Beavers Continue Busy Break
March 21, 2000
CORVALLIS, Ore. - It may be spring, but Oregon State (13-10 overall, 0-0 Pacific-10) won't get a break this week as it plays five games in five days against Portland (10-9, 1-4 West Coast) and Cal State-Northridge (9-16). Coming on the heels of last weekend's Continental Express Classic, that will give the Beavers a string of 11 games in nine days.
"We're getting a workout, that's for sure," OSU head coach Pat Casey said. "It's giving us a chance to find out what kind of club we could have before we get into conference play at the end of this month. Hopefully, we'll be able to get some people healthy this week and back into the lineup, and be able to get ourselves back into a little bit of a playing rhythm and not having to scramble quite as much."
The Beavers played last week's tournament at Texas A&M without injured infielders Will Hudson and Brian Barden. That left OSU patching together a lineup at times, particularly on the final day of the event, but Oregon State scratched out wins against Central Michigan and Texas A&M to take second place.
"After losing three straight games down there, we could have folded the tents and felt sorry for ourselves and just given up on the thing until we got people back," Casey said. "But this club wouldn't let that happen, and it really showed the kind of character you want to see out of a bunch of guys. They went out against two good teams and found ways to win when we weren't hitting the way we have been, we had guys playing out of position and we had to search for guys who were able to pitch.
"That's the kind of effort and desire that you can really start building a season on if it gets into a club's blood a little bit. It's not as though we played those last two games down there and suddenly we've arrived as a team, but it's a really good step. Now, we've got to make sure we don't come home and take a step backward."
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22
Oregon State at Portland, 2 p.m.
(Radio: Live on KLOO-AM 1340, joined in progress at 3 p.m.)
FRIDAY, MARCH 24
Cal State-Northridge at Oregon State, 2 p.m.
(Radio: Live on KLOO-AM 1340, joined in progress at 3 p.m.)
SATURDAY, MARCH 25
Cal State-Northridge at Oregon State (2), noon
(Radio: Live on KLOO-AM 1340)
SUNDAY, MARCH 26
Cal State-Northridge at Oregon State (2), noon
(Radio: Live on KLOO-AM 1340)
Oregon State probable lineup
| C | Bryan Ingram, so. | Everett, Wash. (Cascade HS) | .372, 0 HRs, 10 RBIs |
| or | Chris Biles, fr. | Tigard, Ore. (Tigard HS) | .524, 1 HR, 10 RBIs |
| 1B | Joe Gerber, sr. | Portland, Ore. (Grant HS) | .370, 3 HRs, 33 RBIs |
| 2B | Zach Gordon, jr. | Simi Valley, Calif. (Moorpark JC) | .225, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs |
| or | Brian Barden, fr. | Bonita, Calif. (St. Augustine HS) | .375, 1 HR, 12 RBIs |
| or | Stephen Copeland, fr. | Keizer, Ore. (McNary HS) | .375, 0 HRs, 2 RBIs |
| 3B | Brian Barden, fr. | Bonita, Calif. (St. Augustine HS) | .375, 1 HR, 12 RBIs |
| or | Tim Dryden, jr. | Roseburg, Ore. (Lane CC) | .381, 1 HR, 10 RBIs |
| SS | Will Hudson, fr. | Fountain Valley, Calif. (Fountain Valley HS) | .245, 0 HRs, 7 RBIs |
| or | Zach Gordon, jr. | Simi Valley, Calif. (Moorpark JC) | .225, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs |
| OF | Eric Stark, jr. | Sumner, Wash. (Sumner HS) | .224, 0 HRs, 6 RBIs |
| OF | Josh Carter, so. | Fallbrook, Calif. (Fallbrook HS) | .356, 2 HRs, 17 RBIs |
| OF | Drew Hedges, sr. | Portland, Ore. (Beaverton HS) | .400, 3 HRs, 17 RBIs |
| or | Rod Gott, sr. | Ravensdale, Wash. (Green River CC) | .196, 2 HRs, 11 RBIs |
| or | Jackson Coleman, jr. | Soldotna, Alaska (Eastern Arizona JC) | .240, 0 HRs, 7 RBIs |
| DH | Curtis Davis, jr. | Corvallis, Ore. (Corvallis HS) | .167, 0 HRs, 2 RBIs |
| or | Andy Jarvis, fr. | Renton, Wash. (Liberty HS) | .273, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs |
Tentative starting pitching rotation
| RHP | Thad Johnson, jr. | Santa Rosa, Calif. (Santa Rosa JC) | 1-1, 5.97 ERA |
| LHP | Scott Nicholson, jr. | Longview, Wash. (Lower Columbia CC) | 3-3, 5.35 ERA |
| RHP | Mark Newell, sr. | Salem, Ore. (Jefferson HS) | 3-1, 3.60 ERA |
Past times
ALL-TIME VS. THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: Oregon State has an all-time record of 119-55 against Portland in a series dating back to 1909. The Beavers are on a 10-game winning streak against the Pilots, dating back to a 10-6 loss in the first meeting of the 1997 season in the Banana Belt Tournament in Lewiston, Idaho.
