All times Eastern, subject to change Home games in ALL CAPS RSN - ACC regional TV (Fox Sports Net South, NESN, Sun Sports, Comcast) FSNS - FSN South; SS - SportSouth 20082008 SCHEDULESCHEDULE ACCS - ACC Select
FEBRUARY APRIL POSTSEASON 22 Fri. YOUNGSTOWN STATE 4 p.m. 1 Tue. EAST TENNESSEE STATE 6 p.m. May 21 - 25 at ACC Tournament (Jacksonville, Fla.) 23 Sat. YOUNGSTOWN STATE 2 p.m. 2 Wed. EAST TENNESSEE STATE 6 p.m. May 30 - June 2 NCAA Regionals (Campus Sites) 24 Sun. YOUNGSTOWN STATE 1 p.m. 4 Fri. at North Carolina 7 p.m. June 6 - 9 NCAA Super Regionals (Campus Sites) 26 Tue. GEORGIA SOUTHERN 4 p.m. 5 Sat. at North Carolina 6 p.m. June 13 - 23 College World Series (Omaha, Neb.) 27 Wed. GEORGIA SOUTHERN 4 p.m. 6 Sun. at North Carolina 1 p.m. 29 Fri. RUTGERS 4 p.m. 9 Wed. GEORGIA 7 p.m. 11 Fri. MIAMI 7 p.m. MARCH 12 Sat. MIAMI 7 p.m. 13 Sun. MIAMI 1 p.m. 1 Sat. RUTGERS 4 p.m. 15 Tue. at Georgia Southern 6 p.m. 2 Sun. RUTGERS 1 p.m. Credits 16 Wed. at Georgia Southern 4 p.m. 4 Tue. WESTERN CAROLINA 4 p.m. 18 Fri. at Maryland 7 p.m. The Georgia Tech Baseball Yearbook has been 5 Wed. KENNESAW STATE 4 p.m. 19 Sat. at Maryland 4 p.m. judged by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers 7 Fri. VIRGINIA TECH 4 p.m. Association as the Best in the Nation four times 20 Sun. at Maryland 1 p.m. 8 Sat. VIRGINIA TECH 2 p.m. since 1986. 22 Tue. at Mercer 6 p.m. 9 Sun. VIRGINIA TECH 1 p.m. 25 Fri. WAKE FOREST 7 p.m. Editing and design: Cheryl Watts 12 Wed. at Georgia State 6 p.m. 26 Sat. WAKE FOREST [RSN] 1 p.m. Cover design: Summit Athletic Media 14 Fri. at Florida State 6 p.m. 27 Sun. WAKE FOREST 1 p.m. [www.summitathletics.com] 15 Sat. at Florida State 6 p.m. Contributors: Daniel Apple, Chris Capo, 16 Sun. at Florida State 1 p.m. Greg Campbell, Richard Musterer, Mike Stamus 18 Tue. at Kennesaw State 6 p.m. MAY Photography: Uniform photos by Stanley Leary; 19 Wed. MERCER 6 p.m. 2 Fri. COASTAL CAROLINA 7 p.m. action photos by Rick Brozek, Pete Casabonne, Scott 21 Fri. DUKE 6 p.m. 3 Sat. COASTAL CAROLINA 7 p.m. Cunningham, David Gonzales, Mike Jula, Stanley 22 Sat. DUKE 2 p.m. 4 Sun. COASTAL CAROLINA 1 p.m. Leary, Britt McAllister, Sam Morgan, Jack Reimer, Rob 23 Sun. DUKE 1 p.m. 7 Wed. at Georgia 7 p.m. Skinner and the Prairie Pixel Group. 25 Tue. GEORGIA STATE 6 p.m. 9 Fri. CLEMSON 7 p.m. Advertising: International Sports Properties, Inc. of 26 Wed. ALABAMA STATE 6 p.m. 10 Sat. CLEMSON 7 p.m. Winston-Salem, N.C. 28 Fri. at Boston College 2:30 p.m. 11 Sun. CLEMSON 1 p.m. Printing: Bennett Graphics of Tucker, Ga. Thanks to 29 Sat. at Boston College 1 p.m. 13 Tue. vs. Georgia (at Turner Field) 7 p.m. Robert Worley. 30 Sun. at Boston College 1 p.m. 15 Thu. at Virginia 6 p.m. For advertising sales, please contact the Atlanta office 16 Fri. at Virginia 6 p.m. of ISP, Inc., at (404) 365-9880. 17 Sat. at Virginia 1 p.m.
1 General Information
Tech’s Travel Headquarters
FLORIDA STATE Mar. 14-16 Tallahassee Capital Courtyard 1018 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Fla. 32301 (850) 222-8822
BOSTON COLLEGE Just Georgia Tech, Please Mar. 28-30 Sheraton Newton Georgia Tech University sounds official, but it’s incorrect. The Georgia Institute of Technology is the 320 Washington Street school’s official title, but Georgia Tech will work fine, or just Tech (unless you’re in Virginia or Texas). Newton, Mass. 02458 We would appreciate it if you would use our name in those ways. Thanks. (617) 630-2931
NORTH CAROLINA Apr. 4-6 Table of Contents Embassy Suites 201 Harrison Oaks Boulevard About Georgia Tech Patrick Long ...... 41 Tech History Cary, N.C. 27513 Athletic Administration ...... 59 Deck McGuire ...... 45 All-Americas ...... 86 (919) 677-1840 Degree from Georgia Tech ...... 73 Luke Murton ...... 37 All-Conference Players ...... 89 Brandon Nichols ...... 45 GEORGIA SOUTHERN In the Community ...... 75 Career Statistics ...... 109 Elliott Ogawa ...... 41 Apr. 15-16 Traditions...... 74 Coaches and Captains ...... 104 Tony Plagman ...... 42 Holiday Inn Express Coaching Records...... 105 Andrew Robinson ...... 42 425 South Main Street Hall of Fame ...... 103 Baseball Staff Jeff Rowland ...... 46 Statesboro, Ga. 30458 Lettermen ...... 106 (912) 489-7368 Danny Hall ...... 49 Brad Rulon ...... 30 Tom Kinkelaar ...... 52 Matt Simonds ...... 46 Major League Draft ...... 80 Bryan Prince ...... 53 Major League Players ...... 76 MARYLAND Ryan Tinkoff...... 39 Apr. 18-20 Matt White ...... 54 Jeff Ussery ...... 43 NCAA Tournament ...... 97 Support Staff ...... 55-56 Players in the Pros ...... 78 Marriott Greenbelt Zach Von Tersch ...... 43 6400 Ivy Lane Retired Jerseys ...... 85 Taylor Wood ...... 46 Greenbelt, Md. 20770 The Yellow Jackets Team USA Players...... 83 (301) 441-3700 Charlie Blackmon ...... 27 The Year Ahead Tech in the ACC ...... 91 Zach Brewster ...... 44 Outlook ...... 9 VIRGINIA May 15-17 Chase Burnette ...... 44 Pronunciation Guide ...... 7 The Record Book Eddie Burns ...... 31 Batting ...... 118 DoubleTree Hotel Tech Roster ...... 7 990 Hilton Heights Road Brandon Cumpton ...... 44 Pitching ...... 127 Tech Schedule ...... 1 Charlottesville, Va. 22901 Jay Dantzler ...... 38 Tech Tidbits ...... 15 Fielding ...... 135 (434) 973-2121 Sean Devine ...... 39 Travel Headquarters ...... 2 The Last Time it Happened ...... 136 Derek Dietrich ...... 44 Series Records ...... 138 ACC TOURNAMENT Jesse Dubberly ...... 27 Year-By-Year Scores ...... 148 May 21-25 David Duncan ...... 32 The Year Past Season Review ...... 19 Embassy Suites Curtis Dupart...... 40 9300 Baymeadows Road Game-By-Game Results ...... 21 Miscellaneous Brad Feltes ...... 28 Jacksonville, Fla. 32256 Jason Garofalo ...... 40 Final Statistics ...... 23 Atlantic Coast Conference ...... 90 (904) 899-9510 Loyall Gause ...... 29 Individual Game-by-Game ...... 25 Baseball Camp Information ...... 57 Jason Haniger ...... 33 Media Information ...... 4 Chris Hicks ...... 34 Facilities Opponent Information...... 147 Chris House ...... 35 Arthur B. Edge Center ...... 66 Radio/Television...... 5 Michael Hutts ...... 36 Hearn Academic Center ...... 66 Kevin Jacob ...... 45 Strength & Conditioning ...... 67 Cole Leonida ...... 45 Russ Chandler Stadium ...... 61
2 Georgia Tech Sports Information Atlantic Coast Conference Sports Information Phone: 404-894-5445 P.O. Drawer ACC Sports Information Fax: 404-894-1248 Greensboro, N.C. 27417-6724 Internet Address: www.ramblinwreck.com (336) 854-8787 Mailing Address: Georgia Tech Athletic Association, website: www.theacc.com 150 Bobby Dodd Way, N.W., Atlanta, Ga., 30332-0455 Media Relations Staff Dean Buchan (UNC Wilmington ’87), Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations Brian Morrison ...... Associate Commissioner for Media Relations (Cell) 404-295-8703 ...... [email protected] Mike Finn ...... Associate Commissioner for Football Media Relations Mike Stamus (Virginia Tech ’82), Associate Director of Communications Lindsey Rogers ...... Associate Director (Cell) 404-218-9723 ...... [email protected] Kristie Le ...... Assistant Director Cheryl Watts (Georgia Tech ‘02), Assistant Director (baseball contact) Barb Dery...... Administrative Assistant (Cell) 404-502-4377 ...... [email protected] Phone ...... (336) 851-6062 Dan Goldberger (SUNY New Paltz ‘03), Assistant Director Fax ...... (336) 854-8797 (Cell) 646-872-7568 ...... [email protected] E-mail ......
