
Last Week: Sometimes You Win, Somtimes You Lose, and Sometimes ...
It Rains; but Casey Gets 100th Win
Oregon State split its four counting games at San Diego State's San Diego Baseball Classic, losing to Cal-Santa Barbara 11-7 and San Diego State 6-3 on February 18 before beating New Mexico 11-0 on February 20 and San Diego 8-3 on February 21. The Beavers also beat CENTYS Universidad of Mexico 5-2 in a non-counting game on February 19 and were rained out of their tournament finale vs. Minnesota on February 22.
The win over San Diego was OSU head coach Pat Casey's 100th victory at the school. That capped a hectic week in which the Beavers faced a tournament schedule that was constantly changing with rain in the San Diego area. The Beavers' win over New Mexico came after a 2 1/2-hour van ride to Yuma, Ariz., where the tourney moved for most of Friday's games.
But It's a Warm Rain
Oregon State's Tropical Rainouts: In the past two seasons, OSU has had its schedule altered because of rain in three of the places you might least expect it - Florida, California and Hawaii.
From February 18-22, the Beavers found their schedule jumbled by the rain while at San Diego State's San Diego Baseballl Classic; OSU wound up playing one tournament game in Yuma, Ariz., and had another rained out.
The weekend of February 15, Oregon State had a game rescheduled because of rain while playing in the Florida Marlins Invitational at Melbourne, Fla. A week earlier, OSU's season-opening series at San Jose State was rained out before the Beavers ever left Corvallis.
On the first weekend of the 1997 season, Oregon State had one game of a doubleheader at Hawaii-Hilo cancelled because of rain.
Making History
All-Time Record: Oregon State's all-time record in varsity baseball is now 1,586-1,067-14, a winning percentage of .597. OSU's all-time record in conference games is now 718-492, a winning percentage of .593.
Ride, Captains, Ride
1998 Team Captains: Oregon State has four team captains for 1998: senior catcher Ben Bertrand, senior pitcher Andrew Checketts, senior third baseman Ryan Lipe, and senior outfielder Jason Stranberg. Checketts and Lipe were also captains in 1997.
Looking into the Crystal Ball
Preseason Predictions: Oregon State is a concensus pick to finish second behind Washington in the Pacific-10 Northern Division race. The Beavers are tabbed for second place by the division's coaches, Baseball America magazine and Collegiate Baseball magazine.
Baseball America's ranking of all the nation's Division I programs has Oregon State 48th.
In its Players to Watch section, Collegiate Baseball named four Beavers: junior pitcher Mark Newell, senior pitcher Andrew Checketts, senior third baseman Ryan Lipe and senior catcher Ben Bertrand.
Casey in the Dugout Hits 100
Head Coach Pat Casey: Pat Casey is in his fourth season as Oregon State's head baseball coach, and he picked up his 100th victory at the school when the Beavers beat San Diego 8-3 at USD on February 21. He has a record of 100-54-3 with the Beavers. His career college head coaching record is 268-166-4, which includes seven years at George Fox University in Newberg.
Casey is the fourth OSU baseball head coach to reach 100 victories at the school, following Ralph Coleman (561), Gene Tanselli (115) and Jack Riley (613). Casey reached the mark quickest, as it took Coleman until his ninth season at Oregon State and it took both Tanselli and Riley until their fifth seasons.
Casey came to OSU from George Fox in the fall of 1994 after leading the Bruins to a 171-113-1 record. George Fox won three NAIA District 2 titles during that time.
It's Just Plain Old Home
Coleman Field: Coleman Field may not have a lot of frills at the moment, but that's never bothered Beaver baseball teams. Oregon State has been playing on the same site since starting varsity baseball in 1907; the Beavers are 827-348-1 at home for a winning percentage of .704. In 1997, OSU was 16-4 at Coleman Field.
At the conclusion of the season, work will begin on Goss Stadium at Coleman Field. The structure, which will open for the 1999 season, will seat approximately 1,500 people and include a press box, concession/lobby area, dugouts, locker rooms, men's and women's restrooms and storage areas.
The Long and Winding Road
Oregon State Home Openers: Oregon State will play its first 18 games of the 1998 season away from Coleman Field. OSU's March 11 home opener against Portland is the latest the Beavers have scheduled a home opener since 1989, when they met Western Oregon on March 11; the last time a home opener was later than that was in 1982, when OSU met Pacific (Ore.) on March 13.
