OU Assistant Named Associate Head Coach At Alma Mater…

Tadlock, 42, spent the previous six years producing several of the nation’s top recruiting classes at Oklahoma while helping lead the Sooners back to the College World Series in 2010.

“It’s my pleasure to welcome Tim Tadlock back to Lubbock and into the Red Raider baseball program,” Spencer said. “Tim is considered one of the elite college coaches and recruiters in the nation. He will be an asset to our program and we are excited for him to join us.”

It didn’t take Tadlock long to make his mark on the recruiting trail at Oklahoma, as his 2006 recruiting class ranked fourth nationally by Collegiate Baseball Magazine. The No. 4 ranking was the best for the Sooners since 1987.

Tadlock also had top-25 nationally ranked recruiting classes by Baseball America in 2006 (11th), 2009 (16th), 2010 (21st) and 2012 (13th). In addition, OU’s 2012 recruiting class received a No. 4 ranking this fall by Collegiate Baseball Magazine.

During his tenure at Oklahoma (2006-2011), the Sooners made five trips to the NCAA Tournament with two Super Regional appearances in 2006 and 2010 while making it back to the College World Series in Omaha in 2010. It marked OU’s first time to make five post-season appearances in a six year span since 1987-1992. The Sooners had unparalleled success at the plate under Tadlock’s guidance. Oklahoma batted over .300 during all six of his seasons – first time for OU since 1995-2000 – and his 2009 and 2010 clubs combined for 195 home runs, the most ever at Oklahoma in consecutive seasons while leading the Big 12 in home runs both years. The Sooners 104 home runs in 2010 rank second all-time in Oklahoma history.

While an assistant at Oklahoma, Tadlock mentored 41 players who were selected in the Major League Baseball First Year Players Draft. In 2011 the Sooners had 11 players taken in the draft which tied an all-time Big 12 record (Texas, 2007). In fact, during three of Tadlock’s six years with the Sooners at least nine players were taken in the draft.

Tadlock, like Spencer, played for legendary coach Larry Hays (1990-91) at Texas Tech before starting his career in college coaching as an assistant at Hill College in 1992.

After spending four seasons at Hill College, Tadlock became the head coach at Grayson County Junior College, where he led the Vikings to back-to-back National Junior College Athletic Association World Series titles in 1999 and 2000. During his nine seasons at Grayson, Tadlock posted a 435-127 (.774) overall record while being named National Coach of the Year following both title runs (1999-2000).

In addition, Tadlock recorded the highest winning percentage of any collegiate baseball coach, including all two and four-year institutions, with a .774 winning percentage while at Grayson County.

The Red Raiders benefited from six players that transferred to Tech from Tadlock’s program at Grayson while he was head coach. Included in those student-athletes are Texas Tech All-American shortstop Cameron Blair (2004-05) and former Major League catcher Trey Lunsford (1999-00).

Tadlock also served as the director of athletics at Grayson from 2000-2005.

After a prep career at Denton High School and two years at Hill College, Tadlock was a two-year starting shortstop for the Red Raiders while helping Texas Tech to its first-ever 40-win season as a senior in 1991 (42-18).

In his two-year career at Tech, Tadlock played in 120 games, batted .289 (120-for-415) with 96 runs scored, 19 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, 68 RBI, 71 walks, 65 strikeouts and was 28-of-41 in stolen bases.

Tadlock graduated with his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Texas Tech in May 1992. He also earned a master’s degree in education in August 1994 from the University of Texas at Tyler.

(Release)

Wildcats Take Potentially Pivotal Big 12 Set…

James Allen's 27 saves are the most in KSU history (photo courtesy Kansas State).

James Allen saved all three games for the Wildcats this weekend against Texas Tech. With Saturday’s save in the series finale, Allen set the K-State record for season saves (13) and career saves (27). He is also the first Wildcat to save three games in a conference series in the Big 12 era and the first Big 12 closer to do so since 2009. Texas Tech struggled to get anything going against Allen all weekend as he fired three innings and allowed just one hit. Allen has the typical “lights out” attitude that any coach would want in their closer and he seemingly always maintains his composure, even in pressure situations.