Georgia Tech Directory Georgia Tech At-A-Glance Athletic Association Location: Atlanta, Ga. 30332 Main Switchboard ...... 404-894-5400 Enrollment: 16,793 Dan Radakovich, Director of Athletics ...... 404-894-5411 Founded: 1885 Paul Griffin, Senior Associate Athletic Director ...... 404-894-3780 Colors: Old Gold and White Jim Hall, Associate Athletic Director/Development ...... 404-894-8219 Nicknames: Yellow Jackets, Rambling Wreck Wayne Hogan, Associate Athletic Director/Public Relations ...... 404-894-6265 Mascot: “Buzz” the Yellow Jacket Phyllis LaBaw, Associate Athletic Director/Academics...... 404-894-4433 Conference: Atlantic Coast (since 1979) Mollie Simmons Mayfield, Associate Athletic Director/CFO ...... 404-385-0596 Home Field: Russ Chandler Stadium (capacity 4,157) Jack Thompson, Associate Athletic Director/Development ...... 404-894-5427 Dimensions: LF-328; LC-391; CF-400; RC-353; RF-334 Height of Fences: 10 feet Dean Buchan, Assistant Athletic Director/Media Relations ...... 404-894-5445 2007 Record: 32-25 overall Scott McLaren, Assistant Athletic Director/Ticketing & Sales ...... 404-385-2047 2007 ACC Record: 15-14 (7th overall/4th-Coastal) Paul Parker, Assistant Athletic Director/Compliance ...... 404-894-8792 2007 ACC Tournament: 1-2 Theresa Wenzel, Assistant Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator ....404-894-4462 ACC Championships: 7 (1985-86-87-88-00-03-05) Eric Ciano, Director of Player Development ...... 404-894-3961 NCAA Tournament Record: 54-47 Wes Durham, Director of Broadcasting ...... 404-385-0594 College World Series Record: 4-5 Jennifer Pierce, Director of Promotions and Events ...... 404-894-4400 NCAA Tournament Berths: 23 (1959-71-85-86-87-88-89-90-91-92-93- Jay Shoop, Director of Sports Medicine ...... 404-894-5460 94-95-96-97-98-00-01-02-03-04-05-06) Shawn Teske, Director of Facilities ...... 404-894-6668 College World Series Berths: 3 (1994, 2002, 2006) Head Coach: Danny Hall (15th year) Baseball Offices Record at Georgia Tech: 611-273 (.691), 15th year Career Record: 819-390 (.677), 21st year Danny Hall, Head Coach ...... (office) 404-894-5471, (home) 770-667-3264 Assistant Coach/Pitching: Tom Kinkelaar (4th year/1st as Asst. Coach) Tom Kinkelaar, Assistant Coach ...... (office) 404-894-5081, (home) 770-664-9441 Assistant Coach/Hitting: Bryan Prince (1st year) Bryan Prince, Assistant Coach ...... (office) 404-894-5393, (home) 770-436-9016 Volunteer Coach: Matt White (1st year) Nick Scherer, Director of Baseball Operations ...... (office) 404-894-2261 President: Dr. G. Wayne Clough Walter Smith, Trainer ...... (office) 404-385-0979 Director of Athletics: Dan Radakovich Faculty Representative: Dr. Daniel Schrage Russ Chandler Stadium Press Box ...... 404-894-3167
3 General Information
Media Information SID Office The SID office is located on the first floor of the Arthur B. Edge Athletics Center, on the corner of Techwood Drive and Bobby Dodd Way. The mailing address is: Sports Infor- mation Department, Georgia Tech Athletic Association, 150 Bobby Dodd Way, N.W., Atlanta, Ga. 30332-0455. Phone: (404) 894-5445. Media Services Additional information, news releases, up-to-date sta- tistics and photos are available to accredited members of Cheryl Watts the media upon request. Telephones Baseball SID Baseball releases will be available on a bi-weekly basis The press box is equipped with several telephones for use by working media only. Each throughout the season, including statistics and occasional radio booth is equipped with two courtesy standard phone lines, use of which will be granted on feature stories. Fast and easy access to this information can be achieved by accessing the official a reciprocal basis. Visiting radio crews needing additional service should call BellSouth at (800) Georgia Tech athletics website, www.ramblinwreck.com. The Tech sports information office will e- 356-3093, using assistant director of communications Cheryl Watts as the local contact. mail weekly releases to members of the media on a bi-weekly basis. No releases will be sent via the U.S. Mail. Press Box Services Interview Policy Updated cumulative statistics, game notes, scorecards and team rosters will be available in the press box prior to each home game. A final box score and play-by-play will be distributed at Players are available to the media before or after practice, or by appointment arranged the conclusion of each game. through assistant director of communications Cheryl Watts. An official scorer is assigned to all home games, and baseball SID Cheryl Watts will keep During the season, the best time to reach head coach Danny Hall in his office is Tuesday the media informed of all scoring decisions, noteworthy facts and records. through Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Members of the media wishing to talk with him during A wireless network router is available for use for all working members of the press box. that time can call his office directly at (404) 894-5471. Interviews with Coach Hall while the team is on the road should be arranged through the sports information office and Cheryl Watts. The team’s travel headquarters are listed on the previous page. Post Game Interviews Head coach Danny Hall is available to meet any working members of the press immedi- Russ Chandler Stadium ately following the game on the field or in his Chandler Stadium office. Due to space limitations in the locker room, media are asked to conduct player interviews on the field. Baseball SID Cheryl Georgia Tech’s home field is located on the corner of Fowler Street and Fifth Street, with the Watts will be available to coordinate all interview requests. main entrance on Fifth Street. Interviews with visiting team members can be done on the field, subject to policy of the To enter campus from the East, take Fifth Street off of Spring Street or take North Avenue to visiting team’s sports information representative. Techwood Drive to Fifth Street. From the West, take Northside Drive to Hemphill to Ferst Drive, fol- lowing Ferst to the stadium. There is no provision for press parking at Chandler Stadium. The best places to park, how- Tech on the Web ever, are along Fowler Street or in the Peters Parking deck, which is one block south of the sta- The Georgia Tech Athletic Association has its own official Internet website, dium. For more information on media parking, contact Cheryl Watts one week in advance. www.ramblinwreck.com. Georgia Tech’s baseball weekly releases, video footage, results, game stories, statistics and The Press Box box scores are posted on the website, which also includes biographies on players and coaches and some of the same historical information contained in this guide. Game notes in PDF format The Chandler Stadium press box is for working members of the media only. The press box will be posted on the website throughout the season. is located atop the grandstand behind home plate and includes space for working members of When possible, live in-game statistics will be available on Tech’s website. the press, official and visiting scorers, public address announcer and scoreboard operator. Also lo- Live video broadcasts for many of the Yellow Jackets’ home games can also be found at cated on the press level are two radio booths, a television booth, and eight luxury suites. Ramblinwreck.com or by visiting Georgia Tech’s ACC Select page directly at gatech.playonsports.tv. Press Credentials Press credentials will be issued to members of the work- ing media only. Children and other non-workers will not be al- lowed. Requests for credentials should be made to Cheryl Watts in the Tech sports information office at least one day in advance of each home series. Credentials will be left at the ticket booth at the third base entrance gate to Chandler Stadium or may be picked up from the Sports Information Office one day in ad- vance. Photographers Press credentials are required for all photographers and television media. Photo wells are located at the far end of each dugout, and have space for both still and video cameras. Pho- tographers are also permitted to shoot from the press box level. Photographers are not permitted on the field during play at any time. Photographers may move from one photo well to the other by exiting the dugouts and walking along the concourse behind home plate.
