Alabama Baseball Faces Arkansas in SEC Road Series
4/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
GAMES 28-30: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE AT ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
BAUM STADIUM -- FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS -- 6:35 PM
APRIL 2, 2004 -- BAMA SEEKS 1ST SEC ROAD SERIES WIN SINCE 2002
Date Game Time Radio/TV
Apr 2 at Arkansas 6:35 PM CTSN, WRTR-FM (105.5)
Apr 3 at Arkansas 2:05 PM CTSN, WRTR-FM (105.5)
Apr 4 at Arkansas 12:35 PM CTSN, WRTR-FM (105.5)
ON THE MOUND: UA - 23 Wade LeBlanc (LHP, 7 GS, 5-1, 1.58 ERA) vs. ARK- Charley Boyce (7 GS, 3-1, 3.45 ERA)
LeBlanc moves into the Friday night role this week at Arkansas for the first time this season. The freshman is the reinging SEC Pitcher of the Week and leads the Tide with three CGs. Brent Carter made his Friday night debut last year against Arkansas and pitched the Tide to a 10-2 win. His 14 strikeouts earned him Collegiate Baseball National Pitcher of the Week honors.
RADIO: The games will be aired locally on WRTR-FM (105.5) or WACT-AM (1420) in Tuscaloosa. David Crane and Chris Stewart will broadcast the South Alabama game on WRTR-FM (105.5) and the network.
INTERNET BROADCAST: Live stats (home games only) and audio broadcasts can be found at http://www.rolltide.com/
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.
BAMA CONTINUES ROAD TRIP AT ARKANSAS
In the midst of a four-game road trip, the Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team continues its 2004 Spring Break Tour with a three-game Southeastern Conference series at Arkansas, beginning Friday, April 2 at 6:35 p.m. The series continues with a 2:05 p.m. on Saturday, April 3 and wraps up Sunday, April 4 with a 12:35 p.m. game at Baum Stadium. Both teams have identical overall records entering the weekend series and both are coming off impressive midweek, non-conference wins. Alabama matched its largest margin of victory in the 92-game series with a 12-1 win over South Alabama on Wednesday night in front of 4,083 fans at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile. The Crimson Tide pounded out 12 hits in the win en route to the largest margin of victory since a 16-5 win over the Jags in Tuscaloosa in 1983. Arkansas knocked off No. 12 Wichita State 10-4 here at Baum Stadium on Tuesday night. The Razorbacks' last seven games have come against ranked teams. Overall, the Hogs are 4-6 (.400) against Top 25 clubs this season.
Alabama has won the last four meetings with Arkansas, dating back to a 10-0 shutout loss here in Fayetteville in 2002. The 10-0 loss snapped Bama's 13-game series winning streak. The Crimson Tide swept a three-game series from the 15th ranked Razorbacks last year in Tuscaloosa. Alabama has won the last seven series with Arkansas, dating back to 1996. The Crimson Tide have also won the last four series (1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002) here in Fayetteville.
THE RECORDS
Alabama (18-9, 2-4 SEC) is looking for its first SEC series win of the 2004 season, after dropping two out of three the last two weekends to No. 31 Georgia and No. 5 Ole Miss. Arkansas (18-9, 3-3 SEC) has won four straight games against Top 25 teams and looks to continue that momentum this weekend against Alabama.
THE COACHES
Alabama's Jim Wells is in his 10th season with the Crimson Tide program. He has compiled a 427-185 (.698) record at the helm of the Crimson Tide. Overall, Wells is 619-274 (.693) in 15 seasons at Northwestern State and Alabama. Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn has compiled a 638-280 (.696) record in his 16th year as a head coach. At Arkansas, Van Horn is 53-30 (.639) in two years at Arkansas. Van Horn replaced Jim Wells at Northwestern State before leaving for the head job at Nebraska. Both head coaches have taken teams to the College World Series. Wells has taken Bama three times, including back-to-back trips in 1996-97. Van Horn took Nebraska twice in 2001-02. The 2001 CWS appearance was the first in Cornhuskers history.
