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Texas Tech to Host RegionalWeekly NCAA Regional Release
May 25, 1999 LUBBOCK, Texas - No. 10 Texas Tech (18-8 Big 12, 40-15 overall) will host a 1999 NCAA Baseball Regional at Lubbocks Dan Law Field from May 28-30. Texas Tech has been selected by the NCAA to host a baseball regional in three of the past four seasons. Texas Tech will enter regional play as the No. 2 seed. The other three teams selected for travel to Lubbock include No. 1 seed and No. 8 national seed Rice (52-11), No. 3 seed Rutgers (37-19) and No. 4 seed Wisconsin-Milwaukee (30-27). The tournament will begin on Friday with the two first round games: Rice vs. UW-Milwaukee at 3 p.m. at Dan Law Field and Texas Tech vs. Rutgers following at 7 p.m. Rice and Texas Tech are familiar foes. Both schools competed in the Southwest Conference before the breakup of the league in 1996. Techs overall record against Rice is 56-42 with the series dating back to 1958 while TTU head coach Larry Hays is 25-13 vs. Rice. The Owls competed in the 1997 NCAA Regional in Lubbock and ended up earning the right to go to Omaha and the College World Series. Texas Tech has never played Wisconsin-Milwaukee or Rutgers in baseball. Tickets are $50 for three-day all-tournament passes and $10 for individual adult tickets and $5 for individual children tickets. Tickets can be bought through the Texas Tech ticket office by calling 1-888-GOBig12 or (806) 742-4412. TEXAS TECH BASEBALL SELECTED TO HOST THIRD REGIONAL IN FOUR YEARS The 1999 season will be the third season in the last four years that Texas Tech will host an NCAA Baseball Regional. The Red Raiders hosted the tournament in 1996 and 1997. Texas Tech is 2-6 in NCAA regional action in Lubbock. TEXAS TECH REACHES 40-WIN TOTAL Texas Tech received its 40th season victory on May 14 with a 4-3 victory against Oklahoma. Texas Tech has won 40+ victories in each of the past seven seasons. LARRY HAYS REACHES 500-VICTORY MILESTONE AT TEXAS TECH With the 10-2 victory against Nebraska on Friday, Texas Tech head coach Larry Hays reached the 500-victory milestone at Texas Tech. In his 13 years at Texas Tech and coupled with the 16-4 victory vs. Wayland Baptist and 4-3 win vs. OSU, Hays is 502-257-1 overall. HAYS NEEDS THREE WINS TO REACH 1,200 COACHING VICTORY MILESTONE Texas Tech head coach Larry Hays needs only three more victories to reach career victory number 1,200. He currently is 1197-638-2 combined in his career at Lubbock Christian and Texas Tech. Should he win 1,200 career victories, he would become only the ninth coach in college baseball coaching history to achieve such a feat. TEXAS TECH IS 26-3 AT HOME The Red Raiders have been tough to beat at home. Prior to the College of the Southwest game, Texas Tech had a 27-game home winning streak and 21-game winning streak in tact. WRIGHT NEEDS ONE MORE WIN TO JOIN TRIPLE-DOUBLE CLUB Pitcher Shane Wright needs only one more victory to become the first pitcher in Texas Tech history to win 10+ games over three seasons. Wright is currently 9-4 on the season and needs one more victory to reach double digits for the third straight season. Wright, who broke the Texas Tech career games started record, won 10 games in 1997 and 14 games in 1998. Only two other Texas Tech pitchers have won 10+ victories in two different seasons. They include Mark Brandenburg (12 in 1991; 10 in 1992), Matt Miller (12 in 1996; 11 in 1995). RALSTON NEARING 20-VICTORY CLUB No. 3 starter Brad Ralston needs only two more victories to reach 20 career victories. Ralston, now 18-8 in his career, would join only seven other Texas Tech pitchers to record 20+ career victories- Shane Wright (33), Matt Miller (25), Mark Brandenburg (21), Ruben Garcia (21), Jimmy Frush (21), Rodney Steph (21), Monty Ward (20). TWO RAIDERS NAMED TO THE ALL BIG 12 CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM Two Texas Tech players were named to the All Big 12 coaches First Team