2003 California Golden Bear Baseball 1

2003 CALIFORNIA BASEBALL

CREDITSThe 2003 edition of the California Baseball Magazine/Media Guide

was written and edited by Scott Ball, Assistant Media RelationsDirector. Layout and graphic design by John Dunbar, PublicationsDirector and Evan Kerr, Publications Assistant. Photographs byPatrick Merrill, John Dunbar, John Guistina, Bill Nichols, amongothers. Copies of this publication may be obtained for $5 by writingor calling the California Media Relations Office, 210 Memorial Sta-dium, Berkeley, CA 94720 (510-642-5363). Make checks payable toU.C. Regents. Magazines may also be purchased at any Cal home game.

TABLE OF CONTENTSCalifornia Athletic Directory ..................................................................... 2

2003 COACHING STAFFHead Coach David Esquer ...................................................................... 4-5The Coaching Staff & Grounds Crew ....................................................... 6

2003 SEASON OUTLOOK2003 Season Outlook ............................................................................ 8-10

2003 GOLDEN BEARS & OPPONENTSGolden Bear Profiles ........................................................................... 12-26Opponents ........................................................................................... 28-292003 Golden Bear Roster, Pronunciation Guide .................................... 30Scorecard .................................................................................................... 31

2002 IN REVIEW2002 In Review ................................................................................... 34-352002 Final Statistics/Final Results .................................................... 36-372002 Pacific-10 Statistics ................................................................... 38-39Records vs. Opponents ............................................................................ 40

CALIFORNIA BASEBALL HISTORYCalifornia Records/All-Time Leaders ................................................ 42-49Cal in Postseason Play/Postseason Honors ..................................... 50-53Baseball Lettermen ............................................................................. 54-55Cal Players in the Pros .................................................................... 60-IBC

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA/MISCELLANEOUSUniversity of California ..................................................................... 56-57Media Information/Team Travel ............................................................. 58Evans Diamond/Media Outlets ................................................................ 59

Junior Right-handerBrian Montalbo

Junior Right FielderBrian Horwitz

2003 California Golden Bear Baseball2

STAFF DIRECTORYBASEBALL

BASEBALL OFFICE ......................................................... (510) 643-6006Head Coach: David Esquer ........................................................ 643-6006Assistant Coach: Dan Hubbs ................................................... 642-9591Assistant Coach: Ron Witmeyer ............................................ 642-5315Public Address Announcer: Ed ZuberAthletic Trainers: Dale Rudd, Mona Au Young .................. 642-8233

PRESS BOX PHONE ...................................................... (510) 642-3098

MEN’S HEAD COACHESBasketball: Ben Braun ......................................................................... 642-0361Crew: Steve Gladstone .......................................................................... 642-3701Football: Jeff Tedford ........................................................................... 642-3851Golf: Steve Desimone ........................................................................... 643-5914Gymnastics: Barry Weiner ................................................................. 642-9313Rugby: Jack Clark .................................................................................. 642-6927Soccer: Kevin Grimes ............................................................................ 642-5916Swimming: Nort Thornton ................................................................ 642-5917Tennis: Peter Wright ............................................................................ 642-1153Water Polo: Kirk Everist .................................................................... 643-1465

WOMEN’S HEAD COACHESBasketball: Caren Horstmeyer .......................................................... 643-8101Crew: Dave O’Neill ............................................................................... 642-9414Field Hockey: Shellie Onstead ........................................................... 642-9415Lacrosse: Jill Malko .............................................................................. 643-2580Golf: Nancy McDaniel .......................................................................... 643-7940Gymnastics: Cari DuBois .................................................................... 643-0282Soccer: Kevin Boyd ............................................................................... 643-8100Softball: Diane Ninemire..................................................................... 643-9101Swimming: Teri McKeever ................................................................ 642-9450Tennis: Jan Brogan ................................................................................ 642-9449Volleyball: Rich Feller ......................................................................... 643-0978Water Polo: Amber Drury-Pinto ...................................................... 643-2484

COMBINED PROGRAM COACHESCross Country: Tony Sandoval ........................................................ 642-9447Diving: Phil Tonne ............................................................................... 642-4348Track and Field: Chris Huffins .......................................................... 642-3158

ADMINISTRATION AND STAFFAthletics Director: Steve Gladstone ................................................ 642-5316

Admin. Assistant: Beth Nitzberg ................................................. 642-3839Exec. Assoc. AD, Operations and Chief of Staff:

Mark Stephens ..................................................................................... 642-9094Admin. Assistant: Patti Kobayashi ............................................ 642-0581

Exec. Assoc. AD, Revenue Sports: Dan Coonan ........................ 643-7149Exec. Assoc. AD, Olympic Sports: Teresa Kuehn ...................... 642-9224

Admin. Assistant: Ann Weisser ................................................... 643-9033Exec. Assoc. AD, Communications: Bob Rose ........................... 643-9036Faculty Representative: Bill Lester ............................................... 643-9590

Assistant: Harold Russell III .......................................................... 642-1542Personnel Manager: Patti Baba ...................................................... 643-7918

Assistants: Alex Lucero, Hyo Jung Kim, MaryAnn Simmons .. 642-6755Bear Backers Staff: Greg Enloe, Irene Green, Susie Homer,

Diana Fogg, Lani Romero, Liz Miles, Kristi Motley ............. 642-2427Director-Marketing & Promotions: Robert Hartman ............. 642-2550

