Oklahoma State University Athletics
Baseball Prepares for Weekend Showdown
June 21, 1999 | Cowboy Baseball
March 4, 1998
This week: Oregon State gets its first shot this season at a nationally-ranked team against No. 3 Southern California
FRIDAY, MARCH 6
Oregon State at No. 3 Southern California
7 p.m. (Radio: KLOO-AM, 1340)
SATURDAY, MARCH 7
Oregon State at No. 3 Southern California
1 p.m. (Radio: KLOO-AM, 1340)
SUNDAY, MARCH 8
Oregon State at No. 3 Southern California
1 p.m. (Radio: KLOO-AM, 1340)
Oregon State (6-3-1 overall) faces its toughest task of the season this weekend, venturing south for a three-game series against the nation's third-ranked team, Southern California (14-4 overall, 4-2 Pacific-10 Southern Division).
"They're the No. 3 team in the country and they've got outstanding pitching," OSU head coach Pat Casey said. "It looks like they're a very, very solid ballclub. They've played a difficult schedule and they're 14-4."
Last season, Oregon State felt that having the ninth-best regular season winning percentage in the country should have been worth some notice. If the Beavers really want to earn some attention on the national level in 1998, this is a tremendous chance to begin doing just that.
"It really is," Casey said. "I just wish we were 100 percent healthy and playing a little better right now ... this is a tremendous challenge. It's difficult going on the road every week, and playing the No. 3 team. It would be nice not to be going into their place, but that's what we've got to do. We've been on the road three straight weeks, and the schedule continues to get tough."
While the Beavers managed to get outside a few times early in the season, practice has largely been limited to McAlexander Fieldhouse lately. That's prevented OSU from really getting into the type of playing rhythm the Beavers settled into about this time a year ago.
"When you can't practice on the field, it makes it difficult to work on the things you want to after you've played a game," Casey said. "You've just got to work on the things you can indoors, and the next time you're on a field, it's game time again."
Last weekend, Southern California took two of three games from cross-town rival UCLA, winning 6-1 at home and 10-9 on the road before losing the finale 12-7 at home. On Tuesday, USC beat Cal-Santa Barbara 15-8.
USC, batting .330 as a team, is led by junior first baseman Rob Gorr (.432, 1 homer, 20 runs batted in), senior third baseman Morgan Ensberg (.385, 4, 17) and sophomore catcher Eric Munson (.385, 6, 26). The Trojans have a team earned run average of 3.40; their rotation for this weekend is scheduled to be senior righthander Sean Etherton (5-0 record, 1.16 ERA), junior righthander Mike Penney (3-1, 2.83) and junior lefthander Jason Saenz (1-1, 3.74). OSU Probable lineup (batting order will vary) C-Ben Bertrand, sr. (The Dalles, Ore./Chemeketa CC); .436, 3 HRs, 13 RBIs
1B-Matt Bailie, sr. (Hillsboro, Ore./Hillsboro HS); .436, 2 HRs, 16 RBIs; or Joe Gerber, so. (Portland, Ore./Grant HS); .211, 0 HRs, 1 RBI 2B-Corrie Willkie, jr. (Mission Viejo, Calif./Saddleback JC); .391, 1 HR, 8 RBIs
SS-Troy Schader, jr. (La Center, Wash./Green River CC); 281, 0 HRs, 2 RBIs; or Brian Duerr, so. (Bellevue, WA/O'Dea HS), .100, 0 HRs, 2 RBIs 3B-Ryan Lipe, sr. (Klamath Falls, Ore./Mazama HS), .463, 2 HRs, 14 RBIs
LF-Greg Conley, jr. (Sequim, Wash./Arizona Western CC); .240, 1 HR, 5 RBIs; or Drew Hedges, so. (Portland, Ore./Beaverton HS), .250, 0 HRs, 2 RBIs
CF-Jason Stranberg, sr. (Ashland, Ore./Mt. Hood CC); ..200, 0 HRs, 2 RBIs
RF-Rob Colley, jr. (Tenino, Wash./Lower Columbia CC); .375, 0 HRs, 4 RBIs
DH-Greg Conley, jr. (Sequim, Wash./Arizona Western CC); .240, 1 HR, 5 RBIs; or Drew Hedges, so. (Portland, Ore./Beaverton HS), .250, 0 HRs, 2 RBIs; or Curtis Davis, fr. (Corvallis, Ore./Corvallis HS), .286, 0 HRs, 1 RBI
OSU Starting pitchers (rotation will vary) RHP-Andrew Checketts, sr. (West Linn, Ore./Florida),3-0, 2.00 RHP-Chris Pine, jr. (Tigard, Ore./Tualatin HS), 1-0, 4.00 LHP-Brody Percell, sr. (Portland, Ore./Beaverton HS), 0-2, 6.14; or RHP-B.R. Cook, so. (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS), 0-1, 9.53; or LHP-Joe Gerber, so. (Portland, Ore./Grant HS), 1-0, 0.96 OSU Bullpen
RHP-Mike Boire, jr. (Tigard, Ore./Tigard HS), 0-0, 3.86 RHP-Jason Bronson, sr. (Roseburg, Ore./Mississippi), 0-0, 1.59 RHP-Matt Bailie, sr. (Aloha, Ore./Hillsboro HS), 0-0, 0.00 LHP-Val Mencas, sr. (Medford, Ore./North Medford HS), 1-0, 1.42
Ancient history
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: Oregon State is 5-17 all-time against Southern California in a series that dates back to 1951, and the Beavers are on an 11-game losing streak against the Trojans. The schools haven't met since USC took a 4-3 win in Los Angeles in 1977; OSU's last victory was 5-0 in Corvallis in 1967.
