No. 4 Miami Baseball Hosts Lynn University Wednesday

Jan. 26, 2000

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Defending National Champion University of Miami Hurricanes openup the 2000 season against Lynn University on Wednesday, January 26 at 7 p.m.at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus. The game will be proceeded by anational championship ring ceremony in honor of last season’s College WorldSeries title of Florida State.

The Hurricanes, ranked No. 4 in the Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches’Preseason Poll, will start left-handed pitcher Brian Walker on the mound.Walker, who was drafted drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of WestminsterChristian in 1998, made 16 appearances with six starts last season for theHurricanes.

In the 2000 season opener against Lynn, Head Coach Jim Morris willbe looking for his 300th career win at the University of Miami. Morris hasamassed a record of 934-373-1 as a head coach and an 803-332-1 record at theDivision I-A level.

Following Lynn, the Hurricanes travel to Orlando for the ACC/DisneyBaseball Blast, Jan. 28-30, at the Disney Sports Complex. UM will face ’99Super Regional opponent Wake Forest in the first game on Friday, Jan. 28,followed by Clemson and North Carolina.

#4/5/5 Miami (0-0) vs. Lynn (0-0), 7:00 p.m.
Radio – WACC (spanish) 830 AM, WVUM (student) 90.5 FM

PROJECTED STARTERS (1999 STATS)

By Position

Head Coach: Jim Morris (Elon ’72)
At Miami: 299-88 .773 7th Season
Head Coach – D-I: 803-332-1 .707 19th Season
Head Coach – Overall: 934-373-1 .714 22nd Season
Assistant Coach: Lazaro Collazo (15th Season, Miami, ’88)
Assistant Coach: Gino DiMare (4th Season, Miami, ’92)
Assistant Coach: Mark Kingston (1st Season, North Carolina, ’92)

MORRIS DIVISION 1-A MILESTONE WINS:

MORRIS MILESTONE WINS AT MIAMI:

MORRIS GOES FOR WIN NO. 300 AT MIAMI: Head Coach Jim Morris has recorded anoverall record of 299-88 during his six previous seasons at Miami. Morriswill be vying for UM win No. 300 against Lynn in the Hurricanes’ 2000season-opener on Jan. 26. Morris’ 299 victories in Coral Gables aresecond-most to former head coach Ron Fraser’s 1,271 wins from 1963-92. Hebecame UM’s second all-time coaching wins leader in his second season inMiami, when his Hurricanes defeated Jacksonville, 12-4, on April 30, 1995for his 83rd UM win, surpassing Eddie Dunn (82 wins, 1946-54).

MIAMI IN SEASON OPENERS: Miami holds a 34-21 overall record in seasonopening games. The last loss in a season-opener for the Hurricanes wasJanuary 16, 1997, a 3-2 loss at Hawai’i. The Hurricanes have not lost aseason-opener at home since a 9-7 defeat to Florida on February 3, 1984 (12games).

MIAMI RIDES NATION’S LONGEST WIN STREAK INTO 2000 SEASON: The Hurricanesride an 11-game win streak heading into the 2000 season. Miami won thefinal two games of a three-game series at Long Beach State to end the 1999regular season, followed by a 9-0 march through the new 64-team postseasonformat. Miami was the first and lone team to record a perfect streak duringthe newly expanded NCAA postseason.

DAVID GIL HIGHLIGHT’S LOUISVILLE SLUGGER PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS: Senior RHPDavid Gil was selected to the Louisville Slugger Preseason All-AmericanFirst Team, as chosen by the staff of Collegiate Baseball newspaper. Gilwent a perfect 12-0 in 1999, highlighted with a win against Rice in UM’sfirst game at the 1999 College World Series. Gil, a 2000 team captain, wasselected in the seventh round by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1999 MLBDraft, but opted to return to Miami for his senior season.

GIL ENTERS 2000 SEASON HAVING WITH A 13-0 MARK: Senior David Gil improved to12-0 in 1999, with his victory over Rice in game one of the College WorldSeries. Gil now enters the 2000 season with 13 consecutive wins with hislast loss coming against Texas (L, 8-7) on March 1, 1998. Additionally, Gilhas won nine games in his last nine starts.

