Weekend Series Tops Recent Comings & Goings…

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Robinson Renovation…

UCLA recently announced that it will add nearly 600 more chairback seats at Steele Field at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The project is expected to be complete by this December. Once it’s done, the stadium will seat 1,820 fans. 290 seats will be installed above each dugout to accommodate the expansion. 2012 will mark the 32nd season for Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Releasing Schedules…

2012 schedules continue to be released by individual schools on a regular basis. Our Schedule page has links to those (that we know of) that have been released to date. Expect schedules to continue to be released from now through early February.

We will once again publish a list of some of the top non-conference schedules from across the country once they are all releases. Some of the current front-runners include Stanford, Cal State Fullerton, TCU, and Wichita State. Check out the schedule page to check all of the schedules that have been released so far.

Moneyball Mike…

If you have seen the movie Moneyball, you may have been thinking (as I did) “I’ve seen that guy before”, during one of the scenes. UC Irvine head coach, Mike Gillespie, had a cameo in the Brad Pitt film. Gillespie had a non-speaking role playing former Oakland A’s coach, Ken Macha, while the A’s staff was meeting in an office. By the way, Gillespie looks much more like Macha than actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman resembles then A’s manager Art Howe.

The Dugout in Omaha is your one stop for the most officially licensed 2011 College World Series apparel.

The Dugout is located right across the street from the Road To Omaha statue outside TD Ameritrade Stadium, but if you left Omaha without that College World Series hat, shirt or memorabilia you were thinking about you can still get it at Dugouthats.com!  The Dugout also has fitted college and minor league caps – just like the ones the players where on the field.

The best part is, when you click on one of the red links to Dugouthats.com you will save 20% on your order when you enter the coupon code CB360!

Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin discusses his team’s 10-8 loss to Cal State Fullerton in the first of two games of their fall exhibition series (from VUCommodores.com).

Commodores One Of Eight SEC Teams In Top 25 Rankings…

34 Home Contests Set For Commodores…

Fresh off the program’s first ever trip to the College World Series, Vanderbilt has released its 2012 college baseball schedule. The Commodores open their season February 17-19 when they travel to Palo Alto, Calif. for a three game series with Stanford. The Cardinal made the trip to Nashville when the two teams played a three game set in 2011.

Vanderbilt plays another high profile series the next weekend then they welcome another Pac-12 school, Oregon, to the Music City.

Rhode Island visits for three games March 2-4 and then San Diego comes to Nashville March 9-11 for three games.

The Commodores open SEC play March 16-18 when they travel to Florida. The Gators eliminated Vandy in the semifinals of the 2011 College World Series. Other conference road series are at Mississippi State, Alabama, Tennessee, and LSU.

Vanderbilt hosts Georgia, Auburn, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and defending national champion South Carolina in SEC action.

The Dugout in Omaha is your one stop for the most officially licensed 2011 College World Series apparel.

The Dugout is located right across the street from the Road To Omaha statue outside TD Ameritrade Stadium, but if you left Omaha without that College World Series hat, shirt or memorabilia you were thinking about you can still get it at Dugouthats.com!  The Dugout also has fitted college and minor league caps – just like the ones the players where on the field.

The best part is, when you click on one of the red links to Dugouthats.com you will save 20% on your order when you enter the coupon code CB360!

Nashville, Tenn. – Vanderbilt will host Cal State Fullerton this fall at Hawkins Field for a two-game, fall ball series on football homecoming weekend October 22-23.

The Commodores and Titans will play Sunday, October 23 at 11 a.m. with Saturday’s game time dependent on the football game time against Army. Vanderbilt will host the school’s first-ever fall ball series when the Titans visit Nashville.

The Titans are led by first year head coach, Rick Vanderhook, who was an assistant coach on UCLA’s 2010 College World Series team. Vanderbilt is coming off the program’s first ever trip to the CWS earlier this summer. Former Fullerton head coach, Dave Serrano, is now the head coach of Vandy’s biggest rival – Tennessee.

“We are extremely excited to have a program of Cal State Fullerton’s caliber come to Nashville to conclude our fall season,” Head Coach Tim Corbin said. “We are grateful that Coach Vanderhook has agreed to bring his team out to Nashville and Vanderbilt University. We are looking forward to playing against the Titans in front of our hometown fans and allowing our players the opportunity to play a team of this caliber during the fall. We feel strongly that this experience will be valuable for both ball clubs.”

