Baseball finds respectability after stint in Pacific 10 Conference cellar

Under the direction of first-year head coach Jerry Stitt, the Wildcats compiled a 32-26 record, 13-17 in the Pacific 10 Conference Southern Division. Staying in the hunt for a regional berth for most of the year.

"I think we really made some progress," Stitt said. "We are trying to teach them how to win on a consistent basis."

Pitching was the big story for Arizona.

New pitching coach Bill Kinneberg focused the staff, lowering their team ERA from last year's 7.40 to the 5.11 this season.

"The pitchers did very well," Stitt said. "We also received a lot of solid defense."

Sophomore Darrell Hussman was named Six-Pac pitcher of the week twice, and sophomore Rob Shabansky finished 8-6 with a 3.86 ERA.

For Stitt, the highlight of the season came in early April, when the Wildcats swept California. Shutting them out in all three games of the series at Sancet Field.

"To shut out a team for entire series was unheard of," Stitt said.

Not to be overlooked, was Arizona's hitting.

Junior center fielder Diego Rico finished the year hitting .390, leading the team in hits and triples. Junior Kenny Corley provided the power, pacing all Wildcats with his 12 home runs and 55 RBI.