4 On the Air Georgia Tech Baseball Media Outlets Internet Print Rome News Tribune Specialty Radio Coverage Jim O’Hara, Sports Editor WREK-FM (91.1), Georgia Tech’s 40,000- CollegeBaseballInsider.com Atlanta Journal-Constitution P.O. Box 1633 The Buzz Magazine watt student station, will be the primary carrier Phil Stanton, Co-Editor Mike Knobler, Beat Writer Rome, Ga. 30162 Jim Buice, Editor of Georgia Tech baseball once again this sea- Sean Ryan, Co-Editor Matt Winkeljohn, Beat Writer Phone ...... (706) 291-6397 ISP Sports; 140 Club Oaks Court son, broadcasting Tech games for the 25th 2019 Stoneheather Road P.O. Box 4689 Email ...... [email protected] Winston-Salem, NC 27104 consecutive year. Tech students head up the Richmond, Va. 23238 Atlanta, Ga. 30302 Website ...... RomeNews-Tribune.com Phone ...... (336) 768-3400 x159 station’s broadcast crew. For the first time in Phone ...... (804) 273-6117 Phone ...... Knobler (404) 526-7005 Email ...... [email protected] Email .. [email protected] Phone ...... Winkeljohn (404) 724-0491 Savannah Morning News history, all games not broadcast on 790 The Website ...... CollegeBaseballInsider.com Email ...... [email protected] Anthony Stastny, Sports Editor Zone and/or conflicting with previously-sched- Email ...... [email protected] P.O. Box 1088 Television uled men’s or women’s basketball games will Rivals.com Website ...... AJC.com Savannah, Ga. 31402 be aired on WREK Radio. Kendall Rogers, National Baseball Writer Phone ...... (912) 652-0356 WAGA (FOX) In addition, all games carried on the 10 Cadillac Drive, Suite 400 Augusta Chronicle Email .. [email protected] Chip Zeller, Producer radio can be accessed via the internet at Brentwood, Tenn. 37027 John Boyette, Sports Editor Website ...... SavannahNow.com Karen Graham, Buck Lanford, Talent WREK’s world wide web site: www.wrek.org. Phone ...... (615) 507-3935 725 Broad Street 1551 Briarcliff Road Email ...... [email protected] Augusta, Ga. 30903 The Technique Atlanta, Ga. 30306 Website ...... CollegeBaseball.Rivals.com Phone ...... (706) 823-3408 Hahnming Lee, Sports Editor Phone ...... (404) 898-0150 Email . [email protected] P.O. Box J Email ...... [email protected] SEBaseball.com Website ...... AugustaChronicle.com Atlanta, Ga. 30332 Email ...... [email protected] Mark Etheridge, Publisher Phone ...... (404) 894-2831 Email ...... [email protected] 6019 Garden Oaks Drive Chattanooga Times-Free Press Email ...... [email protected] Website ...... myfoxatlanta.com Tuscaloosa, Ala. 35405 Mark Wiedmer, Staff Writer Website ...... Nique.net Phone ...... (205) 562-7977 P.O. Box 1447 WGCL (CBS) Email ...... [email protected] Chattanooga, Tenn. 37401 Corey Anderson, Producer Website ...... SEBaseball.com Phone ...... (423) 757-6390 Radio Gil Tyree, Mark Harmon, Talent Email .. [email protected] 425 14th Street Website ...... TimesFreePress.com WCNN-AM (680 the Fan) Atlanta, Ga. 30318 Television Coverage National Jason Cofar, Producer Phone ...... (404) 327-3250 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer 3535 Piedmond Rd.; Bldg. 14; Suite 1200 Email ...... [email protected] Georgia Tech’s baseball team is sched- Baseball America Kevin Price, College Writer Atlanta, Ga. 30305 Email ...... [email protected] uled to appear on television at least once this John Manuel, Editor in Chief 17 West 12th Street Phone ...... (404) 688-0068 Email ...... [email protected] spring, on the Atlantic Coast Conference re- Aaron Fitt, Assistant Editor Columbus, Ga. 31902 Email ...... [email protected] Website ...... cbs46.com gional television game of the week. 201 West Main Street, Suite 201 Phone ...... (706) 571-8500 Website ...... 680thefan.com Tech will be part of the Atlantic Coast Durham, NC 27702 Email ...... [email protected] WSB (ABC) Conference’s Saturday “ACC Game of the Phone ...... (919) 682-9635 x113 Website ...... Ledger-Enquirer.com WQXI-AM (790 the Zone) Kevin Gerke, Producer Matt Edgar, Producer Week” package for its April 26 game against Email . [email protected] Chuck Dowdle, Bill Hartman, Talent Website ...... BaseballAmerica.com Gainesville Times 3350 Peachtree Road, Suite 1610 1601 West Peachtree Street Wake Forest at Russ Chandler Stadium. The Brent Holloway, Sports Editor Atlanta, Ga. 30326 Atlanta, Ga. 30309 ACC package appears Saturdays at 1 p.m. on Collegiate Baseball P.O. Box 838 Phone ...... (404) 237-0079 Phone ...... (404) 897-7587 FSN South, along with the Comcast Network, Lou Pavlovich, Jr., Editor Gainesville, Ga. 30501 Email ...... [email protected] Email ...... [email protected] which serves the Mid-Atlantic region, the P.O. Box 50566 Phone ...... (770) 532-1234 Website ...... 790thzone.com Email ...... [email protected] Northeast Sport Network (NESN), which can be Tucson, Ariz. 85703 Email [email protected] Email ...... [email protected] seen in the New England region, and Sun Phone ...... (520) 623-4530 Website ...... gainesvilletimes.com WGST-AM (640) Website ...... wsbtv.com Edgar Treiguts, Sports Reporter Sports, which serves the state of Florida. Email ...... [email protected] Website ...... CollegiateBaseball.com Gwinnett Daily Post 1819 Peachtree Road, Suite 700 WXIA (NBC) In addition, the Yellow Jackets have a Todd Cline, Sports Editor Atlanta, Ga. 30309 Tracy Carmony, Kristy Rivero, Producers number of other opportunities to appear on TV USA Today Sports Weekly Will Hammock, Sports Writer Phone ...... (404) 367-0640 Fred Kalil, Randy Waters, Sam Crenshaw, Talent this season. FSN South/SportSouth regularly Andy Gardiner, College Writer 725 Old Norcross Road Email ...... [email protected] 1611 West Peachtree Street broadcasts a four-game package for the Yel- 7950 Jones Brance Drive Lawrenceville, Ga. 30045 Website ...... WGST.com Atlanta, Ga. 30309 low Jacket baseball team while Georgia Tech McLean, Va. 22108 Phone ...... (770) 339-5850 Phone ...... (404) 873-9146 has also appeared on Comcast Sports South, Phone ...... (703) 854-8013 Email ... [email protected] WSB-AM (750) Email ...... [email protected] Website ...... GwinnettDailyPost.com Tony Schiavone, Sports Producer which serves Georgia, Tennessee, North Caro- Email ...... [email protected] Email ...... Website ...... USAToday.com 1601 West Peachtree Street ..
