Weekly Release #3
3/14/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Friday, March 17 -- at Miami (Coral Gables, Fla.), 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 18 -- at Miami (Coral Gables, Fla.), 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 19 -- at Miami (Coral Gables, Fla.), 1 p.m.
Wednesday, March 22 -- vs. Eastern Michigan (Ray Fisher Stadium), 3 p.m.
Friday, March 24 -- vs. Minnesota* (Ray Fisher Stadium), 3 p.m.
Saturday, March 25 -- vs. Minnesota* (DH) (Ray Fisher Stadium), 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 26 -- vs. Minnesota* (Ray Fisher Stadium), 1 p.m.
Michigan Baseball Faces Defending NCAA Champions
The University of Michigan baseball team returns to action for three games this weekend (March 17-19) in Coral Gables, Fla., facing the defending NCAA champions in Mark Light Stadium. The Wolverines (6-6) play three games against the University of Miami (16-8), with night games on Friday (March 17, 7 p.m.) and Saturday (March 18, 7 p.m.) and a single game Sunday afternoon (March 19, 1 p.m.).
The series opener will be televised live in Florida on Fox Sports Net with Jay Randolph (play-by-play) and former Miami head coach Ron Fraser (analyst) as the announcers.
The Hurricanes, ranked 13th in the USA Today Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches Top 25, 15th by Collegiate Baseball and 16th by Baseball America, play a single game with Iona before hosting the Wolverines. Miami has won 12 of its last 15 and took two of three from Rutgers last weekend.
The Wolverines enter the Miami series with a four-game winning streak after sweeping three games in Charleston, S.C., beating host Charleston Southern 11-4 and 12-3 and Kent State University 16-12. It marked the first time the Wolverines had swept a "southern" series since a 9-0 start in Texas to open the 1985 season.
Michigan vs. Miami
Miami owns a 7-2 advantage in the series that started in 1958 with a 5-4 Michigan win in Coral Gables under legendary Wolverine coach Ray Fisher. Michigan's other win over Miami came in 1985, 7-5 in the championship game of the Wheaties Tournament of Champions in the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn., when All-American Casey Close hit a two-out grand slam homer in the bottom of the 10th inning off Miami All-American closer Rick Raether.
Michigan is 1-5 vs. the Hurricanes in Miami, 1-1 in Minneapolis and 0-1 in Omaha, Neb. The lone College World Series meeting was in 1980 when Miami beat Michigan 3-2 in a second-round game despite a 4-for-4 effort by Michigan All-American Jim Paciorek. The last meeting was in 1993 with the 'Canes winning 4-3 and 8-1.
Coaching Matchups
Michigan's Geoff Zahn, with a career record of 121-115-1, is in his fifth season at the helm for the Wolverines. Zahn has led Michigan to Big Ten Conference championships in 1997 (regular season) and 1999 (tournament). The Wolverines have made the Big Ten playoffs three times in his four seasons (1996, 1997 and 1999) and advanced to the NCAA playoffs in 1999. This is Zahn's first meeting vs. Miami.
Jim Morris enters the week with a career record of 819-340-1 in 19 seasons as a head coach. He is 315-96 in seven years at Miami. He was named national Coach of the Year in 1999 by Collegiate Baseball and the ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) as he led the Hurricanes to the national championship. Morris coached 12 seasons at Georgia Tech before accepting the position at Miami. He was replaced at Georgia Tech by former Michigan assistant Danny Hall.
Tousa Hits Century Mark, Jumps Average 100 Points
Junior second baseman Scott Tousa (Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands HS) reached a milestone Sunday (March 12) with his 100th career start in the win over Kent State University. Tousa also used the weekend in South Carolina to raise his batting average more than 100 points.
Tousa's weekend started with the first four-hit game of his career (4-for-6) in the opener at Charleston Southern. For the weekend Tousa was 7-for-13 (.538) with two doubles, a homer, three walks, six RBI and seven runs scored. He started the weekend at .200 and enters the Miami series third on the team with a .316 average.
Probable Pitchers
The probable starting pitchers for the Wolverines in the weekend trip to Miami include junior Vince Pistilli (Highland, Ind./Highland HS), senior Bryan Cranson (Bronson, Mich./Bronson HS) and sophomore Bobby Korecky (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) or freshman Rich Hill (Milton, Mass./Milton HS). Potential matchups:
- Game #1 -- Pistilli (RHP, 1-1, 2.30 ERA) is scheduled to make his 16th career start in the weekend opener. He fanned seven while losing the 2000 opener to Jacksonville State, 3-1. He beat Xavier 7-1 in his second start. He worked the first four innings of a no-decision vs. Charleston Southern. He has worked 15.2 innings and opponents are hitting .193 against him. In 1999 he was 4-3 with wins over Ohio State, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Cal State Northridge. For Miami -- David Gil (Sr., RHP, 3-0, 2.78 ERA) leads the team in innings (32.1) and strikeouts (44). He has a 23-2 career record with a 17-0 mark since 3/1/98.
