May 1, 2003

Villanova baseball game notes for Thursday afternoon's baseball contest featuring the Villanova Wildcats (12-26) and the Temple Owls (18-19). The two teams will face off at 3:30 p.m. at Erny Field in Ambler, Pa. Click on the pdf link below for a complete version of the game notes.

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VILLANOVA WILDCATS (12-26 OVERALL, 5-14 BIG EAST)

VS.

TEMPLE OWLS (18-19 OVERALL, 8-7 ATLANTIC 10)

MAY 1, 2003

ERNY FIELD

PHILADELPHIA, PA.

3:30 PM

INSIDE VILLANOVA BASEBALL:

-Senior pitcher John Yeager was named Big East Co-Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday, April 29th for his performance during the week of April 21-27. Yeager tossed a complete game shutout versus Georgetown on Sunday, April 27th. The 109-pitch performance was the second career complete game shutout for the Wildcat right-hander.

-Mark Rocca (1-0) earned his first win of the season on Tuesday, April 29th, pitching 6.1 strong innings and striking out four in a 6-3 Villanova win over Drexel.

-Freshman Freddie Thon and sophomore Alan Day blasted home run versus Drexel Tuesday at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth

-Senior Mitch Mitchell currently owns a seven-game hitting streak, which has helped improve his batting average to .299.

-On Sunday, April 27th, Villanova retired the jersey of former Wildcat head coach George Bennett (No. 6) prior to the `Cats' game versus Georgetown.

MEDIA INFORMATION

Interview Requests: All interview requests should be directed toward Jon Gust, Assistant Director of Media Relations at (610) 519-4122

Follow Villanova Baseball on the Web: Follow the Villanova baseball team on the web at: www.villanova.com

Villanova Baseball Contact Information: Jon Gust, Villanova Assistant Director of Media Relations Phone- (610) 519-4122; Fax- (610) 519-7323 Email- jonathan.gust@villanova.edu

VILLANOVA NEWS & NOTES

YEAGER NAMED BIG EAST CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK: On Tuesday, April 29th, Villanova senior pitcher John Yeager was named Big East Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week for his performance during the week of April 21-27. Yeager tossed a complete game shutout on Sunday, April 27th, versus Georgetown, and finished the week allowing just one run in 12.1 innings of work. Yeager was dominant on Sunday against Georgetown, tossing a complete game shutout in the 5-0 Villanova victory. It was the second complete game shutout of his career, and the first of the season for the senior right-hander. Yeager put together a 109-pitch performance versus the Hoyas with 70 of the pitches being strikes. In nine innings, he allowed just six hits and two walks while striking out six batters. All of the six hits versus Yeager were singles. No Georgetown hitter got past second base in the entire game versus the Wildcat pitcher. For the week, Yeager allowed just one run on 11 hits in 12.1 innings, striking out seven and walked only three. He pitched 3.1 strong innings of relief at Saint Joseph's on Wednesday.

ROCCA COOK'N AS `CATS HAVE BIG DAY IN WIN OVER DREXEL: Senior pitcher Mark Rocca threw six and a third strong innings for the win and Villanova blasted two home runs compliments of Alan Day and Freddie Thon on Tuesday, April 29th, at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth, as the Wildcats defeated Drexel, 6-3. The win was the fifth in the last seven games for the `Cats, who improve to 12-26 overall on the season. The Dragons fall to 9-28 on the year with the loss. Rocca (1-0) earned the win on the mound for Villanova, allowing just three runs in six and a third inning, striking out four and walking two. Dan Farino threw two and two-thirds scoreless innings of relief to pick up his second save of the year. At the plate for the Wildcats, Day went two-for-three with a home run, one run scored and three RBI. In addition, Thon was one-for-four with his third home run of the season and two RBI, and Mitch Mitchell went one-for-two with three runs scored to increase his hit streak to seven games.

VILLANOVA BASEBALL RETIRES JERSEY OF FORMER HEAD COACH GEORGE BENNETT: On Sunday, April 27th at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth, the Villanova baseball program retired the jersey of former Wildcat head baseball coach George Bennett. Bennett's number six now joins the other four all-time Villanova baseball greats whose numbers and names will forever be celebrated as the best of the best - the other four being former coach Art Mahan, and players Len Merullo, Frank Skaff and Phil Fidalgo. Bennett coached on the Main Line from 1986-2001 and during that time recorded a 463-324-6 overall record. He is the all-time leader in victories at Villanova with 463. A two-time Big East Conference Coach of the Year, Bennett led the Wildcat program to two Big East Tournament Championships and three Big East Regular Season titles. In addition, he guided Villanova to NCAA Regional Appearances in 1989 and 1991, and in 1989 helped his Wildcat team come just one game away from the College World Series. Bennett has a 531-371-9 all-time career head coaching record at the collegiate ranks. He won his 500th career game on April 15, 2000 versus Georgetown.

