April 16, 1998
Kentucky (15-23, 5-13) at Georgia (21-17, 7-11)
Site: Athens, Ga.Stadium: Foley FieldGame One: Friday, April 17 — 7 p.m.Game Two: Saturday, April 18 — 4 p.m.Game Three: Sunday, April 19 — 2 p.m.
The Coaches: Kentucky head coach Keith Madison is in his 20th season at UK and is 601-473-4. Robert Sapp is in his second year at Georgia and is 49-44. Sapp has an overall mark of 939-225 in 21- plus seasons.
The Series: Georgia leads the series 96-71.Last Meeting: Georgia won 16-6 last year in Lexington.Probable Starters:Game OneRHP Matt Borne (2-3, 6.75) KentuckyRHP Zack Frachiseur (4-4, 6.68) GeorgiaGame TwoRHP Brandon Webb (2-3, 6.70) KentuckyLHP Kyle Goodson (1-1, 5.74) GeorgiaGame ThreeLHP Jason Chaney (1-5, 8.32) KentuckyRHP Cliff Brand (4-3, 6.39) Georgia
A Glance at the Weekend
Kentucky heads into the weekend series with thoughts of gaining ground in the SEC Tournament race. UK took two of three from Mississippi State last weekend in Starkville, Miss. It was UK’s first SEC series win this season.
UK sits in 11th place in the conference, fifth place in the Eastern Division. UK is two games behind Georgia, who is tied with Florida in third place at 7-11. The top three teams in each division along with two wildcards advance to the tournament.
UK got strong pitching in all five games last week, which the Wildcats went 3-2. The pitching staff dropped their earned run average by .49 points. Both victories went to relief pitchers. Sophomore Josh Paxton earned a save on Saturday and a win on Sunday. Paxton struck out eight in the two games and allowed only one hit. David Cheatle also got a victory in the series.
NEXT UP: Home Sweet Home
Kentucky opens a five-game homestand beginning on Tuesday, April 21 with a game against Murray State at 6 p..m. UK takes on Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday, April 22 at 6 p.m. UK gets back into conference play next weekend with a three-game series against Arkansas.
Head Coach Keith Madison
Since becoming the Wildcats coach in 1979, Keith Madison has guided his team to 601 victories – more than any other baseball coach in school history and the second-highest mark among active coaches in Southeastern Conference games.
In his 19 seasons, 77 players whom Madison has coached have signed pro contracts, 15 of whom have seen time in the major leagues. Madison picked up his 600th career victory on April 11 at Mississippi State. With UK’s win over Tennessee on April 13, 1996, Madison moved into third place on the SEC all-time victories list. Against Ohio University on March 12, 1996, Madison achieved another milestone by coaching in his 1,000th career game.
Over the last 19 seasons, UK has averaged 31 wins a season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1988 and 1993, with the team’s ’88 berth representing the school’s first NCAA appearance in 38 years. Madison took over a program in 1979 that had just finished last in the SEC Eastern Division. Madison guided his first team to a 29-18 mark, setting the school record for wins in a season. Madison improved that mark from 39 wins (1981) to 40 (1987) to 41 (1991).
Through all the success, Madison has guided eight All-Americans, 19 first-team All-SEC players, and 33 players to SEC academic honors. Madison has coached a first or second-team All-SEC selection 18 of his 19 years at Kentucky.
On the national scene, Madison was named the fourth vice-president of the American Baseball Coaches Association in 1995. In the ABCA officer rotation system. Madison has moved up to third vice-president of the organization. He will assume the presidency of the organization in 1999. Scouting Georgia
Georgia heads into the series with a 21-17 record, including a 7-11 mark in the SEC. The Bulldogs won their only game this week, 13-5 over Georgia Tech at home. South Carolina took of three from Georgia last weekend in Columbia. Junior Kevin Hall leads the Bulldogs with a 378 batting average. Catcher Robby Hammock has a team-leading 10 home runs and 39 RBIs.
The Bulldog pitching staff is headed by junior right-hander Barry Fowler with a 5.09 earned run average. Fowler (3-2) has three saves in 35.1 innings pitched. Kyle Goodson, who beat South Carolina in the second game of the series, is 1-1 in 13 appearances. Goodson is scheduled to pitch the second game of the series.
Wildcats Overall
This is the 102nd season of Kentucky baseball. The Wildcats have an all-time mark of 1270-1093-22 for a winning percentage of .532.
Last Time Out
Western Kentucky’s Chris Yeo hit a two-run home run in the top of the 11th inning as Western Kentucky erased a four-run deficit to win 8-6 over Kentucky Tuesday at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The game featured six homers, four doubles and a triple. UK got out to a 3-0 lead with back-to-back home runs by Jason Colemire and Mark Murphy. Western Kentucky took the lead with five runs in the sixth. The Wildcats regained the lead in the seventh thanks to a leadoff homer by Justin Bunch.
