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Baseball Preview

James Thompson — THE BATTALION

Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park will be 90 percent complete — and operational for fans and players — at 6:35 p.m. on Friday for the first pitch of the season.

Home, sweet home Blue Bell Park debuts with Aggies’ first pitch

Chandler Smith The Battalion As the Aggie faithful flock to College Station for A&M baseball’s opening day, they will be met by something unseen in Aggieland since Olsen Field first opened in 1978 — a brand new ballpark. Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park, the newly restructured and rebranded facility, will give fans, players and coaches alike modern ballpark amenities in a stadium still harking to the traditional fabric of Texas A&M University and the sport of baseball itself.

A $24 million project, the new ballpark includes a new club lounge, added concessions, grassy berm seating areas and a more expansive standing-room only option for fans. The facility also includes new bullpens, new locker rooms, a state-of-the-art weight room, players’ lounge and new offices for Aggie coaches and players. Kevin Hurley, A&M associate athletic director of facilities, said inspiration for the allencompassing facility was drawn from an array of sources. “We’ve tried to take the best pieces from

a lot of facilities around the country and put them in one stadium for Texas A&M. What I consider to be one of the greatest baseball facilities in the country will have everything in a one-stop shopping mode,” Hurley said. “You’ll have everything for the fans, the donors and student-athletes. They’ll literally be able to come to the park and be able to see what you’d see at any collegiate ball park.” A&M head coach Rob Childress said the upgraded stadium should only add to what he considers to be one of the most impressive baseball atmospheres in America. He expects

the ballpark to have competitors trying to catch up for decades. “We’ve always felt like we had the best atmosphere in all of college baseball with the student section and the energy that’s created from them. To take a stadium that’s 33 years old and make it one that people are going to be truly chasing for the next 30 years is pretty humbling,” Childress said. “From a baseball operations standpoint, and from a fan’s standpoint, there’s not going to be a finer stadium in the country.” See Ballpark on page 6

New season, same goal Inside baseball

James Solano

◗ Big 12 competition includes four Top-25 teams - page 2

In recent years, winning has become synonymous with the Texas A&M baseball program — so has playing in the postseason. Under the tutelage of head coach Rob Childress, the Aggies have gone 246-135-2 in seven seasons, and are coming off a Big 12 conference and tournament championship and a trip to the College World Series after a 47-22 campaign in 2011. For the first time since 1999, the Aggies found themselves in Omaha, Neb. But a 5–4 defeat against two-time defending national champions South Carolina, and a 7–3 loss to California, ended their season and national championship aspirations. “Overall, every season you’re looking to go to the national championship,” said Tyler Naquin, junior right fielder. “Last season was last season, you put it

◗ Pitchers Michael Wacha and Ross Stripling have AllAmerican potential - page 4 ◗ Mark your calendars with the Texas A&M season baseball schedule - page 4 ◗ Outﬁelders Krey Bratson and Tyler Naquin anchor a stout Aggie lineup - page 5 ◗ A rabid fanbase occupies its new home - page 7 ◗ National and Big 12 rankings list the Aggies high in the polls - page 7

The Battalion

behind you, but the goal is not to just get there, but win the whole thing without a doubt.” With a No. 5 preseason ranking, the Aggies are poised for another championship season as they prepare to play their final season as members of the Big 12 and open a new stadium, Blue Bell Park. The A&M baseball squad will return 16 lettermen this spring while welcoming 15 newcomers. Among the 16 returning players is a dual right-handed pitching threat: junior Michael Wacha and senior Ross Stripling. Wacha, a Texarkana native, had a 9-4 record with a 2.29 earned run average in 2011, while striking out 123 batters. Stripling, hailing from Southlake, Texas, dominated on the mound with a 14-2 record and 2.29 ERA, striking out 113 batters. Though the Aggies have two of the nation’s best pitchers returning See Season on page 4

File Photo — THE BATTALION

Senior first baseman Jacob House bats in a game against Oklahoma State during the 2011 season.

Loftin proposes tuition hike to afford faculty raises Trevor Stevens The Battalion

Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION

R. Bowen Loftin presents the administration’s case for why a tuition increase is necessary Wednesday afternoon in Rudder.

