Alabama Opens 2004 Baseball Season Friday Night vs. UNO
2/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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» 2004 Season Preview
Game 1: NEW ORLEANS PRIVATEERS AT ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
SEWELL-THOMAS STADIUM - TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA
FEB. 13, 2004 -- OPENING NIGHT AT THE JOE
Date Game Time Radio
Feb 13 New Orleans at Alabama 6:30 PM CTSM, WRTR (105.5 FM)
Feb 14 New Orleans at Alabama 4:30 PM CTSM, WACT (1420 AM)
Feb 15 New Orleans at Alabama 2 PM WRTR (105.5 FM)
RADIO: The games will be aired locally on WRTR-FM (105.5) or WACT-AM (1420) in Tuscaloosa. David Crane and Chris Stewart will call the action.
INTERNET BROADCAST:
FRI, FEB. 13, 6:30 pm 
Live Audio
SAT, FEB. 14, 4:30 pm Live Audio
SUN, FEB. 15, 2:00 pm Live Audio
TICKETS: Season tickets are available by calling the Alabama Ticket Office (205-348-2262). Single-game tickets and standing-room only tickets are available for $5 each and the gates will open two hours prior to each game.
PROMOTIONS: The Crimson Tide celebrates opening night festivities at the Joe on Friday, Feb. 13th with a special pregame ceremony. Also, 2004 magnetic schedules (Brent Carter, Allen Rice, Taylor Tankersley and Zac Welch) will be given away during the UNO series
RANKINGS: Alabama was ranked 32nd in the Collegiate Baseball preseason "Fabulous 40" poll. New Orleans enters the season unranked.
Probable Starting Lineup
Batting Order
| No. | Name | Pos. | B-T | 2003 Stats | Notes |
| 4 | Mark Haske | SS | L-R | .276-2 HR-27 RBI | Transfer from Daytona Beach CC |
| 6 | Allen Rice | 3B | L-R | .260-7 HR-40 RBI | School record 22 HBPs in 2003 |
| 10 | Carlos Sosa | DH | R-R | .269-1 HR-16 RBI | Missed 2003 with torn ACL |
| 35 | Michael McCallister | RF | R-R | .426-8 HR-44 RBI | 7th true FR to start opening day for Wells |
| 12 | Zac Welch | 1B | L-L | .333-4 HR-49 RBI | Leading returning hitter and RBI producer |
| 11 | Matt Grooms | CF | L-L | .438-7 HR-50 RBI | Chipola JC transfer; 3rd Team JuCo AA |
| 8 | Rocky Scelfo | 2B | R-R | .390-3 HR-37 RBI | Chipola JC transfer; played as FR at LSU |
| 14 | Evan Bush | LF | R-R | .152-0 HR-13 RBI | Eight of 13 career RBI came in February |
| 37 | Charlie Lyons | C | R-R | .270-1 HR-13 RBI | Could be UA's most improved player |
Pitching Rotation
| No. | Name | B-T | 2003 Stats | Notes |
| 39 | Brent Carter | L-L | 19 G, 16 GS, 10-5, 3.30 ERA, 6 CG | Led the SEC with 77 IP in conference games |
| 23 | Wade LeBlanc | L-L | 20 G, 16-1, 0.45 ERA | Collegiate Baseball's HS "Co-Pitcher of the Year" |
| 32 | Brandon Belcher | L-L | 15 G, 8-5, 0.84 ERA | Recorded 123 Ks in 69 innings as prep senior |
BAMA OPENS 2004 SEASON WITH UNO
The University of Alabama baseball team opens its 111th season of intercollegiate baseball Friday, Feb. 13 by hosting the New Orleans Privateers in the first of three-game series here at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The 2004 season opener is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. (CT). The remaining games of the weekend series will be played Saturday, Feb. 14 (4:30 p.m.) and Sunday, Feb. 15 (2 p.m.). The Saturday game was originally set for 4 p.m., but has been moved back thirty minutes due to Alabama-Tennessee men's basketball game.
THE RECORDS
Alabama (0-0) is playing its 2004 season opener tonight, while UNO (1-1) opened the season last weekend and split a home-and-home series against the Southern Jaguars, the defending SWAC Champions.
