| WAC PRESEASON HONORS 2008 WAC Baseball Coaches’ Poll Rk. Team Total Pts
1. Fresno State(6) 36
2. Louisiana Tech(1) 29
3. Nevada 26
4. Hawai`i 23
5. San Jose State 16
6. Sacramento State 10
7. New Mexico State 7 (first place votes) Preseason All-WAC Team
OF Steve Susdorf, Sr., Fresno State
OF Brandon Haislet, Sr., Hawaii
OF Tim Wheeler, So., Sacramento State
OF Joseph Scaperotta, Sr., New Mexico State
1B Shaun Kort, So., Nevada
2B Eric Wetzel, Jr., Fresno State
SS Todd Sandell, Sr., Fresno State
3B David Flores, Sr., Sacramento State
C Danny Grubb, Jr., Fresno State
DH Terry Walsh, Sr., Nevada
UT Matt Bowman, Jr., Nevada
SP Clayton Allison, Sr., Fresno State
SP Tanner Scheppers, Jr., Fresno State
SP Matt Daly, Jr., Hawaii
RP Jason Breckley, Sr., Fresno State
RP Mario Rivera, Sr., Nevada Player of the Year: Steve Susdorf, Sr., Fresno State
Pitcher of the Year: Clayton Allison, Sr., Fresno State |
Returning in 2008 is the nucleus of Nevada’s team that went 35-26 last season, placed second in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament and was second during the regular season with a 15-9 record. The Wolf Pack returns 16 letterwinners of which six were position starters and two pitched in the weekend rotation. The 16 returners will be joined by two four-year transfers, six junior college transfers, eight freshmen and a redshirt junior to comprise the 33 man roster.
The 2008 edition of the Pack will feature considerable depth and versatility throughout the lineup. The depth will create healthy competition within the the team for starting spots and playing time. Several of the players have the ability to play multiple positions which gives the coaching staff tremendous flexibility when filling out the lineup card. Three of the squad members will serve dual roles as pitchers and position players.
Although the roster changes from year to year the head coach has remained the same since 1983 with Gary Powers directing the program. Coach Powers won his 750th game last season when the Pack defeated Louisiana Tech 9-7 on May 4 and his career mark now stands at 761-595-4 in 25 seasons, all at Nevada. Heading into his 26th season in 2008 he is the longest tenured coach in the history of Nevada athletics.
His veteran staff includes pitching coach and recruiting coordinator Stan Stolte. Stolte begins his 12th season at Nevada in 2008. Former Pack shortstop Jay Uhlman, who handles the defense and works with the infielders enters his seventh season this year. Returning to the staff this year is volunteer assistant coach Gary McNamara who will work the outfielders. This will be McNamara’s second coaching stint with the Pack.
Pitchers
Despite the loss of Ryan Rodriguez, a four-year starter and 2007 WAC Pitcher of the Year and first-team All-WAC reliever Matt Renfree, the 2008 Nevada pitching corps returns a veteran group and has added several outstanding newcomers. Eight of the 15 pitchers that took to the mound last year return for this season which includes two members of last season’s three-man rotation in senior right-handers Rod Scurry and Kyle Howe.
Scurry, a second-team All-WAC selection heads the list of returners after starting 16 games last year. He went 3-7 with a 5.08 ERA last season but was an impressive 3-2 with a 3.89 ERA in WAC play. The Reno native combined to shut out two of the conferences top teams a year ago, blanking Fresno State and Louisiana Tech for seven innings each to earn wins. Nevada went 9-7 in his 16 starts.
A product of Poulsbo, Wash. Howe returns after making 16 appearances with 12 being starts. He produced a 4-3 record with a 4.84 ERA in 2007. In conference play he was 3-1 with a 5.08 ERA and tossed 8.1 shutout innings versus San Jose State in game that was aired nationally on CSTV. The Pack was 7-5 in his 12 starts.
One of the Pack’s top relievers from a year ago was right-hander Mario Rivera who started five games and appeared in 20. He was named to the 2008 All-WAC Coaches’ Preseason team as a reliever, but after an outstanding fall is scheduled to move into the starting rotation. The San Bernardino, Calif., native began last season in the rotation but moved to the bullpen and was 5-1 with five saves and a 4.27 ERA.