Pg. 1-2.16.12.indd 1

State appropriations continue to decrease, so tuition increases. During the state-mandated hearing Wednesday, Loftin proposed Texas A&M University increase designated tuition to the maximum limit of 3.95 percent for the 2012-2013 academic year. Loftin also proposed that the 3.95 percent cap be reinstated for the 2013-2014 academic year. If authorized by the board of regents, which holds the authority to set tuition rates, the majority of the funds would be dedicated to faculty and staff merit raises. Sixtyone percent of the University’s $1.2 billion expenses go toward faculty compensation. Genyne Royal, president of the Graduate Student Council and member of the Tuition and Fee Advisory Committee, TFAC, said she is partly for and partly

against increasing designated tuition. “The University has shown and presented a case that we definitely need to do this 3.95 percent increase, [which] is still not allowing us to meet the need that we have,” Royal said. The committee voted against an increase in student fees for next year and for the total increase of funds to come strictly from designated tuition, said Deborah Wright, co-chair of TFAC and assistant vice president for the Division of Finance. During fiscal year 1997, state appropriations made up 39 percent of the University’s total expenses, while tuition and fees made up 23 percent. Now the roles are switched. By fiscal year 2011, 36 percent of the University’s total expenses came from tuition and fees, while 23 percent came from the state. See Tuition on page 8

2/16/12 12:16 AM

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Baseball Preview thebattalion

thursday, february 16, 2012

Big 12 preview Longhorns, Sooners, Bears seek to spoil Aggie title aspirations Baylor Bears

Kansas Jayhawks

The Bears ended their 2011 campaign in crushing fashion, allowing four runs in the bottom of the ninth to fall in the NCAA Houston Regional. Baylor loses a pair of All-Big 12 pitchers from last season’s unit, but returns eight position starters from the 31-28 team.

Current Rank: 32nd 2011 Final Rank: 39th 2011 Final Record: 31-28, 13-14

Senior catcher and designated hitter James Stanfield brings three years of experience and 96 starts at four different positions into a 2012 season in which he was named to the preseason All-Big 12 team. Kansas won just nine Big 12 games last season en route to a last place finish.

Current Rank: Not ranked 2011 Final Rank: Not ranked 2011 Final Record: 26-30, 9-18

Kansas State Wildcats

Missouri Tigers

Reigning Big 12 Player of the Year and preseason All-American Nick Martini leads the Wildcats into the season after leading the Big 12 in hitting last season with a .416 batting average. Kansas State finished 12-14 in the conference and 36-25 overall.

A&M isn’t the only team preparing to make its last run at a Big 12 title. The Tigers will join the Aggies in the SEC last season and will attempt to post a stronger effort than last season’s losing campaign that left the Tigers with a 27-32 overall record, 11-15 in conference.

Current Rank: Not ranked 2011 Final Rank: 44th 2011 Final Record: 36-25, 12-14

Current Rank: Not ranked 2011 Final Rank: Not ranked 2011 Final Record: 27-32, 11-15

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Oklahoma Sooners Sophomore pitcher Dillon Overton finished the 2011 season with a 23-7 record. Overton was named an All-American, and returns this season along with junior outfielder Max White for a Sooners team that opens the season ranked No. 15 in the USA Today/ ESPN Coaches poll.

Twenty-five of the 35 players listed on the Oklahoma State roster have never taken to the diamond in a Cowboy uniform. The fresh faces take over for the 2011 squad that advanced to the NCAA Nashville Regional and finished fourth in the Big 12 after posting a 14-12 conference record.

Current Rank: 14th 2011 Final Rank: 24th 2011 Final Record: 41-19, 14-11

Current Rank: Not ranked 2011 Final Rank: 37th 2011 Final Record: 35-25, 14-12

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Texas Longhorns

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The Longhorns joined the Aggies in representing the Big 12 in the College World Series, finishing the season ranked as high as No. 6 in the Baseball America rankings. The USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll tabbed Texas at No. 5 in its preseason rankings. Sophomore relief pitcher Corey Knebel was named a first-team selection in the National College Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-American team after setting a Texas record last season with 19 saves.

Current Rank: Seventh 2011 Final Rank: Seventh 2011 Final Record: 49-19, 19-9

A trio of Red Raiders were selected for Perfect Game’s preseason All-Big 12 team: junior center fielder Barrett Barnes, junior second baseman Jamodrick McGruderand and sophomore utility player David Paiz. Tech finished seventh in conference play with a 12-15 mark last season.

