Feb. 22, 2006
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BRIEFLY
LMU returns to the road this weekend, traveling to San Jose State to play a three-game set against the Spartans. The match-up is becoming an annual battle for the two programs, who met in 2003 and 2004 and were scheduled to play in 2005 before rain cancelled the series. Fans can follow all of the action from San Jose State as it happens on Lions' All-Access at www.LMULions.com.
ONE SERIES, TWO FIELDS
This weekend's series will utilize two fields, both in San Jose, Calif. Friday and Sunday's games will be played at Municipal Stadium, home of the single-A San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants organization). Saturday's game will be played at SJSU's Blethen Field. Regardless of the site, LMU fans can follow the action on Lions' All-Access at www.LMULions.com.
UP NEXT
Following this weekend's road series, the Lions will return to Page Stadium to host Waseda University (Japan) in an exhibition game. The single game will begin at 2:00 p.m. and admission is free.
THE SAN JOSE STATE STORY
San Jose State enters the series 7-4 after falling to WCC opponent Saint Mary's 5-2 on Tuesday. The Spartans are coming off a three-game sweep of BYU last weekend. Like the Lions, the Spartans opened their season with Cal Poly, winning Friday's game before falling on Saturday and Sunday. SJSU is led by 19th-year Head Coach Sam Piraro, who is just six wins shy of his 600th career win. The Spartans' Friday starter Branden Dewing leads the WAC in both wins (3) and ERA (0.78). As a team, San Jose State ranks first in the WAC in fielding (.987), second in pitching (3.74), and sixth in batting (.228).
FEWER FREE RIDES
The Lions' pitching staff entered last weekend's series with Hawaii averaging 6.4 walks per game. After averaging 4.5 per game last week, the overall figure is down to 4.45 per game.
BEATING THE BEST
Facing the nation's ninth-toughest non-conference schedule, LMU has already picked up two victories over ranked programs. The Lions topped then-31st-ranked Arizona 12-5 on the road in the season-opening series. LMU then earned a win in its home opener, defeating then-25th-ranked Cal Poly 10-8. The Mustangs have since moved up in the national rankings, currently sitting at 22 in the Baseball America poll.
TWO-TIMING
Freshman Brian Wilson has come through for the Lions both on the mound and at the plate already in the young season. The 2005 San Diego Area Player of the Year currently ranks fourth in the WCC in ERA (1.35) and second in opponent's batting average (.156). He is slated to see his first weekend start this Saturday at San Jose State. At the plate, Wilson is hitting .400 (6-for-15).
TOUGH LUCK
Sophomore Brad Meyers has made two solid starts his last two times out, but remains winless heading into this weekend's series. Two weeks ago, he threw seven innings against then-25th-ranked Cal Poly without a walk. LMU won, but Meyers did not factor into the decision. Last weekend against Hawaii, Meyers worked a career-high 7.1 innings and struck out four, but suffered the loss after the 3-1 result.
BIG WEEK FOR BEAL
Sophomore Andy Beal, who currently ranks second in the WCC in strikeouts with 17 K's in his 15.2 innings of work, made his first career start on Tuesday against UC Riverside. Though he did not factor into the decision, he threw a career-high 6.1 innings. He is scheduled to get his first weekend start this Sunday at San Jose State.
YOUNG PITCHING STAFF SEES EARLY TIME
Over the Lions' first 11 games, freshmen and sophomore pitchers have logged the most time on the mound for LMU. Sophomore Andy Beal, who cracked into the LMU record book as a freshman with 31 appearances in 2005, threw in three of the Lions' first four games, earning two decisions (1-1) and 10 strikeouts in the process. Freshman Brian Wilson leads all Lions in ERA (1.35) and already has his first career start under his belt (at UC Irvine). Opponents are hitting just .156 off the rookie who has totaled 13.1 innings. After last Friday's start, sophomore Brad Meyers leads the Lions in innings, with 19.1. All in all, underclassmen pitchers have totaled around 60 innings of work, over 60 percent of the Lions' time on the mound.
ON THE SCHEDULE
Playing tough teams again this season, Boyd's World has rated LMU's schedule among the most challenging 20 schedules in the nation. LMU ranks 17th on the Boyd's World Strength of Schedule poll for its overall schedule, and ninth in the nation for its non-conference schedule. The Lions will face 25 games against teams listed among the nation's best in the Collegiate Baseball poll. Five opponents off the 2006 schedule participated in the 2005 NCAA Baseball Championships. The LMU schedule will, as always, feature home and away match-ups with perennial powerhouses USC, Long Beach State, and 2004 national champion Cal State Fullerton.The WCC has done away with its divisions, and beginning the season, the teams will play just one three-game series against each WCC team. With this shortened league season, fans will notice additional non-conference match-ups on the schedule. Returning home, the Lions will host three-game series with non-conference opponents Cal Poly, Hawaii, and UC Santa Barbara at Page Stadium in February and March.
