30th-Ranked KU Baseball Faces Strong Field at Public Storage Classic
Feb. 16, 2006
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
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Matchup:#30 Kansas (6-2) at Public Storage Classic
Dates/Times:
Friday Feb. 17 8 p.m. (CT) at #25 USC (5-3)
Saturday Feb. 18 3 p.m. (CT) vs. #9 San Diego (5-1)
Sunday Feb. 19 2 p.m. (CT) vs. Vanderbilt (0-0)
Location:Los Angeles, Calif.
Stadium:Dedeaux Field
Capacity:2,500
Internet:GameTracker at KUathletics.com
Radio: Southern Cal radio broadcast at www.USCTrojans.com
San Diego radio broadcast at www.USDToreros.com
Series: USC and KU will meet for the first time
San Diego and KU will meet for the first time
KU leads Vanderbilt, 1-0 all-time
The 30th-ranked University of Kansas baseball team will play three teams, two nationally ranked, in the Public Storage Classic in Los Angeles, Calif. The Jayhawks will open against host No. 25 Southern California on Friday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. central. Kansas will play No. 9 San Diego on Saturday followed by Vanderbilt on Sunday.
Quick Hits
Kansas earned a No. 30 ranking in both the Collegiate Baseball and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association polls this week.
KU earned a national ranking for the first time since Feb. 18, 2003.
The Jayhawks went 2-1 last weekend at No. 9 Stanford. KU won the first two games of the series.
KU will bring a 10-13 record against top 10 teams during the Ritch Price era into Saturday’s USD game. The Jayhawks have won five of their last six road games against top 10 squads.
The Jayhawks .342 batting average ranks second in the Big 12 while its 3.18 ERA ranks fourth.
KU seniors Don Czyz and Gus Milner were named the Big 12 Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, on Tuesday. It marks the first time ever KU has swept the Big 12 weekly awards.
Gus Milner was named Co-National Player of the Week by CollegiateBaseballInsider.com on Wednesday.
When KU faces USC’s Ian Kennedy it will mark the second consecutive Friday the Jayhawks will face a projected first round pick in this June’s amateur draft. The Jayhawks defeated Greg Reynolds of Stanford on Feb. 10, 8-2. Reynolds was predicted to be selected 26th by Baseball America in its early draft preview. In the same preview, Kennedy is projected to be selected seventh overall.
A Look at #25 Southern Cal
The Trojans enter the weekend ranked No. 25 in the country while sporting a 5-3 record. Leading USC’s pitching staff is junior All-American Ian Kennedy. Kennedy will receive the start against KU on Friday and boasts a 1-1 record with a 2.08 ERA while striking out 17 batters in 13.0 innings. Offensively, outfielder Cyle Hankerd is the reigning Pacific-10 Player of the Week. The junior is hitting .500 with three home runs and 15 RBI in the Trojans first eight games. Pac-10 coaches select USC second in its preseason coaches poll.
A Look at #9 San Deigo
The Toreros got their season off to a stellar start with a three-game sweep of preseason No. 1 Texas. Since that series, San Diego is 2-1 and vaulted into the nation’s top 10 for the first time in school history this week. Offensively, USD is hitting .303 as a team led by Steve Singleton (.478) and Justin Snyder (.471). Saturday’s starting pitcher Brian Matusz is part of a recruiting class ranked No. 12 in the country by Baseball America. The freshman was selected by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the fourth round during last June’s draft and was the second highest draftee to attend college over turning pro from the 2005 draft.
A Look at Vanderbilt
The Commodores will open their season at the Public Storage Classic. Competing in the tough Southeastern Conference, Vandy was select to finish fourth in the SEC East by league coaches. After finishing 34-21 and just missing the SEC Tournament in 2005, Vanderbilt enters the season with the top ranked recruiting class according to Baseball America. Senior catcher Brian Hernandez (.342, 5 HR, 42 RBI) is one of four position starters and 18 letterwinners returning for the 2006 season.
Czyz and Milner Sweep Big 12 Weekly Awards
Seniors Don Czyz and Gus Milner were named Big 12 Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Czyz picked up three saves in KU’s first six victories of the season with two at Stanford. He did not allow an earned run while striking out nine batters and allowing five hits in seven innings of work.
Milner compiled a .545 batting average (18-for-33), 11 runs, two doubles, a pair of triples, three home runs, 16 RBI, and a 1.000 slugging percentage in KU’s first eight games of the season.
Milner Earns National Honor
Senior Gus Milner was named Co-National Player of the Week by CollegiateBaseballInsider.com on Feb. 15 after a stellar series against No. 8 Stanford. Against the Cardinal, the Olathe, Kan., native, blasted two home runs while batting .538 (7-for-13) with seven RBI in three games against the Cardinal. In the series finale, Milner just missed hitting for the cycle by a double while driving in all three KU runs.
Czyz Sets Career Saves Record
Senior Don Czyz tied and set KU’s career saves’ record with his first two saves of 2006. Czyz tied the career mark set by Jimmy Walker with the 13th of his career against Hawaii-Hilo on Feb. 3. In the series opener against No. 8 Stanford, the Overland Park, Kan., native entered the game in the eighth inning with KU leading 3-2 and struck out four Cardinal batters while allowing one hit. That established the Jayhawks’ all-time saves’ mark with his 14th. A day later, he pitched a perfect ninth inning in the 5-4 Kansas win for his 15th career save.
Coach Price Radio Show
Again this year, the Salty Iguana in Lawrence will be the host of “The Ritch Price Show.” The show will broadcast from 6-6:30 p.m. each Monday beginning April 3 through May 22 and can be heard on 1320 AM (KLWN).
Sizzling Seniors
KU’s four senior starting position players rank 1-through-4 in KU’s batting order as well as the Jayhawks hitting leaders. The foursome consists of outfielder Gus Milner (.545), first baseman Jared Schweitzer (.485), outfielder Matt Baty (.343) and shortstop Ritchie Price (.297).
All in the Family
Three sets of brothers adorn the 2006 KU roster. Senior pitcher Don and freshman pitcher Nick Czyz, junior pitcher Sean and freshman first baseman Preston Land, and senior shortstop Ritchie and sophomore second baseman Ryne Price. Ritchie and Ryne are the sons of KU head coach Ritch Price.
