USD Baseball 2008

AGENERAL INFORMATION Location ..................................................................................................San Diego, CA Founded .................................................................................................................... 1949 Enrollment ...............................................................................................................7,600 President........................................................................................Mary E. Lyons, Ph.D. Executive Director of Athletics ............................................................... Ky Snyder Senior Associate Athletics Director.................................................. Mike Matoso Assoc. AD/Business Affairs ....................................................................... Dan Yourg Assoc. AD/Athletic Development .................................................... Brian Fogarty Assoc. AD for Facilities & Operations ...................................................... Andy Fee Assoc. AD/ Senior Women's Administrator ....................................Shaney Fink Assoc. AD for Marketing andSponsorships ....................................Steve Becvar Assista nt Dir. for Marketing ................................................................Chris Morales Head Athletic Trainer .............................................................Carolyn Greer, A.T., C. Assistant Athletic Trainer (Baseball) .........................................................Joe Parry Sport and Business Psychology Consultan ....................... Karlene Sugarman Affi liation .............................................................................................NCAA Division I Conference................................................................................................... West Coast Nickname ............................................................................................................. Toreros School Colors ......................................................................Torero Blue, Navy, White Ath letic Dept. Phone ........................................................................ (619) 260-4803 A TEAM INFORMATION First Year of Baseball (Began Division I play)....................................1958 (1979) Overall All-Time Record .........................................................1,122-1 ,032-2 (.521) NCAA Division I Appearances (Last) ..........................................................4 (2007) NCAA Tournament Record ......................................................................................3-8 Best All-Time Record .............................................................................43-18 (2007) 2007 Overall Record ............................................................................................43-18 2007WCC Record (Place) ............................................................................ 18-3 (1st) 2007 Home Record .................................................................................................25-5 2007 Road Record ................................................................................................18-1 o 2007 Neutral Field Record ......................................................................................0-3 2007 Postseason ........................................................................................................0-2 Position Starters returning/lost ............................................................................ 5/ 3 Sta rting Pitchers returning/lost .......................................................................... 5/0 Overall Letterwinners returning/lost .............................................................19/ 13 Newcomers.................................................................................................................... 12 A HOME FIELD Ballpark ....................................................Cunningham Baseball Stadium (1,200) Surface ...................................................................................................... Natural Grass Dimensions ........................................................................... LF-309, CF-395, RF-329 A BASEBALL STAFF Head Coach ........................................................................................................ Rich Hill Alma Mater ................................................................................... Cal Lutheran, 1984 Record at USD ............................................................................. 309-219-3 (9Years) Overall Record ..........................................................................642-439-3 (19 Years) Assistants.........................................................Eric Valenzuela (Pepperdine, 2001 ) ...................................................................................Jay Johnson (Point Loma, 2001 ) ............................................................................................................... Mark Viramontes Dir.of Baseball Operations .............................................................. Ramon Orozco Baseball Phone .................................................................................... (619) 260-5953 Baseball Fax ......................................................................................... (619) 260-7750 A MEDIA RELATIONS Associate A.D./Media Relations............................................................Ted Gosen Assistant Dir. of Media Relations (Baseball Contact) .................. Chris Loucks Media Relations Coordinator ...........................................................Ryan Mccann Loucks' Direct Office Phone ........................................................... (619) 260-7930 Fax...........................................................................................................(619) 260-2990 Loucks' E-mail ...................................................................... cloucks@sandiego.edu Cunningham Stadium Press Box.................................................. (619) 260-8829 Web Site ...................................................................................www.usdtoreros.com .... MEDIA CREDENTIALS Requests should be made by phone (619-260-7930), fax (619-260-2990) or e-mail (cloucks@sandiego.edu) as far in advance as possible and no later t han 24 hours before gametime. Credentials can be picked up at the will call table located at the top of Cunningham Stadium.

J!

..._ PHOTO .CRE.DENTIALS . . Credentials will be issued on a game-by-game baSIS and must be worn In plain sight at all times. All photographers must remain off the playing surface and are encouraged to use the area behind the visitors' dugout. NCAA regulations regarding photography w ill be adhered to at all times. APRESS BOX The USD press box is located on top of the stands behind home plate. Limited seating is avaliable w ith beat writers receving priority. Radio positions and additional media will be allocated to the press box or the rows immediately in front of the press box, if necessary. A TELEPHONES The press box number for the media and scoring updates only is (619) 260-8829. Ad– ditional lines are avaliable on a shared basis in the press box. ARADIO LINES Up to two telephone lines can be made avaliable to the designated radio station of the visiting team. Please make arrangements through the athletics media relations office well in advance. A HIGH-SPEED INTERNET The press box is equipped with several high speed data jacks for on-line browsing and transmission. A wireless connection has also been recently added to the press box for those media members who have a wireless card. A INTERVIEWS Coaches and players will be avaliable for postgame interviews on the field after a brief cooling down session and team meeting. Midweek interviews can be conducted before and or after practices by special arrangement through the athletics media relations office. Interviews with visiting coaches or players should be arranged through the visiting team's SID, w hen available. A ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2008 USO Baseball Media Guide is a product ofthe USO Athletics Media Relations depart– ment. Layout and Design: Chris Loucks Cover Design: Chris Loucks Photography: DennisMock, Brock Scott, Dale Frost, Eric Drotter, Matt Brown, San Diego Union Tribune Printing: Kings Printing Corporation TABLE OF CONTENTS 7 .................................................................................................................... General Information 2-3 .......................................................................................................................... Season Outlook 4-8 ................................................................................................................... USO Coaching Staff 70 .................................................................................................................................... 2008 Roster 77 .................................................................................................................. 2008 TV/ Radio Roster 7 2-22................................................................................................................. Player Biographies 23-27................................................................................................................................ This is USO 28-29......................................................................................................USD Baseball Experience 30...................................................................................................................................2007 Results 32-33..............................................................................................................2007Team Statistics 34.................................................................................................................... Year-By-Year Resutls 35-36......................................................................................................... West Coast Conference 37........................................................................................................ USO Baseball Hall ofFame 37.......................................................................................................... USD's Profrssional Players 39-46..................................................................................................................USD Records Book 48-49........................................................................................................................ All-time Roster 50....................................................................................................Messaage from the President 57 ......................................................................................... USO Executive Director ofAthletics 52.............................................................................................. USO Strength and Conditioning 53 ..............................................................................USD Academic Support/Athletic Training 54....................................................................................................... USO Baseball Support Staff 55....................................................................................................................... NCAA Compliance 56............................................................................................................................Media Relations