5 2008 Georgia Tech Baseball Roster No. Name Pos. B-T Ht. Wt. Cl. D.O.B. Hometown (High School/College) 1 Jesse Dubberly C R-R 6-1 192 Sr. 4-7-86 Norcross, Ga. (Norcross) 2 Ryan Tinkoff* IF S-R 5-11 172 So.-R. 8-29-87 Alpharetta, Ga. (Centennial) 3 Cole Leonida C/1B R-R 6-3 218 Fr. 12-25-88 Aurora, Colo. (Grandview) 4 Jeff Rowland OF L-L 5-10 185 Fr. 4-1-88 Augusta, Ga. (Greenbrier) 5 Jeff Ussery* IF S-R 6-3 195 So. 2-9-87 Hilton Head, S.C. (Heritage Academy) 6 Chris House** OF R-R 6-0 200 Jr. 5-15-87 Marietta, Ga. (Pope) 7 Curtis Dupart* OF R-R 6-3 212 So. 9-4-87 Woodinville, Wash. (Woodinville) 10 Thomas Nichols IF L-R 6-1 188 Fr. 2-9-89 Leesburg, Ga. (Lee Co.) 11 Loyall Gause OF S-R 5-10 201 Sr. 11-22-85 Spring, Tex. (Spring) 13 Jason Garofalo* 2B R-R 5-8 162 So. 6-24-88 Alpharetta, Ga. (Marist) 14 Patrick Long* IF L-R 6-0 205 So. 2-9-88 Mechanicsville, Va. (Hanover) 15 Brad Feltes*** IF R-R 6-1 215 Sr. 8-9-85 Alpharetta, Ga. (Chattahoochee) 19 David Duncan** P L-L 6-8 208 Jr. 6-1-86 New Richmond, Ohio (New Richmond) 20 Chase Burnette OF L-L 6-2 203 Fr. 5-20-88 Buford, Ga. (Buford) 21 Tony Plagman* 1B-OF L-L 6-2 207 So. 8-14-87 Alpharetta, Ga. (Wesleyan) 22 Jay Dantzler* OF R-R 6-0 185 So.-R 2-12-87 Alpharetta, Ga. (Chattahoochee) 23 Matt Simonds IF R-R 6-1 198 Fr. 8-10-88 Atlanta, Ga. (Pace Academy) 24 Chris Hicks** P R-R 6-3 203 Jr. 2-17-87 Alpharetta, Ga. (Milton) 25 Deck McGuire P R-R 6-6 235 Fr. 6-23-89 Richmond, Va. (Deep Run) 27 Andrew Robinson* P R-R 6-1 179 So. 2-13-88 Senoia, Ga. (Starr’s Mill) 28 Brandon Cumpton P/IF R-R 6-2 193 Fr. 11-16-88 Evans, Ga. (Greenbrier) 29 Jason Haniger** C R-R 6-2 214 Jr. 6-10-87 Santa Clara, Calif. (Archbishop Mitty) 30 Zach Von Tersch* P R-R 6-5 213 So. 4-22-88 Cedar Falls, Iowa (Cedar Falls) 31 Charlie Blackmon OF/P L-L 6-3 201 Sr. 7-1-86 Suwanee, Ga. (North Gwinnett HS/Young Harris JC) 32 Derek Dietrich SS/P L-R 6-1 195 Fr. 7-18-89 Parma, Ohio (St. Ignatius) 34 Luke Murton** OF/1B R-R 6-4 236 Jr. 5-21-86 McDonough, Ga. (Eagle’s Landing) 35 Zach Brewster P L-L 6-0 185 Fr. 10-26-88 Murrayville, Ga. (North Hall) 36 Kevin Jacob P R-R 6-6 230 Fr. 3-26-89 Parkville, Md. (Parkville) 37 Eddie Burns** P R-R 6-8 225 Jr.-R 9-21-85 Hiram, Ga. (Hiram) 38 Brad Rulon*** P L-R 5-11 192 Sr. 6-22-86 Columbus, Ga. (Columbus) 39 Taylor Wood P R-L 6-7 215 Fr. 4-10-89 Suwanee, Ga. (Greater Atlanta Christian) 40 Michael Hutts** P L-L 6-2 190 Jr. 1-16-87 Dunwoody, Ga. (Wesleyan) 41 Elliott Ogawa* P L-L 5-9 178 So. 8-24-88 Columbus, Ga. (Columbus) 42 Sean Devine P R-R 6-1 182 So.-R 9-22-86 Kennesaw, Ga. (North Cobb)
Head Coach: 17 Danny Hall (Miami, Ohio, 1977), 15th year *Denotes number of varsity letters earned; R-Denotes player has been red-shirted Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach: 12 Tom Kinkelaar (Miami, Ohio, 1977), 1st year Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator: 18 Bryan Prince (Georgia Tech, 2005), 1st year Volunteer Coach: 26 Matt White, 1st year Director of Baseball Operations: Nick Scherer, 1st year Georgia Tech Athletic Trainer: Walter Smith (Morris Brown, 1972) Roster by State Strength & Conditioning: Steve Tamborra Student Manager: Josh Smith, Miles Costello Georgia 23 Ohio 2 Georgia Tech Virginia 2 California 1 Roster by Class Colorado 1 Pronunciation Guide Seniors 5 Iowa 1 Curtis Dupart ...... DEW-part Juniors 7 Maryland 1 Brad Feltes ...... FELT-is Sophomores 11 South Carolina 1 Loyall Gause ...... GAUZE Freshmen 11 Texas 1 Jason Haniger ...... HAN-i-gerr Draft eligible 16 Washington 1 Brad Rulon ...... ROO-lon
7 Q&A With Danny Hall
It's always exciting in June when Georgia Tech is well- they were last year. You are looking at a guy that just con- represented in the draft, but by the time school begins tinues to get better, and I think the fact that he has already and especially when practice starts is when you really gone through one season pitching on Friday nights in the ACC see its impact. Where can you see its biggest impact for is going to help him have a great junior year. 2008? "Eddie Burns is still one of the best stories that we've "The fact that we got Eddie Burns and David Duncan had here in a while. He had shoulder surgery and really back (was big for us). Had those two guys opted to sign pro didn't pitch at all for two years, but as our season went along contracts, I think that we would really be looking at an inex- last year he just kept getting better and better. He ended up perienced team. To get your No. 1 and No. 2 starters back, 3-3 on the year, went to Cape Cod and pitched on the win- whether it's Georgia Tech or any other college baseball team, ning team up in there, and the Braves drafted him. You are goes a long way in establishing a good foundation for your again talking about a veteran guy, a very competitive pitcher, team. If you look at our team, the place that we are the just like Duncan. So to have those two guys throwing in that most experienced at, particularly on weekends, is our pitch- weekend rotation in the league gives me a lot of comfort and ing. is a good example for every other pitcher on our team as to "We also have guys like (Chris) Hicks and (Brad) Rulon how competitive they are. They are a great 1-2 punch." that have thrown a lot in our bullpen, and even Andrew Robinson, returning in 2008. So I think our pitching is in a Zach Von Tersch had an excellent summer in the place that it needs to be. If you look at our position players Northwoods League and really made a push for that being so, for the most part, inexperienced, our pitching is go- third position in the weekend starting location. How ing to have to carry us early on until some of these young much has he improved since his arrival a year ago, and guys can get up to speed." what have we not seen from him yet? "Zach had a great summer, and that was really what You've touched on the importance of getting David he needed. He needed to go up there and throw a lot of in- Duncan and Eddie Burns back, but where do you think nings. He did that, had several starts and made the all-star their biggest value is to this veteran pitching staff. team. More than anything he has become a more confident "David Duncan threw No. 1 for us last year and was 7- pitcher. Last year I think he came in not knowing if he be- 4 on the year, throwing a lot of innings. I think the biggest longed here, but I think now he has seen the light and un- thing that I saw in him last year was that he really became derstands that he can be and is just about as good as any- competitive. There were several Friday nights when we didn't body in this league. He is a very talented guy, a great stu- score enough runs for him to win as many games as I think dent, and I expect for him to have a big year. he deserved to, but I thought he really competed well as a "Consistency (has been where he's improved the most). No. 1 starter and that competitiveness is one of his strengths. Last year he showed flashes of having a plus fastball, but I honestly feel like all his pitches are better this year than now I think he is more confident in all of his pitches and more confident in his consistency. He would show flashes last year and then might have a bad inning which would make it look like he didn't pitch that well. But it was usually 2008 Preseason Rankings one pitch, one inning or one batter that didn't go well for Collegiate Baseball him, and he let it affect him. He's a lot more confident guy Rk Team ...... W-L Pts entering this season." 1. Arizona ...... 42-17 496 2. South Carolina ...... 46-20 493 Another pitcher that really defined himself this summer 3. Arizona State ...... 49-15 491 was junior Chris Hicks, one of the top closers in the Cape 4. Mississippi ...... 40-25 487 Cod League in 2007. Do you see him in the same role 5. North Carolina ...... 57-16 486 for the Yellow Jackets in 2008, and what is it that makes 6. Rice ...... 56-14 483 him so successful in that role? 7. San Diego ...... 43-18 481 "We are going to make him our closer. He relishes 8. Texas ...... 46-17 478 having the ball in his hands late in the game with the lead 9. Wichita State ...... 53-22 476 and really started to come on for us in the last month of the 10. Michigan ...... 42-19 473 season last year. He got a lot more competitive (at the end 11. Vanderbilt ...... 54-13 471 of the 2007 season) and then had a great summer in the 12. Florida State ...... 49-13 468 Cape, closing for Wareham. He also had a great fall, he has 13. Clemson ...... 41-23 466 a great attitude, and he is one of the best athletes on our 14. Miami, Fla...... 37-24 464 team. I am anxious to see him in (the closer) role, and I know that he has embraced it already. 15. Missouri ...... 42-18 461 Starting pitchers DAVID DUNCAN (top) and EDDIE 16. Cal. St. Fullerton ...... 38-25 459 "He has a great arm, but he is also a great athlete, BURNS both elected to return to Georgia Tech 17. Long Beach State ..... 39-20 455 (both of which makes him a successful closer). You take a 18. UCLA ...... 33-28 452 guy like that who is blessed with a good arm and is a great after being drafted over the summer. 19. Oregon St...... 49-18 451 athlete on top of that, and a lot of good things can happen." 20. Kentucky ...... 34-19-1 447 21. Fresno State ...... 38-29 446 Brad Rulon is returning for his senior year and already him to start out in that role, but I could see him closing some 22. Texas A&M ...... 48-19 443 ranks as one of Georgia Tech's all-time leaders in games games here and there. I'd love to be able to hand him the 23. Louisville ...... 47-24 440 played. Will he still be your primary setup guy to get to ball in the 7th or 8th inning and then get it to Hicks in the 24. Virginia ...... 45-16 437 Hicks, or could we also see him finishing out games this 9th. He's pitched a lot of innings for us and been in a lot of 25. Georgia Tech ...... 32-25 434 year? big games. He's a senior now and he wants to go out of "Initially we want him to set Chris Hicks up, as that is here having a great year, and I expect him too." the role that he's been in the last couple years. We'll expect
9 General Information
Elliott Ogawa and Michael Hutts are your returning expe- good stuff, and has a very good arm. We're excited about rienced southpaws in the bullpen but you also added him. I can see him being a set-up guy in our bullpen, a long two left-handers in freshmen Taylor Wood and Zach relief guy, or a midweek starter for us." Brewster. Wood is the only one of the two freshmen with experience after Brewster missed the fall with injury, but On the receiving end of this talented pitching staff will be talk about how you see each of the four of them factor- a list of relative unknowns with the loss of All-American ing in this season. catcher Matt Wieters. Jason Haniger picked up some key "Michael Hutts played in the Northwoods League last innings for the squad a year ago and is the only player summer and had a good summer, pitching a lot of innings. I returning at the position after Nick Scherer graduated see him being a long relief guy. He has a very good and was named your director of operations. Before we changeup and sometimes a left-hander with a good go into detail about the other catchers on the staff, talk changeup has a hard time getting (people) out. Coach about his role on the team this season. Kinkelaar has worked a lot on his breaking ball so we can "Jason Haniger, number one, is one of the hardest use that more also. I kind of see Michael as being a long workers that we have on our team. His work ethic has caught reliever, a one-time through the order guy to get us some the attention of our coaching staff and caught the attention of outs in the middle of the game. our players, so while he might be inexperienced in college "Elliott had some back surgery and didn't pitch at all baseball I think he'll have a great year just because of his this fall, so we'll probably have to ease him back