Feb. 1, 2005
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PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATIONS
Fri.: GON#33 Josh Monroe, JR, RHP
OSU#18 Nate Fogle, JR, RHP
Sat.:GON#17 Jay Bryner, JR, LHP
ASU#34 Jason Urquidez, SR, RHP
Sun.:GON#27 Patrick Donovan, JR, LHP
NMSU#44 Brian Sizemore, FR , RHP
WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE: The Gonzaga University baseball team will open the 2005 campaign on the road as it travels to the Grand Canyon State to play in the Bob Schaefer Memorial Tournament in Tempe, Ariz. The Zags will open play on Friday Oregon State University at noon. On Saturday the Bulldogs will face host Arizona State University at noon, and will conclude the tournament with a 9 a.m. game against New Mexico State University on Sunday.
ZAGS MOVING FORWARD: The Gonzaga University baseball team is moving forward, propelled by a talented and versatile group of young Bulldogs. The Zags will return 15 faces for the 2005 season while ushering in 19 newcomers, 13 of them freshmen. GU is also forced to replace a pitching staff that returns only one starter from a team that went 24-27 and earned a third place finish in the West Coast Conference Coast Division. Gonzaga has the same goal as a team as it does every year, win the WCC championship and make the NCAA Regionals. Second-year head coach Mark Machtolf is excited about this season's squad and believes that he has scheduled well enough that if the Bulldogs don't win the WCC championship and they do well in their non-conference games that will have a good chance at receiving an at-large bid for the regionals. Machtolf said the success of this year's team might depend a great deal on the new players. "If some of our young players progress like we anticipate they will then we should be able to compete on a daily basis," Machtolf said. "I think this team has a lot of mental toughness and won't fall victim to adversity, but a lot of them have never played in a NCAA Division I game, either. They'll need to mature quickly. If they do, then I think we'll come together as a team."
OREGON STATE BEAVERS: The Bulldogs face a Northwest opponent in Oregon State University on Friday to kick off the 2005 season. Oregon State went 3-1 against the Bulldogs in 2004 with GU winning the last contest 10-5. OSU finished the 2004 season with a 23-22 record under head coach Pat Casey. This season Oregon State is picked to finish sixth in the Pacific-10 Conference. The Beavers are led by preseason All-American pitcher Dallas Buck who posted a 3-6 record with an ERA of 5.06 and 57 strikeouts in 2004.
No. 9 ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS: Gonzaga University will take on the ninth-ranked Sun Devils of Arizona State University on Saturday. The Sun Devils enter the week with a 1-2 record. ASU won the only contest between the two last season 10-7. The Bulldogs are winless in nine tries all-time versus the Sun Devils. ASU is tabbed to finish in a tie for third in the Pacific-10 Conference in the preseason coaches poll. The Sun Devils are led by outfielder Travis Buck who hit .373 with nine home runs and 58 RBI in 2004.
NEW MEXICO STATE: The Bulldogs will meet the Aggies of New Mexico State University on Sunday for the first time in program history. The Aggies posted a 33-25-1 mark in 2004 with a 12-12 record in Sun Belt Conference play. NMSU is led by outfielder Xardiel Cotto hit .379 with 11 home runs and 57 RBI in 2004.
WCC FORMAT TO CHANGE IN 2006: Starting in 2006 the West Coast Conference will change it's conference format and schedule for the baseball conference season. A one-division format will once again be implemented, and the eight institutions will compete in a 21-game conference season. Currently teams compete in a two-division format, West and Coast, with a 30-game conference schedule. The two-division format was origionally implimented in 1999, but underwent realignment, swapping a pair of teams from division to division, in 2000, 2002 and 2004. The 2005 season will be the last season to feature the two-division, 30-game format for conference games. Under the one division, 21-game format, each school will play the other seven opponents one time over the course of an eight-week season. Each school will play seven three-game series, with one week serving as a bye week. The WCC championship series will continue, despite the change in the format. Under the current format, the two division winners compete in the WCC Championship Series with the winner of the non-division series holding home field advantage. Under the new format in 2006, the top two teams with the best conference record will compete in the WCC Championship Series, with the regular season series winner holding the home field advantage.
TOURNAMENT FRIENDLY ZAGS: Since 1990 the Bulldogs have posted a 45-38-2 record playing in various tournaments during the preseason. The Bulldogs will look to improve upon that in the early part of the season as GU will be involved in four preseason tournaments.
FORMER ZAG NAMED NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Jason Bay was named the 2004 National League Rookie of the Year. Bay, the first Pittsburgh player and first native Canadian to win the NL award, got 25 of 32 first-place votes and 146 points. Bay hit .282 with 26 homers and 82 RBI. The native of Trail, British Columbia, had the most homers by an NL rookie since Albert Pujols hit 37 in 2001. Bay started the season on the disabled list while recovering from surgery on his right shoulder and didn't play his first major league game of the season until May 7. Bay was an All-West Coast Conference first-team pick at Gonzaga in his senior season of 2000, and capped his senior season with 80 hits, 15 home runs, 60 runs scored and a .388 average to rank in the top 10 on the Gonzaga single-season charts in those four categories.