The 2008 University of San Diego baseball season will be much like a new season of apopular television series.Each season, a television show has the same name and airs on the same network but often introduces new characters and new storylines. While the premise and main characters of the show remain the same from year to year, each season is filled with new adventures, new drama and a whole lot of entertainment. Over the years, USD's baseball team has provided many chills and thrills. It's a storyline that seems to get better and better with each season. While the past two seasons have been some of San Diego's best with back-to-back trips to the NCAA post season and the first 40-win season in program history, they were very different in many ways. Each season had its' own cast of players who created their own storylines and style of play. Gone from last season's record setting team are WCC Player of the Year Shane Buchini, catcher Jordan Abruzzo, first baseman Daniel Magness and sec– ond baseman Justin Snyder, but the cup– board is far from bare for the Toreros this season. The Toreros are locked, loaded and ready to go for the season as they wel– come in the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, have three preseason All-Ameri– cans on the roster and arguably the best pitching rotation in the country. "Our pitching is the strength of this team, the depth in the bullpen is the strongest it has ever been of a Torero team, or of any team I have coached in my 21 years," said head coach Rich Hill. "On the offensive side of things, the power will be a question mark, but we will continue to put pressure on the de– fense as much as we can to create scor– ing opportunities and play an aggressive style of offense." Highlighting the returners is pre– season first-team All-American Brian Ma– tusz. A year ago, Matusz set a new pro– gram record for single-season strikeouts with 163, posted a 10-3 record and had an ERA of 2.85. For his efforts this past season, Matusz was named a second– team All-American, was lnsidepitching. corn's West Region Pitcher of the Year, was named first-team AII-WCC and was a member of Team USA over the sum– mer. Matusz will help anchor down the nation's top pitching rotation. "Everything has gone to plan with Brian Matusz. He is one of the most dominating pitchers in the country, which provides us with a quality starter at the top of the rotation," said Hill. "He continues to raise the bar for himself, which is important. He has stepped it up a notch on his strength and condition-

ing program over the off season, where he is stronger and more durable and has bet– ter bite on all of his pitches." Another key returner for the Toreros pitching rotation is preseason All-Ameri– can Josh Romanski. The junior left-hander makes his return after spending summer with Team USA. During his sophomore campaign, Romanski posted a record of 9-1 with an ERA of 3.05. The two-way star was also a solid force at the plate for the Tore– ros, as he hit .335, with 43 hits, 1 O doubles, two triples, three home runs and 30 RBI. For his efforts, Romanski was named a second– team All-American and was a first-team AII– WCC performer. "Josh is another guy that helps provide that one-two punch at the top of the rota– tion, and I felt like he was our best guy down the stretch last season," stated Hill. "We are really counting on him out in center field and in the middle of the batting order as well. So he is well aware that he needs to be one of the best conditioned athletes on our team, and he has accepted that role." Making a return for his fourth season is senior right-hander Matt Couch. As a junior, Couch opened eyes around the country as he helped solidify one of the nation's top pitching rotations becoming USD's Sunday starter. For the season, Couch posted a 9-2 record with a 3.60 ERA in 100.0 innings of work. Couch was also a first-team AII-WCC selection this past season. The Toreros will also welcome back their preseason All-American closer, AJ Griffin. As a freshman, Griffin made a splash on the collegiate baseball scene as he racked up 11 saves, posted a 6-2 record and had a team-leading 2.70 ERA. Griffin took home freshman All-American honors and was se– lected as a first-team AII-WCC performer. "AJ is one of the premier closers, premier relief guys in the country. He has only got– ten bigger, stronger and more durable since last season," stated Hill. The Toreros pitching corps doesn't stop here, as USD has one of its deepest pitch– ing rotations in the history of the program. Highlighting some of the key returning pitchers is junior south paw Ricardo Pecina, who posted a 5-4 record with a 3.86 ERA a year ago. Pecina found himself becoming USD's mid week starter early in the season and helped lead USD to a 40-win season. After taking a redshirt season, Torero fans will get an opportunity to finally see Darrin Campbell. Campbell, who missed all of 2007 after having Tommy John surgery in January 2006, bounced back strong this past summer, going 2-0, with a 1.53 ERA, had 19 strikeouts and six walks in 18 in– nings of work to be tabbed as one of the summer's top prospects out of the Clark Griffin League. "Two of the top guys that no one talks about that I believe will be key to our sea-

son are Ricardo Pecina and Darrin Campbell," stated Hill. "We really like to use that set-up guy in the middle of the game and I believe that both of these guys will do a great job for us in this type of role." The final returners in the bullpen are se– nior Luke Roniger, junior Scott DeNault and sophomore Steve Winnick. As a junior, Ro– niger posted a 0-0 record and threw in 1.0 inning and didn't allow a single run to cross the plate for the season. In DeNault's sopho– more campaign, he made one appearance for 0.2 innings of work and Winnick made two appearances in 2007, throwing in 1.1 in– nings. Newcomers to the Torero pitching staff that are expected to have an immediate impact include fifth-round draft choice Kyle Blair from Los Gatos High School. Blair comes in as one of the most highly touted freshman in the country as he was a second– team All-American as a senior in high school. He was very impressive against experienced college hitters in the Northwoods League this past summer, going 3-3, with a 2.81 ERA, striking out 52 batters and posting 16 walks in 42 innings of work. The coaching staff is expecting big things from Blair this season, as he was tabbed as the No. 2 prospect out of the Northwoods League this past summer by Baseball America. Another big impact player to the Toreros pitching staff is the addition of freshman Sammy Solis. Solis comes to San Diego from Litchfield Park, Ariz. where he was a stand– out on the Agua Fria High School team. Through his first three seasons, he posted a 17-10 overall record, with 289 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.90. Matt Kohorst will be another new face to Torero fans in the bullpen as he comes to San Diego after a stand-out career at La Salle High School. He posted a 6-4 record

senior en route to earning his second consecutive first-te_1rn AII-CIF distinction. Moving to the outfield, center field is already locked down to Josh Romanski, when he is not pitching. Romanski is con– sidered as one of the top center fielders in the nation by coach Hill. When Romanski has to pitch, the Tore– ros can feel comfortable with the return of sophomore Kevin Muno has a pos– sibility to fill in that role. As a freshman, Muno was impressive with his speed and knowledge of the game. He hit .243 with 17 hits, three doubles, one triple and had four RBI. Another possibly to back up Roman- ski in center, or any other outfielder, is ___