into throw- make up and how hard he works. He did get some playing ing. Early in the year I don't know how valuable he will be time late in the year and swung the bat well. He played in (because of the surgery). He's a lot like Michael in that he the Northwoods League and played very well up there, and I doesn't throw extremely hard, but one time through the order think he'll be a pleasant surprise for everybody. I do think he can come in and get some outs. that a critical thing for us is to get a good handle on our "One (returning) lefty that I also need to talk about is catching early on because we lost Matt Wieters, who is hard Charlie Blackman. Charlie didn't pitch a lot for us last year, to replace." and we've kind of converted him to an outfielder, but he will CHRIS HICKS (above) will serve as Tech’s closer in be a middle inning left-hander for us, maybe a guy who can 2008 after splitting time between the starting rotation Your philosophy has always been to have at least two come in and get left-handed hitters out. He threw the ball and bullpen in his first two years on the Flats. catchers that can be used interchangeably throughout the better in the fall than he did at any time last year, so I think season, who else has come on that can spell Haniger in that he'll give us some added depth in the bullpen. BRAD RULON (below) is one of Tech’s all-time 2008? "Brewster was hurt all fall, but he's back throwing and, leaders in games played and will serve as the "Cole Leonida. We recruited Cole out of Colorado last if everything goes well, we expect him to be ready to go primary setup guy in his final season at Tech. year, and I think he's going to be a very, very good player for pretty close to when we open up. He's got a great arm, got us. (He is) a lot like Haniger in that he works extremely hard great stuff, and if he can get back to where he was prior to and takes everything very serious. His dad was a college having that little bit of surgery I think he'll be a valuable as- baseball player so he comes from good genes. He really set to our team. He is a guy that can certainly get left- pitches for strikes, he's big like Blake was, and he's very likes the game and I think he's a guy that, since we are handers out, and he's a guy that could even possibly close a competitive. So I can see Taylor being a midweek starter for playing five games a week, is probably going to catch two game out. He's got a good arm and throws from a low 3/4 us." (games) a week and Jason will catch three. We need both of angle, so I think he'd be tough on left-handers. those guys to push each other and both of those guys to "Taylor Woods is a guy we think could be a midweek Three other newcomers, Brandon Cumpton, Kevin Jacob settle in and do a good job for us. starter for us. He is kind of like his cousin (former Tech and Deck McGuire, all right-handed, also had stellar fall "Jesse Dubberly is our third guy. Jesse has had a lot of standout Blake Wood) in that he wasn't a high profile guy campaigns. Including returning sophomore Andrew different roles (since he arrived). He's been a bullpen catcher coming in here, but he had a great fall. He throws three Robinson, what do you see their roles being in 2008? for us, but this year he has kind of jumped up to our number "Andrew's initially going to start out in our bullpen. He three guy. We also caught Patrick Long some in the fall, but it may share some roles and duties with Brad Rulon, and he would be a long shot to get him ready to catch. He could go could also be a middle inning setup guy or late inning setup back there if we need somebody though." Pitchers L/R Cl. W-L/S ERA IP guy for Hicks. Andrew was also up in the Northwoods Charlie Blackmon L Sr. 0-0 18.00 1.0 League. He pitched very well last summer, and I could see Zach Brewster L Fr. — — — him becoming a midweek starter, but initially he'll be a setup guy in our bullpen. David Duncan L Jr. 7-4 3.72 104.0 "Brandon Cumpton is a great player and certainly an Michael Hutts L Jr. 1-1 8.10 13.1 outstanding pitcher. He'll start out as a Tuesday/Wednesday Elliott Ogawa L So. 0-0 1.93 4.2 starter for us in midweek games. He has very good stuff with Taylor Wood L Fr. — — — three quality pitches that he can throw for strikes. I think a lot of our season will depend on how the midweek starters do. With us playing five games a week, a lot of times those mid- Eddie Burns R Jr.-R. 3-3 3.58 70.1 week starters are going to be critical, not only for us but for Sean Devine R So.-R. — — — all the teams in college baseball. Brandon Cumpton R Fr. — — — "With Deck McGuire, I wouldn't say he was a surprise, Derek Dietrich R Fr. — — — but he might be a sleeper. He was not a high profile guy coming in here, but he's a big guy (6-6). He has great com- Chris Hicks R Jr. 3-0 7.29 33.1 mand of everything he's doing. He threw the ball extremely Kevin Jacob R Fr. — — — well this fall; he has a great fastball, a good breaking ball, a Deck McGuire R Fr. — — — good changeup, and he really impressed me this fall with Andrew Robinson R So. 1-0 6.88 17.0 being a guy that's more mature than a (normal) 18-year-old Brad Rulon R Sr. 2-3/2 5.49 39.1 freshman pitcher. He'll also be a midweek starter, and a key guy for us. Zach Von Tersch R So. 0-1 11.74 15.1 "Kevin Jacob kind of throws at an odd angle but pitched extremely well this fall. He is very competitive, has
10 Long was the freshman that made the most impact in 2007, whether it was play- JASON HANIGER (far ing third base, second base, left), a two-year or even shortstop when letterwinner behind the Michael Fisher was injured. plate, will be the Aside from being used as Jackets’ starting catcher the 3rd catcher in your sys- on opening day. tem, where do you see him playing in 2008 and what PATRICK LONG (left), are you expecting, offen- one of the most versatile sively, from him in his players on the team, will sophomore season? begin the season at "Patrick is very versatile. third base. When we recruited him we thought he'd play third and BRAD FELTES (below second, but then he ended up left) is one of four playing some shortstop for us too and played very well seniors returning for there. He was one of those 2008, and the only one guys last year that we moved to be selected as a co- around a lot, but I think he'll captain for the start out at third this year. He upcoming season. could catch a little, and he could play second if we felt like we needed him to move him over there. But I think primarily he's a third baseman. You also have a veteran with a lot of experience on the not have great range, but I think he's a guy that can make "We need a big year from him offensively. He showed hot corner with the return of Brad Feltes for his senior the routine play. We are counting on him to come in here flashes of it last year, and I think he's better now than he season. Aside from his strong defense and the ability to and hit. He has power, he's got a quick bat, and he's a very was at any point last year. But he's one of those sopho- hit the ball out, what does he bring, leadership-wise, to competitive guy. So I think he's going to push both Jeff and mores we need to step up offensively and just have a much this team? Jason for that starting job. more productive year with the bat." "Feltes was voted a co-captain (this year) and he is "Tinkoff is more of a utility infielder. He is a switch-hit- very deserving of it. He is a good guy that everybody on our ter, and a guy that you could probably put at shortstop or team likes and respects. The thing that I would say about second base and know that, defensively, he's going to do a him is that he gets everything he has out of his ability. good job for you. I think he is a very valuable defensive Whatever he has inside of him, he gives with great effort ev- player." ery time he puts on a Georgia Tech uniform. That is why our team respects him so much. He will play some third base There are high hopes for freshman shortstop Derek and he will DH some, but it is his value and being the leader Dietrich, a player in which few have really seen because on our team that we'll lean on a lot." he missed the fall campaign with an injury. What are his greatest assets as a player, and will he be ready to step There is no shortage of second basemen on this team, into that starting role by opening day? including three that all have starting experience at the "We have gotten a glimpse of Derek (in the opening college level in addition to a freshman that had a very week of) individual workouts, and he's been given a clean strong fall. Is the starting role at that position still up for bill of health. He is a very talented guy that has good hands grabs, or has one of Jeff Ussery, Ryan Tinkoff, Jason and a great arm and he's got major power at the plate. He is Garofalo or Thomas Nichols already staked a claim to it? a freshman, and there is a learning curve you have to go "I think you'll have to flip a coin because that's prob- through at this level. But in terms of talent, I think he is as ably what I'll have to do. Ussery played second quite a bit good a talent as some of the guys we've had here in the last year. In the fall we had him at shortstop, but I think he past. We're counting on him to be our shortstop, and it is up needs to try to win the job at second base. Jeff is a very tal- to him to see how he settles in to playing that position de- ented guy, he's a very good guy, and he is a lot stronger and fensively. a lot more confident in his abilities as a baseball player than "I also think he is a guy that can do a lot of damage he was last year. He just needs to be consistent. He has all offensively. He has power to all fields. You always talk about the ability to be a great player at this level. He just has to five-tool players in baseball and I would have to say he has make his mind up that he is going to be and then let it hap- four of them. He is an average runner, but he has a great pen. So initially, I think he'll play second, but he could also arm, good hands, lots of power, and he has always hit for play shortstop since we played him a lot there in the fall. average. He just has to prove that at this level. He is a very, "Garofalo had some starts (and second base) as well very talented guy and the flip side of it for Derek is that he last year. He is a very consistent defensive player, a very can also pitch. We will probably use him to close some consistent hitter, and I would have no problem putting him in games for us. Right now, we're seeing it for the first time so our lineup and letting him play. we've got to see a little more, but we know that he brings a "When we recruited Thomas Nichols I thought he was lot of talent to this team." a player that could add a lot to our offense. He also has good hands and turns the double play really well. He might
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Luke Murton is a player that has the potential to drive the ball out of the park on every swing, yet struggled in 2007. What adjustments has he made since the end of last season, and what do the Jackets need from him in 2008 to be successful? "The biggest thing that Luke did is he put last season behind him. He has always been a hard worker, so that has never been a problem. He has forgotten about last season, and he is much more relaxed, much more focused, and in a better place. He feels a lot better about himself and where he's headed and I think he knows how to get there. I fully expect Luke to have a great year for us. He swung the bat extremely well in the fall. He has made a lot of adjustments, as any hitter has to do from year to year to keep trying to get better, and he is a lot better than he was at any time last year. He learned from last year and I think he's planning to use his failures from last year as motivation to have a great year this year. I think he'll have a tremendous year for us."
