June 4, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. -
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Leading Off:
The 2008 Pac-10 Champion Arizona State Sun Devils will make their fourth all-time Super Regional appearance and second straight at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. They will face the Fresno State Bulldogs, who won the Long Beach Regional as the #4 seed last weekend.
The Super Regional:
and have faced each other 16 times, with ASU holding an 11-5 advantage. They last met in 1998 in , when the Bulldogs swept a two-game series from the Devils.
Back-To-Back Pac-10 Champions:
won the Pacific-10 Conference for the second straight year and the eighth time in school history. ASU last won back-to-back conference titles in 1981 and 1982. It is the 19th overall conference championship in school history, including 11 WAC titles from 1963 to 1978.
National Seed:
has earned a national top eight seed for the second straight season and fourth time since the NCAA began using the format in 1999. The #3 seed this year is the highest ever for the Sun Devils. They were the #5 seed last season and the #7 seed in both 2000 and 2004.
Lights, Camera, Action:
The Tempe Super Regional will be televised by the ESPN family of networks. ESPNU will air Saturday night's game, while Sunday and Monday will be televised by ESPN2. Eric Collins and former 12-time MLB All-Star Barry Larkin will call all the action.
40 Win Seasons:
won its 40th game of the season on May 11, the fifth time in the past six years it has totaled at least 40 wins. It is the 29th time in school history that the baseball team has hit the 40 win mark and the 46th straight season it has won at least 30 games. It is also the 48th season out of 50 that ASU has won at least 30 games. ASU won 43 regular season games in 2007.
Back-To-Back Pac-10 Player of the Year:
Junior 3B Brett Wallace, who currently leads the Pac-10 in all three Triple Crown categories, was named the 2008 Pac-10 Player of the Year, the second straight year the Pac-10 coaches have voted him as the conference's top player. It marks the 13th time a Sun Devil has won the award and the second time a Devil has won it back-to-back years. Casey Myers won the award in both 2000 and 2001. Wallace is the fifth player in Pac-10 history to win the award in back-to-back seasons. The Pac-10 gave out a Player of the Year Award in both the North and South division from 1978 until 1998.
Back-to-Back Pac-10 Player of the Year Awards
Torey Lovullo, UCLA (South), 1986 and 1987 (Co-winner both years)
A.J. Hinch, Stanford (South), 1995 (Co) and 1996
Kevin Miller, Washington (North), 1996 and 1997
Casey Myers, , 2000 and 2001
Brett Wallace, , 2007 and 2008
Golden Spikes Finalist:
Brett Wallace has been named one of five finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, presented to the premier amateur baseball player in the nation. Wallace becomes the eighth finalist in school history and the first since Dustin Pedroia in 2004. has had three Golden Spikes Award winners: Bob Horner (1978, first ever winner), Oddibe McDowell (1984) and Mike Kelly (1991).
Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year:
Sophomore right hander Mike Leake has been named the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year, the first Sun Devil to win the award since the Pac-10 combined into one division in 1999. Marc Barcelo (1993) and Noah Peery (1994) each were named Co-Pitchers of the Year in the Pac-10 South, the only other Devils to win the award.
Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year:
Sophomore outfielder Jason Kipnis has been named the Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year, the second Sun Devil to ever win the award. Kipnis, who transfered to ASU from over the summer, joins teammate Ike Davis, who won the award in 2006, as the only Devils to win the honor.
Back-to-Back Pac-10 Coach of the Year:
Head Coach Pat Murphy was named the Pac-10 Coach of the Year, the second straight season his Pac-10 coaching peers have voted him as the top coach in the conference. He also won the award in 2000. He has led Arizona State to a second straight Pac-10 title, at least 40 wins for the seventh time in his ASU career and second straight season and a national seed for the second straight year.
All-Pac-10 Honors:
Eleven Sun Devils earned All-Pac-10 honors, with five making First Team All-Conference. Ike Davis and Petey Paramore were named First Team All-Pac-10 for the third straight year, while Brett Wallace and Mike Leake earned the honors for the second straight season. Jason Kipnis joined them on the First Team as well. Ryan Sontag, Raoul Torrez, Josh Satow, Kiel Roling, Tommy Rafferty and Matt Newman all earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 honors.