Oregon State has an all-time record of 3-2 against Cal State-Northridge in a series dating back to 1999. The Beavers are on a one-game winning streak against the Matadors after a 13-10 victory in the Nevada-Las Vegas/Coors Desert Classic earlier this season in Henderson, Nev.
Ouch, that's gotta hurt
INJURY REPORT: Freshman shortstop Will Hudson (ribs) and freshman infielder Brian Barden (hip flexor) are questionable. Junior catcher Kory Thaut (right shoulder) is probable.
Here, there and everywhere
RECENT OREGON STATE NOTES: Oregon State's surge at the plate came to an end in the Continental Express Classic on March 18-20. After banging out a 13-0 win over Ohio State in the first game of the tournament, the Beavers scored just 17 runs on 28 hits in the final five games. In the previous 12 games, the Beavers had batted .382 as a team and averaged 11.25 runs per game ... OSU got strong starting pitching performances in all six games at the tournament, as Beaver starters Mark Newell, Scott Nicholson, Thad Johnson, Nick Renault, Joe Gerber and Stephen Copeland combined to go 3-1 with a 1.69 earned run average and averaged just over 6.0 innings, 6.2 hits, 2.0 walks and 4.7 strikeouts per game ... pressed into service at second base due to injuries to other infielders, Stephen Copeland batted .462 (6-for-13) with 2 RBIs last week ... in the final game of the tournament, Copeland was the starting pitcher and James Atwood, normally a pitcher, filled in at second base. Atwood went 2-for-3, scored 3 runs and made a relay throw that cut down a Texas A&M runner at the plate.
Beavers place second at Texas A&M tourney
LAST WEEK: Oregon State split its six games at the Continental Express Classic, placing second behind champion Central Michigan. In seven-inning games, OSU beat Ohio State 13-0, lost to Texas A&M 3-0, lost to Central Michigan 4-3 in 8 innings, lost to Ohio State 8-3, beat Central Michigan 5-3 and beat Texas A&M 6-1. OSU second baseman Stephen Copeland, third baseman Tim Dryden, catcher Bryan Ingram and pitcher Mark Newell were named to the all-tourney team.In the March 18 opener, senior Mark Newell pitched his first career shutout as he four-hit Ohio State, walking three and striking out one. Copeland was 3-for-3 and Joe Gerber was 3-for-5 as the Beavers rapped out 16 hits in the 13-0 win. In the second game, Texas A&M's Todd Deininger outdueled OSU's Scott Nicholson in a 3-0 Beaver loss as Deininger threw a three-hitter and struck out 10.
In the March 19 opener, the Beaver bullpen lost a sixth-inning lead as OSU fell to Central Michigan 4-3 in eight innings. Thad Johnson's strong pitching performance was wasted as the Beavers managed just five hits, with Josh Carter going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles. In the second game, Oregon State again lost a sixth-inning lead as Ohio State scored six times in the sixth inning to wipe out a three-run Beaver lead and the Buckeyes went on to an 8-3 win. Zach Gordon was 2-for-3 for Oregon State.
In the March 20 opener, Joe Gerber threw the first complete game of his career in a 5-3 win over Central Michigan, scattering nine hits while walking two and striking out seven. Andy Jarvis was 2-for-3 for OSU. In the second game, Stephen Copeland tossed a seven-hitter and struck out nine as Oregon State beat Texas A&M 6-1. Bryan Ingram came off the bench to go 2-for-2 and drive in a pair of runs, while James Atwood was 2-for-3.
