By
Maxx Wolfson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Baseball lacks experience but not talent
The UA baseball team opens the 2001 season in Hawaii tonight in what will turn out to be more than just a Winter Hawaiian vacation.
The Wildcats will play four games in three days, jump-starting their season on the road against Hawaii-Hilo.
Arizona holds a 9-2 all-time advantage against the Vulcans, who the Wildcats swept in three games in January 1999.
"We should come out of Hawaii with four wins, and I think that will be a big confidence booster," pitcher Brian Pemble said. "If we get four wins here, it will put us on a roll because, last year, we never really got on a roll."
Although Pacific 10 Conference play doesn't begin until mid-March, assistant coach Victor Solis said victories in Hawaii could set the tone for an entire season.
"The season starts now," Solis said. "Any wins now are going to help you down the road as far as playoff implications, and the same is true with any loss. However, there are things we are going to have to find out in Hawaii, but we are happy where we are right now."
Looking to erase the memories of last year's disappointing 26-30 record, the Wildcats hope the infusion of 15 new pitchers will help them improve on the mound.
"We only have two returning pitchers who threw any amount of innings for us last year," Solis said. "The freshmen have come in as advertised, and they have worked hard, thrown strikes and we are looking for them to carry that throughout the rest of the season."
The surprise of the pitching staff this winter has been freshman right-hander Sean Rierson, who prepped at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale.
"Rierson might be our number-one starter," fifth-year Arizona head coach Jerry Stitt said. "He is a very accomplished young man."
The 6-foot-3 Rierson said he is honored with the opportunity to get a chance to pitch.
"I don't think anything has been determined quite yet," he said. "I have been very honored to have been given the chance to pitch. I am pretty confident right now."
Lacking experience on the mound, Arizona will need to rely on leadership from Pemble, one of the team's few returning pitchers.
The lefty finished last season with a 3-3 record over 40 innings of work.
"Pemble is one of the leaders of the pitching staff," junior right fielder Shelley Duncan said. "I think he will bring them together and teach them quickly."
Other newcomers who will get an opportunity to enter the starting rotation will be David Brockman, Brian Sears, Marc Kaiser, Brian Anderson, Jason Martinez and Joe Little.
Experience is something the position players do not lack this season - the Wildcats return three starters in the infield.
Senior third baseman Erik Torres (.286, 10 homers, 33 RBIs last year), sophomore second baseman Matt Abram (.286, 3 homers, 22 RBIs) and senior first baseman Ernie Durazo (.365, 11 homers, 51 RBIs) all played significantly last season for UA.
For the first time in four seasons, the Wildcats will begin a season without All-American shortstop Keoni DeRenne, who was drafted by the Atlanta Braves last summer. Junior Brad Hassey will get a chance to fill the void left by the popular DeRenne.
The Wildcat outfield will be led once again by Duncan, a preseason second-team All-American candidate who is coming off season-ending reconstructive elbow surgery.
A right fielder who underwent the "Tommy John" surgery last Spring, Duncan injured his throwing elbow while pitching against Stanford last season in Palo Alto, Calif.
The Canyon del Oro alum knocked 11 home runs and 40 RBIs last season and is just six home runs away from becoming the all-time leader in home runs at Arizona.
"I don't push for individual success," Duncan said. "This is the year that we come together and win. Going to the playoffs is the greatest feeling in the world - not individual success - especially in a team game like baseball."
Duncan, who will be eligible to declare himself available for the Major League Baseball draft after the season, said, although his arm is feeling much better, he will be unable to pitch again.
"My arm is feeling a lot better," Duncan said. "It is disappointing because I love pitching. Hopefully, I will be able to play right field in Hawaii."
Maxx Wolfson can be reached at sports@wildcat.arizona.edu.