After those 18 games away from home, the Beavers will play 21 of their final 35 games at Coleman Field.
Pacific-10 Positioning
1998 Pacific-10 Standings (Through February 22)
NORTHERN DIVISION
W L Pct. GB
Oregon State (5-2) 0 0 .000 -
Portland State (2-5) 0 0 .000 -
Washington (5-2) 0 0 .000 -
Washington State (5-4) 0 0 .000 -
SOUTHERN DIVISION
W L Pct. GB
Stanford (13-0-1) 3 0 .000 -
Arizona State (12-3) 2 0 1.000 1/2
Southern California (10-3) 2 1 .667 1
UCLA (7-7) 2 3 .400 2
Arizona (17-2) 1 2 .333 2
California (2-8-1) 0 4 .000 3 1/2
Northern Lights
Pacific-10 Northern Division Players of the Week: Oregon State's Chris Pine was named the Northern Division Pitcher of the Week for February 16-22. Pine earned the win in an 8-3 victory at San Diego, pitching 7 scoreless innings, striking out a career-high 13 while allowing 2 hits and 2 walks.
OSU swept the honors for February 9-15, as second baseman Corrie Willkie was named Player of the Week and Andrew Checketts was Pitcher of the Week.
Won't You Run Home, Matt Bailie
Matt Bailie, Senior First Baseman: Batting .500 with 2 home runs, team-high 14 runs batted in, 7 runs scored ... last week, batted .467 (7-for-15) with 1 home run, 8 RBIs in 4 games ... February 21 at San Diego, set career-high for hits and tied career-high for RBIS by going 4-for-4 with a 3-run homer, 4 RBIs ... has at least one hit in every game this season ... five multi-hit games.
The Big Bert
Ben Bertrand, Senior Catcher: Batting .480 with 2 home runs, 7 RBIs this season; has drawn 8 walks and has team-high 11 runs scored ... last week, batted .500 (8-for-16) with 2 home runs, 1 triple, 2 doubles, 4 RBIs and drew 4 walks in 4 games ... has 4 multi-hit games, including 3 three-hit games ... has thrown out 6 of 12 runners attempting to steal on him this season ... February 18 in back-to-back games vs. Cal-Santa Barbara and San Diego State, went 6-for-10 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 3 RBIs.
Boire Really Something Else
Mike Boire, Senior Relief Pitcher: Record of 0-0, 0 saves, 5.40 ERA this season ... last week, had career-high by going 4.1 innings vs. Cal-Santa Barbara; allowed 5 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits and struck out 2.
Then Came Bronson
Jason Bronson, Senior Relief Pitcher: Record of 0-0, 0 saves, 2.25 ERA this season ... last week, pitched February 18 in back-to-back games against Cal-Santa Barbara and San Diego State for first appearances of season; went total of 4.0 innings, allowed 1 run (1 earned) on 3 hits, walked 1, struck out 3.
Cash or Checketts
Andrew Checketts, Senior Starting Pitcher: Record of 2-0, 2.25 ERA ... last week, earned win in 8-3 victory at San Diego as he went 7.0 innings, 9 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 1 walk, 4 strikeouts ... Pacific-10 Northern Divison Pitcher of the Week for February 9-15 after beating Central Florida 7-2; went 5.0 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 walks, struck out 5.
Colley All Cars
Rob Colley, Junior Outfielder: Batting .333, 0 homers, 6 RBIs this season ... last week, batted .385 (5-for-13) in 3 games ... February 18 vs. Cal-Santa Barbara, went 4-for-4.
Pro or Conley
Greg Conley, Junior Outfielder/Designated Hitter: Batting .263 with 1 home run, 5 RBIs this season ... last week, batted .273 (3-for-11), 2 RBIs in 3 games ... in first game as a Beaver on February 13 vs. South Florida, went 2-for-3 and hit 3-run homer in first at-bat.
He Really Knows How to Cook
B.R. Cook, Sophomore Starting Pitcher: Record of 0-1, 9.53 ERA this season ... last week vs. Cal-Santa Barbara on February 18, went 5.2 innings, 8 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), walked 2, struck out 3.