Casey in the dugout
HEAD COACH PAT CASEY: Pat Casey is in his sixth season as Oregon State's head baseball coach. Casey currently has a record of 162-111-4 with the Beavers for a winning percentage of .592. His career record is 333-224-5, which includes 7 years at George Fox University in Newberg, for a winning percentage of .597.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 picked up his 100th OSU victory on Feb. 21, 1998 at San Diego.
Casey came to OSU from his alma mater, George Fox, after leading the Bruins to a 171-113-1 record and winning 3 NAIA District 2 titles at the school in Newberg, Ore.
Just an All-American boy
ALL-AMERICA CANDIDATE JOE GERBER: Oregon State first baseman Joe Gerber (Portland, Ore./Grant HS) is coming off one of the finest offensive seasons in school history, and the senior has already begun collecting honors for 2000. The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association named Gerber to its preseason All-America second team.
This season, Gerber is batting .373 with 3 homers, 12 doubles and 33 RBIs and is hitting .543 with runners in scoring position. Gerber is on a 65-game errorless streak dating back to early in the 1999 season. He tied the OSU record for career homers on March 20 against Central Michigan when he hit his 28th, and he set the OSU record for career doubles on March 12 against Washington State when he hit his 37th. From Feb. 24 to March 18, Gerber had a 12-game hitting streak in which he batted .473 (26-for-55) with 9 doubles, 1 homer and 24 RBIs. Gerber has also pitched once this season, throwing a seven-inning complete-game win over Central Michigan on March 20.
Making history
ALL-TIME RECORD: Oregon State's all-time record in varsity baseball is now 1,645-1,124-15, a winning percentage of .594. The Beavers' all-time win total ranked 40th among all NCAA Division I schools entering the 2000 season.OSU's all-time record in conference games is now 740-518, a winning percentage of .588.
To break the numbers down one step further, since starting varsity baseball in 1907, the Beavers have scored 18,192 runs and allowed 13,812 runs. That's an average score of 6.53-4.96.
In its 90 seasons of varsity baseball, OSU has had 67 winning seasons, the Beavers finished at .500 another 4 seasons. The Beavers have won 20 pennants through the years. Oregon State began fielding a varsity baseball team in 1907 and has failed to field a team only 3 times since then - in 1917 due to World War I and in 1944 and 1945 due to World War II.
You can go home again
GOSS STADIUM AT COLEMAN FIELD: Oregon State has been playing on the same site since starting varsity baseball in 1907, making Goss Stadium at Coleman Field the oldest diamond in the Pacific-10 and one of the oldest in the country.In 90 seasons at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field, the Beavers are 855-362-1 all-time at home for a winning percentage of .702. Oregon State is 3-1 at home this season. Since the start of the 1993 season, OSU is 104-33 at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field for a winning percentage of .759.
Goss Stadium was added to Coleman Field over the winter of 1998-99. The ballpark holds 2,000 fans, with the main grandstand seating 1,500 of those. The structure includes a press box, concession/lobby area, dugouts, locker rooms, restrooms and storage areas.
The playing surface has been completely rebuilt recently, with the infield undergoing renovation in 1996 and the outfield in 1998.
Homeward bound, I wish I was ...
ALL-TIME HOME OPENERS: Oregon State won its 2000 home opener on March 7, beating Western Oregon 9-5 at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field. The Beavers are 73-18 all-time in home openers, but last season's 5-2 loss to Southern California broke a string of 11 straight wins on Opening Day at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field. The Beavers have won 27 of their last 30 home openers.
Crowded house
BEAVER ATTENDANCE: Through four home dates, Oregon State is averaging 519 fans per date. OSU averaged 672 fans per home date in 1999 and drew three crowds of 1,000 or more for home games that season. In the past 2-plus seasons, OSU has drawn 9 crowds of 1,000 or more after having just 5 crowds of 1,000 or more in the first 8 seasons of the 1990s.
Ticket to ride
OREGON STATE BASEBALL TICKETS: Season tickets for Oregon State's 22-date home schedule are now on sale. The tickets, which are $100 per seat, guarantee the same theater-style seat at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field for all Beaverhome games in 2000.Single-game reserved seat tickets for OSU baseball are $6 each. Single-game general admission tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students through high school and senior citizens age 62 and over.
OSU students are admitted free with their All-Sports Pass. If they have not purchased an All-Sports Pass, OSU students are admitted for $1 with their student identification card.
For more information, call the OSU athletic ticket office at 1-800-GO BEAVS.
Lights, camera, action!