Current Rank: Not ranked 2011 Final Rank: Not ranked 2011 Final Record: 33-25, 12-15

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to have your graduation portrait made for Texas A&M’s 2012 Aggieland yearbook. WALK IN OR SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. Go to www.thorntonstudio.com. Then go to School Portraits, Scheduling, click New User, complete form with Registration Password: tamu, click submit and login. Or call 1-800-883-9449. Or see the photographer today in Room 308 of Rudder Tower. There is no charge to get your Class of 2012 section photo in Texas A&M University’s 110th yearbook.

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2/16/12 12:15 AM

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Loftin adds gender identity, expression to A&M nondiscrimination memo GLBT students call act ‘positive step forward’ Emily Davis The Battalion For the first time in the University’s history, A&M President R. Bowen Loftin added sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to the yearly non-discriminatory employment memo. While the memo is issued every year, any reference to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, GLBT, employees did not appear before the Jan. 20 letter. Andrew Jancaric, vice president of the GLBT Aggies and student senator, sponsored legislation in 2011 calling on the Texas A&M Board of Regents to adopt a non-discrimination policy that included the GLBT community at the System level. He said he is glad the University acted, and hopes the System will follow suit. “I think President Loftin has shown a great deal of leadership in making this executive order,” Jancaric said. “It’s the first time gender identity and expression has been included in that yearly statement, a very positive step forward for Texas A&M University.” Jancaric said the memo will help A&M in its Vision 2020 mission, which aims to make A&M a leader among peer institutions. “Eleven out of 20 of our 2020 peer institutes have gender identity included in their equal opportunity diversity statement,” Jancaric said. “It’s a very inclusive step forward in terms of making A&M a more welcoming institution.” There has been a positive response to the memo from communities within and without A&M, Jancaric said. “Texas A&M is committed to its principles of diversity and inclusion,” Jancaric said. “The statement is long overdue and the fact that it’s warmly accepted just shows how much the University cares.” Camden Breeding, president of the GLBT Aggies, said he is glad the memo was issued because it protects University employees. “Prior to this statement, because Texas is an at-will state, employees could, hypothetically be fired for being GLBT,” Breeding said. “This new statement now protects employees at the TAMU-College Station campus. This is an important step that requires follow through by the Texas A&M regents on the

Pg. 3-2.16.12.indd 1

Employment memo text “...It is our policy to not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Furthermore, we will maintain a work environment free from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.” System level.” Breeding said the memo is in the best interest of the University and is a strong component of a GLBT-friendly University, but said there is still a long way to go, yet. “This statement is an important step toward achieving Vision 2020 and being a nationally competitive University,” Breeding said. “Of course, the reality is that change is slow and it will take continued, deliberate effort to enact a shift in attitudes at A&M that welcomes GLBT people. So while this is an important step, we need people to continue to get involved and help advocate for the GLBT community in this critical moment.” Christine Stanley, vice president and associate provost for diversity, said adding to the memo was a good decision for multiple reasons. “It is essential that we convey messages that reflect our commitment to an inclusive, welcoming University environment,” Stanley said. “The inclusion of ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ in the President’s Equal Employment Opportunity-Affirmative Action Program statement signals our understanding of our evolving and increasingly diverse campus community.” Stanley added that the addition is consistent with Vision 2020. “The language is more current, culturally sensitive and is in-line with a number of our Vision 2020 Peers that include ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ in their Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Program statements,” Stanley said. Kate Broussard, a sophomore English major, said the addition to the memo indicates there was a problem before. “If he added it, there was obviously a need to clarify,” Broussard said.

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page 4

sports

Baseball Preview

thursday 2.16.2012

thebattalion

Schedule by series ◗ Feb. 17-19; IllinoisChicago; College Station, Texas ◗ Feb. 21; Stephen F. Austin; College Station, Texas ◗ Feb. 24-26; Holy Cross; College Station, Texas Junior pitcher Michael Wacha led the Aggies with 123 strikeouts in 2011.

◗ Feb. 28-29; Northwestern State; College Station, Texas

◗ Mar. 02-04; Michigan State; College Station, Texas ◗ Mar. 06; Prairie View A&M; College Station, Texas ◗ Mar. 09-11; Cal State Fullerton; College Station, Texas

Senior pitcher Ross Stripling finished 2011 with a 14-2 overall record.