Senior David Cheatle (2-2) allowed five hits and three runs in a losing effort. UK starter Ben Shaffar gave up only two hits in five scoreless innings. Josh Loggins led the Wildcats with three hits, including his second triple of the season. Jason Colemire went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs.
Leftover Notes from the Mississippi State Series
* UK hit six home runs in the series.
* Mississippi State grounded into a season-high four double plays in the second game of the series.
* UK won two of three in Starkville for the first time under coach Keith Madison.
* UK pitchers recorded 36 strikeouts in the series, the most in an SEC series this season.
* Sophomore Josh Paxton lowered his earned run average by 1.06 in two games at Starkville.
Wildcat Bats
UK enters the Georgia series hitting .305 with 96 doubles and 45 home runs. The Wildcats have an extra-base hit in 37 of their 38 games. UK has hit eight homers in the past four games.
THE KENTUCKY FLAVOR
Seventeen of the 35 players on the Kentucky roster hail from the Bluegrass State…The rest of the breakdown: California (5), Indiana (5), Florida (1), Arizona (1), Georgia (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (1) and Tennessee (1)…UK has five players from Lexington.
Borne Has Career Day on the Mound
Senior Matt Borne put on a pitching exhibition Friday night at Mississippi State, a game televised live by Fox Sports South. Borne, a seventh-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds last season, struck out a career-high 13 batters in seven innings of work against MSU. Borne allowed eight hits and two earned runs in a losing effort. Borne had been used primarily out of the bullpen for the first half of the season, picking up his only two saves in the first two games of the season. The Lexington native leads the team with 46 K’s, 20 more than he had all of last season.
Wildcat Scratches
* Senior David Cheatle is riding an eight-game hitting streak.
* Senior Mark Murphy has seven home runs with 18 games remaining. He had only six homers in 1997.
* Sophomore Aaron McGlone hit safely in eight straight games from March 14 to March 25, just one game shy of his career-high.
* Senior Matt Borne, who has a team-leading 46 K’s, has a strikeout in all 14 appearances this season.
* Jason Colemire and Josh Loggins are both hitting .342 in SEC play. Colemire has 12 doubles, tops in the SEC in conference play.
* Loggins has a team-leading 20 multiple-hit games and 11 multiple-RBI games.
* Loggins is hitting .444 with runners in scoring position.
* UK’s batting average is 25 points higher now than it was at this time last year.
DID YOU KNOW?
In coach Keith Madison’s 19 years at Kentucky, the Wildcats have suffered through only five losing seasons…However, in each season following a losing one, Madison’s team’s have never had a winning percentage below .593.
Kentucky Players in SEC Statistics As of April 15 Overall SEC Batting Average David Cheatle 14th (.388)Josh Loggins 21st (.374) Home RunsAndy Bendix 7th (7)
DoublesJason Colemire T-6th (17) 1st (12)
Base on BallsDavid Cheatle T-7th (32) Stolen BasesAndy Green 10th (11-12) 10th (4-4)
On Base PercentageDavid Cheatle 6th (.500)
HR’s Per GameAndy Bendix 8th (0.39)
Doubles Per GameJason Colemire 3rd (0.47) 1st (0.67)Mark Murphy 9th (0.42)
Hits Per GameJosh Loggins T-9th (1.57)
SavesJosh Paxton T-8th (1)
AppearancesBen Shaffar 8th (17) T-2nd (9)Jon Hooker T-5th (8)
K’s Per 9 InningsMatt Borne 5th (11.09) 5th (10.18)
Colemire Moving Up the Charts
It’s hard not to mention Jason Colemire’s name when talking about doubles. Colemire is quickly moving his way up the school’s charts for doubles in a season. Colemire has 17 doubles which is second in the SEC. Vince Castaldo holds the school record for doubles in a season with 27 in 1988. Here’s a closer look at the Top 10.
Rank Player Doubles1. Vince Castaldo, 1988 272. Mike Botkin, 1982 24 Jeff Abbott, 1994 244. Chip Rhea, 1996 215. Bill Sandry, 1981 206. Terry Shumpert, 1986 19 Terry Shumpert, 1987 19 Brad Hindersman, 1992 19 Eddie Brooks, 1993 1910. Darin Rieman, 1988 18 Jeff Abbott, 1992 18
Paxton Turns Into Wildcat Closer at Mississippi State
Sophomore Josh Paxton performed multiple duties last week for Kentucky. Paxton started a game against Western Carolina earlier in the week, won a game and saved a game against Mississippi State on the weekend. Paxton allowed only one MSU hit in seven innings of relief in the final two games of the series en route to picking up his second win and first save of the season. Against Western Carolina, Paxton allowed six hits and only one run in seven innings. For the week, Paxton struck out 10 and gave up only two extra-base hits.