THIBAULT RETURNS TO THE ZAGS: The reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Year, junior catcher Kiel Thibault makes his return for Gonzaga University. Thibault became the second Gonzaga player to win the Player of the Year honor, joining Nate Gold who won the award in 2002 after leading the nation with 33 home runs. Thibault finished the season with a .424 batting average to win the WCC batting title while hitting .432 in league play. The .424 average was the second highest in school history and the fifth best mark in WCC history as the junior from Jerome, Idaho, led the conference with 87 hits. In addition to being named the WCC Player of the Year, Thibault was also named the WCC first team catcher. Thibault was named preseason first team All-American by National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
CULPEPPER SKIPS THE MINORS, AGAIN: A professional career will have to wait for Gonzaga University outfielder Jeff Culpepper, at least for one more year as the redshirt-senior returned to school for the 2005 season. This is the second consecutive season Culpepper has bypassed the draft. In 2003 he was selected in the 39th round by the Boston Red Sox and in 2004 was selected in the 24th round by the Chicago Cubs. Culpepper chose to come back to school, making him the first GU player to skip minor league baseball after being drafted twice since Mike McNeilly was drafted by Oakland in 1971 and by Atlanta in the January secondary draft of 1972. McNeilly then played his senior season at Gonzaga before being drafted by the New York Mets in the summer of 1972.
THE INFIELD: The Bulldogs infield will look a little different than last season as some newcomers have made their case for starting positions. At third base the coaches are excited about freshman Darin Holcomb and believe that he is not only a good fielder, but a great hitting prospect as well. Players also competing for time at third and second base are Matt Hibbitts and Shane Hoey. Hoey, a product of Blanchet High, hit over .400 in three of his four years in high school and also made an appearance in the state All-Star game. The coaches believe that he is a versatile player and could be battling for time in the outfield as well. Hibbitts also showed his ability to hit for a high average while playing at Grant High. He hit over .400 during his junior and senior seasons and helped his team reach the 4A state quarterfinals during his senior campaign. Hibbits could also be vying for time in the outfield as well as third base. Aaron McGuinness appears to have locked down the starting shortstop job. McGuinness will look to help with the offense and improve upon his .242 batting average from a year ago. McGuinness recorded 70 putouts and 147 assists while posting a .900 fielding percentage. At second base the Bulldogs will look to a junior college transfer from Central Arizona Community College, Scott Campbell. The New Zealand native will be a welcome bat to the Zags offense as he hit .424 with 34 runs scored last season at Central Arizona. Junior Bobby Carlson will move from third over to first base for the Zags this season.
ZAGS ROOKIE PITCHING STAFF: On the mound the Bulldogs return one starting pitcher from a year ago in junior Patrick Donovan, a product of Spokane's North Central High. The coaching staff is confident he will be a valuable leader for the newcomers. Head Coach Mark Machtolf figures he'll compete for time in the starting rotation. Another probable starter for the Bulldogs could be junior college transfer Jay Bryner. While pitching two seasons at Bellevue Community College he was an All-Conference selection both years and in 2004 he posted a 7-2 record with an ERA of 1.01 and 85 strikeouts. The southpaw has impressed the coaching staff as they foresee him as being a possible number one starter. Sophomore Bobby McEwen is making his presence felt on the mound as well. McEwen saw little action last season, but the coaching staff believes he has made huge improvements and will be a value to this season's squad. In 2004 McEwen posted a 0-3 record in 12 appearances while recording 16 strikeouts and an ERA of 11.65 in 17 innings of work. Other newcomers that have peeked the interest of the coaching staff are redshirt junior transfer Alan Cannell and freshman transfer Brandon Harmon. These two could be vying for time as a starter as well.
THE BULLPEN: One of the first out of the bullpen for Gonzaga University could be junior Nate Williams who posted a 2-1 record with a 5.85 ERA, 19 strikeouts and recorded two saves last season. Williams will be looked upon to provide leadership to the newcomers. Sophomore Chris Albrecht, junior Josh Monroe, freshman left hander Matt Wickswat and freshman Brian Ouellette will round out the bullpen for the Bulldogs. Wickswat, who posted a 10-0 record with a 2.00 ERA and 80 strikeouts during his senior year in high school has the coaching staff believing he will be a contributor to this seasons squad. Albrecht posted a 1-1 record with an ERA of 7.71 with 23 strikeouts in 2004. The coaching staff believe his numbers last season don't reflect his true presence on the mound. Although Monroe will see time in the bullpen, the coaches haven't ruled him out of being a possible starter for the Bulldogs.