TELEVISION BRINGS OUT BEST IN BEAVERS : Oregon State has been slated for a national cable television game in 2000, that coming when the Beavers play host to Stanford on May 6 in a game that will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net. The schedule for telecasts in the Pacific Northwest has yet to be announced by Fox Sports Net.Oregon State has played on national cable television twice in the last 2 seasons, and the Beavers are 2-0 in those games. In 1999, OSU dedicated Goss Stadium at Coleman Field by beating California 11-5. In 1998, the Beavers beat Arizona 3-2 in a game marking the first visit to Corvallis by a Southern Division team in 27 years.
Oregon State wrapped up the 1990s with a 25-13 record in televised games, including 7-1 in national TV games.
Radio days
OREGON STATE RADIO BROADCASTS: Oregon State baseball will again be broadcast this spring on KLOO-AM (1340) in Corvallis, with almost the entire Beaver schedule on the air. Some games may be pre-empted due to programming conflicts. Mike Parker, the voice of the Beavers, will handle the play-by-play duties along with John Warren and Kip Carlson.This weekend, OSU's games against Texas A&M and Ohio State will be broadcast but the Beavers' contests against Central Michigan will not be on the air. However, play-by-play accounts of all tournament games will be available on Texas A&M's website at www.aggieathletics.com
Club scene
OREGON STATE DUGOUT CLUB: The Oregon State Dugout Club is an organization devoted to the support of Beaver baseball. The group is open to the general public, dues are $75 per year.Also, anyone entering the OSU Dugout Club Golf Tournament automatically gains club membership. This year's tournament will be held June 12 at Tokatee Golf Club in Blue River.
Over the past several seasons, projects financed by the OSU Dugout Club include batting cages at Coleman Field, helping finance trips that upgrade the quality of the Beavers' non-league schedule, and carpeting the baseball locker room in Gill Coliseum.
Tough stuff
BEAVERS FACE TOP-FLIGHT SCHEDULE: Again this spring, Oregon State will play one of the nation's most challenging schedules. The Beavers have 13 games scheduled against teams in the March 20 USA Today coaches poll - No. 3 Stanford, No. 9 Arizona State, No. 19 Southern California, No. 20 Fresno State and No. 25 Nevada. OSU has 10 more games against teams that received votes in the poll but did not make the top 25 - Arizona, UCLA, Ohio State and Central Michigan.
Career-oriented
BEAVERS AMONG CAREER LEADERS : Current Oregon State players on or near the school's career top 10 lists through March 20:
BATTING AVERAGE
(minimum 260 at-bats)
| 1. | Jay Dean, 1952-55 | .379 |
| 2. | A.J. Marquardt, 1993-94 | .373 |
| 3. | Ben Bertrand, 1996-98 | .358 |
| 4. | Dan Cunningham, 1971-73 | .354 |
| 5. | Dave Brundage, 1984-86 | .350 |
| (tie) | Mike Leone, 1996-97 | .350 |
| 7. | Twink Pederson, 1956-58 | .346 |
| (tie) | Rob Colley, 1998-99 | .346 |
| 9. | Jason Akina, 1992-93 | .342 |
| 10. | Chris Wakeland, 1995-96 | .341 |
| * Joe Gerber, 1997-present | .368 | |
| * Drew Hedges, 1997-present | .345 |
* - cannot join list until career is complete.