BASEBALL AMERICA NAMES MANNY CRESPO, KEVIN BROWN AS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS:Junior rightfielder Manny Crespo and junior first baseman Kevin Brown wereeach selected to Baseball America’s Preseason All-American lists, chosen byMLB scouting directors. Crespo, who was a 1999 CWS All-Tournament pick, wasselected to the second team as a designated hitter. Brown, who accountedfor four runs in UM’s 6-5 victory over Florida State in the CWS title game,was a third-team pick at first base.

NCBWA SELECTS VINCE VAZQUEZ TO ITS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM: Sophomore RHPVince Vazquez was selected to the National Collegiate Baseball WritersPreseason All-American Third Team. Vazquez is one of six relief pitchersselected to the three AA lists. Vazquez, who was UM’s top middle-inningpitcher during its 9-0 march through the 1999 postseason, is expected tofill the closer’s role during the 2000 season. The NCBWA All-America listswere the first of the new millennium.

BASEBALL WEEKLY/ESPN RANKS MIAMI NO. 4 IN PRESEASON POLL: The Hurricaneswere ranked No. 4 in Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches’ annual preseason Top 25poll. UM was selected behind Stanford (#1), Cal-State Fullerton (#2) andAlabama. The Hurricanes received 914 points, two behind #3 Alabama and 129behind #1 Stanford (1,043). Of Miami’s 55 regular season games, UM willplay 18 or 32.7% against teams ranked in BW’s preseason Top 25 poll (#5Florida State, 6, #8 Georgia Tech, 3, #15 Clemson, 1, #18 Florida, 4, #23Long Beach State, 3, #24 Wake Forest, 1).

COLLEGIATE BASEBALL RANKS MIAMI NO. 5 IN PRESEASON POLL: The Hurricanes wereranked No. 5 in Collegiate Baseball newspaper’s annual preseason Top 40poll. UM was selected behind Stanford (#1), Cal-State Fullerton (#2),Alabama (#3) and UCLA (#4). The Hurricanes received 469 points, one behind#4 UCLA and 21 behind #1 Stanford (480). Of Miami’s 55 regular seasongames, UM will play 20 or 36.4% against teams ranked in CB’s preseason Top40 poll (#6 Florida State, 6, #9 Georgia Tech, 3, #11 Clemson, 1, #20 NorthCarolina, 1, #22 Long Beach State, 3, #24 Florida, 4, #31 Wake Forest, 1,#36 Florida Atlantic, 1).

BASEBALL AMERICA RANKS MIAMI NO. 5 IN PRESEASON POLL: The Hurricanes wereranked No. 5 in Baseball America’s annual preseason Top 25 poll. UM wasselected behind Stanford (#1), Cal-State Fullerton (#2), Alabama (#3) andUCLA (#4). Of Miami’s 55 regular season games, UM will play 15 or 27.3%against teams ranked in BA’s preseason Top 25 poll (#7 Florida State, 6, #9Georgia Tech, 3, #18 Florida, 4, #21 Wake Forest, 1, #24 Clemson, 1).

BASEBALL AMERICA PICKS MIAMI AS TOP INDEPENDENT: Of the 11 Division 1-AIndependent baseball teams across the United States, Baseball America hasselected Miami as its preseason favorite. The Hurricanes received all fivefirst place votes in the BA poll and finished ahead of No. 2 Cal-StateNorthridge.

BA also selected UM junior rightfielder Manny Crespo as the topprospect among the independent teams. In addition, the Hurricanes’ DavidGil (#2), Vince Vazquez (#3), Kevin Brown (#4) and Mike Rodriguez (#5)rounded out BA’s top five prospects.

UM freshman pitcher Kiki Bengochea was picked as BA’s topindependent team newcomer. Hurricane freshman shortstop Kevin Howard (#2)and Cal-State Northridge’s Kameron Loe rounded out the top three independentteam newcomers.

