UA players looking forward to meeting with Colorado

The UA baseball team gets its first crack at the Colorado Rockies today on the first official day of MLB spring training.

Arizona (15-4) will take on the Rockies at Hi Corbett Field at 1 p.m., located about three miles from the UA campus.

For both teams, it's an exhibition game that allows each side to get its players some needed work. But both have different mindsets.

UA is in the middle of its season and will use this game to allow its non-starters to get game experience.

"I'm going to be a little kid with candy," sophomore pitcher Sean Rierson said. "It's kind of being in awe, and I don't know what to expect."

For the Wildcat players, it's an opportunity to build memories.

"It's more of a story to tell. It'd be great to watch one of these guys on TV and say, 'I got that guy to ground out,'" Little said.

Last season, the Rockies finished in last place in the National League West with a 73-89 record, 19 games behind the World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West.

Right fielder Larry Walker won his third National League batting title of his career with a .350 average. The outfielder is one of the most laid-back players in baseball, having been known for apologizing to fans because the games are boring and keeping his trophies at the bottom of his closet.

First baseman Todd Helton finished second to Walker with a .336 average along with 49 home runs and 146 RBIs to lead the team in both categories. In 2000, Helton flirted with .400 throughout the season but ended at .370.

With Walker batting in the three spot and Helton in the fourth, the two left-handed bats provide one of the best power duos in the league and a big task for the Wildcat pitching staff.

"It's a good challenge for us and give our pitching staff to bear down and hit our spots," Little said.

Left-hander Mike Hampton, who in his first year at Coors Field finished with a 5.41 ERA, anchors the Rockies pitching staff. He is most known for hitting four home runs last year and being an exceptional athlete.

Denny Neagle, the team's second man in the rotation, is someone UA pitcher Joe Little said he wants to speak with.

"I'd like to have a few words with him at pitching. I want to ask him what he does the day after he pitches because we have the same bodies," Little said. "We're both sore after an outing so any advice he could give me would be great."

Rierson said he expects a friendly meeting.

"I'm sure you can say one word and they would go on for hours," he said. "You want to pick up on their experience and how they pitch to certain hitters in the league."