Murton was a guy that could play both first base and in the outfield because of his arm. With the influx of tal- ented freshmen in the outfield as well as the return of Tony Plagman at first base, where does that leave him? "He's probably going to play both spots. He'll play first, he'll play some in the outfield, and he'll DH some. A lot depends on some of the other outfielders. He could end up playing more first base this year than he did last year, but that's a nice problem to have. It will work itself out, but we're LUKE MURTON (left) was second on the team in going to have to play some to sort that one out." home runs in 2007 and can play both first base and in the outfield. When he does play first base, does Tony Plagman then become a viable option as a left-handed DH? "Definitely. The biggest thing about Tony is that he did CHRIS HOUSE (above) can play any of the three step in there last year and have a nice year as a freshman. outfield positions but will begin 2008 in left field. He is a great defensive first basemen and saved a lot of er- rors because he's very good around the bag, picking balls out CHARLIE BLACKMON (below) has emerged as a Catchers L/R Cl. Avg. HR RBI of the dirt. He has to step up offensively though. You play a dual threat for the Jackets and will see time both Jesse Dubberly R Sr. — — — guy at first base and you kind of want that guy to do some on the mound and in the outfield in 2008. Jason Haniger R Jr. .303 1 5 damage, whether it be an RBI machine or hit for a good av- erage or hopefully hit the ball out of the ballpark. There will Cole Leonida (1B) R Fr. — — — be a lot greater emphasis placed on Tony's bat this year and how well he's swinging it to dictate how much playing time Infield L/R Cl. Avg. HR RBI he's going to get." Another name that has been mentioned in the DH role is Derek Dietrich (SS) L Fr. — — — that of pitcher-turned-hitter Charlie Blackmon, very simi- lar to the emergence of another pitcher-turned-outfielder Brad Feltes (3B) R Sr. .217 6 22 Jeff Kindel of two years ago. Talk about what you've Jason Garofalo (2B) R So. .303 1 5 seen from him since the beginning of the fall and where Patrick Long (3B/2B/C) L So. .299 5 31 else we could see Blackmon play this season. Luke Murton (1B/OF) R Jr. .239 9 43 "If he can turn out to be as good as Kindel I'll take that right now. I do think he is Kindel-like in that he can re- Thomas Nichols (2B) L Fr. — — — ally swing the bat. He has a quick bat and he is a tremen- Tony Plagman (1B/OF) L So. .273 2 23 dous athlete. He is the best athlete we have on our team - Matt Simonds (1B/3B) R Fr. — — — he is the fastest runner, he's got the highest vertical jump, etc. Ryan Tinkoff (2B) S So.-R. — — — Charlie's going to play in our outfield somewhere. He is go- Jeff Ussery (2B/SS) S So. .221 0 13 ing to DH. He's going to somehow be in the mix for us. He had a great year in the Texas League (collegiate league) swinging the bat last summer. He swung the bat extremely Outfield L/R Cl. Avg. HR RBI well for us in the fall and has really been a great surprise for Charlie Blackmon L Sr. — — — us as a hitter. Chase Burnette L Fr. — — — Aside from Murton, you have two other returnees in the Jay Dantzler R So.-R. .077 0 0 outfield in junior Chris House and sophomore Curtis Curtis Dupart R So. .188 1 13 Dupart. With all three outfield positions really up for Loyall Gause S Sr. .000 0 0 grabs, where have they spent the most time in the fall Chris House R Jr. .255 0 15 and early part of the spring and what are the expecta- tions for these two in 2008? Jeff Rowland L Fr. — — —
12 "Chris House can play all three outfield positions. If we as a center fielder, if not the starting center fielder, when we started today he'd probably be in left field. He has really start playing. CURTIS DUPART (above left) is one of the best matured as a player. He is a lot stronger, he is more confi- "Jay Dantzler had another great fall campaign. He is a defensive players to ever roam the outfield at dent, and I think the playing that he got last year and then lot like Curtis - he has to hit to get in the lineup, but there's Georgia Tech. playing all summer in the Northwoods League has really not a better guy than Jay Dantzler. He is a great student, a helped him with his confidence. I tell everybody Chris House hard worker, and he is a guy that everybody would love to is a boy scout - he does everything the right way, he knows see do well. He just has to hit on a consistent basis to get in JAY DANTZLER (above middle) will push for how to play, and he knows how to compete. He will be a the lineup. He can play all three outfield positions, he's one playing time in the outfield in 2008. valuable member of our outfield this year. of the best runners we have on our team, he can steal bases "Dupart might be the best defensive outfielder we've - he can do a lot of things if he becomes consistent hitting- BRYAN PRINCE (above right) returns to the Flats ever had here. He can go get balls like nobody I've ever wise. as the hitting coach for the 2008 season. The seen. He is a great thrower, and he gets rid of the ball very "Chase Burnette is a very raw athlete from Buford. He former catcher was a vital part of the Yellow quickly. Curtis's whole key is how much he hits. I think he's played all three sports there, which I like. He's got a great Jackets’ ACC Championship team in 2000 before got tremendous potential as an offensive player, but he body, he's got great power, and he had a good fall for us. hasn't been able to do it on a consistent basis yet. We have He is one of those guys that seemed like he got a hit every being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2001. seen flashes of it, and if he ever hits (consistently) he'll be a time he played. He is going to push somebody because he's first round pick because he has tremendous instincts as a a good player. Rowland and Burnette are going to push the baseball player. He is a guy that we'd love to put on the Houses and Duparts, and some of those guys that got in the field everyday, but it is up to him as to how many strides he lineup last year, for playing time this season." can make in the preseason to try and get in the lineup and stay there." Perhaps your biggest adjustment will be working with a You have also hired another former player in Bryan completely new staff in 2008. How has it been, so far, Prince, who took a road similar to that of another former Other names that can be thrown into the outfield mix are working with former teammate Tom Kinkelaar, who is player and assistant coach of yours, Scott Stricklin, to get that of freshmen Jeff Rowland, another Danny Payne serving as your pitching coach this season? back to Atlanta. What has he brought to this team in the throw-back that is great defensively and has excellent "It's been great. When (former associate head coach) short time that he's been back? speed, and Chase Burnette, from just north of Atlanta, as Bobby Moranda got the head coaching job at Western Caro- "To get Bryan Prince back here is great for our pro- well as redshirt sophomore Jay Dantzler. Will we see lina, it didn't take too long to figure out that our pitchers gram because he played here, he graduated from here and much of them this season with so many talented return- wanted Coach Kinkelaar to be their pitching coach. He relates his wife graduated from here - so there isn't a better guy to ees in the outfield? extremely well with our pitchers. He is very