Returning seniors Dan Eastham and Ben Colton are a pair of right-handers that are expected to again pitch out of the Pack bullpen this season or possibly make spot starts during midweek games. Eastham, who also plays in the outfield and infield, made just four appearances a year ago and started two midweek games. He is still looking for his first college decision after posting a 5.79 ERA in 14 innings on the mound last season.
Colton made eight starts last spring, with most being midweek games, but did start the Pack’s fourth game of the WAC Tournament. On the year he was 1-3 with a save and a 7.10 ERA in 52 innings on the mound.
Two left-handers return for their second seasons at Nevada in junior Jacob Kaup and sophomore Mat Keplinger. Both will work out of the bullpen as they did a year ago. Kaup made 15 appearances and was 2-1 with a 4.94 ERA in 23.2 innings of action. He could see time at first base or at designated hitter where he did last spring.
Keplinger tossed a shutout ninth inning at New Mexico State in his first collegiate appearance to combine with Rodriguez to blank the Aggies 15-0. He pitched a total of 3.1 innings in his six mound appearances and did not record a decision.
The eight newcomers to the pitching staff are comprised of five junior college players and three freshmen. All eight bring impressive pitching credentials to the squad.
The five junior college players are Chris Garcia, Derek Achelpohl, Stephen Bautista, Ryan Iodence, and Sammy Miller. The three freshmen are Brock Stassi, Kyle Dimartino and Bryan Suarez.
Just a sophomore, Garcia is a left-hander who is scheduled to be in the rotation when the season gets underway. As a freshman at Feather River College last year, he was 13-1 with a 1.67 ERA and struckout 105 in 102.2 innings pitched, which earned him Golden Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year honors.
Achelpohl, Bautista, and Miller are all battling for the spot as Nevada’s closer this season but could be used in a variety of roles as setup men or possibly earn a spot in the rotation. Achelpohl was 5-0 with a 2.94 ERA at Fresno City College last season pitching 33.2 innings. Bautista went 6-3 with a 3.12 ERA primarily as a starter at Cosumnes River College as a sophomore tossing 66.1 innings. At San Joaquin Delta College last year Miller was 2-1 with a save and posted a 2.70 ERA in 56.2 innings of action.
Iodence, a right-hander, should work in middle relief out of the bullpen in his first season. At the College of Southern Nevada last year he was 8-2 with 1.72 ERA and two saves in 16 appearances with nine being starts.
Stassi was so impressive during the fall that he could land a spot in the rotation as a true freshman. The left-hander was 10-0 with a 1.00 ERA and 98 strikeouts while walking just 18 in 63 innings pitched his senior season at Yuba City High School in Yuba City, Calif. A two-dimensional player, he could also see time in the outfield or at designated hitter.
As freshmen, right-handers Dimartino and Suarez will see action out of the bullpen for the Pack this season. Dimartino was 7-2 with four saves and 90 strikeouts his senior year at Durango High School in Las Vegas. Suarez went 8-5 with a save, 1.62 ERA, and 108 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched his senior season.
Infielders
The Pack returns three of four starters in the infield from last season in sophomore first baseman Shaun Kort, senior second baseman David Ciarlo and senior third baseman Jason Rodriguez. Another veteran who returns after missing all but five games last year is junior Matt Bowman, who has made starts at second and third base, but he could also see time at catcher or in the outfield.
Ciarlo, a two-year starter, started all 61 games a year ago at second base and hit .275 with 39 runs scored, 16 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 37 RBI. The 61 games is tied for the most played in any single season by a Nevada player. He was named to the All-WAC Tournament team after batting .333 with with a double and five RBI as the Pack finished second. An outstanding defensive player, he fielded .974 and was part of 47 double plays last season.
Rodriguez started 47 of the 50 games in which he played at third base and made one start at shortstop. In his first season at Nevada he batted .313 with 42 runs scored, 13 doubles, a triple, four home runs and 38 RBI hitting primarily second in the lineup. He also garnered All-WAC Tournament honors after hitting .364 with a double, two home runs and seven RBI. Working hard in the offseason, he has improved his defense for his senior season in 2008.
A 2007 Freshman All-America, WAC Freshman of the Year, and second-team All-WAC selection Kort returns for his second season at Nevada after producing one of the top years of any freshman in the history of Pack baseball. He has already received a pair of honors heading into his sophomore year being named to the 2008 Wallace Award Watch List, the award honors the College Player of the Year and was selected to the 2008 WAC Coaches’ Preseason team. In addition to winning the WAC batting title with a .392 average last year he topped the team offensively in slugging percentage (.586), on base percentage (.461), runs scored (44), hits (87), runs batted in (50), doubles (17), triples (4), total bases (130), at bats (222), total plate appearances (257) and walks (28). He ranked 54th in the country in hitting last season.
