March 5, 1998

LEXINGTON, Kty. – Kentucky heads into the conference portion of its schedule on a two-game winning streak with wins over Lincoln Memorial (11-10) and Ohio (16-4) this week.

UK and 25th-ranked Vanderbilt are renewing a series that began in 1905. UK holds a 118-109 advantage. UK coach Keith Madison is 40-34-2 lifetime against Vanderbilt. This is the earliest the two teams have met in the past 10 years. The conference schedule usually has the annual series being played in late April. The Commodores took two of three from the Wildcats in 1997 in Lexington. UK is 8-11 in SEC openers and 5-7 in SEC road openers under Madison.

UK begins its 58th season in the SEC with hopes of improving of last year’s 10-20 conference mark. The Wildcats will try to maintain a perfect record against ranked opponents this season. In its second game of the season, the Wildcats beat then No. 6 Oklahoma State 5-4.

Next Up:After opening SEC play, UK returns home for a five-game homestand. UK takes on Cumberland Tuesday, March 10 at 3 p.m. and IUPU-Fort Wayne on Wednesday, March 11 at 3 p.m. The Wildcats play their first home SEC series against Ole Miss next weekend.

Head Coach Keith Madison

Since becoming the Wildcats coach in 1979, Keith Madison has guided his team to 590 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. With UK’s win over Tennessee on April 13, 1996, Madison moved into third place on the SEC all-time victories list. Madison is just 11 wins shy of 600. 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.

Head Coach Keith Madison

Since becoming the Wildcats coach in 1979, Keith Madison has guided his team to 590 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. With UK’s win over Tennessee on April 13, 1996, Madison moved into third place on the SEC all-time victories list. Madison is just 11 wins shy of 600. 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 Vanderbilt

No. 25 Vanderbilt began the season 10-0, its best start in school history. Its only loss came Tuesday at Samford. Senior Justin Dill leads the Commodores with a .405 batting average, including four home runs and 15 RBIs. Preseason All-American Clinton Johnston is hitting. 380 with six homers and a team-leading 23 RBIs. Johnston went 3-for-6 with three RBIs against Tennessee Tech on Wednesday. As a team, Vanderbilt is hitting .337 while limiting its opponents to a .276 average. Junior RHP Bert Snow, who is scheduled to pitch on Friday against UK, heads the pitching staff with a 3-0 mark. Snow has allowed only one run in 23 innings. Wildcats Overall

This is the 102nd season of Kentucky baseball. The Wildcats have an all-time mark of 1260-1076-22 for a winning percentage of .534.

Last Time Out

Kentucky had a season-high 21 hits and four pitchers combined for a three-hitter as the Wildcats won 16-4 over Ohio for its second straight victory at home. The game was called in the ninth inning because of rain. The four UK pitchers, who didn’t allow an earned run, included three freshman. RHP Brandon Webb pitched a one-hitter over five scoreless innings in his first career start. Webb (1-0) had a career-high five strikeouts. Andy Green, Jason Pasero, John Wilson and Josh Loggins had three hits apiece.

Home Sweet Home

UK’s two-game homestand produced wins over Lincoln Memorial (11-10) and Ohio (16-4) and got the Wildcats moving in the right direction. UK won two consecutive games for the first time since the beginning of the season and never trailed in either game. It also warmed the Wildcats’ bats up for conference play. Here’s a breakdown of the results: *UK scored a season-high 16 runs, including a season-high seven runs in an inning against Ohio. UK also had a season-high 21 hits against Ohio following 15 hits against Lincoln Memorial. *Jason Colemire hit his first home run of the season. Colemire went 5-for-10 with three RBIs and three runs scored. *For the first time this season, UK’s pitching staff limited a team to under four hits and didn’t allow an earned run. *Freshman Robert Newton and Will Crumbaugh recorded their first career RBIs against Ohio in a pinch-hitting role.*Junior Josh Loggins went 5-for-10 with five runs scored, a double and an RBI. *RF Mark Murphy went 4-for-9, including his first career grand slam and a career-high five RBIs against Lincoln Memorial. *Freshman John Wilson broke out of a slump with four hits in six at-bats. Wilson recorded his first career home run and added two doubles.

“Rock” Continues His Homecoming Week

UK assistant coach Daron Schoenrock returns to his home state this weekend. Schoenrock was raised in Fayetteville, Tenn. A 1994 graduate of Tennessee Tech, Schoenrock began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Golden Eagles in 1985. Schoenrock revisited some memories earlier this week in Lexington when the Wildcats beat Lincoln Memorial. Schoenrock served two years as head coach at Lincoln Memorial (1988-89) where he was named the 1989 Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

Other Tennessee Connections

UK pitcher Josh Paxton, who will pitch Saturday, is a native of Germantown, Tenn. (Houston).Vanderbilt pitcher Andy Beal hails from Paducah, Ky. (Reidland).

Frequent Flyer Miles

In the first month of the season, Kentucky has traveled 10,604 miles to play its first nine games. The AAA breakdown: -Lexington to Phoenix to Lexington 3,724 -Lexington to Myrtle Beach to Lexington 1,168 -Lexington to Hattiesburg to Lexington 1,298 -Lexington to Long Beach to Lexington 4,414 UK played on four different fields, caught six different flights, played in three different time zones and made a 22-hour roundtrip bus ride.

UK Becoming Big Inning Team

UK has scored four-plus runs in nine different innings this season. The Wildcats had a season-high seven runs in an inning against Ohio on March 4.

UK Gets 21 Hits Against Ohio

UK pounded out a season-high 21 hits Wednesday against Ohio, the most since April 9, 1996 when the Wildcats had 26 against Marshall. Earlier this season, UK had 18 hits at Southern Mississippi.