The schools met 4 times in best-of-3 postseason series from 1951 through 1963. The Trojans took the 1951 Pacific Coast Conference title in three games in Los Angeles; the Beavers swept the 1952 PCC title in two games in Corvallis; the Trojans swept the 1958 PCC title in two games in Corvallis; and the Trojans won a 1963 NCAA West Regional series in three games in Corvallis.
Ouch, that's gotta hurt
INJURY REPORT: Junior pitcher Mark Newell. Newell left the season-opener against South Florida in the top of the fourth inning with pain in his right elbow; an MRI exam showed a new tear in one of his elbow ligaments. He tested the arm by playing catch February 27; there won't be any further word on his status for the rest of the season until he's re-examined this Friday.
Freshman pitcher/outfielder Paul Hansen missed last weekend's trip to Cal-Santa Barbara with a bone chip in his right elbow. He'll be out of action another two weeks.
Last week: A win, a loss, and a tie
Oregon State got a little bit of everything in a three-game series at Cal-Santa Barbara - a win, a loss and a tie. The Beavers won the opening game of the series 13-1, then lost a three-run eighth-inning lead and fell 7-6 in the 10-inning finale to the February 28 doubleheader. On March 1, the Beavers led going into both the bottom of the ninth and bottom of the 10th innings but allowed the Gauchos to tie each time; the game was called a 4-4 tie after 10 innings to allow OSU to catch its flight home.
Making history
ALL-TIME RECORD: Oregon State's all-time record in varsity baseball is now 1,587-1,068-15, a winning percentage of .597. OSU's all-time record in conference games is now 718-492, a winning percentage of .593.
Ride, captains, ride
1998 TEAM CAPTAINS: Oregon State has four team captains for 1998: senior catcher Ben Bertrand, senior pitcher Andrew Checketts, senior third baseman Ryan Lipe, and senior outfielder Jason Stranberg. Checketts and Lipe were also captains in 1997.
Looking into the crystal ball
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS: Oregon State is a concensus pick to finish second behind Washington in the Pacific-10 Northern Division race. The Beavers are tabbed for second place by the division's coaches, Baseball America magazine and Collegiate Baseball magazine.
Baseball America's ranking of all the nation's Division I programs has Oregon State 48th. In its Players to Watch section, Collegiate Baseball named 4 Beavers: junior pitcher Mark Newell, senior pitcher Andrew Checketts, senior third baseman Ryan Lipe and senior catcher Ben Bertrand.
Casey in the dugout hits 100
HEAD COACH PAT CASEY: Pat Casey is in his fourth season as Oregon State's head baseball coach, and he picked up his 100th victory at the school when the Beavers beat San Diego 8-3 at USD on February 21. He has a record of 101-55-4 with the Beavers. His career college head coaching record is 269-167-5, which includes seven years at George Fox University in Newberg.
Casey is the fourth OSU baseball head coach to reach 100 victories at the school, following Ralph Coleman (561), Gene Tanselli (115) and Jack Riley (613). Casey reached the mark quickest, as it took Coleman until his ninth season at Oregon State and it took both Tanselli and Riley until their fifth seasons.
Casey came to OSU from George Fox in the fall of 1994 after leading the Bruins to a 171-113-1 record. George Fox won three NAIA District 2 titles during that time.
