Fresno State Athletics
2000 Baseball Season Outlook
1/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 18, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. - As Fresno State enters its first season in the new century, one constant remains - head coach Bob Bennett. He enters his 32nd season at the helm of the Fresno State program in 2000. He will be looking to start the new millennium by leading the Bulldogs to a WAC championship and back into the NCAA Tournament. Fresno State is only two years removed from its last WAC championship in 1998, its 17th under the direction of Bennett.
This season will see the Bulldogs field a balanced attack offensively, defensively and on the mound. Twenty players with at least one year of experience in the program return from a squad that went 33-30 a year ago, Bennett's 23nd consecutive winning season.
"I think we will take up from where we left off at the end of last year," Bennett said. "I think we have a good ballclub with players who know what they have to do to win games. We have many good athletes that know what they need to do to be successful and get off on the right track. This team has the potential to be special."
Pitchers
Bennett said the strength of this year's team lies in its pitching staff. Three seniors - Tom Graham, Shawn Hannah and Hans Smith - return from a season ago. Graham won a team-best eight games last season, while Smith set a school record with 38 appearances.
Graham also led the Bulldogs in games started (19), innings pitched (127.2), strikeouts (109) and complete games (5) in 1999. He will be asked to carry the load in his senior campaign.
"Tom Graham is a quality pitcher," Bennett said. "He was our number one last year after Casey Rowe got hurt. Tom did a good job for us and has improved each year he has been here."
Hannah appeared in 25 games, starting five, and logged 69 innings despite a back injury that hampered him for most of the season. Bennett said he has fully recovered from the injury.
"This is the first time Shawn has been healthy since he arrived here," Bennett said. "He has done a lot of hard work and taken care of his back injury. Shawn has always been a competitor and I have seen good things from him thus far."
Bennett said Zach Minor and Nick Moran are two pitchers who will see a lot of action this year. Each throw in the high 80s and are capable of hitting the 90s on the radar gun. Bennett said each improved tremendously by the end of by the end of their first seasons as a Bulldog.
Minor will be looked to build upon his strong first season that saw him post a 4-1 record and a 4.74 ERA in 49.1 innings of work. Moran started 12 games and posted a 4-3 record in 55.1 innings of work in his inaugural season.
Bennett said Beau Hintz adds yet another quality arm to the staff. Hintz pitched in 16 games as a freshman and posted a 4.85 ERA in 26 innings pitched. Bennett said Hintz could either see action as a starter or out of the bullpen in situational role against left-handed hitters.
"Beau is a versatile athlete who can pitch in addition to playing in the outfield and first base," Bennett said. "He started pitching well midway through last season and was responsible with our comeback last year."
Maintaining the closer role for the second consecutive season will be Smith. In addition to setting the school record for appearances, he also led the squad in ERA (4.48) and saves (7) and was third in innings pitched (72.1) in 1999.
"Smith will be our closer once the season starts," Bennett said. "We can move him into the rotation if needed. He likes his role right now and there is not much reason to change it."
Justin Cuellar, Ozzie Gonzalez and Jeff Kaita each bring one year of experience to the staff. Junior college transfers J.J. Durmanich and Ariel Guitron, in addition to freshmen pitcher/catcher Ben Fritz, Jason Gutknecht, Mike Hernandez and Ryan Norcross all have the ability to contribute to the pitching staff immediately if called upon.
"The bottom line is that we have a mixture of veterans and youngsters that are very good," Bennett said. "We always like that setup. It allows us to use our veterans early in the season and it gives the youngsters a chance to smell the competition without much pressure."
Catcher
Brad Harper returns for his second season behind the plate. Harper hit .288 (40-for-139) in 40 games as a freshman with four home runs and 20 RBIs.
"Brad came on like gangbusters at the end of last year," Bennett said. "He struggled early but got his feet on the ground and became a great catcher for us. He is a good hitter with some pop."
Fritz comes in as one of the most sought after athletes in the San Jose area. He was voted player of the year in the San Jose area by local professional scouts. Bennett said he reminds him of former Bulldog All-American Todd Johnson.
"Ben is an interesting athlete," Bennett said, "I hate to compare players, but he is in the mold of Todd Johnson. He also is an outstanding pitcher and can play some first base as well."
Bennett said Joey Wolfe might have the best arm of all the catchers. He is a good catcher that can switch hit.
Adam Frerichs and Dave Hafiz also could see action behind the dish this season.
First Base
Brandon Gemoll returns after seeing action in 50 games as a freshman. He hit .273 (48-for-176) with five home runs and 46 RBIs.
"Brandon played well as a freshman," Bennett said. "He plays good defense and had several big, game-winning hits for us last year. He is one of our better clutch hitters."
