2004 Outlook Breaker. 12-Time National Champions 2005 USC Trojans Baseball 9

Transcription

1 2004 Outlook Breaker 12-Time National Champions 2005 USC Trojans Baseball 9

2 2005 Roster NO NAME POS B-T HGT WGT CL HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL/COLLEGE) 2 Matt Cusick IF L-R Fr. Mission Viejo (Santa Margarita HS) 3 Baron Frost OF-C R-R Jr. La Jolla (St. Augustine HS) 4 Darin Vieira UT L-R Jr.* San Jose (Bellarmine Prep) 5 Jack Spradlin LHP R-L Jr. Bonita (Eastlake HS/Southwestern College) 6 Dale Legaspi IF L-R Sr. Burbank (Crespi HS) 8 Roberto Lopez 3B-OF R-R Fr. La Mesa (Rancho Bernardo HS) 9 Lucas Duda RHP-1B L-R Fr. Riverside (Arlington HS) 10 Garrett Gipe IF R-R So.* Santa Ana (Mater Dei HS) 12 Daniel Perales OF L-L So. Orange (Mater Dei HS) 13 Billy Hart 3B R-R Jr.* Tustin (Mission Viejo HS) 14 Hector Estrella IF R-R So. Rosemead (Northview HS) 15 Cyle Hankerd OF R-R So. Covina (South Hills HS) 16 Michael Friedman LHP L-L Sr.* Fremont (Ohlone College) 18 Austin Miller RHP R-R Sr. Glendora (Cypress College) 20 Blake Sharpe IF R-R Jr. Moorpark (Moorpark HS/L.A. Pierce College) 21 Ryan Broderick OF L-L So.* Palm Desert (Palm Desert HS) 22 Scott Scharlach RHP R-R So.* Pasadena (Poly HS) 23 Nate Smith RHP-IF R-R Fr. Clovis (Clovis HS) 24 Jeff Clement C L-R Jr. Marshalltown, IA (Marshalltown HS) 25 Jon Williams RHP R-R Sr.* Alamo (Monte Vista HS) 26 Paul Koss RHP R-R So. Orange (Orange Lutheran HS) 28 Barrett Sprowl 1B R-R Fr. Newport Beach (Corona del Mar HS) 29 Brett Bannister RHP R-R Jr.* Paradise Valley, AZ (Chaparral HS) 30 Todd Macklin RHP R-R Fr. Newport Beach (Corona del Mar HS) 31 Ian Kennedy RHP R-R So. Huntington Beach (La Quinta HS) 32 John Dunn RHP R-R Fr. Torrance (West HS) 33 Zack Kalter RHP-OF L-R Jr. Phillips Ranch (Pasadena CC/Western Christian HS) 34 Brandon Buxbaum LHP R-L So. Malibu (Brentwood HS) 35 Matt Underwood LHP-1B L-L So. Saugus (Saugus HS) 36 Josh Fogel IF R-R So.* Saugus (Saugus HS) 37 Kevin Hickcox IF R-R So.* Glendale (Glendale HS) 39 Spencer Pabst OF S-R Fr. Long Beach (Wilson HS) 40 Andy Guy RHP R-R So.* Redondo Beach (Redondo Union HS) 41 Sebastian Salinas C R-R Fr.* Riverside (Rubidoux HS) 42 Anthony Encinas RHP L-R Fr. Norwalk (Santa Fe HS) 43 Steve Martlaro RHP R-R Fr. Diamond Bar (Bishop Amat HS) 44 Richard Aguilar RHP R-R Sr.* San Pedro (San Pedro HS) 46 Brendan Kotler OF-C R-R Fr. Calabasas (Calabasas HS) 47 James Luna RHP R-R Sr.* Monrovia (Monrovia HS) 48 Kyle Degener IF S-B So.* Rolling Hills Estates (Peninsula HS) 50 Cole Ganser RHP R-R Sr. Lomita (Narbonne HS/El Camino College) 51 Ryan Schlack UT R-R Fr. Long Beach (Wilson HS) HEAD COACH: (19) Mike Gillespie ASSISTANT COACHES: (17) Dave Lawn, (11) Andy Nieto VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT COACH: (27) Rob Klein DIRECTOR OF BASEBALL OPERATIONS: Chad Kreuter TRAINER: Paul Diaz STUDENT TRAINERS: Jordie Kvidera and Jose Vaca MANAGERS: Ronnie Frescas, Michael McCormack, Brenton Sullivan and Kevin Zelenay USC Trojans Alphabetical Baseball Roster 44 Richard Aguilar...RHP 29 Brett Bannister...RHP 21 Ryan Broderick...OF 34 Brandon Buxbaum...LHP 24 Jeff Clement... C 2 Matt Cusick...IF 48 Kyle Degener...IF 9 Lucas Duda...RHP-1B 32 John Dunn...RHP 42 Anthony Encinas...RHP 14 Hector Estrella...IF 36 Josh Fogel...IF 16 Michael Friedman...LHP 3 Baron Frost...OF-C 50 Cole Ganser...RHP 10 Garrett Gipe...IF 40 Andy Guy...RHP 15 Cyle Hankerd...OF 13 Billy Hart... 3B 37 Kevin Hickcox...IF 33 Zack Kalter... RHP-OF 31 Ian Kennedy...RHP 26 Paul Koss...RHP 46 Brendan Kotler...OF-C 6 Dale Legaspi...IF 8 Roberto Lopez... 3B-OF 47 James Luna...RHP 30 Todd Macklin...RHP 43 Steve Martlaro...RHP 18 Austin Miller...RHP 39 Spencer Pabst...OF 12 Daniel Perales...OF 41 Sebastian Salinas... C 51 Ryan Schlack...UT 22 Scott Scharlach...RHP 20 Blake Sharpe...SS 23 Nate Smith... RHP-IF 5 Jack Spradlin...LHP 28 Barrett Sprowl... 1B 35 Matt Underwood... LHP-1B 4 Darin Vieira...UT 25 Jon Williams...RHP USC Trojans Baseball 12-Time National Champions