AT-BATS
| 10. | Bryan Ganter, 1984-87 | 557 |
| Joe Gerber, 1997-present | 437 | |
| Drew Hedges, 1997-present | 435 |
HITS
| 10. | Tim Lambert, 1985-88 | 165 |
| Joe Gerber, 1997-present | 161 | |
| Drew Hedges, 1997-present | 150 |
RUNS
| 10. | Troy Schader, 1997-99 | 117 |
| Drew Hedges, 1997-present | 112 | |
| Joe Gerber, 1997-present | 110 |
DOUBLES
| 1. | Joe Gerber, 1997-present | 37 |
| 2. | Ken Bowen, 1984-87 | 36 |
| 3. | Troy Schader, 1997-99 | 35 |
| 4. | Tim Lambert, 1985-88 | 34 |
| 5. | Bob McNair, 1978-80 | 32 |
| 6. | Mickey Riley, 1980-83 | 31 |
| (tie) | Jeff Brauning, 1988-89 | 31 |
| 8. | Pete Rowe, 1974-77 | 30 |
| (tie) | Quinn Williams, 1983-86 | 30 |
| (tie) | Dave Schoppe, 1988-91 | 30 |
| (tie) | Drew Hedges, 1997-pres. | 30 |
TRIPLES
| 7. | Lute Barnes, 1967-69 | 7 |
| (tie) | Bob Beall, 1968-70 | 7 |
| (tie) | Bob McNair, 1978-80 | 7 |
| (tie) | R.A. Neitzel, 1988-90 | 7 |
| Eric Stark, 1998-present | 3 |
HOME RUNS
| 1. | Al Hunsinger, 1980-81 | 28 |
| (tie) | Joe Gerber, 1997-present | 28 |
| 3. | Bob McNair, 1978-80 | 27 |
| (tie) | Jim Wilson, 1980-82 | 27 |
| 5. | Matt Bailie, 1995-98 | 25 |
| 6. | Steve Smith, 1981-83 | 21 |
| (tie) | David Schmidt, 1994-96 | 21 |
| (tie) | Ben Bertrand, 1996-98 | 21 |
| (tie) | Troy Schader, 1997-99 | 21 |
| 10. | Ken Bowen, 1984-87 | 19 |
| Drew Hedges, 1997-present | 13 |
RUNS BATTED IN
| 1. | Matt Bailie, 1995-98 | 144 |
| 2. | Joe Gerber, 1997-present | 135 |
| 3. | Ken Bowen, 1984-87 | 131 |
| 4. | Bob McNair, 1978-80 | 130 |
| 5. | Ryan Lipe, 1995-98 | 126 |
| 6. | Troy Schader, 1997-99 | 118 |
| 7. | Pete Rowe, 1974-77 | 110 |
| 8. | Al Hunsinger, 1980-81 | 105 |
| (tie) | Jim Wilson, 1980-82 | 105 |
| (tie) | Ben Bertrand, 1996-98 | 105 |
| Drew Hedges, 1997-present | 94 |
WALKS
| 10. | Kevin Hooker, 1991-95 | 94 |
| Drew Hedges, 1997-present | 78 | |
| Joe Gerber, 1997-present | 74 |
TOTAL BASES
| 1. | Ken Bowen, 1984-87 | 303 |
| 2. | Bob McNair, 1978-80 | 285 |
| 3. | Joe Gerber, 1997-present | 282 |
| 4. | Matt Bailie, 1995-98 | 269 |
| 5. | Ryan Lipe, 1995-98 | 255 |
| 6. | Troy Schader, 1997-99 | 254 |
| 7. | Tim Lambert, 1985-88 | 246 |
| 8. | Pete Rowe, 1974-77 | 243 |
| 9. | Dave Brundage, 1984-86 | 242 |
| 10. | Bryan Ganter, 1984-87 | 236 |
| Drew Hedges, 1997-present | 225 |
SLUGGING PERCENTAGE
(minimum 260 at-bats)
| 1. | Jim Wilson, 1980-82 | .640 |
| 2. | Al Hunsinger, 1980-81 | .639 |
| 3. | Ben Bertrand, 1996-98 | .631 |
| 4. | A.J. Marquardt, 1993-94 | .578 |
| 5. | Chris Wakeland, 1995-96 | .569 |
| 6. | Mike Leone, 1996-97 | .555 |
| 7. | Bob McNair, 1978-80 | .535 |
| 8. | Chris Newman, 1980-84 | .520 |
| 9. | David Schmidt, 1994-96 | .513 |
| 10. | Dave Brundage, 1984-86 | .507 |
| * Joe Gerber, 1997-present | .645 | |
| * Drew Hedges, 1997-present | .517 |
* - cannot join list until career is complete.
WINS
| 10. | Scott Christman, '91-93 | 21 (21-8) |
| Mark Newell, 1996-present | 14 (14-8) |
SAVES
| 1. | Mike Boire, 1996-98 | 10 |
| 2. | Jim Grove, 1979-82 | 9 |
| 3. | Dave Schoppe, 1989-91 | 6 |
| 4. | Ron Daulton, 1984-86 | 5 |
| (tie) | Tim Lambert, 1985-88 | 5 |
| 6. | Jeff Post, 1989-92 | 4 |
| (tie) | Scott Christman, 1991-93 | 4 |
| (tie) Mark Newell, 1996-present | 4 |
STRIKEOUTS
| 10. | Andrew Checketts, 1996-98 | 197 |
| Mark Newell, 1996-present | 154 |
