Arizona CWS Preview

Wildcats End CWS Drought…

Alex Mejia is the 2012 Pac-12 Player of the Year

PAC Is Back

Arizona returns to the College World Series for the first time since 2004 Under the leadership of 11-year head coach Andy Lopez. This will be the Wildcats’ sixteenth trip to Omaha in team history.

The Wildcats split the Pac-12 Conference title with UCLA (also in the 2012 CWS) and went undefeated in the regional and Super-regional tournaments by executing the club’s philosophy to throw strikes, play simple catch and throw and deliver timely hits.

Arizona hosted both a Regional and Super Regional en-route to Omaha. Amazingly, it was the first time in 20 years the Wildcats had hosted postseason games.

Head coach Andy Lopez

This is Coach Lopez’s fifth trip to the College World Series and the second in his eleven year career at Arizona. His 1992 Pepperdine team won the national championship. Lopez also coached the Florida Gators to two College World Series appearances. This one will be extra special because his two sons, Michael and David, will make the trip with him as walk-on reserves for Arizona.

Experience Beyond Their Years

With only one senior on the 34-man roster (outfielder Bobby Brown of San Diego) the team plays with the poise and experience of a team of veterans, having outscored opponents 61-20 in post-season play. Five of the Wildcats’ twelve juniors were picked up by Major League teams in the top nine rounds of the 2012 draft.

Arizona’s 15-man pitching staff consists of only 4 lefties. Only one player, Catcher Riley Moore, offers switch-hitting capabilities and thirteen men bat left-handed.

Hot Bats, Cool Fielding

Arizona’s bats have been the story as of late, hitting .420 as a team in postseason and .333 overall (4th in the NCAA). Quality defense at all positions and solid pitching back up the bats. It’s a potent cocktail that is sure to deliver some excitement in Omaha.

Roster Breakdown

… 1 Senior, 12 Juniors, 6 Sophomores, 14 Freshmen
… home states: 14 from California … 12 from Arizona, 3 from Nevada, 2 from Texas and 1 each from Indiana, Minnesota and Washington.

They’re HERE!!  The Dugout in Omaha has official College World Series gear for each of the eight teams, including those Stony Brook Seawolves. If you want to be the first kid (no matter what age) on your block to have this year’s official CWS shirts, hats and more (both for individual teams or generic) click the red link and get to The Dugout’s web site!

If you’re going to Omaha for the CWS you can also visit The Dugout. It’s right across the street from the home plate entrance to TD Ameritrade Park.

Probable Lineup

1. Joey Rickard  CF Jr. R/L 6-1 185 Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman HS
… .326, HR, 31 RBIs, 16 Doubles, 18 SB*

2. Johnny Field  LF OF/INF So. R/R 5-10 194 Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman HS
… .383*, 3 HR, 43 RBIs, 67 Runs*, 11 SB, .490 OBP*, 7 Triples

3. Alex Mejia SS Jr. R/R 6-1 200 Sylmar, Calif./El Camino Real HS – Pac-12 Player of the Year
… .361, 3 HR, 52 RBIs, 12 Doubles, 6 Triples

4. Robert Refsnyder OF Jr. R/R 6-0 199 Laguna Hills, Calif./Laguna Hills HS – All Pac-12
… .354, 6 HR*, 61 RBIs*, .544 Slg. &, .445 OBP, 12 SB, 58 Runs, 19 Doubles, 6 Triples

5. Seth Mejias-Brean 3b Jr. R/R 6-2 210 Tucson, Ariz./Cienega HS – All Pac-12
… .366, HR, 57 RBIs, 21 Doubles, 10 SB, 55 Runs

6. Bobby Brown  DH Sr. L/R 6-3 200 San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HS – All Pac-12
… .356, 4 HR, 57 RBIs, 7 Triples*, .555 Slg. %

7. Brandon Dixon  1B  So. R/R 6-1 211 Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta Valley HS
… .252, 13 RBIs

8. Riley Moore  C Fr. S/R 6-3 190 Santa Barbara, Calif./San Marcos HS
… .292, HR, 38 RBIs

9. Trent Gilbert 2B Fr. L/R 6-1 180 Torrance, Calif./Torrance HS
… .280, 37 RBIs

Starting Pitching

Kurt Heyer RHP Jr. R/R 6-2 211 Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison HS – All Pac-12
… (12-2) 2.28 ERA, 7 CG, 138 IP*, 102 K*, .257 Opp. BA

Konner Wade RHP So. L/R 6-3 182 Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral HS
… (9-3), 4.49 ERA, 4 CG, 118 1/3 IP, 98 K, .246 Opp. BA

James Farris RHP So. R/R 6-2 213 Gilbert, Ariz./Highland HS
… (7-3) 4.18 ERA, 3 CG, 99 IP, 69 K

Bullpen

Mathew TroupeRHP Fr. R/R 6-2 189 Northridge, Calif./Chaminade College Prep
… (4-1), 3.90 ERA, 6 SV, 31 1/3 IP, 39 K, 17 BB, .281 Opp. BA

Stephen Manthei RHP Jr. R/R 6-1 210 Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman HS
… (6-4) 4.29 ERA, 23 App.*, 35 2/3 IP, 25 K, 16 BB

2012 CWS Bracket One

Tags: 2012 NCAA Baseball Tournament, Arizona baseball, COLLEGE WORLD SERIES