By Brandon Rebboah
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - After a weekend off, the Broncos play four games this week including their last home series of the season. Santa Clara visits Cal Poly in a mid-week game on Tuesday before returning to Stephen Schott Stadium to face San Diego in a three-game West Coast Conference Series.Fans should keep an eye on SantaClaraBroncos.com, @SCUBroncos on Twitter or the athletics Facebook fan page for in-game updates. Sunday's series finale against USD will be Santa Clara's Senior Day.
Game Notes Week # 13 May. 17- May 22, 2011
Santa Clara @ Cal Poly
Tues., May 17, 2011 6 p.m. Baggett Stadium (San Luis Obispo, Calif.)
Probable Starters: RHP Chris Mendoza (3-5;4.62 ERA) vs. LHP Kyle Anderson (2-5; 4.70 ERA)
Santa Clara vs. San Diego
Fri., May 20, 2011 6 p.m. Stephen Schott Stadium
Probable Starters: RHP Cory Hall (4-6;3.07 ERA) vs. RHP Calvin Drummond (3-4; 3.27 ERA)
Santa Clara vs. San Diego
Sat.,May 21, 2011 1 p.m. Stephen Schott Stadium
Probable Starters: TBA vs. RHP Chris Jensen (3-6; 3.98 ERA)
Santa Clara vs. San Diego *
Sun., May 22, 2011 1.pm. Stephen Schott Stadium|
Probable Starters: TBA vs. TBA
* Senior Day
J.R. Graham Among the Country's Top Prospects
RHP J.R. Graham (3-3; 3.08 ERA) was named one of the top 100 prospects according to ESPN's Keith Law last week. In Law's recent Top 100: Draft rankings v. 4.0, the hard-throwing righty ranked No. 72. Graham is expected to be drafted in the early rounds of this year's MLB draft. The hard-nosed junior was drafted out of high school in the 46th round by the Oakland Athletics, but chose to attend Santa Clara. After three years, Graham has matured into a dominant closer and has significantly helped his draft stock. The junior has hit 90-plus on the radar gun all season. As the team's closer he has proven his versatility by starting four WCC games. Graham is boasting a six-inning perfect streak over his last three appearances, tossing five perfect innings against Pepperdine in two appearances and another 1-2-3 inning at UC Davis. During the Bronco road series with Pepperdine, Graham was lights out. He was flawless all weekend, picking up the win with a perfect two innings in Friday's 3-2 victory. On Sat., Graham assumed the starting role, pitching three perfect innings before leaving with a lead in the fourth inning. Graham hurled 7.0 innings of scoreless baseball, scattering three hits at SMC, a game the Broncos won in extra innings. Before moving into the rotation, Graham posted a 1.59 ERA in 22 innings of work. From Mar. 1 to Apr. 3 Graham posted a 0.60 ERA. He currently leads the team in saves (4) and appearances (20). He has recorded 41 strikeouts on the season.
Wagner Excels on the Diamond and in the Classroom
Senior first baseman Curtis Wagner was one just two WCC named to the 2010 and 2011Capital One Academic-All District Team when he was named first team on May 5.Wagner, an economics major who carries a 3.84 grade point average, has been honored throughout his career for his strong academics. He will now be nominated for Academic All-American honors. Last season, he was an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American and WCC All-Academic selection. He also was named Santa Clara's winner of the Lloyd Christopher award, which is annually given to three current Bay Area collegiate players for their play during the previous season.In addition to his success in the classroom, Wagner has been a key member in the Bronco lineup. Wagner was selected as a unanimous selection the preseason All-WCC team after hitting .404 in his junior season. He has started in all 45 games this season, while hitting .275 with nine doubles, 23 RBI and a homerun.