Staff: Sue Woodward, Matt Terwilliger, Mark Ryan................. 642-2444Admin. Assistant: Dayna Sannazzaro ........................................ 642-2444

Business Manager: Dawn Whalin ................................................... 643-3296Assistants: Denis Hallin, Brad Bleichner, Melinda Collier,

Erin Hobin-Audet, Ursula McDonald ........................................ 642-5820Travel: Angie Abbatecola ................................................................ 642-2135

Lena Lau-Stewart ...................................................................... 642-3481Computer Services Coordinator: Dan Williams ................... 642-6351

Staff: Johan Steiner, Alan Willcuts, Anna Maurer, Karen Boro,Fermin Varela, Jesse Pietarinen ............................................. 643-0389

Asst. AD-Facilities Management: Mike Huff ............................. 643-9759Director of Capital/Special Projects: Bob Milano Jr. ......... 642-8873Facility Scheduling: Sandy Camillo ........................................... 643-9262

Asst. AD-Student Services: Karen Moe Humphreys ................. 642-7629Student Services Asst. Director: Mohamed Muqtar ............ 643-7948Financial Aid Coordinator: Lucille Carpenter-Williams ..... 642-8249Admissions Coordinator: Therese Groth ................................ 642-7706Events Coordinator: Josh Alley ................................................... 642-5885

Assoc. AD-Compliance: Foti Mellis ............................................... 643-1683Assistant: Jason Stevens

Event Manager: Gordon Bayne ......................................................... 642-6130Assistants: Hatcher Parnell, Kendall Nichols ....................... 643-7245

Spirit Groups: Diane Milano ........................................................ 643-8102Haas Pavilion Events Coord.: Gloria Kaci ............................... 643-5970

Assoc. AD-Dir. of Rec. Sports: Mike Weinberger ....................... 642-8359Admin. Assistant: Tracy Olson ................................................... 643-7327Assoc. Dir. Rec. Sports: Kathy Rittler-Andrews ..................... 643-1299Assoc. Dir. Rec. Sports: Joe Watz .............................................. 642-8556

Asst. AD-Ticket Operations: Jonathan Evans ............................ 642-2710Dir. of Ticket Operations: Anne Armstrong .......................... 642-3277Assistants: Terri Castaneda, Heather Calvosa,Zach Franzen, Sherilyn Huie, Jack Murakami ............................. 642-5150

Director-Athletic Study Center: Derek Van Rheenen ............. 642-0605Staff: John Sullivan, Ted White, Lee Metzger, Melanie Moonsamy,

Jere Takahashi, Christina Ambris, Tony Mirabelli ................ 642-8402Equipment Manager: Steve Rodgers ............................................... 642-3049

Baseball: Laura Wong, Louis Gernhardt, Courtney Dolder .... 642-9055Asst. AD-Sports Medicine: Bill Coysh, Ph.D. ............................. 643-6190Head Team Physician: Cindy Chang, M.D. .................................. 643-3627

Assoc. Team Physicians: Adrian Rawlinson, M.D.,Jeff Nelson, M.D. ........................................................................... 643-9225

Admin. Assistant: Aleta Martinez .............................................. 643-4801Athletic Trainers: Mike Chaplin, Elaine Garcia, Carol Rogers,

Linda Smith, Dave Stenger, Eric Wiederhold .......................... 642-4878Physical Therapist: Lynn Schankliess ....................................... 643-2907Nutritionist: Helen DeMarco ........................................................ 642-5075

Strength & Conditioning: Mary Dempsey, Gene Mirra,Dini Wong ....................................................................................... 642-8854

Cal Band Director: Robert Calonico .............................................. 643-9644

MEDIA RELATIONS DEPARTMENTMEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE .......................................... (510) 642-5363210 Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA 94720 .................. Fax: 643-7778Exec. Assoc. AD, Communications: Bob Rose .. Home: (650) 493-9206

bobrose@uclink.berkeley.eduDirector: Herb Benenson ..................................... Home: (510) 482-6475

benenson@uclink4.berkeley.eduAssistant: Scott Ball (Baseball Contact) ......... Home: (510) 420-1142

sball@uclink4.berkeley.eduAssistant: Debbie Rosenfeld-Caparaz ............... Home: (510) 528-7462

darosenf@uclink4.berkeley.eduPublications Director: John Dunbar ............... Home: (650) 573-7448

dunbar@uclink4.berkeley.eduPublications Coordinator: Evan Kerr .......... Home: (510) 642-4935

erkerr@uclink.berkeley.eduInterns: Amy Mellin, Barry Rubenstein

2003 California Golden Bear Baseball 3

Cal head coach David Esquerwas the 2001 Pac-10 Coach ofthe Year and has seen 15 of hisGolden Bears move on to theprofessional ranks.

2003 California Golden Bear Baseball4

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HEAD COACH DAVID ESQUERleague amateur draft, including six players chosen in the first three rounds.

A shortstop at Stanford from 1984-87, Esquer was a starter on theCardinal’s 1987 College World Series championship team; earning All-Tournament honors after hitting .350 with six RBI in Omaha. He also earnedAll-Pac-10 Southern Division honors as a senior, batting .318 with 41 RBIand 16 stolen bases. Esquer went on to play professional baseball for fourseasons with the Baltimore Orioles, California Angels and MilwaukeeBrewers organizations.

Esquer was a three-sport star and class valedictorian at Palma HighSchool in Salinas, CA. He was tabbed the “Athlete of the Year” at PalmaHigh School after being named team captain and MVP in baseball, footballand basketball.