It's just plain old home
COLEMAN FIELD: Coleman Field may not have a lot of frills at the moment, but that's never bothered the Beavers. Oregon State has been playing on the same site since starting varsity baseball in 1907; the Beavers are 827-348-1 at home for a winning percentage of .704. In 1997, OSU was 16-4 at Coleman Field.
At the conclusion of this season, work will begin on Goss Stadium at Coleman Field. The structure, which will open for the 1999 season, will seat approximately 1,500 people and include a press box, concession/lobby area, dugouts, locker rooms, men's and women's restrooms and storage areas.
First sign of spring
OREGON STATE SEASON OPENERS: Opening Day has been good to the Beavers lately. After beating South Florida 7-6 on February 13, OSU has won its last five season-openers and 10 of its last 12. Since starting varsity baseball in 1907, the Beavers are 64-25 on Opening Day. OSU had been slated for its earliest-ever season-opener, but the Feb. 6-8 series at San Jose State was rained ou, leaving the Feb. 7, 1997 game at Hawaii as the Beavers' earliest opener.
The long and winding road
OREGON STATE HOME OPENERS: Oregon State was scheduled to play its first 18 games of the 1998 season away from Coleman Field; that's been reduced to the first 14 games by rainouts. OSU's March 11 home opener against Portland is the latest the Beavers have scheduled a home opener since 1989, when they met Western Oregon on March 11; the last time a home opener was later than that was in 1982, when OSU met Pacific (Ore.) on March 13. After those 14 games away from home, the Beavers are scheduled to play 21 of their final 35 games at Coleman Field.
Pacific-10 positioning
1998 PACIFIC-10 STANDINGS THROUGH MARCH 1 NORTHERN DIVISION
W L Pct. GB
Oregon State (6-3-1) 0 0 .000 -
Portland State (3-8) 0 0 .000 -
Washington (7-3) 0 0 .000 -
Washington State (5-4) 0 0 .000 -
SOUTHERN DIVISION
W L Pct. GB
Stanford (16-1-1) 5 1 .833 -
Arizona (22-2) 4 2 .667 1.0
Southern California (13-4) 4 2 .667 1.0
Arizona State (13-5) 3 2 .600 1.5
UCLA (8-10) 3 5 .375 3.0
California (3-11-1) 0 7 .000 5.5
Northern lights
PACIFIC-10 NORTHERN DIVISION PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Oregon State's Ryan Lipe was named the Northern Division Player of the Week and Andrew Checketts was Pitcher of the Week for February 23-March 1.
Lipe batted .539 (7-for-13) with 2 home runs, 4 runs batted in, 2 doubles and 3 runs scored in a 3-game series at California-Santa Barbara. It was the second time in his career that Lipe has been named the division's Player of the Week.
Checketts earned the honor for the second time this season by winning the first game of a February 28 doubleheader at Cal-Santa Barbara. He went 6.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and 0 walks while striking out 8; it was the second time this season he's been the division's Pitcher of the Week and the fifth time in his career. 1998 WEEKLY SELECTIONS FROM OREGON STATE
Player Pitcher February 9-15 Corrie Willkie Andrew Checketts February 16-22 Chris Pine Feb.23-March 1 Ryan Lipe Andrew Checketts
Won't you run home, Matt Bailie
MATT BAILIE, SENIOR FIRST BASEMAN: Batting .436, 2 homers, team-high 16 RBIs ... last week, batted .286 (4-for-14) with 1 double, 2 RBIs in 3 games ... made first pitching appearance March 1 at Cal-Santa Barbara, going 2.0 innings in relief, 2 hits, 1 run (0 earned), 1 walk, 3 strikeouts ... February 21 at San Diego, set career-high for hits and tied career-high for RBIS by going 4-for-4 with a 3-run homer, 4 RBIs ... has at least one hit in every game this season ... 4 multi-hit games.
The big Bert
BEN BERTRAND, SENIOR CATCHER: Batting .436 with 2 homers, 16 RBIs, team-high 13 runs scored, tied for team-high with 9 walks ... last week, batted .357 (5-for-14) with 1 homer, 6 RBIs in 3 games ... has 6 multi-hit games, including 3 three-hit games ... currently on a 4-game hitting streak and has a hit in all but 2 of OSU's games ... has thrown out 6 of 14 runners attempting to steal on him this season ... February 28 in doubleheader at Cal-Santa Barbara, went 4-for-9 with 1 homer, 5 RBIs ... February 18 in back-to-back games vs. Cal-Santa Barbara and San Diego State, went 6-for-10 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 3 RBIs.
