Friday, 5/30/97 Record-breaking Bruin offense still on the ball
in postseason BASEBALL: Heinrichs, Glaus, Valent lead team attack
as UCLA aims for national title
By Tim Yun Daily Bruin Contributor The blistering sun isn’t the
only thing that is scorching Southern California these days. On the
baseball diamond, the Bruin offense has experienced an early heat
wave as they surge into the College World Series. A potent offense
is nothing new to the Bruins. During the regular season, UCLA put
up impressive statistics and shattered numerous offensive records
in the process. The team continued to swing a hot bat in the
Midwest Regionals, outscoring their opponents 72-24 in a mere six
games. After a surprising loss to an upstart Harvard team in the
first game of the regionals, the Bruins proceeded to take their
frustrations out on opposing pitchers as they won their next five
games to advance to Omaha, Neb. Over the weekend, UCLA beat up on
one team in particular. Of the 72 runs that were scored in the
regionals, 36 of them came against the hosting Oklahoma State team.
Needing to sweep the final two games to advance to the "elite
eight," the Bruins pounded the ball for 36 runs on 51 hits, five of
which were home runs. The squad’s postseason performance is
indicative of their entire season. For the year, the team has been
one of the most productive offensive teams in school history. They
set records in runs scored in a season (623), runs scored in one
inning (13) and doubles in a season (172). Combined with stellar
pitching, the Bruins were able to set a record for wins in a
season. As a team they have a .339 average and pounded out 140 home
runs, shattering the previous record of 116 set in 1987. The Bruins
have also provided tremendous run support for their pitchers by
averaging 9.6 runs per game. The offensive attack is led by the
powerful trio of senior leadoff hitter Jon Heinrichs, junior
three-hole hitter Troy Glaus and sophomore cleanup man Eric Valent.
The offensive leader of the team has been Glaus. Rated as the
second-best power hitter in the country by Baseball America, Glaus
has lived up to the expectations and the hype that surrounded him
before and during the baseball season. Destined to become one of
the great players in UCLA history, Glaus has left his mark in the
record books. In perhaps his last season in a UCLA uniform, Glaus
has broken numerous school and Pacific 10 records. He is the
all-time career home run leader in Bruin and Pac-10 history. His 32
home runs this season is a new record for single-season homers in
school history, and ties him with Mark McGwire for the Pac-10
record. Heinrichs also etched his name in the record book by
setting a new school record for doubles (28) and hits with 106. He
also set a new Pac-10 record with 222 total bases this season.
Alongside this dynamic duo, Valent has quietly put together a
remarkable season. For the season, he is batting .348, with 28 home
runs and 91 RBIs. His timely hitting over the weekend earned him
most valuable player honors in the Midwest Region. He went 11 for
27 (.407) and scored every time he got on base, while smashing six
home runs and driving in 15 runs. But despite all of the individual
and team accomplishments, there is one other thing that the team
wants to do this season – win the school’s first baseball national
championship. As tournament play begins in Omaha, UCLA hopes that
the offense surge will continue and lead them to the national
title. CHARLES KUO/Daily Bruin Sophomore Eric Valent watches a home
run leave the park during the Midwest Regionals in Oklahoma, one of
six he hit at the regionals and one of 28 he has hit this year.
Related Links: NCAA