By Chris Jackson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
February 19, 1998

Wildcats projected to finish third in tough conference

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat UA junior pitcher Ryan Moskau (30) lets the ball fly to now graduated UCLA first baseman Troy Glaus (25) in their series last season. The 1998 Pac-10 Conference Southern Division season starts tomorrow for the Wildcats as they travel to face Southern Cal.

The 1998 Pacific 10 Conference Southern Division baseball season begins tomorrow for the Arizona Wildcats when they travel to play Southern Cal in Los Angeles. Five Six-Pac teams are ranked in Baseball America's Top 25, meaning the conference season is "going to be another dogfight" as Trojan head coach Mike Gillespie said.

Stanford Cardinal

Current record/ranking: 9-0-1/first in Baseball America

Big wins/losses to date: taking two of three from then-No. 24 Texas (6-2, 9-1, 7-7)

1997 record: 45-20 overall, 21-9 Six-Pac (first)

Head coach: Mark Marquess (862-453-5 in 21 years)

Stars: Catcher John Salter, Jr. (.290-2-10), SS Jay Pecci, Sr. (.351-2-6), CF Jody Gerut, Jr. (.405-4-15), RF Nick Day, So. (.414-0-3), RHP Jeff Austin, Jr. (3-0, 2.00, 25 Ks), RHP Chad Hutchinson, Jr. (2-0, 4.12, 29 Ks)

Opposing coach's comments: "On paper Stanford may have the best team. Stanford has just got outstanding pitching. The only thing they're lacking is (catcher) Jon Schaeffer (who signed with the Minnesota Twins), but so far Salter and the others they've been rotating have done a solid job." - California head coach Bob Milano

Record vs. Arizona: 77-45 (5-1 in 1997)

Game dates vs. Arizona: in Palo Alto, Calif., March 6-8, in Tucson April 17-19

Prediction: First place because no team can match the Cardinal's pitching depth. Stanford has the best rotation in the Six-Pac, and the offense is a hittitng machine. This is the best team in the country, not just the Six-Pac.

Southern Cal Trojans

Current record/ranking: 7-2/third

Big wins/losses to date: lost two of three to unranked Texas (5-3, 5-6, 7-15)

1997 record: 42-20 overall, 17-13 Six-Pac (third)

Head coach: Mike Gillespie (441-252-2 in 11 years)

Stars: Catcher Eric Munson, So. (.531-3-15), 1B Rob Gorr, Jr. (.516-1-11), 3B Morgan Ensberg, Sr. (.387-2-8), LF Jeremy Freitas, Sr. (.385-5-9), CF Greg Hanoian, Jr. (.385-2-7), RHP Seth Etherton, Sr. (3-0, 1.23, 29 Ks), RHP Mike Penney, Jr. (2-1, 1.62, 9 Ks)

Coach Gillespie's comments: "I think our strength is we seem to be pretty offensive. We can go one through eight with every out a tough out. What has to happen for us to be legitimate contenders is we've got to get better consistency from our No. 2 and 3 starters."

Opposing coach's comments: "You've got to vote for them because of Etherton. There's a guy who can go out every night and win. They've got a good ball club, but it will depend if they can have other pitchers step up." - UCLA head coach Gary Adams

Record vs. Arizona: 86-81-1 (5-1 in 1997)

Game dates vs. Arizona: in Los Angeles Feb. 20-22, in Tucson March 20-22

Prediction: Second place because of Etherton (10-2, 2.96 in 1997) and the offense. Their hitting can compete with Stanford, but the lack of pitching experience will cost the Trojans a shot at the Six-Pac title.

Matt Heistand Arizona Daily Wildcat The Wildcats, with a current record of 16-0 and a No. 7 ranking, have done a lot of celebrating so far this season as they begin their Pac-10 series.

Arizona Wildcats

Current record/ranking: 16-0/seventh

Big wins/losses to date: three-game sweep of then-No. 13 Baylor (8-1, 15-2, 9-6)

1997 record: 32-26 overall, 13-17 Six-Pac (fifth)

Head coach: Jerry Stitt (48-26 in two years)

Stars: Catcher Greg Clark, Jr. (.415-6-23), 2B Erik Mattern, Sr. (.474-4-30), SS Keoni DeRenne, Fr. (.433-4-27), 3B Omar Moraga, Jr. (.468-1-15), LF Jason Hendricks, Sr. (.500-7-19), LHP Rob Shabansky, Jr. (5-0, 2.83, 36 K's), LHP James Johnson, Jr. (2-0, 3.67, 41 Ks).