3 2005 Roster Breakdowns EXPERIENCE BREAKDOWN 2005 RETURNING SQUADMEN (28) LETTERMEN RETURNING (22) Richard Aguilar, rhp Billy Hart, 3b Brett Bannister, rhp Ian Kennedy, rhp Ryan Broderick, of Paul Koss, rhp Jon Williams, rhp Dale Legaspi, if Jeff Clement, c James Luna, rhp Hector Estrella, if Austin Miller, rhp Josh Fogel, if Daniel Perales, of Michael Friedman, lhp Scott Scharlach, rhp Baron Frost, of-c Blake Sharpe, ss Cole Ganser, rhp Darin Vieira, ut Andy Guy, rhp Cyle Hankerd, of NON-LETTERMEN RETURNING (6) Brandon Buxbaum, lhp Kevin Hickcox, if Kyle Degener, if Sebastian Salinas, c Garrett Gipe, if Matt Underwood, lhp-1b 2005 NEWCOMERS (14) TRANSFERS (2) Zack Kalter, rhp-of Jack Spradlin, lhp FRESHMEN (12) Matt Cusick, if Todd Macklin, rhp Lucas Duda, rhp-1b Steve Martlaro, rhp John Dunn, rhp Spencer Pabst, of Anthony Encinas, rhp Ryan Schlack, ut Brendan Kotler, of-c Nate Smith, rhp-if Roberto Lopez, 3b-of Barrett Sprowl, 1b PRONUNCIATION GUIDE CLEMENT, Jeff...CLEHM-ent DEDEAUX, Rod... DAY-dough ESTRELLA, Hector... eh-stray-yuh GILLESPIE, Mike... gill-les-pee NIETO, Andy... knee-eh-toe SCHARLACH, Scott... SHAR-lock VIEIRA, Darin...vee-ERROR-uh TROJAN BIRTHDAYS DURING THE SEASON Feb. 12* James Luna 15* Steve Martlaro 19* Baron Frost 22* Jon Williams 28 Spencer Pabst March 3 Brett Bannister 18* Daniel Perales 22* Kyle Degener 23 Rob Klein April 13* Andy Guy 14 Brennan Diaz 25 Andy Nieto May 5 Matt Cusick 7 Mike Gillespie 10* Brandon Buxbaum 17 Kevin Hickcox 21* Barrett Sprowl 26 Austin Miller *USC baseball game day ARIZONA (1) Brett Bannister, rhp GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN CALIFORNIA (40) Richard Aguilar, rhp Ryan Broderick, of Brandon Buxbaum, lhp Matt Cusick, if Kyle Degener, if Lucas Duda, rhp-1b John Dunn, rhp Anthony Encinas, rhp Hector Estrella, ss Josh Fogel, if Michael Friedman, lhp Baron Frost, of-c Cole Ganser, rhp Garrett Gipe, if Andy Guy, rhp Cyle Hankerd, of Billy Hart, of Kevin Hickcox, if Zack Kalter, rhp-of Ian Kennedy, rhp SENIORS (7) Richard Aguilar, rhp Michael Friedman, lhp Cole Ganser, rhp Dale Legaspi, if James Luna, rhp Austin Miller, rhp Jon Williams, rhp JUNIORS (8) Brett Bannister, rhp Jeff Clement, c Baron Frost, of-c Billy Hart, 3b Zack Kalter, rhp-of Blake Sharpe, if Jack Spradlin, lhp Darin Vieira, ut Paul Koss, rhp Brendan Kotler, of-c Dale Legaspi, if Roberto Lopez, 3b-of James Luna, rhp Todd Macklin, rhp Steve Martlaro, rhp Austin Miller, rhp Spencer Pabst, of Daniel Perales, of Sebastian Salinas, c Ryan Schlack, ut Scott Scharlach, rhp Blake Sharpe, ss Jack Spradlin, lhp Barrett Sprowl, 1b Matt Underwood, lhp-1b Darin Vieira, if Jon Williams, rhp IOWA (1) Jeff Clement, c CLASS BREAKDOWN SOPHOMORES (14) Ryan Broderick, of Brandon Buxbaum, lhp Kyle Degener, if Hector Estrella, if Josh Fogel, if Garrett Gipe, if Andy Guy, rhp Cyle Hankerd, of Kevin Hickcox, if Ian Kennedy, rhp Paul Koss, rhp Daniel Perales, of Scott Scharlach, rhp Matt Underwood, lhp-1b FRESHMEN (13) Matt Cusick, if Roberto Lopez, 3b-of Lucas Duda, rhp-1b Nate Smith, rhp-1b Barrett Sprowl, 1b Todd Macklin, rhp John Dunn, rhp Spencer Pabst, of Anthony Encinas, rhp Steve Martlaro, rhp Sebastian Salinas, c Brendan Kotler, of-c Ryan Schlack, ut 12-Time National Champions 2005 USC Trojans Baseball 11