Eastern Kentucky Game Washed Out
The Eastern Kentucky game on Tuesday was canceled because of rain in the area. The game will not be rescheduled. EKU is scheduled to play in Lexington on Wednesday, April 22 at 6 p.m.
Trio Leads Wildcats
David Cheatle, Josh Loggins and Jason Colemire have continued to provide the bulk of the Wildcat offense. The trio have hit a combined .364 (165-for-453) with 44 doubles, 17 home runs and 92 RBIs. All three have a slugging percentage of at least .514 and are the only Wildcats with at least 50 hits. They are the only players to lead the Wildcats in hitting the entire season. Loggins leads the team with 20 multiple-hit games and 11 multiple-RBI games. Loggins has three hits nine different times this season. Cheatle has a team-leading .492 on base percentage while Colemire leads the team with 17 doubles. Loggins has hit two of the team’s four triples this season.
Murphy Swinging the Sweet Stroke the Last Four Games
Senior Mark Murphy has raised his batting average by 19 points in the last four games. Murphy is 8-for-17 with three home runs and five RBIs in the past four games. Murphy has homered in the last three games and is riding a four-game hitting streak. The Phoenix native has hit five of his seven homers on the road.
Arkansas Time Changes
The first game of the Arkansas series on April 24 will be played at 6 p.m.. The second game on April 25 has been moved to 5 p.m. to accomodate the spring football game, which begins at 2 p.m.
UK Players Against Georgia Pitching
10 players on the current UK roster saw action against Georgia last season at home. The Bulldogs won two of three in the series. Junior Josh Loggins went 5-for-13 with a home run and three RBIs. Andy Green and Jason Colemire homered last year against the Bulldogs. Aaron McGlone went 4-for-11 with two runs scored. Matt Borne earned a save in his first of two appearances in the series. Josh Paxton also saw action on the mound.
Cheatle Enjoys Success Against Non-Conference Foes
Senior David Cheatle has assaulted non-conference competition the entire season, hitting a team-leading .507 (37-for-73). Cheatle has three hits six different times in those 20 games, including three in the last seven games. In the 20 non-conference games, Cheatle has eight doubles, one home run and 13 RBIs.
It’s Over After the Seventh
UK has posted an impressive 29-6 (.852) mark when leading after seven innings the past two seasons. The Wildcats were 19-3 in 1996 and 10-3 in 1998.
Colemire Streak is Snapped at 18 Games
Senior Jason Colemire had his career-high 18-game hitting streak snapped against Toledo on March 18 with an 0-for-5 day at the plate. Colemire is hitting .329 with seven home runs and 32 RBIs. Colemire had an eight-game hitting streak snapped in the Florida series.
UK Enters NCAA Record Book With Six Double Plays
The Wildcats turned six double plays against Toledo on March 18, becoming only the 12th NCAA Division I team to accomplish the feat. Three different teams have recorded a record seven double plays. The last team to turn six double plays was Indiana against Kent in a 13-inning game in 1995. Along with the Wildcats six double plays, Toledo recorded three which ranks second with a combined nine double plays. Georgetown and George Mason combined for 10 double plays in 1989.
Feel the Power
Senior Andy Bendix experienced a power surge at Tennessee (March 20-22) and it continued the following week. Bendix had three homers in the three-game series at Tennessee, one in each game, and had a game-winning grand slam against IUPU-Fort Wayne on March 24. Bendix, who is second on the team with a .618 slugging percentage, connected on two doubles against Austin Peay the following day. His homer against IUPU-Fort Wayne traveled over 400 feet. It was his first career grand slam. The senior from Eugene, Ore., has a team-leading10 home runs which is one shy of the 11 he hit in 1996.
Doubles, Doubles, and More Doubles
UK has connected on 96 doubles in its 38 games. The school-record for doubles in a season is 132, set in 1994. Jason Colemire (17), Josh Loggins (14) and David Cheatle (13) have combined for 44 of the 96. The Wildcats have slapped 43 doubles in SEC play.
Opponents Find it Difficult to Hold UK Scoreless
UK has put at least one run on the scoreboard the past 49 games. The last time the Wildcats were held scoreless was April 25, 1997 against Georgia.
Who’s on First?
Five different Wildcat players have seen action at first base this season. John Wilson (16 starts), Aaron McGlone (16 starts), Micah Plotts (3 starts), Robert Newton (2 starts) and Josh Loggins (1 start) have all started at least one game at first base.
UK Scores Runs in Bunches
UK has scored four-plus runs in 17 different innings this season. The Wildcats scored six runs in the ninth inning to pick up its first SEC win of the season March 8 at Vanderbilt. The Wildcats had a season-high seven runs in an inning against Ohio on March 4.
