College Baseball 360 » Nino Giarratano

Giarratano Inks Contract Extension At San Francisco

Sean Stires — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:30:17 +0000

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After leading San Francisco to the second West Coast Conference Championship and NCAA Regional berth in program history, head coach Nino Giarratano earned a six-year contract extension to remain on the Hilltop as announced today by Director of Athletics Scott Sidwell.

“The work and the passion Nino and his staff have put into Dons Baseball are nothing short of remarkable,” Sidwell said. “USF has emerged as a consistent threat in the West Coast Conference and have turned in record-setting seasons on the diamond, in the classroom and in the community. We are pleased to keep Nino and his staff on the Hilltop, representing the Green and Gold for years to come. We are committed to helping Nino and the baseball program emerge as a national power and advance to the College World Series.”

San Francisco marched to the program’s second WCC Championship last season and led the league from wire-to-wire after defeating Gonzaga in the final game of the regular season. The Diamond Dons earned the automatic berth into the Los Angeles Regional where it defeated Regional host UCLA and the eventual No. 1 pick in the 2011 Major League Amateur Draft Gerrit Cole 3-0 at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

“I’m humbled and I’m glad someone wants me to coach,” Giarratano said. “I am really proud of where we are going with the program and where we’ve come with the program and how much we can do to improve the program. When you look at a contract extension, you’re always glad to get it and now hopefully we can make the same progress in the next six years that we’ve made in the last 13 years here at USF.”

Following the 2011 season, Giarratano earned his third WCC Coach of the Year honor after also being recognized by his peers in 2005 and 2006. Ten Dons earned postseason All-WCC honors for their performance on the diamond and nine garnered WCC All-Academic accolades.

Preparing for his 14th season as the Dons head coach, Giarratano owns a 368-370 record at USF and is just six victories shy of passing Legend of the Hilltop Dante Benedetti for the most wins in program history. Giarratano currently ranks eighth among WCC leaders in overall coaching triumphs and is seventh in career league wins with 169.

Since his arrival on the Hilltop, San Francisco baseball has posted four 30-plus victory seasons for a program that enjoyed just two campaigns with more than 30 wins in nearly a century. Since 2005, USF has posted an overall slate of 223-176 (.559) and has gone 94-62 (.603) during league play.

Giarratano guided San Francisco baseball to the program’s first NCAA Regional berth in 2006 after capturing the club’s inaugural WCC Championship. During their storied run, the Dons set program records for wins (39) and road victories (19), and three players were selected in the 2006 Major League Amateur Draft.

Since Giarratano’s tenure began at San Francisco, 18 players have been drafted, including five in the first three rounds of the Major League Amateur Draft. Three Diamond Dons have made their Major League debuts – Scott Cousins (Florida Marlins), Jesse Foppert (San Francisco Giants) and Aaron Poreda (Chicago White Sox).

“San Francisco is the greatest city in the world,” Giarratano said. “The university, the academics, the characteristics, the moral standards, the work of the people and the thread of the university and what it means to the city mean so much. It is an amazing place to raise a family from a cultural standpoint. My kids’ friends are here, my wife’s friends are here and my friends are here. The university has continued to make this progress to be one of the premier universities in the country.”

Prior to coming to USF, Giarratano spent two seasons serving as an assistant coach at Arizona State under head coach Pat Murphy. Giarratano served as hitting instructor, offensive coordinator and third base coach for the Sun Devils. During his final season in Tempe, Giarratano helped ASU reach the 1998 College World Series Championship game and constructed a staggering offense. Giarratano also served as recruiting coordinator for Arizona State, and the 1996 class was ranked third in the country by Baseball America, while the 1997 class was rated second.

(USF Release)

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USA Baseball Names Final Collegiate Team Roster

Sean Stires — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:02:22 +0000

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22 Players Make Final Cut…

CARY, N.C. — USA Baseball announced Sunday night the 22 members of its 2010 Collegiate National Team. The roster is headlined by pitchers Gerrit Cole (UCLA), Sonny Gray (Vanderbilt) and infielder Brad Miller (Clemson), who were all members of the 2009 National Team.