NEXT GAME
The Crimson Tide and Razorbacks will meet in game two of this series on Saturday, April 3 at 2:05 p.m.
THE HISTORY OF ALABAMA BASEBALL
The Alabama Crimson Tide is competing in its 111th season of intercollegiate baseball this year. Bama 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 2,129-1,239-23 (.631) record in 3,391 games.
*In SEC play, Alabama has posted a 758-581-3 (.566) all-time ledger in 1,342 league 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 last 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 Frick 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
ARKANSAS SERIES
Alabama leads the all-time series with Arkansas, 27-11 (.711) since the first meeting in 1992.
*All 38 meetings between the two schools have taken place since Arkansas joined the SEC in 1991-92.
*Alabama enters the 2004 series in Fayetteville having won the last eight series with Arkansas.
*After winning back-to-back series in 1994 and 1995, Arkansas has not won another three-game series from the Crimson Tide.
*In addition, Alabama is 21-2 (.793) in the last 23 meetings with Arkansas, dating back to 1996.
*Alabama has won the last four meetings with Arkansas, including a three-game sweep last season in Tuscaloosa.
*The Crimson Tide has also won the last four series meetings here in Fayetteville. Arkansas' last series win at home took place at George Cole Field in 1994 as the Hogs swept the Crimson Tide.
*Alabama is 11-7 (.611) in 18 games here in Fayetteville, including a 9-3 (.750) mark here at Baum Stadium.
*Alabama coach Jim Wells is 23-6 (.793) as head coach of the Crimson Tide against the Razorbacks.
*Including his five years at Northwestern State, Wells is 23-8 (.742) against the Hogs.
*Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn is 0-3 (.000) in his career against Alabama.
*Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn replaced Jim Wells at Northwestern State. Wells (1990-94) was at NSU for five years before taking the Alabama job.
*The day Wells was hired at Bama, Van Horn was leading Central Missouri State to the Division II national championship at Paterson Filed in Montgomery, Ala.
*Van Horn left NSU after two years and went to Nebraska before coming back to his alma mater last year.
*Wells and Van Horn have take five teams to the College World Series. Wells took Alabama to Omaha in 1996, 1997 and 1999, while Van Horn took Nebraska in 2001 and 2002.
*Both coaches have made back-to-back trips to the College World Series.
SCOUTING REPORT: Arkansas
The Arkansas Razorbacks (18-9, 3-3 SEC) enter the Alabama series having won four of their last six games, including an SEC series win over No. 4 South Carolina last weekend here at Baum Stadium.
*The Razorbacks took two of three from the Gamecovks last weekend, winning the first two games of the series.
*Arkansas posted a 10-4 win over No. 12 Wichita State here in Fayetteville on Tuesday night.
*Arkansas' last four wins have come against teams currently ranked in the Top 15 in the country.
*Overall, Arkansas is 4-6 (.400) against Top 25 teams this season.
*Also on campus this weekend is Arkansas' annual spring football game which will kickoff at Noon on Saturday afternoon at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
*On the diamond, Arkansas is batting .295 (267-for-906) with 18 home runs and 165 RBI. The Hogs average 7.2 runs and 9.9 hits per game in 27 games this season.
*Arkansas leads the SEC with 40 HBPs this season.
*The Razorbacks are second in the league with 18 sac flies.
*Arkansas has also grounded into more double plays (30) than any other SEC team.
*Junior third baseman Clay Goodwin leads the UA attack with a .458 (27-for-59) batting average with four home runs and 14 RBI in 17 games.
*The Razorback offense also relies on the services of freshman DH Danny Hamblin (21 G, .354, 2 HR, 11 RBI), freshman right fielder Blake Parker (22 G, .333, 0 HR, 13 RBI) and freshman outfielder Jake Dugger (25 G, .318, 2 HR, 19 RBI).