Esquer earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree insociology from Stanford in 1987. His wife, Lynn, is a former professor atPepperdine in the graduate school of education and psychology. TheEsquers reside in Moraga with their daughter, Gabrielle, born July 3, 2002.

ESQUER’S CAREER RECORD AT CAL2000 ..................................................... 25-282001 ..................................................... 34-252002 ..................................................... 29-27Total 88-80 (.524)

DavidESQUERHead CoachFourth Season

This spring, David Esquer will be en-tering his fourth season as the head coachof the California baseball program. At age

37, Esquer is the youngest coach in the Pac-10 and has amassed a careerrecord of 88-80, including leading the Bears to the 2001 NCAA Regionaland being named the 2001 Pac-10 Coach of the Year.

During the 2001 season, Cal finished 34-25 overall, but more importantlythe Bears advanced to an NCAA Regional for the first time since 1995. Cal’s34 wins in 2001 were the most single season victories since 1992 when theBears placed seventh at the College World Series.

Cal has also had 15 players selected to the professional draft, one earnAll-America honors (Xavier Nady in 2000), five players named All-Pac-10 and numerous others listed as Pac-10 honorable mention in Esquer’sthree years with the Bears. Every one of Esquer’s full-time position playershas been drafted and gone on to play professional baseball as well.

Not a bad effort for the league’s youngest coach, who hasput together an outstanding coaching staff which has broughtin four impressive recruiting classes. Also, between Esquerand his staff of pitching coach Dan Hubbs and hitting coachRon Witmeyer, the trio has been involved in 17 NCAARegionals, four College World Series and three NationalChampionships as either players or coaches.

Esquer became only the 10th coach in Cal baseball historywhen he was named head coach of the Bears on June 10, 1999,replacing longtime Cal mentor Bob Milano. Esquer came toBerkeley after serving as the top assistant at Pepperdinefrom 1996-99. Prior to working at Pepperdine, he was theNo. 2 assistant coach at Stanford from 1991-96.

At Pepperdine Esquer was the program’s chief recruitingcoordinator as well as the team’s hitting instructor, infieldcoach and handler of the third base coaching duties. Duringhis three seasons with the Waves, Pepperdine compiled acumulative record of 112-63 (.640). In 1999 the Wavesfinished with a 46-16 overall record. Pepperdine also had a.324 team batting average in ’99, the second-highest single-season average in school history. The Waves led the WestCoast Conference in hitting and eight of Esquer’s everydaystarters in the batting order had averages of .300 or better.

Esquer has also tutored some of the nation’s top fieldingteams. Cal’s 2000 squad was one of the nation’s best witha .974 team fielding percentage and Pepperdine was rankedin the Top 10 in fielding percentage his three seasons there.In 1999, the Waves were second in the nation with a .972fielding percentage, after finishing eighth in the nation infielding in 1998 (.969) and leading the nation in fielding in1997 (.970).

During Esquer’s six-year coaching stint at Stanford theCardinal compiled a 222-142 (.610) record and advanced tothe NCAA Tournament five times, including a trip to theCollege World Series in 1995. He also coached two OlympicTeam members and 33 players who were picked in the major

David Esquer has been involved in nine NCAARegionals, two College World Series and one NationalChampionship during his playing and coaching careerat Stanford, Pepperdine and Cal.

2003 California Golden Bear Baseball 5

BULLPEN CLUB (as of 7/1/01-12/20/02)The University of California continues to maintain its extremely high ranking among the pre-eminent Universities in the world. Cal Athletics

is committed to fielding athletic programs equal in stature to the University’s academic prominence. Our Athletic Development staff and BearBacker volunteers are on a mission to make Cal Athletic among the strongest programs in the country. To achieve that mission, we strive to providethe best coaches, the best venues, and the best possible experience for all of Cal’s student-athletes. By becoming a Bear Backer, alumni and friendsjoin us on our mission of building champions in the community, in the classroom and in competition.

The Bullpen Club is a team of Bear Backers who specifically donate to and fundraise for Cal Baseball. This group of donors is passionate aboutmaking sure that Cal Baseball is financially and emotionally supported on their road to a national championship. Their contributions assure thatCal Baseball student-athletes have an all-around, positive experience at Cal.

For as little as a $100.00 donation to Cal Baseball, you can be a part of the Bullpen Club. Enjoy pre and postgame receptions at the Haas ClubRoom with head coach David Esquer, his staff, the 2003 team, and friends of Cal Baseball. For more information, please call (510) 642-2427.

Greg AcheatelAlbert J. AckermanRobert and Marjorie AlboMatthew and Penelope

AlexanderWilliam G. AlhouseFrancis and Cara AllardDonald AllariLarry AllredDonald and Gloria AndersonA. Victor AntolaPeter W. ApplegateKevin ArgysLois and Richard AtkinsonLarry and Suzie AugustaDennis and Donna AyresRobert Babick and Deborah

LeeDavid B. BakerDennis Barfield and Liz RomoJim and Connie BarkerGilbert BeckDonald BellDon BellJohn and Diane BellizziNeal J. BergerBerliner CohenKenneth C. BernerBert and Johnnie’s Auto PartsMark B. BertoliDr. and Mrs. Frederick