Baseball America Preseason Independent Team Poll

ORANGE AND GREEN PLAY TO A 3-3 TIE ANNUAL ALUMNI GAME: The 2000 Hurricanes,wearing green, put three runs on the scoreboard in the sixth inning to forgea 3-3 tie with the orange team in the annual seven-inning preseason outing.The orange team placed seven UM alumni with current players, highlighted byFlorida Marlins infielder Dave Berg (92-93). Also returning to Mark Lightfor the alumni game were Brian Seever (98-99), Aubrey Huff (97-98), AlexSantos (97-99), Russ Jacobson (97-99), Eddie Rivero (95-96), Darin Spassoff(96-99). Mike Tosar (88-91) served as the orange team coach.

KINGTSTON HIRED, DiMARE NAMED RECRUITING COORDINATOR: UM Athletic DirectorPaul Dee and head baseball coach Jim Morris announced the hiring of formervolunteer coach Gino DiMare as the Hurricanes new Recruiting Coordinator andHitting Coach on August 16, 1999. Morris also named former Illinois Stateassistant coach Mark Kingston as UM’s new volunteer coach and David Diggs asCoordinator of Baseball Operations. Additionally, Strength Coach MikeGibbons, Trainer Kevin Blaske and SID Joe Hornstein also begin their firstseason with the Defending National Champions.

GIL, BROWN NAMED 2000 TEAM CAPTAINS: On December 6, 1999 the baseball teamselected senior pitcher David Gil and junior first baseman Kevin Brown asteam captains for the 2000 baseball season. Gil, a left-handed pitcher outof Miami Columbus, went 12-0 last season with a 3.19 era in leading theHurricanes to the 1999 National Championship in Omaha, NE. Among Gil’svictories last year were NCAA teams Ohio State, Clemson, Florida State(twice), Long Beach State, Florida International, Wake Forest and Rice.Brown, who led the team with 22 home runs and 66 RBI in 1999, had the basesclearing double in the fifth inning that propelled the Hurricanes to theCollege World Series title.

FOOTBALL PLAYER BUCHANON ADDED TO BASEBALL ROSTER: The UM baseball team hasadded freshman Phillip Buchanon to its roster for the 2000 season. Buchanonis already attending Miami on a football scholarship as a defensive back.Buchanon, who will add depth to the UM outfield, saw much playing timeduring his true freshman season with the football Hurricanes. He appearedin 10 games, recording 21 tackles on the season, including one tackle forloss, a pass break-up and a forced fumble. Buchanon, originally from FortMyers, FL, was an all-state baseball player at Lehigh HS. He batted .463with seven triples, six doubles and five home runs. Buchanon joinspitcher/tight end Dan Smith as the lone football players on the Hurricanes’2000 roster.

HURRICANES HARD TO NO-HIT: Entering the 2000 season opener with Lynn, Miamihas not been -no-hit in 2,112 games. The last time the Hurricanes wereno-hit was by Ken Huebner of Florida Southern on April 18, 1964 in Lakeland.UM experienced a close call last season as Notre Dame no-hit the Hurricanesthrough 8.2 innings in South Bend, IN on May 12, 1999. Then-freshman MikeRodriguez hit a single to break up the no-hitter.

HURRICANE ROSTER HAS MAJOR LEAGUE TALENT: The 2000 Hurricanes have a totalof 17 players who have been selected in the Major League Draft. Freshmanpitcher Kiki Bengochea is the highest drafted player on the UM roster (3rdRd./Kansas City Royals). Additionally, 17 of UM’s 29 rostered players or58.6 percent have been drafted by the pros.

* David Gil was not selected out of high school, but this past seasonfollowing his junior season.

FIVE HURRICANES SELECTED IN 1999 DRAFT, TWO MORE SIGN CONTRACTS: FiveHurricanes from the 1999 National Championship team were drafted in lastsummer’s Major League Baseball Draft.

HURRICANES DON’T LOSE SERIES: Miami won all 11 three-game series it playedin 1999, including five three-game sweeps. UM took the first two from WakeForest in the Super Regional to erase a third meeting. Entering the 2000season, UM has won 13 consecutive three-game series and 30 of its last 31three-game series. At Mark Light Stadium, Miami won eight three-game seriesin 1999 and 36 of its last 37 three-game series. Since April, 1995, UM haslost a three-game series at home just once when Florida State took two ofthree games, May 1-3, 1998.

MORRIS MAKING HISTORY: In his seventh season at Miami, Head Coach Jim Morrisis establishing himself amongst the elite college baseball coaches in thenation.

