This is Alabama Baseball

Transcription

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2008 ALABAMA BASEBALL
The
Lineup
Alex Avila
ON THE COVER: Junior Alex Avila, a 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of tbe
Year Candidate and Alabama seniors Matt Bentley, Josh Copeland and Will Stroup.
CREDITS: The 2008 Alabama Baseball Media Guide is produced by The University of
Alabama Athletic Media Relations Office and may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the University of Alabama. The book was written and edited
by Assistant Director of Media Relations Barry Allen. The media guideʼs cover was
designed by Ashley Paulk. All photos are by Director of Athletic Photography Kent
Gidley and his student staff. Also, special thanks to Jason Harless (Tuscaloosa News) and
the various Major League Baseball teams for their photo contributions. The 2008 Alabama
Baseball Media Guide was printed by EBSCO Media of Birmingham, Alabama.
Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Alabama Baseball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21
Quick Facts and Media Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-23
Dr. Robert E. Witt, President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Mal Moore, Director of Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Athletic Department Senior Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Alabama Baseball Support Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
1983 College World Series Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-31
Sewell-Thomas Stadium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-37
2008 UA Scouting Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38-41
The Alabama Baseball Staff
Head Coach Jim Wells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42-47
Assistant Coach Mitch Gaspard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Assistant Coach B.J. Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Assistatnt Coach Dax Norris. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Drew French and Joe Hoffer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Josh Copeland
The 2008 Alabama Crimson Tide
Crimson Tide Roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Alabama Player Bios. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53-73
Alabama Career Stats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Alabama Career SEC Stats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Will Stroup
2008 Opponents
Opponents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76-84
Team Hotels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Alabama vs. All-Time Opponents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
All-Time Scores vs. 2008 Opponents. . . . . . . . . . . . 86-94
2007 Season Review
2007 Season Recap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95-99
2007 Final Overall Stats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100-101
2007 Final SEC Stats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102-103
Alabama Record Through the Years . . . . . . . . . . 104-105
2007 Results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
The Alabama Record Book
UA Coaching Records, Records by Decade. . . . . . . . 107
Miscellaneous Records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108-110
Records by Class and Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Alabama Team Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112-113
Alabama Individual Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114-116
Individual Single-SeasonTop 10s. . . . . . . . . . . . . .117-119
Individual Career Top 10s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120-122
Team Single-Season Top 10s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Year-By-Year Statistical Leaders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124-129
Kent Matthes
Alabama Honors and Awards
All-Americans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130-132
National Award Winners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133-139
Individual Award Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140-143
Post-Season History
College World Series Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
NCAA Regional Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
SEC Tournament Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146-147
All-Time SEC Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148-149
2008 SEC Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150-151
Ryan Rhoden
Major League Baseball
UA All-Time MLB Roster/Stats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152-157
Alabama MLB Draft History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158-159
The Scores
Alabama’s All-Time Scores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160-176
Austin Hyatt
Past Players
All-Time Letterman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177-180
Brandon May
Matt Bentley
Alabama Media Relations Staff
Barry Allen
Assistant Director
Media Relations
Brenda Burnette
Administrative
Assistant
Karen Deaver
Office Associate
Chip Dillard
Director of Web
Communications
Kent Gidley
Director of
Photography
Brent Hollingsworth
Publications/
Marketing
Corey Hoodjer
Assistant Director
Media Relations
Becky Hopf
Associate Director
Media Relations
Skip Powers
Assistant Director
Media Relations
Jeff Purinton
Associate AD/ Football
Media Relations
Doug Walker
Associate AD/Director
Media Relations
Roots Woodruff
Associate Media
Relations Director
Lindsay Frantz
Media Relations
Assistant
Matt Mishoe
Media Relations
Assistant
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Crimson Tide Baseball
*The Alabama Crimson Tide opens 116th
season of intercollegiate baseball in 2008.
Baseball is the oldest sport on the UA campus. Bama played its very first game on July 1,
1892 at Birmingham’s Lakeview Park as coach
Shelby Fletcher’s team posted a 6-3 win over
Sewanee.
*Since then, Alabama has posted a 2,2421,323-23 (.628) record in 3,594 games.
*Alabama became the 17th school in NCAA
history to record 2,000 wins with a 12-0 win
over Winthrop on March 4, 2001.
*In SEC play, Alabama has posted a 815-632-4
(.563) all-time ledger in 1,451 league games.
*Alabama has won more SEC Championships (14) than any other school.
*UA has also won six SEC Tournament
Championships, including five under coach
Jim Wells (1995-96-97-99-02).
*The Crimson Tide has also played in 18
NCAA Tournaments, winning six NCAA
Regional Championships.
*As many as five former Tide players saw
action in the big leagues last season, including Lance Cormier (Atlanta), Dustan Mohr
(Tampa Bay), Andy Phillips (NY Yankees),
Paul Phillips (Kansas City) and Taylor
Tankersley (Florida).
*Three former Tide players have served a big
league managers, including Andy Cohen,
Butch Hobson and Luke Sewell. Sewell managed the St. Louis Browns to their only World
Series title in 19XX.
*Craig Shipley (1983-84) serves as the Assistant General Manager for the defending
World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.
*Alan Dunn (1981-83) is the bullpen coach for
the Baltimore Orioles.
*Two former members of the Crimson Tide
baseballfamilyhavebeenenshrinedintheNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Joe
Sewell was inducted in 1977 and broadcaster
Mel Allen, who spent 39 years with the Yankees, won the Ford Frick Award in 1978.
*Magadan was the 1983 Golden SpikesAward
Winner and SEC Player of the Year.
*The Crimson Tide also boasts an impressive
professionalbaseballhistorysendingwellover
100 former players into the pro ranks.
*Dr. Jeff Laubenthal won the H. Boyd
McWhorter SEC Male Scholar-Athlete of
the Year Award in 1993.
*Jeremy Brown won the Johnny Bench
Award in 2002.
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*Emeel Salem was also the 2007 recipient of
the H. Boyd McWhorter SEC Male ScholarAthelte of the Year award.
*Salem was also a two-time first-team ESPN
theMagazineAcademicAll-Americanin2006
and 2007. In addition, he was the 2006 and
2007 SEC Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
and named to the SEC Good Works team both
years.
*David Magadan (1981-83) is currently the
hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox.
*Alabama has five College World Series appearances and has played in the national
championship game in 1983 and 1997.
Above: Wade LeBlanc
Right: Alex Avila
*Wade LeBlanc was named the 2004 National
Freshman of the Year after setting UA singleseason freshman records for innings (112.2)
pitched, strikeouts (98), wins (8) and complete
games (5).
Emeel Salem
The History of Crimson Tide Baseball
Jim Wells
1997 National
Coach of the Year
David Magadan
1983 Golden Spikes Award
1983 Baseball America
Player of the Year
1983 SEC Male
Athlete of the Year
Beau Hearod
2003 NCBWA District
Player of the Year
*Five College World Series Appearances (1950, 1983, 1996, 1997 and 1999)
*18 NCAA Regional Appearances (1947, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1968, 1983, 1986, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000,
2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006)
*Two NCAA Super Regional Appearances (1999 and 2006)
*Five NCAA Regionals at the Joe (1996, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2006)
*SECʼs Winningest Program with more than 2,100 all-time wins
*25 Regular-Season Conference Championsips (1909, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1924, 1930, 1932, 1934, 1935,
1936, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1947, 1950, 1955, 1968, 1983 and 2006)
*SIAA Championships (1909, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920)
*Southern Conference Championships (1924, 1930 and 1932)
*SEC Championships (1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1947, 1950, 1955, 1968, 1983, 1996 and 2006)
*12 SEC Western Division Championships (1950, 1951, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1968, 1973, 1974, 1981, 1996, 2002 and 2006)
*Seven SEC Tournament Championships (1983, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003)
*11 First-Team All-Americans
*23 Second or Third Team All-Americans
*12 Freshman All-Americans
*1981 National Coach of the Year (Barry Shollenberger)
*1983 National Coach of the Year (Barry Shollenberger)
*1997 National Coach of the Year (Jim Wells)
*1983 Golden Spikes Award Winner (David Magadan)
*1983 Baseball America Player of the Year (David Magadan)
*1983 SEC Male Athlete of the Year (David Magadan)
*1993 H. Boyd McWhorter SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Jeff Laubenthal)
*1999 Dick Howser Trophy Finalist (Andy Phillips)
*Two NCBWA District Players of the Year
Andy Phillips (1999) and Beau Hearod (2003)
*2002 Johnny Bench Award Winner (Jeremy Brown)
*2004 Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball
and SEC Freshman of the Year (Wade LeBlanc)
*2007 H. Boyd McWhorter SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Emeel Salem)
*Nine College World Series All-Tournament Team Selections
*68 NCAA All-Tournament Team Selections (4 MVPs)
*39 SEC All-Tournament Team Selections (6 MVPs)
*48 ABCA All-South Region Team Selections
*75 First-Team All-SEC Selections
*27 Second-Team All-SEC Selections
*105 SEC Academic Honor Roll Selections
*Nine Academic All-Americans
*13 District IV All-America honorees
*Five Team and Individual NCAA Champions
Team Slugging Percentage (.621, 1997)
Bobby Sprowl (11.5 K per 9 IP, 1977)
Alan Dunn (12.6 K per 9 IP, 1981)
Bret Elbin (1.63 runs per game, 1983)
Ben Short (14 Saves, 1991)
*Two Members of National Baseball Hall of Fame
Joe Sewell (1977) and Mel Allen (1978)
*57 Major League Players
*Three First-Round Draft Picks (Joe Vitiello, Jeremy Brown and Taylor Tankersley)
*Three Major League Managers (Andy Cohen, Butch Hobson and Luke Sewell)
*203 All-Time Television Appearances
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2008 Quick Facts
University Information
Location: .............................................................................................. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Enrollment: ...............................................................................................................25,580
Founded: ....................................................................................................... April 12, 1831
Conference: .............................................................................................Southeastern (SEC)
Colors: ....................................................................................................... Crimson & White
Nickname: ........................................................................................................ Crimson Tide
President: ..................................................................................................Dr. Robert E. Witt
NCAA Faculty Representative: ............................................................................ Joe Hornsby
Director of Athletics: .............................................................................................Mal Moore
Senior Associate Athletic Director/CFO: ............................................................. Finus Gaston
Associate Athletics Directors: ................................................Kevin Almond (Support Services)
.......................................................................................Jon Gilbert (Director of Major Gifts)
.......................................................................................Wendell Hudson (Alumni Relations)
........................................................................................................ Chris King (Compliance)
.................................................................................Sarah Patterson (Community Relations)
...................................................................................................Carol Park (Business Office)
................................................................................Jeff Purinton (Football Media Relations)
...........................................................................Marie Robbins (Sr. Womenʼs Administrator)
........................................................................................... Ronny Robertson (Development)
............................................................................................. Doug Walker (Media Relations)
.......................................................................................... Larry White (Event Management)
Assistant Athletics Directors: ...................................Chris Besanceney (Tickets and Tide Pride)
................................................................................................. Jon Dever (Student Services)
......................................................................... Kimberly Johnson (Eligibility and Life Skills)
Special Assistants to the AD: ....................................................................................Joe Kines
..................................................................................... Steve Townsend (Baseball Oversight)
Administrative Assistants: ........................................................Judy Tanner (Athletic Director)
........................................................................................................................ Melanie Gray
Director of Athletic Facilites: ......................................................................... Thad Turnipseed
Director of Compliance: ..............................................................................Jonathan Bowling
Director of Donor Incentive Program: .................................................................. Tommy Ford
Director of Sports Medicine:..............................................................................Bill McDonald
Director of Video Operations: .............................................................................. Don Rawson
Director of Athletic Grounds: ............................................................................Scott Urbantke
Director of Web Communications: ........................................................................Chip Dillard
Director of LifeSkills: .........................................................................................Brandi Stuart
Marketing Director: ....................................................................................... Jennifer Martin
Assistant Marketing Directors:....................... Rick Burleson, Brent Hollingsworth, Allison West
Baseball Academics: ...............................................................................................Tom Buttram
Baseball Eqiupment Manager: ...........................................................................Red Leonard
Baseball Event Management: .............................................................................Trent Barnes
Strength and Conditioning: ............................................................................. Rocky Colburn
Baseball Ticket Manager: ..............................................................................Dominic Benetti
Associate Media Relations Directors: .....................................Becky Hopf and Roots Woodruff
Assistant Media Relations Directors: ......................................... Barry Allen (Baseball Contact)
.........................................................................................................................Cory Hoodjer
.....................................................................................................................................Skip Powers
Director of Athletic Photography .......................................................................... Kent Gidley
Baseball Media Relations Director:........................................................................Barry Allen
........................................................................................................ Office Phone: (205) 348-6084
........................................................................................................ Home Phone: (205) 758-6526
.......................................................................................................................FAX: (205) 348-8841
...................................................................................................E-Mail Address: ballen@ia.ua.edu
Administrative Staff: .................................................................................... Brenda Burnette
........................................................................................................................ Karen Deaver
Media Relations Interns: .................................................................................Lindsay Frantz
.......................................................................................................................... Matt Mishoe
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Media Notes
CREDENTIALS: Please direct all media requests for Alabama home
baseball games to Assistant Athletic Media Relations Director Barry
Allen. Season credentials and single game credentials are available.