BinkleyDana and Benjamin BiscontiCathy and Ed BoerStephen BoeriGregory M. BonnScott BorasRichard BowlesR. Kent and Nancy BrewerRichard BridgmanRon and Myra BrocchiniDelia and Michael BrownJohn M. BrownRick and Ginny BruzzoneMr. and Mrs. Donald BullAl BuninJeremy R. BurchettJim and Anne BurkC.M. Realty, Inc.Thomas and Lynne CallenBryan CameronLloyd and Sharon CantonFrank A. CareyWilliam J. CarlsonHerman L. CarmassiCharles and Katherine CaryEdgar and Sara ChappellCheese N StuffThomas and Kathleen CheoAdrian and Jackie CibilichCity of BelmontDon CodyMary CodyMatthew CodyJohn C. Coleman, Jr.Whiff CollinsMr. and Mrs. Timothy

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Dan B. CostelloStephen T. CoxWilliam D. CoyleRonald and Kim CraigBob and Sue CrawfordMichael CriquiRobert and Judith CurranDPA Insurance ServicesWilliam F. Dal PortoDas Fix-Um HausMitchell B. DayDale and Patty DennisJohn P. DerdivanisLarry and Phyllis DeSpainMarguerite Devaurs and Michael

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Kelly HabererStephen R. HaleC. Fred HallNoble and Peggy HamiltonRichard W. HargerMr. and Mrs. Stephen HarperKevin HarringtonLaurie A. HartVance HaswellIra J. HawkinsWilliam C. Hawkins, Jr.Alvin Hayman, Jr.David HeilRobert and Karin HeimbucherDennis R. HejnaGary HernandezBruce and Joan HerrigesRoger and Abigail HewittArchie R. HillBrenda HillJoseph P. HniloRobert C. HogeboomKenneth L. HolderDarrick B. HomDon HooperRandal W. HooperWayne and Barbara HooperWilliam W. HornMichael and Stephanie HorwitzWoodie HumburgImperial Steel and Tube Co., Inc.Robert L. ImucciDuane W. IngramSteven A. IsraelMarilyn JacksonJanus CorporationArt and Jan JohnsonDr. and Mrs. Robert S. JohnsonCreighton KahoahiiEric and Sharron KahoaliiJoyce and Ed KalushKip’s Restaurant and BarMr. and Mrs. Michael J. KollKoret FoundationAdrian KragenSteve J. KronerLouis R. LaeremansPanos LagosStan LakeEllen and Allen LavineRonald C. LeeMalcolm and Janice LeiserLevin Menzies and AssociatesMark I. LissRandy LitzenbergThomas LivingstonDon LouieJerald J. LuzarBill MadeiraJames A. MaggettiTevis and Lynne MartinAlfred R. MathewsRobert MatiasevichEd F. MaurinoBrian and Susan MayLawrence M. McCuneMark and Mary McDonaldBeth A. McGuireMcHale Insulation Company, Inc.Dan and Suzy McInernyF. X. McLellanStephen T. McLin

Mrs. James McManigalDouglas McWilliamsNancy B. MedranoStacy R. Mettier, Jr.Barbro MetzRobert MeyerRobert L. MilanoDon and Mary MitchellMohr-Fry RanchesBrian L. MontalboJeff MooradMoore and BakerWilliam Morison-KnoxMt. Diablo National BankJeffrey NelsonKen and Betty NelsonGene J. NeriKathryn M. NeriDavid L. NicholsonRichard B. NicholsonHal and Sharon NickleRichard R. NyeEthel N. O’ConnorJennifer M. OliverCarl M. OlsenOrinda Family ChiropracticHarold OxsenPacific Athletic & Recreation Co.Varnell O. PadgettLyle and Gwen PalmerLisle and Roslyn PaynePayroll SystemsLeslie M. PersellJames A. PetersonMr. and Mrs. Jeffrey PetersonCarl PockDonald and Toni PrydeRobert A. PuccinelliThomas C. PutnamVernon L. PutnamAnthony W. QuinnLarry QuiricoMilton J. RaugustMel RaymondMark and Richelle ReadJohn and Barbara RedingJames and Karen ReillyJack Carson RevvillBryan and Pamela RiandaMrs. Ernest A. RiandaJohn and Mary RicksenJudd and Lin RobbinsRichard K. RobbinsBill and Carol RodgersSamuel S. RokutaniRudney AssociatesEric RudneyVincent E. SakowskiEd SanclementeMr. and Mrs. Henry SchachtBrian E. SchaeferBill and Carol SchofieldCharles W. SciuttoScott J. ScottJohn and Judith SearsThom and Betty SeatonSeitchik Corwin and SeitchikRobert and Beverly SeredaBarbara P. SheldonBarry and Heidi SheldonJason and Donna SherrDan Sicotte

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Inc.Bernard StensonCraig A. StephensBob and Marilyn SteubenJeanne and Daniel StokolsStoropack, Inc.Myron Sugarman and Cynthia

W o o d sDennis C. SullivanConnie and David SwansonDonald N. SwickRuth SwickJennifer TalbottC. T. ThomasJohn C. ThomasCharles R. ThompsonSid and Carol ThompsonRheta V. ThureJoseph T. TodoroffRich TraftonBob and Jan TulkMrs. Carl Van HeuitRichard T. VerlingJoanne K. VidinskyJack and Sharla VohsVoiceproRobert J. Waldron, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Ralph C. WalkerEdward K. WallWilliam C. WalshDoug WatkinsSteve and Jennie WeinerKirby and Carol WestTracy and Nancy WheelerCarmen and Ed WhiteDavid T. WhiteEdward and Connie WhiteMichael E. WhiteJune WhitesidesRamsay WiesenfeldCraig and Sally WileyCameron and Frances WolfeMrs. George WolfmanRichard and Katherine

