Baseball Hosts Annual Alumni Game
Jan. 24, 2002
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team open’s the 2002 season with its annual alumni game on Saturday, January 26 at 7:00 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 45 former Hurricanes returning to Mark Light Stadium will be Orlando Palmeiro (1990), J.D. Arteaga (1994-97), Danny Buxbaum (1994-95), Tom Farmer (1998-01), David Gil (1997-00), Joe Grahe (1987-89), Charlton Jimerson (1998-01), Ross Jones (1979-80), Mike Rodriguez (1999-01), Alex Santos (1997-99) and Jose Trujillo (1986-89).
“I always like to play this game,” added Hurricane head coach Jim Morris, entering his ninth season in Coral Gables. “We are fortunate to have so many of our players returning for this event. I realize how special it is for them, as much as the current team, to come back and play on this field.
“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 2002 Hurricanes, ranked as high as No. 2 in the Baseball Weekly/ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll, begin the regular season with a three-game series against last season’s CWS opponent Tennessee, February 1-3, at Mark Light Stadium.
UM returns 18 lettermen from last year’s squad that went 53-12 and claimed the College World Series championship with a nine-game sweep through the postseason. Among the players returning are four position starters and nine pitchers, plus the addition of 13 newcomers. Miami begins the 2002 season also ranked 4th by Baseball America and 7th by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
Right-handed junior Kiki Bengochea, who is a preseason Baseball America and Louisville Slugger First-Team All-American, will lead the Hurricanes on the mound. Junior RHP Troy Roberson, who missed the 2001 season, and sophomores T.J. Prunty (RHP) and Dan Touchet (RHP) round out the veteran starting pitchers. Freshmen Brandon Camardese (LHP), a seventh round pick of the Chicago White Sox, and Ryan Dixon (RHP), a 15th round pick by the Texas Rangers, could also contend for a starters role.
Vince Vazquez (RHP), Luke DeBold (RHP), George Huguet (RHP), Andrew Cohn (RHP), J.D. Cockroft (RHP), Ryan Sneir (RHP), Vince Bongiovanni (RHP) and Shawn Valdes-Fauli (RHP) will shore up the Hurricane bullpen. DeBold and Huguet were named 2002 preseason All-Americans by various publications.
Around the bases Miami will look to fill in several new position players aside a solid group of returning veterans. Javy Rodriguez (SS), Kevin Howard (3B) and Kevin Mannix (RF) are returning starters. Senior Matt Dryer is expected to be at first base, along with sophomore Haas Pratt. True freshmen Joey Hooft (Reno, NV) and Paco Figueroa (Miami, FL) will compete at second. Sophomore Jim Burt assumes left field, while true freshman Danny Figueroa, Paco’s identical twin, is expected to start in centerfield.
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 on the baseball team.