Valerio. Over his first two seasons in a Torero uniform, Valerio has given USD several valu– able innings at first base and delivered sev– eral critical hits in several ball games. As a junior, he hit .200. Another familiar face, but in a different po– sition, will be Kevin Hansen making the move from third base to second base. As a junior, Hansen helped the team defensively at the hot corner and was also a huge help with is bat. Hansen hit .316 with 71 hits, 11 doubles, two triples and had 34 RBI. Moving to shortstop, the Toreros will wel– come back their defensive gem from a year ago, Sean Nicol. As a sophomore, in his first season with USD, Nicol was impressive defen– sively as well as offensively as he hit .300 with 71 hits, 1 O doubles, two triples, five home runs and drove in 30 runs. At third base, the Toreros will turn to high– ly touted freshman recruit Victor Sanchez from Norwalk, Calif. Sanchez was ranked the No. 1 prospect by Baseball America out of the Northwoods League this past summer after putting up solid numbers. He was a member of USA Baseball'sjunior national team in 2006 and as a senior he hit .402 with three home runs and had 30 RBI at Gahr High School. A returner who could also see some time on the field this season is sophomore infield– er Blake Tagmyer. Tagmyer is a left-handed hitter who has showed some good things to the coaching staff during the fall and they wouldn't be surprised to see him emerge a bit this season. Another newcomer who could be a valu– able addition to this season's team is fresh– man Steve Kaupang. Coach Hill sees Kaupang as the starting designated hitter position. Kaupang comes to USD after a stand-out high school career at La Mirada High School, where he hit .400 with five home runs as a

with 104 strikeouts in 67.1 innings of work as a senior en route to earning first-team All-League honors. Another freshman to the USD bullpen will be Moraga, Calif. native Nick Ousman, who comes to the Toreros from Campolin– do High School. During his senior season, he posted a 9-1 record with a 0.36 ERA and was named the DFL Pitcher of the Year. He was ranked as the No. 5 pitching prospect in the state of California according to Per– fect Game. The final newcomer to the pitching corps for the Toreros is sophomore trans– fer Matt Thompson from Santa Rosa Com– munity College. Thompson also had a big summer in 2007. Thompson was selected as the No. 1 prospect out of the Alaska League, as he went 4-4, with an ERA of 2.37, had seven walks and 33 strikeouts in 42 innings for the Oilers. Thomson was a 22nd-round pick of the Blue Jays in the 2007 MLB draft. Behind the dish for the Toreros this sea– son will be senior Logan Gelbrich. The Los Angeles, Calif. native has waited patiently for three years to get his chance as the starting catcher for USD, and now he gets it. Gelbrich is coming off his best season in aTorero uniform as he hit .316 with 67 hits, 16 doubles, 38 RBI and four home runs. His fi nal home run came in the bottom of the ninth inning in the NCAA Regionals against Minnesota, which was a three-run blast to tie the game and force extra innings. For his efforts, Gelbrich was named first-team AII-WCC for the first time in his career. Backing up Gelbrich will not be an easy task, but there are two players battling it out for the right to earn time behind the plate. Sophomore's Nick McCoy and Ste– ven Chatwood are the two capable catch– ers vying for playing time behind Gelbrich. Chatwood made two appearances this past season with one plate appearance. McCoy redshirted this past season and has had two at bats in three games during his freshman season. The Toreros will have a different look to the infield this season, with the departure of Daniel Magness and Justin Snyder, but coach Hill and his staff are confident the Toreros will not skip a beat defensively. At first base, sophomore James Meador isexpected to be the starter. A former high school shortstop, Meader has demonstrat– ed great defensive prowess in the fall and his bat will also be a welcome part of the Toreros' offense. As a freshman, Meador hit .215 with 14 hits and one double, while rotating between the outfield and desig– nated hitter positions. Meador can also be figured into the Torero pitching staff, as Coach Hill can see him giving some valu– able innings if need be to close out games during the season. Backing up Meador at first will be Jose

junior outfielder Michael Lugo. In his sophomore season, Lugo appeared in two games for USD with one start against Gonzaga.

Out in right field USD will look to se– nior transfer Ryan Davis, who comes to the Toreros from Vanderbilt University. As a junior he hit .309 with 38 hits, sev– en doubles, one home run and 26 RBI in helping the team earn the No. 1 National 1/ Seed in the NCAA Regionals.

The other corner spot in the outfield is up for grabs between freshmen Anthony Strazzara and Zach Walters. Both highly touted freshman who were high school shortstops can also see time in the infield if need be for USD this season. Walters comes to USD from Cimarron Memorial High School where he was a first-team All-State performer for three straight years. Strazzara makes his way to the To– reros from Scottsdale, Ariz. he hit .435 as a senior en route to helping his team to the state championships. "Each year is it's own entity. If you have one eye in the past and one eye in the future, your blinded in the present. So we are focused on this year, actually focused on the first game of the year," stated Hill. "It has been our philosophy since day one here, to take it game-by- game and inning-by-inning. So we are excited about our training, our prepara– tion and the start of the season."