including Josh Bard and Brandon Roberson. Shane Wright and Ryan Ruiz were both selected to the second team while Lance Woodcock and Jason Huth were named honorable mention. RED RAIDERS GO TWO AND CUE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1993 Texas Tech lost its first two games of the Big 12 Conference Tournament in 1999. That is the first time the Red Raiders have lost their first two conference tournament games since 1993. BARD NAMED ONE OF 12 ROTARY SMITH AWARD SEMIFINALISTS Texas Tech junior All America catcher Josh Bard has been selected one of 12 national semifinalists for the Rotary Smith Award, honoring college baseballs top player. The award is a national project of the Rotary Club of Houston which raises money for Rotary national charities, Texas Childrens Hospital and the Karl Young League. Six previous winners of the award are currently playing major league baseball - 1988 winner Andy Benes of Evansville (Arizona Diamondbacks), 1991 winner Bobby Jones of Fresno State (New York Mets), 1993 winner Darren Dreifort of Wichita State (Los Angeles Dodgers), 1994 winner Jason Varitek of Georgia Tech (Boston Red Sox), 1995 winner Mark Kotsay of Cal.-State Fullerton (Florida Marlins) and 1996 winner Kris Benson of Clemson (Pittsburgh). The honor has been awarded for the past 12 years. SIDs will now cut the list from the 12 semifinalists to 3 finalists in the next stage of balloting within the next month. The final voting stage, to pick the 1999 winner, will end following the conclusion of this years College World Series (June 11-19). The winner will be named at a dinner at the Doubletree-Post Oak Hotel in Houston the evening of Monday, June 28. For more information on this years Rotary Smith Award, call Twin Spin Design at (713) 667-8101 or check out the awards website at http://smithaward.collegesportsnews.com. For ticketing information, please call the Rotary Club of Houston at (713) 973-9936. 1999 ROTARY SMITH AWARD SEMIFINALISTS JOSH BARD, C, Texas Tech; ANDREW BEINBRINK, IF/OF, Arizona State; AGGERT BOZIED, 1B/3B, San Francisco; MATT DIAZ, OF, Florida State; CASEY FOSSUM, P, Texas A&M; KEN HARVEY, 1B, Nebraska; BOBBY HILL, SS, Miami; JASON JENNINGS, P/DH, Baylor; ERIC MUNSON, C, USC; MARIO RAMOS, P, Rice; ALEX SANTOS, P, Miami, FL; DAMON THAMES, SS, Rice TECH FIELDING ON RECORD PACE Should the season end now, Texas Techs fielding percentage would rank No. 2 all-time on the Red Raiders team fielding percentage list. Tech is now fielding .970 (1148 PO/644 AS/64 ER) and is currently second to 1992s numbers of .973 which is ranked first on the school list. In conference games, Texas Tech is fielding at an outstanding .980 percentage. BARD HOMERS ONLY IN BIG 12 GAMES Josh Bard has hit 13 home runs on the season. Interestingly enough, 12 of his shots have come in Big 12 Conference play, the other homer came in the Big 12 Tourney. In comparing his conference statistics with his season statistics, Bard has 50 Big 12 RBI out of his 90 season RBI and has scored 23 of his 47 runs in Big 12 action. RALSTON BREAKS TEXAS TECH CAREER APPEARANCES RECORD Senior Brad Ralston broke the Texas Tech career record for appearances with his 83rd of his career Tuesday vs. Eastern New Mexico. Ralston ran his record to 9-0 and surpassed Jimmy Frushs previous record of 82 set from 1994-1997. OSU BREAKS TEXAS TECHS 12-GAME BIG 12 HOME WIN STREAK Oklahoma State broke Texas Techs 12-game home Big 12 Conference winning streak dating back to last years wins against Oklahoma at Dan Law Field. Tech is 26-3 at home this season. ROBERSON BREAKS TEXAS TECH SEASON SAVE RECORD Junior closer Brandon Roberson broke the Texas Tech season save record vs. Oklahoma with his ninth save on the season. The junior from Fort Worth, Texas, broke the previous record of eight saves set by Tom Black in 1976. Roberson has 10 saves on the season and needs only five more saves to break the Texas Tech school career record of 14 set by Brad Ralston. The