LIONS RACK UP THE PRESEASON HONORS
If Baseball America's preseason predictions prove to be true, LMU will have four All-WCC first-team selections and 2007's top WCC draft pick. When the national publication released its annual preseason picks, Lions were listed all over the WCC preview. Eric Farris (2B), Kyle Mura (3B), Chris Pettit (OF), and Brad Meyers (RHP) were all predicted to be first-team all-conference selections. Meyers was also projected to be the highest drafted player out of the WCC in the 2007 MLB Draft. Last season, Baseball America had tabbed Kahn as the WCC's top prospect, and the then-LMU junior was the top WCC player drafted in June when he went to Seattle in the fifth round. LMU also had four players listed among the WCC's Best Tools, including awarding Best Baserunner to Pettit. The publication then tabbed the LMU infield as the best defensive infield in the conference when it named A.J. LaMonda the WCC's best first baseman, Farris the best second baseman, and Mura the best third baseman.
PETTIT NAMED TO WALLACE WATCH
Chris Pettit is listed among the nation's top baseball players on the 2006 Wallace Watch released by the College Baseball Foundation (CBF). The Brooks Wallace Award is presented annually to the national college baseball player of the year, and Pettit is among this season's early candidates. The Lions' outfielder was a 2005 All-WCC first-team selection after leading LMU to its second straight WCC Coast Division title. In conference action, Pettit hit .380 and started each of the Lions' 58 games on the season. Pettit ranked in the top 10 in the WCC in more offensive categories than any other conference player, including leading the league in runs scored (38) and doubles (14). A three-year starter in the outfield for the Lions, Pettit also finished WCC play ranked in the top three in hits (41), stolen bases (10), RBI (26), total bases (67), on base percentage (.473), and slugging percentage (.620).
MEYERS NAMED CAPE COD LEAGUE TOP PROSPECT
Brad Meyers was named one of the Cape Cod Baseball League's top-10 prospects by Baseball America. The sophomore was the only player in the top-10 with just one year of college experience under his belt. Meyers allowed just one earned run in two Cape League playoff starts, earning postseason MVP honors as his Orleans Cardinals won the title. He was the Cardinals' starter in the rubber match of the championship, and allowed just one run on nine hits through six and a third innings. Meyers issued no walks while striking out three during his 87 pitches. He left the game in the seventh to a standing ovation from his Orleans crowd. Meyers was named to the league all-star team earlier in the season.
SPECIAL WAY TO OPEN 2006
This season, LMU celebrates the 20th anniversary of the 1986 team that advanced to the College World Series. Lions past and present gathered on Alumni Weekend January 28-29 to honor the 1986 Lions. One of the teams that CWS team faced in 1986 was the Arizona Wildcats, who defeated LMU 7-5 in Omaha and then went on to win the title. Now, 20 years later, LMU opened its 2006 season at then-31st ranked Arizona.
ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS
The Lions are remembering some very special people this season with memorial tributes. Page Stadium now has a #1 on its left center field wall in memory of legendary coach and ambassador of baseball Rod Dedeaux, who passed in January. The Lions also wear a black bar across the LMU on their caps in memory of LMU student-athletes Jessica Hanson and Adam Bacon, who were killed in a car accident in August, just before the two were to begin their senior seasons with soccer and cross country.
LIONS TABBED TO FINISH FOURTH
Now leading the Lions for a decade, Cruz will look to take a team that's picked to finish fourth in West Coast Conference play to LMU's fifth WCC Championship Series appearance in eight seasons. The Lions are picked to finish fourth in the WCC by both the league coaches and by Baseball America's preseason predictions. The last time the Lions were tabbed to finish fourth, Cruz led the 2004 team to a conference-best 20-7 record and the Coast Division title. His efforts earned him his third WCC Coach of the Year selection and the top place in the 2005 WCC preseason poll.
FROM LMU TO THE PROS
As Lion fans scan the 2006 roster, some notable names are missing. And the majority of those names are now found on minor league rosters around professional baseball. LMU had a total of seven players sign professional contracts in 2005, including top-10 round picks Stephen Kahn (fifth round, Seattle Mariners), Jeff Stevens (sixth round, Cincinnati Reds), and James Cooper (ninth round, New York Yankees). Kahn was the 2004 WCC Pitcher of the Year, while Stevens and Cooper brought home all-conference honors last season as juniors. Joe Frazee, selected in the 25th round by the Philadelphia Phillies, became the first player in LMU history to receive All-WCC recognition for four seasons. Four transfers, all of who are probable starters, will try to fill the void left by the draft and graduation. Eight freshmen will join them in the hunt for the WCC title. The returning squad is highlighted by All-WCC first-team selection Chris Pettit, second-team selection Eric Farris, and honorable mention recipient Sean Dovel. 2004 All-WCC honoree Kyle Mura, a 49th round selection of the Chicago Cubs who opted to return for his senior season, also has Lion fans hoping for big things in 2006.
-GO LIONS-