4 2005 Radio/TV Roster Matt Cusick Fr. IF 5-9/190 Mission Viejo, Calif. Baron Frost Jr. OF/C 6-0/185 La Jolla, Calif. Darin Vieira Jr. UT 5-10/165 San Jose, Calif. Jack Spradlin Jr. LHP 6-1/175 Bonita, Calif. Dale Legaspi Sr. IF 5-8/155 Burbank, Calif. Roberto Lopez Fr. 3B/OF 6-0/180 La Mesa, Calif. Lucas Duda Fr. RHP/1B 6-4/220 Riverside, Calif. Garrett Gipe So. IF 6-2/160 Santa Ana, Calif Daniel Perales So. OF 6-0/185 Orange, Calif. Billy Hart Jr. 3B 6-2/215 Tustin, Calif. Hector Estrella So. IF 5-10/170 Rosemead, Calif. Cyle Hankerd So. OF 6-2/205 Covina, Calif. Michael Friedman Sr. LHP 6-2/170 Fremont, Calif. Austin Miller Sr. RHP 6-0/160 Glendora, Calif. Blake Sharpe Jr. IF 6-1/180 Moorpark, Calif. Ryan Broderick Jr. OF 6-3/205 Palm Desert, Calif Scott Scharlach So. RHP 6-2/185 Pasadena, Calif. Nate Smith Fr. RHP 6-2/235 Clovis, Calif. Jeff Clement Jr. C 6-1/210 Marshalltown, Iowa Jon Williams Sr. RHP 6-4/205 Alamo, Calif. Paul Koss Sr. RHP 6-4/215 Orange, Calif. Barrett Sprowl Fr. 1B 6-4/210 Newport Beach, Calif. Brett Bannister Jr. RHP 6-1/190 Paradise Valley, Ariz. Todd Macklin Fr. RHP 6-1/175 Newport Beach, Calif Ian Kennedy So. RHP 6-0/195 Huntington Beach, Calif. John Dunn Fr. RHP 6-3/250 Torrance, Calif. Zack Kalter Jr. RHP/OF 6-1/190 Phillips Ranch, Calif Brandon Buxbaum So. LHP 6-5/205 Malibu, Calif. Matt Underwood So. LHP/1B 6-1/210 Saugus, Calif. Josh Fogel So. IF 6-0/160 Saugus, Calif Kevin Hickcox So. IF 5-10/165 Glendale, Calif. Spencer Pabst Fr. OF 5-11/170 Long Beach, Calif Andy Guy So. RHP 6-3/205 Redondo Beach, Calif. Sebastian Salinas Fr. C 6-1/195 Riverside, Calif. Anthony Encinas Fr. RHP 5-11/200 Norwalk, Calif Steve Martlaro Fr. RHP 6-2/235 Diamond Bar, Calif. Richard Aguilar Sr. RHP 6-0/180 San Pedro, Calif Brendan Kotler Fr. OF/C 5-11/200 Calabasas, Calif. James Luna Sr. RHP 6-1/185 Monrovia, Calif. Kyle Degener So. IF 5-10/185 Rolling Hills Estates, Calif Cole Ganser Sr. RHP 5-11/195 Lomita, Calif. Ryan Schlack Fr. UT 6-1/175 Long Beach, Calif. Mike Gillespie Head Coach 19th year Dave Lawn Assistant Coach 5th year Andy Nieto Assistant Coach 9th year Rob Klein Volunteer Asst.Coach 18th year Chad Kreuter Director of Baseball Operations 1st year USC Trojans Baseball 12-Time National Champions

5 2005 Season Outlook Chemistry is a concept that most athletic teams try to attain in order to become successful. For the 2005 USC baseball team, chemistry is the basis for the Trojans efforts in getting back to the postseason after two straight years of failing to reach the NCAA Tournament. Optimism abounds as the Trojans return six position players and 11 pitchers from last year s squad. USC returns two of the top players in the nation in junior catcher Jeff Clement (.293, 10 home runs, 43 RBI) and sophomore pitcher Ian Kennedy (7-2 record, 2.91 ERA, 92 2/3 IP, 120 SO). Both Clement and Kennedy are 2005 preseason All-Americans after playing last summer for the U.S. National Team. Head coach Mike Gillespie, who is entering his 19th season for the Trojans, understands how players like Clement and Kennedy can help set the example for the team. The makeup and chemistry is good and we have good guys on the team, said Gillespie. We have not had any issues on or off the field and have been solid in the classroom. We seem to have a group of guys who have their priorities in order. After hitting 21 home runs in his freshman season, Clement will be the focus of many scouts this season as he is slated