WolfmanRobert and Sandy WolgerElizabeth E. WongMike WoodJohn WorthingDonald E. WrightonStephen H. YamasakiHarry YasumotoWalter R. ZechGene Zundel

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COACHING STAFF & GROUNDS CREWDanHUBBSAssistant CoachUSC, 1993Fourth Season

A huge key to the Golden Bears’ suc-cess the past three seasons has been the

work of Dan Hubbs and his Cal pitching staff. Since Hubbs joined the Bearsin 2000, Cal pitchers have regularly produced team ERAs that are amongthe lowest in the Pac-10, including a 2001 ERA of 4.29, the lowest teamERA for the Bears since 1989. Also in 2001, Cal won 34 games, advancedto a NCAA Regional and established a school record with 422 teamstrikeouts. Hubbs has helped produced the Pac-10 save leader, Matt Brown(eight) in 2001, the school’s career strikeout leader, Trevor Hutchinson(284) in 2002, and has seen six of his pitchers sign professional baseballcontracts.

A former standout at USC, Hubbs, 32, joined Cal after an outstandingcollege pitching career for the Trojans (1990-93) and a seven-year minorleague career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. In1999 he officially retired as a player to join the Bears’ coaching staff. Hubbshad previous experience as the pitching coach of the Yakima Bears (a short-season single A minor league Dodger affiliate in Yakima, WA) and assistedPepperdine during the 1999 season.

Hubbs’ professional career highlights include finishing second in theDodger organization with 126 strikeouts in 1994. In 1996, he went acombined 16-1 between AAA Albuquerque (7-1) and La Romana (9-0) ofthe Dominican winter league, and was named to Baseball America’s WinterLeague All-Star Team. Hubbs led the Pacific Coast League in appearancesin 1997, taking the mound 62 times in a 144 game season. He finished hiscareer with a 27-16 record with nine saves and a 3.75 ERA. In 427 innings,Hubbs struck out 436 while walking only 172.

At USC, Hubbs helped lead the Trojans to the Pac-10 title in 1991 andNCAA Regionals in three of his four years (1990, ’91, ’93). He finished hiscareer at USC with a 19-13 record and a 3.58 ERA. As a senior, Hubbs ledthe nation in saves with 18 and was tops on the Trojans’ squad with 90strikeouts and a 2.96 ERA in 76.0 innings.

After the ’93 season, Hubbs was named first team All-American by TheSporting News, second team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and theCollege Baseball Writers and third team All-American by Baseball America.He was also a first team All-Pac-10 pick and an All-District 8 second teamselection. During the 1993 NCAA Central II Regional in Austin, TX, Hubbswas selected to the all-tournament team. Against Cal State Fullerton, heearned a save in the first game, striking out five batters in two innings, andpitched 8.0 relief innings in the second game to pick up the win (allowingjust one run on four hits and a walk while striking out seven).

On the USC career list Hubbs is third in career saves (22), sixth in careerstrikeouts per nine innings (9.19), ninth in career appearances (81) and 11thin career strikeouts (254).

Hubbs earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from USC in 1993. He andhis wife, Alison, reside in Richmond and have two sons, Patrick (two) andCharlie (born Nov. 30, 2002).

RonWITMEYERAssistant CoachStanford, 1989Third Season

Entering his third season with the Calbaseball coaching staff as third base and

hitting coach is Ron Witmeyer, a former standout player at Stanford anda member of the Oakland A’s. In 2001, Witmeyer joined up with his formerCardinal teammate and current Golden Bear head coach, David Esquer, andin his first season helped Cal to a NCAA Regional appearance. Last seasonbehind Witmeyer’s tutelage, the Bears had the top two hitters in the Pac-10 with John Baker and Conor Jackson producing batting averages of .383and .382, respectively.

Witmeyer came to Cal after a four-year stint as head baseball coach atCity College of San Francisco from 1997-2000. His best season at CCSFwas in 1999 when the Rams went 23-18. While at the San Francisco juniorcollege, Witmeyer had one player drafted and 21 players go on to playbaseball at four-year schools. Prior to CCSF, Witmeyer and Esquer wereboth members of the Stanford coaching staff in 1996.

A three-year letterman at first base for the Cardinal, Witmeyer playedat Stanford from 1986-88, helping the Cardinal to back-to-back CollegeWorld Series titles in 1987 and 1988. Esquer and Witmeyer were teammateson Stanford’s 1987 squad, and then in 1988 Witmeyer was both an All-NCAA Regional and an All-College World Series selection. He went on toplay six years in the Oakland A’s organization, earning California LeagueAll-Star accolades in 1990 and was called up to the major leagues in 1991.

Witmeyer earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Stanford in 1989and went on to earn a master’s degree in health, physical education andrecreation from Saint Mary’s in 1999. He and his wife, Marianne, residein Piedmont with sons Luke (five) and Clay (three).

2003 CAL TURF CREWBACK ROW (l to r): Tory Merritt, Nick Cole, Aarron Wooten,Bob Rogers, Miguel Vasquez. FRONT ROW: Mark Lucas,Dan Alvarado, Tavi Rodriguez, Tim Vigil.