REACHING THE CENTURY MARK: On April 22nd versus Temple, senior centerfielder Chris Graziano stole his 19th base of the season to reach the 100 stolen base plateau for his career, becoming the first Wildcat to ever reach the century mark in stolen bases. He currently has 102 thefts for his career. Graziano, a 2003 Preseason All-Big East first team performer, ran into the Wildcat record books last season like he has done in nearly each of his three-plus seasons on the Main Line. Graziano's outstanding junior campaign for the `Cats in `02 included 38 runs scored, nine doubles, four triples, 20 RBI, 38 stolen bases and second team All-Big East accolades. His 38 stolen bases put him among the nation's top base stealers for the second consecutive season. Graziano broke his own Villanova single season stolen base record (37 SB in 2001) last season set just one year earlier. In addition, he surpassed the all-time Wildcat career mark for stolen bases, stealing his 62nd career base on March 24 at St. John's to break Brian Fili's (1994-97) old record of 61. Graziano's play has not gone unnoticed.

JACK OF ALL TRADES: Junior RHP/DH Adrian Schau has been a key to the Villanova team in numerous roles this season. Schau has made an impact both as a starter and as a reliever for the Wildcat pitching staff. Even more impressive than the fact that he has developed into one of the top all-around players in the Big East is the fact that he was not recruited to play baseball at Villanova University. He made the team as a walk-on as a freshman and has since developed into one of the Big East Conference's top all-around players. During his freshman season of 2001, Schau made a name for himself as a tough middle reliever out of the bullpen. Last season, he of earned the starting nod in leftfield and continued to frustrate opponents with his pitching out of the pen. At the plate, Schau batted .310 with 11 doubles, seven home runs and 30 RBI in 2002. On the mound, he posted a 4-1 record with one save and a 3.00 ERA. In 21.0 innings of work, the native of Novato, Calif., gave up only 10 earned runs on 18 hits, striking out 26 and walking 11.

VETERAN ARMS BRING EXPERIENCE TO YOUNG STAFF: Senior right-handers John Yeager and Tom Kandybowicz are the leaders of a young Wildcat pitching staff. Yeager has been the team's most consistent starting pitcher over the last several years and serves as the team's ace in 2003. As a sophomore two season's ago, he led the team with seven wins, going 7-3 with a 4.55 ERA. Last season, Yeager continued his development into one of the Big East's best control pitchers. Despite battling injuries, he posted a 3-3 record and a 3.21 ERA. In 42.0 innings in 2002, Yeager struck out 24 batters and walked only seven. He led the Wildcats with two complete games and held the opposition scoreless in two of his seven starts. Kandybowicz entered the Villanova starting weekend rotation as a freshman in 2000 and hasn't looked back since. The Massapequa, N.Y., native has a total of 14 wins over his career thus far. He is among the Villanova career leaders in wins and innings pitched.

YOUNGSTER ON THE RISE: Sophomore right-handed pitcher Nick Allen led the Villanova team in victories with six as a freshman last season and went on to earn Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-America honorable mention by Collegiate Baseball. The young right-hander finished the year 6-1 with a 5.28 ERA, striking out 31 batters in 46 innings. Allen came to Villanova as a highly touted high school pitcher out of Green Lane, Pa., and Boyertown Area High School. During his high school career, he went 16-4 with a microscopic 0.75 ERA. Allen again leads the Wildcat pitching staff in victories this season with two. He currently leads the team in innings pitched with 52.0.

TRANSFERS BRING ADDED BATS TO `CATS: With the graduation of sluggers Rob Cafiero and Brendan Mannix who combined for 33 doubles, 24 home runs, and 89 RBI last season, the Wildcats were in need of some added offense heading into 2003. Enter Mitch Mitchell and Danny Poydenis. Mitchell came to Villanova from Oklahoma State where he batted .273 (12-for-44) with two doubles, one home run and six RBI in 2002 and helped lead the Cowboys to a 37-21 overall record. He plays a number of positions for the `Cats including the outfield and at third and first base. Poydenis joined the Wildcats after transferring from Brevard Community College in Florida where he put up outstanding numbers as a sophomore last season despite missing 16 games due to a wrist injury. He batted .384 with 23 stolen bases and a .500 on-base percentage in 2002. In addition to a starting role at third base, Poydenis also has the ability to move to second base.

