Joey Rickard has been sliding in the Pac-10 batting race.
Photo by Crystal Ochoa/The Arizona Republic

It wasn’t a surprise that the Arizona Wildcats baseball team swept Alcorn State. It wasn’t a surprise that none of the three games were close.

It was a surprise who contributed.

‘Tis a tale as old as sport. A lightly-used player finally gets his opportunity and makes this most of it.

Sport, meet Bobby Rinard.

The senior outfielder from Indiana by way of Yavapai Community College had started just two games all season. He got the call only because Bobby Brown was hurt, who had only been playing because Steve Selsky was hurt.

Rinard took the three weekend starts and went 8-for-12 (.667) at the plate with two doubles, three RBIs, five runs scored and a stolen base.

“Rinard’s done a good job,” UA coach Andy Lopez said. “I’m really happy with him. Good to see a guy who doesn’t play a lot get a chance and – boom – jump right in and take advantage of it.”

The right-handed hitter almost doubled his season at-bat total and bumped his batting average up to an even .500 for the year.

“You can’t really take time off in practice,” Rinard said. “You’ve got to prepare yourself like you’re going to (get a shot) and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

Here are the other weekend shots from around the Pac-10:

OSU won two of three vs. Cal.
Scores: 3-0, 2-6, 4-2
The Beavers had to play a doubleheader on Saturday and ended up with a split. Oregon State’s lead over ASU is now down to a single game.

UCLA won all three at Oregon.
Scores: 7-1, 3-1, 4-0
The Bruins’ pitchers dominated to solidify their hold on 3rd place.

Stanford won all three vs. Washington.
Scores: 6-2, 8-7, 7-2
Mission accomplished for the up-and-down Cardinal who have now matched Arizona’s 9-9 Pac-10 record.

ARIZONA won all three vs. Alcorn State.
Scores: 10-2, 8-2, 15-2
The Braves were held to just a safety in each game.

ASU won all three vs. Long Beach State.
Scores: 6-3, 9-2, 17-9
It was no day at the beach for the Dirtbags.

WSU lost two of three vs. UNLV.
Scores: 1-4, 4-3, 3-6
The Cougars couldn’t maintain the momentum following their 9th-place showdown with Washington.

USC didn’t lose.
Sometimes the only way to win is to not play.

- – -

What this week’s polls think of the Pac-10:

BAS = Baseball America
COL = Collegiate Baseball
NAT = National Collegiate Baseball Writers
PER = Perfect Game
USA = USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll

The Beavers moved up in one poll to #2, and down in another poll to #10. NCBW has six Pac-10 teams ranked; Perfect Game (the poll formerly known as Rivals) only has two. I have no idea either.

I do know a batting race when I see one. Arizona’s Joey Rickard had been leading the league in hitting for most of the year but Pac-10 pitching has been eroding his lofty average.

The Wildcat leadoff man was passed over the weekend by another Joey. ASU’s DeMichele (pronounced “DeMichael”) torched LBSU with a 9-for-14 (.643) showing including going 5-for-5 Saturday night. The top Sun Devil’s season average is now .406 while Rickard’s has dropped to .390.

Cats and Devils make up 7 of the 10 leading hitters in the Pac-10 with the UA’s Cole Frenzel (.379) 3rd, Bryce Ortega (.355) 6th and Robert Refsnyder (.344) 8th, while ASU’s Austin Barnes (.362) is 5th and Deven Marrero (.340) is 9th.

It’s 8 of 10 if you include Bobby Rinard.

- – - – -

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You’d better believe in the Beavers.
Photo by Pat Shannahan/The Arizona Republic

The Arizona Wildcats are feeling a lot better about themselves after sweeping USC, but the biggest statement was made by Oregon State, the leaders of the Pac.

Here are the Pac-10 baseball results from last weekend:

OSU won two of three at UCLA.
Scores: 7-5, 2-0, 2-5
OSU didn’t just take care of business against UCLA, they did it in style. How do you beat the best pitcher in the Pac-10? You throw a no-hitter against him.