Allen may grab the headlines, but his set-up man Evan Marshall was equally as effective and valuable for K-State in the series. Marshall threw 3.1 innings in the series and allowed just one unearned run. Marshall was particularly effective for K-State on Friday and Saturday when he mowed down the Red Raiders without allowing a hit in either appearance.

K-State got solid starts from Shane Conlon and Kyle Hunter on Thursday and Friday to win the series. Conlon, a freshman, has seen most of his time as a defensive replacement at first base this season, but he got the first win on the mound of his Wildcat career Thursday. Matt Applegate stole the show on Saturday by going 7 innings and allowing just one run while striking out 13 Red Raiders. Applegate’s emergence in 2011 (4-2, 3.57 ERA) is a big part of what is keeping K-State in the hunt for another NCAA regional appearance.

Texas Tech’s arms were solid in the series and probably weren’t indicative of being swept. The Red Raiders got by on Thursday with David Paiz giving up just 2 earned runs and were in a good position to win the game. The bats didn’t respond though and Tech fell 2-1. Friday starter Trey Masek struggled and gave up 4 earned runs in 5 innings, but Robbie Kilcrease shutout K-State through the final three innings to give the Red Raiders a chance. One bad inning on Saturday doomed Tech starter Brennan Stewart in the 4-1 Wildcat win to complete the sweep.

Jamodrick McGruder (courtesy Texas Tech)

Kansas State kept Jamodrick McGruder in check throughout the weekend, though he did produce three  hits in the series. Barrett Barnes had a hit and an RBI through the first two games of the series, but was held out of the lineup on Saturday. Just speculation here, but it was likely due to a rough spill Barnes took against the center field wall while making a spectacular catch on Friday night. Barnes clearly has the speed and talent in center to be a force.

This was a huge series for the NCAA regional hopes of both Texas Tech and K-State. The Wildcats shot up three spots in the Big 12 standings to 6th at 8-10 in league play thanks to the sweep. In the process they passed the Red Raiders, who are now 6-12 in the conference. Texas Tech clearly has plenty of work left to do and not salvaging a game from this series was a big blow.

KSU meanwhile is looking like the team that many expected this year in Manhattan after surviving a very sluggish start. The Cats’ pitching staff is really coming around as a whole and K-State is winning with pitching, defense and base running. K-State needs to continue to win games and a lack of pop in the lineup may hold them back, but things are looking much better for Brad Hill and the Wildcats than they did a week ago.

Texas Tech has released its 2011 college baseball schedule, and the Red Raiders will play their first 16 games at home to open the season. The campaign opens on February 18 against Western Michigan. Games against Utah Valley and Northwestern come the next day, followed by another game against Northwestern on the 20th.

CLICK HERE to see the complete Texas Tech 2011 schedule.

Texas Tech plays the last of its 16 season-opening home games when it hosts Iowa and Texas A&M Corpus Christi in the Texas Tech Invitational March 11-15.

The Red Raiders go on the road for the first time when they travel to Baylor March 18-20 to open Big 12 Conference play. Other Big 12 road series are at Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas State, and Missouri. Texas Tech hosts Nebraska, Texas A&M, Kansas, and Oklahoma State.

Tech plays a home and home four-game series against New Mexico, which qualified for the 2010 NCAA Tournament. The first two games are April 12 and 13 in Albuquerque, NM, while the Lobos visit Lubbock April 26 and 27.

The Red Raiders play their last non-conference games of the season when they travel to Ann Arbor, MI for a May 10 and 11 series vs. Michigan.

The Big 12 Tournament is May 25-29 in Oklahoma City.