- Game #2 -- Cranson (LHP, 2-1, 5.51 ERA) pitched six innings of shutout ball vs. Xavier #1 for the first U-M win of 2000, but lost to St. John's in his second outing. He pitched 6.1 innings and allowed seven hits and three runs in a win at Charleston Southern. Cranson, who leads the staff in innings pitched (16.1) is the active career leader in wins (14). For Miami -- Brian Walker (So., LHP, 3-1, 2.05 ERA) is second on team with 30.2 innings.
- Game #3 -- Korecky (RHP, 1-1, 5.52 ERA) pitched a complete-game, six-hit shutout vs. Duquesne in the final start of the spring trip. He lost his first start of the season vs. Western Michigan and lasted just 1.1 innings in his last start, a no-decision vs. Kent State University. Korecky was Michigan's closer in 1999 and led the staff in appearances (25) and saves (5).
- Or Game #3 -- Hill (LHP, 1-1, 6.94 ERA) fanned seven out of the bullpen in his career debut vs. Jacksonville State and he lost his first start vs. Central Michigan. Hill earned his first win with 4.2 innings out of bullpen vs. Kent, fanning six. He leads the staff with 17 strikeouts in 11.2 innings. For Miami -- Kiki Bengochea (Fr., RHP, 3-1, 1.80 ERA) was a third-round pick of the Kansas City Royals last June.
Michigan's "March" to Fisher Stadium Nears End
Michigan's countdown to the home opener at Fisher Stadium is down to the three games this weekend in Miami. The Wolverines are scheduled to open the home portion of the schedule with a seven-game homestand in March, starting with the opener vs. Washtenaw County foe Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, March 22 (3 p.m.). The Wolverines will attempt to open Big Ten Conference play at home for the first time since hosting Northwestern in 1989. In the entire decade of the 1990s Michigan never opened conference play at home, with a snowstorm wiping out the only scheduled opportunity, vs. Iowa in 1998.
Michigan's Big Ten Opening Series
2000 MINNESOTA
1999 at Iowa (3-1)
1998 at Illinois (1-3)
1997 at Purdue (2-2)
1996 at Purdue (4-0)
1995 at Iowa (2-2)
1994 at Indiana (2-2)
1993 at Minnesota (Dome, 0-4)
1992 at Purdue (3-1)
1991 at Ohio State (2-2)
1990 at Indiana (1-3)
1989 NORTHWESTERN (3-1)
Bobeda and Quinn Provide All-Around Leadership
Tri-captains Rob Bobeda (DeWitt, Mich./DeWitt HS) and Kevin Quinn (Midland, Mich./Midland HS) provide senior leadership with their ability to play many positions.
Bobeda, who is one of three players to have started all 12 games, leads the team in runs scored (13) and shares the homer lead (3). Bobeda has made his 12 starts in four positions (RF-4, LF-3, CF-3, DH-2) and can lead the way for the other outfielders. It is important as the other outfielders with the most starts are freshmen -- Blake Rutkowski (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS), 8 starts in CF; Jordan Cantalamessa (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS), 5 starts in LF; and Gino Lollio (Cape Coral, Fla./Mariner HS), 4 starts in RF.
Meanwhile, veteran infielder Quinn can give the Wolverines a shot of confidence with his infield play. Quinn with six starts (3B-3, SS-2, DH-1) has already surpassed his 1999 totals for starts (5) and hits (6-for-23 .261). Quinn carries a team- and career-best five-game hitting streak into the series at Miami.
Parrish Provides Balanced Offense
Junior All-American candidate catcher David Parrish (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) continues to produce run for the Wolverines. Heading into the Miami series he has scored 11 and driven in 11. Parrish is second on the team hitting .318 (14-for-44) and shares the team lead in homers (3) with Rob Bobeda and in RBI (11) with 3B Brock Koman (Pueblo, Colo./South HS).
Parrish launched his third homer of the season vs. Charleston Southern #2 and it was his sixth career game-winning RBI. He is the active career home run leader for the Wolverines with 17 and on defense Parrish leads the team with 67 putouts.
