Friday, 4/11/97
Injury-wracked Bruins face Wildcats
Arizona holds half-game lead over struggling UCLA
By Kristina Wilcox
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
While the Arizona baseball team flies into town on a hot streak,
UCLA is reeling from injuries and three consecutive losses.
The No. 19 Wildcats (29-16, 11-7 Pacific 6) are on a four-game
winning streak after shutting out California last weekend and
beating Grand Canyon 12-2 on Tuesday. Arizona is half a game game
ahead of the No. 5 Bruins (29-10-1, 9-6) in the Six-Pac.
"Arizona’s all-around play is good," UCLA head coach Gary Adams
said. "They have good pitching, the best defense in the league and
they’ve been hitting. They are a legitimate top team."
Junior infielder Kenny Corley leads the Wildcat offensive
charge. He holds team-highs in doubles (17), home runs (11), RBI
(47) and slugging percentage (.636). His home-run total matches his
team high from last season.
Also putting forth impressive numbers for first-year Arizona
head coach Jerry Stitt is junior outfielder Diego Rico. He is
batting .400 with eight triples and 34 walks.
Leading the pitching staff is right-hander Darrell Hussman (4-4,
4.97 ERA). He held the Bruins to two runs in a complete-game
victory in Tucson on March 7.
Hussman, one of three sophomores starting on the mound for the
Wildcats this weekend, will pitch Friday night.
On Saturday night, the Bruins will face San Diego native James
Johnson (4-4, 4.46), a left-hander. And Sunday afternoon, lefty Rob
Shabansky (7-4, 3.00) does battle with injury-ridden UCLA.
The "middle infield disease" has wreaked havoc at a feverish
pace on the Bruins as of late, and the latest blows may have hit at
the worst time of the season, as the squad is trying to recover
from another bit of bad luck – a three-game losing streak.
The latest member of the walking wounded is starting second
baseman Nick Theodorou. He has a circulation problem in his left
index finger, which will be checked out at 11:15 today.
The problem is similar to the one Zak Ammirato had last season,
and it happened at about the same time too.
But given the timing, Theodorou’s injury may be more detrimental
to the Bruins.
"(Losing Theodorou) would be a serious blow because of all the
other injuries we have had at that position," Adams said.
Middle infielders Chad Matoian (back), Brett Nista (shoulder)
and Jack Santora (foot) have all been bitten by the injury bug.
"Matoian is back, but he’s closer to 85 percent than 100
percent," Adams said.
Nista has a separated shoulder injury that he suffered when he
slid into home during the USC series last month.
Santora fouled a ball off of his foot in a game and just
recently had a walking cast removed, but the doctors have told him
not to start running on the foot yet.
Adams projects Nista and Santora to return by the USD game April
22.
"But I would like to have them back now," Adams said in a
wistful tone.
* * *
This is a big promotion weekend at the baseball field. Friday
night, they are passing out beach towels to the first 200 fans
wearing beach attire. Sunday afternoon is Jackie Robinson Day. A
special ceremony will be held at 12:45 pm featuring a dance number
by the group Positive Steps, which has performed at UCLA basketball
and Lakers games. The group JETT will sing the national anthem.
Hoyt Pardee, a UCLA classmate of Jackie Robinson who made the
building of the stadium possible, will be throwing out one of the
ceremonial first pitches and giving a short speech. UCLA baseball
card team sets will be handed out to fans in attendance for the
Sunday game.PATRICK LAM/Daily Bruin
Troy Glaus and his Bruin teammates are in for a tough game
against Arizona.