(Link to the game recap with video of the final inning.)

I’m going to guess the Pac-10 champs don’t often go hitless so cross off UCLA as a contender. That leaves Arizona State as the last remaining challenger to the Beavers.

ASU won two of three vs. Stanford.
Scores: 12-10, 4-6, 7-1
It wasn’t a sweep and that might not cut it in the quest to catch OSU. The Beavers finish with: Cal, at Washington, USC, at Oregon. The Sun Devils go: at USC, at Washington, UCLA. UCLA is better than Cal so ASU’s only advantage is having to play three fewer games. Oregon State and their two-loss lead look strong.

Cal won two of three vs. Oregon.
Scores: 2-1, 3-4, 5-4
How close is close? Three one-run games with two of them decided in the bottom of the 9th.

ARIZONA won all three vs. USC.
Scores: 4-3 (10 inn.), 20-4, 8-5
When you’re the only team to sweep you gain ground on everybody. The Cats went from 7th place to 5th place and are now just a couple games out of 3rd. The UA is also back to having the third-highest win total in the Pac-10 with 27 (OSU and ASU have 32 wins apiece).

WSU won two of three vs. Washington.
Scores: 5-2, 11-6, 5-6
These are the two worst teams in the league but the Huskies are a little worser.

- – -

rankings:

BAS = Baseball America
COL = Collegiate Baseball
NAT = National Collegiate Baseball Writers
PER = Perfect Game
USA = USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll

Only three Pac-10 teams are found in every poll, a season low.

The UCLA enigma, however, has reached a new high. The Bruins’ range stretches from #13 in one poll to completely unranked in two others.

For Arizona, with Steve Selsky hurt and Jett Bandy still below .300 the Cats have been dying for some production out of the middle of their lineup. Robert Refsnyder – .455 average with a double, triple, 2 home runs and 8 RBIs against USC – might be the answer.

The only answer to extending the good feelings is to keep winning.

- – - – -

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You never want to miss Arizona vs. ASU.
Photo by Michael Chow/The Arizona Republic

There’s a huge game coming up for the Arizona Wildcats. And it’s too bad.

The UA baseball team starts Pac-10 play with its only weekend series of the year against the Arizona State Sun Devils. Didn’t know about it? That’s not your fault. Blame the schedule.

Wildcat Universe is 100% focused on the basketball team facing Duke in the Sweet 16. That’s the way it should be. It’s a big event made even bigger since this is the first dance with Sean Miller.

But in college baseball, ASU is Duke (minus the recent national championships, of course). This is the biggest series on the UA’s schedule. Why put it on the first weekend? You don’t serve dessert first.

It’s not just the Cats and Devils getting shafted. UCLA and USC are also facing each other this weekend, which is equally horrible. You wouldn’t have the Bruins and Trojans squaring off on the football field in September.

The rivalry matchups don’t have to be the final series (ASU/UCLA is scheduled for the final weekend this year which makes a lot of sense) but definitely put them in the final month. Have some storylines build up and see what’s at stake for both teams.

I know college baseball is a non-revenue sport that is barely a blip on the sports radar. But don’t lessen the biggest regular season series of the year – rivalry weekend – for those who care about the sport the most.

- – -

Yes, Pac-10 play is here (Washington State at Cal is the third conference series this weekend). So who’s good this year, anyway? Here’s where the Pac sits in the five main college baseball polls:

BAS = Baseball America
COL = Collegiate Baseball
NAT = National Collegiate Baseball Writers
PER = Perfect Game
USA = USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll

UCLA is ranked based on last year (and their draft status), not their performance to date. The Bruins made the CWS championship series last season and feature two 1st-round picks in their starting rotation, but they’ve only posted a 9-7 record to date. How can this be? They can’t hit. Can UCLA turn it around traveling across town to face the Trojans?