Texas Tech Schedule Breakdown:
Total Games: 56
Home Games: 33
Road Games: 21
Neutral Site: 2
Games In Texas: 43
Home Tournaments: 3
Home Weekend Series: 5
Home Big 12 Series: 4
Road Big 12 Series: 5
Games vs. 2010 College World Series Opponents: 6
Games vs. Big 12: 27
Games vs. Mountain West: 11
Games vs. Big Ten: 6
Games vs. Southland: 6
Games vs. Mid-American: 3
Games vs. Independent: 2
Games vs. Great West: 1

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech head baseball coach Dan Spencer announced the hiring of Jim Horner as an assistant coach Tuesday. Horner spent the previous four years as a manager in minor league baseball within the Seattle Mariners’ organization.

Jim Horner

The hiring of Horner completes Spencer’s staff for the upcoming year. Spencer hired Jimmy Webster this summer as director of baseball operations. Horner will work primarily with the Red Raider hitters and catchers.

“We are excited to have someone with Jim’s experience join our program,” Spencer said. “He has achieved success at the professional level as a manager and was a winner on the field for many years as a player.”

Horner, 36, joins Texas Tech after managing the High Desert Mavericks, Seattle’s Class-A Advanced affiliate. He left as the winningest manager in High Desert Mavericks’ history with a 194-182 record, since becoming the club’s manager prior to the 2008 season. He led High Desert to an 83-57 overall record in 2009.

He was named California League Manager of the Year in 2009 after guiding the Mavericks to South Division first and second half titles and earning a spot in the championship series. Horner was also named the Seattle Mariners Staff Member of the Year.

Horner began his professional managerial career with the Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for two seasons before moving to High Desert. He began coaching in 2005 as the hitting coach with the short-season Everett AquaSox.

Horner joined the coaching ranks immediately after completing a nine-year professional playing career, all with the Mariners’ organization. He was a catcher in the Seattle farm system from 1996 to 2004. In 2000, Horner reached the Triple-A level with the Tacoma Rainiers. He was a Double-A All-Star with the San Antonio Missions in 2003 and collected the John Ellis Award for community service in 2000 as a member of the New Haven Ravens in the Eastern League.

He batted .259 with 116 doubles, six triples, 59 home runs and 298 RBI in his minor-league career.

Horner lettered four years at Washington State and was named All-Pac 10 Conference along with receiving all-academic honors while earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Horner replaces Ed Gustafson, who spent two seasons as the Red Raiders pitching coach.

(Texas Tech Release)

No Surprise-The Longhorns Are Picked To Win

Texas has been named the preseason favorite to win the 2010 Big 12 regular-season crown in a vote of the league’s head coaches. The Longhorns are ranked No. 1 in all four of the major preseason polls (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association) to start the year.

UT (81 points) received nine of the possible 10 first-place votes while Kansas earned the remaining first-place tally and 69 points to come in second. Texas A&M and Oklahoma were third and fourth, respectively, followed by Oklahoma State, Baylor and Kansas State. Missouri and Nebraska were tied for eighth place, and Texas Tech filled the final spot.

The Longhorns are coming off a runner-up finish in their NCAA-record 33rd College World Series appearance in 2009. Texas posted a 50-16-1 overall record and 17-9-1 conference mark en route to claiming the Big 12 regular-season and postseason titles. Head coach Augie Garrido returns 19 lettermen, including all four starting pitchers and five position starters. The Longhorn pitching staff finished second in the nation with a 2.95 team ERA and ranked first in hits allowed with 7.52 per nine innings.

The Big 12 baseball season gets underway on Friday, Feb. 19 with nine squads in action. Oklahoma State will open the 2010 campaign on Saturday.

2010 BIG 12 CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

(Release)

Longhorns Look To Win Again

2009 Regular Season Champion:  Texas

2009 Tournament Champion:  Texas beat #3 seed Missouri 12-7 in the title game.

Postseason Power:  The Big 12 was well represented in the postseason with 8 of 10 teams that play baseball (Colorado and Iowa State do not) going to an NCAA Regional.  However, eventual national runner-up Texas was the only Big 12 team to even advance to a Super Regional.