Boire really something else
MIKE BOIRE, SENIOR RELIEF PITCHER: Record of 0-0, 0 saves, 38.6 ERA this season ... last week, pitched March 1 at Cal-Santa Barbara, 2.2 innings 1 run (0 earned), 1 hit, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts ... Feb. 18 vs. Cal-Santa Barbara, pitched career-high 4.1 innings, 5 runs (4 earned), 7 hits, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts.
Then came Bronson
JASON BRONSON, SENIOR RELIEF PITCHER: Record of 0-0, 0 saves, 1.59 ERA this season ... last week, pitched February 28 in second game at Cal Santa-Barbara, 1.2 innings, 1 run (0 earned), 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout ... February 18 in back-to-back games against Cal-Santa Barbara and San Diego State for first appearances of season; went total of 4.0 innings, allowed 1 run (1 earned) on 3 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts.
Cash or Checketts
ANDREW CHECKETTS, SENIOR STARTING PITCHER: Record of 3-0, 2.00 ERA ... has allowed only 1 walk while striking out 17 ... last week, named Northern Division Pitcher of the Week; won third straight start February 28 in first game at Cal-Santa Barbara; 6.0 innings, 4 hits, 1 run (1 earned), 0 walks, 8 strikeouts ... earned win February 21 in 8-3 victory at San Diego; 7.0 innings, 9 hits, 3 runs (3 earned), 1 walk, 4 strikeouts ... Pacific-10 Northern Divison Pitcher of the Week for February 9-15 after beating Central Florida on February 15; went 5.0 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 walks, struck out 5.
Colley all cars
ROB COLLEY, JUNIOR OUTFIELDER: Batting .375, 0 homers, 4 RBIs this season ... last week, batted . (5-for-11), 2 RBIs, 2 doubles, 3 walks in 3 games ... currently has 3-game hitting streak ... February 18 vs. Cal-Santa Barbara, went 4-for-4.
Pro or Conley
GREG CONLEY, JUNIOR OUTFIELDER/DESIGNATED HITTER: Batting .240 with 1 home run, 5 RBIs this season ... last week, batted .111 (1-for-9) in 3 games ... in first game as a Beaver on February 13 vs. South Florida, went 2-for-3 and hit 3-run homer in first at-bat.
He really knows how to Cook
B.R. COOK, SOPHOMORE STARTING PITCHER: Record of 0-1, 9.53 ERA this season ... last week, did not pitch ... last appearance was start vs. Cal-Santa Barbara on February 18, 5.2 innings, 8 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), walked 2, struck out 3.
Crash ... it's Davis
CURTIS DAVIS, FRESHMAN DESIGNATED HITTER: Batting .286, 1 RBI, 3 doubles this season ... last week, batted .200 (1-for-5), 1 double, 3 walks in 3 games ... went 2-for-3 and doubled vs. CENTYS Universidad of Mexico in a non-counting game February 19 ... February 21 at San Diego, doubled, drove in a run.
Just Duerr best
BRIAN DUERR, SOPHOMORE INFIELDER: Batting .100, 2 RBIS this season ... last week, did not play at Cal-Santa Barbara ... prior to series at UCSB, had played in every game, started twice ... February 15 vs. Central Florida, delivered 2-run single.
Gerber is sharp
JOE GERBER, SOPHOMORE FIRST BASEMAN/PITCHER: Batting .211, 1 RBI this season ... 1-0, 0.96 ERA this season ... last week, batted .250 (1-for-4) in 2 games; got pitching start March 1 at Cal-Santa Barbara, 5.1 innings, 2 runs (1 earned), 2 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts ... pitched win vs. Florida Atlantic on February 14, 4.0 innings in relief, 0 runs, 3 hits, walked 2, struck out 3.
Hedges in the outfield
DREW HEDGES, SOPHOMORE OUTFIELDER: Batting .250, 2 RBIs this season ... last week, batted .200 (1-for-5), 2 RBIs, 2 walks in 3 games ... on 2-game hitting streak.
That's Lipe; that's what the people say
RYAN LIPE, SENIOR THIRD BASEMAN: Batting .team-high .463, 2 home runs, 14 RBIs this season; team-high 3-for-3 stolen bases ... last week, named Northern Division Player of the Week; batted .538 (7-for-13), , 1 homer, 4 RBIs, 2 doubles in 3 games; had pair of 3-hit games ... has at least 1 hit in every game this season ... 7 multi-hit games ... February 14 vs. Florida Atlantic, was 2-for-5, 5 RBIs, 3-run homer.
