@UCLABaseball
UCLA is in the College World Series.
Play starts this coming weekend, and they’re two years removed from a second place finish. This year’s squad, coached by John Savage, has his fingerprints all over the program. The team is is not explosive, but their motto of “grind for nine” results in a handful of runs that generally stand up with their stalwart defense and effective pitching. They open play against Stony Brook, the tiny school from Long Island, has never made it anywhere near this far. . .and thusly is the darlings of the College Baseball landscape. Oh yeah – Stony Brook features three guys from Crespi in the starting lineup. Yes, Crespi of the San Fernando Valley. Should be fun.
UCLA had seven ballplayers drafted this year in the first 15 rounds – not including three recruits that went in the 1st round – so the talent is vast. . .though rather striking is their lack of power, or a power hitter. their 3-hole guy, Cody Regis, did NOT hit a homerun this year, but still knocked in 31 (in 50 games) and swatted .357.
Jeff Galalich is the best offensive player, Travis Brown is a name to watch, and Beau Amaral and Shane Zeile (sons of Rich and Todd, respectively) also start for the UCLA ballers. Pitching staff is led by soft-tossing yet effective ace Adam Plutko (topped out at 88 in his start in the SuperRegionals) and Nick Vander Tuig (10-1 on the year), who’s going to be a big dog next year. Also worth noting is UCLA has a reliever, David Berg, who has appeared in 47 of their 59 games, an outstanding and unprecedented resilience
from a freshman.
GO BRUINS.
Ev
On Sun, Jun 10, 2012 at 10:14 PM, The Count <countthechips> wrote:
UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball)
6/10/12 9:00 PM
UCLA will face Stony Brook (America East champions) in its opening College World Series game on either Friday or Saturday. Game time TBD.Stu “The Count” Lovett. Sent from my iPhone