Early Accolades:  Six Big 12 players, Tony Thompson (Kansas), Ryan Duke (Oklahoma) and Texas players Cameron Rupp, Chance Ruffin, Taylor Jungmann, and Cole Green have all received preseason All-American recognition.

Baylor

2009 Record:  (30-26, 10-16)

Mascot:  Bears

Head Coach:  Steve Smith

Location:  Waco, TX

Vitals:  .299 BA, 73 HR, .376 OBP, .983 Fld%…5.29 ERA, 2 CG, 10 SVs, 461 K, 224 BB, .292 opp. BA

Packed For Postseason:  2009 marked the 10th time in the last 12 seasons that Baylor made it to an NCAA Regional.  The Bears were 1-2 at last year’s Baton Rouge Regional.

Home Cookin’:  Baylor opens the season with an 18-game homestand.

Big Holes To Fill:  The Bears return five starters from last year’s team, but it’s not who’s back but who’s gone that is most significant.  Baylor loses it’s top thee run producers: Shaver Hansen (.330, 17 HR, 59 RBIs), Dustin Dickerson (.377, 10 HR, 41 RBIs) and Aaron Miller (.310, 12 HR, 47 RBIs).  They combined to hit more than half of the team’s 73 home runs.

Swing Man:  Logan Verrett (7-1, 5.13 ERA, 3 SVs) made five starts and 20 overall appearances.  He’s one of just three pitchers on the staff who had a winning record last year, and he’s the only one of the trio to pitch more than 37 innings.

Kansas

2009 Record:  (39-24, 15-12)

Mascot:  Jayhawks

Head Coach:  Ritch Price

Location:  Lawrence, KS

Vitals:  .301 BA, 61 HR, .389 OBP, .967 Fld%…4.46 ERA, 4 CG, 10 SV, 466 K, 179 BB, .267 opp. BA

Tourney Talk:  Kansas advanced to just the fourth NCAA Regional in school

Tony Thompson (KU photo)

history in 2009.  The Jayhawks were 2-2 at the Chapel Hill Regional.

Tony Terrific:  Junior 3B Tony Thompson exploded in 2009.  After hitting just .276 with 5 HR and 18 RBIs as a true freshman in 2008 Thompson won the first Triple Crown in Big 12 Conference history by batting .389 with 21 home runs and 82 RBIs.  He sported an 1.195 OPS, and struck out just 35 times in 247 at-bats.

Line-Up Losses:  While Thompson is KU’s biggest returning bat, the Jayhawks also lose two solid bats from last year’s team.  David Narodowski (.354) and Buck Afinir (.333) combined to hit 18 HR with 106 RBIs.

Family Ties:  Junior RHP Brett Bochy (5-0, 4.34 ERA) is the son of San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy, while Soph. OF Jason Brunansky (.280, 2 HR) is the son of former big leaguer Tom Brunansky.

Hurlin’ ‘Hawks:  Bochy is one of 8 veteran pitchers to return from last year’s NCAA squad.  Included are weekend starters Lee Ridenhour (6-3, 4.65 ERA) and T.J. Walz (8-3, 4.70 ERA), while bullpen stalwarts Bochy, Colton Murray (2-3, 3.23 ERA) and Travis Blankenship (3-2, 5.80 ERA) combined for 102 appearances (just two starts among them) 132 Ks and 45 BB.

Kansas State

2009 Record:  (43-18-1, 14-11-1)

Mascot:  Wildcats

Head Coach:  Brad Hill

Location:  Manhattan, KS

Vitals:  .317 BA, 58 HR, .399 OBP, .972 Fld%…4.52 ERA, 6 CG, 11 SV, 453 K, 169 BB, .282 opp. BA

Wild (cat) Ride: 2009 will forever be the season that all future K-State baseball teams are judged by.  The Wildcats set a school record for wins, while earning the first NCAA Tournament berth in the 113 years of the program.  Head Coach Brad Hill also earned Big 12 and ABCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year honors.

