June 2, 2004
The four teams in the upcoming NCAA South Bend Regional (June 4-6, at Notre Dame’s Eck Stadium) have announced probable pitching rotations (full lists, data and stats below). Friday’s first game in the four-team, double-elimination tournament (2:00 EST) will feature a pair of junior righthanders in ND’s Chris Niesel and Kent State’s Andy Sonnanstine while the second game (7:00) is slated to include two other junior RHPs in Brett Smith of second-seeded UC Irvine and Koley Kolberg of #3 seed Arizona.
Sonnanstine (Mid-American) and Smith (Big West) both earned first team all-conference honors in 2004, with Niesel a second-team selection (he was a 2003 All-American and BIG EAST pitcher of the year).
Notre Dame plans to send another junior RHP, Grant Johnson, to the hill in its second game of the regional while sophomore LHP Tom Thornton would be the starter in a potential third game. Kent State has lined up junior RHP Jason Brunke as its game-2 starter, with freshman RHP Evan Smith the likely starter in a potential third game.
UCI tentatively is slated to start junior LHP Glenn Swanson in its 2nd game of the regional (the rotation could change, pending Friday’s outcome).Arizona has not declared a 2nd-game starter but has indicated that the starter will be a righthander (the UCI and UA starters for a potential 3rd game are TBA).
Niesel – who beat Arizona earlier this season at the Round Rock Classic (4-2; 7 IP, 10 H, 2 R, BB, 6 Ks) – owns a 1.51 career ERA in seven career postseason appearances/six starts with the Irish (BIG EAST and NCAA Tournament), with a 3-0 record, 29 strikeouts, 13 walks and 38 hits allowed in 41.2 innings of postseason action. His career stats in five NCAA Tournament appearances (four starts) include a 2.15 ERA and 2-0 record (22 Ks, 11 BB, 23 H, 29.1 IP) – with noteworthy outings in 2002 at top-ranked Florida State (won 3-1 Super-Regional clincher, 8 IP, 6 H, R, 5 Ks, 3 BB), vs. the new #1 team the next week in the College World Series vs. Rice (no-decision in 5-3 ND win, 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 7 Ks, 2 BB) and last year’s touch-luck no-decision in the 4-3 regional loss at Cal State Fullerton (8 IP, 6 H, 3 R/2 ER, 5 Ks, 4 BB). He also retired two batters in a brief relief stint vs. Ohio State in the 2002 regional opener at Eck Stadium (8-6; K), returning two days later to beat the Buckeyes in the regional-title round (9-6; 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 4 Ks, 2 BB).
Johnson missed the 2003 season due to shoulder surgery but owns 2.86 career ERA and 4-2 record in five career postseason starts (two BIG EAST, three NCAAs), with 25 Ks, 12 walks and 29 hits allowed in 34.2 innings. His three NCAA starts during the ’02 CWS season included a 3.92 ERA and 2-1 record in games vs. South Alabama, Florida State and Stanford (12 Ks, 9 BB, 15 H, 20.2 IP).
Niesel and Johnson also have logged some pretty impressive numbers in the friendly confines of Eck Stadium – combining for a 2.16 career ERA and 14-2 record in home games. Niesel’s 2.94 ERA at The Eck is below his 3.22 career mark but he also owns a 6.7 K-to-walk ratio while pitching in front of the home fans (80 ks, 12 BB, 15 GP/12 GS, 7-1, CG, solo shutout, 79.2 IP, 79 H, 2 WP, 6 HB).
Johnson has not allowed an earned run at Eck Stadium in five starts this season (4-0, CG, solo and shared shutouts, 26 IP, 8 H, 22 Ks, 10 BB, 2 HB) while his career stats in home games include a stellar 1.09 ERA (compared to 2.81 overall) and 7-1 record (11 GP/9 GS, 57.2 IP, 26 H, 52 Ks, 26 BB, WP, 5 HB).
Niesel (21-3, .875) owns the 2nd-best career winning pct. in the Notre Dame program’s 112-year history (min. 16 decisions) and has won at a better clip than every ND pitcher in the previous 90 seasons (Herb Kelly went 22-2/.917, from 1912-14). Niesel also owns the Notre Dame record for career K-to-walk ratio (4.09) while ranking 5th in fewest walks per 9 IP (1.90), 7th in starts (43, one shy of 4th), 10th in innings (265.1), 12th in wins (21) and 7th in strikeouts (229; 7 shy of Tim Kalita).
Niesel, Johnson (14-5) and Thornton (13-3) have combined to post a 48-11 career record with the Irish (.814).