DeMerritt's Stellar Freshman Campagin
Freshman 3B Kyle DeMerritt is having a stellar rookie campaign, leading the team in seven offensive categories. He leads the Broncos in batting average (.303), at-bats (165), runs (28), hits (50), RBI (26), on-base percentage (.386) and total plate appearances (196). He has six multi-RBI games, including a 4 RBI game against Pacific on Apr. 26. With eight games left his 25 RBI tops former Santa Clara Freshmen All-Americans Matt Long and Tommy Medica. They both knocked in 23 runners during their rookie campaign. DeMerritt made an immediate impact, picking up his first collegiate RBI in the Broncos first game of the season against No. 2 South Carolina. He currently sits in the top 20 in the West Coast Conference in batting average, in on-base percentage, runs scored and hits. Defensively, he is a key piece to the Santa Clara infield. He has started every game the Broncos have played, starting 39 games at third base and five at second. He ranks in the top 20 in the WCC with 102 assists on the season.
Bronco Offense
Senior C/DH Patrick Terry continues to post solid numbers for the Broncos, hitting .286 on the year. Terry has two homers on the year, his most recent was a two-run HR against Stanford. Terry leads the team in slugging percentage (.329) and has tallied 25 RBI, including a game-winning RBI single in a 10-inning win over Pepperdine on May 6… Freshman 3B Kyle DeMerritt is having a stellar rookie campaign, leading the team in six offensive categories. He leads the Broncos in batting average (.303), runs (28), hits (50), RBI (26), on-base percentage (.386) and total plate appearances (196). DeMerritt takes advantage of his opportunities, hitting .389 with runners in scoring position. In a mid-week win against Pacific, DeMerritt tallied four RBI… All-WCC preseason selection, senior 1B Curtis Wagner leads the team in doubles (9) and has also driven in 23 runners … OF Lucas Herbst is hot for the Broncos. He has the second-highest batting average on the team (.295) and is third on the team with 24 RBI… Sophomore OF Matt Ozanne has provided the Broncos with speed and power, leading the Broncos in homeruns (3) and stolen bases (9)… His twin brother, 3B/DH Drew Ozanne has seen more playing time since his walkoff single against Bakersfield on Apr. 1. He is hitting .286 on the year with 14 RBI. He made his first start as a defensive player on Sat., Apr. 23, playing the entire game at 2B. He picked his second defensive start, this time playing third base on May 1 against Gonzaga… OF Stephen Takahashi has taken advantage of his opportunities. He has started the last ten games in centerfield, hitting .224 with five stolen bases.
Bronco Pitching
Santa Clara senior RHP Cory Hall (4-6; 3.07 ERA) continues to pitch well as the Broncos' ace, leading the Broncos in innings pitched (91.0) and strikeouts (71). Despite being tagged with the loss in his last outing, In his last outing on May 11, the righty pitched six innings, allowing just two runs on nine hits on May 11 at UC Davis. Hall tossed his second complete game at St. Mary's, Apr. 15. Hall pitched nine innings, allowing just two runs on five hits. He tallied a season-high 11 strikeouts in his Mar. 26 complete game against Brown… Junior RHP J.R. Graham (3-3; 3.08 ERA) is a legit pro prospect, hitting 90-plus on the radar gun all season. Graham, the team's closer, has proven his versatility by starting four WCC games. Graham is boasting a six-inning perfect streak over his last three appearences, tossing five perfect innings against Pepperdine in two appearences and another 1-2-3 inning at UC Davis … LHP Powell Fansler (3-2; 6.13 ERA) continues to have a strong rookie season, and has moved into the starting rotation. Through 39.2 innings, he has fanned 18 batters…Look for RHP Brock Simon (3-7; 6.09 ERA) to appear in mid-inning relief. After beginning the season as the team's Friday starter, Simon has moved to the bullpen and become an asset for Santa Clara's relief corps. Simon picked up the win pitching three scoreless innings, while allowing just four hits at Saint Mary's on Apr. 16. Simon is also capable of starting for the Broncos. He started his seventh game of the year, his first since Apr. 2, against Gonzaga….RHP Chris Mendoza (3-5; 4.62) can eat up innings for the Broncos. Mendoza has made 18 appearances, starting eight games. He picked up his first career save in a 5-4 win against Pepperdine on May 8.