Credentials will be left at the first base gate of Sewell-Thomas Stadium, located on Paul W. Bryant Drive, two hours prior to the start of
each game. Professional scouts will report to the main ticket booth
and will be issued a ticket for each game during the 2008 season.
INTERVIEWS: Coach Jim Wells and Crimson Tide players are avialable before practice and after each game. Practice usually begins at
2 p.m. each day and is generally open to the media and the general
public. Photographers are allowed on the field to shoot b-roll as
long as they are accompanied by a memeber of the Athletic Media
Relations staff.
WEEKLY TELECONFERENCE: Coach Jim Wells will participate in two
weekly teleconferences during the season. Alabama will host a
teleconference each Thursday, beginning Feb. 21, 2008 at 10 a.m.
Please call the Athletic Media Relations Office for the phone number. In addition, the SEC will conduct a weekly teleconference with
all 12 head coaches beginning in April. The league also sponsors a
teleconference prior to the start of SEC play and the Monday prior
to the SEC Baseball Tournament. Please contact Chuck Dunlap
(205.458.3010) at the league office for specific dates, times and telephone number.
POST-GAME INTERVIEWS: Please arrange all post-game interviews
through a member of the Alabama Media Relations staff. Requested players will be available outside the UA dugout approximately
10 minutes following the game.
CRIMSON TIDE SPORTS MARKETING: Crimson Tide Sports Marketing,
a division of Learfield Communications, is the rights holder for all
Crimson Tide radio and television broadcasts. CTSM (205.348.9600)
is in its 10th year with the University of Alabama and will provide
state-wide coverage of all SEC baseball games this season. In addition, Alabama baseball will be featured weekly on “Hey, Coach!”,
a ninety-minute talk show dedicated to Crimson Tide athletics.
CTSM airs the show each Monday night live from Bob Baumhower’s Wing’s Restaurant in Tuscaloosa. Veteran broadcaster
Tom Roberts serves as the program’s host. Michael Alford serves
as the network’s general manager. CTSM will also provide satellite
feeds of Crimson Tide baseball throughout the season. Each week a
15-minute feed, consisting of taped interviews, highlights and narrated tape package, is offered September through June. In addition,
selected game highlights are fed after the conclusion of each game.
Please contact Tom Roberts for more information concerning dates,
times and coordinates. To obtain videotaped footage of the Crimson
Tide baseball team, please contact Roberts at the above number.
CRIMSON TIDE RADIO: For the 10th consecutive season, Crimson Tide
baseball will be carried on a state-wide network. Alabama baseball
will be distributed this year by CTSM and all games will be aired on
the Crimson Tide Sports Network. For a complete listing of affiliates, please contact CTSM or the Athletic Media Relations Office. In
Tuscaloosa, the flagship station for Crimson Tide baseball is WACTAM (1420). Chris Stewart begins his ninth season on UA baseball
broadcasts. He will team with Vince Ferrara this season. Ferrara
hosts “The Sports Breakdown” Monday through Friday 7-9 a.m.
on WACT 1420 “The Tusk”. Stewart is also the play-by-play voice
for the Alabama men’s basketball team. In addition, all games may
be heard via the internet through the University of Alabama’s official web site or through broadcast.com. Stewart is also the host for
“Crimson Tide This Week”, a weekly review of Alabama athletics.
GAME SERVICES: The Sewell-Thomas Stadium press box is equipped
with wireless and ethernet capabilities. The press box contains two
working press booths, one television booth, two radio booths and a
Crimson Tide Suite that entertains pre- and post-game functions. The
press box is open 2 1/2 hours prior to the start of each game. The
press box elevator is located to the left of the main entrance of the
stadium. Prior to the game, rosters, game notes, statistics and starting
lineups are available to all members of the media as well as professional scouts. In addition, lineups will be posted in the media work
room located behind the Crimson Tide suite. Following the game, an
official NCAA box score, running play-by-play and and post-game
notes are available.
2008 Alabama Baseball
Head Coach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jim Wells
Overall Record (Years). . . . . . . . . . .747-361 (.674) (18 Years)
Alabama Record (Years) . . . . . . . . .553-272 (.670) (13 Years)
Assistant Coaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mitch Gaspard (Recruiting Coordinator)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dax Norris (Interim) and BJ Green
Volunteer Coach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Drew French
Director of Baseball Operations . . . .Steve Townsend
Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jacob Schrimsher and Clint Samuels
Athletic Trainer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joe Hoffer
Stadium (Capacity) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sewell-Thomas Stadium (6,118)
Park Dimensions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .325ʼ (LF/RF), 400ʼ (CF), 365ʼ (Alleys)
All-Time Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,242-1,323-23 (.628) (3,594 Games)
All-Time SEC Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .815-632 (.563) (1,451Games)
SEC Championships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(14) 1934-35-36-38-40-41-42-47-50-55
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68-83-96-2006
SEC Western Division Titles . . . . . . . . .(11) 1950-55-57-58-68-73-74-81-96-2002-06
SEC Tournament Championships . . . .(7) 1983-95-96-97-99-2002-03
NCAA Regionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(18) 1947-48-50-55-68-83-86-91-95-96-97
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98-99-2000-02-03-05-06
College World Series Appearances .(5) 1950-83-96-97-99
2007 Overall Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31-26
2007 SEC Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15-15
2007 SQUAD ANALYSIS:
Lettermen Returning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Lettermen Lost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Position Starters Returning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 (plus DH)
Position Starters Lost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Pitchers Returning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Pitchers Lost. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
STARTERS RETURNING (2007 Stats Included):
16 Alex Avila (INF/DH, Jr., 5-11, 210, Pembroke Pines, Fla., 57 G, .296, 14 HR, 61 RBI)
25 Matt Bentley (1B, Sr., 6-3, 230, Hazel Green, Ala., 53 G, .299, 12 HR, 36 RBI)
22 Kent Matthes (OF, Jr., 6-2, 205, Orlando, Fla., 51 G, .307, 8 HR, 45 RBI)
6 Brandon May (2B, So., 6-0, 200, Marietta, Ga., 49 G, .264, 0 HR, 13 RBI)
1 Kyle Moore (INF, Jr., 6-1, 190, Wetumpka, Ala., 31 G, .200, 2 HR, 12 RBI)
34 Ryan Rhoden (OF, Jr., 6-1, 225, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 43 G, .291, 2 HR, 16 RBI)
14 Jake Smith (3B, So., 6-2, 190, Shannon, Ala., 40 G, .246, 6 HR, 29 RBI)
Media Services Information
Baseball SID:
SID Telephone:
SID FAX:
Allen Home Phone:
Athletic Dept. Phone:
Baseball Office:
Ticket Office Phone:
Press Box Phone:
UA Website:
Mailing Address:
Overnight Address:
Barry Allen (Alabama, 1989)
(205) 348-6084
(205) 348-8841
(205) 758-6526
(205) 348-6161
(205) 348-4029
(205) 348-2262
(205) 348-4927
www.rolltide.com
Alabama Media Relations
PO Box 870391
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-3091
Alabama Media Relations
Coleman Coliseum Room 170A
1201 Coliseum Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
OTHER POSITION PLAYERS RETURNING (2007 Stats Included):
41 Brock Bennett (C, So., 5-10, 150, Tucker, Ga., 3 G, .333, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
45 Brian Clark (C, Jr., 5-8, 180, Indianapolis, Ind., 3 G, .500, 1 HR, 1 RBI)
11 Wes Henderson (1B, Jr., 6-0, 210, Oxford, Ala., 9 G, .167, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
9 Del Howell (OF, So., 6-4, 190, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 25 G, .255, 1 HR, 4 RBI)
10 Jeff Texada (INF, Jr., 6-0, 180, New Iberia, La., 39 G, .277, 1 HR, 12 RBI)
43 Tyler Odle (OF, Jr., 5-11, 190, Vestavia Hills, Ala., 25 G, .130, 1 HR, 4 RBI)
STARTING PITCHERS RETURNING (2007 Stats Included):
7 Miers Quigley (LHP, Jr., 6-5, 220, Roswell, Ga., 16 G, 15 GS, 4-7, 4.88 ERA)
16 Will Stroup (LHP, Sr., 5-11, 170, Birmingham, Ala., 24 G, 4 GS, 3-1, 4.65 ERA)
OTHER PITCHERS RETURNING (2007 Stats Included):
13 Josh Copeland (RHP, Sr., 6-1, 220, Palmetto, Ga., 27 G, 1-2, 4 SV, 2.97 ERA)
27 Austin Graham (RHP, So., 6-2, 195, Hoover, Ala., 1 G, 0-0, 13.50 ERA)
9 Del Howell (LHP, So., 6-4, 190, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 1 G, 0-0, 33.75 ERA)
36 Austin Hyatt (RHP, Jr., 6-4, 200, Marietta, Ga., 16 G, 3 GS, 5-1, 2 SV, 3.07 ERA)
31 Casey Kebodeaux (RHP, Jr., 6-1, 200, Mandeville, La.,18 G, 10 GS, 3-4, 5.06 ERA)
TOP NEWCOMERS:
20 Connor Hoehn (RHP, Fr., 6-2, 210, St. Johns College High School - Damascus, Md.)
28 Nathan Kilcrease (RHP, Fr., 5-5, 150, Glenwood Academy - Phenix City, Ala.)
29 Patrick Nappi (RHP, Jr., 5-11, 190, Shelton State CC - Birmingham, Ala.)
40 Jimmy Nelson (RHP, Fr., 6-6, 210, Niceville (Fla.) High School)
26 Robert Phares (RHP, Jr., 6-1, 190, Shelton State CC - Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
2 Josh Rutledge (INF/OF, Fr., 5-11, 175, Cullman (Ala.) High School)
3 Ross Wilson (INF, 5-11, 175, Hoover (Ala.) High School)
KEY LOSSES (2007 Stats Included):
Brandon Beclcher (OF/LHP, Sr., 44 G, .315, 2 HR, 16 RBI/2 GS, 1-1, 3.52 ERA)
Tommy Hunter (RHP, So., 26 G, 11 GS, 7-5, 5 SV, 3.87 ERA, 1st Round Texas)
Greg Paiml (SS, Sr., 57 G, .279, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 16th Round Chicago White Sox)
Bernard Robert (RHP, Sr., 12 G, 9 GS, 4-5, 3.64 ERA)
Emeel Salem (OF, Sr., 57 G, .351, 7 HR, 32 RBI, 6th Round Tampa Bay)
23
“The best and the brightest arrive at UA with very high expectations. They expect outstanding academic programs, superior teaching,
strong staff support, and first-class facilities. It is imperative as we attract these bright young people that we grow with balanced
excellence, and that is exactly what we are doing. Honors College, the Blount Initiative and the honors programs in the various majors
across the Universityʼs colleges and schools are fLouisiana Lafayettey meeting the expectations of the best and brighteState”
– Dr. Robert E. Witt
Dr. Robert E. Witt
President
The University of Alabama
As president of The University of Alabama, Dr. Robert
E. Witt has committed the University to an ambitious plan
for growth and achievement. His goals include increasing
enrollment to 28,000 students by 2010 and stimulating
significant growth in research in support of economic
expansion for the state and nation. Under his leadership,
enrollment has reached record levels and academic quality has increased significantly.
The Fall 2006 freshman class included 83 National Merit
Scholars, ranking UA 11th nationally among public universities in enrollment of these nationally recognized students. Since its inception in 2003, the University’s Honors
College has grown exponentially, enrolling more than 900
freshmen in 2006. A major building program, including
academic, athletic and residential facilities, is under way.
Private giving to the University is at an all-time high with
supporters embracing a capital campaign with a major
goal of improving scholarship opportunities for deserving
students.
The campaign theme is Our Students, Our Future.
Four Students Named to USA Todayʼs All-USA College
Academic Team - Four students from The University of Alabama have
been named to this yearʼs USA Today All-USA College Academic Team.
This yearʼs team brings UAʼs total for the last four years to 24, a figure that
tops all other colleges and universities. UA had the most students on the list in
2005 with five and in 2003, also with five. In 2004, with four students on the
team, UA came in second only to Harvard. A total of 83 students natioNorthwesternide were selected from more than 600 nominees for the 2006 team.
Yale, Duke and Northwestern Universities each had three students on the
team, the second highest total.
>>>> Alabamaʼs USA Today All-USA College Academic
Team Honorees (L-R): Kristi Wilcox, Katie Boyd, Jennifer Phillips and
Michele McGaha.
244
Dr. Witt’s vision for the
University of the future has
three cornerstones:
● To be a university of choice
for the best and brightest students;
● To be a student-centered tier-1 research university;
● To be an academic community united in its commitment to
enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.
Now in his fifth year as president, Dr. Witt came to UA
with 35 years experience in the University of Texas System.
He received his B.A. in economics from Bates College,
his M.B.A. from Tuck School at Dartmouth College,
and his Ph.D. from Penn State University. He serves on
the board of directors of the Black Warrior Council Boy
Scouts of America and is a member of the West Alabama
Chamber of Commerce, the Tuscaloosa County Industrial
Development Authority, and the Elizabeth Project Care
Board.
Mal
Moore
Director of Athletics
Mal Moore, in his ninth year as the Tide’s
Director of Athletics, has put his stamp on
one of the nation’s most storied athletic
programs. Alabama’s athletic teams have
excelled in the competition arena and he
has now directed completion of a $125
million facilities campaign that has revitalized the Crimson Tide’s athletic facilities.
It has been Moore’s leadership, vision and
initiative that has enabled this monumental
project to reach fruition.
Alabama football competes in the
newly expanded Bryant-Denny Stadium
which holds 92,138 fans, making it the
seventh-largest on campus facility in the
nation. With the north end zone expansion
completed, this magnificent edifice now
houses 120 skyboxes, a new home team
locker room, a club level area hosting 1,680
patrons, a new administrative level and
approximately 6,800 additional upper deck
seats.
Moore’s tenure at UA has been marked
by unprecedented facility growth for the
athletic department but he has also had a
national impact as a key member of several prestigious NCAA and college football committees. Moore currently serves
on the NCAA Division I Football issues
Committee, the SEC AD Bowl Advisory
Committee and on the Big Six Conferences
Minority Coaches Forum.
Moore was rewarded for his successes
with a contract extension that will take him
through June, 2010. He received unanimous
support from the UA Board of Trustees.
“This is based on two things: his ability
to identify and hire good coaches and secondly, his vision about facilities.”
Alabama student-athletes are already
utilizing new stadiums for soccer and tennis and football is enjoying a state-of-theart weight facility, locker room and sports
medicine area and a Hall of Champions
and administrative area that makes it one
of top venues in the nation.
Crimson Tide student-athletes also benefit from a state-of-the-art academic center
that came on line in early 2005 and renovation of Coleman Coliseum is complete.
His leadership has been crucial in helping guide Alabama through a period that
has, at times, been extremely difficult. It
has been his guidance and efforts that have
helped Alabama weather the storm, while
continuing to move in a positive direction
toward a future that will shine as brightly
as Alabama’s storied paState
Under Moore’s direction Alabama’s athletic teams have produced a number of
Southeastern Conference titles, including
men’s basketball, gymnastics, baseball and
softball and SEC tournament titles in both
baseball and softball, and an NCAA gymnastics title. Alabama athletes have earned
some of the highest honors the SEC and
NCAA have to offer, including SEC Athlete
of the Year, SEC Scholar-Athlete of the
Year, NCAA Top VIII, NCAA Postgraduate
Scholarships and NCAA Sportsperson of
the Year. These honors are over and above
the individual conference and national titles
that Alabama athletes continue to bring
home to the Capstone.
During his tenure, Moore has also supervised the completion of a number of other
facility projects, highlighted by the expansion of Sewell-Thomas Stadium; new lighting systems for Coleman Coliseum, Sewell
Thomas Stadium and the women’s soccer
field and installation of new artificial turf in
the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility.
Hired on Nov. 23, 1999, Moore’s stint as
Director of Athletics is the latest phase of
his 30-plus years of service to the Capstone.
Well-known in athletic circles, Moore brings
a vision of championships and success to
the office of athletics director thanks to his
three decades of experience in collegiate
athletics.
As a player and coach at Alabama, Moore
was part of seven national championships,
14 SEC championships, and 27 bowl trips.
Alabama capitalized on that background,
and Moore’s popularity, by naming him as
Associate Athletics Director for External
Affairs in 1994, a position that required
constant travel to speaking engagements
around the SoutheaState
In his career, Moore has worked with a
diversified field of constituents, from fellow
coaches to former players, to fans and the
business community. All those experiences
and relationships make him the ideal person to lead Alabama athletics into the 21st
century.
A 1963 graduate of the University of
Alabama, Moore holds both an undergraduate degree in Sociology and a 1964
Master’s Degree in Secondary Education
from the Capstone. A scholarship player for
Coach Paul Bryant, Moore was a member
of Alabama’s 1961 national championship
team.
Coaching football for 31 years, 22 of
those at Alabama, provided Moore with
a wealth of experience and knowledge in
the world of college athletics. As a coach,
Moore served as Bryant’s graduate assistant in 1964 and then Alabama’s defensive
backfield coach from 1965-70. He served as
the Tide’s quarterbacks coach from 1971-82
and from 1975-82 took on the additional responsibility and elevated role as the
Tide’s offensive coordinator.
