We're going around the country profiling all the teams you need to know about in Baseball this season. If you missed it, check out yesterday's profiles on Oklahoma & Wake Forest. This series will continue through April 13th as we preview 32 of the top teams in the country!
#16 UCLA Bruins (15-4, 3-1 PAC-12)
So we're looking at a PAC-12 team early in the year. Somehow, this is the premier baseball and softball conference in the country. It's tough to gauge a team so early, but we're going to do it anyways. The Bruins have swept series against Sacramento State and Georgia, as well as winning single games agains Cal State-Northridge, Long Beach State, and USC. They've won two series by a 2-1 margin against Baylor and Arizona State, and lost the first series of the season 1-2 to Maryland.
PITCHING:
Adam Plutko (So.; Glendora, CA) 2-1 in 5 starts. 3.03 ERA
Grant Watson (Fr.; Bakersfield, CA) 5-0 in 5 starts. 3.86 ERA
Nick Vander Tuig (So.; Oakdale, CA) 2-1 in 5 starts. 4.13 ERA
Ryan Deeter (RS So.; Newark, CA) 1-0 in 14 app. 0.77 ERA
Scott Griggs (Jr.; Alamo, CA) 0-1, 5 saves in 12 app. 2.19 ERA
HITTING:
Jeff Gelalich - RF (Jr.; LaVerce, CA) .443 in 70 AB. 16 RBI, 4 HR
Trevor Brown - C (Jr.; Valencia, CA) .379 in 66 AB. 15 RBI, 1 HR
Cody Keifer - LF (Jr.; Davis, CA) .356 in 73 AB. 13 RBI, 0 HR
Tyler Heineman - DH (Jr.; Pacific Palisades, CA) .323 in 65 AB. 10 RBI, 1 HR
Beau Amaral - CF (Jr.; Huntington Beach, CA) .273 in 77 AB. 8 RBI, 0 HR
This team is attempting to win it all this year, but will probably have another year to wait. They are very dangerous, and bat at a high percentage as a team. Their pitching is still developing and Grant Watson is steadily improving. As far as their position in the PAC-12, they are in a battle for second. Stanford is the clear favorite, and the Bruins are battling it out with Arizona, Oregon, & Arizona State. They're off to a good start by winning the conference opening series over ASU.
#15 Stetson Hatters (13-6, 0-0 Atlantic Sun)
Stetson hasn't played anyone yet, but somehow, they stay ranked. And they haven't done that well. Oh well, we'll look at 'em anyways. They swept George Washington this season. They also won a game against both Maine and Bethune-Cookman. They won series against Central Michigan, Harvard, and Rutgers 2-1. They were swept by Florida State. Stetson also played in the Bright House Invitational, going 2-1 with wins over Penn and Georgia State, with the loss coming to Southern Illinois. Not that impressive of a resume.
PITCHING:
Kurt Schluter (Jr.; Jupiter, FL) 4-0 in 5 starts. 1.53 ERA
Lindsay Caughel (Sr.; Orlando, FL) 3-0 in 5 starts. 3.30 ERA
Will Dorsey (Sr.; Atlantic Beach, FL) 2-2 in 5 starts. 3.51 ERA
Josh Powers (Fr.; New Smyrna Beach, FL) 1-1 in 4 starts. 3.86 ERA
Robbie Powell (Sr.; Punta Gorda, FL) 0-0, 6 saves in 9 app. 0.00 ERA
HITTING:
Mitchel Brennan - RF (Jr.; Orlando, FL) .328 in 61 AB. 13 RBI, 2 HR
Ben Carhart - 3B (Sr.; Royal Palm Beach, FL) .318 in 88 AB. 17 RBI, 1 HR
Sam Kimmel - C (Jr.; West Palm Beach, FL) .309 in 81 AB. 10 RBI, 0 HR
Spencer Theisen - CF (Sr.; Longwood, FL) .292 in 72 AB. 13 RBI, 1 HR
Robert Crews - 2B (Sr.; Port Charlotte, FL) .275 in 80 AB. 11 RBI, 1 HR
This team is very similar to UCLA above. They hit well, and the pitching is starting to develop. This team is going to have an easy time in the Atlantic Sun, but they will definitely struggle to make their way to Omaha this season. If the Florida State series is any indicator, they are not ready for the big time.
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