The two games count toward each teams’ 2012 56-game regular season limit.

The Dores begin fall practice September 13 before wrapping up fall practice with the two-game series against Cal State Fullerton.

(Staff report & VU Release)

A Look At The Teams Bound For Omaha…

CLICK HERE to see the daily schedule of games and TV assignments. The 2011 College World Series starts on Saturday, June 18.

If you can’t make it to Omaha, be sure to visit Dugouthats.com to find the biggest selection of 2011 CWS apparel. Enter the coupon code CB360 to save 20% on your order! If you are going to the CWS, the new Dugout is easy to find – it’s right across the street from TD Ameritrade Park’s home plate entrance!!

California Golden Bears

David Esquer

Head Coach:  David Esquer

Cal is probably the darling of all darlings to play in the College World Series. Esquer’s journey to Omaha with his Golden Bears was a movie script waiting to happen. From a program whose elimination was announced back on Sept. 28 to earning a CWS berth on June 12 … what more can be said?

The Golden Bears, a No. 3 regional seed in Houston (hosted by No. 8 national seed Rice) have won six straight postseason games to earn a trip to Omaha for the first time since 1992. The previous time Cal won six consecutive postseason games was 1957 – the year the program earned its second (and to this point last) national championship.

While Esquer is taking a team to the CWS for the first time, he is no stranger to Omaha. He played for now rival head coach Mark Marquess‘ 1987 Stanford national championship team. Esquer’s seven career postseason wins are tied for the second-most in Cal history. Hall of Fame coach Bob Milano tops that list with 20 victories.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: Tony Renda – .335
RBIs: Chadd Krist – 43
HR: Chad Bunting – 7
Sac Bunts: Marcus Semien – 16
Slg%: Chad Bunting – .509
OBP: Vince Bruno – .394
Runs: Marcus Semien – 39
Wins: Justin Jones (9-6)
ERA: (Releiver) Kyle Porter – 1.59 … (Starter) Erik Johnson – 2.91
Saves: Matt Flemer – 5
Strikeouts: Erik Johnson – 100

Florida Gators

Kevin O'Sullivan

Head Coach: Kevin O’Sullivan

This is Florida’s second straight and seventh overall trip to the CWS. It marks the first time the Gators have ever gone to Omaha in consecutive seasons. Florida’s win over Mississippi State in game three of the Super Regional was the first-ever for the program in “if necessary” NCAA games. The Gators had lost their previous five such games.

Florida hit five home runs in its deciding game against MSU to give it 67 long balls this season. The Gators are the No. 2 national seed and face Texas in their 2011 CWS opener.

In addition to leading the Gators to back-to-back CWS appearances, head coach Kevin O’Sullivan was an assistant on Clemson’s 2000 and 2002 Omaha teams. Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin was an assistant for those two teams as well.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: Mike Zunino –.376
RBIs: Preston Tucker – 68
HR: Mike Zunino – 18
Sac Bunts: Josh Adams – 11
Slg%: Mike Zunino – .686
OBP: Mike Zunino – .444
Runs: Mike Zunino – 72
Wins: Hudson Randall (10-3)
ERA: (Reliever) Keenan Kish – 0.63 (Starter) … Hudson Randall – 2.29
Saves: Austin Maddox – 5
Strikeouts: Karsten Whitson – 83

North Carolina Tar Heels

Mike Fox

Head Coach: Mike Fox

This is North Carolina’s ninth overall and fifth trip to Omaha in the past six seasons. After going to the CWS four straight times from 2006-2009, UNC bowed out of the 2010 NCAA Tournament in the regional round when they were eliminated by Omaha-bound Oklahoma (interestingly, Cal was at that regional as well).

Head coach Mike Fox also played for UNC’s 1978 College World Series team.

The Tar Heels’ two Super Regional wins over Stanford gives them 37 NCAA Tournament wins since 2006 – the most of any team in the country in that span. They also are 23-1 in NCAA home games in that stretch – including 16 straight such wins.