GU'S NEW LOOK OUTFIELD: The Zags outfield has yet to be solidified, but there is a plethora of talent for Machtolf to choose from. Freshman Shawn Wayt is a converted first basemen and appears to be the leading candidate in left field. The coaches also see him as adding significantly to the offensive production of the Bulldogs. He could also figure in the plans at designated hitter. While playing baseball at Westview High School in Portland, Ore. he hit .513 during his senior season. Junior Will Ayala, the nephew of former Gonzaga pitcher Warren Ayala (1986-89), and redshirt freshman Austin Highberger from Stayton, Ore, will also be vying for time in the left and right field positions. All-American candidate Jeff Culpepper will move to a new position. Last season he spent the season as the Bulldogs starting first basemen, and now is making the move to right field. Along with his strong bat the coaching staff is excited and feels he will do a great job in the outfield. At center field the Zags welcome back their leadoff hitter from a year ago, Jackson Brennan. Machtolf said the return of Jackson Brennan gives the Bulldogs a solid leadoff hitter. Last year he hit .308 with an on-base percentage of .457.
THE SIGNAL CALLER: Behind the plate for the Zags will be junior Kiel Thibault who continues to get better both offensively and defensively, according to Machtolf. Backing up Thibault will be Nick Merriman, a product of Jesuit High and Dan Ramsay, who was twice named to the All-CIF team.
CARLSON RETURNS FOR 2005: Junior Bobby Carlson will be making a move from his more natural position of third base over to the other corner at first. Last season Carlson was second on the team in hitting with a .362 average. He also recorded 15 doubles and was second on the team in RBI with 44. The coaching staff see him hitting somewhere in the middle of the order.
FAMILY AFFAIR: Junior outfielder Will Ayala arrives at Gonzaga from Treasure Valley Community College to continue his family legacy as Bulldogs. Ayala's uncle, Warren, played at Gonzaga from 1986-89.
FREQUENT FLYER MILEAGE: Gonzaga University will fly over 4,000 miles and bus a little over 200 miles before playing its first home game at Avista Stadium on March. 18. GU will make two trips to Ariz. and one trip to Calif. by plane, and will have two bus trips one to Lewiston, Idaho and the other to Pasco, Wash.
SKIPPER Mark Machtolf: Considered one of the Top 10 rising stars in the Division I coaching ranks by Baseball America in its 2000 publication, Mark Machtolf now enters his second season at the helm of the Gonzaga baseball program. Machtolf, an 11-year assistant at Gonzaga, was officially handed the coaching reigns on August 7, 2003, from 24-year head coach Steve Hertz who moved into an administrative position at the school. During his 11 years as an assistant, Machtolf coached the Bulldogs hitters and outfielders as well as serving as the Bulldogs recruiting coordinator. Under his guidance Gonzaga became one of the top power hitting teams in the nation, setting a West Coast Conference and school record with 92 home runs in 2002, the seventh best home run per game average in the nation. Machtolf also coached Bulldogs slugger Nate Gold who led the NCAA with 33 home runs in 2002 en route to All-American honors. A 1987 graduate of Stanford University, Machtolf was a member of the Cardinal's 1987 College World Series championship team and was an All-CWS selection. A 4-year baseball letterman and 2-year football letterman he graduated from Stanford in 1987.
BULLDOGS COACHING STAFF: Gonzaga University has added one new assistant coach this season as Gonzaga alum Steve Bennett (2000) will join Gonzaga alums Scott Asan (2000) and Danny Evans (2003) on Mark Machtolf's staff. Bennett will oversee the pitchers, Asan will oversee the infield while Evans will work with Bulldogs outfielders. All three coaches were All-WCC performers during their playing careers at Gonzaga.
ZAGS TABBED FIFTH IN WCC POLL: Gonzaga University was picked to finish fifth overall in the West Coast Conference in the preseason poll of WCC coaches. Gonzaga received 22 total points to finish one point ahead of the University of San Francisco in the overall poll. In divisional play Gonzaga was tabbed to finish third in the WCC Coast Division behind the University of San Diego and Loyola Marymount University. Gonzaga will be playing against San Diego, Loyola Marymount and Saint Mary's College in the Coast Division. Pepperdine University, University of Portland ,San Francisco and Santa Clara University comprise the WCC West Division. The WCC Champion will be determined in a WCC Playoff between the two divisional champions at the site of the team which wins the regular-season series between the two schools.
2005 GAMETRACKER AVAILABLE: Gonzaga will once again have GameTracker statistics available for selected games during the 2005 baseball season. Fans can go to www.gozags.com and click on the baseball schedule to see which road games are available throughout the season. Gonzaga will once again carry all 20 home games on GameTracker.