Academic All-Pac-10 Honors:
Five Sun Devils earned Academic All-Pac-10 honors, with three making First Team All-Conference. Mike Leake, Ryan Sontag and Petey Paramore were named First Team Academic All-Pac-10, while Rocky Laguna and Dustin Brader each earned Second Team honors. Paramore and Sontag were both named First Team for the second straight year.
Collegiate Baseball All-Americans:
Collegiate Baseball newspaper has released its 2008 All-American Team, and ASU was well represented. Ike Davis was named a First Team All-American, while Brett Wallace and Mike Leake both earned Second Team honors.
200 Club:
With the win over Stanford on April 4, head coach Pat Murphy recorded his 200th career victory in Pac-10 play. Murphy now holds a 212-148 career mark in conference action, including conference titles in 2000 and 2007. Murphy has the third most Pac-10 victories among active coaches, trailing Stanford's Mark Marquess (522 in 31 years) and 's Ken Knutson (227 in 15 years). Murphy is in his 14th season at .
Facing Tough Competition:
The Sun Devils faced one of the toughest schedules in the country in 2008. 13 of their opponents were ranked at some point this season, including 10 who spent time in the top 10. faced 10 teams this season who advanced to the NCAA Tournament, going 16-6 against those teams. The Sun Devils have faced five teams that advanced to a Super Regional, going 6-5 in those match-ups. All but two of those games were played on the road.
Powering Up:
Brett Wallace homered in the Tempe Regional, giving him 21 on the season and extending his career high. He surpassed last season's 16 homers and has now hit 44 long balls in his career, tied with Dan Rumsey (1986-89) for fifth most in history. He is one shy of Barry Bonds (1983-85) for fourth on the list. Bob Horner is the all-time leader, leaving the yard 56 times from 1976 to 1978.
Most Career Home Runs, ASU History
1. Bob Horner, 1976-78............ 56
2. Jeff Larish, 2002-05.............. 51
3. Mike Kelly, 1989-91............... 46
4. Barry Bonds, 1983-85........... 45
5. Dan Rumsey, 1986-89.......... 44
Brett Wallace, 2006-P......... 44
7. Andrew Beinbrink, 1996-99.. 40
8. Casey Myers, 1998-2001...... 39
9. Mitch Jones, 1999-2000........ 38
20 Times Deep:
Brett Wallace is only the 12th player in ASU history to hit 20 or more home runs in a season. Mitch Jones set the school single season mark of 27 in 2000, passing Bob Horner's 25 that he hit in 1978. Horner is the only player in school history to hit 20 or more twice, belting 22 in 1977.
Sun Devils with 20+ Home Runs in a Single Season
Mitch Jones, 2000............... 27
Bob Horner, 1978............... 25
Oddibe McDowell, 1984...... 23
Barry Bonds, 1985.............. 23
Jeff Larish, 2005................. 23
Bob Horner, 1977............... 22
Mike Sodders, 1981............ 22
Brett Wallace, 2008......... 21
Tony Mattia, 1987............... 21
Mike Kelly, 1990.................. 21
, 1994............. 21
Jerry Maddox, 1975............ 20
Tim Spehr, 1988................. 20
Ike Davis The Man-Child:
Junior Ike Davis is turning in another stellar season, something ASU fans have become accustomed to over his three years in Maroon and Gold. Ike has five career multi-homer games, all of which have come this season and he has a 4-1 record on the mound with four saves. has 16 homers on the season, extending his career high. His previous high was nine, which he did during his Pac-10 Freshman of the Year campaign in 2006. hit his fifth career grand slam and second of the season in the regular season finale against . He was a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist this year.
Bringing Them In:
Ike Davis and Brett Wallace have combined for 154 RBI this season, with Wallace bringing home a career-high 81 and Davis knocking in a career high 73. now has 199 career RBI, eighth most in school history. Wallace has 191, 11th most in ASU baseball history.