North Carolina has trailed in only four of 45 innings they have played so far in this year’s tournament. The No. 3 national seed has won five straight and 10 of its past 12 games overall, heading into the CWS.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: Coin Moran – .335
RBIs: Colin Moran – 69
HR: Colin Moran – 9
Sac Bunts: Tommy Coyle & Ben Bunting – 6
Slg%: Colin Moran – .551
OBP: Levi Michael – .446
Runs: Tommy Coyle – 57
Wins: Patrick Johnson (13-1)
ERA: (Reliever) Tate Parrish – 2.35 … (Starter) Patrick Johnson – 2.27
Saves: Michael Morin – 10
Strikeouts: Patrick Johnson – 120

South Carolina Gamecocks

Ray Tanner

Head Coach: Ray Tanner

South Carolina is in the College World Series for the second straight year and the 10th time overall. Half of those CWS appearances have come under head coach Ray Tanner. The Gamecocks are the first defending national champion to get back to Omaha the next year since 2006 champion Oregon State returned (and won again) in 2007. The Gamecocks are 16-1 in their past 17 NCAA Tournament games. They have won 11 straight NCAA Tournament games, since falling to Oklahoma in their 2010 CWS opener.

The Gamecocks are flat-out dominant at home in NCAA Tournament games. They now are 8-0 all-time at Carolina Stadium, with 19 straight postseason home wins, which dates back to 2002. South Carolina is the No. 4 national seed.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: Christian Walker – .359
RBIs: Christian Walker – 60
HR: Christian Walker – 10
Sac Bunts: Peter Mooney – 12
Slg%: Christian Walker – .560
OBP: Scott Wingo – .466
Runs: Christian Walker – 60
Wins: Michael Roth (13-2)
ERA: (Reliever) John Taylor – 1.27 … (Starter) Michael Roth – 1.02
Saves: Matt Price – 18
Strikeouts: Michael Roth – 95

Texas Longhorns

Augie Garrido

Head Coach: Augie Garrido

This marks the 34th trip to the College World Series for Texas. In fact, the Longhorns (current #7 national seed) have advanced to Omaha in eight consecutive decades. This is the fifth decade in which Augie Garrido has led a team to the CWS (70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, and now 10s). He already is the only coach to win national championships in four different decades (1979, 1984, 1995, 2002, ’05).

Garrido’s connection to the College World Series dates back to his playing days on the 1959 Fresno State CWS squad. His 1975 Cal State Fullerton team reached Omaha in its first season as a DI team. He won three national titles with the Titans and has two under his belt on the Forty Acres.

Texas now is 149-62-1 all-time in NCAA Regional and Super Regional play, including 15-6 in eight Super Regional appearances.

Longhorn ace Taylor Jungmann‘s only two losses this season have come in the past two weeks against Kent State and Arizona State, in NCAA games.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: Erich Weiss – .358
RBIs: Erich Weiss – 44
HR: Tant Sheppard – 5
Sac Bunts: Mark Payton – 19
Slg%: Erich Weiss – .532
OBP: Erich Weiis – .492
Runs: Tant Sheppard – 53
Wins: Taylor Jungmann (13-2)
ERA: Corey Knebel – 1.15
Saves: Corey Knebel – 19
Strikeouts: Taylor Jungmann – 123

Texas A&M Aggies

Rob Childress

Head Coach: Rob Childress

Texas A&M is in the College World Series for the fifth time in the 108-year history of the program and for the first time since 1999. While the Aggies had nott been to Omaha in more than a decade, their head coach is no stranger there. Sixth-year skipper Rob Childress was an assistant coach on Nebraska’s 2001, 2002 and ’05 CWS teams.

