Bama Opens 2005 Baseball Season Tonight in Hawaii
2/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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Game 1: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE AT HAWAI'I RAINBOWS
Les Murakami Stadium (4,312) -- Honolulu, Hawai'i -- 10:35 PM (CT)
FEBRUARY 10, 2005 -- UA OPENS SEASON ON ISLAND OF OHAU
ON THE MOUND: UA - Wade LeBlanc (16 G, 8-4, 2.08 ERA) vs. UH - Ricky Bauer (20 G, 8-4, 3.60 ERA)
RADIO: The Alabama-Hawaii series will be broadcast through the Crimson Tide Sports Network and will be aired locally in Tuscaloosa on THE TUSK (WACT, 1420-AM). Veteran play-by-play announcer David Crane will describe all the action this weekend from the island of Ohau.
Date Game Time Radio/TV
Feb. 10 at Hawaii 10:35 PM (CT) CTSN (WACT 1420-AM)
Feb. 11 at Hawaii 10:35 PM (CT) CTSN (WACT 1420-AM)
Feb. 12 at Hawaii 10:35 PM (CT) CTSN (WACT 1420-AM)
Feb. 13 at Hawaii 5:05 PM (CT) CTSN (WACT 1420-AM)
INTERNET BROADCAST: Live audio broadcasts can be found at http://www.rolltide.com/.
TICKETS: Tickets are available through the UH ticket office the Stan Sherriff Center in Honolulu.
SATELLITE FEEDS: None.
BAMA OPENS 2005 SLATE AT HAWAI'I
The University of Alabama baseball team opens its 112th season with a four-game series against the University of Hawai'i in Honolulu beginning Thursday, Feb. 10 at 10:35 p.m. (CT) from Les Murakami Stadium on the island of Ohau. The teams will also play Friday, Feb. 11 and Saturday, Feb. 12 at 10:35 p.m. (CT), while the series finale is set for Sunday, Feb. 13 at 5:05 p.m. (CT). The four-game series at Hawai'i marks Alabama's first-trip to islands since 1957.
Coach Tilden "Happy" Campbell's 1957 SEC Western Division championship team posted a 15-5 record on its 20-game tour from June 25-August 7, 1957. The 1957 Goodwill Far East Tour included stops in Tokyo (Japan), Okinawa (Japan), Korea and Honolulu. At the time of Alabama's last visit to the islands, Hawaii was not yet a state. Hawaii did not become the 50th state until August 21, 1959. The Alabama football team and men's and women's basketball teams have also played in Honolulu. The football team is 2-1 in the Aloha state, winning the 1985 Aloha Bowl (UA 24, Southern Cal 3) and splitting a two-game series with the Warriors in 2002 (UA , 21-16) and 2003 (UH, 37-29). Bama and UH are expected to open the 2006 football season in Tuscaloosa on Sept. 2, 2006, which will be the first game in the newly expanded Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Alabama finished 29-26 last year and has most everybody back off a team that finished a disappointing 11th in the Southeastern Conference. After three weeks of preseason practice, which included eight intrasquad games, Wells says his team is much improved this season, and hopefully will be more productive. Alabama's opening day lineup will include seven returning players and two newcomers. Sophomore Emeel Salem will be the Tide's leadoff hitter and play center field. Senior Allen Rice will play second base, while junior transfer Kody Valverde will catch and bat third in the order. Junior third baseman Evan Bush, senior designated hitter Gabe Scott and senior first baseman Zac Welch will hit in the middle of the lineup. Sophomore Michael McCallister will be in right field, senior Matt Grooms will play left field and true freshman Cale Iorg will play shortstop for the Crimson Tide.
The pitching rotation for the Hawai'i series will include three veteran left-handers and one right hander. Sophomore Wade LeBlanc (2004 National Freshman of the Year) will get the nod on opening day for the Crimson Tide. Sophomore Brandon Belcher will pitch game two of the series, followed by senior Brent Carter and junior T.J. Large in the final two games of the four-game set.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
*Here is a look at how the 2005 Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team was built.