Koman Leads Wolverine Offense
Freshman third baseman Brock Koman went 9-for-14 (.643) in the three Michigan wins last weekend in South Carolina. He hit four doubles to "double" his doubles total to eight. Koman enters the series at Miami leading Michigan in hitting (.438), on-base percentage (.481) and slugging percentage (.604). Koman also leads the team in hits (21), doubles (8) and shares the RBI lead (11) with David Parrish.
Koman is one of three Wolverines to have started all 12 games on the season and he has the most starts at both third base (9) and as DH (3). Koman has had at least one hit in 10 of the 12 games and he has six multiple-hit games.
He also enters the Miami series having reached base in eight consecutive plate appearances (7-for-7 and a walk). Koman was 4-for-4 vs. Kent -- his second four-hit game of the season -- and in Michigan's 13-run fifth inning Sunday (March 12) he had a single and a double. In the 12-3 win at Charleston Southern on Saturday (March 11) Koman hit three doubles.
"Gino" and "Canta" Notch First Homers
Freshman infielders Gino Lollio and Jordan Cantalamessa have found playing time in the outfield and each popped a homer for the first time as a Wolverine during the weekend in Charleston, S.C. Lollio, a shortstop and the lone Florida native for the Wolverines, has made seven starts (all outfield) and he collected his first extra-base hits at Charleston Southern. In the 12-3 win on Saturday (March 11) Lollio hit a two-run homer to make the score 4-1 and added a two-run double to blow the game open at 7-2.
Cantalamessa, a second baseman, has made five starts in left field. He snapped an 0-for-15 streak with a two-out homer that ignited a 13-run fifth inning vs. Kent. He reached base four straight times to close out the win over Kent and moved his average to .282.
Freshman Hurlers Earn First Wins
Freshmen pitchers Tim Leveque (Northridge, Calif./Crespi HS) and Rich Hill each recorded his first career win for the Wolverines during the weekend in South Carolina. RHP Leveque pitched five innings in relief in the opener vs. Charleston Southern and he struck out a team season-best eight batters to earn the win on Friday (March 10). LHP Hill also came out of the bullpen for his first win, beating Kent with a 4.2-inning outing that included six strikeouts. Hill leads the Wolverines with 17 strikeouts in 11.2 innings and Leveque leads the team with his 0.00 ERA in 9.2 innings.
Sophomore Lobert Collects First Save
Sophomore RHP Phil Lobert (Spring Lake, Mich./Grand Haven HS) made his second appearance of the season in the win over Kent and pitched the final three innings to record his first save. Lobert, who allowed eight runs (six earned) and took the loss at North Florida in his first start, retired the first three batters he faced in the seventh inning and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth.
Wolverine Lineup Update
After 12 games in 2000, only three Wolverines have started and played in each game. Preseason All-American David Parrish has made 11 starts behind the plate (one as DH), freshman Brock Koman has nine starts at third base (three as DH) and senior tri-captain Rob Bobeda has made 10 outfield starts (RF-4, LF-3, CF-3) and two as DH.
The players with the most starts at each position include (number of 2000 starts at position/total career starts): 1B -- Jay Dines (6/26); 2B -- Scott Tousa (9/100); SS -- Bill LaRosa (9/23); 3B -- Koman (9/12); LF -- Jordan Cantalamessa (5/10); CF -- Blake Rutkowski (8/8); RF -- Bobeda (4/93) and Gino Lollio (4/7); C -- Parrish (11/81); and DH Koman (3/12). Koman, Cantalamessa and Rutkowski are true freshmen.
Seven Wolverines Notch First Career Hit
The 2000 Michigan spring trip to Jacksonville featured seven first career hits (all singles) that included six by true freshmen and one by redshirt freshman outfielder Mike Sokol (Sterling Heights, Mich./DeLaSalle HS). CF Blake Rutkowski was the first "newbie," collecting a bunt single in the opener vs. Jacksonville State, and he added a second hit later in the game. IF/OF Gino Lollio and 1B Jordan French (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto HS) also broke the ice with two-hit games.
First Career Wolverine Hits in 2000
1. Blake Rutkowski, 5th inn. single vs. Jacksonville State, 2/25/00
2. Brock Koman, 6th inn. single vs. Jacksonville State, 2/25/00
3. Jordan Cantalamessa, 7th inn. single at Jacksonville, 2/26/00
4. Alex Coleman, 7th inn. single at North Florida, 2/29/00
5. Gino Lollio, 1st inn. single vs. Central Michigan, 3/3/00
6. Jordan French, 6th inn. single vs. St. John's, 3/4/00
7. Mike Sokol, 9th inn. single vs. St. John's, 3/4/00
Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