This year’s squad consists of five infielders, four outfielders, two catchers, nine pitchers and a pair of two-way players. The Collegiate National Team was selected after seven days of trials that included six intra-squad games and practices as the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. Team USA is comprised of the top non-draft-eligible college players in the United States.

The U.S. will play a five-game series against Korea before squaring off against a Japanese Collegiate All-Star Team in a one-game, international friendship competition in Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium on July 21. From there, the team will travel to Taipei, Taiwan for a four-game series against Chinese Taipei at Tien-Mu Stadium beginning July 25.

Team USA will close its summer season at the FISU World University Championships in Tokyo, Japan, from July 30-Aug. 7. The U.S. has won the last three FISU Worlds (2004, ’06, ’08), while host nation Japan will be looking for its first title.

“We just wrapped up one of the best weeks of baseball in Cary, N.C.,” said Eric Campbell, General Manager of USA Baseball National Teams. “The players made it tough on the selection committee with their great effort over the last seven days. The selection committee assembled an impressive 22-man roster that will represent baseball and this country proudly.”

The trio of returnees (Cole, Gray and Miller) helped the 2009 Collegiate Team to a 19-5 overall record and the 2009 Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline World Baseball Challenge crown in Prince George, British Columbia (Canada). Cole and Gray combined to post a 7-1 record on the mound with 73 strikeouts, while Miller started 15 of 23 games, collecting 14 hits, scoring 13 runs and driving in eight.

Joining Cole and Gray on 11-member pitching staff are Tyler Anderson (Oregon), Matt Barnes (Connecticut), Brian Johnson (Florida), Scott McGough (Oregon), Brett Mooneyham (Stanford), Noe Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton), Kyle Winkler (Texas Christian).

Alongside Miller in the infield are Nolan Fontana (Florida), Drew Maggi (Arizona State), Ryan Wright (Louisville) and 2010 Baseball America Player of the Year and Dick Howser Trophy Winner Anthony Rendon (Rice).

The outfield consists of 2010 College World Series Most Outstanding Player Jackie Bradley, Jr. (South Carolina), Alex Dickerson (Indiana), Mikie Mahtook (LSU) and George Springer (Connecticut).

Peter O’Brien (Bethune-Cookman) and Steve Rodriguez (UCLA) will catch Team USA’s pitchers in 2010.

Rounding out the roster are two-way players Sean Gilmartin (Florida State) and Nick Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton).

“This was a great week of baseball,” said Manager Bill Kinneberg (Utah). “It was a tough decision to get the team down to 22 players, but I feel that we selected a special group of guys that will give us the best chance to win the FISU World University Baseball Championships.”

Joining Kinneberg are pitching coach Dave Serrano (Cal State Fullerton), and assistant coaches Ed Blankmeyer (St. John’s) and Nino Giarratano (San Francisco).

The Collegiate National Team begins its summer season Monday evening when they travel to Gastonia, N.C. to face the Gastonia Grizzlies of the Coastal Plain League. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. (EDT) at Sims Legion Park.

The Collegiate National Team roster is as follows (name, class, position[s], school):

2010 Collegiate National Team Roster
Tyler Anderson, So., LHP, Oregon
Matt Barnes, So., RHP, Connecticut
Jackie Bradley, Jr., So., OF, South Carolina
Gerrit Cole, So., RHP, UCLA
Alex Dickerson, So., OF, Indiana
Nolan Fontana, Fr., IF, Florida
Sean Gilmartin, So., LHP/OF, Florida State
Sonny Gray, So., RHP, Vanderbilt
Brian Johnson, Fr., LHP, Florida
Andrew Maggi, So., OF/IF, Arizona State
Mikie Mahtook, So., OF, Louisiana State
Scott McGough, So., RHP, Oregon
Brad Miller, So., IF, Clemson
Brett Mooneyham, So., LHP, Stanford
Peter O’Brien, So., C, Bethune-Cookman
Nick Ramirez, So., IF/LHP, Cal State Fullerton
Noe Ramirez, So., RHP, Cal State Fullerton
Anthony Rendon, So., IF, Rice
Steve Rodriguez, So., C, UCLA
George Springer, So., OF, Connecticut
Kyle Winkler, So., RHP, Texas Christian
Ryan Wright, So., IF, Louisville