The Aggies missed out on a national seed despite winning their second straight Big 12 Tournament, but they upended No. 5 seed Florida State in Tallahassee to win their Super Regional. Last year’s closer-turned-starter John Stilson is out with a torn labrum, but part-time reliever/starter Ross Stripling (14-2, 4 CG, 4 SVs) has stepped up.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: Tyler Naquin – .390
RBIs: Matt Juengel & Jacob House – 49
HR: Matt Juengel – 7
Sac Bunts: Krey Bratsen – 18
Slg%: Tyler Naquin – .556
OBP: Tyler Naquin – .460
Runs: Tyler Naquin – 65
Wins: Ross Stripling (14-2)
ERA: (Reliever) Nick Fleece – 1.48 (Starter) … John Stilson – 1.68 (injured)
Saves: Joaquin Hinojosa – 8
Strikeouts: Michael Wacha – 110

Vanderbilt Commodores

Tim Corbin

Head Coach: Tim Corbin

While the other seven teams in this year’s field have been to the College World Series previously, Vanderbilt is making the program’s first trip to Omaha. In fact, the Commodores hadn’t even been to the NCAA Tournament in 24 years prior to head coach Tim Corbin‘s arrvial in 2003. The program has totaled 10 NCAA Tourney berths all-time, including six straight under Corbin. This year marked Vandy’s third Super Regional appearance and the first time to host that round. As an assistant at Clemson, Corbin helped Jack Leggett‘s Tigers reach the CWS four times. He and Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan were on the staff together for Omaha trips in 2000 and ’02.

The Commodores have, arguably, the top 1-2 punch in this year’s CWS field when it comes to pitching rotation. Sonny Gray (12-3) was the 18th overall pick (Oakland) in in the 2011 MLB Draft, while Grayson Garvin (13-1) was selected 41 picks later to Tampa Bay.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: Jason Esposito – .357
RBIs: Jason Esposito – 59
HR: Aaron Westlake – 17
Sac Bunts: Riley Reynolds – 13
Slg%: Aaron Westlake – .651
OBP: Aaron Westlake – .474
Runs: Anthony Gomez – 61
Wins: Grayson Garvin (13-1)
ERA: (Reliever) Navery – 1.21 … (Starter) Sonny Gray – 1.97
Saves: Navery Moore – 11
Strikeouts: Sonny Gray – 119

Virginia Cavaliers

Brian O'Connor

Head Coach: Brian O’Connor

Virginia is back in the College World Series for the second time in school history. Both of those appearances have come in the past three years. While the Cavs’ history in Omaha is short, their head coach’s connection with the city and its biggest event is legendarily long. Brian O’Connor grew up just across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He and his father attended the CWS throughout his childhood and the younger O’Connor played in the 1991 CWS for hometown Creighton (he pitched vs. Wichita State, in what most consider to be one of the greatest CWS games ever). O’Connor was an assistant coach on Notre Dame’s 2002 CWS team and he now has led Virginia to Omaha in 2009 and this year. And, yes, his face is one of the players on the famouse Road To Omaha statue outside TD Ameritrade Stadium.

Virginia is the No. 1 national seed.

Team Leader Board

Batting Avg.: David Coleman – .366
RBIs: Steven Proscia – 58
HR: Steven Proscia – 8
Sac Bunts: Keith Werman – 24
Slg%: John Hicks – .510
OBP: David Coleman & Kenny Swab – .426
Runs: Chris Taylor – 60
Wins: Danny Hultzen (12-3)
ERA: (Reliever) Kyle Crockett – 1.73 … (Starter) Danny Hultzen – 1.49
Saves: Branden Kline – 17
Strikeouts: Danny Hultzen – 151

If you can’t make it to Omaha, be sure to visit Dugouthats.com to find the biggest selection of 2011 CWS apparel. Enter the coupon code CB360 to save 20% on your order!

Vanderbilt players Curt Casali, Mike Yastrzemski and Connor Harrell discuss their team’s recent sweep of Tennessee (courtesy VUcommodores.com).

By Collegebaseball360.com Editor Sean Stires

• This week’s Notebook starts with some great news out of Berkley, where the announcement was made just weeks ago that baseball would be eliminated at Cal after the 2011 season. According to a direct message we received from the Save Cal Baseball Facebook page, Cal Baseball will be saved if the program can raise the money to fund the program on an annual basis. It’s estimated that around $1 million a year will be needed to keep Cal baseball going. The first step in Cal’s fund raising starts next Monday, Oct. 25 when it hosts the 2010 Cal Baseball Golf Classic at Contra Costa Country Club. Anyone from inside or outside the Cal Baseball family is welcome to play. The field will be limited to 144 players. For more information on the event or to find out how to donate to the Save Cal Baseball fund contact Sam Petke: spetke@gmail.com or Dave Baker: dbaker@moorebaker.com or visit the Save Cal Baseball Facebook page.