ALL IN THE FAMILY: Freshman first baseman Freddie Thon has quite the family history in baseball. His uncle, Dickie Thon, played 15 years in the Major Leagues for the Angels, Astros, Padres, Phillies, Rangers, and Brewers. His father, Frankie, is a scout for the Astros and a former pro player. Hailing from Guaynabo, P.R., Freddie was drafted in the 43rd round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Houston Astros but bypassed the professional ranks to come to Villanova. Thon has already begun to draw attention as he was named Big East Preseason Freshman of the Year by Baseball America and was listed among the Top 50 freshmen in the nation by Baseball America. He possesses tremendous power potential and appears ready to make an immediate impact for the 'Cats in the middle of the lineup.

THE HIT DOCTOR: Villanova assistant coach and hitting instructor Doc Kennedy is no stranger to developing baseball talent. A well known baseball mentor in the area, Kennedy came to Villanova from Phoenixville High School in Phoenixville, Pa., where he was the head varsity baseball coach for 20 years and taught for 35 years. During his tenure at Phoenixville, he helped lead the baseball team to six league championships and three district titles. Nine players were drafted during his tenure, including current Mets' catcher Mike Piazza. Kennedy possesses a wealth of baseball experience. In addition to his duties at Villanova, he has also spent the last three summers coaching the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League.

EX-WILDCAT HURLERS MOVIN' ON UP: Villanova has developed a number of tremendous pitchers over the years who have gone on to pitch at the next level. Aaron Krawiec and Brian Slocum are the latest two - and each has taken another step up in 2003. Krawiec, a tall left-hander, was drafted in 2000, following his junior season, in the third round by the Chicago Cubs. He began his career with the Class A Lansing Lugnuts and moved up to the high Class A Daytona Cubs last season. Krawiec progressed yet another level in 2003, now playing for the AA West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx. Slocum was drafted in 2002, following his junior season with the Wildcats, in the second round by the Cleveland Indians. The right-hander had an outstanding rookie season in the professional ranks for the short season Class A Mahoning Valley Scrappers in 2002. This season, Slocum has moved up to the high Class A Kingston Indians of the Carolina League.

HOME SWEET HOME: The Villanova baseball program has a new home this season as its brand-new baseball complex in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., gives the Wildcats one of the finest facilities in the Big East Conference. The Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth is located just off Germantown Pike within Plymouth Township, Pa. The Villanova baseball program had been playing its home games at Richie Ashburn Field in Philadelphia since 1998 when the Wildcats' field on campus was leveled to make room for new residence halls. Villanova's new field in Plymouth is approximately seven miles from the Villanova campus. The field dimensions are 320 down each of the lines, 370 to the gaps and 400 to straight-away center. The field contains a blue grass infield and an outfield made from a Pennsylvania rye blend.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The national spotlight has shown brightly on Villanova pitcher James Russell. Both last season and during the 2003 preseason, the tall right-handed closer has accumulated honor after honor. He was named a preseason first team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), and also earned All-America accolades from Collegiate Baseball as a Louisville Slugger Preseason third team All-American. In addition, Russell was named to the Preseason All-Big East first team as well as to Baseball America's Preseason Big East All-Conference team. A native of Rochester, N.Y., Russell was named to the NCBWA All-America third team and the All-Big East second team last season. He led the Big East in saves in 2002 for both overall games (15) and conference games (8). Russell also finished the season tied for third in the nation in saves. He ended the 2002 campaign with a 2.33 ERA in 22 appearances, allowing just 12 runs (seven earned) on 25 hits in 27 innings pitched, striking out 35 and walking eight. Russell broke the single season Villanova save record in 2002, as well as setting a new Wildcat career mark.

BIG SHOES TO FILL: The 2003 Wildcats must make up for some big losses, as four players from last season's squad went on to pitch at the next level. Villanova lost two weekend starters from last season in Brian Slocum and Bob Grzenda. Slocum, a junior in 2002, was drafted in the second round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Cleveland Indians, while Grzenda played professional baseball for Regensburg Legionaere of the German Professional Baseball League. The Wildcats will also have to overcome two huge losses at the corner positions with the graduation of first baseman Rob Cafiero and third baseman Brendan Mannix. Both had tremendous senior campaigns combining for 33 doubles, 24 home runs, and 89 RBI, and each went on to play at the next level with Cafiero getting drafted in the 32nd round by the Philadelphia Phillies and Mannix signing a free agent contract with the New York Mets.

CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK: Villanova catcher Greg Fater is walking in his father's footsteps. A graduate student and second year starter for the Wildcats, Fater is a second generation Villanova catcher. His father, Greg Sr., caught for the `Cats between 1969-72. The younger Fater, a Wildcat team captain, had his best season at Villanova in 2002. He started in 30 of the 37 games in which he played batting .277 (26-for-94) with 16 runs scored, and posting three doubles, one triple and 11 RBI. Fater had six multi-hit games and two three-hit games last season.

RECRUITING CLASS RANKED AMONG NATION'S BEST: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper announced its annual compilation of the top recruiting classes across the USA. Second year head coach Joe Godri's 2002 recruiting class was ranked among the top 75 classes in the nation at No. 61. "Having a national publication recognize back-to-back recruiting classes is a big step for our baseball program here at Villanova," said head coach Joe Godri. "We will use this as another building block for our program to help re-establish Villanova as a Big East baseball power. Our class is ranked above 11 NCAA Regional teams from 2002 and third is the Big East, which is a big statement for our program's recruiting efforts." Godri's 2002 class includes eight freshmen: Jim Gillin, Jake Wolff, Freddie Thon, Thomas Rinaldi, Darren Griffith, Nick Castelli, Ted Aust, and Omar Saade. Villanova's 2002 recruiting class also includes two outstanding transfer players in Danny Poydenis from Brevard Community College and Mitch Mitchell from Oklahoma State.

`NOVA PICKED NINTH IN BIG EAST: The Villanova baseball team was picked to finish ninth in the 2003 Preseason Big East Conference Standings. The Wildcats, who finished 30-23 overall and 12-13 in the Big East last season, received 29 points in the 2003 Preseason Standings just 13 behind eighth place Pittsburgh. The poll, along with the Preseason All-Big East squad, was voted upon by the league's head coaches.

Preseason Big East StandingsTeam    Points  2002 Record1 Notre Dame (9)    98  50-18 (18-8 BIG EAST)2 Virginia Tech (1) 85  33-26 (18-8)3 Boston College (1)    80  30-25 (15-11)4 Rutgers   75  35-22 (15-11)5  John's   58  29-23 (14-12)6 Seton Hall    55  25-28 (11-15)7 Connecticut   44  28-22 (13-12)8 Pittsburgh    42  36-16-1 (14-11)9 Villanova 29  30-23 (12-13)10 West Virginia    27  24-26 (9-16)11 Georgetown   12  9-47 (2-24)

`CATS INK EIGHT DURING EARLY SIGNING PERIOD: Villanova University head baseball coach Joe Godri announced the signing of eight players to national letters of intent during the NCAA's early signing period. These eight players - Alex Bardeguez, Chris Cancro, Nate Hall, Billy Hoffman, James Ladio, Mike Loree, Kevin Mulvey, and Andy Wendle - will join the Wildcats as part of Godri's 2004 recruiting class. "I feel that we really solidified our pitching staff with this group of players and they should make an immediate on the mound next season and for seasons to come," added Godri about the Wildcats' signings. "Over time, I feel that they will develop into pro prospects. Our position players address some of our immediate needs and should aid greatly in improving our overall depth as a ball club. The talent that we brought in this season should increase the overall quality of the Wildcat baseball program and help us to continue to move forward in the Big East Conference."

Name    Pos.    B/T Ht./Wt. Hometown/HSAlex Bardeguez  IF  S/R 6-1/190 Coram, N.Y./ LongwoodChris Cancro    OF/1B   L/L 6-0/195 Clark, N.J./ Seton Hall PrepNate Hall   RHP R/R 5-10/180    Longmont, Colo./ SkylineBilly Hoffman   RHP R/R 6-0/170 Poughkeepsie, N.Y./ Our Lady LourdesJames Ladio IF/OF   R/R 6-4/200 Wilmington, Del./ ConcordMike Loree  RHP R/R 6-6/215 Gillette, N.J./ DelbartonKevin Mulvey    RHP R/R 6-1/185 Parlin, N.J./ Bishop George AhrAndy Wendle C   R/R 6-2/195 Lincoln University, Pa./ Avon Grove