Alabama won national championships,
in 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979 and 1992 with
Moore coordinating all the offensive plays
for the last four of those championship
teams. He is the only man connected with
the Alabama coaching staffs, past or present, who was a member of all seven of those
title squads. In addition to Alabama, his
coaching career included stops at Montana
State, Notre Dame and the NFL’s Phoenix
Cardinals.
Moore was born December 19, 1939 in
Dozier, Alabama. He has been married to
the former Charlotte Davis of Tuscaloosa
since July 20, 1968. They have one daughter,
Mrs. Steve (Heather) Cook of Scottsdale,
Arizona, a granddaughter, Anna Lee, and a
grandson, Charles Cannon.
25
Athletic Department Senior Support Staff
Finus Gaston
Senior Associate Athletics
Director/
Chief Financial Officer
Crimson ties are a family tradition for Finus Gaston, Senior
Associate Athletic Director. His
father, the late Finus C. Gaston,
was sports information director at
Alabama from 1953-61. His mother, the late Jewell Gaston, was a long-time UA departmental
employee in the Tide Pride office.
Gaston joined the University of Alabama Athletics
Department in 1996 after serving the University for 22 years.
The Tuscaloosa native was Assistant Vice President for
Auxiliary and Support Services before joining the Crimson
Tide athletics staff.
His duties as the department’s Chief Financial Officer
encompass management of the athletics business office, budgeting, human resources, contract negotiation and administration, long range strategic planning, team travel for all
sports, capital projects, and general maintenance of facilities
and grounds associated with athletics. During the fall of 1999,
Gaston served as the University’s interim athletics director.
His ties run deep with the department. The 1969
Tuscaloosa High School graduate continued his education at
the University of Alabama, working his way through school
as Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s head football manager. In 1973,
Gaston earned a degree in business education, then went on
to earn a Master of Arts degree in trade and industrial education in 1975. In 1984, Gaston received his Doctor of Education
Degree in administration and higher education. His doctoral
dissertation, “Administrative Decision Making: A Study of
Collegiate Trademark Licensing Programs”, was the first
documented research on the collegiate licensing industry.
He is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Delta Kappa,
and Kappa Delta Pi honorary fraternities.
Upon graduation, Gaston’s career flourished at the
University. Working in the Financial Affairs Division, he
held positions as Buyer, Assistant Purchasing Manager,
Purchasing Manager and Director of Licensing, Associate
Director of Business Services, and Assistant Vice President for
Auxiliary and Support Services.
Gaston and his wife, Martha, have two children: a son,
Will Wagner, a 1995 graduate of Alabama and a 2001 graduate of UAB Dental School and his wife Berkley (UA ’95); a
daughter, Curri Dichiara, a 1998 graduate of the Capstone
and her husband Neal (UA ’2001), and four granddaughters,
Anna Carson Wagner, Allie Wagner, Martie Will Dichiara and
Maggie Dichiara.
26
Kevin Almond
Chris Besanceney
Associate AD
Support Services
Assistant AD
Ticket Office/TIDE PRIDE
Jon Dever
Assistant AD
Student Services
Jon Gilbert
Director Major Gifts
Development
Wendell Hudson
Associate AD
Alumni Relations
Kim Johnson
Assistant AD
Eligibility and Lifeskills
Carol Parks
Associate AD
Business
Chris King
Associate AD
Compliance
Sarah Patterson
Associate AD
Community Relations
Ronny Robertson
Associate AD
Development
Marie Robbins
Associate AD
Sr. Woman Administrator
Thad Turnipseed
Director Athletic
Capital Projects
Doug Walker
Associate AD
Media Relations
Larry White
Associate AD
Event Management
Baseball Support Staff
Trent Barnes
Event
Management
Jonathan Bowling
Director of
Compliance
Rodney Brown
Director of
Rehabilitation Services
Rick Burleson
Assistant Director
of Marketing
Tom Buttram
Advisor Academic
Program
Gary Cramer
Director FCA
Vince Ferrara
Radio Play-by-Play
Allan Guenther
Public Address
Announcer
Joe Hornsby
Faculty Representative
Red Leonard
Assistant Equipment
Manager
Jacob Long
Student
Manager
Jennifer Martin
Director of Marketing
And Trademark
Licensing
Bill McDonald
Director of
Sports Medicine
Patrick McDonald
Assistant Director
Video Services
Don Rawson
Manager of
Video Services
Jake Schrimsher
Student
Manager
Chris Stewart
Radio Play-by-Play
Scott Urbantke
Director of
Athletic Grounds
Troi Lane Wallace
Baseball
Administrative
Assistant
27
25th Anniversary: 1983 CWS Team
1983 NUMERICAL ROSTER
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ted McClendon, DH
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fermin Lake, 2B
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Fleming, Grad. Asst.
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roger Smith, Coach
5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rob Skates, OF
6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bret Elbin, 3B
7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jack Turek, SS
8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeff Umphrey, 2B
9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dee Smithey, OF
10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Troy Brauchle, RHP
11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Allan Stallings, OF
12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Dietrich, OF
14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dean Hayes, RHP
15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Darnell Sims, OF
16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Edwards, C
18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .David Magadan, 1B
19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeff Kerr, RHP
20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ivan Snyder, RHP/OF
21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Craig Antush, RHP
22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Craig Shipley, SS
23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Greg Freel, C
24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeff Brewer, RHP
25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dick Wiggins, Grad. Asst.
26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles Mathison, RHP
27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jones Tubb, Grad. Asst.
28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Meacham, RHP
29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frank Velleggia, C
30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Payne, LHP
31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wiley Morgan, RHP
32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bart Elbin, LHP
33. . . . . . . . . Barry Shollenberger, Head Coach
34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rick Browne, LHP
35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alan Dunn, RHP
36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pete Ferrer, RHP
Student Managers
Terry Conkle and Chris Allman
Trainer
Henry “Sang” Lyda
Student Trainer
Tom Molay
Sports Information Director
J.D. Rutledge
Play-By-Play Announcer
John Ferry
28
One of the greatest teams in Alabama
baseball lore will celebrate its 25th anniversary this season.
The 1983 Crimson Tide baseball team captured the SEC Championship and won
the NCAA South Regional on its way
to the school’s best finish at the College
World Series.
The 1983 CWS team will be honored during the Alabama-Youngstown State series
March 7-9, 2008 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
The team will hold an autograph party at
the Joe prior to the game on March 8. In
addition, the team will be recognixed on
the field before the game and members
of the team will throw out the ceremonial
first pitch.
After the game, the team will have a reception in the A-Club Suite at Bryant-Denny
Stadium to cap the weekend’s festivities.
The season began with a bang as the Tide
won 15 of its first 17 games en route to a
46-11 final record and runner up spot to
Texas at the College World Series.
Of course, the Tide’s success story started
with All-American and Golden Spikes
recipient David Magadan, who led the
nation with a school and SEC record .525
batting average. He also slapped a UA and
then-SEC record 31 doubles and added a
record 95 RBI.
Alabama lost its first two SEC games at
eventual SEC Western Division champion
Mississippi State, but went three weeks
without another loss.
Late in March, Alabama gained national
spotlight with a No. 24 ranking by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
But not until the students began studying
for final exams did the Crimson Tide hit
full stride.
On April 30, the Tide dropped the first
game of doubleheader at Ole Miss, but
rebounded to win the next game, 5-4, to
begin a string of 15 consecutive wins that
stretched all the way to Omaha.
“We felt like the Ole Miss series turned
the season around for us,” former Alabama head coach Barry Shollenbeger said.
“From that point in the season, we knew
he had a good team.”
The Tide finished second in the SEC Western Division with a 14-7 league record,
but charged through the SEC Tournament
at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Miss.,
with wins over Florida (15-2), Tennessee
(8-6) and Mississippi State (10-9) to win
the school’s first SEC title since 1968.
Magadan went 10-for-11 (.909) in the three
games to earn Most Valuable Player honors. He had five hits, including a pair of
doubles and home runs, in the first-round
rout of the Gators.
Third baseman Bret Elbin, catcher Frank
Velleggia and pitcher Tim Meacham were
also named to the All-SEC Tournament
Team.
Next up was the NCAA South Regional
at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee,
Fla., where
Alabama, Florida State, Miami and South
Alabama comprised one of the toughest
four-team regional fields in the nation.
Dean Hayes six-hitter was good enough
to stop the Hurricanes, 6-2, in the opener.
The Tide then beat FSU, 7-5, to advance to
the championship game.
Miami then beart Floirda State to earn a
rematch with the Crimson Tide in the finals.
The Crimson Tide jumped out to a 6-1
lead, but held off a furious UM rally for an
11-9 win a the school’s first trip to Omaha
since 1950.
Afterwards, Miami head coach Ron Fraser
climbed on the jubuliant Alabama bus to
again offer his congratulations and some
encouraging words.
“Coach Fraser told us we had the team
that could win in Omaha,” Shollenberg-
1983 College World Series Remembered
er recalled. “That meant a lot to us. We
knew we had a special team, a good team,
then to hear that from him made it even
more special.”
Designated hitter Ted McClendon was
named the South Regional Most Valuable
Player.
Alabama was off to Omaha where it
would play in one of the most star-studded fields in CWS lore.
The field conisted of four-time national
champion Arizona State (Barry Bonds,
Oddibe McDowell and Don Wakamatsu),
Michigan (Barry Larkin, Chris Sabo and
Scott Kamienicki), Texas (Roger Clemens, Calvin Scharaldi and Billy Bates) and
Maine (Billy Swift).
Alabama took down the Arizona State in
the opener as Craig Shipley’s RBI single
in the bottom of the 11th inning plated the
winning run in the 6-5 win. Magadan was
4-for-4 in the win.
The Crimson Tide had another nail-biter
in its second CWS game, beating Michigan, 6-5. The Tide built a 6-0 lead on three
straight singles by Magadan, Rob Skates
and Velleggia in a three-run fourth inning.
Michigan answered with three runs in
the bottom of the frame and tallied single
runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but
could get no closer and Bama relief ace
Troy Brauchle notched his 12th save to
advance the Tide in the winner’s bracket.
Magadan went 4-for-4 in the win over
Michigan to set the CWS record with eight
straight hits in the series.
The Tide met Texas in its third game at the
CWS and suffered its first loss since April
30 with a 6-4 setback in 10 innings.
Magadan’s solo home run in the eighth
forced extra innings, but Texas plated
two runs in the top of the 10th to snap the
Tide’s then-school-record 15-game winning streak.