2008 wee Preseason Coaches Poll

1. SAN DIEGO - 49 (7) 2. Pepperdine - 42 3. Santa Clara - 32 (1) 4.LMU-29 5. Gonzaga - 28 6. San Francisco - 24 7. Portland - 12 8. Saint Mary's - 8

Sean Nicol

3

rich HILL

Head Coach 10th Season 642-439-3

Cal Lutheran (19r

R ich Hill has built the USO Toreros into one of the most suc– cessful Division I baseball programs on the West Coast.The 2007 spring season will be Hill's 21st year as a head coach at the collegiate level, and 10th at USO, having enjoyed 17 winning seasons in 20 years. Since taking over at USO in 1999, Hill has been remarkable in leading the Toreros to seven consecutive 30 plus win seasons, re-writing the school record book en route to claiming back-to-back West Coast Conference Championship titles in 2002 2003 and also claiming the WCC crown in 2007. In 2007 Hill directed the Toreros to the program's first 40-win season, a program-best No. 4 national ranking and a No. 8 national seed in the NCAA Regionals, becoming the first school in the history of the conference to receive this honor. The Toreros also hosted the NCAA Regionals, bringing this event to the city of San Diego for the first time ever. The Toreros posted an impressive 18-3 record in the WCC including five consecutive series sweeps, a first at USO as well. Hill also eclipsed the 600 career win mark and moved over 300 wins as the USO skipper. For his efforts, he was awarded the WCC Coach of the Year distinction. In the 2006 season, not only did Hill lead USO back to the post– season, but he also helped guide the Toreros to a, then program-best No.8 national ranking in the Collegiate Baseball top-25 poll on Feb.2, 2006. Other milestones that Hill achieved during this historic season was the team recorded its first win over a No. 1 ranked opponent as they swept the defending national champion Texas Longhorns in the opening weekend. Hill became the third coach in the history of the WCC to eclipse the 200 conference wins mark, and he is one win shy of the 600 career wins total with an overall coaching record of 599-420-3. Under his leadership San Diego has averaged 33 wins per season, including winning a then school record 39 games in 2002, a year in which Hill was honored by his peers as the WCC Coach of the Year. Hill became one of the youngest coaches in collegiate history to reach 500 career victories in 2003, taking USO into postseason play and a second consecutive NCAA Regional appearance. Scheduling the nation's top competition, Hill owns a 309-219-3 (.585) overall record as San Diego's manager. In turn, Hill has brought the school national notoriety, earning a No. 4 national ranking by Collegiate Baseball, its highest in school history. Following a 35-21 season in 2004,seven of Hill'seight graduating seniors signed professional contracts. That same season a record 10 USO players were recognized as AII-WCC performers, with five players being selected in the '04 MLB First Year Player Draft. This past June six more Toreros were drafted and signed by Major League clubs. The 45-year-old Hill is a proven winner. He has a record of suc– cess in each of his three head coaching stops -first at his alma mater Cal Lutheran. In his first head coaching job as the manager at Cal Lu, he won 83% of his games during his final three seasons (1991-93). Hill led Cal Lutheran to a record of 194-76 (.719) over six seasons,

--

including two World Series appearances. His 1990 team won the first-ever district championship in school history. His 1992 squad posted a 43-6 record before falling a couple of outs shy of the NCAA Division Ill title, while the 1993 team finished first in theWestern Region with a 32-7 record.Under Hill'sguidance, the Kingsmen knocked off Division I opponents such as USC, Pepperdine, San Diego State, UC Santa Barbara and Cal State North ridge. During his six seasons at Cal Lutheran, 92 percent of his players received their degrees Hill was hired by The University of San Francisco in 1994, taking the Dons from the WCC cellar to a 34-win season in his final year in 1998. During a five-year coaching stint at San Francisco (1994-1998), Hill posted three consecutive winning seasons, including a school best 18 wins in the West Coast Conference in 1998 as the Dons finished tied with USO for third place in the WCC. Over his final three seasons there, Hill guided USF to upper division finishes in the WCC; and posted three straight winning seasons, including two campaigns of 30 or more victories. Hill's track record boasts record-breaking

Rich Hill's Coaching Highliphts • No. 1among active WCC coaches in career (642) and league (219) victories as well as wins per season (32.1) • 17 winning seasons in 20 years as a head coach • Over 600 career victories (642-437-3) • Has averaged 34 wins per season at USO since 2000 • Back-to-back West Coast Conference Championships 2002-2003 and the wee crown again in 2007. • wee Coach of the Year 2002, 2001 • Four NCAA Regional teams at USO in past six seasons • Eight players, including seven graduating seniors sign pro contracts following the 2004 season • Inducted into the Cal Lutheran Hall ofFame (2005)

seasons for wins in a single season at Cal Lu (43), USO (39) and Chatham in Cape League (35). In addition to his collegiate coaching positions, Hill was head coach for the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod League between 1990-93, winning the league title in 1992 with a franchise record of 35-11 .He has twice been recognized as the ABCA West Region Coach of the Year (1992, 1993); was the 1992 Cape Cod Baseball League "Manager of the Year"; was twice named the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (1992, 1993); and twice was the recipient of the California Lutheran Alumni Career Excellence Award (1993, 1994). Hill's assistants have gone on to successful careers in baseball, including five earning head coaching positions,and two with administrative positions with Major League clubs. Hill has made his mark off the field as well. He has been an advisor for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He started

an innovative peer-mentoring program with his USF team. Dons players and coaching staff volunteered at the nearby Hamilton Community Center, reading stories and playing games with homeless children. Furthermore, Hill is a speaker and clinician at various conventions and camps throughout the region. Hill earned his Bachelor of Arts degree (Physical Education) in 1984 from California Lutheran University. After playing one season with the St. Louis Cardinals organization in 1985 (Single A affiliate in Savannah, Georgia), he returned to his alma mater where he earned his Master of Science degree in Education in 1988.Rich and his wife, Lori,live in San Diego with their

RICH HILL'S co,ACHING FILE

•••

,,

Vear Conference ~~~==~--~=~~~=~== School Record

13-11 6th (NAIA Dist. 3) 16-8 3rd (NAIA Dist. 3) 12-8 1st (NAIA Dist 3) 10-3 1st (NAIA Dist. 3)

21-21 31-18 35-16

Cal Lutheran Cal Lutheran

1988 1989

1990 Cal Lutheran

32-8 43-6 32-7

Cal Lutheran Cal Lutheran Cal Lutheran San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

20-1 1st (SCIAC)

19-2 1st (West Region)

9-21 (6th WCC) 11-17 (5th WCC) 15-13 (4th WCC) 17-11 (3rd WCC)

22-33 24-35 30-25 29-27

two children, Robbie (16) and Lindsey (13).