That touch of Mencas
VAL MENCAS, SENIOR RELIEF PITCHER: Record of 1-0, 1.42 ERA this season ... last week, 0-0, infinite ERA; pitched in second game February 28 at Cal Santa Barbara, 0.0 innings, 2 runs (1 earned), 1 walk, 0 strikeouts ... earned win February 13 vs. South Florida with 3.1 innings in relief, 0 runs, 2 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts.
What's Newell?
MARK NEWELL, SENIOR STARTING PITCHER: Record of 0-0, 8.10 ERA this season ... left Opening Day game February 13 vs. South Florida after 3.1 innings, 3 runs (3 earned), 8 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout with pain in right elbow ... MRI showed tear in ligament; unknown at this time whether he will return this season.
The Brody bunch
BRODY PERCELL, SENIOR PITCHER: Record of 0-2, 6.14 ERA this season ... last week, took loss in 7-6 defeat February 28 second game at Cal-Santa Barbara; 0.1 innings, 1 run (1 earned), 1 hit, 0 walks, 1 strikeout ... took 6-3 loss at San Diego State in first start of season, 5.0 innings, 5 runs (4 earned), 8 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts. Doing just Pine, thank you
CHRIS PINE, JUNIOR STARTING PITCHER: Record of 1-0, 4.0 ERA this season ... last week, no decision in February 28 second game at Cal-Santa Barbara; 7.0 innings, 3 runs (3 earned), 7 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts ... named Pacific-10 Conference Northern Division Pitcher of the Week for February 16-21 after beating New Mexico; 7.0 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits, 2 walks, career-high 13 strikeouts.
Made in the Schader
TROY SCHADER, JUNIOR SHORTSTOP: Batting .281, 2 RBIs this season ... last week, batted .500 (7-for-14), 2 RBIs, 2 doubles in 3 games ... February 28 doubleheader at Cal-Santa Barbara, went 6-for-9, 1 RBI, 2 doubles, 3 runs scored ... currently has 4-game hitting streak.
Fryin' Stranberg
JASON STRANBERG, SENIOR OUTFIELDER: Batting .200, 2 RBIs this season; 4 doubles, tied for team-high with 9 walks ... last week, batted .000 (0-for-8), 1 RBI in 3 games ... had 7-game hitting streak February 13-21; during streak, batted .259 (7-for-27), 4 doubles, 9 walks.
The Willkie way
CORRIE WILLKIE, JUNIOR SECOND BASEMAN: Batting .391, 8 RBIs, 1 homer this season; 11 runs scored ... last week, batted .357 (5-for-14), 3 RBIs in 3 games; February 28 first game at Cal-Santa Barbara, went 2-for-5 with career-high 3 RBIs ... currently has 4-game hitting streak ... 6 multi-hit games ... 5-game hitting streak February 13-18; during streak, batted .500 (12-for-24), 3 doubles, 4 RBIs and had 4 multi-hit games, including three straight 3-hit games.
Live, from Coleman Field, it's ...
TELEVISION: Oregon State's home game against Arizona on March 28 will be televised live on Fox Sports Net. Three other Beaver games will be televised by Fox Sports Northwest on a tape delay basis: March 23 at Washington State, to be replayed at a time to be announced on March 24; April 26 vs. Washington State, to be replayed at 1 p.m. April 27; and May 3 at Washington, to be replayed at a time to be announced on May 4.
Radio days
RADIO: Almost all of Oregon State's 1998 baseball games can be heard on KLOO-AM (1340) in Corvallis. All of OSU's games at Cal-Santa Barbara this weekend will be broadcast, with OSU baseball sports information director Kip Carlson calling the action.
Information, please
SPORTS INFORMATION: Baseball sports information director Kip Carlson can be reached in the OSU Sports Information Office by phoning (541) 737-3720.
Information on the 1997 season is also available through the Pacific-10 Conference's faxback service by phoning (503) 614-4044. The document numbers are: weekly media release 141350; latest statistics 141351; latest boxscore 141352; schedule/scoreboard 141353; current roster 141354.
The OSU athletic department web site contains regularly-updated baseball information. It is located at www.osubeavers.com
The Coleman Field press box number is (541) 737-7475.
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