Oct. 12, 2007
Fans arriving to campus early on Saturday morning (Oct. 13) are invited to attend the annual Notre Dame baseball alumni game, which will start at 9:00 a.m. (following an 8:00 a.m. batting practice and infield workouts). Noteworthy players who are expected to play in the game include several who are in town for the five-year reunion of the 2002 College World Series team, with those 2002 players featuring the likes of outfielder Brian Stavisky, catcher Paul O’Toole, first baseman Joe Thaman and DH Matt Bok.
(Note that feature stories on both teams – plus the 1957 ND men’s cross country team that won the NCAA title – are included in the ND-BC football game program … also check und.com next week for recap info. on the reunions.)
A significant percentage of the 2002 team (23 players) – plus seven members of Notre Dame’s 1957 CWS squad – are expected to be on campus this week for reunion events commemorating the anniversaries of Notre Dame’s two all-time College World Series squads. Nearly 80 total Notre Dame baseball alumni have RSVP’d to attend the ND baseball reunion events, which include the alumni game and a Saturday night dinner (plus halftime recognitions for the 1957 and 2002 teams during the ND-Boston College football game).
The seven players from the 1957 CWS team who are attending the reunion include pitching ace Chuck Symeon and six of the position starters: All-America catcher Elmer Kohorst, first baseman Jim Cusack, second baseman Ed Hurley, shortstop Jim Carideo, leftfielder Bob Senecal and rightfielder Jim Morris.
The reunion attendees from the 2002 team include each of the top-10 position players and several key pitchers. O’Toole and Thaman will have the chance to catch up with All-America second baseman Steve Sollmann, shortstop Javi Sanchez and third baseman Andrew Bushey while the talented outfield trio of Stavisky (left), All-American Steve Stanley (center) and Kris Billmaier (right) also will be in attendance (as will the lefthanded-hitting DH Bok and righthanded DH Ken Meyer).
Two pitchers from the 2002 team’s weekend rotation (Chris Niesel and Peter Ogilvie) have returned for the reunion, as has All-America closer J.P. Gagne (who also joined Sollmann and Stavisky as Academic All-Americans in their careers).
Others in attendance from the 2002 team include pitchers Matt Buchmeier, Drew Duff, Matt Laird, Cody Wilkins, Scott Bickford and Martin Vergara, plus infielders Matt Macri and Zach Sisko, first baseman Mike Holba and outfielder George Howard.
The various other alums on hand for the reunion include: current big-league pitcher Aaron Heilman (New York Mets) and All-America infielder Brant Ust (who has reached triple-A with several organizations); other noteworthy pitchers such as Frank Carpin, Jim Hannan (current chair of the MLB Alumni Players Association), Darin Schmalz and John Corbin; the father/son combination of Dick and Matt Nussabum; catcher Jim Montagano, outfielder Mike Trudeau; and infielders Mike Coss and Greg Lopez – plus many more who will comprise some 80 ND baseball alums expected to attend the reunion this weekend.