Baseball Has New Outlook For 2004
1/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 27, 2004
Moraga, CA - The Saint Mary's baseball team comes into the season with a new outlook for 2004, which includes a new coaching staff and talented group of returning players. Jedd Soto enters his first year as head coach of the Gaels and has immediately brought excitement into the Saint Mary's baseball program. Soto comes to Saint Mary's from Feather River College in Quincy, CA and brings assistant coaches Gabe Zappin and Steve Roberts with him. Soto and the Gaels return four starting infielders from last season and four outfielders who each started at one point in 2003. Saint Mary's is coming off an 18-37-1 record and Soto and staff are quickly looking to change that. "We have a lot of experience and should do well offensively and defensively," Soto said.
With a large group of returning position players, the Gaels will rely on their offense and defense early in the season, while their young arms continue to grow. Saint Mary's returns three pitchers who saw significant time last year, but will also have to replace catcher Nick Conte, who was drafted after his junior season. The Gaels have also brought in several talented freshmen pitchers to help build a strong staff come West Coast Conference action. Pitchers
Saint Mary's returns three pitchers from last year's team that saw quality time and should be fighting for a starting role. Seniors Kevin Trochez (San Gabriel, CA) and Dane Dobrinich (Alamo, CA) and sophomore Justin Sloan (Chico, CA) are all potential starters. Trochez is the most experienced on the staff, after logging 48.1 innings pitched and a 1-6 record in 10 starts last season. Trochez features a high 80s fastball and has a good change up, making him the team's most seasoned veteran. Dobrinich made 29 relief appearances and made some spot starts last season for the Gaels, earning a 4-5 record and throwing 60 innings. Dobrinich is a three-pitch pitcher, who is considered a crafty right hander. Sloan had a solid freshman campaign and is in the mix for a starting role again this season. Sloan started three games and made six appearances on the season, throwing 19 innings and earning a 2-1 record last year. Sloan's season was cut short due to season ending back problems, but he is fully recovered and is looking forward to a strong sophomore season after an impressive fall.
After the Gaels' three returning pitchers, newcomers Shane Day (Whittier, CA), Bryan Oland (Santa Ana, CA) and Allan Lobban (Surrey, CA) will be battling for a starting spot in the rotation as well. All three pitchers feature fastballs in the high 80s to low 90s and all are extremely talented and have command of three pitches. Several other pitchers who are looking to compete for time on the mound this year include: Justin Albrecht (Roseville, CA), Tom Carroll (Yucaipa, CA), Matt Dolen (San Jose, CA), Michael Nisco (Alamo, CA), Jordan Simo (Marina Del Rey, CA), Matt Sowell (Grass Valley, CA), and Thomas Taber (Reno, NV).
Catchers
The Gaels lost starting catcher Nick Conte to the Major League Baseball draft, and will look to fill the vacant spot with junior Stefan Foushee (Lafayette, CA) and a group of talented freshmen. Foushee brings the most experience and is an exceptional defensive catcher. The junior had 52 at bats last season behind Conte and threw out 72 percent of runners trying to steal. The Gaels' talented freshmen include Jonathan Musgrove (Pasadena, CA), Michael Machado (Turlock, CA) and Ian Gordon (Richmond, CA).
Infielders
One of Saint Mary's strong points this season will be the infield. The Gaels return starters at every position and will look for this group to lead the way with their experience and knowledge. At first base, Saint Mary's returns starters Delaney Gallagher (Pacific Palisades, CA), who started 38 games last year and Rob Kohn (Redding, CA) who started four games and played in 13. Gallagher finished third on the team in hitting last season with a .317 batting average, 12 doubles and 20 RBIs. Kohn had 26 at bats and a .231 average. The Gaels also feature freshman first baseman Mike Nieto (Newport Beach, CA) who will be battling for time as well.
In the middle of the infield, Saint Mary's returns starting second baseman Mike Harris, a junior from Irvine, CA, who started 49 games last season. Harris batted .247 with 22 RBIs and 24 runs last season while recording a .931 fielding percentage. Harris will compete with freshman Gilbert Urbina (Rosemead, CA) for time at second base. At shortstop, the Gaels return sophomore Gilbert Gil (San Diego, CA), who was fourth on the team in batting last season with a .314 average, 13 doubles and 26 RBIs. Gil was also solid defensively with 16 errors in 267 chances for a .940 fielding percentage. Gil will compete with junior Adam Callan (Corte Madera, CA) for time at shortstop.
At third base, the Gaels feature West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year Bryan Byrne who is back for his sophomore season. Last year Byrne led the Gaels with a .358 batting average and started all 56 games for Saint Mary's. Byrne also led the team with 42 runs, 15 doubles, 46 RBIs, a .514 slugging percentage and 26 walks. Byrne will compete with freshman Jason Harris (Sacramento, CA) for time at third base. "The infield has improved and was very impressive this fall in defensive play and offensive production," Soto said.
Outfielders
Saint Mary's returns four players who started at one point last season in the outfield. The group is led by two-year starter Mike Sansoe (Walnut Creek, CA). Sansoe started 44 games in centerfield last season and finished with a .273 batting average, 25 runs and 10 RBIs. Sansoe was joined in the outfield last season by Adam Bellows (Lake Oswego, OR), who started 33 games, finishing with a .263 batting average, 26 RBIs and a team-high seven home runs. Preston Young (Danville, CA) and Adam Thompson (Auburn, CA) each started several games for the Gaels last season as well. Young started 17 games and appeared in 34 games, while Thompson started 15 games and competed in 26. The outfielders will also be joined by senior Eli Champion (Oakdale, CA), sophomores Sam Battle (Alta Loma, CA) and Sam Carter (Clayton, CA) and freshman Rafael Falcon (Pomona, CA).
Schedule
Saint Mary's opens the season at home for the first time since the 1992 season when it hosts Cal Poly on Friday, January 30 at 2 p.m. The three-game series will conclude on Sunday, February 1. The Gaels will also feature a tough non-conference schedule, which includes two tournaments, the Pacific Tournament in Stockton, CA and the Sacramento State Tournament in Sacramento, CA. Saint Mary's will play Pac-10 opponents California and Stanford, including a three-game series with the Bears and two games against the Cardinal, and Western Athletic Conference opponents Nevada and San Jose State. After the Gaels play Nevada on March 16, they will start West Coast Conference play against Gonzaga at Louis Guisto Field on Friday, March 19.
BSB | Saint Mary's at Portland Highlights, 3-29-26
Sunday, March 29
BSB | Saint Mary's at Portland Highlights, 3-28-26
Saturday, March 28
BSB | Saint Mary's at Portland Highlights, 3-27-26
Friday, March 27
BSB | Saint Mary's vs UC Santa Barbara Highlights, 3-24-26
Tuesday, March 24