Coach Stitt's comments: "We've hit the ball pretty well so far. One thing we've done consistently well is made the plays (on defense). One thing we're trying to do is get our relief set. Our short relief is good but our middle and long relief needs work. We also need a consistent DH."

Opposing coach's comments: "It's their time. They've struggled the last four years. They're very talented, very experienced. They're right up there with Stanford." - Arizona State head coach Pat Murphy

Prediction: Third place because this year the Wildcats have something they've lacked in years past- confidence. This team can play with the big boys and has matured to the point where the talent matches its desire.

Arizona State Sun Devils

Current record/ranking: 10-3 overall/eighth

Big wins/losses to date: two losses to then-No. 25 Florida State (3-2, 6-1) in Tempe

1997 record: 39-22 overall, 16-14 Six-Pac (fourth)

Head coach: Pat Murphy (481-235-3 in 13 years, 108-64 in three years at ASU)

Stars: 2B Chip Gosewisch, Jr. (.395-0-11), SS Willie Bloomquist, So. (.478-0-13), 3B Andrew Beinbrink, Jr. (.326-2-18), RF Mikel Moreno, Sr. (.368-3-16), LHP Ryan Mills, Jr. (3-1, 0.92, 34 Ks)

Coach Murphy's comments: "I think we have some experience. I don't think we're a great ball club by any stretch of the imagination. Even though we returned almost everyone on offense, we lost seven of our 10 pitchers."

Opposing coach's comments: "It's really hard to know how anyone's doing without having played them. But ASU has always been a good team. (Ryan) Mills is one of the best pitchers in the country. He'll go in the top three (in the Major League Draft)." - coach Stitt

Record vs. Arizona: 163-144 (3-3 in 1997)

Game dates vs. Arizona: in Tucson April 3-5, in Tempe April 24-26

Prediction: Fourth place because of the lack of pitching depth and the lack of power.

UCLA Bruins

Current record/ranking: 6-4 overall, 2-0 Six-Pac/14th

Big wins/losses to date: three losses at Hawaii (4-7, 5-14, 6-9)

1997 record: 45-21-1 overall, 19-11 Six-Pac (second)

Head coach: Gary Adams (961-679-12 in 28 years, 773-610-7 in 23 years at UCLA)

Stars: 1B Garrett Atkins, Fr. (.324-1-11), SS Chase Utley, Fr. (.308-2-6), LF Brett Nista, Sr. (.364-2-10), RF Eric Byrnes, Sr. (.356-1-5), LHP Bobby Roe, Fr. (1-0, 2.25, 3 saves).

Coach Adams' comments: "We don't have a strength. We're not exceptional at hitting, running, defense or pitching. We're pretty good at all of those but not great at any one. Our team is kind of a smattering of things. Our pitching is a big question mark. We lost all of our starters and our closer."

Opposing coach's comments: "UCLA got hit hard in its loss of players (from last year). But they held onto Byrnes and the No. 2 pick in the draft (Utley), and that protects (CF Eric) Valent. Without them, Valent (.339-27-91 in 1997) would probably just get walked 12 times in a weekend." - coach Gillespie

Record vs. Arizona: 107-88-1 (4-2 in 1997)

Game dates vs. Arizona: in Tucson March 13-15, in Los Angeles April 9-11

Prediction: Fifth place because the pitching just isn't there.

California Golden Bears

Current record/ranking: 2-6-1 overall, 0-2 Six-Pac/not ranked

Big wins/losses to date: lost two to UCLA (8-13, 10-11)

1997 Record: 21-28 overall, 4-26 Six-Pac (sixth)

Head coach: Bob Milano (639-581-4 in 20 years)

Stars: Catcher Jason Hill, Jr. (.394-3-10), 2B Xavier Nady, Fr. (.343-3-6), SS Brian Oliver, Jr. (.324-1-6), RHP Jon Shirley, So. (0-1, 4.41, 13 Ks), RHP Ron Cuccias, So. (1-0, 2.45).

Coach Milano's comments: "I think we've got to just go at them (the other Six-Pac teams). Oh, sure it is (difficult with so many freshmen). You need good juniors and seniors, but real good juniors leave after that year. Seniors that are still around have to be a unique type of individual."

Opposing coach's comments: "I was impressed with their team. We didn't go out there and beat them to a pulp. Maybe the biggest difference between them and the contenders is after their 3-4-5 hitters there's a drop-off to their 6-7-8-9 hitters." - coach Adams

Record vs. Arizona: 47-75 (0-6 in 1997)

Game dates vs. Arizona: in Tucson Feb. 27-28 and March 1, in Berkeley, Calif., May 1-3

Prediction: Sixth place because they have weak hitting and pitching.