◗ Mar. 13-14; TexasPan American; College Station, Texas

2011 pitching duo statistics

◗ Mar. 16-18; Kansas State; College Station, Texas

◗ Wacha and Stripling combined for a 23-6 win-loss record. ◗ Both pitchers ﬁnished the year with a 2.29 ERA.

◗ Mar. 20; Houston; Houston, Texas

◗ The duo combined for 236 strikeouts, 45 percent of the Aggies’ strikeout total.

◗ Mar. 23-25; Pepperdine; Malibu, Calif.

◗ The two totalled 255.1 innings pitched, 40 percent of the team’s total.

◗ Mar. 27; Houston

◗ Opposing hitters combined for a .223 batting average against the duo.

Baptist; College Station, Texas

◗ Mar. 30-Apr. 1; Missouri; College Station, Texas

Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION

Junior pitcher Michael Wacha (left) and senior pitcher Ross Stripling hold the keys to A&M’s success in 2012.

◗ Apr. 3; University of Texas San Antonio; College Station, Texas

Dynamic Duo

◗ Apr. 5-7; Oklahoma; College Station, Texas ◗ Apr. 10; University of Texas Arlington; College Station, Texas ◗ Apr. 13-15; Kansas; Lawrence, Kan. ◗ Apr. 17; Rice; College Station, Texas ◗ Apr. 20-22; Baylor; Waco, Texas ◗ Apr. 27; Texas; College Station, Texas ◗ Apr. 28-29; Texas; Austin, Texas ◗ May 1; Sam Houston State; Huntsville, Texas ◗ May 4-6; Texas Tech; College Station, Texas ◗ May 11-13; San Diego State; College Station, Texas

◗ May 15; Texas State; College Station, Texas ◗ May 17-19; Oklahoma State; Stillwater, OK

Pg. 4-2.16.12.indd 1

◗ Both pitchers ﬁnished among the Big 12’s Top-10 in wins, ERA, strikeouts, complete games and opposing batting average.

Hyped hurlers put Aggies high in the polls Austin Meek The Battalion The football team entered the 2011 season ranked No. 9. The men’s basketball squad was picked by the Big 12 coaches to finish first in the conference. Aggie fans may run for cover when the term “preseason poll” rears its ugly head, but the baseball team is slated as the No. 5 team in the nation before a strike is even called. High off-season hopes in both football and basketball were met with mediocre results on the field and court, so head baseball coach Rob Childress has gone out of his way to ensure his boys aren’t buying too much stock in “paper.” “Preseason rankings don’t mean anything,” Childress said. “They’re on paper and they’re based on last year’s team and who you’ve got returning. We’re not the 2011 team. This 2012 team has got to make its own mark and establish its identity. What is that identity going to be? I don’t know, but we’ll find out.” Childress may be playing the diplomatic card because the rest of the nation knows exactly where to find this team’s identity: on the mound, where two of the country’s best hurlers look to brush back opposing batters all season long. Senior pitcher Ross Stripling and junior pitcher Michael Wacha, two of the Aggies’ returning All-

Season Continued from page 4

to the mound, Childress said quality depth beyond his two All-Americans will be key for this season’s success, particularly in the bullpen. “We’ve got to be very strong at the back end of the bullpen. We weren’t a top-eight seed last year because we couldn’t get it done on Tuesday nights because we didn’t have a guy who could go out and give us quality starts,” Childress said. “But we won the league because we had the best

Americans, morphed into one of the most lethal Saturday-Sunday combos in collegiate baseball last season. Wacha led the pitching staff with 129.2 innings and 123 strikeouts, and Stripling topped the nation in wins with a shining 14-2 record. “I don’t think there are many coaches across the country who can say they have the one-two punch that we have, guys who can go out there and make innings disappear,” Childress said. The flamethrowers have ascended to the national stage in similar fashions. Wacha came to College Station, Texas, on a small scholarship and took over the Tuesday starting duties his freshman year. His successes prompted Childress to toss him the keys to the Saturday job last season, where he went compiled a 9-4 record and 2.29 ERA. “Pretty much every pitch has gotten better every year,” Stripling said of the 6-foot 6-inch Wacha’s repertoire. “He’s gotten bigger and stronger so he throws harder now. His changeup dives even more than it used to and not only that but he can put a curveball and a slider with it. It’s just incredibly intimidating for a hitter on a Friday night to come in and know they have to face a third-year starter and a future first-rounder.” Stripling showed up just asking for a chance to play, Childress said. His style was unrefined, a hard breaking ball with a few other run-of-the-mill offerings. But Striplin’s work ethic, as well as that of