for a possible first-round selection in June s major league baseball draft. He is a special player and on the short list of the best players ever at USC, said Gillespie. This year, he is a more complete and selective hitter. He has continued to make strides on his ability to use the whole field in his hitting approach and has improved behind the plate. There is no reason to believe that he will not be a major league catcher. A pleasant surprise for the Trojans last year was the development of junior third baseman Billy Hart. Hart, who is also a member of the football team as a reserve quarterback, led the Trojans last year in batting average ( ). Billy has become a more complete player, said Gillespie. He is a better hitter and that does not mean he has to hit the same as he did last year in order to be better. He has better mechanics and hits with power. Billy is both athletic and smart, which is one of the reasons that he is able to succeed as a two-sport athlete. Three players will battle for the two middle infield positions. Returners Blake Sharpe ( ) and Hector Estrella ( ) have competed against freshman Matt Cusick (Mission Viejo/Santa Margarita HS) with great results. As of press time, the starters had not been set, but Cusick will definitely be a starter and could see action at either position. Freshman Lucas Duda (Riverside/Arlington HS) will start for the Trojans at first base. Duda earned CIF Division I Player of the Year honors last year not only for his hitting ability, but his efforts as the team s closer. Although he will primarily be at first, Duda may also see some time on the mound. Lucas is one of those guys that has potential written all over him, said Gillespie. He is a 6-5 guy, who is lean and strong with bat speed and power. He is a freshman and needs time to make the transition. It remains to be seen how soon he can do that. A veteran outfield returns for the Trojans. Junior Baron Frost ( ) has the most experience after starting for most of the season in left field. Frost, who also serves as a backup catcher for Clement, led the Trojans last year with 20 doubles. Sophomore Daniel Perales ( ) started every game last year and begins the 2005 season as the team s starting center fielder. Perales earned all-league honors in the Cape Cod Baseball League last summer after batting.296 for Falmouth. Cyle Hankerd ( ) finished second on the team in batting after playing in 50 games. Junior transfer Zack Kalter (Phillips Ranch/Western Christian HS/Pasadena CC) will play a dual role for the Trojans. Kalter will have a chance to start in right field and could break into the starting pitching rotation. Kalter was named as the top pro prospect in the New England Collegiate League last summer after batting.353 with five home runs, 21 RBI and 15 stolen bases. He also went 1-1 with a 1.47 ERA (43 IP, 35 H, 7 ER, 12 BB, 34 SO). Junior utility Darin Vieira, who can play any position on the field, is a capable defensive replacement. Redshirt sophomore Ryan Broderick has battled hip injuries over the past two years and has healed up to provide some depth. Freshman Roberto Lopez (La Mesa/Rancho Bernardo HS) will also be in the mix. Injuries have decimated USC s pitching over the past few seasons. This season, the Trojans have remained healthy through the fall and depth will be the strength of the staff. 12-Time National Champions 2005 USC Trojans Baseball 13