5th Year Seniors
Player How Obtained
Gabe Scott Signed in 2001
Seniors
Player How Obtained
Brent Carter Signed in 2002
Matt Grooms Transfer in 2004
Allen Rice Signed in 2002
Rocky Scelfo Transfer in 2004
Morrow Thomley Transfer in 2004
Zac Welch Signed in 2004
Juniors
Player How Obtained
Kenneth Brown Transfer in 2005
Evan Bush Signed in 2003
Jordan Davis Transfer in 2005
Matt Downs Transfer in 2004
David Ferazza Transfer in 2004
Patrick Kelly Transfer in 2004
T.J. Large Transfer in 2004
Charlie Lyons Signed in 2003
Ian Moore Transfer in 2005
Spencer Pennington Football Signee
Allen Ponder Signed in 2003
Trey Shields Transfer in 2005
Kody Valverde Transfer in 2005
Sophomores
Player How Obtained
Brandon Belcher Signed in 2004
David Laminack Transfer in 2005
Wade LeBlanc Signed in 2004
Michael McCallister Signed in 2004
Greg Paiml Signed in 2004
Emeel Salem Signed in 2004
Freshmen
Player How Obtained
Matt Bentley (RS) Signed in 2004
Josh Copeland Signed in 2005
Doug Denson (RS) Signed in 2005
Wes Henderson Signed in 2005
Austin Hyatt Signed in 2005
Cale Iorg Signed in 2005
Casey Kebodeaux Signed in 2005
Chris Kirkland Signed in 2005
Kyle Moore Signed in 2005
David Robertson Signed in 2005
Ben Soignier Signed in 2005
John Parker Wilsoon Football Signee
PRODUCTION RETURNING
*At the plate, Alabama returns 13 players off last year's team and those players accounted for 77.6 percent of the hits, 79.6 percent of the runs scored, 84.2 percent of the home runs and 76.1 percent of the runs batted in last season.
Offensive Production Returning
Category Returnees 2004 Stats
Batting Average .291 .283
Total Hits 409 527
At-Bats 1404 1864
Runs Scored 263 330
Home Runs 32 38
Runs Batted In 229 301
*Alabama's four top returning players have even more productive numbers.
*Rice, Scelfo, Welch and Bush combined to hit .321 (224-for-698) last season with 133 runs scored, 17 home runs and 133 runs batted in.
*The quartet accounted for 42.7 percent of the total hits, 40.3 percent of the total runs scored, 44.7 percent of the home runs and 44.2 percent of the runs batted in last season.
*On the mound, Alabama also returns a good portion of his statistics from the 2004 season as six of its top pitchers are back this season.
*The UA staff returns 68.9 percent of its wins, 62.5 percent of its complete games, 56.4 percent of its innings pitched and 56.9 percent of its strikeouts.
Pitching Production Returning
Category Returnees 2004 Stats
Innings Pitched 273.2 484.4
Wins 20 29
Losses 14 26
CGs 5 8
Strikeouts 246 432
*LeBlanc, Belcher, Carter, Large, Ponder and Downs combined for 20 of the 29 wins by Alabama last season.
*Those six returning pitchers were 20-14 last season and combined for 273.2 innings and 246 strikeouts.
THE HISTORY OF ALABAMA BASEBALL
The Alabama Crimson Tide completed its 112th season of intercollegiate baseball in 2004. 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 2,140-1,256-23 (.629) record in 3,419 games.
*In SEC play, Alabama has posted a 766-597 (.562) all-time ledger in 1,363 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 third-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 four Major League players (Frank Menechino, Dustan Mohr, Andy Phillips and Paul Phillips) 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.
*Wade LeBlanc was named the 2004 National Freshman of the Year after setting UA single-season freshman records for innings (112.2) strikeouts (98), wins (8) and complete games (5).
SEASON OPENERS
*Alabama has compiled a 73-37-1 (.662) 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 11 straight season openers, dating back to the 1994 season.
*Since 1990, Alabama is 14-1 (.933) in its last 15 season openers.
BAMA HAS WON 11 STRAIGHT OPENERS
Alabama won 11 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.
*Alabama's current 11-game winning streak in season openers:
Year Opening Day Result
2004 Alabama 4, New Orleans 1
2003 Alabama 9, UL Lafayette 3
2002 Alabama 4, Louisiana Tech 0
2001 Alabama 10, Oklahoma 5
2000 Alabama 11, BYU 1
1999 Alabama 5, at Houston 1
1998 Alabama 15, Houston 5
1997 Alabama 8, Marshall 2
1996 Alabama 7, Georgia Tech 2
1995 Alabama 2, MTSU 1 (11)
1994 Alabama 3, New Orleans 0
*Alabama has not suffered an opening day loss since dropping a 4-3 decision to South Alabama at Mobile's Eddie Stanky Field on Feb. 20, 1993.
