USD Baseball 2002

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2002 Torero Baseball

2002 Torero Preview

Led by a talented group of returning players and fourth year Head Coach Rich Hill, San Diego is poised to have yet another record breaking season. Reaching 31 Division I wins in 2000 and a record 32 victories in 200 I, San Diego is establishing itself as one of the premier baseball programs on the West Coast. The 200 I version of the Toreros were the West Coast Conference's best offensive team. San Diego led the league in virtually every offensive category which included a team batting average of .324 along with belting a league-best 56 homers. The returning talent comes in the form of LHP Ricky Barrett (Preseason Third Team All-American, Collegiate Baseball) , the 200 I WCC Freshman of the Year, Joey Prast and Baseball Americas WCC projected Player of the Year, Tom Caple. USO has signed the top prep players in San Diego to help in the 2002 cam– paign. Freshmen pitchers Michael Bass (Santana HS) and Sean Warlop (Bonita Vista HS) are local products that should give the Toreros quality innings as true freshmen. With their live anns along with veteran pitchers Barrett, Caple and projected number two starter Aaron Wilson (Santana HS), Coach Hill should have a fonnidable week– end staff. The ann of senior outfielder Joe Lima (200 I WCC Second Team) and the baserunning of sophomore 2B Mike McCoy supplies Coach Hill with some of the intangibles that are needed for a championship run. The league coaches have agreed San Diego will be the team to beat in 2002 . The Toreros were tabbed as the preseason favorites to win the West Coast Confer- ence according to the preseason WCC Coaches Poll. Before tough conference rivals such as Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount have their chance at the favorites, USO

Head Co ach R ic h Hill has led USD to back-to-back 30

plus win seasons

must take on a non-conference schedule that includes Big- 10 power Michigan, the Big 12's Oklahoma State and Pac-10 member 's Oregon State and USC. The Toreros regular season home schedule begins with a three game series against Oregon State in early February.

Batting 01•der 2B Mike McCoy

Exceptional speed, Best Baserunner in the WCC* Switch-hitting outfielder, lefthanded reliever 1st Team All-WCC 2001 , team-best 2.43 ERA 2001 Tied for a team-best 8 homeruns in WCC play 2001 All WCC Honorable Mention 2001, hit .313 Hits for power and recorded a .356 average 2001 Hit over .400 for three straight seasons in HS Led S. Nevada JC to a #13 national ranking in 2001 Preseason Third Team All-American* Sophomore who was 5-1, 2.53 ERA in 2001 Transfer from LSU, will see first collegiate action Freshman bidding to become the third starter Projected WCC Player of the Year*, 9 saves in 2001 Middle reliever, 12 appearances 2-1 record in 2001 8-2 with 2.04 ERA as a junior from local Santana High Struckout 30 over 37.l innings in 2001

LF

Tony Perez

CF/P Tom Caple

RF

Joe Lima

DH

Jason Marian

1B

Lucas Wennersten 6-6, 250 pound sophomore, hit .386 in 21 games 2001

C

S.C. Assael

3B SS

Freddy Sandoval

Ben Quinto

Pitching Rota tio n LHP Ricky Barrett

RHP Aaron Wilson RHP Ryan Richard RHP Sean Warlop Bullpen RHP Tom Caple LHP Mike Oseguera RHP Michael Bass LHP Tony Perez

All-WCC selection Mike Me,-C::oy will lead off and play second base.