Jim Morris:

• is the only coach in NCAA history to take a school to the CWS in each ofhis first six years at a program.
• was named National Coach of the Year in 1994 and 1999.
• has never posted a losing record as a head coach.
• has sent over 100 players to professional baseball including Kevin Brownof the Los Angeles Dodgers and Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox.

SIX IN SIX: Morris is the only coach in college baseball history to appearin the College World Series in each of his first six years at a program.The ‘Canes, under Morris, advanced to Omaha in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998and 1999. The record was actually established when the Hurricanes advancedin Morris’ fourth season in 1997.

MORRIS IN SELECT COMPANY: Head Coach Jim Morris is only the third coach inNCAA history to lead a team to the CWS in six consecutive seasons. FormerUM coach Ron Fraser, who led the ‘Canes to the CWS 12 years, took UM toOmaha five straight seasons from 1978 to 1982.

Consecutive Trips to the College World Series

MORRIS NAMED 1999 NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR: Head Coach Jim Morris wasnamed National Coach of the Year in 1999, by the ABCA and CollegiateBaseball newspaper. The top coaching honors mark the second time Morris wasnamed National Coach of the Year after winning the designation from BaseballAmerica in his first season at Miami in 1994. Morris guided the 1999Hurricanes to the CWS title in his sixth straight trip to Omaha, NE and a50-13 overall record.

MORRIS IS A REGIONAL REGULAR: Jim Morris has led a team to a NCAA Regionalberth for 15 consecutive years. He has guided the Hurricanes to the NCAARegionals in each of his six previous seasons at UM. While at Georgia Tech,Morris took the Yellow Jackets to the regionals for a total of nine years(1985-1993).

MORRIS INDUCTION: University of Miami head baseball coach Jim Morris wasinducted into the Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame during the 1999season. Morris was Georgia Tech’s head baseball coach for a 12-year periodfrom 1982-93. At Tech, Morris rebuilt the Yellow Jacket baseball programinto a prominent program nationally, which won four ACC championships andearned nine NCAA Tournament appearances. With a 504-244-1 (.674) record,Morris became Georgia Tech’s winningest coach in any sport in the school’shistory.

SHORTSTOPS AND MORRIS: Jim Morris, who played shortstop during his playingdays at Elon College and in the Boston Red Sox organization, has had greatsuccess developing shortstops in recent years. Most recently, Bobby Hill, afirst-team All-American was a second round draft pick by the Chicago WhiteSox. Before Hill, each of the last three shortstops to play under Morriswere Major Leaguers during the 1998 season. Alex Cora and Mike Metcalfeeach played for the Los Angeles Dodgers. All-Star Nomar Garciaparra of theBoston Red Sox played for Morris from 1992-93 at Georgia Tech. UM’s top twoshortstop prospects for the 2000 season are Javy Rodriguez, drafted by theNew York Yankees out of high school, and Kevin Howard, a San Diego Padresdraft pick.

ESPN’S ROY FIRESTONE FIRES UP CANES: ESPN Primetime Up Close host RoyFirestone visited the Hurricanes in their locker room following their 9-7win at Long Beach State on May 21, 1999. Firestone, UM Class of 1975, was aformer broadcaster on UM’s student radio station (WVUM) and remains closewith longtime P.A. Announcer Jay Rokeach. Following his pep talk, UM HeadCoach Jim Morris presented Firestone with a team jacket. The Hurricanesproceeded to finish the season on an 11-game win streak and a CWS title.

FIRESTONE PERFORMS AT PRESEASON “FIRST PITCH” BANQUET: Roy Firestonereturned to Miami during the preseason, to serve as keynote speaker at theannual “First Pitch” Banquet at the Biscayne Bay Marriott. Firestone spokeabout his memories of his days as a UM baseball broadcaster as well asprovide a night full of entertainment. The event, which benefited theUniversity of Miami Baseball Building Fund, featured Firestone performing amixture song, stand-up and video bloopers.