knowledgeable. sell our program and sell the value of getting an education at "Jeff Rowland might be the best hitter we have on our He may not have been in college coaching that many years, Georgia Tech than Bryan. He was a great player that played team right now. We are going to see a lot of him. He can but he's been a coach (of some sort) since graduating from on great teams here, and because he is young he relates ex- be a very good lead-off hitter because he has a great eye at Miami, Ohio. He knows how to coach, and he knows how to tremely well with our hitters. He did a great job with those the plate. He is good at stealing bases, and he is a lot like relate to young people. It's been a very easy transition for me guys in the fall and, if nothing else, began making them Danny Payne. He is going to be a guy that will always hit for to put him in as pitching coach because we know each other more confident and helped them have fun again." average, he's always going to steal bases, he's going to so well and he knows what I like and he knows how I am." walk, and he's going to do a lot of little things that lead to winning games. I think Jeff Rowland's going to be in the mix
13 Tech Tidbits Record by Month Since 1982 In The Bigs Year Feb. Mar. Apr. May/Jun. Final Georgia Tech set an all-time high in 2003 when eleven of its alumni baseball players 2007 6-5 12-6 9-6 5-8 32-25 were on major league rosters during the season and it came close to matching that number 2006 10-0 12-4 11-8 17-6 50-18 in 2007, as 10 former Yellow Jackets were in the big leagues during the season. Former All-America third baseman Mark Teixeira, the last top-five pick in the MLB draft 2005 7-2 14-3 10-7 14-7 45-19 prior to this season, began the year with the Texas Rangers but was traded to the Braves 2004 6-3 10-8 9-6 19-4 44-21 halfway through the season and ended the year back in Atlanta. Another former Yellow 2003 7-0 14-5 11-6 12-7 44-18 Jacket All-American, catcher Jason Varitek, the 14th player selected in the 1994 MLB Draft, is the captain of the Boston Red Sox and played in his 10th full season with the team in 2007, 2002 8-1 14-3 14-5 16-7 52-16 guiding them to their second World Series title in the last four years. 2001 10-1 12-6 11-7 8-6 41-20 Former Yellow Jacket shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, a native of Whittier, Calif. spent his 2000 8-3 13-5 16-3 13-3 50-16 second year with Los Angeles in 2007, playing both first base and third base for the Dodgers. Another member of Tech’s 1994 College World Series team, outfielder Jay Payton, 1999 8-4 15-2 8-9 7-5 38-20 played for Baltimore in 2007, starting more than 100 games for the Orioles, while outfielder 1998 8-4 13-5 11-8 9-5 41-22 David Newhan spent the 2007 season in New York, playing for the Mets, and outfielder Marlon Byrd started over 100 games for the Texas Rangers. 1997 9-0 18-2 9-8 10-5 46-15 Matt Murton, a member of Georgia Tech’s 2002 College World Series team, started 53 1996 4-6 15-3 11-8 10-7 40-24 games for the Cubs in 2007 while Eric Patterson, a teammate of Murton’s on the 2002 CWS 1995 7-3 11-6 13-6 7-7 38-22 squad, made his debut with Chicago last season. Also making their Major League debuts in 2007 were former pitcher/DH Micah 1994 6-2 15-2 13-6 13-6 50-17 Owings, who spent two years on the Flats from 2003-04 and started 27 games on the 1993 11-1 10-3 17-4 9-6 47-14 mound for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2007, and right-handed pitcher Kevin Cameron, who 1992 12-1 13-4 13-5 7-9 45-19 played in San Diego and began his MLB career by throwing 17.1 consecutive scoreless in- nings for the Padres before finishing the year with a 2-0 record and a 2.79 ERA in 48 relief 1991 7-3 15-5 9-11 11-7 42-26 appearances. 1990 9-1 19-5 11-9 7-10 46-25 Outfielder Marlon Byrd played with the Washington Nationals and Kris Wilson played 1989 5-3 12-9 16-6 6-8 38-26 for the New York Yankees. 1988 4-5 13-7 17-7 11-5 45-24 Recruiting Class Nationally Ranked 1987 8-0 13-5 16-6 14-3 51-14 Tech’s recruiting class for this season, which includes 11 freshmen, was ranked as the 1986 0-6 16-4 14-9 15-4 45-23 22nd best in the nation by Baseball America and No. 23 by Collegiate Baseball. Tech’s re- cruiting classes have been ranked among the top 25 in the country in each of the last 12 1985 5-0 14-6-1 13-9 10-7 42-19-1 years, including the 1998 class featuring Mark Teixeira, and the 2003 class, which were both 1984 5-2 17-5 12-5 2-7 36-19 ranked No. 1 in the country. Under the direction of head coach Danny Hall, Tech signed 10 players in the early 1983 4-2 16-4 11-7 7-2 38-15 signing period last fall, including several players ranked among the nation’s top high school 1982 0-0 12-7 10-9 7-4 29-20 prospects. Total 142-46 316-107-1 270-154 224-130 945-436-1 Record Setting Offense Georgia Tech has been known as one of the top offensive teams in the nation over the last decade, and in 2001, the Yellow Jackets established an Atlantic Coast Conference and school record with a .347 team batting average. The Broom Tech has averaged better than seven runs per game in 25 of the last 26 seasons. In Georgia Tech swept two Atlantic Coast Conference series during the 2007 regular sea- the Danny Hall era (1994-present), the Yellow Jackets have averaged 8.6 runs per game. son, and the Yellow Jackets have swept 60 weekend series since the conference adopted the Tech has consistently ranked among the ACC’s offensive leaders, leading the conference current three-game round-robin format in 1987. Since 1987, Tech has won 110 of 165 (.667) in scoring 12 times in the last 23 years while boasting the best team batting average in the ACC series. league in seven of the last 16 years. Draft Day The “Rusty C” Since the major league baseball draft was instituted in 1965, a total of 137 different Affectionately known as the “Rusty C,” Russ Chandler Stadium was originally built in Georgia Tech players have been selected in its various phases, including 13 in the first round 1985, just in time for Tech to host the ACC Tournament. It has also been the site of eight NCAA (see the complete list on page 80). Regional tournaments (1987, 1993, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006), as well as an Ten Tech players, an all-time high, were drafted in 2004, and the Yellow Jackets exhibition game between the Yellow Jackets and the first team from the Soviet Union to tour matched that feat in 2007 as Matt Wieters (1st), Danny Payne (Supp. 1st), Michael Fisher the United States (1989). (6th), Tim Ladd (9th), Wally Crancer (12th), Eddie Burns (16th), David Duncan (23rd), Jared In the summer of 1996, Russ Chandler Stadium served as an official training site for Hyatt (33rd), Luke Murton (40th) and Ryan Turner (45th) were all drafted last June. Since the Centennial Olympic Games. 1990, 77 different Tech players have signed with major league organizations. A new era in Russ Chandler Stadium’s history began in 2002 as the old facility was The first Georgia Tech player ever selected in a major league draft was second razed to make way for a new, $9.7 millon 4,157 seat facility that stands as one of the best baseman Randy Carroll, taken in the 18th round of the very first draft in 1965. ballparks in America. Rose Bowl Field, the tract of land on which the stadium sits, which in- cludes the adjacent football practice field, has been the site of Tech baseball since 1930, when the field was built with funds from Georgia Tech’s appearance in the 1929 Rose Bowl.