Bronco Offense
Senior C/DH Patrick Terry continues to post solid numbers for the Broncos, hitting .286 on the year. Terry has two homers on the year, his most recent was a two-run HR against Stanford. Terry leads the team in slugging percentage (.329) and has tallied 25 RBI, including a game-winning RBI single in a 10-inning win over Pepperdine on May 6… Freshman 3B Kyle DeMerritt is having a stellar rookie campaign, leading the team in six offensive categories. He leads the Broncos in batting average (.303), runs (28), hits (50), RBI (26), on-base percentage (.386) and total plate appearances (196). DeMerritt takes advantage of his opportunities, hitting .389 with runners in scoring position. In a mid-week win against Pacific, DeMerritt tallied four RBI… All-WCC preseason selection, senior 1B Curtis Wagner leads the team in doubles (9) and has also driven in 23 runners … OF Lucas Herbst is hot for the Broncos. He has the second-highest batting average on the team (.295) and is third on the team with 24 RBI… Sophomore OF Matt Ozanne has provided the Broncos with speed and power, leading the Broncos in homeruns (3) and stolen bases (9)… His twin brother, 3B/DH Drew Ozanne has seen more playing time since his walkoff single against Bakersfield on Apr. 1. He is hitting .286 on the year with 14 RBI. He made his first start as a defensive player on Sat., Apr. 23, playing the entire game at 2B. He picked his second defensive start, this time playing third base on May 1 against Gonzaga… OF Stephen Takahashi has taken advantage of his opportunities. He has started the last ten games in centerfield, hitting .224 with five stolen bases.
Band of Brothers
The Broncos boast two tandems of brothers on the 2011 roster… Redshirt junior RHP Thain Simon and sophomore RHP Brock Simon are two years apart and both are on the roster. Thain, a 2008 Freshman All-American, has yet to pitch this season as he recovers from offseason surgery. Brock (3-5; 5.70 ERA) is a versatile pitcher who has started games and come out of the bullpen this season….Twin brothers Matt Ozanne and Drew Ozanne both continue to produce offensively for the Broncos. Matt has started 30 games this season. He leads the team with eight stolen bases and has knocked in 18 runners this season. Drew has started 14 games, appearing in 22. He has 13 RBI on the season, including a walk-off RBI single against Bakersfield. The brothers have batted back-to-back in the lineup three times this season.
Cal Poly
Cal Poly (24-22;13-8 Big West) enters the week after sweeping a three-game Big West series against Pacific. The Mustangs are 19-7 at home this season. Offensively, they are led by OF Bobby Crocker, OF Mitch Haniger and C DJ Gentile. Crocker is batting .333 with a team-highs in at-bats (165), runs scored (30), hits (55) and stolen bases. Haniger has a team-best .470 slugging percentage and has hit five homers. Gentile leads the Mustangs in RBI (32). On the mound, RHP Mason Radeke (8-2; 2.67 ERA) leads the team in wins, innings pitched (87.2) and strikeouts. LHP Kyle Anderson (2-5; 4.70) has started seven times, amassing 38.1 innings of work. He has allowed 49 hits and 13 earned runs. Opponents are hitting for a .316 average against the lefty.
San Diego
The Toreros also benefited from a weekend off in WCC play. San Diego (19-27) played two mid-week games last week, defeating UC Riverside and San Diego Christian. After a slow start, the Toreros have won nine of their last 10 games, including five-straight WCC games. Offensivley, the Toreros are led by C Zach Komentani and 3B/1B Kris Bryant. Komentani has played in all 46 of San Diego's games, leading the Toreros in hits (68), doubles (19) and RBI (48). Bryant has also put up big numbers including a team-high .605 slugging-percentage. 49 runs scored, nine dingers and 101 at-bats. The Toreros like to put runners in motion, amassing 72 stolen bases this year including a team-best, 20, from OF Kevin Muno. On the mound, RHP Calvin Drummond (3-4; 3.27 ERA) has started 11 games for San Diego. He has struck out 49 batters in 66.0 innings of work. LHP Paul Paez leads the team in wins (6) and appearences (23). RHP Chris Jensen has started 10 games, leading the team in innings pitched (72.1) and strikeouts.