Crash ... it's Davis
Curtis Davis, Freshman Designated Hitter: Batting .333, 1 RBI this season ... last week, batted .250 (2-for-8) in 3 games ... also went 2-for-3 and doubled vs. CENTYS Universidad of Mexico in a non-counting game February 19 ... February 21 at San Diego, doubled and drove in a run.
Just Duerr Best
Brian Duerr, Sophomore Infielder: Batting .100, 2 RBIS this season ... last week, batted .000 (0-for-5) in 3 games ... has played in every game, started twice ... February 15 vs. Central Florida, delivered 2-run single.
Gerber is Sharp
Joe Gerber, Sophomore First Baseman/Pitcher: Batting .200, 1 RBI this season ... 1-0, 0.00 ERA this season ... last week, batted .125 (1-for-8) in 4 games ... pitched win vs. Florida Atlantic on February 14, 4.0 innings in relief, 0 runs, 3 hits, walked 2, struck out 3.
Hedges in the Outfield
Drew Hedges, Sophomore Outfielder: Batting .273 this season ... last week, batted .333 (2-for-6) in 4 games ... on 2-game hitting streak.
That's Lipe; That's What the People Say
Ryan Lipe, Senior Third Baseman: Batting .429, 1 home run, 10 RBIs this season; team-high 3-for-3 stolen bases ... last week, batted .353 (6-for-17), 4 RBIs in 4 games ... has at least 1 hit in every game this season ... 5 multi-hit games ... February 14 vs. Florida Atlantic, was 2-for-5, 5 RBIs, 3-run homer.
That Touch of Mencas
Val Mencas, Senior Relief Pitcher: Record of 1-0, 0.00 ERA this season ... last week, 0-0, 0.00 ERA in 2 games; worked total of 3 innings, 0 runs, 3 hits, 0 walks, struck out 2 ... earned win February 13 vs. South Florida with 3.1 innings in relief, 0 runs, 2 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts.
What's Newell?
Mark Newell, Senior Starting Pitcher: Record of 0-0, 8.10 ERA this season ... left Opening Day game February 13 vs. South Florida after 3.1 innings, 3 runs (3 earned), 8 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout with pain in right elbow ... MRI showed tear in ligament; unknown at this time whether he will return this season.
The Brody Bunch
Brody Percell, Senior Pitcher: Record of 0-1, 5.14 ERA this season ... last week, took loss in 6-3 defeat at San Diego State in first start of season, 5.0 innings, 5 runs (4 earned), 8 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts.
Doing Just Pine, Thank You
Chris Pine, Junior Starting Pitcher: Record of 1-0, 4.09 ERA this season ... last week, named Pacific-10Conference Northern Division Pitcher of the Week after he had a career-high 13 strikeouts in 11-0 win over New Mexico; 7.0 innings, 0 runs, 2 walks.
Made in the Schader
Troy Schader, Junior Shortstop: Batting .111 this season ... last week, batted .111 (1-for-9) in 4 games ... ended 4-game hitless streak with single in 8-3 win at San Diego.
Fryin' Stranberg
Jason Stranberg, Senior Outfielder: Batting .259, 1 RBI this season; 4 doubles, team-high 9 walks ... last week, batted .250 (4-for-16), 1 RBI, 2 doubles in 4 games ... has 1 hit in every game this season.
The Willkie Way
Corrie Willkie, Junior Second Baseman: Batting .406, 5 RBIs, 1 homer this season; 10 runs scored ... last week, batted .263 (5-for-19), 1 homer, 5 RBIs ... 4-multi-hit games ... 5-game hitting streak February 13-18; during streak, batted .500 (12-for-24), 3 doubles, 4 RBIs and had 4 multi-hit games, including three straight 3-hit games.
Live, from Coleman Field, it's ...
Television: Oregon State's home game against Arizona on March 28 will be televised live on Fox Sports Net. Three other Beaver games will be televised by Fox Sports Northwest on a tape delay basis: March 23 at Washington State, to be replayed at a time to be announced on March 24; April 26 vs. Washington State, to be replayed at 1 p.m. April 27; and May 3 at Washington, to be replayed at a time to be announced on May 4.
Radio Days
Radio: Almost all of Oregon State's 1998 baseball games can be heard on KLOO-AM (1340) in Corvallis. All of OSU's games at Cal-Santa Barbara this weekend will be broadcast, with Ray Pietz calling the action.