15 General Information
Tech Tidbits Draft Dodgers Eight Georgia Tech players have previ- ously been drafted 10 times by major league teams. The highest concentration of drafted players ever on one Yellow Jacket team occurred in 2000 and 2003. Those teams featured 11 players previously drafted. The list includes Charlie Blackmon (28th, Marlins, 2004; 20th, Red Sox, 2005), Eddie Burns (16th, Braves, 2007), David Duncan (14th, Twins, 2005; 23rd, Nationals, 2007), Derek Dietrich (3rd, Astros, 2007), Curtis Dupart (31st, Rockies, 2006), Chris Hicks (35th, Rangers, 2005), Luke Murton (40th, Yankees, 2007) and Zach Von Tersch (38th, Nationals, 2006). All-Americas Georgia Tech has had 37 different players earn All-America honors in its storied history, 32 of them earning the distinction since 1985. Jason Varitek, who was a con- sensus first-team choice in 1992, 1993 and 1994, is the most decorated of the group. Tech had three consensus first-team All-Americas in 1994, including shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and center fielder Jay Payton. Only three players in school history - Varitek Grant Field — Home to (1992, 1993, 1994), Garciaparra (1993, 1994), and Matt Wieters (2006, 2007) - have earned first-team All-America honors in back-to-back seasons. Wieters was the fifth overall pick in Football and Baseball the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. A 1920’s post-card (above ) with an aerial view of the Georgia Tech campus shows historic Grant Field at right, where the Yellow Jackets All-Time Greatest played their baseball games from 1913 to 1929. Tech began playing As if it wasn’t enough that catcher Jason Varitek became a consensus All-America for baseball at Rose Bowl Field, its current home site, in 1930. the third time in 1994, the Longwood, Fla. native also earned National Player of the Year
honors from three organizations, Baseball America, the American Base- ball Coaches Association (Dick Howser Trophy), and the National Colle- Tech Baseball at No. 1 giate Baseball Writers (Smith Award). Georgia Tech has been ranked as the top team in the country 11 times in its history, for a total of 30 Baseball America magazine also named Varitek to its all-time col- weeks. Each of the first three times, the Yellow Jackets lost their next two games and fell out of the top spot lege team. In November of 1994, Varitek also received amateur the following week. In 1993, the Jackets were ranked No. 1 for four straight weeks in Baseball America and baseball’s greatest honor, the Golden Spikes Award. He was the first returned to the top spot in all three polls on May 17, Tech’s first unanimous choice ever. The Jackets opened Georgia Tech baseball player ever to receive any of those national hon- the 1994 season ranked No. 1 and proceeded to advance to the College World Series where they finished ors. as the national runner-up. Tech returned to the top spot in the polls after winning the 2000 ACC Tournament. Tech also recognized him by retiring his No. 33 jersey, making him The Yellow Jackets opened the 2001 season as the nation’s preseason No. 1 team and spent six weeks at the first and only Tech baseball player to be so honored. the top of the poll, their longest stay ever. Georgia Tech opened the 2003 season as the nation’s No. 1 team accoring to Baseball America magazine, the Yellow Jackets’ third pre-season No. 1 ranking in school history, Leading Georgia and returned to the top spot in the polls on Mar. 28, 2005 after opening the season 21-5, 11-1 in the ACC. Georgia Tech went 5-6 against teams from the state of Georgia in 2007. Since 1999, the Yellow Jackets own a 77-26 (.748) record against Date Record Poll(s) What Happened Next Weeks at No. 1 its in-state foes. In 14 years under head coach Danny Hall, Tech is 120- Mar. 16, 1987 16-0 CB Lost two to Jacksonville 1 43 (.736) against teams from Georgia. Mar. 19, 1990 23-1 BA, CB Lost to Hawaii, Wright State 1 Feb. 11, 1991 3-0 CB Lost two of three at New Orleans 1 Jim Luck Luck enjoyed the longest tenure of any Tech baseball coach, post- Mar. 1, 1993 11-1 BA Won Oscar Mayer Classic (3 games) 4 ing a 320-280-4 (.533) record in 20 seasons from 1962-81. In 1972, he May 17, 1993 45-10 USA, BA, CB Lost twice in ACC Tournament 1 was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame. His No. 44 was, until Pre-Season 1994 0-0 BA, USA No. 1 by USA on 2/21; No. 2 by CB 4 1994, the only baseball jersey to be retired at Georgia Tech. An assistant May 22, 2000 47-14 BA, CB Won NCAA Atlanta Regional 2 football coach and assistant athletic director, as well as head baseball Pre-Season 2001 0-0 BA, CB Went 2-1 in Rice Invitational 6 coach, Luck was killed in an automobile accident in 1986. Pre-Season 2003 0-0 BA Opened season 17-0 6 Mar. 28, 2005 21-5 CB, NCBWA Went 2-2 vs. W. Carolina, Maryland 1 Feb. 27, 2006 10-0 USA, BA, CB No. 1 by BA and CB on 3/6 3
16 DANNY HALL’S first Tech lineup card (far right) on Feb. 11, 1994 vs. Minnesota. Brad Rigby pitched Tech to a 3-1 victory, and Jason Varitek hit a home run. That season culminated in the Jackets’ runner-up finish in the College World Series (trophy at right).
Jim Morris Over his 12-year career on the Flats, Mor- ris led the Yellow Jackets to 504 victories against 244 losses, four Atlantic Coast Confer- ence championships (1985-88), and nine con- secutive NCAA regional berths. He left the school the all-time winningest coach at Georgia Tech. Along the way, he introduced night baseball to the Tech campus, attracted the What If? donations to build Russ Chandler Stadium and laid the groundwork for the fun, fam- Following is a list of baseball players who actually signed letters of intent with Georgia Tech out of high ily-oriented atmosphere that Tech fans and students enjoy today. school, but instead signed professional contracts with major league organizations. Now in his 14th season as head coach at Miami, Morris was inducted into the Player, Pos. Year Signed Drafted by (Round) 2008 Status Georgia Tech Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. Brent Abernathy, inf 1996 Toronto Blue Jays (2) Reserve 2B, Minnesota Twins Quincy Carter, of+ 1996 Chicago Cubs (2) out of baseball The Hall Era at Georgia Tech Kyle Colton, p 1999 Atlanta Braves (23) out of baseball Georgia Tech is 611-273 in 14 seasons under head coach Danny Hall, a win- Kyle Davies, p 2001 Atlanta Braves (4) SP for Kansas City Royals ning percentage of .691 and an average of 43.6 wins per year. Hall became Tech’s Travis Devine, p 1999 San Diego Padres (2) out of baseball winningest coach on Mar. 27, 2005 in an 11-10 win at Miami. Blake DeWitt, inf 2004 Los Angeles Dodgers (1) Los Angeles farm system The Yellow Jackets have won six NCAA regionals during the Hall tenure. Tech Todd Dunn, of+ 1989 Milwaukee Brewers (na) out of baseball advanced to the championship game of the College World Series in his first season Jeff D’Amico, p 1993 Milwaukee Brewers (1) out of baseball in 1994, and reached the CWS again in 2002 and 2006. Tech has won ACC champi- Travis Fryman, ss 1987 Detroit Tigers (1) out of baseball onships in 2000, 2003 and 2005. Mickey Hall, of 2003 Boston Red Sox (2) Boston farm system Hall was named ACC Coach of the Year and also earned National Coach of the Brian Howard, inf 1982 Cleveland Indians (1#) out of baseball Year honors by The Sporting News in 1997. He earned his second and third ACC Tim Hyers, 1b-of 1992 Chicago Cubs (5) out of baseball Coach of the Year awards after leading Tech to the ACC Regular Season and Tourna- Austin Jackson, of^ 2005 New York Yankees (8) New York farm system ment championships in both 2000 and 2005. Tech’s record in ACC games under Hall Jim Johnson, p 2001 Baltimore Orioles (5) RP for Baltimore Orioles is 226-123 (.648). Torre Langley, c 2006 Florida Marlins (3) Florida farm system Along the way, 72 of his players at Tech have gone on to play professional Mark Mangum, p 1997 Colorado Rockies (1) out of baseball baseball, 27 have earned All-America honors and 67 have made the All-ACC team. Terry McCormick, p 1997 Tampa Bay Devil Rays (18) out of baseball One hundred and four have made the ACC Academic Honor Roll and 10 have made Johnny McGinnis, p 1999 Atlanta Braves (4) out of baseball the GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America or All-District teams. Tyler Minges, p 1999 Cleveland Indians (6) out of baseball YEAR RECORD ACC NOTES Jay Mitchell, p 2001 Colorado Rockies (4) out of baseball 1994 50-17 16-8 NCAA Mideast Regional champs, CWS Runner-Up Chris Myers, p* 1987 Baltimore Orioles (4) out of baseball 1995 38-22 16-8 NCAA Mideast Regional Jarrod Parker, p 2007 Arizona Diamondbacks (1) Arizona farm system 1996 40-24 13-11 NCAA South II Regional Corey Patterson, of 1999 Chicago Cubs (1) CF for Baltimore Orioles 1997 46-15 19-4 NCAA Mideast Regional, ACC Reg. Season Champs Eddie Prasch, inf 2004 Pittsburgh Pirates (3) Pittsburgh farm system 1998 41-22 14-9 NCAA Midwest Regional Neil Ramirez, p 2007 Texas Rangers (1) Texas farm system 1999 38-20 12-12 — Carl South, p 1993 Los Angeles Dodgers (24) out of baseball 2000 50-16 18-6 NCAA Super Regional, ACC Reg. Season & Tourn. Champs Richard Stahl, p 1999 Baltimore Orioles (1) out of baseball 2001 41-20 13-11 NCAA Athens Regional Jason Stephens, p 2003 New York Yankees (6) NY Yankees farm system 2002 52-16 14-9 NCAA Super Regional, CWS 5th place Chris Threadgill, of 1997 California Angels (3) out of baseball 2003 44-18 17-7 NCAA Atlanta Regional, ACC Champions Adam Wainwright, p 2000 Atlanta Braves (1) SP for St. Louis Cardinals 2004 44-21 18-5 NCAA Super Regional, ACC Reg. Season Champs Aron Weston, of 1999 Pittsburgh Pirates (3) out of baseball 2005 45-19 22-8 NCAA Super Regional, ACC Reg. Season & Tourn. Champs Matt White, p 1996 San Francisco Giants (1) Volunteer Asst. Coach, Georgia Tech 2006 50-18 19-11 NCAA Atlanta Super Regional champions, CWS 7th place Scott White, 3b 2002 Boston Red Sox (3) Boston farm system 2007 32-25 15-14 — Rick Wilkins, c 1987 Chicago Cubs (1) out of baseball David Wright, 3b 2001 New York Mets (1) 3B for New York Mets 17 *Not the same Chris Myers who pitched for Tech from 1991-94; +Signed football letter-of-intent with Tech; ^Signed basketball letter-of-intent with Tech; #Secondary phase of June draft MOST VALUABLE PLAYER for 2007
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