WELLS IN SEASON OPENERS
*Alabama head coach Jim Wells is 14-1 (.933) in season openers, winning his last 11 in-a-row at Northwestern State (1994) and Alabama (1995-2002).
*Wells only loss in a season opener was a 12-6 setback at Rice in 1993.
*Overall, Wells has forged a 17-4 (.810) opening day record in his 15-year career, sweeping three double headers (1990, 1994 and 2001), splitting two twinbills (1991, 1992) and suffering one sweep (1993).
OPENING DAY FOES
*The Hawaii Rainbows will mark Alabama's 60th different opening day opponent.
*Alabama has a winning record against 42 of its 60 opening day opponents, dating back to 1892.
*The most common opening day foe is the Birmingham Barons.
*Alabama is just 1-9-1 (.136) in those 11 games against the Class AA minor league team.
*Among the college teams, Samford (formerly known as Howard College) is the most common opening day opponent.
*Alabama is 8-2 (.800) in its 10 opening day games against Samford.
OPENING DAY PLAYER NOTEBOOK
Here are some tidbits on the Alabama baseball team concerning opening day.
*The 2004 Alabama roster contains eight players who had started on opening day for the Crimson Tide.
*Rice and Welch will be in the opening day lineup for the fourth consecutive year.
*Rice has only one career hit on opening day and that hit was a two-run home run last year against UNO.
Welch has hit safely in all three season openers in his UA career.
*Bush is the Tide's opening day lineup for the third straight year.
*Grooms and McCallister are in the opening day lineup for the second straight year.
*Brent Carter, Charlie Lyons and Rocky Scelfo were opening day starters last year, but are not expected to start the 2005 season opener at Hawai'i this Thursday.
*Carter fanned six batters in six innings last year as Alabama beat UNO, 4-1.
*Lyons was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in last year's season opener with UNO.
*Sceflo was credited with the game-winning RBI in last year's season opener against UNO. His run-scoring double in the second inning staked Alabama to a 1-0 lead in an eventual 4-1 win over the Privateers.
*Cale Iorg, Wade LeBlanc, Emeel Salem, Gabe Scott and Kody Valverde are making their first opening day start for Alabama.
*Valverde was the opening day catcher at UNO last season and went 2-for-3 and drove in the Privateers lone run in Alabama's 4-1 win at the Joe.
FOUR-GAME SERIES ARE RARE
*Alabama is opening the 2005 season with a four-game series at Hawai'i this weekend in Honolulu.
*The series with Hawai'i is the first four-game series for the Crimson Tide since a four-game SEC series against LSU in 1975.
*The SEC played four-game series during the 1975 series, consisting of two, seven-inning games on Saturday and two, seven-inning games on Sunday.
*Alabama played a total eight, four-game series during the 1975 campaign against Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Miss. State (twice), Ole Miss (twice) and LSU (twice) and a non-conference series with Louisville.
THURSDAY OPENERS ARE ALSO RARE
*Another oddity with the trip to Hawai'i is the fact that Alabama will open the 2005 season on a Thursday.
*The last time Alabama opened the season on a Thursday was exactly five years ago today (Feb. 10, 2000) when it hosted BYU in the three-game series in Tuscaloosa.
*The Crimson Tide and Cougars played a Thursday, Friday and Saturday series at Sewell-Thomas Stadium because BYU is not allowed to participate in Sunday activities.
*Alabama has compiled an 11-2 (.846) record under coach Wells in games played on Thursday.
*The 2005 season opener marks just the second regular season game to be played on Thursday since Wells' arrival in 1995.
ALABAMA-HAWAI'I SERIES
*This is the first-ever meeting in baseball between the Alabama and Hawai'i.
ALABAMA VS. WAC
*Alabama owns a 16-2 (.889) all-time record against the current members of the Western Athletic Conference.
*The majority of those meetings have come against the league's newest member, Louisiana Tech. UA holds a 12-2 series lead against Tech.
*Also, Alabama owns a 2-0 record against Rice and Nevada.
*The Crimson Tide beat Rice in the 1999 College World Series and then again at the Minute Maid Park Classic in 2003.
*Both wins against Nevada came at the 2000 NCAA Regionals in Palo Alto, Calif.
*Alabama has never faced Fresno State, New Mexico State or San Jose State in baseball.
THE SCOUTING REPORT: HAWAI'I
*Hawai'i finished 31-24 last season, including a 13-16 mark in Western Athletic Conference play.