Most RBI, ASU History
1. Andrew Beinbrink, 1996-99.. 283
2. Casey Myers, 1998-2001...... 275
3. Clay Westlake, 1973-76....... 250
4. Jeff Larish, 2002-05.............. 235
5. Bob Horner, 1976-78............ 229
6. Antone Williamson, 1992-94. 203
7. Alvin Davis, 1979-82............. 200
8. Ike Davis, 2006-P............... 199
9. Mike Kelly, 1989-91............... 194
Ken Landreaux, 1974-76....... 194
11. Brett Wallace, 2006-P..... 191
Super Smash Brothers:
Ike Davis and Brett Wallace have combined to hit 77 home runs over their nearly three seasons in Maroon and Gold (33 for , 44 for Wallace). The two have homered in the same game seven times in their career, including twice this season. Davis and Wallace have also combined for 390 runs batted in since 2006. Davis and Wallace have both been named semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy. Wallace was a semifinalist last year.
Wallace Award Watch List:
has three players on the Wallace Award Watch List, which was pared down to 16 this week. Brett Wallace, Ike Davis and Tommy Rafferty are all on the current list. Wallace was Semifinalist for the award last season.
Mr. Double:
Ike Davis is climbing up the school's all-time doubles list. now has 69 doubles in his career, fifth most all-time. Clay Westlake (1973-76) is the school's all-time leader with 88. has 26 this year after hitting 23 last season.
Most Career Doubles, ASU History
1. Clay Westlake, 1973-76....... 88
2. Andrew Beinbrink, 1996-99.. 75
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2002-04....... 71
4. Antone Williamson, 1992-94. 70
5. Ike Davis, 2006-P............. 69
6. Casey Myers, 1998-2000...... 64
7. Dan Rumsey, 1986-89.......... 58
8. Jeff Phelps, 1998-2001......... 57
Jeff Larish, 2002-05............... 57
Walk This Way:
Petey Paramore led the Pac-10 in bases on balls last season, totaling 53 in 64 games. His good eye has continued so far in 2008, as he has drawn 56 walks. Paramore now has 143 walks in his career and is only the 22nd Sun Devil to ever draw over 100. The 143 walks is the fifth most in school history. Alvin Davis (1979-82) is the all-time leader with 207.
Most Career Walks, ASU History
1. Alvin Davis, 1979-82............. 207
2. Jeff Larish, 2002-05.............. 200
3. Andrew Beinbrink, 1996-99.. 154
4. Clay Westlake, 1973-76....... 148
5. Petey Paramore, 2006-P... 143
6. Doug Newstrom, 1991-93..... 131
7. Mike Kelly, 1989-91............... 127
8. Barry Bonds, 1983-85........... 122
9. Willie Bloomquist, 1997-99... 119
Rick Peters, 1974-77.............. 119
Captain and the Bench Award Watch List:
Head coach Pat Murphy has named junior catcher Petey Paramore as the captain of the 2008 Sun Devils. Paramore has also been named a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award, one of 12 on the list.
Academic All-American:
Petey Paramore has been named a Second Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American. He becomes the 11th Sun Devil to earn the distinction, and sixth under head coach Pat Murphy.
20-Game Winner:
Sophomore Mike Leake picked up his 20th career victory with his complete game win over the Cal Golden Bears on April 25, becoming only the ninth Sun Devil in history to win at least 20 games in their second year in . Leake is also only the fourth to do it as a sophomore, joining Ken Jones (1978-79), Kendall Carter (1981-82) and Doug Henry (1983-84). It was Leake's second complete game this season and fourth of his career. Leake is 10-2 on the year, has 23 career victories, was named a semifinalist for the Roger Clemens Award and the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year. He is the seventh Sun Devil to record at least 10 wins in back-to-back seasons and the first since Jason Urquidez in 2004 and 2005.