Two veterans that could possibly also see time in the infield are Eastham and Kaup. Eastham hit .289 last season and could see time at first or third base but will concentrate his senior season at playing in the outfield and pitching. Kaup started eight games at designated hitter last season but did also see some limited action at first base. He hit .294 with seven runs scored, two doubles, a home run and six RBI. Most of his action this year should be at designated hitter or on the mound.
The Pack has added two four-year transfers and three freshmen to compete for time in the infield this season. Arizona transfer Kevin Rodland, a sophomore, is one of the leading candidates to fill the spot left vacant after second-team All-WAC shortstop Chris Siewert completed his eligibility last spring. Rodland saw action in 30 games last year at Arizona earning 16 starts where he hit .170 with eight runs scored, three triples and nine RBI.
A transfer from Lamar, Brian Lloyd started all 59 games for the Cardinals primarily at shortstop last season where he hit .239 with 35 runs scored, 11 doubles, four home runs and 29 RBI. In his junior season at Nevada, his time will come primarily at third base where he worked in the fall. But has the ability to play several infield positions.
Freshman Garrett Patterson is challenging for the starting spot at shortstop but could also play second base. Patterson hit .561 his senior season at Kentridge High School in Seattle, Wash.
Another of the talented freshmen is Nick Leid who has been practicing at both second and third base. His senior year at Richland High School in Richland, Wash. he hit .391 with six home runs and 25 RBI in helping guide the Bombers to the Washington 4A Championship.
Joe Wallace is utility player who could see time at either corner infield position, in the outfield or at designated hitter. His senior season at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, Calif., he batted .444 with 33 runs scored, nine doubles, a triple and 11 RBI.
Outfield
The Pack returns six outfielders that combined to start 133 of a possible183 times in the outfield last season. Of the six returners, five are seniors and the sixth is a junior who may be changing positions.
Heading the list of returners is senior Preseason All-WAC and 2007 All-WAC first-team selection Terry Walsh. Walsh was second in the WAC a year ago with a .368 average and batted .434 in conference play to top the league. He hit five homer runs and drove in 30 runs during the season. Of his 35 starts in the outfield last year, 28 came in left field and seven in right field. He is scheduled to play primarily right field in his final season in the Silver & Blue.
Senior Jason Sadoian returns for his second season at Nevada after starting 40 games in center field last year and batting leadoff. Sadoian will again fill both of those roles for the Pack this year. In 2007 he hit .285 with 40 runs scored and produced 16 doubles. His 15 times being hit by pitch led the team, was second in the WAC and .27 times being hit by pitch per game ranked 68th in NCAA I which helped him to a .424 on base percentage.
A third senior outfield is left-handed hitting Mike Hale, who started 28 games last year splitting those starts equally between left and right field. This season he is slated to play mostly in left field and could find himself in a platoon system. Last spring he hit .295 with 24 runs scored and 16 RBI.
Eastham returns for his fourth season in the Nevada baseball program and will again play in the outfield and pitch for the Pack. Last year he made 19 starts in right field but as a right-handed hitter could split time in left field in a platoon situation. He also has the ability to play first or third base in addition to stepping on the mound. A year ago he batted .289 with 10 runs scored, nine doubles, a home run and 17 RBI.
Another of the senior outfielders is left-handed hitting Trevor O’Sullivan who started seven games in left field last season. O’Sullivan, who can play all three outfield positions, was used on several occasions as left-handed pinch hitter, pinch runner or as a defensive replacement, a role he could fill again this season. He batted .260 with 14 runs scored, two doubles and four RBI appearing in 51 games last season.
The sixth returner is Bowman who started four games in the outfield last year before a torn pectoralis muscle forced him to have surgery and miss the remainder of the season. Bowman is working at transitioning to catcher but could also see time in the outfield or in the infield.
Junior Aaron Henry is challenging for time in the outfield rotation after sitting out last season as a redshirt. He played two seasons of junior college baseball and hit .268 his sophomore year at Western Nevada.
Freshman Waylen Sing Chow is a speedy left-handed hitting outfielder who is battling the veterans for playing time in his first season with the Pack. Chow, a native of Hawaii has the ability to play all three outfield positions and could play several key roles for the team this season.