18-12 (T-3rd WCC) 13-16-1 (3rd wee Coast) 14-16 (3rd wee Coast) 20-1 o (2nd wee West) 18-12 (1st West/1st WCC) 18-12 (1st West/1st WCC) 19-11 (2nd WCC Coast) 16-14 (2nd wee Coast)

34-24 28-27-1 34-27-1

San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego

35-21 39-23 32-30 35-21 30-27 33-25 43-18

13-8 (3rd WCC) 18-3 (1st WCC)

Years

Conference 219-155-1

Career atUSD atUSF at Cal Lu

Overall

309-219-3

9 5 6

70-74 90-33

139-144

194-76

642-439-3

323-222-1

Career

20

The Hill Family {l-r): Robbie, Rich, Lindsey, Lori

5

Assistant Coach Pitching/Recruiting #34 Fifth Season Pepperdine (2001) E ric Valenzuela,a key component in the success of San Diego baseball and the development of USD's pitch– ing staff, begins his fifth season as an assistant coach for the Toreros in 2008.Valenzuela made an immediate impact during his first season at USD in 2004.Under his direction the Torero pitching staff led the West Coast Conference in team ERA. All four graduating pitchers from his 2004 staff went on to sign professional contracts at season's end. Valenzuela continues to recruit and develop some of the nation's top amateur players. Valenzuela spearheaded the recruiting efforts for the 2008 USD recruiting class that was ranked the nation's best by Baseball America. He was also the catalyst for the 2006 recruiting class that was among Baseball America's Dandy Dozen. Valenzuela helped guide the Toreros to a program-best 43-18 overall record in 2007, as well as a program-best No. 4 national ranking and a No.8 national seed in the NCAATourna– ment. He helped guide three pitchers to All-American status in 2007 as well as helping guide Brian Matusz to lnsidepitching. corn'sWest Region Pitcher of the Year. Also under his tutelage, USD had two pitcher's, Josh Romanski and Matusz named to Team USA for the summer of 2007. A native of Covina, Valenzuela returned to Southern Cali– fornia after serving as an assistant coach at St. Mary's College for two seasons (2002 & 2003).While at St. Mary's, Valenzuela coordinated much of the team'scommunity programs, includ– ing di recting youth camps and clinics. Valenzuela served as the Gaels third base coach, managed recruiting efforts and also directed the team's strength and conditioning program. Valenzuela's background in developing young talent includes managing the pitching staff of the Brewster White Caps of the Cape Code League in 2003. Valenzuela garnered All-America honors as a prep athlete at Bishop Amat High School and went on to accept a baseball scholarship at Arizona State University where he was a mem– ber of the Sun Devil's 1998 College World Series team. After transferring to Pepperdine, Valenzuela would be honored as the Wave's team captain his senior year, leading Pepperdine to the 2001 West Coast Conference Championship title. Valenzuela graduated from Pepperdine in 2001 with a B.A. in Criminal Justice. His father,Victor, was an assistant boxing coach for the United States in the 1984 Olympic Games and currently runs the Duarte Boxing Club in Duarte, Calif. His sister, Nicole Valenzuela, is currently a member of the USD softball team. Valenzuela, his wife Betty and new born daughter Catalina Esmie reside in San Diego.

' -- ----

---

Assistant Coach Hitting/Recruiting Third Season Point Loma (2001) J ay Johnson, is entering his third season with the Tore– ros. During his first season at USO, he was instrumental in helping guide USO back into the postseason, while assisting head coach Rich Hill with all aspects of the game. Johnson serves as USD's hitting coach and also takes on the roll of associate recruiting coordinator. He helped recruit USD's 2008 class, which was ranked the nation's best by Base– ball America. In his first season, the Toreros ranked first in the WCC in team hitting overall (.310) as well as in conference games (.329). Under his guidance, Josh Romanski was tabbed as the WCC Freshman of the Year and USO defeated four first– round draft picks. Johnson helped guide the Toreros to a program-best 43-18 overall record in 2007,as well as a program-best No.4 national ranking and a No. 8 national seed in the NCAA Tournament. With his guidance, the Toreros produced the wee Player of the Year in Shane Buschini, who led the conference in hitting, and helped eight players ern first-team AII-WCC honors. Also under his guidance, the team defeated 10 pitchers on the Roger Clemens Award watch list, en route to again leading the WCC in hitting (.314 overall and .335 in WCC games) . Johnson, the head coach at nearby Point Loma Nazarene prior to coming to USO, did a remarkable job at PLNU, leading the NAIA Sea Lions to a national ranking as high as No.6 and a 2005 Golden State Athletic Conference-Southern Division Championship. During four seasons at Point Loma Naza– rene, three as an assistant before becoming the head coach in 2005, Johnson and the Sea Lions made four consecutive trips to the NAIA Region II Championships and established a Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) record with 47 wins in 2004 while claiming the GSAC championship, as well as fin– ishing 3rd in the NAIA College World Series. The 2004 team was also awarded the Hank Burbridge NAIA team Champions of Character award. In the spring of 2005 Johnson guided Point Loma Nazarene to a 37-16 overall mark, winning the 2005 GSAC-Southern Division Championship and finishing the season ranked No. 19 nationally. Seven of Jay's players at PLNU moved on to play professional baseball. An outstanding high school and collegiate athlete, John– son was the starting second baseman at Point Loma Naza– rene in 1999 and 2000, hitting .326 during his senior season in 2000. As a collegiate underclassman, Johnson played at Shas– ta Junior College. As a prep athlete at Oroville High School, Johnson was a First Team AII-CIF Northern Section pick in both baseball and football. Johnson earned a degree in Physical Education at PLNU in 2001 and later acquired a Master's degree in Physical Educa– tion at Azusa Pacific University.

