Baseball's Javy Rodriguez Named Hormel Foods Classic MVP
March 5, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – University of Miami shortstop Javy Rodriguez was named the 2001 Hormel Foods Baseball Classic Most Valuable Player after leading the fourth-ranked Hurricanes (15-3) to a three-game sweep of San Diego State, Minnesota and Arkansas en route to the Classic championship.
Along with Rodriguez, the All-Tournament team shortstop, Kevin Howard (3B), Kevin Mannix (RF), Mike Rodriguez (LF) and Brian Walker (LHP) were each named to the All-Tournament team as well. The five All-Tournament selections for the Hurricanes were the most in their three all-time appearances at the annual University of Minnesota tournament (1986, 1990 and 2001). In 1986 and 1990, Miami placed four onto the team in each year.
Rodriguez, a junior our of Gulliver Prep, batted .545 for the three games with two doubles, five RBI and two stolen bases. His best effort came in the second game, a 10-1 victory over host-school Minnesota, Rodriguez batted a perfect 4-for-4 with one run scored, a stolen base and three RBI. Rodriguez joins former UM pitcher Oscar Munoz (1990) as Tournament MVP’s.
Walker (5-0), the Hurricanes’ left-handed ace, was the pitcher of record in the win over the Golden Gophers. In that game, Walker and the Hurricanes surrendered just three hits, a season-low. He pitched 7.0 innings with the three hits, one earned run, two walks and five strikeouts for his 12th consecutive victory dating back to the 2000 season.
Howard started all three games in the Classic and batted .385 with five hits, two runs scored, one double and one RBI. Howard had multiple-hit efforts against Minnesota and Arkansas. He was also active defensively with four putouts and nine assists.
Mannix also started all three games and batted .364 with four hits, three runs scored, one triple, five RBI, one walk and one stolen base. In all three games Mannix had at least one hit, one run scored, and one RBI. His best effort came against Minnesota where he went 2-for-4 from the plate with a two-RBI triple.
Mike Rodriguez batted .417 as the starting left fielder in all three games. He went 5-for-12 at the plate with three runs scored, two doubles, one RBI, two walks, and three stolen bases. His top performance of the Classic came in the finale against Arkansas where he accounted for three hits, one run scored, one RBI and one stolen base. He also had two stolen bases in the opener against San Diego State.
The 2001 Hormel Foods Baseball Classic championship marked the second time the Hurricanes have claimed the annual University of Minnesota tournament in their three appearances. Additionally, Miami has advanced to the championship game in each of its three trips. Prior to UM’s three-game sweep this past weekend, the Hurricanes swept Stanford, Wichita State and Minnesota at the 1990 Pillsbury Baseball Classic en route to the championship. In 1986, Miami lost to Michigan in the championship game of the Wheaties Tournament of Champions. All-time, UM has compiled a record of 8-2 at the tournament, including a current six-game winning streak.
Miami's University of Minnesota All-Tournament PlayersMaurice Crum (1B) 1990Rusty DeBold (3B) 1986Gino DiMare (OF) 1990Chris Howard (1B) 1986Kevin Howard (3B) 2001Kevin Mannix (OF) 2001Frank Mora (DH) 1990Oscar Munoz (SP) 1990 Tournament MVPJavy Rodriguez (SS) 2001 Tournament MVPMike Rodriguez (OF) 2001Jose Trujillo (2B) 1986Greg Vaughn (OF) 1986Brian Walker (SP) 2001
The Hurricanes return to action on Wednesday, March 7 against the Pittsburgh Panthers at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium. Miami will also host a three-game series with BIG EAST-power Rutgers this weekend, March 9-11, at Mark Light. The Pittsburgh game can be heard on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM, as well as over the Internet at hurricanesports.com.
Call 1-800-GO-CANES for season and individual game ticket information. To join the excitement, log on to hurricanesports.com and become a member of Hurricane Watch, the on-line loyalty program that allows you to purchase tickets on-line, transfer tickets to friends via email and earn Hurricane rewards for each game you attend at the Light.