Losses On The Mound…:  KSU loses its top two starting pitchers, including Big 12 Pitcher of the Year A.J. Morris (14-1, 2.09 ERA) who had 5 of the team’s 6 complete games. He and Lance Hoge (6-4, 4.54 ERA) notched nearly half of the

Jason King (KSU photo)

team’s wins.

…And Losses At The Plate: The Wildcats also have to replace their top three run producers from 2009 with Justin Bloxom (.361 BA, 12 HR, 63 RBIs), Jordan Cruz (.324, 11 HR, 52 RBIs) and Drew Biery (.329, 9 HR, 44 RBIs) all gone.  That trio accounted for more than half of the Cat’s 58 HR.

Wildcats Back:  Carter Jurica (.353, 4 HR, 46 RBIs), Nick Martini (.336, 4 HR, 50 RBIs) and Jason King (.316, 7 HR, 61 RBIs) give K-State a solid base to the line-up, while pitchers Thomas Rooke (5-2, 4.33 ERA) and James Allen (2-1, 5.50 ERA) also return.  The two combined to make 56 appearances with 99 Ks in 90 IP last year.

Missouri

2009 Record:  (35-27, 16-11)

Mascot:  Tigers

Head Coach:  Tim Jamieson

Location:  Columbia, MO

Vitals:  .272 BA, 41 HR,.964 Fld% …5.08 ERA, 6 CG, 12 SV, 492 K, 177 K

Tiger Fact:  Missouri’s 2009 NCAA bid gave Tim Jamieson’s team a seventh straight NCAA Regional berth.  Mizzou is one of just 14 programs in the country to receive NCAA bids from 2003-2009.  Missouri was 1-2 at the Oxford, MS Regional.  They lost twice to Western Kentucky and beat Monmouth.

Tough Losses:  Missouri loses both its staff pitching, Kyle Gibson (11-3, 3.21 ERA, 131 K), who went to Minnesota with the 22nd pick in last year’s draft, as well as its top bat,  Greg Folgia (.326, 12 HR, 70 RBIs) who was taken by Cleveland in the 40th round.

Draft Dodger:  Aaron Senne (.305, 6 HR, 43 RBIs) was picked by Minnesota in the 32nd round of last year’s draft, but chose to return for his senior season.

Bullpen By Committee:  Missouri had eight pitchers who appeared in at least 24 games in 2009.  On several occasions the Tigers at least eight pitchers for an inning in conference games.  Brad Buehler (1-3, 4.29 ERA, 8 SVs) led the team with 35 relief appearances for a total of 35.2 IP.  He and Tyler Clark (3-0, 2.86 ERA, 28 app.) are among the top returning bullpen arms.

Nebraska

2009 Record:  (25-28-1, 8-19)

Mascot:  Cornhuskers

Head Coach:  Mike Anderson

Location:  Lincoln, NE

Vitals:  .282 BA, 48 HR, .368 OBP, .970 Fld%…6.22 ERA, 4 CG, 6 SV, 361 K, 256 BB, .291 opp. BA

Rare Absence:  Nebraska failed to advance to the NCAA Tournament in 2009, marking just the second time since 2000 that the Cornhuskers failed to reach the postseason.

Coaching Connections:  Nebraska assistant Dave Bingham led Kansas to the 1993 College World Series as head coach of the Jayhawks.  Nebraska head coach Mike Anderson was an assistant on the ‘Husker’s 2001 & 2002 CWS squads before leading his own team to Omaha in 2005.

Cornhusker Returnees:  Sr. OF Tyler Farst (.333, 3 HR, 36 RBIs) received honorable mention All-Big 12 honors.  He was the only Cornhusker to receive All-Conference recognition.  Adam Bailey (.325, 12 HR, 50 RBIs) returns as well. 

