Baseball America Tabs Miami No. 3
Jan. 7, 2002
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team is once again among the preseason favorites to win the College World Series as Baseball America ranked the Hurricanes No. 3 entering the 2002 campaign.
The defending National Champions enter the season ranked behind preseason No. 1 Stanford and No. 2 Clemson. Southern California and Notre Dame round out the top five. Last season, Miami faced both Stanford and Clemson, defeating the Cardinal, 12-1, in the CWS finale and taking a two-game sweep of the Tigers in the Coral Gables Super Regional.
Florida State, Louisiana State, Nebraska, Texas and Tulane finish the top 10. Additionally, Miami will play a total of 17 games against teams ranked among BA’s Preseason Top 25.
Junior right-handed pitcher Kiki Bengochea was named to the Preseason All-America First-Team, as voted on by Major League scouting directors. Junior Kevin Howard (3B) was named to the second team, while senior Javy Rodriguez (SS) was a third-team pick.
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.
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.
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.
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.