History shows that no more than two Pac-10 teams are going to host regionals. The rankings say Arizona has a shot this year, and the odds go up since ASU cheated itself out of the postseason. Lots at stake for the Cats right out of the gate.

The UA is feeling a lot better about itself with the return of Steve Selsky from a broken hand. The junior slugger saw his first action of the year this past week and hit two home runs against San Francisco (instantly tying him for second on the team).

Selsky said he doesn’t quite have his timing all the way back as he’s missing pitches he feels he should handle. “It’s close though,” he said. “It’s really close.”

Looking forward to Pac-10 play Selsky expects the team to score some runs. “We’re a good offensive team,” he said. “Our walk-to-strikeout ratio is pretty good as a team.”

When asked what the team can improve he challenged the guys on the mound. “If we don’t walk people,” Selsky said, “I feel like we should be in every game we play. It doesn’t matter who we play.”

Selsky didn’t specifically mention the bullpen but I will. The UA’s starting pitchers left the game with the lead in three of the team’s five losses. Two of those evaporated leads came in the 7th inning or later.

It’s the main question for Arizona as the games get tougher. Can the starters go deep enough to lessen the bullpen’s exposure? Can the relievers get the pressure-packed outs to close out game?

The polls say the Cats and Devils are the two best teams in the league. This weekend’s series is mighty large, even if it’s being played at the wrong time.

Enjoy the basketball game and everything that goes along with it. But don’t forget to save room for dessert.

- – - – -

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Coach Andy Lopez was especially pleased his team only walked four hitters and committed just two errors in the three games. “Our plan for success this year is going to be pitching and defense,” he said.

With cleanup hitter Steve Selsky on the shelf with a hand injury it was senior DH Josh Garcia filling the early void with two home runs Saturday and a Sunday grand slam. “To have Garcia the way he’s going right now is picking up some slack,” Lopez said.

Garcia credits his fast start to a change in his batting stance due a knee injury that hampered him most of last season. “I was a high leg-kick guy,” he explained. “Now I barely even stride.” It certainly didn’t hurt that there was a stiff breeze blowing out to left. “I took advantage of it this weekend,” the right-hander said with a laugh.

Sophomore pitcher Tyler Hale got the win on Sunday with six strong innings. His first career start was the final game of the 2010 season so it was a long wait before start #2.

Hale doesn’t do a lot of waiting on the mound. “I think (working quickly) keeps the batters off balance,” he said. “I feel like I’ve got endurance and I like to use it to my advantage.” With the February wind blowing through the stands the fans appreciated it as well.

It was all smiles after beating up on the Bison of NDSU but the Wildcats know the level of competition jumps up in a hurry. With a road series at Long Beach State starting on Friday and a couple midweek games against Rice in Tucson, the UA will have five games in six days against traditionally strong programs. “The world gets pretty busy for us right now,” Lopez said.

The players are looking forward to the early travel. “Honestly, I think it’s a good thing,” said Hale. “Last year we kind of died down. Getting some (away games) early will help us later in the season.”

“We have some pretty tough road games in the Pac-10,” Garcia added. “Going to A-State, going to UCLA. Next weekend will prepare us for the Pac-10. That’s where the games count.”

Lopez knows the conference will again be tough. He said, “Somebody tells me everybody and their mother is ranked in Pac-10 baseball.”

That doesn’t mean the head Wildcat isn’t optimistic. “I really felt pretty good about this group going into the weekend,” Lopez said. And now?

“What I felt is probably on the money.”

Garcia agreed. “It’s a real tight group. Once we have this uniform on, we’re a family.”

With a more experienced team Lopez has greater expectations. “We need to make a deeper run in the postseason,” he said. “You’ve had a full year of college baseball. Now it’s time to get to the next notch.”

Josh Garcia is looking to make it a couple notches deeper his senior year. “Our #1 goal is to go to Omaha,” he said. “That’s why a lot of us come to Arizona.”