Big 12 season and career save record is 11 set by Kansas States David Johnson in 1997. Roberson is also 10/12 in save opportunities and only one runner that he has inherited has scored. WRIGHT BREAKS INNINGS RECORD Shane Wright broke the Texas Tech record for career innings pitched. Wright broke Rodney Stephs (1988-91) former record of 335.0 innings pitched. TEXAS TECHS 27-GAME HOME WIN STREAK, 35-GAME WIN STREAK VS. NON-NCAA DIVISION I TEAMS FALL A 7-4 loss to College of the Southwest at Dan Law Field broke a 27-game home winning streak for Texas Tech. The loss also snapped a 35-game winning streak against non-NCAA Division I schools. College of the Southwest also broke Texas Techs spotless record at home this season. The Mustangs handed Tech its first loss at home this season after 21 victories and dropped Techs home record to 21-1. The Red Raiders had their 27-game home winning streak in tact since last losing at home 15-1 to Oklahoma on April 24, 1998. Texas Tech has had six straight .800+ seasons at Dan Law Field and is well on its way to recording its ninth straight .800+ winning season. That proves that Dan Law Field is one of the toughest venues to win at for an opponent. The all-time home winning streak record is 30 straight games set from 4/28/95-4/27/96. The 27-game winning streak is the second best ever by a Tech team. TECH TIES SEASON SAVE RECORD Texas Tech has accumulated 12 saves on the season. The Red Raiders need only one more save to break the team season record of 12 saves set back in 1976. BARD HITS 40-HOMER, 200-CAREER RBI MILESTONES Texas Tech catcher Josh Bard has reached the 40-home run and 200-RBI milestones for his career. He know has 43 career home runs and 230 career RBI. Only one other Texas Tech player in the history of the program has reached those figures- Clint Bryant (44/271) who had his jersey retired. BARD CLOSE TO BREAKING CAREER HOME RUN RECORD Junior Josh Bard reached the 40-career home run milestone against Kansas State. He hit his 40th homer of his career to put Tech up 9-8 in the ninth inning of a victory over Kansas State in Wichita. Only four players in Texas Tech history have hit 40+ home runs including Mike Humphreys (41), Bard (43), Joe Dillon (43) and Clint Bryant (44). Bard needs only two more home runs to break the Texas Tech career record of 44 set by Clint Bryant from1993-1996. TECH BECOMES FIRST BIG 12 TEAM TO REACH 20 VICTORIES With its 5-1 victory on March16 against West Texas A&M, Texas Tech became the first team in the Big 12 to reach 20 wins. At the time, Texas had 19 wins while Baylor had 17. Several other schools around the nation already had won 20+ games including Rice, Auburn, Florida International and Arizona State among others. CUNNINGHAM, RUIZ MOVING UP THE CHARTS IN SEASON STEALS Leadoff hitter Marco Cunningham and No. 2 hitter Ryan Ruiz are listed as the top two base stealers in the Big 12. Ryan Ruiz has 34 steals while Marco Cunningham has 35 on the season through 55 games. Ruiz is ranked seventh while Cunningham is sixth on the all-time Texas Tech season steals list. The Texas Tech season record is 51 set by Matt Kastelic. RUIZ RANKED IN BASES-ON-BALLS Outfielder Ryan Ruiz has now totaled 53 walks in 55 games and is already ranked fourth among season leaders. Keith Ginter broke the record last season with 78. RUIZ BREAKS HIT BY PITCH RECORD Ruiz broke the Texas Tech season hit-by-pitch record of 11 when he was plunked twice against Texas in the Big 12 Tournament. He currently has been hit 13 times this season broke the season record held by Kevin Jordan (1998) and Jess Olivares (1997) of 11. BARD THIRD ON SEASON RUNS BATTED IN LIST WITH 90 Josh Bard raised his season RBI total to a team-leading 90 RBI in the Big 12 Tournament. The fast approaching Bard is now ranked third on the all-time season RBI list behind Clint Bryants 93 in 1995 and the record-season, 100 RBI held by Clint Bryant in 1996. BARD MOVES TO 2ND IN DOUBLES Josh Bard has