Southern Illinoise University Athletics
SIU Baseball Game Notes for Central Florida
03/15/2001 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
February 8, 2001
Games #1-3
February 9 - 11, 2001
SERIES: First Meeting Between Southern Illinois & Central Florida
Probable Starters
Game 1 - Aird (SIU) vs Pope (UCF)
Game 2 - Hardin (SIU) vs Arnold (UCF)
Game 3 - Westemeir (SIU) vs Busben (UCF)
The Series: The game on Friday, February 9, will be the first meeting in the series.
The Coaches: Saluki head coach Dan Callahan has compiled a 296-340-1 record in his 12 years as a NCAA Division I head coach. Since joining SIU in 1995, Callahan is 143-182 and 74-108 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
The Knights are coached by Jay Bergman, who is in his 18th season as skipper at Central Florida. Bergman has a 920-526-3 record in 24 years as an NCAA Division I coach, including a 704-413-3 record in 18 years at Central Florida with four TAAC titles.
FRISELLA NAMED PRESEASON ALL-MVC: SIU sophomore Sal Frisella, an outfielder from St. Louis, Mo., was named to the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason All-Conference baseball team. Frisella, a former standout at Vianney High School in St. Louis, batted .307 with five home runs and 22 RBI as a freshman. He was one of four freshman in the Missouri Valley Conference to earn post-season honors, being named to the second team All-MVC squad in 2000. He was also named to the Freshmen All-American honorable mention team. On April 23, 2000, Frisella hit for the cycle in SIU's 15-7 victory over Indiana State. His cycle was the first ever by an SIU freshman, and he was the first Saluki to hit for the cycle since 1990.
CALLAHAN'S COURT: In addition to Frisella, SIU Coach Dan Callahan will count on returning starters such as senior designated hitter Roman Schooley (.343, 1-HR, 26-RBI in 2000), junior third baseman Luke Nelson (.295, 2-HR, 34-RBI in 2000), and junior first baseman Jeff Stanek (.265, 2-HR, 20-RBI in 2000).
Pitching EXPERIENCE: Callahan will count on sophomore Ryan Aird (0-1, 8.70-ERA, 23-SO, 11-BB in 2000), senior Billy Hardin (2-4, 5.44-ERA, 19-SO, 18-BB in 2000), and sophomore Jason Westemeir (0-0, 5.40-ERA, 2-SO, 1-BB) to start the first three games of the season. Aird, Hardin, and Westemeir started five games, appeared in 34 total games, and pitched 79.2 innings in 2000. Westemeir is coming back off an arm injury last season.
NEW BACKSTOP: Southern's backstop will be manned by a newcomer in 2001. Junior starter Scott Hankey and sophomore reserve Joe Brilliant are both are junior college transfers, new to the Southern Illinois University baseball program.
NO RESPECT: The Salukis were voted to finish last (9th) in the 2001 Missouri Valley Conference preseason coaches poll behind Evansville, Wichita State, Creighton, Southwest Missouri State, Indiana State, Illinois State, Bradley, and Northern Iowa.
HELPING BREAK IN THE NEW STADIUM: SIU will play single games at newly opened (Feb. 3, 2001) Jay Bergman Field (1500) on Friday, February 9, at 3 p.m. and Saturday, February 10, and Sunday, February 11, at 1 p.m. The Knights are 2-1 at home, with their lone loss to Florida International.
DANGEROUS DYNAMIC DUO: Central Florida is led by infielder Jeremy Kurella (.385) and outfielder Ty Hanson (.300).
ON the Road with the Salukis: While in Orlando, the SIU baseball team will be staying at the Holiday Inn Select. The team can be reached at 407-275-9000.
Projected Lineup - (2000 STATS)
1B - Jeff Stanek (.265, 2-HR, 20-RBI)
2B - Dane Kerley (Junior Coll. Transfer)
3B - Luke Nelson (.295, 2-HR, 34-RBI)
SS - Ryan Murray (Junior Coll. Transfer)
LF - Jason Rainey (.228, 2-HR, 9-RBI)
CF - Cory Newman (Junior Coll. Transfer)
RF - Sal Frisella (.307, 5-HR, 22-RBI)
C - Scott Hankey (Junior Coll. Transfer)
DH - R. Schooley (.343, 1-HR, 26-RBI)
SIU Pitching STAFF (2000 STATS)
RHP Ryan Aird (0-1, 8.70, 23-SO, 11-BB)
RHP Billy Hardin (2-4, 5.44, 19-SO, 18-BB)
RHP Jason Westemeir (0-0. 5.40, 2-SO, 1-BB)
RHP Victor Hockett (1-2, 6.95, 15-SO, 7-BB)
LHP Josh Latimer (3-7, 6.83, 27-SO, 12-BB)
LHP Chad McCann (0-0, 11.05, 8-SO, 3-BB)
RHP Scott Lucht (2-0, 2.0, 10-SO, 2-BB)
RHP Bill Clayton (Freshman - High School)
RHP Jerel Deitering (Freshman - Redshirt)
RHP Josh Joiner (Freshman - High School)
2001 ALL-MVC PRESEASON TEAM
1B, Ryan Howard, SMS, Jr.
2B, Matt Gardner, SMS, Jr.
3B, Brian Burgamy, Wichita St., So.
SS, Wes Carroll, Evansville, Sr.
C, Matt Serafini, Evansville, Jr.
DH, Ryan Brunner, No. Iowa, Sr.
OF, Chris Hinirichs, Creighton, Jr.
OF, Jared Dufault, Illinois St., Sr.
OF, Sal Frisella, So. Illinois, So.
SP, Preston Larrison, Evansville, Jr.
SP, Steve Ellis, Bradley, Jr.
RP, Willie Glen, Evansville, Sr.
RP, Mitch Setter, Indiana St., So.
