Feb. 20, 2008

The Rice baseball team is aware of the a bulls-eye on its collective back as one of the nation's elite programs with a string of a dozen consecutive conference championships and an even longer streak of 13-straight NCAA Regional bids. The Owls know that their reputation for success, including an .800 win-percentage from a combined 113-27 record over the last two years, tends to bring out the best in their opponents and big crowds wherever they play.

They are aware that opponents are now even more excited to learn that Rice lost 10 veteran and talented players to the major league draft, from a total of 14 selected in the draft last summer. A side question may be - "how in the world does one team have 14 of its players taken in a single draft?" - but the point is the Owls are aware of all the different components of 2008's big picture.

Even with earning the recent distinction from Baseball America as college baseball's top program over the last nine years, the 2008 Owls are aware of one other thing. The current team has a chance to be the first Rice team to make three-straight trips to the College World Series. Under the direction of head coach Wayne Graham, now in his 17th season at the helm of the program, the Owls have the pitching, hitting and defense to get back to Omaha. The Blue & Gray is also well-aware that a Graham-coached team won't be happy just to get there.

PITCHERS
There are plenty of strong points for the 2008 Owls, but the place to start is on the mound. The team has experienced starters and relievers returning, but none may have a bigger presence than senior left-hander Cole St.Clair. The Santa Ana, Calif., native could again dominate as the closer, adding to his school-record 22 career saves. In 2008 he could, however, have a role as a starter. The 6-foot-5 southpaw has started games in his Rice career and been equally dominating. St.Clair is, in fact, on a short list of less than 25 active Division I pitchers who can claim to have started a game at the College World Series.

If starting on the mound in a big game is a factor, Rice has three pitchers who have started a game at the College World Series. That's tied for the most from any one staff in the country. Joining St.Clair on that list are junior Matt Langwell and sophomore Ryan Berry, a pair of right-handers who combined for 31 starts in 70 games. Last season, Berry took the college baseball world by storm as a true freshman, posting an 11-3 record with a 3.01 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 122.2 innings. He was named the National Freshman Pitcher of the Year by Collegiate Baseball and the Conference USA Freshman of the Year by the league's head coaches. He tied the Rice record for most wins by an Owl freshman (held by eventual major leaguers Matt Anderson and Philip Humber) and then gained valuable international experience pitching for the United States National Team over the summer. Langwell caught fire the second half of the season to go 8-2 with a 2.35 ERA. He was the only Owl pitcher to earn selection to both the NCAA Regional and C-USA all-tournament teams. The College Station native led C-USA in ERA and opponents' batting average (.206).

Three other right-handers, juniors Bobby Bell and Bryan Price, and senior Chris Kelley all have starting experience. Last season was Kelley's first at the Division I level and he responded with a 3-3 record and 3.43 ERA in 14 starts, the third-highest total on the team. Price is one of the hardest throwers on the team and has raised his status by improving his command during the off-season. He is powerful like St.Clair, only from the right-side. Bell was sidelined for most of last season, but he posted a combined 12-0 record in his first two seasons of 2005 and 2006.

There are a couple of left-handers in the mix for regular starting assignments. Junior Lucas Luetge joined the team at the semester break after two seasons at nearby San Jacinto College. With no shortage of talent, Luetge has twice been selected in the major league draft. Matt Evers is a freshman from nearby Stratford High School who caught the coaches' attention in the fall practices. Evers held hitters to a composite .212 average and posted 23 strikeouts in 25 innings. Both lefties have worked to adjust to the Division I level.

There are a host of other pitchers on the staff available for spot starts or bullpen duty. A year ago experienced right-handers senior Will McDaniel and sophomore Mike Ojala both pitched for a staff that was among the best in the country. Fellow returning right-handers Zack Harwood, Mark Haynes and Travis Wright did not pitch for the Owls last season, but all are anxious to show what they can do after getting some valuable innings in the fall. Junior Jordan Rogers is a transfer from San Jacinto College and a two-time former major league draft pick.

The left-handers to look for are senior Jonathan Runnels and freshmen Abel Gonzales and Andy Hamilton. For long or short relief, that's 17 pitchers on the roster without even turning to talented two-way position players like Jared Gayhart, Diego Seastrunk and Jordan Dodson. All three have pitched in their careers. Their versatility gives the Owls an even greater wealth of options.

CATCHERS
Rice went from one of the most experienced catching corps in 2007 to a relatively young crew for 2008. The veteran catcher on the depth chart is junior Adam Zornes, who returns this season after turning down a pro offer as a major league draft pick. The local slugger from Saint Thomas High School has 22 Division I starts behind the plate. In addition to providing some home run power, he can no doubt help the Owl rookies learn the Rice system where the starting catcher calls the pitches.