THE COACHES
Alabama's Jim Wells begins his 10th season with the Crimson Tide tonight against UNO. He has compiled a 409-176 (.699) record at the helm of the Crimson Tide. Overall, Wells is 601-265 (.694) as he opens his 15th season as a Division I head coach today.
UNO head coach Randy Bush has posted a 118-118 (.500) record in his sixth season with the Privateers. A 1994 graduate of UNO, Bush spent 00 years in the major leagues with the Minnesota. The Dover, Del., native batted .251 with 96 home runs and 409 RBI in his career. He played on two World Series championship teams with the Twins, beating St. Louis in 1987 and Atlanta in 1991.
SEASON OPENERS
Alabama has compiled a 72-37-1 (.659) all-time record in season openers, dating back to the first season of baseball in 1892.
OPENING DAY WINING STREAK
Alabama has won its last 10 season openers, dating back to the 1994 season. In addition, Alabama also has an 10-game winning streak in home openers. The last opening day loss came Feb. 20, 1993 in a 4-3 loss at South Alabama. The last time UA lost a home opener was Feb. 24, 1993 when South Alabama posted a 6-5 win.
NEXT GAME
Alabama and UNO will meet in game two of this three-game series Saturday, Feb. 14 at 4:30 p.m.
THE HISTORY OF ALABAMA BASEBALL
The Alabama Crimson Tide will compete in its 111th season of intercollegiate baseball during the 2004 season. Alabama played its very first game on July 1, 1892 at Birmingham's Lakeview Park as coach Shelby Fletcher's team posted a 6-3 win over Sewanee.
*Since then, Alabama has posted a 2,111-1,230-23 (.631) record in 3,364 games.
*In SEC play, Alabama has posted a 756-577-3 (.567) all-time ledger in 1,336 games.
*Alabama became the 17th school in NCAA history to record 2,000 wins with a 12-0 win over Winthrop on March 4, 2001.
*Alabama posted its 2,100th all-time win on April 19, 2003 with a 7-3 win at Ole Miss.
*Alabama notched its 750th all-time SEC win on April 13, 2003 with a 4-1 win over Kentucky.
*Sophomore left-hander Brent Carter was the winning pitcher in both milestone wins for the Crimson Tide this season.
*Alabama has also won more SEC Championships (13) than any other school. In addition, UA has also won six SEC Tournament Championships, including five under coach Jim Wells (1995-96-97-99-02).
*The Crimson Tide has also played in 14 NCAA Tournaments, winning five NCAA Regional Championships. UA has also advanced to the College World Series five times, reaching the national championship game in 1983 and 1997. In addition, the Tide has one fourth-place finish and two fifth-place finishes at the CWS.
*The Crimson Tide also boasts an impressive professional baseball history sending well over 100 former players into the pro ranks. Alabama currently has two Major League players (Frank Menechino and Dustan Mohr) and a number of minor league stars.
*Two former members of the Crimson Tide baseball family have been enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Joe Sewell was inducted in 1977 and broadcaster Mel Allen, who spent 39 years with the Yankees, won the Ford Fricke Award in 1978.
*In all UA has produced 11 First-Team All-Americans, 18 Second and Third-Team AA picks and 10 Freshmen All-American selections. A total of 71 players have been named First-Team All-SEC and another 78 were named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
*Jeff Laubenthal won the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year Award in 1993.
PRESEASON RANKINGS
Here is a look at the 2004 SEC preseason baseball rankings as selected by the league's 12 head coaches and various media outlets.
SEC Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll
East West
South Carolina LSU
Florida Auburn
Vanderbilt Ole Miss
Georgia ALABAMA
Tennessee Miss. State
Kentucky Arkansas
Baseball America Preseason Poll
East West
South Carolina LSU
Florida Auburn
Vanderbilt Ole Miss
Tennessee Miss. State
Georgia ALABAMA
Kentucky Arkansas
Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll
East West
South Carolina LSU
Florida Auburn
Tennessee Ole Miss
Vanderbilt Miss. State
Georgia ALABAMA
Kentucky Arkansas
Southeastern Baseball Preseason Poll
East West
South Carolina LSU
Florida ALABAMA
Vanderbilt Ole Miss
Tennessee Auburn
Georgia Miss. State
Kentucky Arkansas
COACH JIM WELLS CELEBRATES 10th ANNIVERSARY SEASON
Alabama head coach Jim Wells begins his 10th season with the Crimson Tide this year.