Coaching Staff
Bill Kinneberg, Manager, Utah
Dave Serrano, Pitching Coach, Cal State Fullerton
Ed Blankmeyer, Assistant Coach, St. John’s
Nino Giarratano, Assistant Coach, San Francisco

Administration
Danny Wheat, Athletic Trainer, Texas Christian
Nick Nakagama, Assistant Athletic Trainer/Auxiliary Coach, Utah
Malcolm Gray, Press Officer, East Carolina
Eric Campbell, General Manager, USA Baseball National Teams

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TCU’s Purke Invited To USA Baseball Trials

Sean Stires — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:18:53 +0000

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Freshman Hurler Joins Teammate As Invitee

FORT WORTH, TX – TCU pitcher Matt Purke has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2010 National Team Trials. Purke will join Kyle Winkler, who accepted an early invite in January, at the trials, which take place in Cary, N.C. The trials are set to begin on July 5 and run through July 11 when the final roster will be announced.

Purke has enjoyed success in his freshman campaign. The freshman is 5-0 in nine starts this season. He has posted a 3.47 ERA in 49 1/3 innings pitched. Purke ranks second in the Mountain West with 60 strikeouts and is limiting opponents to a .233 batting average.

The coaching staff features manager Bill Kinneberg (Utah) and pitching coach Dave Serrano (Cal State Fullerton), along with Ed Blankmeyer (St. John’s) and Nino Giarratano (San Francisco). Baseball athletic trainer Danny Wheat will serve as the head trainer for the team in 2010.

Jake Arrieta was the first Horned Frog to be invited to the trials in the summer of 2006. He made the 22-man roster and helped lead the team to its first-ever gold medal on Cuban soil that summer.TCU Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle served as an assistant coach on that team.

Other Invitees Include

C.J. Cron-Utah

Matt Jensen-Cal Poly

Danny Hultzen-Virginia

Kyle Winkler-TCU

Nick Ramirez-Cal State Fullerton

Tyler Pill-Cal State Fullerton

Mikie Mahtook-LSU

Austin Nola-LSU

Matty Ott-LSU

Sonny Gray-Vanderbilt

Gerrit Cole-UCLA

Ryan Wright-Louisville

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UCLA’s Cole Gets 2010 USA Baseball Team Trials Invite

Sean Stires — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:35:06 +0000

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List Of Invitees Continues To Grow

Cole

DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore right-hander Gerrit Cole has been invited to the 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Trials, as announced Monday by USA Baseball. Cole went 4-0 with a 1.06 ERA for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in the summer of 2009.

Cole has gone 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA through three starts this season, collecting 26 strikeouts and two walks in 18.0 innings. The native of Santa Ana, Calif., has limited the opposition to a .117 batting average in three games.

In UCLA baseball history, only two Bruins – Troy Glaus (1995-96) and Josh Karp (1999-2000) – have competed for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in multiple years.

Last summer, Cole led the Team USA in strikeouts (46) and innings pitched (34.0) en route to leading the USA National Team to the 2009 World Baseball Challenge Championship in Prince George, British Columbia (Canada).

Cole helped the USA National Team throw a combined no-hitter in a 10-0 victory over Guatemala on July 2, registering 11 strikeouts in 5.2 scoreless innings. In addition, he tossed a complete game in a 1-0 victory against Canada on July 24, scattering two hits and strikeout seven batters in nine innings.

The 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Trials will take place from June 5-11 in Cary, N.C. USA Baseball will invite up to 38 college players to the 2010 National Team Trials. The player pool will primarily be comprised of non draft-eligible college players.

