Search

ARCHIVES
CONTACT US
WORLD NEWS

Stitt, DeRenne jammin' on junior's birthday

Junior shortstop Keoni DeRenne had reason to celebrate last weekend.

The preseason All-American was back in the lineup Saturday after missing three games due to a pulled hamstring. DeRenne injured himself while throwing across his body April 20th against Washington State.

DeRenne was 1-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday's contest.

"I know that I only missed three games, but it seemed like forever," he said. "It was nice to get back out there."

On Sunday, DeRenne added an RBI single as the Wildcats defeated Cal-State Northridge, 12-8.

The game was extra special for the junior, though, as it was his 21st birthday. "It was nice to go out there and get something done on my birthday," he said.

"In the past, I haven't done so well when I play on my birthday."

According to UA head coach Jerry Stitt, the day provided some added fun -reggae.

"I've had to listen to Bob Marley all day," he said. "It's a good thing I like Bob Marley."

DeRenne, who hails from Honolulu, is a reggae buff.

"That's my music," he said after the game. "They had to get my tunes on."

Shelley Duncan has had a lot of time to think about his future recently. Last week, the sophomore right fielder endured reconstructive elbow surgery in Los Angeles.

His rehabilitation, which is expected to take at least eight months, will leave Duncan with an entire summer without baseball.

"I've always stayed here for the summer," he said. "The last couple of summers, I've stayed here."

Duncan is considering rehabilitating his elbow in St. Louis, however, where his father, Dave Duncan, is the pitching coach for Major League Baseball's St. Louis Cardinals.

"I've never really spent a lot of time with my dad during the summer, so it would be cool," he said.

Would a summer with the first-place Cardinals and their slugger Mark McGwire give Duncan the chance of a lifetime? In a word, yes.

"Yeah," he said, "It would be cool."

Despite the team's 25-25 record, Duncan is impressed with the way the team has played since his departure.

Since Duncan tore elbow ligaments in a relief pitching appearance versus the Stanford Cardinal on March 25th, the team is 8-8, winners of their last four games.

"They're playing awesome," he said. "Maybe we can hope that the other teams do badly in the next few weeks and we can slip into the tournament."

The Wildcats, who have failed to produce in important Pacific 10 Conference games, will wrap up the 2000 season with three-game series against both UCLA and Arizona State.

The Wildcats return to action on May 13th against the Bruins, as the team will take the next two weeks off to focus on finals.

"The team has some time off to focus on finals," Stitt said. "Some of our coaches are going to make some recruiting trips."

For some Wildcats, the break will also provide some time to heal.

"The hamstring's feeling good," DeRenne said. "The time off will be nice, my leg can get some rest."

However, the weeks off could slow down first baseman Ernie Durazo - the junior hit three home runs last weekend against Cal-State Northridge.

When asked if he was looking forward to the time off, he replied, "No way."