Wells was named the school's head coach on June 4, 1994 and has taken the UA baseball program to new heights.
Among his accomplishments are three College World Series appearances, eight NCAA Regional berths, one SEC Championship (1996) and six SEC Tournament Championships, including the last two in a row.
WELLS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Here are some of the many highlights during the Jim Wells era of Alabama baseball.
*Alabama has averaged 45.4 wins per season.
*Three College World Series (1996, 1997 and 1999) appearances
*Six SEC Tournament Championships (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003)
*Four, 50-win seasons, including school record 56 wins in 1997
*Seven, 40-win seasons, including six in-a-row from 1995-2000
*Nine NCAA Regional Appearances
*Two-time SEC "Coach of the Year" (1996 and 2002)
*1997 Baseball America "Coach of the Year"
*1999 American Baseball Coaches South Region "Coach of the Year"
*1999 NCBWA District III Player of the Year (Andy Phillips)
*2002 Johnny Bench Award Winner (Jeremy Brown)
*2002 Collegiate Baseball/Redline Defensive Player of the Year (Jeremy Brown)
*2002 NCBWA District III Player of the Year (Jeremy Brown)
*2002 Johnny Bench Award Finalist (Jeremy Brown)
*2003 NCBWA District III Player of the Year (Beau Hearod)
*Five, First-Team All-America Selections
*17, Second and Third-Team All-America Selections
*Eight, Freshman All-America Selections
*23 All-SEC Selections
*25 Players have earned their bachelor's and/or master's degree under Wells
*42 Academic All-SEC Selections
*Four Academic All-America Selections
*Eight Academic All-District Selections
ALL-WELLS TEAM ANNOUNCED
As part of the celebration of Jim Wells 10th anniversary season, Alabama fans selected the All-Jim Wells team in a internet poll on the school's web site.
Alabama fans voted on the school's official website from Jan. 16 through Feb. 6. A total of 6,162 votes were cast to select the 10th anniversary Wells team. Fans were able to vote for players at various positions that would comprise the All-Wells team.
The selection called for eight starting pitchers, six outfielders, three catchers, three relief pitchers, two first basemen, two second basemen, two third basemen, two shortstops and two utility players.
The team was announced Feb. 8 at the annual preseason barbecue sponsored by the Alabama Grand Slammers. The barbecue was held in the Scholarship Room at Bryant-Denny Stadium and gave the fans a glimpse of the 2004 Crimson Tide baseball team.
The All-Wells team contains players that played during the 1995-2004 seasons at Alabama, including three current members of the UA baseball team.
Current players named to the All-Wells team include junior left-hand pitcher Brent Carter, junior left-hand pitcher Taylor Tankersley and senior lefty Jeffrey Norris.
Volunteer assistant coach B.J. Green was also a member of the team's pitching staff.
FINAL VOTING (Top 10)
Rank Players (Years) Votes
1. Andy Phillips (1996-99) 3,704
2. G.W. Keller (1997-99) 3,642
3. Joe Caruso (1994-97) 3,554
4. Jarrod Kingrey (1997-98) 3,528
5. Lance Cormier (1999-2002) 3,399
6. Dustan Mohr (1995-97) 3,358
7. Jeremy Vaughn (1999-2001) 3,200
8. Matt Frick (1996-97) 3,192
9. Jonathan Blankenship (1998-2000) 3,171
10. Scott McClanahan (1999-2002) 2,946
10th Anniversary All-Jim Wells Team
Pos Player Years
C Matt Frick 1996-97
C Jeremy Brown 1999-2002
C Dax Norris 1995-96
1B Chris Moller 1995-96
1B Robbie Tucker 1997-98
2B Joe Caruso 1994-97
2B Sam Bozanich 1998-2000
SS Brett Taft 1993-96
SS Adam Pavkovich 2001-03
3B Andy Phillips 1996-99
3B Brent Boyd 1999-2002
OF G.W. Keller 1997-99
OF Dustan Mohr 1995-97
OF Scott McClanahan 1999-2002
OF Beau Hearod 2001-03
OF Travis Garner 2002-03
OF David Tidwell 1996-97
UTL Roberto Vaz 1997
UTL Aaron Clark 2001-02
SP Lance Cormier 1999-2002
SP Jeremy Vaughn 1999-2001
SP Manny Torres 1996-99
SP B.J. Green 1998-2001
SP Pete Fisher 1997-98
SP Brent Carter 2002-Present
SP Chris Eilers 1994-97
SP Taylor Tankersley 2002-Present
SP Justin Smith 1998-99
SP Jeffrey Norris 2001-Present
RP Jarrod Kingrey 1997-98
RP Jonathan Blankenship 1998-2000
RP Skip Ames 1996
SEASON OPENERS
*Alabama has compiled a 72-37-1 (.659) all-time record in season openers, dating back to the first season of baseball in 1892.