Mound Experience: The Cornhuskers return a group of pitchers who combined to earn 23 of the team’s 25 total wins last year.  Mike Nesseth (5-4, 5.01 ERA) leads the group.  The senior led the pitching staff in wins, ERA, saves (2), and strikeouts with 73 in 64.2 IP.  He made 8 starts with 20 overall appearances, and tossed one of the team’s four complete games.   A handful of junior college transfers will also try to bolster a staff whose ERA ranked second to last in the Big 12 in ’09.

Two-Sport Cooper:  Sophomore Khiry Cooper (.229, 2 HR, 9 RBIs) had just 70 at-bats as a true freshman, but he’ll look for bigger contributions this year.  The 6’2 receiver/outfielder had 13 catches for 80 yards and a TD last fall for the Nebraska’s Holiday Bowl champion team.  Cooper was drafted in the 5th round by the L.A. Angels Of Anaheim coming out of high school.

Bulldog Bound:  Nebraska opens its season with a four-game series at Fresno State Feb. 19-22.

Oklahoma

2009 Record:  (43-20, 17-10)

Mascot:  Sooners

Head Coach:  Sunny Golloway

Location:  Norman, OK

Vitals:  .317 BA,  91 HR, .407 OBP, .973 Fld%…5.09 ERA, 3 CG, 16 SV, 495 K, 198 BB, .275 opp. BA

Out At Home:  Oklahoma hosted an NCAA Regional last year that included Arkansas, Wichita State and Washington State.  The Sooners made it to the championship round, but the Razorbacks advanced all the way to Omaha.

Ryan Duke (OU photo)

Sunny Days:  Since taking the helm at Oklahoma head coach Sunny Golloway has led OU to five straight NCAA berths.  That includes 2005 when he was 12-6 after taking over after Larry Cochell resigned.

The Duke Of Saves:  Junior closer Ryan Duke (3-1, 3.22) became the first Sooner pitcher since 2000 to earn All-American status after saving 16 games last season.  His save total led the Big 12 and ranked 6th in the nation.

Powered Down:  OU led the Big 12 with 91 HR in 2009, but loses its top four home run hitters.  Big 12 Player of the Year J.T. Wise (17 HR), Aaron Baker (15), Jamie Johnson (13), and Bryant Hernandez (12) are all gone.

Oklahoma State

2009 Record:  (36-24, 9-16)

Mascot:  Cowboys

Head Coach:  Frank Anderson

Location:  Stillwater, OK

Vitals:  .300 BA, 81 HR, .379 OBP, .976 Fld%…4.69 ERA, 3 CG, 15 SV, 516 K, 199 BB, .264 opp. BA

Power Outage: The Cowboys lose their top four power hitters from last years team.  Michael Dabbs (13 HR, 38 RBIs), Tyrone Hambly (10 HR, 41 RBIs), Neil Medchill (14 HR, 57 RBIs), Doug Kroll (10 HR, 36 RBIs) combined to smack 47 of OSU’s home runs.

Depleted Pitching:  The losses of starting pitchers Andrew Oliver (5-6, 5.30 ERA, 97 K in 88.1 IP),  and Tyler Blandford (7-4, 5.31 ERA, 97 K in 78 IP) and Randy McCurry (4-1, 2.16 ERA, 10 SVs) leave big holes to fill in the weekend rotation as well as the back end of the bullpen.

California Dreamin’:  After opening its season at home on Feb. 20 with one game vs. Oklahoma Christian, OSU plays USC, UCLA and Vanderbilt the following weekend at the Dodgertown Classic in L.A.

Kevin Keyes hit 9 HR last year for Texas.

