2004 Big 12 Conference Baseball Notes – Apr. 22, 2004 Top O’ the Notes: Big 12 baseball continues to make engagements since 1957 and is 18-3 against the both national and world headlines as alumni of Jayhawks in Big 12 series. conference schools in Major League Baseball have KANSAS had some recent head-to-head showdowns. Sophomore 2B Jared Schweitzer of Sherwood Park, On Sunday, Apr. 18, for example, two-time Canada, is coming off his top week as a young Dick Howser Trophy winner (1992 and ’93, only member of the Jayhawks. Against Oklahoma State on player in history to capture the title twice) Brooks Apr. 16-18 at Stillwater, Okla., he was 7-for-15 (.467) Kieschnick of the Milwaukee Brewers via Texas faced with 17 total bases, a 1.133 slugging percentage, four and struck out against eventual Baseball Hall of Fame doubles, two home runs and three RBI as six of his pitcher (313 wins) Roger Clemens of the Houston seven safeties were for extra bases. The soph second Astros via the Longhorns in 1982 and ’83. sacker also did not commit an error in 18 chances. Clemens is scheduled to match up against KANSAS STATE another Dick Howser Trophy winner (1999 consensus KSU enjoyed a seven-inning stint from junior RHP College Player of the Year) Jason Jennings of Baylor Jared Staub of Laurel, Mont., to roll past Sterling 12-1 and the Colorado Rockies on the mound when those last Wednesday in non-conference activity. NCBWA teams play Saturday. The Astros’ ace also is being All-America team nominee OF Steve Murphy of honored with the Roger Clemens Award, newly- Kansas City, Mo., remained hot with five RBI against named in 2004 for college pitcher of the year. SC as he raised his season’s average to .366 (tied for That same afternoon at 3 p.m. (CDT), sixth in the Big 12) along with three homers, 36 RBI, though, one of the Big 12’s most critical midseason nine doubles, and a .451 on-base percentage. contests of 2004 contenders also draws a regional MISSOURI (please check local listings) when Texas hosts Thirteen of the 39 Tigers’ games this year have been Nebraska on Fox Sports Net with Greg Lucas and decided by one run, including a 5-4 setback at Larry Dierker scheduled to call the televised activity. Columbia last Wednesday to 2003 NCAA World UT is chasing Oklahoma (12-3 Big 12) with Series entrant SMS. MU downed the Bears by the an 11-3 league mark entering the weekend festivities, same score six days earlier at Springfield, Mo., and the and the circuit race could tighten up quickly under latest contest kept the teams on the field for five hours certain circumstances. and 14 minutes due to rain delays. OF Ryan Rallo of Nebraska (7-5, currently fourth in Big 12 Chesterfield, Mo., helped his cause with a 7-for-11 standings after winning the ’03 crown) trails (.636) weekend against Nebraska on Apr. 16-18. Oklahoma State (7-4) by percentage points for third NEBRASKA place as the Cowboy s travel to Kansas State (2-10, Holding the Huskers scoreless in early innings is a tied for ninth in conference play). difficult task these days and vital to any sort of Oklahoma returns to the road for a opposing success. Coach Mike Anderson’s crew has challenging three-game set at Texas Tech (6-5, fifth) outscored foes 45-17 in the first inning and 121-46 in a rematch of the 1997 Phillips 66 Big 12 over the first three fames as it has solved most tournament title game (won 19-17 by OU in opponents’ moundmen in the initial stages. Chief Oklahoma City) while Kansas (2-10, tied for ninth) protagonist in the success is 3B Alex Gordon of treks to resurgent Baylor (6-8, seventh). Missouri (4-8, Lincoln, Neb., with a Big 12-best .394 batting eighth) is at Texas A&M (7-8, sixth) as four Big 12 average, 13 homers and 56 RBI. units begin the final 12-game march through the OKLAHOMA league’s round-robin schedule. Senior relief man Mike Swindell of Wildomar, Calif., The top eight teams by percentage in final has been a key cog in recent efforts to keep coach Big 12 standings (determined by league games ending Larry Cochell’s Sooners atop the Big 12 standings. He Sunday, May 23) advance to postseason play and the worked a season-long six innings in a 9-5 win at Texas possibility of earning the conference’s automatic bid A&M last week to clinch that league road series. His to the 2004 NCAA tournament. biggest contribution