mark VIRAMONTES Assistant Coach Catchers Third Season M ark Viramontes is entering his third season as an assis– tant for the Toreros baseball program under head coach Rich Hill. He brings over 13 years of coaching experience to the Toreros coaching staff. Viramontes assumes the roll of USD's catching coach and field supervisor, wh ile also working closely with the team's hitters as an intricate part of the Toreros coaching staff. In the summer of 2006, Viramontes took over as head coach for the DuPage Dragons of the Central Illinois Collegiate Summer League (CICL). During hisfirst season at the helm,Viramontes guid– ed the Dragons to a franchise-best 25-19 overall record. In the sum– mer of 2007, Viramontes also helped lead the team to the league championship game. His most recent coaching experience came in handling a wide range of duties as an assistant at Division II California State Univer– sity of L.A. in 2005. As an assistant at East L.A. College from 1999- 2004, Viramontes helped the Huskies to three postseason trips including a state finals appearance in 2000. Viramontes has also spent the 2004 & 2005 season's coaching in the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) with the Brewster Whitecaps. His coaching career began assisting the 1995 varsity program at James A. Garfield High School in Los Angeles and at San Gabriel High School from 1996-1998. He wou ld later become an Associate Scout for the Cincinnati Reds, evaluating baseball talent in inner– city L.A. daniel MAGNESS Undergraduate Assistant Coach First Season D aniel Magness is entering his first season as an under– graduate assistant coach for the Toreros in the 2008 sea– son for head coach Rich Hill. Magness has spent the past two seasons as the staring first base– man for the Toreros and helped lead the team to back-to-back Regional berths. In his sen ior campaign he helped the team win the West Coast Conference championship, a program-best 43-18 record, a program-best No. 4 national ranking and a program-first No.8 national seed in the NCAA Regionals. As a senior he hit .286 with 63 hits and seven doubles in route to earn ing an AII-WCC hon– orable mention accolade.

\

ramon OROZCO Dir. ofBaseball Operations Second Season Cal Lutheran (1999) R amon Orozco is entering his second season with the To– reros baseball program. Orozco is responsible for the off– the-field operation of the baseball office. He assists head coach Rich Hill with all team and recruiting travel in addi- tion to assisting with on-campus recruiting.Orozco also serves as the liaison for visiting teams and campus affairs. Orozco brings a wealth of coaching experience to the USO coaching staff as he was most recently an assistant coach in Ha– waii Collegiate Baseball Leag ue (HCBL). Orozco was in charge of the offense for the HCBL champion Kamuela Paniolos. His team led the league in homeruns and was second in total runs scored. Ramon has also been an assistant under current USO Assistant Coach Mark Viramontes of the DuPage Dragons of the Central Illinois Collegiate Summer League. During his first season as a pitching coach, he helped guide them to the regular- season Co-Championship. During the season, Orozco helped the team post a franchi se-best 25-19 overall record and the second lowest earned run average in the CICL. Prior to work with Kamuela Paniolos and the DuPage Dragons, Orozco has served as an assistant coach for Glendale Community College. He served as the Vaqueros infield and first base coach. In addition to his coaching duties, Orozco served as an academic adviser and mentor to his players. Eight of his players moved onto four year universities and one player (Jason Botts) was selected in the Major Leag ue Baseball Draft. Botts debuted with the Texas Rangers in 2005. Orozco played his college baseball at Los Angeles Mission Col– lege and California Lutheran University. While at CLU he was a member of two Division Ill Western Regional teams. His senior yea r Orozco helped CLU win a Western Regional Championship and a College World Series appearance. CLU fini shed eighth in the final polls of 1998. Orozco earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1999 from California Lutheran University. He also holds two masters degrees, one in Cross-Cultural Education that he earned in 2002 from National University,and the other isaMasters degree in Educational Administration from the University of La Verne that he received in 2005.

Magness is finishing his degree in 2008 here at USO and is expect– ed to complete the degree in Business Administration.

2008 SAN DIEGO BASEBALL ROSTER

BIT R/ R R/ R R/ R R/ R L/ R L/ R L/ R R/ R R/ R R/ R L/ R R/ R R/R R/ R L/ L R/ R L/ L R/ R L/ L L/L L/ L R/ R R/ R R/ R R/ R R/ R R/ R R/ R L/L

Name

No.

POS.

HT

WT 170 185 220 175 188 200 195 180 195 185 170 185 185 170 200 175 200 195 210 185 215 200 200 230 205 207 200 215 200

Cl. JR so SR SR JR SR FR FR so FR SR so JR FR SR so JR JR FR FR JR FR so

Hometwon/Last School Scottsdale, AZ / Portland

ss

Sean Nicol

1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

5-11 5-11

OF

Kevin Muno

Thousand Oaks, CA/ Loyola HS

6-3

Logan Gelbrich Kevin Hansen Michael Lugo Ryan Davis Zach Walters Victor Sanchez Matt Thomson

C

Los Angeles, CA / St. Monica's Catholic HS Glendora, CA / Glendora HS Glendora, CA / Bishop Amat HS Scottsdale, AZ / Vanderbilt Las Vegas, NV / Cimarron HS Santa Rosa, CA / Santa Rosa CC San Diego, CA / Westview HS Centennial, CO / Grandview HS Moraga, CA / Campolindo HS Sacramento, CA / Del Campo HS Yucaipa, CA / Redlands East Valley HS Cave Creek, AZ / St. Mary's HS Scottsdale, AZ / Brophy Prep HS New Orleans, LA / Jesuit HS San Diego, CA / Horizon HS Chula Vista, CA / Castle Park HS Litchfield Park, AZ / Agua Fria HS Monte Sereno, CA / Los Gatos HS San Diego, CA / Madison HS La Mirada, CA / La Mirada HS Norwalk, CA / Gahr HS Corona,CA / Norco HS