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2003 California Golden Bear Baseball 7

Junior shortstopJeff Dragicevichhas been a three-year starter for theBears and owns a.296 career battingaverage.

2003 California Golden Bear Baseball8

2003 SEASON OUTLOOK

ALL-AMERICANS LEAD GOLDENBEARS TOWARD GOAL OF NCAA

POSTSEASON PLAY IN 2003

For the 2003 California baseball team, it is all about making a NCAARegional. And, in the minds of David Esquer and his Golden Bears,there is no reason why Cal should not return to NCAA postseason

play this spring.First of all, the Bears feature two of the top players in the nation, junior

third baseman Conor Jackson and junior right-hander Matt Brown, plusseveral other players who got a taste of NCAA Regional competition in2001. Secondly, Cal has had two strong recruiting classes that shouldprovide the Bears with enough talent to vie for the school’s 10th postseasonappearance. Thirdly, the Cal coaching staff of Esquer, Dan Hubbs and RonWitmeyer, have experienced success at the highest level, having been a partof 17 NCAA Regionals, four College World Series and two NationalChampionships as either a player or coach.

“This is the most experienced team I have had since I have been at Cal,”said Esquer, the 2001 Pac-10 Coach of the Year, who has personally beeninvolved in nine NCAA Regionals, two College World Series and oneNational Championship. “We return a number of starters in the field –Conor Jackson, Jeff Dragicevich, Brian Horwitz, David Nicholson, JustinNelson – who we expect will continue to progress and improve. On the

mound, we return several key pitchers, including juniors MattBrown and Brian Montalbo, who are extremely talented. We alsohave sophomore Jesse Ingram, who did a great job out of thebullpen for us last season. As a group, the juniors and seniors havealready shown they can take us to a regional, so after not makinga regional last year, they will be hungry to get back to postseasonplay. They now know what it takes to make a regional.”

There is little doubt Jackson and Brown will play key rolesfor the Bears this season. A 2003 first team Preseason All-American, Jackson was one of the top hitters in the nation lastyear. In what was one of the leading offensive performances inCal baseball history, he was second in the conference with a .382batting average (behind teammate John Baker’s .383 average) andled the league with 152 total bases and a .691 slugging percentage.Jackson also finished with 16 doubles, two triples, 16 home runsand 61 RBI – totals that all ranked among the Top 10 in the Pac-10. He had a 15-game hitting streak, twice hit home runs in fourconsecutive games, had two grand slams and finished as a firstteam All-Pac-10 selection and a finalist for the Dick HowserTrophy as the nation’s top collegiate player.

Brown, a 2003 third team Preseason All-American, continuedhis impressive Cal career last season, going 5-3 with a 3.70 ERAand six saves in 21 appearances. After leading the Pac-10 witheight saves as a freshman in 2001, he played the role of bothstarter and reliever as a sophomore, including throwing his firstcollegiate complete game with a career-high 10 strikeouts againstArizona. Brown was named honorable mention All-Pac-10 forthe second year in a row and is already tied with Joe Buckley(1986-89) on the all-time Cal list with 14 career saves.

Both Jackson and Brown also represented Cal extremely wellthis summer. Jackson was a member of the USA National Team,batting .312 with 11 doubles, one home run and 11 RBI, and

helping Team USA to a second place finish at the World Championships.Brown played for the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod League, going 3-3 witha 1.20 ERA, and recording 51 strikeouts in 32.3 innings. He was the winningpitcher for the West in the Cape Cod League All-Star Game as well.

Junior shortstop Jeff Dragicevich and junior right fielder Brian Horwitzwere both major contributors to the Bears’ 2001 NCAA Regional run asfreshmen. Dragicevich has now started 104 games at shortstop at Cal andhas a .296 career average with 19 doubles, two triples, six home runs and43 RBI. Horwitz has 108 starts in the outfield and has recorded a .290 careeraverage with 24 doubles, two triples, a home run, 55 RBI and 14 stolen bases.He also owns a school record 23-game hitting streak, set as a freshman.

David Nicholson and Justin Nelson were top players for Cal last seasonas true freshmen. Nicholson, the fastest player on the team, started 53 gamesat either center field or third base, batting .305 with seven doubles, a triple,six home runs and 23 RBI. He also led the Bears in runs scored (46) and stolenbases (10), earning honorable mention All-Pac-10 and was a MidseasonFreshman All-American in Baseball America. Nelson, who is slated to playleft field and is Cal’s top left-handed power hitter, came on late last seasonand ended up batting .248 with four doubles, eight home runs and 22 RBI.

Joining Brown as the Bears’ leading pitchers entering the season will beBrian Montalbo and Jesse Ingram. Montalbo has shown glimpses of thepotential that got him drafted in the fourth round by the Atlanta Braves outof high school. The hard-throwing right-hander from Alaska is a career 7-6 with a 4.70 ERA in 34 appearances and 16 starts for Bears, and hasrecorded 91 strikeouts in 118.7 innings. Last season, Montalbo was 3-5,but defeated then No. 1 ranked Stanford with a career-high 7.3 innings, fivehit, one run, one walk and three strikeout effort.

Junior Conor Jackson was selected Preseason All-America byBaseball America, Collegiate Baseball and the NationalCollegiate Baseball Writers after batting .382 and leading thePac-10 with a .691 slugging percentage last season.