*In its first-ever game, Alabama defeated Sewanee 6-3 on July 1, 1892 at Birmingham's Lakeview Park. The Crimson Tide was coached by Shelby Fletcher, making his only appearance as the UA baseball skipper.
*Alabama's most common opening day opponents are Birmingham Barons (11 games), Samford (10 games) and South Alabama (9 games).
*Alabama has won 10 straight season openers, dating back to the 1994 season.
*Since 1990, Alabama is 13-1 (.929) in its last 14 season openers.
BAMA HAS WON 10 STRAIGHT OPENERS
Alabama won 10 consecutive season openers, the longest streak in school history. The current streak began with a 3-0 win over New Orleans to open the 1994 season at the Winn Dixie Showdown in the Louisiana Superdome.
*Alabama's 4-0 win over Louisiana Tech to open the 2002 season set the all-time UA record for consecutive opening days victories with its ninth straight opening day win.
*The previous record was eight straight opening day wins from 1901-08 under the guidance of coaches Thomas Stouch, Schwartz (first name unknown) and J.W.H. Pollard.
WHO'S ON FIRST?
The Alabama Crimson Tide opens the 2004 season with many new faces in the everyday lineup, but a lot of familiar faces on the mound.
*In the projected opening day lineup against New Orleans, the Crimson Tide will have four starters returning from last year's SEC Tournament Championship team, but only two of those will be playing the same position.
*Junior Zac Welch and sophomore Charlie Lyons return from last year's club as first base and catcher, respectively.
*Junior Allen Rice and sophomore Evan Bush also return, but at different positions.
*Rice played second base last year, but has moved to third base for the 2004 season. Rice was also the starting third baseman on the Crimson Tide's 2002 team as a freshman.
*Bush played third base last year, but moved to left field just two weeks ago in an effort to insert his much improved bat into the lineup.
*Senior Carlos Sosa, who played third base and shortstop as a junior in 2002, will be the everyday designated hitter. Sosa missed the 2003 season with a torn ACL.
*Newcomers in the UA lineup this season, include Rocky Scelfo (2B), Mark Haske (SS), Matt Grooms (CF) and Michael McCallister (RF).
ON THE MOUND
The Crimson Tide boasts one of the deepest and talented pitching staffs in school history.
*The ace of the Alabama pitching staff is junior left-hander Brent Carter, a preseason All-America selection, who set three school sophomore records last year. In that record-setting season, Carter posted a 10-5 record with a 3.30 ERA and set sophomore records for wins (10), strikeouts (105) and innings pitched (122.2).
*Alabama is also expected to open the 2004 season with two freshmen in the rotation, including Wade LeBlanc and Brandon Belcher.
*LeBlanc was the national high school co-Pitcher of the Year last season, leading Barbe HS to a 32-6 record.
*As a senior, LeBlanc posted a 16-1 record and 0.45 ERA. He added a school-record 189 strikeouts.
*Belcher is another Louisiana native, who posted an 8-5 record with a 0.84 ERA as a senior. Belcher added 123 strikeouts in 69 innings on the mound.
*The bullpen will consist of senior Seth Johnson, junior Andrew Walker, sophomore Matt Downs and junior Taylor Tankersley.
*Tankersley and Downs could be a formidible left-right combination as the closer. Tankersley had six saves for Alabama as a freshman, while sharing the role with Brain Reed.
ALL LEFT NOW
Alabama opens the 2004 season with three left-handers in its weekend pitching rotation.
*The three lefties include junior Brent Carter and freshmen Wade LeBlanc and Brandon Belcher.
*It is believed to be the first time in school history Alabama has used three lefties in its weekend rotation.