*Heading into the 2005 season, the Rainbows are expecting good things after last year's 31-win season.
*Hawai'i was picked to finish second in the WAC this season by Baseball America and is also one of the 32 at-large teams tabbed to make the NCAA Regionals, according to the publication.
*Collegiate Baseball newspaper picked Hawai'i to finish fourth in the WAC this season.
*The Rainbows return four of their top six hitters off last year's club that compiled a .287 batting average and averaged 6.2 runs and 9.5 hits per game.
*Senior outfielder Gregory Kish (Redondo, Calif.) is the leading returning hitter from last year's squad. Kish hit .358 (53-for-148) in 45 games, with two home runs and 24 RBI.
*Junior Matthew Inouye (Honolulu, Hawaii), a versatile preseason All-American candidate, returns as the center fielder and catcher for the Rainbows. Last year, Inouye batted .326 (60-for-184), with five home runs and 48 RBI.
*Inouye led the club in hits, doubles (20), home runs, RBI, slugging percentage (.527), on-base percentage (.453) and stolen bases (13).
*He is a preseason All-WAC selection by Baseball America.
*Junior second baseman Issac Omura (Kailua, Hawaii) hit .313 (42-for-134) last season, with four home runs and 24 RBI.
*A 2005 preseason All-WAC selection, Omura was tabbed the "Best Defensive Second Baseman" and the "Best Strike Zone Discipline" in the WAC by Baseball America.
*Junior infielder Rocky Russo (Monterey, Calif.) batted .290 (40-for-138), with four home runs and 33 RBI. He also added seven doubles.
*Sophomore outfielder Robbie Wilder (Anderson, Calif.) was tabbed the "Fastest Runner" in the WAC by Baseball America.
*Wilder hit just .193 (17-for-88) with 11 RBI in 30 games last season.
*Much like Alabama, the strength of the UH team is on the mound. The Rainbows return seven of its top eight pitchers off last year's club, including its top four arms.
*The staff in anchored by a pair of senior right-handers Stephen Bryant (Chico, Calif.) and Ricky Bauer (Kaneohe, Hawaii).
*Bryant was 8-4 with a 3.52 ERA in 17 appearances last season for the Rainbows. He worked 87 innings and allowed 82 hits, 47 runs and 34 earned runs, with 37 walks and 70 strikeouts.
*A preseason All-WAC selection, Bryant has the "Best Breaking Ball" in the WAC according to Baseball America.
*Bauer, who is the best control pitcher on the staff, was 8-4 with 3.60 ERA last season. He logged 115 innings and allowed 122 hits, 56 runs and 46 earned runs, with 72 strikeouts and only 12 walks.
*Bauer is a preseason All-WAC selection and was voted as the "Best Curveball" in the WAC by Baseball America.
*Junior right-hander Guy McDowell (Pearl, Hawaii) was 4-1 with a team-best 3.29 ERA last season. He was second on the club with three saves.
*Sophomore righty Darrell Fisherbaugh (Novato, Calif.) was the closer last year and compiled an 0-4 record, with six saves and a 5.54 ERA in 19 games.
*The Rainbows also played good defense last season, turning in a .967 fielding clip. UH made 74 errors in 55 games and turned 65 double plays.
*Mike Trapasso begins his fourth season at UH. He has compiled a 77-90 (.461) in his first three seasons and has posted back-to-back 30-win campaigns.
*He was the 2004 WAC "Coach of the Year" after last year's 31-24 record.
*UH assistant coach Travis Janssen is a former assistant coach at Arkansas and Northwestern State. He served as an assistant coach under Mitch Gaspard at NSU from 2002-04. The Demons won the 2002 Southland Conference championship and ranked sixth in the nation with 113 stolen bases last year.
2004: YEAR IN REVIEW
*Alabama posted a 29-26 overall record last season, including a 10-20 mark in SEC play.
*The 29 wins are the fewest for a Jim Wells-coached Alabama team and the fewest wins at Alabama since the 1994 season when UA posted a 21-35 record and set numerous futility records.
*The 26 losses are also the most by an Alabama team in the Wells era and the most since a 35-loss season in 1994.
*Alabama went 10-20 in conference play and posted is second straight losing season in SEC play. The last time the Crimson Tide had back-to-back losing conference records was 1992-94, when UA had three straight losing seasons in SEC play.