was leaving four Aggies in Ticket inquiries for the 2004 eighth annual scoring position with potential tying runs at bat. He Phillips 66 Big 12 postseason tourney on May 26-30 allowed only three runners in his final four-plus IP. at The Ballpark in Arlington can be made to the Texas OKLAHOMA STATE Rangers at 817-273-5100 or by accessing the Big 12 Junior RHP Spencer Grogan of Cantonment, Fla., official website at www.Big12Sports.com. continues to lead the conference in overall wins with a BAYLOR 9-1 record after closing the 2003 campaign with a 3-5 The Bears have added two games to the ’04 schedule mark in 17 appearances. All-American candidate to make up for earlier rainouts. BU hosts Texas catcher Jason Jaramillo of Franksville, Wis., was on Southern on Apr. 28 and meets Texas State in a the Golden Spikes Award watch list earlier and makeup of a Feb. 24 postponement on Wednesday, remains in the running with a .345 average, four home May 12. Both contests begin at 6 p.m. (CDT). Coach runs and 31 RBI. Steve Smith’s crew leads Kansas 23-3 in 26 TEXAS 14—Jeff Scuderi, OU Junior 1B-C Curtis Thigpen of Forney, Texas, is 13—Ritchie Price, KU drawing raves with a team-best 17 multiple-hit games, 12—Matt Bose, OU solid play in the field and the versatility to play first or 12—Erik Schindewolf, A&M catch along with Taylor Teagarden of Carrollton, Texas. Thigpen added a 1-for-2 evening with two runs Big 12’s Longest Hitting Streaks of 2003 against Texas State last Tuesday to raise his squad- 23—Curtis Ledbetter, NU leading average to .366 with four homers and 29 21—David Murphy, BU ribbies for the nation’s first 39-win (39-5) team. 21—Omar Quintanilla, UT (2002 and ‘03) TEXAS A&M 20—Joe Ferin, UT A&M joined Texas as the initial two teams in Division 20—Jose Virgil, OSU I baseball to the 30-victory mark and presented head 20—Josh Fields, OSU coach Mark Johnson with his 19th 30-triumph year in 20—Matt Tribble, KU 20 seasons as Aggies’ mentor. The team may be en 18—Mark Saccomano, BU route to its 14th NCAA appearance since 1986 behind 17--Jose Virgil, OSU the likes of standout freshman LHP Jason Meyer of 16--Ty Soto, KSU (2002-03) Abilene, Texas, with a league-leading ERA of 1.47, a 16--Brett Williams, KSU (2002-03) 7-0 record and 63 strikeouts in 55 innings worked. TEXAS TECH Big 12’s Longest Hitting Streaks of 2002 With Alumni Baseball Weekend on the top of this 30—Gera Alvarez, TT (2nd-longest in Big 12 history) weekend’s schedule, the Big 12’s second-best hitting 24—Jayce Tingler, MU team (.316 average) has been smashing baseballs to all 23—Jeff Salazar, OSU fields with 49 homers in 37 games (Big 12-high 17—Daylon Monette, OSU average of 1.32 dingers per skirmish. OF Madison 16—Michael Griffin, BU Edwards of Midland, Texas, has been one of the 16—Eddie Cornejo, OU unsung leaders with a .360 average, four triples and 29 15—Omar Quintanilla, UT RBI in his first 36 outings of 2004. 14—Jayce Tingler, MU 14—John Grose, NU Big 12’s Longest Hitting Streaks of 2004 14—Tim Moss, UT (Through Apr. 22, 2004) 20—Cliff Pennington, A&M (all in 2004) Big 12’s Longest Hitting Streaks of 2001 17—Matt Tribble, KU 28--Kelly Shoppach, BU (4th in Big 12 history) 17—Scott Kirby, OSU (2003 and ’04) 20—John Cole, NU 16—Ole Sheldon, OU (current) 20--Pat Maloney, KSU 16—Michael Griffin, BU 19--Adam Stern, NU 16--Lee Laskowski, MU 18—Greg Dobbs, OU 16—Austin Boggs, A&M 18—Nebassett Brown, OSU 15—Curtis Thigpen, UT 18--Jeff Leise, NU 14—Andy Scholl, KU 18—Ryan Stegall, MU 14—Travis Metcalf, KU NCAA Tournament Appearances by Big 12 Teams (Note: NCAA Region Results Since 1954, Through 2003) School (Regional, World Series) All Appearances CWS Record Region & CWS Totals Total (Regionals/CWS) W-L Pct. W-L Pct. Baylor 13 (11/2) 23-27 .460 0-4 .000 Colorado No appearances Iowa State 5 (3/2) 10-10 .500 3-4 .429 Kansas 3 (2/1) 5-7 .412 0-2 .000 Kansas State No appearances Missouri 21 (15/6) 60-41 .594 18-11 .621 Nebraska 10 (8/2) 22-17 .564 0-4 .000 Oklahoma 35 (26/9) 67-63 .515 14-14 .500 Oklahoma State 50 (31/19) 161-105 .605 38-36 .514 Texas 77 (47/30) 242-137 .639 70-51 .579 Texas A&M 25 (21/4) 44-50 .468 2-8 .200 Texas Tech 7 (7/0) 13-16 .449 0-0 ---- Totals 247 (172/75) 651-473 .579 145-134 .520 NCAA Notes: From 2000-03 the Big 12 had the second-highest number of bids with five each in the 64-team NCAA Regionals.