Catchers
Catcher is the position where Nevada has the least experience returning as the team’s top two catchers from last season completed their eligibility. The Pack will look to a pair of junior infielders in Bowman and Tyson Jaquez to make the transition to catcher. Junior college transfer Travis Simas and freshman Matt Langenfeld are also battling for time behind the plate.
Bowman has recovered from the surgery but the demands of catching could slow his move to the new position. A versatile player he has made starts at six different positions during his Pack career, starting primarily in left field his freshman year and at third base as a sophomore. He was selected to the 2008 All-WAC Preseason Coaches’ Team as a utility player. In his last full season in 2006 he hit a team-high .376 which ranked second in the WAC.
In preparation for the move to catcher, Jaquez caught while playing summer ball and during fall practice. Last season he hit .188 with two doubles and two home runs playing in 27 games and started 10 at third base.
Simas is the most experienced catcher on the staff having played two years of junior college baseball. At San Joaquin Delta College last season, he hit .200 playing in 38 games.
Langenfeld is the fourth catcher on the roster this season and will battle the veterans for time behind the play. As a senior at Centennial High School in Bakersfield, Calif. last year he batted .349 with 32 runs scored, 10 doubles, eight home runs and 36 RBI.
Designated Hitters
With the depth of the squad the designated hitter spot is not set and several players will be given an opportunity to see time at the position. The coaching staff could use any of a number of infielders or outfielders at designated hitter.
Schedule
The 2008 schedule is one of the toughest if not the toughest in the history of Nevada baseball. The Pack will play 35 games at Peccole Park and 22 away from Reno, not counting the season ending WAC Tournament scheduled for Ruston, La. May 22-25.
Nevada will square off 17 times versus four teams that reached the NCAA Tournament last season. Two of those squads, Oregon State and UC Irvine, reached the College World Series and OSU captured the title for the second year in a row.
For the first time in the history of Pack baseball, the team will open the season at home and play 18 of their first 22 games in Reno. With the later NCAA-mandated start date the Pack opens the season with a three-game series with 2007 College World Series participant UC Irvine Feb. 22-24.
A four-game road trip follows with a Tuesday contest at Stanford. The Pack then heads for Frisco, Texas to play in the Southwest Diamond Classic hosted by Dallas Baptist. Nevada will play Dallas Baptist, Alabama, and UT Arlington in a three-day span.
The Pack then begins its longest homestand of the season as the first of 15 home games is a Tuesday doubleheader with a new team on the schedule in Cal State Monterey Bay.
Next is another of the NCAA Tournament teams as UC Riverside is at Peccole Park for a three-game series followed by a pair of midweek games with Saint Mary’s College and UC Davis.
The two-time College World Series Champion Oregon State Beavers play a three-game set at Nevada Mar. 14-16. Before WAC play gets underway the Pack take on Pacific in a single Tuesday contest.
The WAC
Although the teams in the WAC remain the same (Nevada, Fresno State, Hawai`i, Louisiana Tech, San Jose State, New Mexico State and Sacramento State) the schedule format has changed once again as each series will now be four games. Each series will take place over three days but on one of those days, usually the middle day, the teams will play a doubleheader comprised of two nine-inning games.
Nevada was picked to finish third in the WAC Coaches’ poll behind Fresno State and Louisiana Tech. Unfortunately for the Pack, it plays eight games versus those two squads, playing a four-game series at home and on the road. One advantage of the 2008 conference schedule is that the Pack will not play back-to-back road series this season.
Nevada opens the conference schedule at home versus Louisiana Tech to close out the 15-game homestand.
A nonconference tilt at UNLV is followed by a trip to Fresno State to take on the two-time defending WAC Champion Bulldogs.
UNLV returns the trip to Reno on April 1 with a single Tuesday game. New Mexico State is at Peccole Park over the weekend and Nevada travels to Pacific for a single Tuesday game the next week.
In the final nonconference games of the season, Utah Valley University plays a four-game series in Reno.
The final five weeks of the regular season are all conference series. The Pack is at Hawaii followed by a home series with Fresno State. A trip to Louisiana Tech and a home series with Sacramento State rounds out the home schedule. The final weekend of the regular season has Nevada closing out play at San Jose State.
The season-ending WAC Tournament will be held at Louisiana Tech’s J.C. Love Field for the first time May 22-25. The top six teams qualify for the tournament based on the 32-game conference schedule.
