Crimson Tide Hosts Youngstown State
3/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
FIRST PITCH: The University of Alabama baseball team welcomes back the members of the 1983 College World Series team this weekend as the Crimson Tide hosts Youngstown State in a three-game series at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide and Penguins begin their three-game series on Friday, March 7, at 6:35 p.m. (CDT). The series continues on Saturday, March 8, at 3:05 p.m. (CDT) and Sunday, March 9, at 2:05 p.m. (CST). The 2008 season marks the 25th anniversary of Alabama’s 1983 SEC Championship and College World Series runner up team. A number of former players, coaches and team personnel will be back in Tuscaloosa this weekend for the reunion.
HEAD COACH JIM WELLS: Alabama head coach Jim Wells has compiled a 558-277 (.668) record in 835 games in his 14th season at the Capstone. He is the winningest coach in school history and has worked more games than any other Tide coach. Wells has led the Crimson Tide to two SEC Championships (1996 and 2006), three College World Series appearances (1996, 1997 and 1999), three SEC Western Division titles (1996, 2002 and 2006), six SEC Tournament championships (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003) and 10 NCAA Regionals. He was named SEC Coach of the Year in 1996 and 2002 and the Baseball America National Coach of the Year in 1996. Overall, Wells has compiled a 752-366 (.673) record in 1,118 games as he enters his 18th season at the Division I level. Prior to Alabama, he spent five years at Northwestern (La.) State, where he compiled a 192-89 (.683) record and led the Demons to three Southland Conference championships and two NCAA Regional appearances.
1983 CWS TEAM REUNION: The 1983 team will hold its 25th reunion this weekend at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Alabama went 46-11 in 1983 and won the SEC Championship and NCAA South Regional to advance to the College World Series. Alabama beat Arizona State and Michigan in the first two games, before falling to Texas. After a win over Arizona State, Alabama lost to Texas, 4-3, in the national championship game at Rosenblatt Stadium. David Magadan was the 1983 SEC and National Player of the Year, after leading Alabama with a .525 batting average. Alabama head coach Dr. Barry Shollenberger was named the SEC and National Coach of the Year, after leading the Crimson Tide to its second CWS appearance in school history. Members of the team scheduled to attend this weekend are Craig Antush, Jeff Brewer, Rick Browne, Dr. Terry Conkle, Dean Hayes, John Ferry (radio), Ted McClendon, Sang Lyda, Tim Meacham, Wiley Morgan, Robert Payne, Coach Barry Shollenberger, Rob Skates, Allan Stallings and Jeff Umphrey. The team will sign autographs on Saturday for fans from 2-2:35 p.m. at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. They will be recognized on the prior to the game and Coach Shollenberger will throw out the first pitch. The 1983 team will hold a dinner Saturday night in the A-Club Room at Bryant-Denny Stadium from 7-9 p.m.
YOUNGSTOWN STATE SERIES: This is the first meeting between Alabama and Youngstown State.
ALABAMA VS. HORIZON LEAGUE: Alabama is 5-0 (1.000) against the current teams from the Horizon League. The Crimson Tide owns a 3-0 all-time record against Butler and a 2-0 all-time mark against Cleveland State. Alabama has never faced Illinois-Chicago, Valparaiso, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wright State or Youngstown State. The Crimson Tide’s first meeting with a Horizon League team was a 7-5 win over Cleveland State during the 1980 season. Alabama last played a member of the Horizon League in 2005, when the Crimson Tide beat Butler 6-2.
YOUNGSTOWN STATE: Youngstown State brings an 0-3 record to Tuscaloosa this weekend, after dropping its first three games of the season at Georgia Tech two weeks ago. The Penguins were swept in the three-game series, 14-0, 1-0 and 5-1. YSU was scheduled to play Pittsburgh last weekend in Chillicothe, Ohio, but that three-game series was cancelled due to inclement weather. The Penguins got stellar pitching in their series at Georgia Tech and all three starters worked into the fifth inning. Senior RHP Lucas Engle (Marysville, Ohio) will start game one against Alabama. Against Georgia Tech on Feb. 22, Engle allowed six runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings in the Penguins 14-0 loss. He walked four and struck out two batters. Four of the six runs allowed were unearned. Senior RHP Adam Kalafos (Baltimore, Md.) will start game two on the mound. He was the tough-lick loser against Georgia Tech on Feb. 23 as he allowed one unearned run in the second inning of a 1-0 loss. He pitched five innings and allowed four hits, with four walks and five strikeouts. Sophomore RHP Aaron Swenson (Twinsburg, Ohio) will start game three for the Penguins. He allowed one run and five hits in seven innings against Georgia Tech on Feb. 24 to earn a no-decision. He also added four strikeouts. The YSU bullpen made seven appearances against Georgia Tech and went 0-1 with a 13.51 ERA. On offense, Youngstown State batted .194 (18-for-93) in the Tech series and recorded one extra base hit. Senior 2B Josh Page (Plain City, Ohio) went 4-for-12 (.333) against Georgia Tech with three strikeouts.
TROY RECAP: Alabama and Troy split a pair of midweek games this past week. The Trojans posted a 5-4 win in 10 innings Tuesday, March 4, at Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium. Shohei Fujita’s bases-loaded single in the 10th inning won the game for Troy. Alabama rebounded for an 8-2 win Wednesday, March 5, in Tuscaloosa. Alex Avila’s two-run home run gave Alabama a first-inning lead and the Tide added four more runs in the third inning. Sophomore RHP Austin Graham allowed two unearned runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings for his first win since February 26, 2006. Senior 1B Matt Bentley added two doubles and two RBI for the Tide.
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