Sunday starter in the country.” The Aggies’ bats were huge in 2011 and junior All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year, Naquin, headlines the A&M offense after leading the nation in hits in 2011 with 104, with a .381 batting average (104for-273). Naquin had two homeruns, 44 runs batted in, 23 doubles and six stolen bases. Bryan native Krey Bratsen garnered Freshman All-American accolades from Baseball America and was selected to the first team All-Big 12, in addition to a spot on the league’s All-Freshman Team, after posting a .332 batting average. Bratsen played

the coaching staff, have transformed a pitcher with a pedestrian 6-5 sophomore year record into the winningest hurler in the country. “I don’t even remember Ross throwing a ball last year,” Wacha said. “He just throws strikes. He doesn’t let free baserunners get on base. That’s a big deal because free baserunners end up in runs and whenever you don’t allow that, not very many runs are going to get scored off you. He pounds the strike zone and gets guys out by changing speeds.” Stripling described the preseason as an anxious time — that limbo between being crowned conference kings and actually reinforcing people’s perceptions with wins. He said he’s particularly jazzed to christen the newly minted Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park. “Just to be on the first team that gets to play here, I think that’s a pretty big deal,” Stripling said. “And since it’s my senior year, I’m really glad I get another year to see it done.” And although the hype surrounding these two has reached a fever pitch, their goals remain as steady as ever. “We definitely want to end this last season in the Big 12 with a bang,” Wacha said. “We want to leave a lasting impression of being the best team in the Big 12 and win that conference championship and tournament.”

in all 69 of the Aggies’ games, starting all but one from the outfield, and batted .405 (34-for-84) with runners in scoring position. He also added 31 stolen bases. Seniors Matt Juengel and Jacob House also look to pick up where they left off from last season. Juengel, from Houston, started 68 games, 55 as a designated hitter and 13 at third base, while slugging seven homeruns with a .308 batting average. Juengel also stole 15 bases, with 50 RBIs and 13 doubles. House, the Arkansas transfer from Mansfield, Texas, drove in a teamhigh 52 RBIs from first base, while

posting a .301 batting average, three homeruns, 16 doubles and five stolen bases. Out of the maroon and white’s 55 scheduled regular season games, the Aggies will play 40 games at home in the new Blue Bell Park. The Aggies posted a 30-9 home record in 2011 en-route to a Big 12 conference and tournament championship and CWS berth. “We have a great team coming back,” Naquin said. “There are a lot of young guys that are stepping right now, showing huge, tremendous improvements that are going to help us out throughout the season.”

2/16/12 12:29 AM

sports

page 5

Baseball Preview

thursday 2.16.2012

thebattalion

New faces

Young blood

Freshmen: #1 Blake Allemand; Infielder; Boerne, Texas #2 Chance Bolcerek; Outfielder; Brenham, Texas #33 Andrew Brown; Infielder; College Station, Texas #11 Nik Castilleja; Infielder; Pflugerville, Texas #44 Jason Freeman; Right Hand Pitcher; Mansfield, Texas (redshirt) #31 Matt Kent; Left Hand Pitcher/ Outfielder; Waco, Texas #12 Cole Lankford; Catcher; Houston, Texas #15 Daniel Mengden; Catcher/ Right Hand Pitcher; Houston, Texas #30 Mitchell Nau; Catcher; Spring, Texas James Thompson — THE BATTALION

Sophomore outfielder Krey Bratsen provided an 89 hit, 36 RBI 31 steal boost for the Aggies in their 2011 College World Series run.

Youthful Bratsen looks to continue 2011 success Bratsen 2011 stats ◗Ranked second on the roster in batting average at .332. ◗Led the team in stolen bases with 31.

◗Led the team in sacriﬁce hits with 19. ◗Had a .988 ﬁelding percentage after commiting only two errors in 161 chances. ◗Tied for second in on-base percentage at .395.