Junior college transfer Monte Prieto brings a potent bat from Fresno City College where he earned all-conference honors a year ago.
Second Base
Freshman All-American and WAC Freshman of the Year Tom Creighton returns for his second season. Creighton hit .335 (67-for-200) in 54 games last year and led the team with eight stolen bases.
"Tom is not only a great player but a good student too," Bennett said. "He will be our leadoff hitter. He was an inspirational leader as a freshman and will continue in that role this year. Tom gives 100-percent effort everyday."
Scott Beshears brings a switch-hitting bat, solid offense and defense and good speed to the middle infield. He was an integral part of Bullard High School's 1999 championship team.
Josh Labandeira and Oscar Lopez also can play second if called upon, Bennett said.
Jeff Prieto, cousin of Monte, will miss the 2000 season due to shoulder surgery. Bennett said the team will miss both his bat and defense.
Shortstop
Lopez returns to the position after starting the final 15 games in 1999. He hit .316 (25-for-79) with a pair of homers and 16 RBIs in 27 games. Bennett said he was instrumental in the team's late-season surge.
"Oscar has been injured two of the past three years," Bennett said. "He has a good arm, is a consistent fielder and a clutch hitter."
Bennett said Labandeira is an outstanding defensive and offensive player with great athletic ability.
"He isn't a real big kid, but he makes things happen on the field, " Bennett said. "He is a gutsy, consistent player. He is a Bulldog in every sense of the word."
Third Base
Nick Garcia returns after finishing 1999 with a .349 batting average (66-for-189) in 54 games with six home runs and 39 RBIs. Garcia can play the other three infield positions and has done it so past seasons.
"Nick has played for two years for us after being one of the top recruits in southern California," Bennett said. "We have been really happy with his performance and he has improved every year he has been here."
Max Drake returns after missing a majority of 1999 due to injury. Bennett said there is no better team player on the squad and he is capable of putting the ball out of the park.
Matt Creighton, brother of Tom, transferred from Stanford. He can play both corner positions, but Bennett said his biggest asset is his bat.
"We have good middle and corner infielders, Bennett said. "We also have good depth at each position.
Left Field
Anthony Acevedo, an honorable mention All-America selection and team MVP last year, returns after leading the Bulldogs in hitting (.383), runs scored (66), hits (92), doubles (24) and RBIs (66). He is one of the premier left handed hitters on the West Coast.
"Anthony had a great year last season," Bennett said. "He is a solid number three hitter and will be again this year. He has good speed and plays good defense in left. He is one of our fastest players despite his 6-5 frame."
Jason Papi brings a solid left handed bat to the team. Bennett said his best attribute is his aggressive hitting style.
Dan Young is the fastest player on the team. Bennett said he has a lot of potential and he could dominate once he learns the art of baserunning. He has shown some surprising power in preseason workouts.
Center Field
Tony Guzman returns as the incumbent starter after hitting .323 (64-for-198) in 56 games with 45 runs scored.
"Tony had a good year last season," Bennett said. "He stepped in an produced right away after we lost Sim?n Tafoya to a hamstring injury. He consistently got big, clutch hits for us. He also gets a great jump on the ball in center."
Tafoya not only is returning from injury but also is coming off a winning battle against Hodgkin's Disease. The cancer is in remission and he is fully recovered from the torn hamstring that forced him to redshirt last season.
"Sim?n is going to play either first, center or right for us," Bennett said. "He showed outstanding hitting potential as a sophomore two years ago when he hit 16 home runs. He has a very good arm and can pitch if needed. He has all the tools necessary to play professionally in the future."
Bennett said Joey Myers - who teamed with Beshears at Bullard High School in 1999 - can run well, has a good arm and is an outstanding outfield prospect.
Right Field
Bennett said Mike Bowlin has made the biggest adjustment during the offseason and understands the program as well as anyone on the squad.
"I think we will begin to see his real potential now that he has relaxed." Bennett said. "He has good power and speed and good arm as well."
Christian Hallaian is a big, athletic freshman from Clovis West High School who played first base in 1999. Bennett said he has good speed and is a powerful athlete who could eventually settle into either the outfield or first base.
Schedule
Once again, the Bulldogs play one of the most challenging schedules in the country. They open the season on Jan. 28 with a three-game series against consensus preseason No. 1 Stanford. In all, Fresno State plays four teams ranked in either the Baseball America or Collegiate Baseball preseason polls - Rice, Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine in addition to Stanford. The Bulldogs also will host the 22nd Annual Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic from March 6-11.
"Playing a tough out-of-conference schedule has been our philosophy as long as I have been here," Bennett said. "Our schedule is always strong and it prepares us for conference play. In the postseason, you need to be playoff tested and that is what we try do with our schedule."
