Baseball Faces Sacramento State in Weekend Series
2/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 10, 2004
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What's On Schedule for the Gaels: Saint Mary's faces Sacramento State in a three-game series this weekend, with Friday's game on February 13 being played at Hornet Field in Sacramento, CA and Sunday's game also at Hornet Field. In between, the two teams will get together at Louis Guisto Field on Saturday, February 14 at 1 p.m. in Moraga, CA. Friday's game in Sacramento is scheduled for 2 p.m. and Sunday's game is set for 1 p.m. The Gaels carry a 2-4 record coming into the week, while Sacramento State has a 5-2 record.
Who's Hot: Saint Mary's sophomore shortstop Gilbert Gil is off to a fast start for the Gaels. Gil is leading the team with a .360 batting average after six games and leads the team with seven RBI and four doubles. Gil also has one home run on the season and is 2-for-3 in stolen base attempts.
Saint Mary's on the Radio: Fans will be able to listen to 25 games during the 2004 season broadcasted on KSMC 89.5 FM. A combination of announcers will provide play-by-play and commentary throughout the season. This week the Gaels' game against Sacramento State on Saturday, February 14, can be heard beginning at 1 p.m. with Sam Adams and Jennifer Rainwater calling the action.
First-Year Head Coach Jedd Soto: Saint Mary's College announced the hiring of its 11th head coach in school history on July 1, 2003 when it named Jedd Soto head baseball coach for the Gaels. Soto was a unanimous choice of the players, coaches, administrators and the search committee, and will be entering his first season as a head coach at the Division I level. At 29 years of age, Soto becomes the youngest head coach in the West Coast Conference. Soto was the inaugural head coach of the Feather River baseball program - which began in 1998 - and he transformed Golden Eagle baseball into a perennial power in California during his six years in Quincy, CA. In 2003 Soto led the Golden Eagles to a California State Final Four finish, while posting a 36-12 record. During the 2000-03 seasons Feather River reached the playoffs each year, while winning the Golden Valley Conference championship the past three seasons. Soto was named Golden Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 2001, 2002 and 2003, and posted a career record of 167-85 - a .663 winning percentage - at FRC. Soto produced seven First Team Junior College All-Americans, eight players drafted by Major League Baseball (five from the 2003 team), nine First Team All-State honorees, 28 First Team All-GVC selections, and one Freshman All-American. Additionally, the Golden Eagles sent 44 players to four-year institutions, including 15 athletes to Division I schools. Soto earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and Management, and minors in Real Estate and Insurance from the University of Louisiana Monroe in 1996. He finished his college career with a pitching record of 24-4 and 19 saves. Soto was born in San Dimas, CA. He grew up in Reno and graduated from Reed High School, where he was an all-conference and all-state varsity letterman.
Scouting the Hornets: Sacramento State brings a 5-2 record into the week and will face UC Davis on Tuesday, February 10, before hosting the Gaels on Friday and Sunday. The Hornets started the season by taking two out of three games against San Diego State in San Diego, CA. Sacramento State then beat San Francisco and took two out of three games against UC San Diego this past weekend. Offensively the Hornets have been led by Ryan Browne, who is batting .417 with three RBI, Brett Flowers is batting .375 with seven RBI and John Acha is batting .344 and leads the team with nine RBI. On the mound, Renec Stelzriede is 2-0 with a 3.52 earned run average and Andy Mohr, Ethan Katz and Warren Rosebrock each have one victory.
Probable Starters for Sacramento State # Name W-L ERA 3 Ethan Katz 1-0 7.56 32 Marshall Hendon 0-2 18.00 35 Warren Rosebrock 1-0 8.31 Game 4: Saint Mary's 9, BYU 5 Saint Mary's earned its first victory of the season on Thursday night with a 9-5 victory over BYU in their first game of the Pacific Tournament held in Stockton, CA. The win also marked the first victory under head coach Jedd Soto. Offensively the Gaels were led by sophomore third baseman Bryan Byrne, who went 3-for-5 with a home run, Delaney Gallagher went 2-for-5 with an RBI, Mike Sansoe had two RBIs and Gilbert Gil went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Coming into the game the Gaels had only scored four runs in their first three games before breaking out a season-high nine runs on Thursday. Saint Mary's starting pitcher Jordan Simo picked up his first career victory by pitching five innings and giving up four earned runs. The Gaels' Dane Dobrinich came in to relief Simo and pitched four shut out innings, while only allowing one hit.
