Baseball Ranked 7th, Bengochea First-Team All-American
Dec. 21, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami will begin the 2002 season ranked No. 7 according to the Collegiate Baseball newspaper Preseason Fabulous 40 Poll. The Hurricanes’ No. 7 preseason ranking marks the sixth time under Head Coach Jim Morris that Miami has placed within Collegiate Baseball’s preseason top 10.
The Collegiate Baseball newspaper NCAA Division I poll is the nation’s oldest college baseball poll, beginning in 1957. Stanford was ranked No. 1, followed by Florida State, Tulane, Southern California, Louisiana State and Clemson. Rounding out the top 10 behind Miami are South Carolina, Wichita State and Oklahoma State.
Additionally, junior right-handed pitcher Kiki Bengochea was named to the Louisville Slugger Preseason First-Team All-America squad, while teammates Javy Rodriguez (SS) and Kevin Howard (3B) were second-team selections and George Huguet (RHP) and Danny Matienzo (C) to the third-team.
Bengochea finished his sophomore campaign with a 9-4 record pitching in all three spots in the starting rotation. He led the team with 89 strikeouts and placed second with 107.2 innings pitched. This past summer, Bengochea played his second with the USA National Team compiling a 3-1 record and a 0.91 ERA.
Rodriguez led the nation in 2001 with a school-record 66 stolen bases, along with his 1.05 steals per game average. Selected the team’s MVP in 2001 by the players and coaches, Rodriguez posted a team-high .382 batting average, 10 game winning hits and was a Second-Team All-American by the NCBWA and Louisville Slugger. He was also named to the Coral Gables Regional All-Tournament team during the postseason and the Hormel Foods Baseball Classic MVP at the Minnesota/HHH Metrodome tournament at midseason. Additionally, Rodriguez was named an NCBWA Preseason First-Team All-American heading into 2002.
Howard was once again one of the Hurricanes top offensive threats in 2001. He led the team with 20 doubles, placed second with a .336 batting average and 84 hits and third with 55 runs scored. Among his accolades in 2001 was a selection to the Hormel Foods Baseball Classic All-Tournament Team. Along with Bengochea, Howard competed on the USA National Team this past summer finishing with a .299 batting average and a team-high 18 RBI.
Huguet was a record-setting freshman in 2001, with his 14 saves in 44 appearances. He was named the team’s Rookie of the Year after he tied the freshman record for saves set by All-American Robbie Morrison in 1996. His 44 appearances on the season tied teammate Luke DeBold for the third most in a single season by a UM pitcher. Among the All-America nods Huguet received in 2001 was to the freshman first team by Louisville Slugger, second-team overall by Baseball America and a third team overall by the NCBWA. At the 2001 College World Series, Huguet appeared in the first three games for the Hurricanes pitching 4.2 innings, a 0.00 ERA, one save and a .188 opponent batting average in 16 batters faced. Additionally, Huguet was named an NCBWA Preseason First-Team All-American heading into the 2002 season.
Matienzo enters his third season at Miami and his first as the Hurricanes starting catcher in 2002. He is arguably the top power hitter on the club. Last season he was selected to the 2001 College World Series All-Tournament team after leading the CWS with a .588 batting average, 10 hits, 20 total bases and three home runs. Matienzo was also an All-Regional selection his first two seasons at Miami, while being named the Coral Gables Regional MVP as a freshman in 2000. Last season he was a 2001 All-Regional pick at designated hitter. Matienzo led the team in 2001 with 64 RBI and is a veteran of the Cape Cod Summer League, where he was named the All-Star game MVP this past offseason.
The Hurricanes, who won the College World Series in 2001, begin the 2002 season with a three-game series against ’01 CWS opponent Tennessee the first weekend in February 1-3, at Mark Light Stadium. Call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284-CANES in Miami-Dade County for further ticket information. Keep up with all news on Miami Baseball on UM’s official athletics website, www.hurricanesports.com.