Chandler Smith The Battalion First-year baseball players that provide an immediate impact to their team are a scarce commodity in the world of college baseball, though few in the country gave their program a shot in the arm in 2011 as much as Aggie sophomore outfielder Krey Bratsen. The 6-foot 170-pound first-year starter earned first-team All-Big 12 honors as well as freshman All-American accolades from Collegiate Baseball after batting .332 with 45 runs, 36 RBI and leading the Aggies with 31 stolen bases and 19 sacrifice hits in 2011. Bratsen played in all 69 of the Aggies’ games last season despite his lack of experience in the college game. He admitted, even after his success, that the switch from high school to the NCAA level took some adjustment. “It’s a lot different when you go from facing a low-to-mid 80 mph slider in high school to a low-to-mid 90 mph [pitches] here in college with nasty sliders,” Bratsen said. “You have to be able to change and live up to your dream.” Those dreams of baseball glory became reality soon after joining the college ranks.

A major contributor to the 2011 team’s success, Bratsen would be part of a roster that sent the Aggies to their first College World Series since 1999. “As a freshman, you don’t get to experience that very often,” Bratsen said. “Going to Omaha, a lot of people don’t get to experience that from freshman to senior year so it was unbelievable for me to do that.” Though he received several offers as a high school recruit out of Bryan High School, Bratsen said he could not ignore the Aggies’ local presence. The son of former Aggie baseball player and All-American James Bratsen, he couldn’t see himself anywhere but Aggieland. “[My dad] graduated in ’75 and played baseball here and that was a big factor in me wanting to come here,” Bratsen said. “I had a lot of offers, but [A&M] was my number one spot.” For the upcoming 2012 season, Bratsen says he’s been working to improve recognizing changeups when batting. Though he ranked second on the team in batting average and on-base percentage in 2011 –— trailing only junior outfielder Tyler Naquin — he had the second most strikeouts with 54. “[I’ve worked on] hitting off speed. I

struggled with that probably first to the middle of the season last year and I wanted to cut down on strikeouts a lot more this year,” Bratsen said. “I ended up doing alright [at the end of 2011]. I had a lot of strikeouts but I had a higher on-base percentage.” Fellow outfielder and All-American Naquin had only praise for Bratsen’s accomplishments and progress as a player. Hitting was the main attribute Naquin saw in his game that could be improved, but recognized the sophomore’s knack for getting on — and stealing — bases. “Krey has a lot of natural ability. He can really run, really throw, really bunt and his hitting isn’t one of his strongest things but he puts the ball in play,” Naquin said. “He’s always got a shot to be on the bases and he’ll steal any base at any time.” As the 2012 season approaches, Bratsen said this year’s team has as good a chance as the 2011 team to make noise in the postseason. “I think we’ll be just as good this year as we were last year, especially if our pitching holds up,” Bratsen said. “I think our offense will do well and we’ll be just as good.”

#22 Corey Ray; Right Hand Pitcher; Spring, Texas #10 Ty Schlottmann; Left Hand Pitcher; Brenham, Texas #23 Gandy Stubblefield; Right Hand Pitcher; Lufkin, Texas Transfers: #42 Austin Vassberg; Left Hand Pitcher; Aledo, Texas #9 Nathan Sorenson; Left Handed Pitcher/ Outfielder; Texarkana, Texas #16 Mikey Reynolds; Infielder; Glendale, Ariz. #54 Parker Ray; Right Hand Pitcher; Katy, Texas #20 Jason Jeter; Right Handed Pitcher; Hallsville, Texas

Poised for greatness All-American Naquin finds hard work pays off James Solano

File Photo — THE BATTALION

Junior outfielder and All-American Tyler Naquin led the nation in hits in 2011 with 104.

Pg. 5-2.16.12.indd 1

The Battalion As a sophomore, Texas A&M right fielder Tyler Naquin garnered All-American honors and was named Big 12 Player of the Year as he helped the Aggies to the College World Series for the first time since 1999. The junior, hailing from Spring, Texas, started 68 games in right field, en-route to leading the nation in hits with 104, and a .381 batting average. Despite his many accolades and a trip to the College World Series, Naquin is focused on improving his game so he can help his team win this season. “Last season was last season, you put it behind you,” Naquin said. “The goal is not to just get there, but win the whole thing without a doubt.” Naquin’s 104 hits of the season ranks fourth in A&M all-time history, and his .381 batting average marked the best in the Big 12 last season. Naquin, along with senior pitcher Ross Stripling, were named preseason All-Americans. He had six stolen bases, an area the All-American wants to improve. With 44 RBIs and 23 doubles Naquin poses a threat not only at the plate, but also as a base runner. The All-American tallied six stolen bases last season, an area in which he said he wants to im-

Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION

Junior outfielder Tyler Naquin topped the Big 12 in batting average at .381. prove. “It’s individual things like stealing bases that will help me help my team and the guys that hit behind me,” Naquin said. Naquin became the first Aggie since 2007 to hit for the cycle last season on March 6, in a win over Houston, and also strung together an impressive 27-game hitting streak that spanned from March 30-May 14. As a result of his on-the-field performance, Naquin was named to nearly every All-Tournament team before capturing an AllAmerican honor. “It was definitely an honor,” Naquin said. “The way I think

about it is you just go play your game and all of those accolades start rolling in; it comes with hard work.” The Aggies enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in recent years behind Naquin’s bat, finishing with a 47-22 record, as Big 12 conference and tournament champions with a trip to the College World Series. “I knew I could play at this level and I was just trying to figure it out,” Naquin said. “I started believing it; I really went on a mission. I feel like I’m the best player in the Big 12 and one of the top guys in the nation, and there is no reason why I shouldn’t excel.” For Naquin and the Aggie baseball team, expectations are high for the program. Along with Naquin being on everybody’s scouting report, the Aggies received a No. 5 preseason ranking to head into this season — their highest ranking yet. They will also unveil the gargantuan facelift Olsen Field, now Blue Bell Park, received, of which the team is ecstatic to play on. “We’re excited about all of the fans that are going to roll in,” Naquin said about the renovations. “We all love to play in front of a whole lot of fans, that’s a big deal to us, but whether there is 20 or 8,000 fans we’re going to play hard and beat the other teams.”

Naquin 2011 stats ◗ Led the nation in hits with 104. ◗ His 68 runs scored were the best on the Aggie roster. ◗ Led the Aggies in doubles and triples with 23 and seven, respectively. ◗ Walked the most of any A&M player with 29. ◗ Led the Big 12 in batting average at .381. ◗ Had the best onbase percentage on the Aggie roster at .449.

2/16/12 12:06 AM

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Continued from page 1

Junior All-American outfielder Tyler Naquin said that while the stadium isn’t quite 100 percent complete, he can clearly see the quality of the park. “It’s definitely going to be nice, we can tell already,” Naquin said. “It’s not finished quite yet but fans will be able to move in opening day and I’m sure they’re going to love it.” Sophomore All-American outfielder Krey Bratsen, whose father played Aggie baseball in the park before Olsen, compared playing at the new ballpark to a playing in a major league stadium. “This is unreal. This is basically playing professional baseball at the collegiate level … me getting to play at [original] Olsen, I thought

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that was nice. I always dreamed of playing here when it was the old Olsen Field,” Bratsen said. “Now we have Blue Bell Park and it’s unreal out here.” On whether the field will be complete by opening day, Hurley said that fans will notice the grandeur of the stadium even with some of the finishing touches still underway. “We’ll probably be in the 90-percent complete range but most fans will not even notice that. You’ll come to the park and the grass will be barely put down, people will notice that. But from that standpoint, you’ll be able to tell that it’s a brand new facility,” Hurley said. “It will not all be done but it will be a fantastic facility. I hope [fans] have a great experience on Friday night and the rest of the season.”

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the battalion

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Magic + Word Square A magic square is a square in which the row and columns add up to a same number. In this case is ﬁfteen. Vowels and letter R stand for odd numbers. Others are even. B E E T R I N. hint : same letter can have different values Fit the letters into the word square and give the equivalent values for each letter Wednesdays solution:

S A G A

O M E N

C E N T

K N E E

Siddharth Kumar — THE BATTALION

Pg. 6-2-16-12.indd 1

2/15/12 10:15 PM

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Olsen magic Austin Meek: ‘An unusual breed of fandom’

remember my first foray into Olsen Field as a freshman. Absent-mindedly talking on the phone to a friend while trying to find my seat, I nearly dropped my phone as I walked through the bleachers in front of the student section.