- – - – -

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Andy Lopez prepares for his 10th season at Arizona.
Tucson Citizen photo

We interrupt the basketball euphoria and football intrigue to remind the Wildcat Universe that Arizona Baseball throws the first pitch of the 2011 season tonight at Kindall Field/Sancet Stadium.

The BatCats take on North Dakota State at 6 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and 12 noon on Sunday.

At first glance this looks like a “year away” team. Arizona returns six hitters who started at least 50 games last year but four of them are sophomores. Two of the three opening-weekend starting pitchers are second-year players, as are most of the arms in the bullpen.

But if right fielder Steve Selsky can return quickly from his hand injury, catcher Jett Bandy can have a huge year and pitcher Kyle Simon can build on his Cap Cod League success, this team could show significant improvement on last year’s 12-15 Pac-10 record.

The problem is the conference was historically good in 2010 with a record eight teams making the NCAA tournament, and there doesn’t appear to be a big drop-off on the horizon. UCLA is the clear favorite with two future 1st-round picks in their starting rotation on a team that made the finals of the College World Series last year. The Pac-10 coaches picked Arizona to finish 5th in the league.

Last year’s schedule was definitely freshman-friendly with 25 straight home games to start the season. The result was a 15-game winning streak and a 20-5 start that allowed the Cats to sneak into the postseason after struggling down the stretch. The UA will face a stiffer challenge in 2011 with seven non-conference road games. Five of the nine Pac-10 series will also be played away from home.

For football games I buy season tickets in the Red Zone. With basketball I go to a couple games a year but mainly watch on TV. Baseball is different. With baseball I get to sit in the press box and pretend I’m one of the pros. (They don’t let me wear the hat though.) I don’t get to as many games as I’d like (curse you, real life) but I love going out to the ballpark to watch athletes from my school play the game of my youth.

Yes, I’m ecstatic about the hoops team. I am giddy about Tom Savage filling the gap at quarterback.

But there’s always room for baseball.

- – - – -

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The Arizona Wildcats baseball team is getting its cleanup hitter back.

Right fielder Steve Selsky did not come to contract terms with the Colorado Rockies after being drafted in the 34th round of the 2010 Major League draft. He will be bringing his powerful bat back to Tucson to play his junior season at the UA.

The news got even better for coach Andy Lopez and his program. Not one of the five drafted recruits signed a pro contract. The biggest surprise was RHP Jesus Valdez who was selected in the 5th round and ended up being the highest of the Los Angeles Angels’ picks not to sign.

Valdez (or any of the other incoming freshmen) could still end up at a junior college where he would be eligible for next year’s draft. Lopez and the Cats are hoping to get him on the UA campus and secure his talents for the next three years.

Fall classes start Monday at Arizona so a few more days of recruiting remain. Having Selsky back to provide run support certainly can’t hurt.

The good news continues, Arizona Wildcats baseball fans!

With just a little over a week before the Aug. 15 deadline for signing a pro contract Steve Selsky and the five UA recruits are still amateurs.

The bad news is this is the week when the players have the most leverage and the dollar amounts go up. Can Andy Lopez last another nine days without losing anybody?

Selsky is currently taking part in the Cape Cod League playoffs. He was a Player of the Week in July but did not make the All-Star team.

UA pitcher Kyle Simon, however, will be joining the Cape Cod All-Stars at Fenway Park as he is third in the league in ERA. Cat fans should be very happy Simon is still a year away from draft eligibility.

