UA baseball's Torres takes on expanded role

Kristy Mangos Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore third baseman Erik Torres (17) steps up to the plate Saturday night in a game against the Dutch national team at Sancet Field. Torres is expected to step into the starting line-up after being a reserve infielder-outfielder last year, hitting .382 off the bench.

Maybe too young to have a chance to be competitive in what one could consider the toughest division in college baseball, the Pacific 10 Conference.

This is the theme that Wildcat fans will hear until the team proves to everyone in the Pac-10 that it can compete.

For the Wildcats to improve on their 33-23 overall record of last season, sophomore third baseman Erik Torres must play like he did Saturday night against the Dutch national team.

Torres, who hit third in the lineup, homered in the bottom of the first to open up the scoring, and then went on to get a single and double while driving in four runs to help the Wildcats to an 11-7 victory.

"I just want to go out here and play my hardest for the team," Torres said. "Fall ball is going great. We are all hustling and going 110 percent because we are trying to get an edge on the other teams."

On his home run, Torres said, "It felt pretty good. I just went straight to my drive point, swung and hit it."

Last year in a backup role at the hot-corner behind the recently departed Omar Moraga, Torres hit for a .382 average, three homers and 23 RBI.

"He is real solid defensively and a quality hitter who knows how to drive in runs," UA head coach Jerry Stitt said.

Torres played his high school ball in Tucson at Sunnyside High School, where he earned four letters, all-state and all-city honors and hit .500 as a senior.

Although only a sophomore, he could arguably be considered a leader on a Wildcat team composed mainly of freshmen, sophomores and transfers.

"I don't see myself as a leader, but more of a guy that works hard and someone others will listen to," Torres said.

As fall ball continues on, and with the season-opening month of January creeping closer, Stitt is going to be looking for guys to take a leadership role on the team. Torres might just be one of those guys.

"We have been making some progress, but we still make mental mistakes," Stitt said. "He is a guy that players respond to very well. He is not real vocal but he will hustle and get in your face."

Dan Rosen can be reached via e-mail at Dan.Rosen@wildcat.arizona.edu.