All of the sudden, what seemed like the entire contingent of baseball watchers stood up and started obnoxiously waving at me, shouting “Hi! Hi! Hi!” all in unison intending, successfully, to drown out any intelligible voice on the other end of the line. I apologetically lowered my phone, walked back toward the concourse and left the stadium. I didn’t return to a game for two years. The crowd at Olsen is an unusual breed of fandom. While the slow pace of the sport lends itself to kicking back and popping sunflower seeds, there are enough yells, heckles and traditions to keep even the least interested fan involved. You know the term “two percenter?” It may surprise some, but I’ve always considered myself in that camp and more — in fact, I’ve often used the “half-percenter” moniker when referring to my interest in Aggie lore. But, after I started attending baseball games regularly last season, that all changed. I turned rabid. I became a “Raggie.” The real fundamentalists may feel their toes getting stepped on by my self-inclusion into the elite group, but I hope they’ll forgive the nomenclature. The Raggies sit in section 203, shouting, annoying and going to great lengths to make the opposing players, coaches and fans feel uncomfortable. It’s a select group, one that honors regulars and shuns rookies. Now, know that I’ve silently mouthed the words to every chant from the spires of press row since last spring.

The Raggies keep the momentum going, and everyone in the stadium gears up for its unique brand of yells: there’s “The Rifleman,” where the fans stand up and fire off three shots after our pitcher dispatches one of the opposing batters with three strikes; the collective “Ouch!” that the members of the stands emit when a foul ball pings off the metal roof; the guessing of how many engine cars are rolling by; the slow and (not so) silent waving as an opposing pitcher trudges back to the dugout after a shellacking. And then, of course, there’s the “Saw Puppies,” who receive secret handwritten messages from first base coach Andy Sawyers when he tosses out a game ball into 203 in the bottom of the first. “Saw Dog” enjoys a section of his own nutty fans, showing up at games greeted by Puppies wearing helmets with a saw and a dog attached. The reason why the atmosphere at Olsen works so well is that it’s not just fun and games. It’s an effective tactic, useful in psyching out the opposing team’s coaches and players, especially the pitchers. Raggies will go to great lengths to dig up personal information about opponents, in hopes that mentioning an ex-girlfriend or uncouth remark about a little sister will send the player into a funk. The Aggies’ clearly feed off the fans, and vice versa, a symbiosis that has turned Olsen into one of the toughest venues in the nation. Olsen magic is a real thing, as anyone who’s wit-

nessed a come-from-behind victory or a one-hitter will tell you. But, like all other magic, you’ve got to see it to believe it. Just watch the way a “Naquin” ball curls off the bat, the tightly wound rubber core nearly bursting out of the seams, or how a “Ross Stripling” breaking ball disappears out of the strike zone, as if someone pulled a lever and dropped it into oblivion. The magic starts Friday night at Olsen Field, an opulent gem of a baseball diamond, having just undergone a $24 million facelift, thanks in large part to the friendly folks at Blue Bell. The best stadium in the nation, the best fans in the nation and a squad that could very possibly finish as the best team in the nation … that’s a magical combination.

Austin Meek is a senior creative writing major

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the battalion "ABSOLUTE PERFECTION" - LA TIMES

"AFFECTING AND PIERCINGLY TRUE… FASCINATING." - THE NEW YORK TIMES

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Top 25 College Baseball Teams (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association)

1. Florida

10. Florida State

2. South Carolina

11. Vanderbilt

19. Cal StateFullerton

3. North Carolina

12. LSU

20. UCLA

4. Stanford

13. TCU

21. Georgia

5. Texas A&M

14. Oklahoma

22. Oregon State

6. Arkansas

15. Arizona State

23. Virginia

7. Texas

16. Miami

24. UC Irvine

8. Rice

17. Clemson

25. Louisville

9. Georgia Tech

18. Arizona

Big 12 Rankings 1. Texas A&M

4. Baylor

7. Texas Tech

2. Texas

5. Missouri

8. Kansas State

3. Oklahoma

6. Oklahoma

9. Kansas

State

nation&world Florida leads preseason rankings The Florida Gators begin the 2012 season as No. 1 in the nation for the ﬁrst time in school history. Seven players on their roster, including SEC player of the year and catcher Mike Zunino, earned preseason All-American Honors from Baseball America. Last year, Florida went 53-19 overall and 22-8 in the SEC. Florida made it all

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