David Magadan was the 1983 Golden Spikes Award winner and SEC Player of the Year after leading the nation with a
school and SEC record .525 (114-for-221) batting average his junior season.
Calvin Scharaldi earned the win in relief
for the Longhorns.
Alabama fell into the loser’s bracket,
where a rematch with Arizona State
awaited.
29
Behind the pitching of Alan Dunn and
Tim Meacham and the hitting of Frank
Velleggia the Sun Devils were no match
for the Tide this time around.
Dunn and Meacham combined on the
one-hit shutout in the Tide’s 6-0 win. Lew
Kent, the former head coach at Radford
University, pinch-hit for freshman Barry
Bonds and broke up the no-hitter with a
seventh-inning single.
Texas tied the game in the top of the
sixth inning and took a 4-2 lead in the
seventh on consecutive hits by Mike
Brumley (single), Kirk Killingsworth
(triple) and Jose Tolentino (single).
Magadan batted .550 (11-for-20) in the
College World Series and was named
to the All-Tournament Team along
with Meacham.
Magadan doubled and scored on Allan Stallings’ RBI single in the eighth
to cut the deficit to 4-3, but the Tide
could get no closer.
Velleggia’s sixth-inning grand slam highlighted a five-run inning for the Tide offense.
Following the win, Alabama was back on
the field in less than 24 hours for another
meeting with Texas.
Alabama took a 2-0 lead through five innings with single runs in the third and
fifth innings. Bret Elbin’s sacrfice fly
scored Shipley with the first run and Dee
Smithey homered in the fifth for the tworun lead.
Tim Meacham takes over for starter Alan Dunn in the Tideʼs 6-0 win over Arizona State. Dunn and Meacham combined on the one-hit shutout as the Tide advanced to the 1983 College World Series
Championship Game.
30
Top: Craig Shipley tags
out Oddibe McDowell at
the College World Series.
Far Left: Alabama
celebrates the 1983
SEC Championship.
Left: Alabama catcher
Frank Velleggia.
31
Alabamaʼs Sewell-Thomas Stadium
There is no place like home.
And, Sewell-Thomas Stadium (aka “The
Joe) is the place to be in 2008, as the Crimson
Tide’s ballpark celebrates its 60th birthday.
The Crimson Tide baseball team played
its home games at University Field until the
end of the 1947 season. The Tide moved
to its present day site when land aquired
from Coach Frank Thomas’ family was used
to create a new field for the Tide baseball
squad.
Frank Thomas Field opened on March 26,
1948 as a 2,000-seat facility, which attracted
many overflow crowds in the 1950s and
1960s under Coach Tilden “Happy” Campbell and Coach Joe Sewell.
The inaugural game was played on
March 26, 1948 with the Crimson Tide beating the Bradley Braves 5-2 in the first game
of a doubleheader.
Pitcher Clarence Flack delivered the first
pitch at 2:02 p.m. (CT) on that afternoon in
the Tide’s new baseball home. Dick Dill recorded the first hit at Thomas Field and Jack
Rutledge swatted the first home run. Flack
was the winning pitcher that afternoon for
the Tide. Marvin Blemker also pitched and
earned what is known today as a save.
Since the inaugural game in 1947, SewellThomas Stadium has seen plenty of changes, both on and off the field.
The stadium was renamed Sewell-Thomas Field in 1978, honoring former Alabama
32
football and baseball standout and Major
League Hall of Famer Joe Sewell.
Alabama played the first night game in
school history on March 00, 1981 with a 13-8
victory over Western Kentucky.
The ballpark has undergone two major
renovations since it was erected in 1947,
with the last coming in 1999. In addition,
there are additional plans for future renovations on the both the inside and outside of
the stadium.
The original grandstand was completed
in time for the 1991 season and the Tide’s
new ball park held 2,700 fans.
Wesley Construction of Talladega, Ala.,
built the new facility for $2.1 million and the
completion of the permanent grandstand
changed the name of the facility to SewellThomas Stadium.
In 1996, bleachers were added down the
right field line to raise the stadium’s capacity to more than 4,000 as the Crimson Tide
hosted its first NCAA Regional in 1996.
N.C. Morgan Construction of Tuscaloosa,
Ala., is responsible for the most recent additions at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The $4
million expansion project gives the Tide one
of the finest home facilities in all of college
baseball.
The project, which was completed prior
to the 2001 season, involved extending the
grandstand down the right-field line. The
addition of 2,000 seats raised the stadium
capacity to 6,118 seats. The bench seats that
filled the upper level of the grandstand were
moved to the new addition. Chairback seats,
similar to those in the lower level, were installed in the upper level.
The stadium also received three new ticket booths, five new concession stands and
five new restrooms for men and women.
Two “hawker” stands were added to allow
for concession sales in the grandstand.
The players and coaches benefited from
the 2001 renovations, too. The Crimson
Tide moved into its spacious clubhouse in
2001. The expansion also included three indoor batting cages and pitching machines,
a meeting room, training room, equipment
room and coaches offices.
A new stadium entrance was created in
the fall of 2005 and a new sound system
from All Pro Sound was installed prior to
the start of the season. The ball park also got
a general facelift with new paint, signs and
handrails as part of this $175,000 project.
During the last two seasons, Alabama
had added a new sound system and stateof-the-art video board and scoreboard.
Celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 2008
“Joe”
The
Sewell-Thomas
Stadium Timeline
March 25, 1948
- The opening of the Tideʼs new baseball park, Frank Thomas
Field, was postponed one day due to rain.
March 26, 1948
- Alabama opens Frank Thomas Field with a doubleheader
against the Bradley Braves. The Crimson Tide took the opener,
5-2, but lost the nightcap, 5-3. Right-hand pitcher Clarence Flack
pitched the Tide to victory in the 1948 home opener, while Marvin Blemker notched the save. Dick Dill is credited with the
first hit at Thomas Field, while Jack Rutledge swatted the first
home run.
April 5, 1948
- Alabama defeated Ole Miss, 5-2, in the first SEC game played
at Thomas Field.
May 24, 1950
- Alabama hosted its first SEC Playoffs at Thomas Field with
a pair of wins over Kentucky. The Crimson Tide took the bestof-five series, three games to one, including 4-1 and 13-0 wins
in Tuscaloosa. The Tide won the 1950 SEC Championship and
became the first UA team to play in the College World Series.
May 15, 1955
- Alabama defeated Georgia 12-2 in the first game of the SEC
Playoffs at Thomas Field. Alabama swept the best-of-three series with a 6-4 win in Athens two days later.
March 16, 1964
- Alabama defeated St. Bernard 4-3 in Coach Joe Sewellʼs first
game as the Tideʼs head coach.
May 16, 1968
- Alabama hosts Florida in the 1968 SEC Playoffs, the first at
Thomas Field since 1955. After dropping the first game in the
best-of-three series in Gainesville, Alabama returns home and
posts back-to-back shutout wins (5-0 and 3-0) to win its first SEC
Championship since 1955.
May 10, 1969
- Alabama suffers a 3-2 loss to Ole Miss in Coach Sewellʼs final
home game as head coach.
May 9, 1970
- Alabama posted its 200th win at Thomas Field with a 4-0
victory over LSU.
May 5, 1973
- Alabama hosted Vanderbilt in the 1973 SEC Playoffs. Vandy
swept the best-of-three series from the Tide.
May 8, 1974
- Alabama hosted Vanderbilt in the 1974 SEC Playoffs. Vandy
swept the best-of-three series from the Tide.
April 5, 1975
- The Tide notched its 300th win at Thomas Field with a 5-4
win over Ole Miss.
February 28, 1978
May 17, 1957
- Georgia Tech beat Alabama 5-4 at Thomas Field en route to
the 1957 SEC Championship.
March 23, 1961
- Alabama won its 100th all-time game at Thomas Field with a
20-5 win over Virginia Tech.
May 6, 1963
- In Coach Tilden “Happy” Campbellʼs final home game as head
coach, Alabama beats LSU, 10-3.
- Alabama Director of Athletics Paul Bryant and Associate Director of Athletics Sam Bailey rename Thomas Field to SewellThomas Field to honor the former Tide All-American and Head
Baseball Coach. Sewell, who played 14 years with Cleveland and
the New York Yankees, was inducted into the National Baseball
Hall of Fame in July, 1977. Following the dedication, Alabama
swept Livingston, 5-4 and 5-3.
April 6, 1978
- Behind the keen pitching of future Hall of Famer Jim “Catfish” Hunter and Sparky Lyle, the defending World Champion
New York Yankees no-hit Alabama 6-0 in a exhibition game at
Thomas Field.
May 6, 1979
- Alabama closes out the 1979 season and Hayden Riley era
with a 4-3 win over arch-rival Auburn.
Feb. 26, 1980
- Dr. Barry Shollenbergerʼs first home game as head coach of
the Crimson Tide ends with a disappointing 3-2 loss to Livingston State.
March 3, 1981
- The Crimson unveiled its new 17ʼ X 32ʼ scoreboard in left-center field during its home opener. The scoreboard was donated by
Ziegler Meats and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company.
March 14, 1981
- In the first night game at Sewell-Thomas Field, Alabama defeated Western Kentucky, 13-8. The original lighting system cost
$210,000.
March 24, 1981
- The Tide records its 400th all-time win at Thomas Field with a
4-0 win over Mercer.
March 26, 1981
- True freshman David Magadan extends his school-record hitting streak to 21 games with a pair of hits in the 10-1 win over
Georgia Southern.
April 13, 1981
- Alabama defeated Ole Miss, 4-3, in the first televised baseball
game from Sewell-Thomas Field. ESPN televised the game on a
tape-delayed basis.
March 10, 1983
- The scheduled exhibition game between Alabama and the New
York Yankees was postponed due to snow.
March 12, 1984
- Alabama and the New York Yankees played to a 7-7 tie in an
exhibition game. Future Hall of Famer Dave Winfield swatted a
pair of home runs in the game for the Bronx Bombers.
Feb. 27, 1985
- Gordie Hershiser, Paul Mirocke and Greg Hibbard combined
on a seven-inning no-hitter against Jackson State. Alabama won
the game, 9-0.