moved into second place on the Texas Tech school career doubles list. Upon entering this weekend, Bard has 27 doubles on the season, giving him 72 doubles in his three-year career. Clint Bryant (1993-96) holds the career record for doubles- 73 in his four-year career. Bard (27 doubles) also needs three more doubles to break the school season record held by Jason Landreth (29 in 1997). RUIZ MOVES TO 6TH IN CAREER STEALS Ryan Ruiz moved into sixth place on the all-time Texas Tech career steals list. He currently has 33 steals on the season and 55 in his career. The all-time steals leader is Matt Kastelic (1995-96) with 97. HONORS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS Head Coach Larry Hays wins 500th career victory at TTU Hays nearing 1,200th career victory milestone Hosted third NCAA Regional in four seasons Made fifth straight NCAA Regional appearance Won 40 games for seventh consecutive season Completed third straight regular season of placing within the top three teams in the Big 12 Conference First Big 12 team to reach 20 victories Completed 27-game home win streak Went 21-0 through first 21 games at home Earned first Big 12 road sweep since 1997 (OU) Won 18 of 19 during one stretch of season Earned Big 12 Tournament berth for third straight season Earned conference tournament berth for seventh straight season Swept Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa State, Texas A&M (2) Ended 35-game win streak vs. non-Division I opponents HONORS EARNED All Big 12 Conference Team (coaches) First Team: Josh Bard, Brandon Roberson Second Team: Ryan Ruiz, Shane Wright Honorable Mention: Lance Woodcock, Jason Huth Big 12 All Tournament Team Josh Bard Dallas Morning News All Conference First Team: Josh Bard, Brandon Roberson Second Team: Kevin Tracey, Ryan Ruiz Austin American-Statesman All Conference Newcomer of the Year: Jon Weber First Team: Josh Bard, Jon Weber, Brandon Roberson Second Team: Ryan Ruiz, Marco Cunningham Rotary Smith Award (college baseballs MVP) Josh Bard (1 of 12 semifinalists) Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week Jon Weber (week of February 1) Big 12 Baseball Player/Pitcher of the Week Jon Weber (week of February 1) Shane Wright (week of February 22) Kevin Tracey (week of March 8) Collegiate Baseball Preaseason All America Shane Wright (First Team), Josh Bard (Second Team) Baseball America Preseason All America Josh Bard (Second Team) Baseball America Preseason All Big 12 Josh Bard, Shane Wright, Miles Durham, Brennan Burns Collegiate Baseball Preseason "Players to Watch" Shane Wright, Josh Bard, Brad Ralston, Ryan Ruiz Baseball America Preseason Top Prospects (1999) Josh Bard Baseball America Preseason Top Prospects (2000) Miles Durham Baseball America Best Big 12 Tools Best Pure Hitter- Josh Bard; Fastest Runner- Chris Sampson; Catcher/Best Arm- Josh Bard; Best Control- Shane Wright Big 12 Commissioners Semester Honor Roll List Cade Allison, Josh Bard, Brennan Burns, Clancy Fossum, Jason Huth, Ben Long, Trey Lunsford, David OKeeffe, Brad Ralston, Chad Reynolds, Steve Rowe, Ryan Stonerock, Kevin Tracey All Big 12 Academic Honorees Second Team: Jason Huth, Brad Ralston, Josh Bard Big 12 All Academic Nominees Steve Richardson, Josh Bard, Brad Ralston, Jason Huth SCHOOL RECORDS BROKEN Shane Wright- career victories Shane Wright- career complete games Shane Wright- career games started Shane Wright- career innings pitched Brad Ralston- career pitching appearances Brandon Roberson- season saves Ryan Ruiz, season hit-by-pitch Jon Weber, season triples Jon Weber, fourth player in TTU history to hit for cycle Ryan Ruiz, game bases-on-balls vs. Howard 2/6/99 (5) Texas Tech, game bases-on balls vs. Howard, 2/6/99 (17) Texas Tech, runs-inning (11) vs. Iowa State, 4/3/99, 2nd BIG 12 RECORDS BROKEN Jon Weber- Big 12 RBI (series), 20 vs. Howard (4 games) Texas Tech, game bases-on-balls vs. Howard, 2/6/99 (17) |
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