Game 5: Nevada 8, Saint Mary's 4 Saint Mary's lost its second game of the Pacific Tournament 8-4 to the Nevada Wolf Pack on Friday afternoon at Billy Hebert Field in Stockton, CA. Offensively the Gaels were led by Gilbert Gil, who went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored. Saint Mary's Bryan Byrne and Sam Carter each drove in one run and had one hit and Preston Young, Mike Sansoe and Adam Bellows each added a hit. The Gaels first scoring opportunity of the game came in the second inning when Young led off with a single, followed by a Sansoe walk. With runners on first and second and no one out, the Gaels could not send a runner across home plate after a failed sacrifice bunt and a double play. Saint Mary's starting pitcher Shane Day found himself in trouble in the top of the third inning, but was able to escape with a bases loaded no out situation without allowing a run. The Gaels broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning after Gil led off the inning with a walk and scored on a Carter single to center. Nevada answered with two runs in the top of the fourth inning after a two-run home run by Brett Hayes off of Day to give the Wolf Pack a 2-1 lead. Day gave way to Kevin Trochez in the seventh inning after pitching six innings and allowing two hits. Trochez gave up four runs to the Wolf Pack and Michael Nisco and Parker Mangum each gave up a run in relief.
Game 6: Saint Mary's 12, Pacific 1 Saint Mary's won its second game of the season, and second game of the Pacific Tournament, on Saturday night when the Gaels beat host Pacific 12-1 at Billy Hebert Field in Stockton, CA. The Gaels scored a season-high 12 runs and allowed a season-low with one run scored. The Gaels broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the second inning, then added three in the fourth, two in the fifth and five in the sixth. Saint Mary's recorded 12 runs on 12 hits and had no errors, while Pacific had one run on three hits and two errors. Offensively the Gaels were led by Adam Bellows, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI, Preston Young went 2-for-3 with two RBI, Mike Sansoe was 1-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored, Bryan Byrne had two hits and Gilbert Gil had two hits and two RBI. While the offense was providing plenty of runs, Saint Mary's starting pitcher Bryan Oland was shutting down the Tigers. Oland recorded a complete game three hitter, while allowing one earned run and striking out six batters.
Sophomores Leading The Way: Saint Mary's sophomore shortstop Gilbert Gil and sophomore third baseman Bryan Byrne are leading the way offensively after six games. Gil and Byrne are each batting .360 on the season and Gil leads the team with seven RBI and four doubles. Bryne leads the team with two home runs and has four RBI.
Young Pitchers Stepping Up: The Gaels' three starting pitchers include two true freshmen and one junior college transfer. True freshmen Shane Day and Bryan Oland have each started two games and junior college transfer Jordan Simo has started the other two games. Oland is leading the staff so far with a 1-1 record, including a complete game three-hit victory over Pacific. On the season, Oland has a 2.12 earned run average in 17 innings, he has struck out nine batters, while holding opponents to a .196 batting average.
West Coast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll: Saint Mary's was picked to finish last in the Coast Division with a total of 13 points. The Gaels will face San Diego, Loyola Marymount and Gonzaga this season in the Coast Division. In the West Division, Pepperdine is the favorite, followed by Santa Clara, San Francisco and Portland. The Coast Division is led by USD, LMU and then Gonzaga. Overall, Pepperdine received seven first place votes for 49 points, San Diego received one vote for a total of 39 points, followed by Santa Clara with 36 points, LMU (33), San Francisco (23), Gonzaga (22), Saint Mary's (13) and Portland (9).
Coming Up Next For the Gaels: Saint Mary's returns to Sacramento to compete in the River City Classic held at Hornet Field. The Gaels will face Sacramento State at 1:30 p.m. in Game 1 of the tournament which begins on Friday, February 20. Other teams in the tournament include Cal Poly, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Washington State. The Gaels will also play on Saturday and Sunday, with games times to be determined.
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BSB | Saint Mary's vs. Pacific Highlights, 4-3-26
Friday, April 03
BSB | Saint Mary's vs. Pacific Highlights, 4-2-26
Friday, April 03
BSB | Saint Mary's at Portland Highlights, 3-29-26
Sunday, March 29