March 26, 1985
- Jack Dietrich became the first player in school history to play
all nine positions in the same game as the Tide beat Alabama
State, 13-4. Dietrich opened the game as the starting pitcher
and moved to a different position on the field with the corresponding inning (2nd inning - catcher, 3rd inning - first base,
etc.).
33
The Joe - Celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 2008
May 4, 1985
- Sophomore catcher Doug Duke belted his 25th home run of
the season to set the UA single-season record. He finished the
year with 27 home runs, a record that still stands today.
May 5, 1985
- The Tide beat No. 1 ranked Miami (Fla.), 12-6, to earn a series
win over the Hurricanes.
March 4, 1986
- The Crimson Tide beat Ferris State 14-13 for the 500th win at
Thomas Field.
April 7, 1986
- Alabama defeated the Birmingham Barons 11-8 in an exhibition game at Thomas Field. Mike Yastremski (2-for-4, 4 Runs),
the son of Hall of Famer and Red Sox legend, Carl, had two hits
and scored four runs in the loss. The Barons also used future
Major Leaguers Ron Karkovice and Bobby Thigpen in the loss.
May 4, 1987
- Director of Athletics Steve Sloan and Head Baseball Coach
Barry Shollenberger announce the plans for a 2,700-seat grandstand and the Tideʼs new baseball facility will be called SewellThomas Stadium.
April 30, 1989
- Alabama defeats Ole Miss, 4-3, in the final game at SewellThomas Field.
August 15, 1989
- Construction begins on Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The
2,700-seat grandstand also called for new restrooms, new concession stands and press box. THe cost of the project was $2.1
million. The project was handled by Wesley Construction Co.,
of Talladega, Ala.
March 21, 1989
- Alabama hosted a day-night doubleheader at Thomas Field
with Towson State and Georgia Southern. The Tide beat Towson
State, 5-0, in the first game and lost to Georgia Southern, 4-2,
in the nightcap.
Feb. 23, 1990
- The Crimson Tide opens the 1990 season in the partially renovated Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Numerous weather delays forced
the delay in the opening of the stadium and there was only
limited seating for the first four home games. The entire 1990
season was played with a make-shift press box due to more
construction delays.
March 9, 1990
- Sewell-Thomas Stadium is open with all 2,700 seats as the Tide
beats Ohio State, 9-0. Joe Vitiello was the star with two home
runs and seven strong innings on the mound to earn Collegiate
Baseball newspaper “National Player of the Week” honors.
Alabama State Senator Bert Bank, Billy Martin, George Steinbrenner and Paul “Bear” Bryant before the
Alabama-Yankees exhibition game in 1978.
March 14, 1990
Feb. 15, 1992
- Dr. Barry Shollenberger becomes the schoolʼs all-time winningest coach with his 349th career win, surpassing Tilden
“Happy” Campbell. Alabama beat Murray State, 3-0, to make
Shollenberger the winningest Tide coach.
March 24, 1990 - Alabama defeated Mississippi State, 7-4, in the
first SEC game at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
- A computer driven matrix board (36ʼ X 24ʼ) is installed in left-center field at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
May 2, 1990
- In one of the zaniest scenes in sports history, the AlabamaWest Florida baseball game was delayed due to a beehive that
had been built in the on-the-field batting cage. After several
unsuccessful attempts to destroy the nest, a specialist was dispatched to Sewell-Thomas Stadium The beekeeper arrived and
removed the nest from the cage. The delay was more than
three hours and the scheduled doubleheader was reduced to
one, nine-inning game, which began at 8 p.m., more than three
hours after the scheduled start time. Alabama ripped seven
doubles in the game in route to a 9-5 win.
March 3, 1981
- Alabama notches its 600th all-time win at Sewell-Thomas Stadium with an 8-7 win over Illinois State.
April 6, 1991
- Director of Athletics Cecil “Hootie Ingram, along with members
of the Sewell and Thomas families dedicate Sewell-Thomas Stadium prior to the Tideʼs doubleheader with Ole Miss. Alabama
swept the twinbill winning, 4-3 and 10-1.
April 10, 1991
- Mick Kerns became the only player in Alabama history to hit
an inside-the-park grand slam in the Tideʼs 12-5 win over Murray State.
34
March 15, 1992
- Brad Oliver and Juan DeBrand each hit a grand slam in the
Tideʼs 15-1 win over Middle Tennessee. Oliverʼs came in the
third inning, while DeBrand added a grand slam in the seventh
inning.
March 10, 1994
- Alabama plays its 1,000th game at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in
a 5-2 loss to Notre Dame.
May 14, 1994
- In Barry Shollenbergerʼs final home game, Alabama lost to
Auburn, 6-3 to end the regular season.
Feb. 18, 1995
- The Jim Wells era began in thrilling fashion with a 2-1 win
over Middle Tennessee in 11 innings. Brett Taftʼs infield single
in the bottom of the 11th inning scored Anthony DuBose with
the winning run.
April 5, 1995
- Coach Wells became the winningest first-year coach in school
history with a 15-2 win over Samford.
Wells 22nd win broke the old mark of 21 wins held by JWH Pollard in 1907. Wells finished the year with 42 wins.
May 7, 1995
- Alabama beats Arkansas, 7-4, for the 700th all-time win at
Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Matt Frickʼs 10th inning home run beat Southern California in 1997.
May 10, 1996
May 22, 1997
Feb. 10, 2000
- An additional 1,600 bleacher seats were added down the right
field line to rosie stadium capacity to 4,107 for the final regular
season series with Auburn and the NCAA post-season. In addition, the visitorʼs bullpen was moved into foul territory to make
room of the additions.
- Alabama hosts the NCAA South II Regional and defeats Troy,
Wichita State, North Carolina State and Southern California in
consecutive days to earn its second straight trip to the College
World Series.
- In front of the largest crowd in stadium history (6,118), Alabama defeated BYU, 11-1, to open the 2000 season. The Crimson Tide sold its entire allotment of season tickets and finished
second in the national in total and average attendance.
May 25, 1997
March 5, 2001
- Matt Frick hits walk-off, two-out home run in bottom of the
10th inning as Alabama beat Southern Cal, 10-9, to earn its second straight trip to the CWS.
- Alabama became the 17th NCAA Division I school to win its
2,000th all-time baseball game with a 12-0 win over Winthrop.
May 12, 1996
- Alabama clinches a share of the SEC Championship with a 4-0
win over Auburn in the regular season finale. It was Alabamaʼs
first SEC Championship since 1983 and first Western Division
crown since 1981.
May 23, 1996
- Alabama defeated Princeton, 15-2, in the first-ever NCAA Regional game at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Joe Caruso was 3-for-5
with three runs scored and three RBI in the win. The NCAA
Regional attracted more than 80,000 fans to the Joe for the
four-day event with the Tide playing in front of record crowds
each day.
May 26, 1996
- Alabama defeated Virginia, 18-8, to win the NCAA South I
Regional championship and advance to the College World Series
for the first time since 1983. Dustan Mohr had four hits and
scored four runs in the win. Corey Spiers (3-for-4, 4 RBI) and
Rusty Loflin (2-for-2, RBI) were a combined 5-for-6 with seven
RBI in the DH spot in the lineup.
Feb. 14, 1997
- A number of renovations awaited the Tide in the 1997 home
opener. For the first time, Alabama played with a padded
outfield wall, which measured 8-feet high and was made of
16-gauge steel. A new sound system was installed and “Click
Effects” was used for the first time in enhance the atmosphere
at games.
March 2, 1999
- Alabama defeated Austin Peay, 6-2, to earn its 800th all-time
win at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
May 28-30, 1999 - Alabama defeated Navy and Southern Miss
(twice) to secure the Tuscaloosa Regional Championship and
advance to the first-ever NCAA Super Regional.
June 4-5, 1999
- Under the new NCAA Tournament format, Alabama is one of
eight teams to host the newly created NCAA Super Regional at
Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide swept LSU in the bestof-three series, 13-6 and 13-5, to advance to Omaha for the third
time in four years.
Feb. 10, 2000
- The second major expansion of Sewell-Thomas Stadium is
completed as 2,000 permanent seats were added down the right
field grandstand and bleachers were added to the left field foul
line. Also, new locker rooms, coaches offices, training room and
team meeting rooms were added. The cost of the project, completed by N.C. Morgan of Tuscaloosa, was $4 million.
April 5, 2002
- Alabama defeated Florida, 4-1, for the schoolʼs 900th all-time
win at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
March 24, 2006
- Alabama defeated Ole Miss, 12-2, to earn the schoolʼs 1,000th
all-time win at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
June 2-4, 2006
- The Crimson Tide captured the 2006 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional
with wins over Jacksonville and Troy (twice) to advance to its
first NCAA Super Regional since 1999.
June 9-10, 2006
- Alabama hosted North Carolina in the NCAA Super Regionals
and lost both games to the Tar Heels, 11-5 and 8-7.
May 13, 2007
- Alabama topped the 2,000,000 mark in all-time attendance on
the final day of the regular season against Arkansas. The Tide
closed out the 2007 season with 2,004,908 fans since the park
was dedicated in 1991.
35
Sewell-Thomas Stadium Fact Sheet
Original Opening:
Dedication:
Stadium Opening:
Dedication:
All-Time Record:
All-Time Attendance:
Capacity:
Surface:
Dimensions:
Outfield Wall:
Construction:
March 26, 1948
Alabama 5, Bradley 2
April 23, 1948
Florida 4, Alabama 2
March 9, 1990
Alabama 9, Ohio State 0
April 6, 1991
Alabama 4, Ole Miss 3
1,039-446-2 (.699)
(1,488 Games)
Sewell-Thomas Stadium Firsts
Thomas Field
First Game:
March 26, 1948
Alabama 5, Bradley 2
First SEC Game:
April 5, 1948
Alabama 5, Ole Miss 2
First Pitch:
Clarence Flack
vs. Bradley (2:02 p.m.)
Dick Dill vs. Bradley, 1948
First Hit:
First Home Run:
First Winning Pitcher:
Clarence Flack
vs. Bradley, 1948
First Save:
Marvin Blemker
vs. Bradley, 1948
2,004,908 (Since 1991)
2,000 (1947-89)
2,700 (1990-96)
4,107 (1996-1999)
6,118 (2000-Present)
Natural Grass
325ʼ (LF and RF)
365ʼ (LCF and RCF)
400” (CF)
Sewell-Thomas Stadium
First Game:
March 9, 1990
First SEC Game:
March 24, 1990
Alabama 9, Ohio State 0
Alabama 7, Mississippi State 4
8ʼ padded wall
30ʼ batters eye in CF
First Night Game:
March 17, 1981
Alabama 13, W. Kentucky 8
Wesley Construction Co.