2B/ 3B

5-10 5-11

OF OF ss 3B

6-1 6-3 6-2 6-4

11

RHP

RS-SO RS-FR

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 23 25 26 27 28 29 30 20

5-10 5-10

Nick McCoy

C

~AJ//J

Blake Tagmyer NickOusman

2B/ OF

RHP RHP

6-0 6-0 5-7 6-5 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-4 6-3 6-0 6-6 6-1 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-3

Matt Couch

Steven Chatwood

C

LHP

Brian Matusz

Anthony Strazzara

5-11

2B/ 3B/OF

Luke Roniger Steve Win nick

LHP RHP

Jose Valerio

1B

LHP/OF

Josh Romanski Sammy Solis

LHP RHP LHP

Kyle Blair

Ricardo Pecina Steve Kaupang James Meador Matt Kohorst Darrin Campbell

1B

1B/OF

Ramona, CA / Ramona HS Pasadena, CA / La Salle HS

FR

RHP RHP RHP RHP

RS-FR

31 36 40

Laguna Niguel, CA / Aliso Niguel HS El Cajon, CA / Grossmont HS San Clemente, CA / Mater Dei HS

so

AJ Griffin

Scott DeNault

JR

TORERO COACHING STAFF: 10 Rich Hill

Head Coach (10th year, Cal Lutheran '84) Assistant Coach (Pepperdine, 2001 ) Assistant Coach (Point Loma, 2001)

34

Eric Valenzuela

Jay Johnson

2

Mark Viramontes Ramon Orozco Daniel Magness

Assistant Coach

22

Dir. of Baseball Operations (Cal Lutheran '99)

Undergraduate Assistant Coach

Top row (1-r): Logan Gelbrich, AJ Grif- fin, Darrin Campbell, Sammy Solis, Steve Kaupang, Brian Matusz, Matt Thomson, Matt Kohorst, Ryan Davis Standing (1-r): Rich Hill, Mark Vira- montes, Steve Win nick, Zach Walters, Victor Sanchez, Kyle Blair, Scott De- Nault, Ramon Orozco, Eric Valenzuela, Jay Johnson Kneeling (1-r): Kevin Hansen, James Meador, Jose Valerio, Ricardo Pecina, Josh Romanski, Nick Ousman, Matt Couch, Sean Nicol Front Row (1-r): Steve Chatwood, Kevin Muno, Anthony Strazzara, Blake Tagmyer, Nick McCoy, Michael Lugo

2008 SAN DIEGO TV/RADIO ROSTER

Ryan Davis SR ♦ OF ♦ 6-1/200 Scottsdale, AZ

Mike Lugo JR ♦ OF ♦ 5-11 / 188 Glendora, CA

Kevin Hansen SR ♦ INF ♦ 5-10/175 Glendora, CA

Logan Gelbrich SR ♦ C ♦ 6-3/220 Los Angeles, CA

Kevin Muno So ♦ INF ♦ 5-11 / 185 Thousand Oaks, CA

Sean Nicol JR ♦ 55 ♦ S-11 /170 Scottsdale, AZ

.13

u Blake Tagmyer FR ♦ INF ♦ 5-10/ 170 Centennial, CO

NlckOusman FR ♦ RHP ♦ 6-0/185 Moraga.CA

Nick McCoy SO ♦ C ♦ 5-10/ 185 San Diego, CA

Matt Thomson SO ♦ RHP ♦ 6-4/195 Santa Rosa, CA

Victor Sanchez FR ♦ 3B ♦ 6-2/180 Norwalk,CA

Zach Walters FR ♦ 55 ♦ 6-3/ 195 Las Vegas, NV

Steve Winnick SR ♦ RHP ♦ 6-1/195 San Diego, CA

Luke Roniger JR ♦ LHP ♦ 6-1/200 New Orleans, LA

Brian Matusz Anthony Strazzara JR ♦ LHP ♦ 6-5/200 FR ♦ INF/OF ♦ 5-11 / 175 Cave Creek, AZ Scottsdale, AZ

Steven Chatwood SO ♦ C/2B ♦ 5-7/ 170 Yucaipa,CA

Matt Couch

SR ♦ RHP ♦ 6-0/ 185

Sacramento, CA

Steve Kaupang FR ♦ 1B ♦ 6-6/230 La Mirada, CA

Ricardo Pecina JR ♦ LHP ♦ 6-0/200 San Diego, CA

Kyle Blair FR ♦ RHP ♦ 6-3/200 Monte Sereno, CA

Sammy Solis FR ♦ LHP ♦ 6-4/215 Litchfield Park, AZ

Josh Romansk JR ♦ LHP ♦ 6-0/ 185 Corona,CA

Jose Valerio JR ♦ 3B ♦ 6-1/210 Chula Vista, CA

Scott DeNault SO ♦ RHP ♦ 6-3/200 San Clamente,CA

AJ Griffin SO ♦ RHP ♦ 6-5/215 El Cajon, CA

Darrin Campbell FR ♦ RHP ♦ 6-4/200 Laguna Niguel, CA

Matt Kohorst FR ♦ RHP ♦ 6-4/ 207 Pasadena, CA

James Meador SO ♦ UTL ♦ 6-1 / 205 Ramona,CA

11

Daniel Magness

Ramon Orozco Dir. of Baseball Opp.

Mark Viramontes Assistant Coach

Jay Johnson Assistant Coach

Eric Valenzuela Assistant Coach

Rich Hill Head Coach

Under Grad. Asst. Coach

the quarterfinals of the CIF playoffs as a senior.

PERSONAL: Kevin Patrick Muno Jr. was born on Dec. 28, 1987... is the son of Kevin and Anne Muno.. .chose to attend USD because of the academics and baseball program ... has yet to declare a major.