Cheatle Continues to Lead Wildcats

Senior David Cheatle has led the Wildcats in hitting for the first 11 games. Cheatle, who had a career-high three RBIs against Ohio, is hitting .400. Cheatle has six multi-hit games, including a home run and eight RBIs. Cheatle is 12th in the SEC in batting average and 7th in hits per game. Coach Keith Madison moved Cheatle into the leadoff spot in the two-game homestand. He had previously batted second.

Cat Scratches

*Jason Colemire has hit safely in all 11 games, a career-high. *Senior RF Mark Murphy is hitting .444 in the past five games with three doubles, one homer and five RBIs.*Aaron McGlone has recorded an RBI in nine of UK’s 11 games. *Closer Matt Borne is third in the SEC with two saves. *13 freshmen have seen action this season, including seven on the mound. *23 players saw action in UK’s 19-2 loss to Long Beach State on Feb. 28. *The first four batters in the lineup in game one against Southern Mississippi on Feb. 21 went a combined 12-for-21 with six runs scored and seven RBIs.

Wildcats Have History of Success in Home Openers

UK has posted a 14-6 mark in home openers under head coach Keith Madison, including a 14-3 mark against non-conference foes in its home debut. The Wildcats have won seven of their last eight home openers, including their 11-10 win over Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday. UK has never had a losing season at home under Madison.

Bendix Has Career Day at the Plate

LF Andy Bendix went 5-for-9 in the two-game series at Southern Mississippi on Feb. 21-22. Bendix, a senior from Eugene, Ore., went 3-for-6 in the second game with a home run and a career-high six RBIs.

Plotts Becomes Eligible

1B/DH Micah Plotts, a transfer from Evansville, received a one-time transfer and became eligible immediately for the Feb. 21 game at Southern Mississippi. Plotts, who was forced to miss the first four games, went 1-for-3 in the two-game series.

UK Gets Win Over Ranked Opponent

Kentucky’s win over No. 6 Oklahoma State on Feb. 7 was its first win over a ranked opponent since its 14-1 victory over No. 8 Tennessee on April 11 last year. The Wildcats were 4-18-1 against ranked opponents in 1997.

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 .324 this season with two home runs and eight RBIs.

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.

Starting in Style

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 NewOpponents in 1998

UK will play six new opponents this season, including four in the first three weeks. 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. Belmont and Western Carolina will also be new additions to the Wildcats’ schedule. Eight of UK’s opponents finished in the final 1997 USA Today Top 25 poll.

Cats on the Tube

Kentucky fans will have a chance to catch its favorite team on television twice this season. Fox Sports South will broadcast the Mississippi State game on Friday, April 10 and the Auburn game on Saturday, May 2. Both games are on the road.

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 pitcher/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. Heearned All-Conference honors his sophomore and junior seasons and led last year,s team in hitting, RBIs and ERA.

Right-handed pitcher Ethan Crum will be the only junior college transfer joining Kentucky next season. The Murray, Ky., native transferred from Murray State to Neosho Community College in Neosho, Kan., this season. While at Murray State, Crum stole 12 bases on 16 attempts. Coming out of high school, Crum earned all-state selections his junior and senior seasons.

1998 SEC Baseball Tournament

The SEC has adopted a new format for its 1998 baseball tournament, May 13-17, at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Birmingham, Ala. The new format is an eight-team double elimination tournament that is modeled after the College World Series. The tournament field includes the top three teams from the SEC’s Eastern and Western Divisions plus two at-large bids based on conference winning percentage. The eight teams are seeded 1-8 with the two divisional champions guaranteed of the top two seeds.

1997 Recap

With the loss of nine seniors, in addition to All-America center fielder Chad Green moving into the professional ranks, UK Coach Keith Madison labeled the 1997 campaign a rebuilding year at the beginning of the season. And though the final record may indicate a disappointing season at 20-34-1, the Wildcats grabbed victories in four of their final five games to end the season on a positive note.

In what has become a Madison mainstay during his 19 years as UK coach, Kentucky put all the pieces together at the end of the year. In the final week of the season, the Wildcats ran off four victories in their final five games, topping Vanderbilt and Louisville before taking two-of-three from South Carolina. Freshman right-hander Aaron McGlone tossed a complete game two-hitter against the Gamecocks in his debut as an SEC starting pitcher. Kentucky hit for a .285 batting average for the season, led by Josh Loggins’ .338 average. Loggins led the team in seven offensive categories. Outfielder Justin Bunch had the hot bat late in the season, earning SEC Player of the Week honors for the final week of the season.

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 (5-6) vs. #25 Vanderbilt (11-1) Site:  Nashville, Tenn.Stadium:    McGugin Field (1,000)Game One:   Friday, March 6 -- 7 p.m. (CST) Game Two:   Saturday, March 7 -- 2 p.m. (CST) Game Three:   Sunday, March 8 -- 2 p..m. (CST) The Coaches: Kentucky head coach Keith Madison is in his   20th season at UK and is 590-455-4. Roy Mewbourne is in his 20th season at Vanderbilt and is 550-453-9. Mewbourne has an overall mark of 817-530-9 in 19-plus years.The Series: This is the 228th meeting between the two           teams. UK leads the series 118-109.Streaks:    UK is on a two-game winning streak. Vanderbilt      beat Tennesse Tech on Wednesday.Probable StartersFriday: Aaron McGlone (0-1) Kentucky        Bert Snow (3-0) Vanderbilt  Saturday: Josh Paxton (1-1) Kentucky                  Paul Sebyt (1-0) VanderbiltSunday: Brandon Webb (1-0) Kentucky        Reed Colley (1-0) Vanderbilt