Talladega, Ala. (1990)
N.C. Morgan
Tuscaloosa, Ala. (2000)
First Pitch:
Joe Vitielo vs. Ohio State
(7:02 p.m.)
First Hit:
Nick Durant, Ohio State
1st Inning Single
John Farrell, Alabama
1st Inning Double
First Home Run:
Joe Vitiello, Alabama
Solo HR (4th Inning)
First Run Scored:
Solo HR (4th Inning)
First Winning Pitcher:
First Save:
Ben Short, Alabama
36
Jack Rutledge vs. Bradley, 1948
vs. Murray State
March 14, 1990
Milestone Wins
Year-By-Year Attendance
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alabama 5, Bradley 2 (March 27, 1948)
100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alabama 20, Virginia Tech 5 (March 23, 1961)
200. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alabama 4, LSU 0 (May 9, 1970)
300. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alabama 5, Ole Miss 4 (April 5, 1975)
400. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alabama 5, Mercer 0 (March 24, 1981)
500. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alabama 14, Ferris State 13 (March 4, 1986)
600. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alabama 8, Illinois State 7 (March 3, 1991)
700. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alabama 7, Arkansas 4 (May 7, 1995)
800. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alabama 6, Austin Peay 2 (March 2, 1999)
900. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alabama 4, Florida 1 (2002)
1000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alabama 12, Ole Miss 2 (2005)
Year
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
TOTALS
Top 10 Crowds (Series)
Rank
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7,
8.
9.
10.
Attendance
19,224
19.004
18,839
18,772
18,630
18,561
18,557
18,514
18,512
18,480
Opponent
LSU
Mississippi State
Auburn
Central Florida
BYU
Purdue
Ole Miss
Tennessee
Auburn
Kentucky
Date
March 28-30, 2003
March 24-26, 2000
May 5-7, 2000
Feb. 25-27, 2000
Feb. 10-12, 2000
March 3-5, 2000
April 21-23, 2000
April 7-9, 2000
April 26-28, 2002
March 10-12, 2000
Opponent
Mississippi State
LSU
LSU
Mississippi State
Mississippi State
Central Florida
Mississippi State
Auburn
Auburn
Georgia Southern
Date
April 1, 2006
March 29, 2003
March 28, 2003
March 25, 2000
March 26, 2000
Feb. 26, 2000
March 24, 2000
May 5, 2000
May 7, 2000
Feb. 22, 2000
Top 10 Crowds (Season)
Rank
1.
2.,
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Attendance
6,821
6,621
6,590
6,355
6,339
6,333
6,310
6,277
6,278
6,269
Top 10 Crowds (Days of the Week)
Day
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Attendance
1,223
6,269
6,154
6,222
6,590
6,821
6,339
Opponent (Date)
Birmingham Southern (April 20, 1996)
Georgia Southern (Feb. 22, 2000)
Georgia Southern (Feb. 23, 2000)
BYU (Feb. 10, 2000)
LSU (March 28, 2003)
Mississippi State (April 1, 2006)
Mississippi State (March 26, 2000)
Openings
11
32
26
25
30
36
39
33
41
34
35
39
33
33
35
39
34
547
Attendance
7,091
18,251
10,805
13,310
24,668
80,363
103,177
120,331
172,264
211,331
196,935
202,615
163,549
150,724
150,724
177,690
152,363
2,004,908
Average
645
570
416
532
822
2,232
2,646
3,646
4,202
6,216
5,626
5,195
4,956
4,567
4,567
4,556
4,481
3,665
All-Time Post-Season Results
1950 SEC PLAYOFFS
Alabama 4, Kentucky 1
Alabama 13, Kentucky 0
1955 SEC PLAYOFFS
Alabama 12, Georgia 1
1957 SEC PLAYOFFS
Georgia Tech 5, Alabama 4
1968 SEC PLAYOFFS
Alabama 5, Florida 0
*Alabama 3, Florida 0
1973 SEC PLAYOFFS
Vanderbilt 5, Alabama 1
1974 SEC PLAYOFFS
Vanderbilt 2, Alabama 1
*Alabama 14, Troy 5
1999 TUSCALOOSA REGIONAL
Alabama 16, Navy 3
Alabama 10, Southern Miss 4
*Alabama 7, Southern Miss 6
1999 NCAA SUPER REGIONAL
Alabama 13, LSU 6
*Alabama 13, LSU 5
SE Missouri State 7, Alabama 4
Alabama 6, Auburn 3
Alabama 7, SE Missouri 4
Alabama 7, Florida Atlantic 2
*Florida Atlantic 6, alabama 5
Alabama 13, Jacksonville State 1
Alabama 4, Troy 3
1996 NCAA SOUTH I REGIONAL
Alabama 19, Princeton 2
2006 NCAA SUPER REGIONAL
Alabama 9, South Alabama 3
North Carolina 11, Alabama 5
Alabama 3, Stetson 1
*North Carolina 8, Alabama 7
*Alabama 18, Virginia 8
* - Denotes championship game.
1997 NCAA SOUTH II REGIONAL
Alabama 8, Troy State 5
Alabama 6, Wichita State 2Alabama 6, North Carolina State 3
*Alabama 9, USC 8 (10)
37
Crimson Tide Baseball
2008 Season Preview
Mercurial.
A perfect description for any
Southeastern Conference baseball
game.
Games can turn on a single
pitch or play.
Teams can change from inning
to inning, game to game or season to season.
Alabama had ridden that emotional roller
coaster many times.
For instance, emotional SEC series wins
last year against South
Carolina, Arkansas
and
Mississippi
State that catapulted the Tide into
the SEC
Tournament.
Then back-to-back losses in the
SEC Tournament which zapped the
Tide’s NCAA Regional chances.
The loss of several high draft
picks and last year’s most versatile
pitcher just days before the start of
classes in the fall semester.
All a part of the life of a college
baseball team.
While the Crimson Tide team
has seen numerous changes to its
roster since last season, the NCAA
has also made some significant
changes regarding the sport.
Teams were given 45 days to
hold fall workouts, a move that allowed the Crimson Tide to hold 18
intrasquad games from September
Alex Avila
to November.
“The players played hard,” Alabama Head Coach Jim Wells said.
“We feel like we got accomplished
the majority of things we wanted to get accomplished in that period of
time and we would not have been able to that without the extra practice
time.
“We have an idea of who can play. Now it’s getting them in the right
position and getting them more reps. We have more depth than we have
had because of all the returning position players and some of the players
aren’t front-line players that have been in the program three, four or five
38
years.”
There are also changes in the format of the season beginning with a uniform starting date for practice and games. Teams are not allowed to hold
team practices until February 1. In addition, the uniform start date for
college baseball is February 22, two weeks later than the Tide’s previous
start dates under head coach Jim Wells and more than month later than
some teams in California and Hawai’i had grown accustomed too.
The new schedule format will call for teams to play five games a week,
including two midweek games Tuesday and Wednesday and three conference games Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Here is the skinny of the 2008 Crimson Tide baseball squad.
*Alabama opens the season with 36 players on its baseball roster.
*The Tide has only three seniors, including first baseman Matt Bentley
and pitchers Josh Copeland and Will Stroup.
*In addition, the Tide has 18 juniors, six sophomores and nine freshmen.
*The Crimson Tide returns 10 position players that started at least one
game last season.
*Alabama returns more than 60 percent of its offense from last year’s
squad, including 2008 preseason Brooks Wallace Award candidate Alex
Avila.
*Avila hit .296 (66-for-223) with 14 home runs and 61 RBI last year. He
also led the Tide with 15 doubles.
*Bentley hit a career-best .299 (58-for-194) last year with 12 home runs
and 36 RBI. The 12 home runs were the most in his UA career.
*Avila and Bentley combined for 26 home runs last season and the Tide
returns 48 of 58 home runs (83 percent) from a year ago.
*Avila, Bentley, Brandon May and Jake Smith combined to start 190
games last season.
*On the pitching front, more than 50 percent of its appearances, wins,
save and innings from last year’s team.
*Alabama returns seven pitchers off last year’s squad with significant
mound time.
*Those seven pitchers combined for 103 appearances, 16 wins, eight
saves and 242 strikeouts.
*Copeland led the team with 27 appearances and posted a team-best
2.97 ERA last year.
*Austin Hyatt turned in a career-best season with a 5-1 record, two
saves and 3.07 ERA.
*Stroup posted a 3-1 record and 4.65
ERA in 24 games as starter and reliever.
Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2008 Alabama baseball
team.
PITCHERS
Alabama will open the season with
depth on the mound, which will be
needed to survive the five-game per
week schedule.
The Crimson Tide returns seven
pitchers off last year’s team that combined for more than 100 appearances,
but does not have that dominant number one starter.
Will Stroup
2008 Alabama Baseball Scouting Report
Josh Copeland
“We are trying to develop a
number-one type guy and we
may not have that,” Wells said.
“We do have a lot of quality
guys that throw strikes. Pitching-wise, we have more than
we have had, just not a guy
that stands out as that frontline guy, but it’s still very early. They have shown to throw
strikes and that is the number
one thing. The guys that can do
that will pitch.”
“We are in a position to have
a better club this year. There is
something to work with there
and we have some flexibility.
“Nelson and Kilcrease were
the two standouts pitchingwise, along with Howell. They
will pitch this year for us in
some role.
“Right now, your weekend
starters would have to be Nelson, Hyatt, Quigley and Stroup.
The closer would be Copeland
and Kilcrease. Nelson could be
a Friday night guy here pretty
soon.”
There are some candidates to
fill the void created when sophomore right-hand pitcher Tommy Hunter was taken in the first
round by the Rangers last July.
Sophomore Austin Graham (Hoover, Ala.), freshman Connor Hoehn
(Damascus, Md.), junior Austin Hyatt (Marietta, Ga.) junor Casey Kebodeaux (Mandeville, La.), freshman Jimmy Nelson (Niceville, Fla.), junior
Robert Phares (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), junior Miers Quigley (Roswell, Ga.) and
senior Will Stroup (Birmingham, Ala.) are all candidates for the five staring
spots on the mound entering the 2008 season.