50-40-30 WIN PLATEAU: The Hurricanes have won at least 50 games during thepast four seasons under Head Coach Jim Morris. UM has won at least 40 gamesfor six straight years, 11 of the last 12 years and 25 of the last 27 years.Miami has won 30 or more games for 29 consecutive years. The last time UMfailed to win 30 games was 1970 when the ‘Canes finished 28-15-1. Morris,as a head coach, did not drop below 42 wins during the 1990’s decade. Hislowest single-season win total during the ’90’s, either at Miami or GeorgiaTech, was 42 wins in 1991 with the Yellow Jackets. Morris’ lowestsingle-season win total in his six previous seasons at UM was 48 in 1995.

ALWAYS A PACKED HOUSE AT MARK LIGHT STADIUM: Attendance for the 1999baseball season placed eighth nationally among NCAA Division 1-A schools.106,685 patrons attended UM home games during the ’99 season. The No. 8ranking marked the 23rd straight season that UM has placed among thenation’s top 10.

HURRICANES HAVE POSTSEASON SUCCESS

Consecutive Regional Appearances

Leaders by CWS Appearances

Consecutive CWS Appearances

Leaders by CWS Wins

UM’S 1999 CWS TITLE PUTS HURRICANES IN SELECT COMPANY: With their 1999College World Series championship, the Hurricanes became the eighth programall-time to win at least three National Championships (1982, ’85 and ’99).

HURRICANES FINISH ’90’S DECADE AMONG NATION’S BEST

Top Winning Percentage in the ’90’s

Overall Wins in the ’90’s

ONE MARK FALLS IN 1999, NEW ONE BEGINS IN 2000: The Hurricanes streak of notbeing shut out in a game ended at a school-record 249 last season when NotreDame defeated UM 1-0 (5/12/99) in the second game of a two-game series inSouth Bend, IN. The 249 games is good for ninth best all-time heading intothe 2000 season. UM has 15 straight games under its belt since that date.Prior to Notre Dame, UM was last shut out against Texas A&M (4-0, 5/29/95)in an Atlantic II Regional game. Under Jim Morris, UM has been shut out atotal of five games since 1994 or once every 77.4 games. Entering the 2000season, the Hurricanes have not been shut out in 15 games.

Longest UM streaks without being shut out

HURRICANES SUCCEED VS. FIRST ROUND PITCHERS: The Hurricanes have faired verywell in their past 20 outings against pitchers who were first round picks inthe Major League Draft, going 14-6 since May, 1995.

UM vs. First Round Pitchers

* College World Series

COLLEGIATE BASEBALL PICKS UM’S 1999 RECRUITING CLASS NO. 6: The 1999University of Miami recruiting class, featuring just five players and threeMLB draft picks, ranked No. 6 in Collegiate Baseball” Top 30 RecruitingClasses. The new UM freshmen are Kiki Bengochea, Kevin Howard, DannyMatienzo, Jim Burt Jr. and Kevin Mannix. Bengochea, a third-round pick bythe Kansas City Royals, was the fourth-highest drafted player to forgoprofessional baseball and attend his college choice. Howard was a22nd-round pick by the San Diego Padres, while the Minnesota Twins choseMatienzo in the 24th round. Burt is the son of former UM football standoutdefensive lineman and New York Giant Super Bowl champion Jim Burt.

Top 10 1999 Recruiting Classes by Collegiate Baseball

MIAMI HAS SUCCESS AGAINST THE ACC: Miami has dominated teams from theAtlantic Coast Conference over the past four seasons. UM has won 37 of itslast 46 games against ACC foes, including eight consecutive. In 1999, theHurricanes forged a 12-3 record vs. ACC opponents (Florida State 6-1, N.C.State 2-1, Clemson 2-1, Wake Forest 2-0).

UM vs. ACC (Last 46 Meetings)

BASEBALL AMERICA RECOGNIZES UM AMONG DECADE’S ELITE: Baseball Americarecognized the University of Miami baseball program as the No. 2 program ofthe 1990’s in their recent Best of the Decade edition. Of the three teamschosen, the defending national champion Hurricanes placed behind LouisianaState, which won national championships in 1991, ’93, ’96 and ’97, and aheadof Cal-State Fullerton.