2003 California Golden Bear Baseball 9

Ingram was extremely valuable out of the bullpen as a redshirt freshmanin 2002, going 5-2 with a 5.16 ERA and one save. He was also second inthe Pac-10 with 29 appearances and finished with 45 strikeouts in 52.3innings. Other returnees expected to contribute on the mound are sopho-more right-handers Brent Hale, Joe Todoroff and Kyle Crist, who all gainedexperience both starting and relieving for Cal last season.

Other key returnees for the Bears are junior outfielder David Weiner andsophomore first baseman/left-handed pitcher James Holder. Weiner had anoutstanding freshman season in 2000, batting .306 with 12 stolen bases andwas honorable mention All-Pac-10. He sat out the 2001 season followingleft shoulder surgery, but returned last season to bat .279 with nine doubles,two triples, two home runs and 18 RBI as a left-handed designated hitter.Holder is another player who will have an opportunity to shine for Cal afterhitting a home run in his first at-bat last season at UNLV, only to dislocatehis right shoulder later in the game, forcing him to redshirt. Holder is nowfully healthy and is a leading candi-date to play first base and bat in themiddle of Cal’s line-up.

The Bears have some talentednewcomers who should contributeimmediately as well. Scott Cheo is ajunior college power hitter fromSaddleback College who could helpat first base, the outfield or as adesignated hitter, and should be aforce offensively. Cal features threetop freshmen – Allen Craig, JeremyBurchett and Adam Gold. Craig is amiddle infielder who was outstand-ing last summer for the USA JuniorNational Team, batting .485.Burchett is a right-handed power hit-ting outfielder who could also be uti-lized as a closer on the mound, andGold is a 6-3 right-hander who couldsee action as either a starter or reliever.

CAL BY POSITION

PITCHINGA big key in the Bears advancing

to a NCAA Regional this season willbe the performance of the Cal pitch-ing staff. The Bears return severalprojected starters, including top jun-iors Matt Brown and BrianMontalbo.

Brown is a pitcher who can thrivein any role he is assigned, possess-ing outstanding control to go alongwith an impressive array of pitches.He is a big right-hander (6-5, 230pounds) who throws a fastball in the low 90s and has an extremely effectiveknuckle curve. Brown is also a proven winner, being named series MVP afterleading his team to the American Legion World Series title in the summerof 2000, while he was a Cape Cod League All-Star this past summer.

Montalbo, a right-handed power pitcher with a fastball in the low 90sand an above average slider and change-up, is slated to be another weekendstarter for Cal. He is an impressive athlete at 6-5, 225 pounds and has shownhe has the ability to be dominating in the college ranks. A consistent seasonfrom Montalbo could go a long way in dictating the Bears’ success in 2003.

Three more projected starters are sophomore right-handers Brent Hale,Joe Todoroff and Kyle Crist. Hale, who throws in the low 90s with a sharp-breaking curve ball, was the most effective of the three freshman last season,going 2-3 with a 5.74 ERA, including a victory over Boston College and avictory in relief over UCLA. Todoroff and Crist both threw well at times

last year and could become solid starters. Todoroff throws in the upper 80swith four pitches – fastball, curve, slider and change-up. Crist throws in thehigh 80s-low 90s and also has good command of his fastball, curve, sliderand change-up. If Todoroff and Crist are not used in a starting role, theycould also be used as long relievers.

Another potential starter is Cal’s top freshman pitcher, Adam Gold.Gold, a 6-3 right-hander from Lakewood, Colo., performed well in fallpractice after tallying 203 strikeouts in his last two years of high school.He throws in the high 80s with a fastball, slider and change-up.

The Bears’ leader out of the bullpen will be sophomore Jesse Ingram,who established himself as a top reliever last season as a redshirt freshman,finishing second in the Pac-10 with 29 appearances. Ingram, who throwsin the low 90s with a solid curveball, showed the ability to throw severalinnings when necessary, picking up five wins in relief.

Junior Blake Read and sophomores Matt Swanson, Travis Talbottand Mike White could also playimportant roles for the Bears asspot relievers. Read gave Cal severalgood innings as a freshman in 2001,finishing 1-0 with a 4.78 ERA and14 strikeouts in 26.3 innings.Swanson is a 6-8 right-hander whoperformed well late last season, pick-ing up a win in a May 12 startagainst Oregon State with a career-high five strikeouts in 6.3 innings.Talbott and White are both left-handers who utilize effectivecurveballs. Talbott picked up a vic-tory over Oregon State last seasonas well, throwing a career-high 6.0innings against the Beavers.

Additional help out of the bullpenshould be provided by junior MattIrwin, sophomore Will Putnamand redshirt freshman Alex Trafton.Irwin is a left-handed spot relieverwho pitched well last year at SanFrancisco City College. Putnam hasyet to pitch for the Bears in theregular season, but could help as aright-handed reliever, while Traftonhasn’t pitched since high school dueto a stress fracture in his elbow, buthas the skills to contribute if healthy.

The Bears have three newcomerswho could figure in the pitchingscheme as well – Aaron Swick,Mike Padgett and Greg Acheatel.Swick is a 6-5 right-handed juniorcollege transfer from SaddlebackCollege, Padgett is a 6-3 sophomoretransfer from the University ofPortland and Acheatel is a 6-4 fresh-

man right-hander from El Camino High School. All three pitchers throw inthe mid to high 80s with a fastball, curveball and change-up.

CATCHINGJunior catchers Chris Grossman and Creighton Kahoalii will be

battling for starting duties behind the plate, replacing John Baker, whosigned with the Oakand A’s after leading the Pac-10 with a .383 battingaverage in 2002. The emergence of either Grossman or Kahoalii as consistenteveryday players will be vital for the Bears.

