USD Baseball 2003

2003 University of San Diego Baseball

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USD Wins WCC Championship During Brilliant 2002 Season *USD sets new school record winning 39 games *School captures first ever WCC Championship *Rewrite San Diego all-time record book *Set five new WCC records (Runs, SB, Saves, K's, ERA) *Open season with 10 consecutive victories *Rich Hill named 2002 WCC Coach of Year *Ricky Barrett named 2002 WCC Pitcher of Year *Five Toreros signed by Major League teams and sure-fielding infielder was shelved indefin itely. Two weeks later in Pepperdine, McCoy, San D iego's All-Conference sec– ond baseman, strained his wrist on a check swing . USD faced the reality of p laying without their starting middle infield, losing cwo-of three conference series and suffering a humb ling 21-3 loss to Long Beach State on Apri l 23rd. Days later USD began a three-game home series with the streak– ing Gonzaga Bulldogs. Behind the pitching of junior Tom Caple and a USD offensive that brought across 11 runs, the Toreros won game one and the series in dominating fashion. Down the stretch San Diego wou ld ignore injury and claim their first ever WCC Division Title, fin ishing wit h an 18- 12 conference record and a 36-20 mark overall. T he perennial WCC cham– pion W aves awaited San Diego at Eddy D. Field Stadium in Malibu for a three-game seri es that wou ld yield an aucomatic berth into the NCAA 's field of 64. In USD 's first -ever Division I postseason game Barrett proved why he was selected as the 2002 WCC Pitcher of the Year. Dazz ling the throngs of USD supporters that made the trip to Malibu , Barrett struck our che side in the first inning and eig ht Pepperdine batters on the day putting USD just one vi ctory away from the Reg ionals. In game two it was the Pepperdi ne bats that dominated . The Waves pounded out 16 hits and hit three homeruns pushing the series to a decisive game three. Ir wou ld rake a complete team effort for USD to win the title. Trailing 3- 1 with one out in the eig hth inning freshman Freddy Sandoval's base hit started a season saving rally. A double by sen ior S.C. Assael , two walks and an RBI single by Lima com– p leted a four-run inn ing gi ving USD a 5-3 lead. Barrett had t hrown a complete game in game one, Lima totaled six hits over the weekend, Quinto and McCoy had return ed from in – jury to secure USD 's defense, and junior reli ever Tony Perez came on to ret ire che last six W aves in order.

Joe Lima (above) David Bagley (right) and Ricky Barrett (below) were among a record five Toreros that signed professional contracts follow– ing the 2002 season.