20-Game Winners In First Two Seasons At ASU
Jeff Pentland, 1966-67
Eddie Bane, 1971-72
Jim Otten, 1972-73
Ken Jones, 1978-79*
Kendall Carter, 1981-82*
Doug Henry, 1983-84*
Linty Ingram, 1987-88
Jason Urquidez, 2004-05
Mike Leake, 2007-08*
*- Freshman and Sophomore years
Team :
Mike Leake was among the initial 12 players selected for the USA National Team Trials to be held over the summer. 32 total players will be invited, with 22 making the final roster. Last year, Brett Wallace and Petey Paramore played for Team during the summer.
Time To Pick The Field:
head coach Pat Murphy is in his second season as a member of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. Murphy did not be travel to due to the series in , opting instead to meet with the committee members via teleconference.
Academic All-District:
Junior Petey Paramore and sophomore Mike Leake were each named First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII selections. Paramore was a First Team Academic All-Pac-10 selection last season.
Visiting With The Home Run King:
The Sun Devils got a surprise visit from former ASU star and Major League Baseball Home Run King Barry Bonds on May 2 at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Bonds, who lives by the UCLA campus, watched ASU take batting practice from the dugout and shared some hitting tips and stories with the current Devils. He cheered on ASU to the victory Friday night from the stands while wearing an ASU hat.
So Nice Do It Twice:
Apparently the meeting with Barry Bonds worked for , as they hammered 10 homers against the Bruins. They hit back-to-back homers three times, including twice in the finale. Brett Wallace and Petey Paramore did it Friday night in the fourth inning, then Mike Leake and Raoul Torrez did it in the third inning on Sunday. Jason Kipnis and Wallace did it again in the fifth inning on Sunday. The Devils hadn't hit back-to-back homers since May 19, 2006, when Ike Davis and Brett Wallace did it in against .
Bull Out Of The Bullpen:
Tommy Rafferty earned the win against Stony Brook in the Regional, putting his record on the season at 12-0 with four saves. Rafferty is the first Sun Devil since Kaipo Spenser in 1994 to win his first 10 decisions in a season. Rafferty has won all 12 games out of the bullpen, the only pitcher in the country with that many victories all coming without a start. Rafferty is also tied for the most wins in school history without making a start. Dave Alexander, who was 12-2 in 30 relief appearances in 1989, also won all 12 of his games without making a start. Rafferty leads the Pac-10 with the 12 victories in 32 appearances. Rafferty transferred to ASU from , where he made 19 appearances all of 2006. He sat out 2007 after did not grant him his release. Rafferty was named to the midseason watch list for the Stopper of the Year Award.
Graduates:
Six Sun Devils graduated from in May, including five players and one student coach. Greg Bordes, Dustin Brader, Mike Jones, Tommy Rafferty and Ryan Sontag were joined by student coach Derik Olvey at graduation ceremonies. Rocky Laguna graduated last year.
Wall Ball:
Only 22 players have ever hit a ball over the Green Monster at Packard Stadium, and three of them are on the current roster. Last season, Brett Wallace did it and earlier this season Jason Kipnis did it. Ike Davis joined the list against UC Irvine on March 23. All the more impressive, broke his bat on the swing. 16 of the 22 players to clear the wall were Sun Devils.
Keeping A Weather Eye:
is drawing a ton of walks as a team, drawing 382 so far this season, including a whopping 47 against Cal State Fullerton and Cal. During the series finale with the Golden Bears, the Devils drew 16 walks, two short of the school record set in 1959. The Sunday game with was called in the seventh inning. Last season ASU drew 319 free passes as a team. The school record for bases on balls in a season is 482, set in 1982. The Devils have also been hit by 72 pitches this year. Brett Wallace, who has drawn 45 walks, has also been given the intentional free pass a team leading seven times.
Are You Experienced?:
Entering the 2008 season, the Sun Devils had only 12 players on their roster with Pac-10 Baseball experience. Of those 12, only four were pitchers. ASU has used eight pitchers this season who had no prior Pac-10 experience, as well as nine position players who had never played in the Pac-10 before. Mike Leake, Josh Satow, Ike Davis, Brett Wallace, Ryan Sontag, Petey Paramore and Kiel Roling were the only returners with significant starting experience
30-Game Starts:
The 2008 Sun Devils went 28-2 during their first 30 games, matching the 2003 Sun Devils for best start through the first 30 games of a season in school history. The 2003 team finished the year 54-14, falling to Cal State Fullerton in three games at the Fullerton Super Regional.