UK Gets 21 Hits Against Ohio
UK pounded a season-high 21 hits against Ohio on March 4, the most since April 9, 1996 when the Wildcats had 26 against Marshall. Earlier this season, UK had 18 hits against Southern Mississippi.
Two-Year Veteran
Senior Andy Bendix can be considered “the veteran” of this year’s squad. Bendix is the only player who has played in more than one season at Kentucky. Bendix played in six games last year before undergoing season-ending surgery to repair torn labrum in his right shoulder. In 1996, Bendix hit .296 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs. Bendix, who was granted a medical hardship, is hitting .291 this season with 10 home runs and 28 RBIs.
Cats on the Tube
Kentucky made its first appearance on the tube last weekend at Mississippi State, losing 3-2 on Fox Sports South. UK ‘s game at Auburn on Saturday, May 2 will also be televised on Fox Sports South.
Madison Has Ties to Hall of Famer
1998 Major Leauge Baseball Hall of Fame selection Larry Doby was the hitting instructor for the Montreal Expos in the Gulf Goast League in 1970 while current UK coach Keith Madison was a player in the Expos organization.
Wildcats’ Bats On Fire
While the temperature was falling in Lexington during the opening week, it was soaring in Phoenix at the season-opening College Sports Classic thanks in part to the Wildcats bats. UK outhit New Mexico State (12-6) and Oklahoma State (11-4) in its first two games. The Wildcats recorded 11 RBIs, six doubles and a triple.
UK in Season-Openers
UK has fared well in its season-openers under the direction of head coach Keith Madison. UK posted a 13-7 record in the past 20 years, including a 8-6 win over New Mexico State this season in the College Sports Classic in Phoenix, Ariz. The Wildcats are 6-2 in season-openers in tournaments.
PRESEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Cats To Face Five New Opponents in 1998
UK will face five new opponents this season The Wildcats beat New Mexico State 8-6 in the team’s first-ever meeting at the College Sports Classic in Phoenix, Ariz. and split a series with Southern Mississippi (10-15, 10-6). UK was swept by Long Beach State (4-6, 2-19, 1-13) in Long Beach, Calif. UK held off a stubborn Belmont team 10-9 earlier this week. Western Carolina (April 8) will also be a new addition to the Wildcats’ schedule. Eight of UK’s opponents finished in the final 1997 USA Today Top 25 poll.
Wildcats Hire Assistant Coach
Former Birmingham-Southern College assistant Daron Schoenrock was named assistant coach in May. He will serve as pitching coach and also head the recruiting process. Schoenrock, a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, served as the assistant head coach at Birmingham-Southern for eight years under head coach Brian Shoop. While he was at BSC, the Panthers were ranked nationally seven of his eight years. He also coached two All-Americans, seven All-Conference selections and seven Major League draft picks. In 1995, Schoenrock was hired by the Chicago White Sox organization and assigned to Bristol, Tenn., (A-Appalachian League), where he was responsible for tutoring pitchers from the 1995 draft.
Nine Signees for Kentucky
Head coach Keith Madison signed nine players in the fall to national letters of intent to play baseball at Kentucky next season. The list of eight high school players and one junior college player includes four pitchers, four position players and one pitcher/outfielder. Jeff Goldbach, a senior at Princeton Community High School in Princeton, Ind., will join the UK baseball program as a catcher/outfielder. Goldbach was named the 1997 Southwestern Indiana Player of the Year and a TPX/Louisville Slugger All-American.
The four position players to sign with Kentucky are first baseman Chris DeLeenheer from Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kan., outfielder/pitcher Jason Graham from Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Fla., third baseman Jonathan Peacock from Lake Park High School in Roselle, Ill., and outfielder Pete Rasmusen from McHenry High School in McHenry, Ill. Graham led the Cardinal Newman Crusaders last season in runs (19) and triples (3), while stealing 10 bases in 12 attempts. Peacock was named most valuable player of his high school team last season and was selected All-Conference and All-Area.
Rasmusen, a four-year starter on the varsity squad, was named All-Conference and All-Area his sophomore and junior seasons. One of the four pitchers to join the Wildcats is local talent Jarrod Reynolds, a right-hander from Lafayette High School in Lexington. In 1997, Reynolds was named first team All-City, and selected to the 11th region All-Tournament team and State Sectional All-Tournament team. Brandon Girdler, a right-hander, will join the Wildcats from Somerset High School, where he has tossed two no-hitters in his career, 252 strikeouts and holds a 0.90 ERA in 196 innings pitched. He has been named All-District, All-City and Honorable Mention All-State. Right-handed pitcher Clint Kelley holds a 1.88 ERA with a 17-9 record for Morton High School in Morton, Ill. He earned All-Conference honors his sophomore and junior seasons and led last year