The freshmen newcomers are Garrett Tinsley, of Fort Myers, Florida, and John Hale of nearby Lamar High School. Both have a host of honors and awards from the prep ranks. Hale was fifth on the team in hitting in the fall practices while Tinsley adds a unique dimension to the position as a switch-hitter. The physical demands of playing the position all but assure the top three catchers will get plenty of chances to shine. Another freshman, Nick DeBiasse, has some previous catching experience. He got some work in behind the plate in the fall and could do so again if needed.

INFIELDERS
There's enough returning talent and promising newcomers in the infield to put the coach's mind at ease. Senior J.P. Padron played both first and third base last season and worked at shortstop in summer ball and in the fall practices, where he shared the team lead in hitting. In addition to batting .310 in 2007, Padron finished third on the team in on-base percentage (.432) and hit .357 in conference games.

The initial option might be to have him at first base, but if another left-handed bat is needed in the lineup, Padron could rotate elsewhere and freshman Abel Gonzales could play that position. Gonzales matured last year under the Rice coaches and provides a versatile hitting/pitching combination. True freshman Nick DeBiasse was third on the team in hitting in the fall and had the highest average of any of the newcomers. At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds DeBiasse provides a little more power traditionally associated with the position.

A year ago Padron also made 20 starts on the other corner of the infield, but most of the starting work at third base was securely in the glove of Diego Seastrunk. Now a sophomore with a year of Division I under his belt, the switch-hitting Seastrunk was the only Owl named to the 2007 all-College World Series team. The local star from Channelview High School continued to improve on defense and he finished the year having started a total of 11 double plays from the hot corner.

The middle of the infield will have a slightly different look this year, but defensively it should be as steady as it was a year ago. Both players that split time at second base, juniors Jess Buenger and Aaron Luna are back. Luna is a preseason all-America selection who led the team in home runs (13), RBI (66), slugging percentage (.570) and on-base percentage (.447). He started 35 games at second so the position is a familiar one, but there is also a chance he could start in the outfield or as the designated hitter.

Buenger is a smooth fielder with nearly the same number of starts at second (34), and he showed he had the offense to match his defense. Buenger was third on the team in home runs (7) and he hit .342 with men on base. Not only did the Bellville native bat in every spot in the order (except leadoff), he is a natural switch-hitter.

Shortstop could be another spot to play Padron, but don't be surprised if heralded freshman Rick Hague gets a lot of work here. Hague is a 6-2, 185-pound, freshman from Klein Collins, one of the nation's top high school programs. He was a Louisville Slugger All-American and the most valuable player of the annual Texas High School All-Star Game. Coach Graham is not afraid to play a deserving rookie if there is a chance he can help the team. When sophomore Jimmy Comerota got a chance to play last year he made the most of his opportunities, batting .294 and playing error-free on the left side of the infield. Another freshman newcomer to keep an eye on is two-sport star Michael Fuda. Fuda missed fall baseball workouts while playing for the Owls' football team but he was an all-state second baseman his senior year at Katy High School.

OUTFIELDERS
Rice has an abundance of talented outfielders. The trio of Aaron Luna, Jared Gayhart and Jordan Dodson blend speed and power on offense and defense. Luna figures to be somewhere in the lineup as does Dodson, an experienced senior with 144 career starts at Rice (112 in left field). With career batting average of .297, 35 doubles and more than 100 RBI, Dodson has proved to be even more dangerous offensive threat in the NCAA Tournament where he is a .353 hitter. Gayhart, a junior who throws right but hits from the left side, batted .339 while making 43 starts in his first year with the team. Primarily a right fielder, Gayhart also kicked his game up a notch when the Owls made the postseason, batting .391 in the NCAA Tournament. The team had 28-3 record when Gayhart hit second in the lineup.

Outfielders Derek Myers and Doug Simmons can certainly have a role. Myers has contributed with spot starts and as a pinch runner the last few years. Simmons had a good fall and may have a more pronounced role as he is a left-handed hitter.

There's also a trio of promising freshmen, Joseph Paylor, Nick Natale and Chad Mozingo, who are in their first year on the squad. All are excellent runners with sweeping speed. Mozingo was an all-state selection at Klein High School who bats from the left side. He shared the team lead in steals in the fall. Natale is one of the first recruits in years to come from the northeast. He was one of the stars on a Seton Hall Prep team that went 32-1 and was the No. 2 ranked high school program in the country according to Baseball America. Paylor is an all-state selection from the Dallas area who continued to improve while in high school. All three freshmen outfielders will get plenty of chances to show their skills in the years to come if not this season.

Yes, Rice is well aware of all the elements making up the 2008 season, as well as how teams are setting their sights on the Blue & Gray bulls-eye. With the Owls' hitting, pitching and defense, maybe its the opponents, however, who should beware.