*The Crimson Tide's 29-26 overall record matched the worst record of any Wells coached team.
*In 1992, Wells led the Northwestern State Demons to a 29-26 overall record, but bounced back to post consecutive 40-win campaigns in 1993 and 1994 and a pair of NCAA berths before landing the job here at Alabama.
*The 2004 Alabama baseball team became only the second team in school history to lose 20 conference games in a season. The 1994 team set the school record with 24 losses.
*During the 2004 season, a total of 12 players combined to miss 238 games due to injury and illness.
*The Alabama baseball team posted the best ERA in the Southeastern Conference last season, with a 3.34 ERA in 55 games. Vanderbilt also had a 3.34 ERA to share the league title with Alabama.
*The Crimson Tide and Commodores also tied for seventh place nationally with a 3.34 ERA as six SEC schools ranked in the Top 20 nationally this season.
*Alabama turned in the third-best fielding percentage in school history during the 2004 season, posting a .969 fielding clip in 55 games.
*The Crimson Tide's .969 fielding clip was .002 points less than the all-time Alabama record (.971) held by the 1996 team.
*Wade LeBlanc was named the 2004 National Freshman of the Year by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball.
*He was also tabbed the SEC Freshman of the Year by the SEC Coaches and SEBaseball.com.
*For the year, LeBlanc appeared in 16 games and compiled an 8-4 record and 2.08 ERA. He set UA single-season freshman records for innings pitched (112.2), strikeouts (98), wins (8) and complete games (5).
*Allen Rice was named to the inaugural Southeastern Conference Baseball Good Works team.
*In its 29 wins last season Alabama:
*Hit .329 (327-for-993) with 25 home runs and 230 RBI
*Averaged 8.66 runs (251) and 11.27 hits per game
*Posted a 1.93 ERA (261 IP, 197 H, 69 R, 235 K)
*Committed 28 errors (.974) in 29 wins
*In its 26 losses last season Alabama:
*Hit .230 (200-for-871) with 13 home runs and 71 RBI
*Averaged runs 3.03 (79) runs and 7.69 hits per game
*Compiled a 5.03 ERA (223.2 IP, 262 H, 160 R)
*Committed 35 errors (.961) in 26 losses
FEBRUARY RECORD
*Alabama has posted an 84-22 (.792) record in the month of February under coach Wells.
*Alabama was 8-2 (.800) during the month of February last season and has compiled a 24-4 (.857) record in February since the 2001 season.
ROAD WARRIORS
Alabama has been pretty successful on the road in the Jim Wells era, posting an 109-102 (.517) record in 211 road games.
*Alabama has had only three losing road records (1998, 2001 and 2003) under coach Wells, but have had two in the last three years.
*Over the last three seasons, Alabama is 27-28 (.491) in its last 55 road games.
DOUBLE DIPPING
Alabama has compiled a 180-8 (.956) record under since 1995 when scoring 10 or more runs in a game.
*Alabama was 12-0 (1.000) last season when scoring 10 or more runs and owns a 21-game winning streak, dating back to the 2003 season when tallying double digits.
*Coach Wells has compiled a 215-11 (.951) all-time record in 226 games when scoring 10 or more runs, including a 35-3 (.921) slate in his five years at Northwestern State.
*The Crimson Tide is 63-1 (.984) since the start of the 2001 season when scoring 10 or more runs in a game.
*The Crimson Tide had won 42 consecutive games when scoring 10 or more runs prior to its 11-10 loss at home to LSU on March 30, 2003.
*Prior to that LSU game the last time Alabama scored double figures and lost was May 18, 2000 in an 18-12 loss to LSU at the SEC Tournament in Hoover.
*The 42-game winning streak when scoring 10 or more runs was the longest by a Jim Wells coached team.
*His previous best was 36 consecutive games from 1993-96 at Northwestern State (9-0) and Alabama (27-0).
ONE RUN GAMES
Alabama has compiled a 84-60 (.583) record in one-run games under Jim Wells.
*Overall, Wells-coached teams are 122-83 (.595) in one-run games, including a 38-23 (.623) ledger in five-year at Northwestern State.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
*Here is the listing of Crimson Tide birthdays in the month of February. Emeel Salem will celebrate his 20th birthday when the Crimson Tide plays at Hawai'i on Feb. 11th.
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
Player Birthdate
Emeel Salem Feb. 11, 1985
Wes Henderson Feb. 17, 1986
Jim Gatewood Feb. 27, 1965
