Aggie Baseball Set for Fall World Series

Not that anyone's counting, but the start of the 2004 Texas A&M baseball season will be 117 days away upon completion of the annual Fall World Series on Sunday.

vs. FALL WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE: GAMES 1 & 2: Thursday, Oct. 16, 5 p.m. (DH) GAMES 3 & 4: Friday, Oct. 17, 5 p.m. (DH) ALUMNI GAME: Saturday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m. GAME 5: Sunday, Oct. 19, 2 p.m.

This weekend marks the last chance to get a taste of Aggie baseball before the spring, as the squad wraps up its fall season with the world series and Alumni Game at Olsen Field.

This year's world series teams are the "Goblins," coached by volunteer assistant Robin Harriss, and the "MuckDogs," led by assistant coach David Coleman. Coleman is looking to defend his Fall World Series crown as last year his "Squirrels" dropped the "Drillers" four games to one.

The players were divided into two teams on Monday evening in a draft held by the coaching staffs.

The Goblins and MuckDogs will play 7-inning doubleheaders on Thursday and Friday, both starting at 5 p.m., and a single 9-inning contest on Sunday at 2 p.m. All five games will be played regardless of the outcome of the series. Admission is free and the games are open to the public.

For Coach Mark Johnson, who in his 20th season at A&M is the winningest coach in school history, it's a chance to see some players step up under the increased "pressure" of the Fall World Series.

"The world series is an amazing thing," Johnson said. "Year in and year out, we always see a little bit more in the world series then we do in the regular scrimmage games we've been playing all fall. When you put the uniforms on, turn on the lights, bring out the umpires and put a few more people in the stands, you get to see a little more. For one reason or another, human nature takes over and some guys do some things they haven't done in practice. It's fun to see that excitement."

The Aggies are coming off their best season in four years--one that saw the team go 45-19, finish one game back in the Big 12 title race, and advance to the regional championship game in the NCAA Tournament.

Senior Justin Moore is back after being sidelined for much of 2003 by injury.

A&M must replace most of its pitching staff, including All-American Scott Beerer, who not only ranked second on the team in home runs (11) and runs batted in (57) but compiled a 6-1 record, 1.82 ERA and a school record 13 saves. In fact, the Aggies lost 40 of the team's 45 wins on the hill in 2003 to graduation and the Major League Baseball draft.

A pair of young relievers return to the mix for A&M in 2004 in sophomore right-hander Robert Ray (Lufkin, Texas/Lufkin HS), who went 4-0 with a 2.19 ERA mostly out of the bullpen, and sophomore lefty Dan Donaldson (Houston, Texas/Memorial HS), who compiled a 1-3 mark and 3.41 ERA again mostly in relief work.

Senior right-hander Justin Moore (Katy, Texas/Taylor HS) is back after beginning last year as a weekend starter before being sidelined with an injury. Redshirt freshman Jason Meyer (Abilene, Texas/Cooper HS) is a powerful left-hander who has recovered from Tommy John surgery and is expected to be a factor on the hill.

Several impact pitchers will come out of a 19-member class of newcomers in 2004, perhaps led by 6-5 lefty Zach Jackson (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley HS). The junior, who transferred to Texas A&M from Louisville, went 7-6 with a 4.31 ERA for the Cardinals while logging a team-high 112 2/3 innings pitched. Jackson also posted a 10-3 mark in 2002 to earn freshman All-America honors.

Also expected to impact the mound corps are true freshman Austin Creps, a 6-2 right-hander from Spring, and JUCO transfer Kyle Marlatt, a 6-3 right-hander from Enid, Okla. via San Jacinto Junior College.

"We certainly have some good candidates (to be pitchers)," Johnson said. "We're still looking for a closer, and we've got some that can be starting pitchers for us. We're just going to have to keep working on it, but I think we have a chance to have some good pitchers."

In the field, Johnson returns six starters and three more that saw significant playing time. Leading the group of returnees is senior right fielder and second-team All-Big 12 selection Cory Patton (Owasso, Okla./ Seward County CC) who led the team with 13 home runs and 58 RBI while hitting .331.

Other senior starters returning are second-team All-Big 12 second baseman Erik Schindewolf (.351, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 12 SB), honorable mention All-Big 12 center fielder Justin Ruggiano (.322, 10 HR, 49 RBI, .555 slugging pct.), catcher Justin Pouk (.325, 5 HR, 27 RBI) and shortstop Matt Alexander (.229, 4 HR, 40 RBI).

Sophomore third baseman Cliff Pennington (Corpus Christi, Texas/Carroll HS) ranked second on the squad with a .341 average, tied for the team lead in stolen bases with 12 and drove in 41 runs to earn second-team All-Big 12 honors.

Senior Cory Patton led the offense in 2003 with 13 home runs and 58 runs batted in.

Seniors Erik Scheidt (.330, 2 HR, 14 RBI) and Brian Bowe (.247, 1 HR, 16 RBI) each saw significant playing time at first base, while sophomore John Infante (.246, 3 HR, 9 RBI) was forced into action in left field at the end of the regular season and was a solid contributor. Sophomore Craig Stinson (.274, 1 HR, 8 RBI) started 18 games behind the plate in 2003.

Sophomore Coby Mavroulis (Abilene, Texas/Cooper HS) missed last season due to injury but will contend for a starting spot this year. As a freshman he started 40 games and drove in 19 runs.

Several newcomers will contend for significant playing time in the field, including JUCO transfer and local product Andrew Baldwin (Bryan, Texas/Bryan HS), a 6-1 outfielder who comes to Aggieland from San Jacinto College.

Chemistry can become an issue with 19 newcomers, but Johnson says that's not a problem with this team.

"It's real good," said Johnson, whose 2003 squad featured 17 new faces. "Obviously, we don't have the whole 10 put together. But, I think we're going to be a better defensive team and a better offensive team. I think we have a chance to have some good pitchers as well."

Also taking place this weekend is the annual Alumni Game, which will feature some of the greatest players in Texas A&M history including All-Americans Chad Allen, John Byington, Daylan Holt, James "Hoot" Gibson, Scott Livingstone and Doug Rau. The game will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. and admission is free.

"We have got a lot of people coming back and it is fun to see those guys, hear them rekindle the stories and find out how they are doing," Johnson said. "Of course, a lot of them are married and have children now, so it really is an exciting time for me. It's going to be a great week for me."

The Aggies open an attractive 2004 schedule on Friday, Feb. 13 when they host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a three-game set. Teams making the trip to Olsen Field in non-conference play include defending national champion Rice, NCAA tournament participants Arkansas and South Alabama, West Coast Conference power Santa Clara and Mountain West Conference representative New Mexico.

A&M will also play one of its most attractive road series in recent history when the Aggies head west to meet UCLA in Los Angeles on the first weekend in March.

In Big 12 Conference play, A&M will bring in Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas State while traveling to Oklahoma State, Kansas and Nebraska. The Aggies will play traditional split-series with Baylor and Texas.