Of the three head coaches chosen, 1999 ABCA and Collegiate BaseballNational Coach of the Year Jim Morris was also selected as the No. 2 coachof the decade. Former UM assistant and current LSU head coach Skip Bertmanwas the No. 1 coach. Morris, the only head coach to take a team to theCollege World Series in each of his first six years at a program, placedahead of No. 3 Gene Stephenson of Wichita State.

Former UM All-American and current Philadelphia Phillies infielderPat Burrell was selected as the decade’s top freshman for his impact rookieseason in 1996. Burrell, who led the nation with a .484 batting average asa rookie, was named the Most Outstanding Player at the CWS in ’96, as wellas consensus First Team All-America. Burrell placed ahead of LSU’s ToddWalker (1992) and Brett Laxton (1993) in the best freshman category.

Of the five players that were selected in the Best Player category,Burrell ranked third, behind Cal-State Fullerton’s Mark Kotsay (1994-96) andLSU’s Walker (1992-94). In addition, Morris coached the No. 4 player, JasonVaritek (1991-94) of Georgia Tech, prior to his arrival in Coral Gables.Florida State’s J.D. Drew (1995-97) ranked fifth.

Of the nine position players named to the All-Decade All-Americateam, three were coached by Morris (Burell at UM and Varitek and NomarGarciaparra at Georgia Tech).

Among Baseball America’s High Schools Best of the Decade currentHurricanes Mark Walker, Manny Crespo and Brian Walker played for the No. 2team of the 1990’s, the 1996 Westminster Christian Warriors. In addition,current UM assistant coach Gino DiMare served on the Westminster Christiancoaching staff during that 1996 season when the Warriors completed a perfect36-0 campaign.

Current Seattle Mariners All-Star Alex Rodriguez, who played forWestminster Christian and signed a national letter of intent to attend theUniversity of Miami, was named the No. 2 high school player of the decade.

Best Program

Best Coach

Best Freshman

Best Player

1990’s All-America Team
Position Players

Pitchers

CHECK OUT UM BASEBALL AT HURRICANESPORTS.COM: In its first full academicyear, University of Miami Athletics has teamed with FansOnly for acomprehensive website dedicated to Hurricane sports. Current baseball news,stats and information can be found year-round at www.hurricanesports.com.

STUDENT RADIO WVUM 90.5 FM ONCE CARRIES EVERY GAME: Every regular season andpostseason Hurricane baseball games will once again be carried by studentradio station WVUM 90.5 FM. Returning for their second season as the leadannouncing team for UM baseball broadcasts are Sports Director Dan Laing,Alex Loeb and Ricky Thomas.

JIM MORRIS SHOW: The 2000 season marks the fourth season of the Jim MorrisShow, a weekly half-hour television program featuring the head coach of theHurricanes. Beginning in late March, the show airs on WPLG-Channel 10 and onSportsChannel Florida. Hosted by WPLG-Channel 10 Sportscaster Frank Forte,the show featured Hurricane players, coaches and special guests from theworld of baseball.

15 GAMES TO AIR ON SPORTSCHANNEL FLORIDA: SportsChannel Florida will carry15 regular season Hurricane baseball games. Veteran Major League Baseballannouncer Jay Randolph will join former UM coach Ron Fraser, “the Wizard ofCollege Baseball”, on the telecasts.

Scheduled games on SportsChannel Florida

HURRICANES’ SPANISH RADIO BROADCAST ON WACC 830 AM: For the 2000 baseballseason, WACC 830 AM will serve as the designated station for at least 18regular season broadcasts, the Florida Marlins exhibition game and allpostseason games. Jerry Del Castillo, Pepe Campos and Joe Martinez make upthe Spanish broadcasting team for the 2000 season. Last season, the UMSpanish radio broadcast was the first-ever to broadcast from a College WorldSeries game.

Scheduled games on WACC

* WACC will air one game from each of the final three home series.

MIAMI AND WQAM START NEW PARTNERSHIP: At least 15 regular season Hurricanebaseball games will be broadcast live by WQAM in the 2000 season. WQAM isin its first full academic year as the flagship station for University ofMiami Athletics, serving the football, men’s basketball and baseball radiobroadcasts. Marc Vandermeer (play-by-play) and Joe Zagacki (analysis) serveas UM’s WQAM broadcast team.

Scheduled games on WQAM