It’s just a midweek nonconference game, but for one Bruin,
it will have a great deal of added significance. When UCLA’s
baseball team squares off against UC Irvine tonight at Jackie
Robinson Stadium, it will pit current Bruin coach John Savage
against his former team. “I’ve got a lot of positive
feelings for that team,” said Savage. “It’s
definitely going to be different. When I was at Irvine, the first
time I played USC (where he coached the pitching staff) was
different. I expect the first few times I play Irvine will be the
same.” Savage coached UCI from 2002-04 and led the Anteaters
to the NCAA regionals in 2004. In his final season with UCI, the
team went 34-23-1. With Savage’s current squad standing at
8-28 and winless in conference play, he has gone from the top to
the bottom. But for Savage, there are no regrets. “We did
everything we could do,” Savage said of his time at UCI.
“We coached for a great administration and coached great
players. But I don’t regret leaving. I’m still excited
to be here.” The Anteaters are coming into the match-up with
a 21-16 record and are playing well on the foundation that Savage
built. And Savage should be familiar with the UCI lineup because it
is comprised of players he recruited. “It’s all the
kids we recruited,” Savage said. “We did something that
had never been done before at Irvine when we made regionals.
It’s a credit to those players. I feel really good about what
we did there.” The Anteaters are obviously familiar with
Savage’s coaching style, and Savage is obviously familiar
with the way they play, so the game should have an added dimension
of familiarity. For Savage, though, the past is just that ““
in the past. And though the Bruins are in the middle of a
disappointing season, Savage maintains a bright outlook for
UCLA’s future. “We still have 20 games left on the
schedule,” Savage said. “We want to finish strong.
We’re going through a tough time, but of course we think
we’re going to turn it around. We’re just looking
forward to the next game and hopefully surprising a few
people.”
ON THE OTHER SIDE: Junior Brett McMillan has been found playing
across the diamond at third base rather than his normal position at
first base. The normal starter at third base, sophomore Eric
Taylor, felt tightness in his knee Friday, so McMillan played all
three games against Arizona State at the position. Matt Sharp and
Aaron Markel split time at first base over the weekend.
“Taylor’s out and we don’t have much
depth,” Savage said. “McMillan has played a fair amount
of third base in his career, so it’s not too great of a
switch.”