Countdown To Opening Day 2009: Meet The New Broncos

Posted: Feb 11, 2009

Feb. 11, 2009

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - In this second installment of Countdown to Opening Day 2009, SantaClaraBroncos.com introduces Bronco fans to the newest members of the 2009 squad. Eighth year head coach Mark O'Brien welcomes one junior transfer and 11 freshmen to the roster. Here are a couple fun facts about each of the new Broncos.

Andrew Biancardi
INF - 6-1 - 195 - Aptos, Calif.

My favorite vacation spot is: San Diego because my brother lives there, there is the beach, the zoo and SeaWorld.

If I could have a conversation with anyone, dead or alive, it would be: Alex Rodriguez because I still think he is the greatest baseball player of all time.

My favorite sports star is: LeBron James

If I had one super power it would be: able to fly because then I could go wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted to.

My favorite movie is: Zoolander.

Josh Bninski
INF - 6-2 - 200 - Honolulu, Hawaii

My heroes are: my parents.

If I had have one super power, it would be: the ability to fly or teleport.

My special talents are: playing the piano and ukulele.

When I was little I wanted to be: a doctor.

My favorite movie is: The Boondock Saints.

Mike Couch
RHP - 6-1 - 195 - Menlo Park, Calif.

Something unique about my family is: we have been in the U.S. for a really long time. I am something like 12th generation American. I have relatives that fought in the Revolutionary War and there is even an old fort in Virginia named after my family, Fort Couch.

If I could have a conversation with anyone, dead or alive, it would be: Babe Ruth. Not only is he the greatest player of all time, but he also had a really interesting childhood and road to the majors. It seemed like everyone really loved him, and his larger than life personality would be fun to hang around with.

Away from baseball, I enjoy: the outdoors and being able to go hiking or fishing with friends. I also really like food; so being able to sit down with my brothers and chow down on some good grub is always a lot of fun.

When I was little, I wanted to be: shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals.

If I had only a month to live with an unlimited money supply, I would: probably spend a lot of time with my closest friends and family, traveling around doing some pretty crazy stuff. I would definitely want to go both sky and scuba diving, eat a lot good food, and buy my family whatever they wanted. Aside from buying and doing other really wild stuff, I would donate a bunch of money to charities and people all over the world.

J.R. Graham
INF/RHP - 6-0 - 175 - Livermore, Calif.

When I was little I wanted to be: a professional baseball player.

My favorite sports stars are: Pete Rose or Derek Jeter

Away from baseball, I enjoy: golf and ping pong.

My favorite book is: Cell by Stephen King

My favorite movie is: The Blues Brothers

Cory Hall
RHP - 6-2 - 230 - Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Away from baseball, I enjoy:
playing ping pong.

Something most people don't know about is: I am Canadian.

If I were stranded on a deserted island, that 5 things I would have to have are: a knife, water, a television, DVD player and "Lost" season 1-4 on DVD.

My favorite sports star is: Roy Halladay

The quote that I live by is: "where you find success, you find sacrifice."

Lucas Herbst
OH/LHP - 6-0 - 170 - Monterey, Calif.

My favorite book is: Beyond Belief by Josh Hamilton. It's a great story about the ups and downs of baseball and life.

My favorite movie is: Step Brothers

When I was little I wanted to be: a professional baseball player.

My favorite sports star is: LeBron James.

If I could own any car, it would have to be a: Mercedes G500.

Jon Hughes
RHP - 6-3 - 210 - Morgan Hill, Calif.

My favorite movie is: Step Brothers. Will Ferrell is hilarious.

Away from baseball, I enjoy: fishing, going to the beach and seeing movies.

If I could have one super power, it would be: the ability to fly.

One thing most people don't know about me is: I'm half Mexican.

The quote that I live by is: "Luck is hard work meeting opportunity."

Reece Kiriu
RHP - 5-10 - 190 - Honolulu, Hawaii

My favorite sports star is: Daisuke Matsuzaka.

My favorite vacation spot is: Honolulu, Hawaii because it's relaxing.

Away from baseball, I enjoy: fishing, golf and ping pong.

If I could own any car, it would have to be a: Maserati

When I was little I wanted to be: an engineer.

Chris Lee
C - 5-11 - 195 - Saratoga, Calif.

My favorite vacation spot it: anywhere on the beach because it is relaxing and I enjoy the ocean, surfing and skimboarding.

My hero is: my grandpa.

If I could own any car, it would have to be: a Dodge Viper.

My favorite sports star is: Albert Pujols

The quote I live by is: "Always learn more from your mistakes than from your successes."

Ryan Rieger
INF - 6-1 - 195 - Roseville, Calif.

My favorite vacation spot is: Lake Tahoe. It's quiet and relaxing.

My favorite movie is: Step Brothers. It's hilarious from start to finish.

My heroes are: my parents.

If I could own any car, it would have to be: a Ferrari 360 Spider

If you had only a month to live, with an unlimited money supply, I would: try and travel to as many places as I could starting with Australia, Ireland, South Africa and Germany.

Evan Sanders
RHP - 6-1 - 200 - Los Altos Hills, Calif.

My favorite book is: Old Man and the Sea. The guy fought a massive fish for days and days with his bare hands in the middle of the ocean. That's just hardcore.

If I could have a conversation with anyone, dead or alive, it would be: Jesus. He had such an amazing affect on the world. I would like to meet the man who did it all.

If I had one super power, it would be: the ability to fly. No more overpriced tickets!

My hero is: Nolan Ryan, He did everything the right way...sweat, blood and tears.

The quote I live by is: "It's not about how hard you hit, but about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward." - Rocky Balboa.

Paul Twining
RHP - 6-1 - 175 - Shoreline, Wash.

My favorite vacation spot is: Lake Chelan, Wash. Every summer my grandparents take our families there for a week and it's a great place to water ski, jet ski and hang out at the beach with my cousins.

My favorite book is: Anything written by Dan Brown (author of the DaVinci Code) because his books are full of twists and things you don't see coming.

In 10 years, I will: hopefully still be playing baseball and married.

One thing most people don't know about me is: I had a perfect 800 on the math section of the SAT.

The quote that I live by is: "You can't control what happens around you, you can only control your reaction to it."

Check www.SantaClaraBroncos.com next Tuesday for Part III of Countdown to Opening Day.