The 2001 Hurricanes Welcome Back Alumni
Jan. 19, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team open’s the 2001 season with its annual alumni game on Saturday, January 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus. Admission is free, including an autograph session with several of the current and former players before the game.
The student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM, will broadcast the game featuring both pre- and post-game shows.
Among the estimated 55 former Hurricanes returning to Mark Light Stadium will be Pat Burrell (1996-98), Orlando Palmeiro (1990), Dave Berg (1992-93), Charles Johnson (1990-92), David Gil (1997-00), Warren Bogle (1966-67), Larry Wilson (1960-62), Tom Adams (1953-56) and many more. Mike Tosar (1988-91) and Randy Olen (1969-72) will coach the alumni team.
“Other than the series with Florida and Florida State the most exciting game to be at is the alumni game,” commented Hurricane head coach Jim Morris, entering his eighth season in Coral Gables. “We are very fortunate to have so many of our former players returning this weekend. We had a committee made up of some of our office volunteers and coaches that worked real hard in putting together approximately 55 alumni coming back this weekend.
“We’ll have the alumni pitch to their own team, while the current players will pitch to their current teammates,” added Morris. “This way the game should be competitive and exciting from start to finish.”
The 2001 Hurricanes, ranked as high as No. 4 by Baseball America, begin the regular season with a three-game series with regional-rival Florida Atlantic, Thursday through Saturday at Mark Light Stadium and FAU’s Foley Field.
UM returns 21 lettermen from last year’s squad that went 41-19-1 and claimed the NCAA Coral Gables Regional with a three-game sweep of Wagner, Florida International and Florida Atlantic. Among the players returning are seven position starters and seven pitchers, plus the addition of 12 newcomers. Miami begins the 2001 season also ranked 8th in the Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches Poll and 9th by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
Left-handed junior Brian Walker, who led the team in 2000 with a 12-2 record, will lead the Hurricanes on the mound. Sophomore Kiki Bengochea (RHP) and senior Tom Farmer (RHP) are expected to round out the Miami starting pitching rotation. Vince Vazquez (RHP), Jeff Reboin (LHP), T.J. Prunty (RHP), Chris Sheffield (RHP), Luke DeBold (RHP), Chris Bell (RHP), Alex Prendes (RHP), Daniel Touchet (RHP), Dan Smith (RHP), George Huguet (RHP), Andrew Cohn (RHP) and J.D. Cockroft (RHP) will shore up the Hurricane bullpen.
Around the bases Miami will look similar to the 2000 squad with several players with double-figure starts: Kevin Brown (1B), Kris Clute (2B), Javy Rodriguez (SS), Kevin Howard (3B), Mike DiRosa (C), Kevin Mannix (RF), Mike Rodriguez (CF), Marcus Nettles (LF) and Danny Matienzo (DH). Greg Lovelady (C), Charlton Jimerson (CF), Jim Burt (RF), Alex Blanco (SS), Matt Dryer (2B), Brad Safchik (CF), Haas Pratt (INF/OF) and Ornan Reinoso (1B) round out the rest of the UM position players.
Call 1-800-GO-CANES for season and individual game ticket information or check out UM’s official athletic website www.hurricanesports.com for updated information regarding the baseball team.