6 2005 Season Outlook In the past, we have relied on four or five guys in the past to throw in the important innings, but this year, we have the potential for about six to 10 guys to pitch important innings for us, said USC pitching coach and recruiting coordinator Dave Lawn. It has a trickle down effect because you aren t extending your starters. Kennedy anchors an experienced rotation and is quietly gaining recognition as one of the top collegiate pitchers in the nation. Anyone that saw him pitch against Long Beach State in his first career start last year knows all about his poise, said Lawn. He is the ultimate competitor. He will go out and pitch with whatever he has on that day and put your team in a position to win the game, late in the ballgame. Kennedy and Kalter will get some help from redshirt junior Brett Bannister. Bannister, who has fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, would give the Trojans another experienced starter despite missing the past two seasons. Brett is a little ahead of where most guys going through that kind of surgery are at and has possessed good command in his early stints this year, said Lawn. Junior transfer Jack Spradlin (Bonita/Eastlake HS/Southwestern College) will add depth to the starting rotation after earning JC All- America honors last season. Spradlin went 7-1 last year and led the state with a 0.58 ERA, allowing just six earned runs. Many players will have an opportunity to contribute to the bullpen, including Jon Williams (0-3, 7.65 ERA, 37 2/3 IP) and Michael Friedman (2-2, 4.17, three saves, 36 2/3 IP). Williams is healthy after battling arm and groin injuries the last couple of years while Friedman did not allow a run in his first 12 appearances last season. Paul Koss (0-2, ERA) is vastly improved over the summer from his freshman season and might be the surprise of the staff this season. Freshmen Nate Smith (Clovis/Clovis HS), Anthony Encinas (Norwalk/Santa Fe HS) and Todd Macklin (Newport Beach/Corona del Mar HS) will also be counted on for innings. Encinas and Macklin had to battle health issues last spring, but both players have looked good during practice. Anthony so far hasn t had any problems, said Lawn. The rehab process ate up most of his fall and he is still feeling his way. Macklin has had no hiccups since he started school. Both have great arms, but just need to get used to pitching at the Division I level USC Trojans Baseball 12-Time National Champions The Trojans can also look to seniors Austin Miller (0-1, 4.93) and Cole Ganser (1-1, 5.68). This season, USC faces another daunting schedule with 35 of its 56 games played against opponents that competed in last year s NCAA Tournament. Along with the difficult Pac-10 Conference schedule, the Trojans will play a three-game nonconference series against Long Beach State and defending national champion Cal State Fullerton. Three tournaments are on the slate in March: the College Classic Tournament in Round Rock, Texas (Texas A&M, Rice and Nebraska), the USC/Public Storage Baseball Classic held at Dedeaux Field (Texas Tech, UC Irvine and Wichita State) and the OCYSF-UC Irvine Tournament (Nevada, Stony Brook and UC Irvine). If the Trojans can handle the non-conference schedule, the team will be well seasoned heading into Pac-10 play and able to make a run for the postseason. We think we are better in every regard, said Gillespie. We do have more depth in terms of our position players and pitching. It s our belief that it will be a good team that does compete with our schedule. With so many newcomers, especially pitching, we are being cautious until we see it. We need some of the new pitchers to contribute now. We are excited about the ability and believe we have a chance to be good.