Grossman has shown signs of being a top Pac-10 hitter, and last year hittwo home runs in a game against Fresno State. Kahoalii is a talented receiverwho has an outstanding arm, even seeing some action out of the bullpen forthe Bears.

Junior Matt Brown, a third team Preseason All-American, is a two-time honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection and has 14 career saves.

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Sophomore Joe Bruzzone, who is also an outfielder, will provide depthto the Bears’ catching ranks and did a respectable job filling in behind theplate in an appearance against UC Irvine. Another potential catcher for Calis sophomore Matt Einspahr, who began working out behind the plateduring fall practice.

INFIELDThe Cal infield should be strong for the 2003 season with starters

returning at third base and shortstop, and talented players available to playthe left side of the Bears’ infield.

Junior Conor Jackson will be moving back to third base, where he playedas a freshman, after starting 43 games at first base last season. One of theleading hitters in the nation, Jackson is also a capable fielder with a strongarm.

At shortstop, Cal returns juniorJeff Dragicevich, who is one of themost experienced middle infieldersin the Pac-10 with 108 starts.Dragicevich, a solid hitter with a.296 career average with 43 RBI, hasgood range with a strong, accuratearm.

Several other players could seeaction at shortstop, third or secondbase. Sophomore David Nicholsonis a versatile player who could alsofit into the outfield mix as Cal’sstarting center fielder. Nicholsonstarted 36 games at third base lastseason and worked out at secondbase during fall practice. With hisspeed and solid hitting, Nicholson issure to find a spot in the Bears’lineup after hitting .305 with 46runs and 10 stolen bases as a fresh-man.

Freshman infielder Allen Craigis also in strong contention for aspot in Cal’s infield after an impres-sive fall season. Craig is an extremelytalented hitter, batting .485 for theUSA Junior National Team last sum-mer, and could immediately see ac-tion at second base, shortstop orthird base.

Senior Nick Medrano is anotherstrong candidate at either secondbase or shortstop as he is one of theteam’s best defensive players.Medrano can also play any of theoutfield positions, and saw actionseveral times last season as a defen-sive replacement at shortstop.

Two more infielders who could see action are sophomore Matt Einspahrand freshman Stephen Carlson. Einspahr is a steady fielder who playedin 28 games as a redshirt freshman with eight starts at third base. Carlsonis a switch hitting newcomer with impressive credentials out of Seattle Prepin Washington.

At first base, Cal will have sophomore James Holder, junior collegetransfer Scott Cheo and junior Noah Jackson vying for the starting spot.Holder is a left-handed throwing, right-handed hitting first baseman withthe ability to be one of the Bears’ top power hitters. Cheo joins the Calprogram after an impressive career at Saddleback College, earning JuniorCollege All-America honors after batting .398 with 23 home runs and 76RBI as a sophomore. Jackson, who could also play the outfield or be Cal’sdesignated hitter, can hit for power and average and batted .364 in nine gamesagainst Pac-10 competition last season.

OUTFIELDThe Bears’ outfield should have plenty of depth, with several players

with starting experience returning, in addition to a standout freshmanrecruit.

Sophomore Justin Nelson is a leading candidate to be Cal’s starting leftfielder after manning that position towards the end of last season. The left-handed Nelson has already shown signs of being a top collegiate hitter afterbatting .248 with eight home runs and 22 RBI, including hitting .292 againstPac-10 competition.

Junior Brian Horwitz is another top outfielder with good speed and astrong arm, and will probably play right field again this season. Horwitzwas stellar as a freshman in 2001, establishing a new school record with a23-game hitting streak and playing well at the NCAA South Regional. Last

season, he batted .266 with sevendoubles, a triple and 25 RBI.

Sophomore David Nicholsoncould also be one of the Bears’outfielders after making 17 starts incenter field as a freshman. Nicholsonhas a lot of skills, both offensivelyand defensively, that enabled him toearn honorable mention All-Pac-10accolades as a first-year player.

Other key returnees for Cal in theoutfield are David Weiner, BenConley, Nick Medrano and BradSmith. Weiner had an outstandingfreshman season in 2000, batting.306 with 12 stolen bases and washonorable mention All-Pac-10. Hesat out the 2001 season followingleft shoulder surgery, but returnedlast season to bat .279 with ninedoubles, two triples, two home runsand 18 RBI as a left-handed desig-nated hitter. The Bears’ senior classof Conley, Medrano and Smith areall in the mix for starting outfieldduties. Conley had a breakout 2001season in which he led off and batted.324, earning honorable mention All-Pac-10. Medrano was spectaculardefensively last year in center fieldand hit well towards the end of theseason. Smith has played in over100 games for the Bears and couldhelp the team with his left-handedbat.

True freshman Jeremy Burchettis yet another outfielder who couldstart for Cal. Burchett comes to theBears after an outstanding highschool career at Capistrano Valley

High School, where he batted .400 with 12 home runs as a senior. Besidesbeing in the running for starting outfield duties, he could also be utilized asa closer on the mound with a fastball in the low 90s.

Sophomore Joe Bruzzone and redshirt freshman Robert Nesbitt aretwo more players who could also provide the Bears with depth in theoutfield.

Sophomore David Nicholson shined as both an infielder andoutfielder for the Bears last season, batting .305 with 46 runs and 10stolen bases.