*Arkansas pitchers are 18-9 with a 3.45 ERA this season. The staff has worked 239.2 innings and allowed 260 hits, 130 runs, 92 earned runs, 67 walks and 182 strikeouts.
*Arkansas has at least one win from 10 different pitchers this season.
*The Razorbacks have at least one save from three different pitchers.
*The Hogs have used seven different starters on the mound this season, including seven starts each from Clint Brannon (7 GS, 0-1, 2.81 ERA) and Charley Boyce (7 GS, 3-1, 3.25 ERA). Jay Sawatski (9 G, 3 GS, 3-2, 6.59 ERA) and Daryl Maday (6 G, 4 GS, 2-0, 3.38 ERA) have three starts each, while Justin White (7 G, 2 GS, 1-1, 4.87 ERA) has made two starts on the mound.
*Out of the pen, Arkansas has the services of Caton Hall (6 G, 1-0, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA), Matt Stallings (8 G, 2-0, 1.20 ERA), Boyd Goodner (11 G, 2-1, 2.05 ERA), Trey Holloway (8 G, 1-0, 2.53 ERA), Brian McLelland (7 G, 1-0, 2.92 ERA) and Zach Butler (8 G, 1-1, 6.17 ERA).
*Ryan Lennerton (5 G, 3 GS, 0-2, 5.65 ERA) has seen action as both a starter and reliever this year.
*Arkansas' weekend rotation is expected to be Boyce (RHP), Brannon (LHP) and White (RHP) or Lennerton (LHP).
*The Razorback pitching staff has allowed an SEC-high 20 home runs this season.
*On defense, Arkansas has made 51 errors in 26 games for a .951 fielding clip. The 51 errors are the most by any team in the SEC.
*Arkansas has allowed 39 unearned runs in 26 games this year.
*In SEC play, Arkansas ranks 10th in hitting (.247), 11th in ERA (5.70) and sixth in fielding (.976).
*Arkansas is batting .247 (49-for-198) in six SEC games with three home runs and 24 RBI.
*On the mound, UA is 3-3 with a 5.53 ERA in league play, allowing 37 runs and 75 hits in 53 2/3 innings, with 13 walks and 40 strikeouts this season.
*In the field, Arkansas has made eight errors (.967) in six SEC games and turned six double plays.
18 UP, 9 DOWN
Alabama has compiled an 18-9 (.667) record in its first 27 games of the 2004 season. Here is how the Crimson Tide fares in its 18 wins and nine losses.
*In its 18 wins this season the Alabama Crimson Tide has:
*Hit .320 (195-for-610) with 16 home runs and 149 RBI
*Averaged 9.05 runs and 10.83 hits per game
*Compiled a 1.72 ERA (162 IP, 111 H, 31 ER and 148 K)
*Committed 18 errors in those 18 games
*In its nine losses this season the Alabama Crimson Tide has:
*Hit .175 (50-for-286) with three home runs and 15 RBI
*Averaged 2.3 runs and 5.6 hits per game
*Struck out 74 times in 286 at-bats (1:4)
*Compiled a 4.50 ERA (76 IP, 82 H, 38 ER)
*Committed 10 errors in nine losses
WADE LEBLANC NAMED SEC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
An early season candidate for national and SEC "Freshman of the Year" honors, University of Alabama rookie left hander Wade LeBlanc was named to the SEC Pitcher of the Week on Monday, Mar. 29.
*LeBlanc and Ole Miss sophomore left-hander Brae Wright matched zeroes for eight innings before Alabama prevailed 2-1 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth inning on Mar. 28 in a classic pitchers' duel at the Joe.
*The Lake Charles, La., native limited the fifth-ranked Rebels to one run and six hits en route to his team-leading third complete game of the season, with one walk and eight strikeouts.
*LeBlanc shutout Ole Miss for eight innings before he allowed a two-out, solo home run to Seth Smith in the ninth inning. Alabama then rallied for two runs in its half of the inning to give LeBlanc his team-leading fifth win of the season.