Call To The Hall For Bane and Bannister:
Legendary Sun Devil pitchers Eddie Bane and Floyd Bannister have been named to the College Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2008. Bane pitched for ASU from 1971 to 1973, recording a 40-4 career record with a 1.64 ERA. He threw the only perfect game in Sun Devil history, striking out 19 in a 9-0 win over Cal State Northridge in 1973. Bane is the school's leader in career strikeouts, fanning 535 in his three seasons in Maroon and Gold. Floyd Bannister went 38-6 with a 1.88 ERA from 1974 to 1976, throwing 29 career complete games, second most in school history. He won 19 games in 1976, tied for the school single season record, and struck out an ASU record 217 in 1975. He was the #1 overall pick in the 1976 MLB draft. Bane and Bannister join Bobby Winkles, Jim Brock and Bob Horner as Sun Devils in the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Family Matters:
Freshman OF/LHP Matt Newman has Maroon and Gold in his blood. His father, Randy, was a pitcher for the Sun Devils in 1981 and 1982, winning 15 career games and the 1981 National Championship. Freshman catcher Andrew Pollak is the brother of former Sun Devil football great Mike Pollak, who played center for the Devils from 2004 to 2007 and was a second round selection of the Indianapolis Colts. Mike was a two-time All-Pac-10 performer. Andrew wears number 76, the same number Mike wore on the gridiron. UTL Mike Murphy is no relation to head coach Pat Murphy, although he is the first player named Murphy Pat Murphy has ever coached. New assistant coach Josh Holliday is the son of former head baseball coach Tom Holliday and the brother of current Colorado Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday.
Pac-10 Picks:
The Sun Devils were picked to finish second in the Pac-10 in the annual preseason coaches poll. ASU got three first place votes, while was picked to win with six first place votes. The Sun Devils won their second straight conference crown in 2008. Stanford finished second and finished fourth.
Pac-10 Players of the Week:
Six times this season a Sun Devil was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week. Brett Wallace won opening weekend, Ike Davis won back-to-back weeks in March and Kiel Roling won April 29 and May 20. Jason Kipnis was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week on May 27, following the final regular season games. was named the Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week on March 17, while Brett Wallace was named the Golden Spikes National Player of the Week on March 17.
Coach Murphy Honored:
Pat Murphy has been inducted into the Florida Atlantic University Baseball Hall of Fame. Murphy played for the Owls from 1981 to 1982, then coached three years at the school.
Honoring Pat Tillman:
Former ASU football player and American Hero Pat Tillman had strong ties to the ASU Baseball program. In addition to his brother Kevin playing for ASU, Pat became extremely close with head coach Pat Murphy. Murphy wears jersey #42 in honor of Tillman, and in January 2007, Murph donated $100,000 to the baseball program for the construction of the Tillman Training Room, a room that will honor both Pat and Kevin and their commitment to both and the . The team wears a memorial "PT*42" patch on their jerseys in honor of Pat.
2008 ASU Baseball Team Award Winners:
Arizona State Baseball held its 24th annual Awards Banquet on May 27, where it announced the winners of the 2008 team awards. The winners were:
Mr. Fireman.................................................. Tommy Rafferty
Jim Henderson Courage Award................... Josh Satow
Casey Myers Academic Award.................... Ryan Sontag
Phill Lowery Comeback Player................... Tommy Rafferty
Alvin Davis Leadership Award.................... Petey Paramore
Developmental MVP..................................... Andy Workman
Newcomer of the Year................................. Jason Kipnis
Outstanding Offensive Player..................... Brett Wallace
Outstanding Defensive Player.................... Petey Paramore
Pitcher of the Year....................................... Mike Leake
The Tillman................................................... Brett Wallace
Jim Brock - Mr. Sun Devil Award................ Raoul Torrez
Bobby Winkles Award.................................. Greg Bordes
On MVP...................................... Ike Davis
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