March 27, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. -
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Leading Off:
After taking two of three from USC last weekend, ASU will take on in the second annual Challenge at Chase before resuming conference play at . enters the game 21-6 on a seven-game winning streak, while is 14-9 and atop the Pac-10 with a 3-0 record.
The Sun Devils vs. The Wildcats:
holds a 169-110 edge over since ASU began varsity baseball in 1959. The Devils beat 22-8 earlier this season in .
The Sun Devils vs. The Huskies:
ASU leads the all-time series with 16-11. The Devils took two of three from U-Dub last year in .
Facing Tough Competition:
Of ASU's eight losses this season, seven have come at the hands of teams ranked in the Top 25, including one to Vanderbilt, who has been ranked as high as #1. Their only loss to an unranked team was to , who is now ranked #25 in the country. According to BoydsWorld.com, Arizona State has already faced or will face five teams rated in the top 20 in RPI (Long Beach State, Vandy, Texas A&M, Louisiana-Lafayette and Oregon State). Also, five of the eight losses have been by one run, including an extra inning game with Vanderbilt. ASU has faced or will face six teams ranked in the Top 20 in the latest ISR rankings on BoydsWorld.com, where the Sun Devils are currently ranked 19th. has 14 teams on their 2007 schedule that are currently ranked or have been ranked at some point this season.
Rankings:
ASU moved up one spot to #16 in the Baseball America poll while they rose two spots to #12 in the NCBWA poll. They moved to #12 in the Rivals.com poll and were jumped up to #10 in Collegiate Baseball. They came in at #10 in the Coaches poll, up three spots.
USC Wrap-Up:
ASU opened up the 2007 Pac-10 season in memorable fashion, scoring a 10-0 win over USC on Friday night. Josh Satow threw a complete game shut out, allowing only six hits while striking out six to pick up the win. Brett Wallace and Petey Paramore each homered as Pat Murphy picked up his 500th victory at ...Saturday's game was a nail biter, as both teams pitching put on a show. It was ASU's combo of Mike Leake and Jason Jarvis, combined with the bat of Kiel Roling that got the Sun Devils a 4-3 win. Roling knocked in the game winner in the eighth inning, while Jarvis closed the door on the Trojans in his ASU debut for his first career save...Sunday's game was a crazy one, as ASU jumped out to a big lead, fell behind late, then rallied back, only to see USC walk-off with the win. Ike Davis hit a first inning grand slam and Brett Wallace homered twice, but it wasn't enough as USC salvaged a game of the series with a 14-13 victory.
Wally's World:
Brett Wallace continued to swing an amazing bat in the USC series, going 7-12 (.583) with three home runs, five RBI, six runs scored and four walks. He is hitting .466 on the year, raising his average 14 points over the three games with the Trojans. His ten home runs lead the team, and are already more than anyone on ASU hit all of last season. He is also the team leader with 40 runs batted in. On March 17th, Wallace became the 19th player in the 33-year history of the stadium to homer over the green monster in centerfield, joining a list that includes names like Kevin Romine, Mike Kelly, Antone Williamson and Barry Bonds. Wallace is the first player since Brooks Conrad in 2000 to clear the centerfield batter's eye.
Pac-10 Player of the Week:
Sophomore first baseman Brett Wallace was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week following the USC series. It is the first weekly Pac-10 honor of Wallace's career. Wallace joins Josh Satow, Brian Flores and Kiel Roling as Sun Devils who have picked up a weekly Pac-10 honor so far this season.
National Honor Roll:
Sophomore first baseman Brett Wallace was named a College Baseball Foundation National Honor Roll Player Of The Week after the USC series. Wallace joins Matt Spencer, Josh Satow, Petey Paramore, Brian Flores and Kiel Roling as Sun Devils who have been honored this year.
BOOM! POW! SATOW!:
Junior lefthander Josh Satow continued his impressive season over the weekend. Having already thrown the first complete game for ASU since 2005 earlier in the year, Satow ended another drought against the Trojans on Friday night, throwing a complete game shut out. It was the first shut out by ASU since they beat 3-0 on March 6, 2005, and the first complete game shut out since Erik Averill beat 12-0 on February 4, 2005. Satow has seven wins so far this year, equaling last year's team leader, Tony Barnette.
