Friday, March 13, 1998
Bruins can’t watch major league alum start for Chicago White
Sox
BASEBALL: With scheduling change, team must focus on its own
game, matchup with Wildcats
By Kristina Wilcox
Daily Bruin Staff
The UCLA baseball team travels this weekend to Tucson for a
three-game Six-Pac series vs. the University of Arizona.
This trip gives the team the opportunity to meet up with former
Bruins who are participating in spring training with major-league
teams.
"I’m going to have breakfast with Jake Meyer and Jim Parque,"
sports information director Jeff Blank said. Meyer, the closer for
the 1997 Bruins, and Parque, also a pitcher, are now with the
Chicago White Sox organization.
The White Sox are scheduled to play the Anaheim Angels on Friday
afternoon, a game that some current Bruins had hoped to watch until
their own Friday game was moved up to 3 p.m. (2 p.m. Pacific).
Parque, the rotation ace for UCLA last season, will be the starting
pitcher for the White Sox in that game.
Funny, isn’t former Bruin Troy Glaus playing for the Angels
now?
That intriguing matchup between former teammates was canceled
when Glaus got the ticket to the Angels’ minor-league camp on
Wednesday.
Oh well, guess it’s time to worry about how the current Bruins
(9-14, 4-7 in Six-Pac) will play against current No. 5 Wildcats
(23-4, 5-4).
Right-handed freshman pitcher Chad Cislak is returning home this
weekend. The Tucson native has improved of late for the Bruins,
even though his record of 2-4 and 7.27 ERA does not reflect that.
He will be Saturday’s starting pitcher. He allowed seven runs (4
earned) in 5 2/3 innings in his last start.
Head coach Gary Adams will keep the same rotation that the team
fielded last weekend against Arizona State.
Freshman left-hander Ryan Carter gets the nod for Friday’s
starting spot on the mound. He has been the most effective pitcher
for the Bruins of late, going 1-0 with a 2.78 ERA on the year. Last
weekend against the Sun Devils, he went seven innings, allowing
only 6 hits and 5 runs, only one of them earned, while striking out
eight batters.
Freshman right-hander Jon Brandt, first slotted as the team
closer, has found his way into the starting rotation. He struggled
late in his outing last weekend, but was very strong otherwise. He
lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs (6 runs
overall).
Adams is realistic about the challenge his young team has to
face this weekend against the Wildcats.
"We’ve got our work cut out for us," Adams said. "They are an
old, veteran team, mostly juniors and seniors."
UCLA leads the all-time series against Arizona, 108-90-1, and
are 65-57 under Adams.
* * *
Sophomore left-hander Rob Henkel was scheduled to have elbow
surgery on Tuesday morning, but the operation was postponed until
spring break, giving him more time to prepare mentally for the
procedure.AARON TOUT/Daily Bruin
Freshman Forrest Johnson swings for the ball during a game
played earlier this season.