USD Baseball 2002

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2002 Torero Baseball

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2002 Toret•o Previe"' Pitching:

LHP Ricky Barrett (9-3; 3.19 ERA 200 I) is set to be the Toreros opening day pitcher. Barrett was selected as a preseason third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and is returning off an All-WCC First Team performance in 2001. Barrett led the conference in batters struck out looking with 37 K's on the year in that fas hion, and hi s seven WCC wins was second best in the league. RHP Aaron Wilson (5 -1 , 3.54 ERA 200 1) is the projected number two starter for USD. Wilson finished the 2001 WCC season ranking fifth overall in league play, holding opponents to a .236 batting average. Junior Tom Caple led the WCC and set a school record with nine saves in 2001. Caple is undoubtedly one of the best pitchers in the league and is the projected WCC Player of the Year by Baseball America . The third spot in the rotation wi ll be competed for throughout the non-conference schedul e by RHP Ryan Richard , a junior trans– fer from Loui siana State, and RHP Sean Warlop, a freshman talent from Bonita Vista Hi gh School. Middle relief pitcher Mike Oseguera, a LHP from La Costa Canyon High School in Encinitas, will see innings in relief. He returns off a 2-1 sophomore season in 200 I. Freshman Michael Bass, from nearby Santana High School earned All-Grossmont North League hon-

Projected # I starter

Ricky Barrett

ors for three consecutive seasons. The Toreros are also looking forward to the return ofrighty Pat Lucy, who is recovering from an injury and is expected to be back in 2002. Lucy made 17 appearances in 2001 and collected three wins. Newcomer Chad Cummings comes to USD from Saddleback CC in Orange County where he was an All-Orange Coast Conference selection a year ago . Infield:

Mike McCoy, San Diego's second baseman, brings back a .320 average and was named as an All-West Coast Honorable Mention in 2001. McCoy stole a team-high 20 bases, a number that was fourth highest in the WCC. He was also selected as the Rawlings/WCC Player of the Week on April 2nd, 2001. Catcher S.C Assael returns for his senior season after hitting for a .356 average in 2001. Assael and sophomore Luis Diaz-Miron give USD formidable depth behind the plate. Lucas Wennersten and Jason Marian are expected to share time at first base. Wennersten, a 6-6, 250 pound sophomore from Scottsdale, Arizona hit .386 last season in 21 games. Marian returns for his senior season after an All-WCC Honorable Mention performance in 2001. Both Marian and Wennersten will see time at DH this year as well. Marian used his bat to µost a .313 average last season while hitting seven homeruns. Expect newcomers, SS Ben Quinto (CC of Southern Nevada) and freshman 3B Freddy Sandavol (Marian HS), to be everyday players on the left side. After starting 31 games as a freshman , the Toreros will welcome back third baseman David Bagley, who missed all oflast season due to an illness and injury.

Shortstop Ben Quinto

Outfield: The Toreros return the WCC Freshman of the Year in leftfielder Joey Prast (Poway HS) . Prast hit .365 on the year and started in every WCC game. He tied for a team-high 16 doubles and totaled 17 multi-hit games on the season. Look for Prast to play every day in leftfield. Senior rightfielder Joe Lima (Mira Mesa HS) is also expected to play a major role for the Toreros in 2002. Lima was named to the 200 I All-West Coast Conference second team. Base– ball America tabbed Lima as the outfielder with the best arm in the WCC. In 2001 Lima hit .315 and tied for a team-best 8 homeruns in WCC play. Lima totaled 9 homers on the season, I06 RBI and 16 doubles. Junior Tom Caple (Rancho Bernardo HS) will play centerfield for the Toreros. Caple hit .3 13 in 53 games last season leading the Toreros in runs (53), earning him All-WCC First Team honors. As a pitcher, Caple led the WCC and set a school record with nine saves in 200 I . Outfielder Tony Perez (Eastlake HS) is another San Diego product that is expected to be a big factor for USO. Perez is a junior who is capable of playing every posi tion in the outfield and will give Coach Hill innings as a relief pitcher.

Junior Tony Per·ez