Here are the six drafted-but-as-yet-unsigned players who could play for Arizona in 2011:

Player	Position	Round	Pick	Team	Signed?
Jesus Valdez	RHP	5	174	Angels	no
D.J. (Douglas) Peterson	INF	33	1,002	Mariners	no
Steve Selsky	OF	34	1,040	Rockies	no
Konner Wade	RHP	35	1,051	Diamondbacks	no
T.C. (Taylor) Mark	C	35	1,059	Brewers	no
Ryan (Derek) Casillas	C	40	1,201	Diamondbacks	no

]]> http://tucsoncitizen.com/uasportsnet/2010/08/06/mlb-draft-update-on-steve-selsky-and-arizona-baseball-recruits-as-signing-deadline-approaches/feed/ 3 http://tucsoncitizen.com/uasportsnet/2010/07/08/mlb-draft-jul-9-update-no-news-remains-good-news-for-arizona-wildcats/ http://tucsoncitizen.com/uasportsnet/2010/07/08/mlb-draft-jul-9-update-no-news-remains-good-news-for-arizona-wildcats/#comments Fri, 09 Jul 2010 06:31:36 +0000 Scott Terrell http://tucsoncitizen.com/uasportsnet/?p=190

There have been no changes to the amateur status of Steve Selsky and five drafted UA recruits, and that is great news for Andy Lopez and the BatCats.

Selsky (along with Wildcat teammate Kyle Simon) is currently playing for the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod League. He is hitting .282 with a .393 OBP and .408 SLG.

Here are the six players Arizona fans hope do not sign pro contracts before the Aug. 15 deadline:

Player	Position	Round	Pick	Team	Signed?
Jesus Valdez	RHP	5	174	Angels	no
D.J. (Douglas) Peterson	INF	33	1,002	Mariners	no
Steve Selsky	OF	34	1,040	Rockies	no
Konner Wade	RHP	35	1,051	Diamondbacks	no
T.C. (Taylor) Mark	C	35	1,059	Brewers	no
Ryan (Derek) Casillas	C	40	1,201	Diamondbacks	no

]]> http://tucsoncitizen.com/uasportsnet/2010/07/08/mlb-draft-jul-9-update-no-news-remains-good-news-for-arizona-wildcats/feed/ 2 http://tucsoncitizen.com/uasportsnet/2010/06/24/mlb-draft-update-arizona-baseball-hopes-selsky-and-5-recruits-stay-in-school/ http://tucsoncitizen.com/uasportsnet/2010/06/24/mlb-draft-update-arizona-baseball-hopes-selsky-and-5-recruits-stay-in-school/#comments Fri, 25 Jun 2010 04:34:52 +0000 Scott Terrell http://tucsoncitizen.com/uasportsnet/?p=184

The 2010 Major League Baseball Draft is a couple weeks in the rear-view mirror and the Arizona Wildcats have no news…which is great news.

Sophomore outfielder Steve Selsky and five incoming recruits were drafted but, as of now, none have signed pro contracts.

Here is the Wildcat and the five Maybe-Cats we’ll be tracking:

The Aug. 15 signing deadline is still seven weeks away which is a lot of time for young ballplayers to decide they don’t want to sit in class anymore.

UA baseball fans should think happy (amateur) thoughts.

Arizona right fielder Steve Selsky was drafted in the 34th round (pick 1,040 overall) of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. That could be great news for the 2011 Wildcats.

The scouts think there were literally one thousand players better than Selsky this year. Logic says he will come back for his junior year, try to improve on this year’s impressive numbers and shoot up the draft boards. When dollar bills show up, however, logic often shuts up.

If Selsky does return the Cats could plug in Bryce Ortega for Rafael Valenzuela at second base and feature a returning letterman at every position. Not a bad place to be.

The only thing better would be for some of the incoming freshman to be so good they jump ahead of the returning players. Here is a look at the UA recruits (from here via here) who were drafted:

The obvious guy to watch is 5th rounder Jesus Valdez. He is the kind of instant impact pitcher the Cats need, and exactly the kind of player Andy Lopez has seen take the money and run over and over again in recent years.

But that doesn’t mean you should give up on the other incoming players. Kurt Heyer wasn’t even drafted last year.

Drafted players have until Aug. 15 to decide if they want to play college ball or take those dollar bills.