The 2010 USA National Team will be coached by Utah head coach Bill Kinneberg. Assistant coaches this summer include pitching coach Dave Serrano (head coach, Cal State Fullerton), Ed Blankmeyer (head coach, St. John’s) and Nino Giarratano (head coach, San Francisco).

Others Who Have Received USA Baseball Trials Invitations

Matt Jensen-Cal Poly

Danny Hultzen-Virginia

Kyle Winkler-TCU

Nick Ramirez-Cal State Fullerton

Tyler Pill-Cal State Fullerton

Mikie Mahtook-LSU

Austin Nola-LSU

Matty Ott-LSU

Sonny Gray-Vanderbilt

CLICK HERE to read more.

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College Baseball Players Receiving Team USA Invitations

Sean Stires — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:53:53 +0000

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Trials To Take Place In July

We are starting to receive releases from a few schools with players who are being invited to the 2010 USA Baseball team trials. We are told that schools are being allowed to individually announce their own invitees now, and then the full Team USA roster will be released by USA Baseball after all the invitations have been accepted.

This summer’s trials run from July 5-11 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. The final roster for Team USA will be announced in mid-July and the squad will compete in the V FISU World University Championships in Japan as well as friendship series against Korea in North Carolina at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary and at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham.

Here’s a look at some of the invitees we know of so far:

Matt Jensen-2B-Cal Poly

This is the second straight year Jensen has been invited to the Team USA Trials. After accepting the invitation a

Jensen

year ago, Jensen fractured his collarbone in a Cal Poly game in early May and was unable to participate in the trials. Jensen (5-10, 190, Clovis, CA) sported a .375 batting average with 15 doubles, nine home runs and 53 RBI before fracturing his clavicle in May 2009. He suffered the injury when he was involved in a collision with a San Francisco baserunner. Jensen is the first Mustang baseball player to be invited to the National Team Trials.

Cal Poly head coach Larry Lee on Jensen: “Matt is one of the better ball players in the country.” “He should be able to follow up a tremendous freshman year with another quality season and is fully recovered from his broken collarbone.

“He’s really developed as a defensive second baseman to add to his already impressive credentials from an offensive standpoint,” Lee added. “Having the opportunity to represent the United States in this endeavor is a great honor and Matt is as good as it gets on and off the field. He will represent Cal Poly at the highest level this summer.”

Kyle Winkler-RHP-TCU

This is the second invite for Winkler as he participated in the 2009 trials last summer. Winkler completed a successful

Winkler

freshman season, tying for the team lead with seven victories. In 17 appearances, he made 14 starts and posted a 7-1 record to go along with a 4.15 ERA. In 73 2/3 innings pitched, the righty tallied 48 strikeouts. He was named to the Mountain West Conference All-Tournament team and the Fort Worth All-Regional Team.

TCU head coach Jim Schlossnagle on Winkler: “This is a great honor for Kyle and our program,” Schlossnagle said. “Representing your country is one of the greatest honors one can receive in amateur baseball and Kyle was very close to making the team last year. I’m sure he will represent TCU at the highest level when the trials begin this summer.”

Nick Ramirez-P/1B & P-Tyler Pill-Cal State Fullerton

Ramirez

Both Pill and Ramirez are coming off seasons that earned them freshman All-American status in 2009 and come into the 2010 campaign as preseason All-Americans.

Pill (2009: 11-3, 4.06 ERA, 74 K, 13 BB) is likely to be the Titans’ Sunday starter on the mound again in 2010, and is the front-runner to be the starting right fielder when he is not pitching.

Also performing double duty in 2010 will be Ramirez (2009: .287, 10 HR, 31 RBI / 3-1, 2.61 ERA, 7 saves, 30 K, 10 BB) who will play first base and then serve as the Titans’ closer on the mound.

Pill

Cal State Fullerton head coach Dave Serrano will serve as Team USA’s pitching coach this summer. Utah’s Bill Kinneberg is the manager, while Nino Giarratano (San Francisco) and Ed Blankmeyer (St. John’s) round out the coaching staff.

Collegebaseball360.com will continue to follow 2010 Team USA Trials invitees as they are announced by their schools.