By Dylan Hernandez
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Led by four All-Americans, the UCLA baseball team went 38-26 and
made a run to the NCAA Super Regionals last spring. At the
conclusion of the season, the Bruins had an NCAA-record 12 players
taken in the Major League Baseball entry draft.
Nine of those 12 players will be back at UCLA’s home
Jackie Robinson Stadium this Saturday. Eight of them ““
including 2000 All-Americans Chase Utley, Garrett Atkins, Bill
Scott and Forrest Johnson ““ will be playing opposite the
current squad in the annual alumni game.
In addition to those who departed last year, the alumni team
will carry Big Leaguers Troy Glaus (Anaheim), Jim Parque (Chicago
White Sox), Todd Zeile (New York Mets), Rich Amaral (Baltimore) and
Dave Roberts (Cleveland).
“It’s always a joy to see former players,”
said hitting instructor Vince Beringhele, who will lead the 2001
Bruins against the alumni team managed by head coach Gary
Adams.
With only one of the 12 drafted players, senior Brian Baron,
choosing to return to school, UCLA had much of its talent-pool
depleted.
To compensate for their losses, the Bruins brought in transfers
Josh Arhart (catcher, Saddleback JC), Ryan Rasmussen (second base,
Riverside CC) and Ben Francisco (right field, Cypress JC) and so
far, the new players have fit in well.
“This is a very hard-working and close-knit group,”
Beringhele said. “They’re very focused.”
Senior breaking-ball pitcher Jon Brandt (7-5, 4.03 ERA in 2000)
will start the six-inning exhibition contest for the 2001 Bruins.
Brandt, who went from being the team’s No. 1 starter to its
closer last season, when the Bruin bullpen struggled, will be
moving back into the starting rotation this year.
He’ll probably be the No. 2 pitcher behind preseason
first-team All-American Josh Karp (10-2, 5.06). Karp is scheduled
to start the Bruins’ Jan. 27 season opener against UC
Riverside and is unlikely to see action this Saturday.
Highly-touted freshman Mike Davern (Brea HS), however, is
penciled in for relief duties.
The alumni game, which is scheduled to start at 2 p.m., will be
preceded by a home run hitting contest at 11:35 a.m and “Old
Timer’s” game 12:05 p.m.