*It marks the second time this season an Alabama pitcher has been honored by the league office. On Mar. 15, freshman left-hander Brandon Belcher was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week after posting wins over No. 18 Southern Miss and SE Missouri State.
*For the season, LeBlanc has appeared in eight games and made seven starts for the Crimson Tide. He has compiled a 5-1 record and 1.58 ERA this season, making himself a legitimate candidate for National and SEC "Freshman of the Year" honors.
*LeBlanc has worked 51 1/3 innings and allowed 34 hits, nine runs, nine walks and 44 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .just .184 (34-for-185) against the lefty.
SCHEDULE GETTING TOUGHER
As the season rolls into conference play, the competition get tougher for the Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team.
*Playing in the toughest baseball conference in the nation, Alabama embarks on a 30-game league schedule that features eight teams ranked
in this week's four baseball polls.
*Overall, Alabama has nine of its opponents ranked in at least one of the four major polls this week.
*LSU and Ole Miss are consensus Top 10 teams. The Tigers are ranked as high as No. 2 (Collegiate Baseball) in the country, while Ole Miss is ranked as high as No. 4 (Collegiate Baseball).
*LSU is ranked third in the other three polls, while Ole Miss is ranked eighth in two and 10th in the other.
*South Carolina is ranked among the Top 10 in three of the four polls, but dipped to 11th in this week's Collegiate Baseball poll.
*Alabama plays at both South Carolina (April 23-25) and LSU (April 30-May 2) this season in back-to-back weekends in April and May.
*However, the brutality of the schedule does not end there, as Alabama also faces Vanderbilt (April 9-11), Auburn (April 16-18), Florida (May 7-9) and Miss. State (May 14-16) all at home in the coming weeks.
*In addition, Alabama has played four other teams that are currently ranked or have been in at least one of the four major polls this week, including Kansas State, Southern Miss, Birmingham Southern and Georgia.
*The highest profile non-conference win of the season came against No. 18 Southern Miss on Mar. 10 here in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide hit four home runs en route to an easy 9-3 win over the Golden Eagles, snapping an eight-game winning streak by USM.
*Alabama suffered a 2-1 loss to Kansas State in the final game of the Gent Classic (Mar. 7). It was the Wildcats eighth straight win. K-State is now 16-6 on the season and ranked this week for the first time.
*Birmingham Southern handed Alabama a 4-3 loss on Mar. 17 in the first-ever game played between the schools on the BSC campus. BSC is ranked this week for the first time in history at the Division I level.
*BSC has beaten Georgia, Alabama and Miss. State this season, with the win over Georgia and Miss. State coming on the road. BSC handed Miss. State a 10-1 setback at Dudy Noble on Mar. 23.
*The Crimson Tide dropped two out of three at then No. 35 Georgia (Mar. 19-21) in Athens to open SEC play.
*Alabama lost two of three at home to No. 5 Ole Miss on Mar. 26-28.
CUTTING UP THE OPPOSITION
Alabama recorded a season-high 16 strikeouts in its 20-2 blowout win over Morehead State on Mar. 24. The 16 strikeouts are the second-highest total in the Jim Wells era.
*The highest strikeout total is 17 against Murray State on March 12, 1996 here in Tuscaloosa.
*Alabama has recorded 129 double-figure strikeout games in the Wells era, including nine this year.
*Alabama had a pair of double-digit strikeout games against Ole Miss in its latest SEC series. The Tide had 12 strikeouts on Mar. 26 and added 15 strikeouts on Mar. 28.
*The Crimson Tide struck out Ole Miss All-American Stephen Head four times on Mar. 28.
*Alabama also struck out Georgia freshman phenom Josh Morris four times in a Mar. 19 game at Athens.
*The Crimson Tide's best season was in 1999 when the Tide recorded 23 double digit strikeout games.