5-11 • 170 • R/R Junior Shortstop Scottsdale, AZ University ofPortland

Muno's Collegiate Batting Record g-gs ab r h 2b 3b

hr rbi 0 4

sb-a

ba

so 75 15

bb

73 13

5-6 5-6

.243 .243

0

4

70 15 17

3

SOPHOMORE (2007): Played and started in all 61 games as the every- day shortstop.. .played a role in helping USD win the regular-season wee Championship.. . helped the team achieve a program-best No. 4 national ranking ... hit .300 with 71 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 30 RBI ... recorded 21 multi-hit games ...went 3-for-4 with one double against Virginia Commonwealth (2/ 16/07) ...went 2-for-4 with one home run, two RBI and three runs scored against Santa Clara (5/ 12/07) ...went 4-for-5 with one double against UNLV (3/ 24/07) ...went 2-for-5 with one double and four RBI against San Francisco (3/ 5/07) ...went 2-for-4 with one triple and two RBI against Santa Clara (5/ 13/07). FRESHMAN (2006): Played at the University of Portland ... Started in 46 games while appearing in 49 at second base ...tied for team-high with five stolen bases,second with 34 runs,61 hits and third with a .303 batting aver– age ... also had 34 runs, 26 RBI, 11 doubles, four home runs and a triple. HIGH SCHOOL: Earned four varsity letters in baseball under Tom Succow at Brophy College Prep...as a sophomore he hit .305 and helped his team reach the semi finals of the playoffs...as ajunior he hit .426with five home runs in helping his team win the Regional championship...as a senior he hit .418 with four home runs in helping his team win a second consecutive Regional championship. PERSONAL: Sean Nicol was born on Sept. 25, 1986... is the son of Karl and April Nicol. ..chose to transfer to USD because of the great academic atmosphere and outstanding baseball program

logan GELBRICH 6-3 • 220 • R/R Senior Catcher Los Angeles, CA St. Monica's Catholic HS

#4

JUNIOR (2007): Played in 60 games with 56 starts while rotating between the catcher, designated hitter and left field positions ... played a role in helping USD win the regular-season WCC Championship.. .helped the team achieve a program-best No. 4 national ranking ... named first-team AII-WCC ...posted a .316 batting average with 67 hits, 16 doubles, three home runs and 38 RBI. .. recorded 18 multi hit games...went 4-for-5 with one RBI against Virginia Commonwealth (2/ 16/07) ...went 2-for-3 with two RBI against Cal Poly (1/26/07) ...went 2-for-3 with one double against Wake Forest (2/ 24/07...went 2-for-4 with one home run and two RBI against USC (2/ 11 /07). SOPHOMORE (2006): Played in 34 games with 28 starts...hit .322 with 29 hits, five doubles, one home run and had 10 RBl ...split time between the catcher and designated hitter spot...recorded six multi-hit games...went 2-for-2 with one RBI against Cal Poly (3/5/06) ...went 2-for-4 with one RBI against UC Riverside (4/ 18/06)...went 2-for-4 with one RBI against Pepper– dine (4/ 23/ 06)...went 3-for-4 with one double and two runs scored against Saint Louis (6/ 3/06). FRESHMAN (2005): Played 38 games, starting in 31 ... hit .265 with 31 hits, nine doubles, tied for the team-lead in triples with one, had two home runs and 22 RBl. .. had nine multi-hit games ...went 4-for-5 with one RBI, two doubles and two runs scored against Portland (4/23/05) ...went 2-for-4 with one RBI, one home run and two runs scored against Saint Mary's (3/25/05). HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year prep letterwinner at Saint Monica's Catholic... student-Athlete of the Year as a senior, leading the Mariners to a share of the Camino Real League title as the team's MVP... hit .518 and posted a .640 on-base %... 2004 Camino Real League MVP... Garnered First Team AII-CIF honors... as a junior, Gelbrich led Saint Monica's Catholic to an undefeated league campaign (12-0) and a 19-5 overall record ... batted .429,serving as the team captain as ajunior... named a FirstTeam All-Camino Real League player in 2003 ... as a sophomore, batted .414 and hit four homers as a Second Team All-Camino Real performer... coached by JackWhite at Saint Monica'sCatho– lic... also a standout player for the RBI Academy/National club program. PERSONAL: Born December 1, 1985 in Santa Monica, Calif. to parents Jerry and Deborah... outstanding student, owning a 4.42 GPA as a prep... also re– cruited to play college baseball by UNLV, Boston College, LMU, Long Beach State, Hawaii and Dartmouth...chose to attend USD forthe baseball program, its coaches, and the academic reputation. Gelbrich's Collegiate Batting Record year g-gs ab r h 2b 3b hr rbi so bb sb-a ba 2005 38-37 777 76 37 9 7 2 22 30 70 7-4 .265 2006 34-28 90 76 29 5 0 70 79 70 4-7 .322 2007 60-56 272 35 67 76 0 4 38 47 25 5-70 .376 career132-115 419 67 127 30 7 70 96 45 10-21

Nicol's Collegiate Batting Record year g-gs ab r h 2b 2007 67-67 237 42 77 70

3b hr rbi so bb sb-a

ba

2 2

5 5

9-75 .300

30 56 37

career 61-61 237 42 71

10

30 56 31 9-15 .300

kevin MUNO 5-11 .1s5 .RIR Sophomore Outfielder Thousand Oaks, CA Loyola HS

FRESHMAN (2007): Played in 32 games with 20 starts... played a role in helping USD win the regular-season WCC Championship... helped the team achieve a program-best No.4 national ranking .. .posted a .243 batting aver– age with 17 hits,three doubles,one triple and four RBI ...went 2-for-4 against Gonzaga (3/ 30/07) .. .recorded the game winning RBI single against Wake Forest as a pinch hitter (2/ 24/07)...went 2-for-3 with one double against UC Riverside (2/ 27/07)...went 2-for-4 with one double and one run scored against UNLV (3/ 25/07). HIGH SCHOOL: Earned four varsity letters in baseball playing for Chris Beck and Brian Felton at Loyola High School. ..as a sophomore he was named second-team All-Mission League... as ajunior he was named second-team All-Mission League while posting a .320 batting average and recording 20 stolen bases ...as a senior was named first-team All-Mission League and also earned a first-team AII-CIF honor after posting a .400 batting average with two home runsand 30 stolen bases... he helped his team advance to