Texas

2009 Record:  (50-16-1, 17-9-1)

Mascot:  Longhorns

Head Coach:  Augie Garrido

Location:  Austin, TX

Vitals:  .288 BA, 53 HR, .377 OBP, .976 Fld%…2.95 ERA, 6 CG, 18 SV, 556 K, 189 BB, .227 opp. BA

Armed & Ready:  Closer Austin Wood (6-1, 2.61 ERA, 15 SVs) is one of the two pitchers Texas loses from a staff whose 2.95 ERA

Taylor Jungmann

ranked second in the nation.   Taylor Jungmann (11-3, 2.00 ERA), Cole Green (5-3, 3.34 ERA) and Chance Ruffin (10-3, 3.32 ERA) are among the notable returnees.

Play Small:  The Longhorn offense was second to last in the Big 12 with 53 home runs, but led the nation with 104 sacrifice bunts last year.

Loaded Line-Up:  Texas loses five players who started at least 43 games last year, but they return some of their most productive players including Kevin Keyes (.305, 9 HR, 46 RBIs), catcher Cameron Rupp (.292, 11 HR, 46 RBIs), Brandon Loy (.288) who tied for the NCAA lead with 25 sac bunts, and Russell Moldenhauer (.262, 4 HR, 14 RBIs).  Moldenhauer started just 26 games last year due to injury, and he hit all four of his home runs at the College World Series.

Texas A&M

2009 Record:  (37-24, 14-13)

Mascot:  Aggies

Head Coach:  Rob Childress

Location:  College Station, TX

Vitals:  .298 BA, 85 HR, .392 OBP, .971 Fld%…4.49 ERA, 2 CG, 13 SV, 568 K, 172 BB, .261 opp. BA

Crowd Favorites:  Texas A&M ranked 9th in the nation with an average of 4,076 fans per game at Olsen Field in 2009.

One Step Back:  After going to back-to-back Super Regionals for the first time in program history in 2007 & 2008, the Aggies were just 1-2 at the Ft. Worth Regional last year.  Both losses were to Oregon State.

Trade-Off:  While the Aggies did lose Luke Anders (13 HR) and Kyle Colligan (15 HR), Brodie Green and Joe Patterson return to lead a team that hit the second-most home runs in the conference last year.   Colligan hit his team-leading 15 HR in 233 AB, while Patterson’s 12 HR came in just 145 AB.

Pitching The Pill:  Head coach Rob Childress’ forte is piching, and while the Aggies didn’t have the eye-popping 2.95 ERA that Texas had in ’09 his staff still tied for second with Kansas in the Big 12 at 4.49.  Ross Hales (6-2, 4.11 ERA) is the top starter back, while Nick Fleece (4-1, 3.54 ERA, 5 SVs) is the only returning reliever (of four) who combined for the team’s 13 saves last year.

Texas Tech

2009 Record:  (25-32, 12-15)

Mascot:  Red Raiders

Head Coach:  Dan Spencer

Location:  Lubbock, TX

Vitals:  .299 BA, 40 HR, .382 OBP, .959 Fld%…6.31 ERA, 2 CG, 12 SV, 409 K, 266 BB, .304 opp. BA

Experience:  The Red Raiders return seven of their top nine batters from last year’s squad, including C Jeremy Mayo (.313, 11 HR, 35 RBIs).  Three other returnees hit .327 or better.  However, the team that finished last in the Big 12 with just 40 HR loses its top home run hitter, Chris Richburg (.341, 14 HR, 60 RBIs), who led the team in nearly every offensive category.

Home Boy:  Lubbock RHP Chad Bettis (6-1, 3.59 ERA) did a little of everything last year.  He was the only Tech pitcher with a winning record, he started four games, made 19 relief appearances, tossed one of the staff’s two complete games, and earned 7 of the Red Raider’s 12 saves.

2010 Big 12 Predictions

Player of the Year:  Tony Thompson-Kansas – The junior takes the honor a year after winning the first Triple Crown in the history of the Big 12 Conference.

Pitcher of the Year:  Taylor Jungmann-Texas

Conference Champion:  Texas – There’s just too much great pitching and too many key line-up contributors back for them not to repeat.