• Texas hosted Vanderbilt in a pair of weekend 12-inning exhibitions. Both teams advanced to Super Regionals earlier this year. The Commodores won the first one 7-2 on Friday, while the Longhorns were victorious 7-5 on Sunday. Texas starter Taylor Jungmann gave-up four runs in 4.0 innings Friday night, while Vanderbilt ace Sonny Gray faced nine batters with a walk and two strikeouts in his 3.0 hitless innings. St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday, who is the brother of Vandy assistant Josh Holliday, was in attendance. Matt lives in the Austin area. Texas fell behind 5-0 in Sunday’s scrimmage, but seven Longhorn hurlers then combined for 8.0 shutout innings to let Texas rally for a 7-5 win. Vandy starter Grayson Garvin tossed 3.0 perfect innings, while UT’s Cole Green allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in his 3.0 innings.

• The Great One’s son has chosen baseball over hockey. Trevor Gretzky, the son of NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, has committed to play baseball for baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn at San Diego State. Trevor hit .341 with two home runs at Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, CA. It’s the same high school
  

  Trevor and Wayne Gretzky

  current Carolina Panther and former Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen attended.

• Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon was honored during Saturday’s Rice-Houston football game. Rendon was re-presented this year’s Dick Howser Trophy by Jana Howser (Dick Howser’s daughter) and Bo Carter of the NCBWA. Rendon originally received the award in July as the National Player of the Year. The junior batted .394 with 26 home runs and 85 RBIs in 2010. His 26 home runs were four more than his strikeout total of 22.

• Florida State is among the most recent teams to unveil its 2011 schedule. A trip to Georgia for a three-game series the first weekend of March is the most notable non-conference trip the Seminoles will make. They also play four single games against Florida in Tampa, Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Tallahassee.

• Nebraska has a marquee non-conference series on its 2011 schedule. The Cornhuskers welcome 2010 College World Series runner-up UCLA to Lincoln for three games March 4-6. It will be decidedly colder in Nebraska than it was when the Bruins made their Omaha run in June. Nebraska also hosts three games with Fresno State March 11-13.
  

  Nebraska's Hawks Field at Haymarket Park

• Speaking of the Cornhuskers, the University of Nebraka’s Board of Regents has approved $4.75 million to build the school’s new indoor baseball/softball facility that we mentioned last week. The 22,000 square foot facility will be located at Haymarket Park, near the current playing facilities for both teams. The new building will include batting cages, pitching mounds and a turf system to allow the baseball and softball teams to take indoor infield practice.

• Michigan plays its first 18 games of the 2011 season in Florida, Texas, South Carolina, and California. The Wolverines concluded that season-opening swing with three games at Stanford March 18-19. They also play a 19th game, an exhibition against the New York Mets on February 27 in Port St. Lucie, FL.

• Speaking of Stanford, Baseball America recently released its ranking of college baseball’s top recruiting classes and Mark Marquess tops the list. Here’s a look at the top 10: 1. Stanford 2. LSU 3. UCLA 4. San Diego 5. Oregon 6. Florida 7. Georgia Tech 8. Arkansas 9. Rice 10. Cal State Fullerton. Who has the #11 class according to BA? None other than the Cal Golden Bears…which were supposed to become extinct after the 2011 season.

Lefty Helps Vandy To Regional Win

Have you ever seen John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success?  At the top of the pyramid it says “Competitive Greatness: Be at your best when your best is needed.  Enjoyment of a difficult challenge.”  That pretty much sums-up Vanderbilt pitcher Richie Goodenow’s performance vs. #7 national seed Louisville in last week’s Regional.  With the Commodores facing elimination on Sunday the junior made just his 2nd career start in what was his 68th career appearances.  The result was a complete game two-hitter that sent Vandy to a winner take all Regional title game that they won 3-2 in 10 innings the next day.  In this podcast interview with Collegebaseball360.com editor Sean Stires Goodenow talks about his gem as well as his team’s Super Regional match-up with Florida State.

Goodenow

6’2 – 202 – Jr. – Nashville, TN                                       Head Coach:  Tim Corbin