Quigley (LHP, 16 G, 15 GS, 4-7, 4.88 ERA) has the most experience of the
group and is the only returning pitcher to start all 10 SEC series last year.
Stroup (LHP, 24 G, 4 GS, 3-1, 4.65 ERA) had the third-most appearances
on the team last year before ending the season in the starting rotation with
starts against Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Florida (SEC Tournament) to close out the year.
Nelson (RHP, Niceville High School) is a true freshman that stood out this
fall with his ability toughness on the mound and ability to throw strikes.
Hyatt (RHP, 16 G, 3 GS, 3-1, 2 SV, 3.07 ERA) made his mark in the Tide
bullpen last year with a knack for stranding inherited runners.
Kebodeaux (RHP, 18 G, 10 GS, 3-4, 5.06 ERA) started both SEC and midweek games last season for the Tide.
Hoehn (RHP, St. John’s College High School) is another talented freshman that could become a weekend or midweek starter this season.
Graham (RHP, 1 G, 0-0, 13.50 ERA), who has battled injuries in his UA
career, shined on UA’s scout day in the fall and will challenge for time on
the mound as a starter.
Phares (RHP, Shelton State Community College) made the transition
from junior college with a solid fall on the mound. His ability to throw
strikes makes him a candidate for a starting spot or time in the bullpen.
The remaining pitchers will vie for time in the bullpen, with some roles
already defined heading into the 2008 campaign.
Miers Quigley
39
Senior Josh Copeland (Palmetto, Ga.) has the most experience with a
team-high 27 appearances out of the pen last season and will be joined
by redshirt freshman Austin Evans (Tampa, Fla.), Jarrod Hewes (Mobile,
Ala.), sophomore Del Howell (Tuscaloosa), freshman Nathan Kilcrease
(Phenix City, Ala.), Jamie Manning (Empire, Ala.), Patrick Nappi (Birmingham, Ala.) and Tyler White (Brandon, Miss.).
Copeland (RHP, 1-2, 4 SV, 2.97 ERA) will be used as a set-up man or
closer this season. He has the lowest ERA of any returning pitcher and
recorded 27 strikeouts in 30-plus innings last year.
Howell (LHP, 1 G, 0-0, 33.75) is the most improved among the returning
pitchers and could end up in the Tide’s starting rotation after a solid fall
camp. He had only one appearance last season and spent the rest of the
season as an outfielder, DH or pinch-hitter. Howell will definitely see action as a two-way player this season with an improved offensive game as
well.
“Howell can play,” Wells said. “He is better. He may evolve into someone that can start (on the mound), but my first instinct is to use him out of
the pen. He had a really nice fall. He is one of those guys whose whole
game improved.”
Kilcrease (RHP, Glenwood Academy) joined Nelson as the most impressive freshman pitchers in the fall. He is a hard-nosed competitor and
has the ability to pitch on consecutive days, which may allow him to settle
in as the Tide’s closer this season.
Nappi (RHP, Shelton State Community College) is another leading candidate as the Tide’s set-up man in 2008. Nappi and Copeland should battle
for the team lead in appearances. Nappi’s curveball makes him a logical
choice for the set-up role.
Evans (RHP, Redshirted in 2007) is a hard thrower who may be thrust
into action early in the season for the Tide.
Manning (RHP, Wallace State Community College) will bring two years
of junior college experience to the Tide bullpen.
Hewes (RHP, Faulkner State Community College) and White (LHP,
Matt Bentley
Brandon High School) will also compete for time in the bullpen this season.
CATCHERS
The catching position may be the most improved on the field this season
for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama will open the season with seven catchers on its 2008 roster,
including junior Alex Avila (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), sophomore Brock Bennett (Tucker, Ga.), junior Brian Clark (Indianpolis, Ind.), junior Vin DiFazio
(Hampton, N.J.), junior Kyle Moore (Wetumpka, Ala.), junior Mike Sharp
(Liberty, Mo.) and junior David Woods (Bailey, Miss.).
In the off-season, Avila (57 G, .296, 14 HR, 61 RBI) made the move to
catcher and he made an immediate impact. He spent last summer working at the position in the Cape Cod League and then got some instruction
from Detroit Tigers all-star backstop Ivan Rodriguez. Avila’s father, Al, is
the Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the Tigers. While he
is still learning the position and improving every day, Avila is the favorite
to win the starting job.
“I think it’s a good move for Avila,” Wells said. “He is very excited and
has taken to it well. Mike Sharp is a guy we signed late and he has done
well also. We have gone from having no catchers to seven, but I think Avila
has put himself in a good position, if he keeps improving, to be a front-line
guy. “
“He brings a lot to the table. He knows the game and he communicates
well with the pitchers. (Assistant coach) Dax Norris has done a great job
with him. He wants to play. He wants to do well. He is very motivated.
He knows that is the position for him.”
Sharp (Kansas City Community College) had a solid two-year junior
college career and showed improvement in the fall.
DiFazio (redshirted in 2007) missed the 2007 season with a viral nerve
infection in his shoulder, but rebounded nicely with a solid fall both offensively and defensively.
Moore (31 G, 22 GS, .200, 2 HR, 12 RBI) is the only returning
catcher with any game experience. Moore started 22 games
last season and did not make an error in 139 chances behind
the dish.
Bennett (3 G, .333, 0 HR, 0 RBI) and Clark (3 G, .500, 1 HR, 1
RBI) will also compete for time behind the plate.
Woods (Meridian Community College) is a walk-on that
joined the team in January.
INFIELDERS
Alabama returns three-quarters of its starting infield from
last year’s team and that experience, along with the addition
of two outstanding freshmen, should make this a solid defensive unit in 2008.
Senior first baseman Matt Bentley (Huntsville, Ala.), sophomore second baseman Brandon May (Marietta, Ga.) and
sophomore third baseman Jake Smith (Shannon, Ala.) return,
along with other veterans juniors Wes Henderson (Oxford,
Ala.) and Jeff Texada (New Iberia, La.).
Bentley (53 GS, .299, 12 HR, 36 RBI) returns for his second full
season at first base and is coming off a banner season, where
he set career highs in virtually every offensive category.
May (49 G, 41 GS, .264, 0 HR, 13 RBI) enters the 2008 season
as one of the team’s better offensive players. His offensive
game improved in the fall to go along with his improved defense.
Smith (40 G, 39 GS, .246, 6 HR, 29 RBI) may be the Tide’s
best defensive infielder. He has good range and strong arm
and an improved offensive attack will make him a better allaround player this season.
Henderson (9 G, .167, 0 HR, 1 RBI) brings strong defensive
skills and expereince to the lineup this season.
40
Kent Matthes
Jake Smith
Texada (39 G, 25 GS, .277, 1 HR, 12 RBI) has also shown improvement on
offense and defense and could take over as the Tide’s starting shortstop.
“We have three of the four starters back,” Wells said. “There is one guy
(shortstop Greg Paiml) we have to replace. Texada, Wilson and Rutledge
are all good players, so that will be a battle to the end. Rutledge is a key
guy because he has had such a good fall and has been able to play well in
any position.
He will be pushed by a pair of talented freshmen that could make an
immediate impact on the Tide infield and lineup this season.
Ross Wilson (Hoover, Ala.) and Josh Rutledge (Cullman, Ala.), a pair of
All-State high school players in 2007, had stellar fall camps and are considered top candidates replace Paiml.
Wilson (Hoover High School), who is the younger brother of Tide quarterback John Parker Wilson, was drafted in the 36th round of the 2007
MLB Draft last June.
Rutledge (Cullman High School) played on Cullman’s state championship baseball team and also has the speed to play centerfield this season.
“I think the addition of those two freshmen, who are really good athletes, it gives you some maneuverability. Rutledge can play anything.
Wilson can play anything.
“So the infield defense is good. Whether it’s Wilson, May, Rutledge or
Texada, they all field the ball and throw it to first base and turn double
plays and we are going to need that because the ball is going to be put in
play a lot.”
Freshmen Jon Kelton (LaGrange, Ga.) and Jimmy Tullidge (Tuscaloosa,
Ala.) will also challenge for playing time in the infield.
Kelton (LaGrange High School) spent the majority of the fall at second
base, while Tullidge (Tuscaloosa Academy) played mostly at third base
and could see some time on the mound as well.
OUTFIELDERS
While Alabama lists only five outfielders on its roster, the biggest concern will be the replacement of four-year starter and two-time All-American Emeel Salem in centerfield.
Four of the five outfielders have significant playing time at Alabama
over the last couple of seasons, inclduing sophomore Del Howell (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), junior Kent Matthes (Orlando, Fla.), junior Tyler Odle (Vestavia Hills, Ala.) and junior Ryan Rhoden (Tuscaloosa, Ala.).
Junior Alex Kubal (Shorewood, Minn.) is the only newcomer listed
among the UA outfielders. Kubal (Gulf Coast Community College) will
compete for a starting spot in center field along with Odle and freshman
infielder Josh Rutledge.
“We have everybody back, plus we added Kubal,” Wells said. “He was
brought in to be the centerfielder. He plays hard and he has improved. I
feel comfortable with him going out there. We have looked at Rutledge
Brandon May
and Texada in center, too. Every guy mentioned, except Kubal, has been in
the program one year, two years or three years. We will be fine there.”
Matthes (51 G, 50 GS, .307, 8 HR, 45 RBI) is a two-year starter and the
leading candidate to open the season as the Tide’s right-fielder.
Rhoden (43 G, 37 GS, .291, 2 HR, 16 RBI) is also a two-year starter for the
Tide. He split time last year between the outfield and catcher. He moved
back to the outfield in the fall and his offensive game showed great improvement as he concluded the camp as one of the Tide’s leading hitters.
Odle (25 G, 5 GS, .130, 1 HR, 4 RBI) saw an increased role last year and
started five games toward the end of the season. He showed excellent offensive and defensive skills in the fall and his speed will keep in the mix in
the outfield.
Howell (25 G, 10 GS, .255, 1 HR, 4 RBI) maty have the best raw power
in the Tide lineup. A two-way player, Howell will likely see action in left
field or as the designated hitter when not on the mound. He was one of the
Tide’s most improved players in the fall.
Ryan Rhoden
41

This is Alabama Baseball

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