Quick Hits:
Petey Paramore has been a walks machine so far this season. Paramore has drawn 29 walks already this year, tops in the conference. He was third on the team last season with 34 free passes...Andrew Romine has eleven bunt singles this season...The Challenge at Chase will mark the third time in 2007 ASU will have played in a Major League facility. They played at , home of the Houston Astros and at Surprise Stadium, Spring Training home of the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals.
500 Club:
Arizona State Head Coach Pat Murphy achieved another coaching milestone over the weekend, collecting his 500th victory as skipper of the Sun Devils. Earlier this season, Murphy won his 800th career Division I game. ASU's first head coach, Bobby Winkles, totaled 524 wins in his 13 years at ASU. Jim Brock amassed 1,100 victories in his 23 years at the helm. Murphy is in his 13th season at .
Welcome Aboard:
After several weeks, freshman RHP/OF Jason Jarvis was cleared by the NCAA to join the Sun Devils on Friday morning, and was in uniform for the game. Jarvis picked up the save on Saturday and took the loss on Sunday in his first collegiate action.
Preseason Honors:
Junior second baseman Eric Sogard earned three Preseason All-American mentions, including two First Team honors. Both the NCBWA and Rivals.com had Sogard as a First Team Preseason All-American, while Collegiate Baseball listed him as a Third Team Preseason All-American.
That's The Pick:
In a poll of all Pac-10 baseball coaches, was picked to win the Pac-10 conference. This marks the first time that the Sun Devils have ever been picked to win the conference in the preseason coaches vote. was picked second and Stanford was third.
Fabulous Freshman:
RHP/OF Mike Leake was rated the 39th best freshman in the country by Baseball America as part of their Fabulous 50 Freshmen list. Leake, who is expected to play in the outfield as well as pitch, was a seventh round draft pick of the A's in last year's draft.
Talented Transfers:
The Sun Devils had two transfers make the top ten of Baseball 's Top 25 Transfers list. LHP Brian Flores, who came to ASU from , checked in at #7, while OF Tim Smith, who played the last two years at in , was #10. The list did not include Matt Spencer, who came to ASU from . Spencer had not yet completed his transfer to ASU when the list was released.
You Look Mahvelous!:
The Sun Devils got a surprise during a practice before the season, as actor/comedian Billy Crystal took a break from his performances at Gammage to practice with the Devils. donned the Maroon and Gold, complete with a jersey with his name and #10 on the back, and took part in drills and batting practice. After practice, he invited the coaching staff to his show, "700 Sundays" at Gammage Auditorium.
Road To ASU Baseball:
Freshman UTL Tyler Hoechlin is adjusting to life as a college student and baseball player, but he is well versed in the glitz and glamour of the big screen. Hoechlin starred with Tom Hanks in the 2002 motion picture "Road To Perdition". Hoechlin played Michael Sullivan, Jr., the son of Hanks' character. Hoechlin also appears in the CW's "7th Heaven", playing the character of Martin Brewer. Hoechlin will balance school, baseball and the show this semester, filming episodes during off days.
Oh Captain, My Captain:
Head coach Pat Murphy has named junior OF Rocky Laguna the team captain. This is the first time in the 13 years that Murphy has been at ASU that he has named a team captain.
Back For More:
Former ASU baseball standouts Mikel Moreno and Michael Collins are both back with the program for the 2007 season as managers. was a four-year starter for the Devils from 1995 to 1998, when he earned All-American accolades and helped lead ASU to the National Championship game. Collins played from 1996 to 1998 before leaving ASU to sign a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Collins and join fellow manager Jeff Mousser as former Sun Devil baseball players to join the baseball staff in 2007.
You Complete Me:
LHP Josh Satow did something on February 11 that no Sun Devil pitcher had done since 2005: throw a complete game. Satow's masterpiece against was the first complete game thrown by an ASU pitcher since Erik Averill beat 6-1 on June 22, 2005 in the College World Series. Satow allowed only one run on six hits while fanning eight Cougars. It was only the second complete game in the seven-year history of the Houston College Classic, and the first since the inaugural year in 2001. Not to be outdone, LHP Brian Flores threw his first career complete game against the Kansas State Wildcats, striking out eight in a 6-2 victory on March 14. Satow outdid himself against USC on March 23, throwing a complete game shut out in a 10-0 win over the Trojans.
Up Next:
The Sun Devils return to to begin a ten-game home stand, beginning with Pac-10 foe Stanford. The Devils and Cardinal will mix it up in a three-game series beginning Thursday, April 5.