Wednesday, January 22, 1997
BASEBALL:
Olympians Glaus, Parque aiming for national championshipBy
Kristina Wilcox
Daily Bruin Contributor
Although their leadership styles differ, Olympians Troy Glaus
and Jim Parque have a common goal in mind  a national
championship.
"We can win it all this year. We can win the league, the
regionals and go to the World Series," Parque says.
"I expect a national championship," Glaus says.
Guess those Olympic bronze medals aren’t enough for these
guys.
Glaus and Parque are just two members of a talented UCLA
baseball team that earned a No. 2 preseason ranking from Collegiate
Baseball, a team that has the distinction of being the only one in
the country with more than one Olympian on its roster.
Glaus and Parque were two of just 20 college ballplayers chosen
to represent the U.S. in the Atlanta Olympics last summer. The U.S.
squad settled for the bronze as their rival Cuba took home the
gold.
"Cuba was the toughest team I have ever faced," Parque admits.
"It’s like pitching against a team of major leaguers and All-Stars.
Against the Dodgers."
While the jury is still out on the All-Star quality of the
Dodgers’ roster, one can see Parque’s point. He and Glaus have
faced tremendously talented opponents, and that experience will
help them lead their teammates into their tough Pacific 10
schedule.
"The teams (in the Pac-10) are evenly matched," Glaus says. "The
league is up in the air."
"Nobody has a harder schedule than us in the United States of
America," head coach Gary Adams says. "It’s very rigorous."
Nonetheless, the Bruins look to be at the top at the end of the
season, thanks in part to Glaus and Parque.
Glaus was the starting first baseman for the Olympic team and
will be the key spark plug in the offensive engine for the UCLA
squad. Last season he batted .352, had a team-high .662 slugging
percentage and smashed 16 home runs  only two short of the
total hit by Six-Pac leader and fellow Bruin Tim DeCinces.
Glaus’ Olympic summer stats are equally impressive: a .342
batting average, 15 homers and 34 RBIs.
As one of eight returning starters, he will anchor the infield
at either shortstop or third base. His versatility is definitely a
plus, as is his indifference as to where he plays.
"I want to be the best that I can be and help the team win,"
Glaus says. "Either position is fine with me. I have no terrible
preference. We want to have the best defense and offense, so
whatever works."
Whatever works to bring home a national championship. So, is
there any pressure from the preseason polls?
"Those preseason polls are just opinions of other people.
Pressure is something that you put upon yourself."
The pitcher, Parque seems to be putting a lot of pressure on
himself with his outlook on the season.
"I want to leave this year and get drafted in the first round
(of the June amateur draft) and do the best that I possibly can,"
Parque states. "I would like to get 14 or 15 wins for my team."
Those seem like high ambitions for someone to take into the
season, knowing that some tough competitors stand in his way. But
given his UCLA and Olympic performances, he has every right to aim
high.
Parque is just one of seven pitchers on the UCLA staff who threw
30 innings or more last season. He was 9-3 with 116 strikeouts, the
most in the Six-Pac and the third-highest total in school
history.
His Olympic experience was heightened by the fact that he was
the only left-hander on the squad, which allowed him to garner
three saves and strike out 37 in 30 innings during the national
team’s pre-Olympic tour and in the actual Olympics.
Looking at him, though, one does not conjure up the image of a
power pitcher like Mark Wohlers. How is it that he’s able to strike
out so many batters?
"My style (of pitching) can vary," Parque says. "I can be a
power pitcher. I also have really good off-speed pitches. I go
right after them and don’t walk guys very often."
That innate confidence explains why he wanted to be a
pitcher.
"The pitcher is put in the action," Parque says. "In the
spotlight, you have the chance to be the most hated or most
glorified player on the field. There are more eyes on me. I enjoy
leading the team. I like the pressure on the field."
Ah yes, the pressure. That is something that both Glaus and
Parque will have to deal with both on and off the field as their
teammates and the nation look to them to carry the UCLA baseball
squad to a long-awaited trip to Omaha, Neb. and the College World
Series.
Experience will help them lead their teammates into their tough
Pacific 10 schedule.The Bruins look to be at the top at the end of
the season, thanks in part to Glaus and Parque.