USD Baseball 2000

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2000 Torero Baseball 2000 Torero Baseball Preview he can flat out hit! "

Sophomore catcher Greg Sain had a stellar freshman campaign, earning numerous awards during his rookie sea– son inluding Freshman All-America recognition (Collegiate Baseball), co-WCC Freshman of the Year honors, and was named 2nd Team AII-WCC. Mostly playing third base in 1999, the right-handed slugger smacked 12 homers, hit .339, had a school-record 21 doubles to go with a near-record 66 runs-batted-in! Sain moved to catcher towards the end of 1999 and is penciled in as USD's 2000 starter there where he should continue to put up big numbers. Hill has nothing but praise for Sain, "He is just a natural behind the plate. There aren't too many catchers with his arm strength and Z h Koucos David Wright, Kevin offensive capabilities. Greg is going to be a real pivotal player,

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homer though ; the line-up will be balanced with both speed The past l 999 season saw the University of San Di- and power. Adds Hill, "We try to win every inning, and score ego Toreros, under the direction of first-year coach Rich Hill, any way we can. " have their first winning season since 1994, finishing 28-27-l Newcomer Mike McCoy (El Cajon, CA; Grossmont overall. The Toreros finished third in the Coast division of the HS) will provide some of the speed at the top of the line-up West Coast Conference and had five players earn AII-WCC with Reese and sophomore Joe Lima (San Diego, CA) also recognition. Included in their 28 victories was a season sweep expected to test the arms of opponents' catchers. Along with over crosstown rival San Diego State; a 13-10 win over# 13 McCoy in the infield, third baseman David Bagley (Poway, Texas Tech; a 20-7 win over Big IO Tourney champ Mi chi- CA; 15 homers last season at Rancho Bernardo HS) is ex– gan; and WCC wins over Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount pected to contribute immediately. in league play. Lima, a '99 WCC Honorable Mention pick, hit .309 The 2000Torero squad will combine both experience with 19 doubles, 40 RBI and was 7-for-8 in stolen base at– and youth with nine seniors and eleven freshmen on the 31- tempts. "I think a guy that gets overlooked is Joe Lima," adds player roster. "The freshmen and seniors have meshed well," Hill. "He's a steady player, had a good year last year hitting a said Hill , who enters his second year. "The seniors have a lot of doubles, and had a phenomenal summer out at the real sense of purpose about this year and the freshmen are Northwood's league." real blue-chippers that come from extremely competitive pro- The Toreros will have the luxury of being able to pla- grams." toon left-handed or right-handed hitters, with solid returning One thing is sure about this year 's Torero squad, they players like senior outfielder David Wright (Medord, OR;), can hit! USO smacked a school record 60 home runs last senior catcher-DH Alan Leuthard (San Diego, CA) and se– season and according to Hill , "This year 's line-up is strong top ni-or pitcher/first baseman Marty Hayes (Anaheim Hills, CA) to bottom. I think you can expect to see some offensive to call upon. records fall." Wright, who was a 2nd team AII-WCC pick in 1998 Leading the offensive attack will be the hard-hitting after batting .371 , battled back from injuries to hit .304 last one-two punch of senior outfielder Kevin Reese (San Di- season , finishing with IO doubles , 2 triples, 6 home runs and ego, CA) and sophomore catcher Greg Sain (Torrance, CA). 32 RB I. Leuthard , a 1999 WCC Honorable Mention pick, Reese, a First Team AII-WCC pick, might have had the best batted .345 with 9 doubles , 3 homers and 28 RBI. year of any local college player. The hard-hitting lefty hit San Diego had four players taken in the 1999 major .372, with 86 hits (the most in the WCC), 16 home runs (two league draft. Two of those players, pitcher Ryan Hamilton shy of school record), 51 RBI and a school record 67 runs (San Rafael, CA) and pitcher/first baseman Marty Hayes, scored. "Reese gets better every year and he has the poten- return for their senior campaign. Heavily scouted and later tial to set every record possible," stated Hill. "Watch this guy, drafted (L.A. Dodgers) in 1999 because of his strong arm,