Here’s a look at the probable rotations, including stats (“WHIP” indicates walks plus hits per 9 IP):
NOTRE DAME
1st Game Starter – Chris Niesel
(RHP, Jr.; Plantation, FL; 6-0/205; 2nd team all-BIG EAST Conference)
2004 Overall: 3.71, 8-2, 17/14 GS, CG, ShO, 94.2 IP, 114 H (10.8 H/9 IP), 44 R/39 ER, 80 Ks (7.6 Ks/9 IP), 19 BB (1.8 BB/9 IP), 4.2 K/BB, 12.6 “WHIP,” 18 2B, 3B, 3 HR, .310 opp. batting avg. (.389 slugging), 2 WP, 10 HB, 5-12 SBA
2004 BIG EAST Stats: 4.38, 4-1, 8 GS, CG, ShO, 49.1 IP, 64 H, 27 R/24 ER, 39 Ks, 9 BB, 10 2B, 3B, 2 HR, .330 opp. batting avg., 8 HB, 4-5 SBA
ND Career Stats: 3.22, 21-3, 46 GP/40 GS, 4 CG, 2 solo ShO/1 shared, 2 SV, 265.1 IP, 268 H, 111 R/95 ER, 229 Ks, 56 BB, 50 2B, 3 3B, 12 HR, .262 opp. batting avg. 9 WP, 17 HB
2nd Game Starter – Grant Johnson
(RHP, Jr.; Burr Ridge, IL; 6-5/215; 1st team all-BIG EAST Conference)
2004 Overall Stats: 1.54 ERA, 5-0, 13 GP/12 GS, CG, solo ShO/shared ShO, 52.2 IP, 33 H (5.6 H/9 IP), 13 R/9 ER, 47 Ks (8.0 Ks/9 IP), 23 BB (3.9 BB/9 IP), 2.0 K/BB, 9.5 “WHIP,” 5 2B, 2 HR, .176 opp. batting avg. (.234 slugging), WP, 5 HB, 13-15 SBA
2004 BIG EAST Stats – 1.91, 5-0, 8 GS, CG, solo ShO/shared ShO, 37.2 IP, 23, 10 R/8 ER, 33 Ks, 15 BB, 3 2B, 2 HR, .169 opp. batting avg., WP, 3 HB, 8-10 SBA
ND Career Stats: 2.81, 14-5, 31 GP/26 GS, 2 CG, solo ShO/shared ShO, 154 IP, 127 H, 58 R/48 ER, 133 Ks, 67 BB, 25 2B, 3B, 7 HR, .224 opp. batting avg., 6 WP, 14 HB
Potential 3rd Game Starter – Tom Thornton
(LHP, So.; Middleboro, MA; 6-6/215)
Overall 2004 Stats: 4.14 ERA, 8-2, 15 GP/ 14, CG, solo ShO, 91.1 IP, 92 H (9.1 H/9 IP), 52 R/42 ER, 65 Ks (6.4 Ks/9 IP), 22 BB (2.2 BB/9 IP), 3.0 K/BB, 18 2B, 7 HR, .261 opp. batting avg (.401 slugging), 4 WP, 8 HB, 2 PO, 11-16 SBA
2004 BIG EAST Stats – 4.28 ERA, 4-1, 8 GS, CG, solo ShO, 48.1 IP, 53 IP, 28 R/23 ER, 34 Ks, 11 BB, 11 2B, HR, .282 opp. batting avg., 4 WP, 3 HB, PO, 7-10 SBA
ND Career Stats: 3.27, 13-3, 30 GP/22 GS, CG, solo ShO, 146 IP, 146 H, 70 R/53 ER, 94 Ks, 36 BB, 33 2B, 7 HR, 7 WP, 14 HB
KENT STATE
1st Game Starter – Andy Sonnanstine
(RHP, Jr.; Wadsworth, OH; 6-3/190; 1st team all-Mid-American Conference)
2004 Overall Stats: 2.67 ERA, 10-4, 17 GS, 2 CG, ShO, 118 IP, 116 H (8.9 H/9 IP), 51 R/35 ER, 110 Ks (8.4 Ks/9 IP), 19 BB (1.5 BB/9 IP), 5.8 K/BB, 10.4 “WHIP”, 18 2B, 5 3B, 8 HR, .253 opp. batting avg. (.345 slugging), 2 WP, 8 HB, 1 PO, 8-12 SBA
2004 MAC Stats: 2.70 ERA, 5-2, 8 GS, 56.2 IP, 59 H, 23 R/17 ER, 45 Ks, 8 BB, 10 2B, 3B, 2 HR, .271 opp. batting avg., WP, 2 HB, PO, 6-9 SBA
KSU Career Stats (dnp in ’02): 2.87 ERA, 12-4, 25 GP/19 GS, 141 IP, 137 H, 61 R/45 ER, 130 Ks, 23 BB
2nd Game Starter – Jason Brunke
(RHP, Jr.; Carroll Stream, IL; 6-4/235; transfer from Dupage JC)
2004 Overall Stats: 4.71 ERA, 6-7, 15 GS, CG, 86 IP, 89 H (9.3 H/9 IP), 51 R/45 ER, 70 Ks (7.3 Ks/9 IP), 36 BB (3.8 BB/9 IP), 2.0 K/BB, 13.1 “WHIP”,15 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, .271 opp. batting avg. (.374 slugging), 12 WP, 3 HB, 16-22 SBA
2004 MAC Stats: 4.60 ERA, 3-4, 8 GS, 45 IP, 54 H, 26 R/23 ER, 36 Ks, 23 BB, 9 2B, 3B, 4 HR, .310 opp. batting avg., 4 WP, 2 HB, 6-10 SB
Potentital 3rd Game Starter – Evan Smith
(RHP, Fr.; Milford, OH; 6-4/185)
2004 Overall Stats: 3.95 ERA ,3-3, 16 GP/8 GS, SV, 54.2 IP, 62 H (10.2 H/9 IP), 31 R/24 ER, 44 Ks (7.2 Ks/9 IP), 18 BB (3.0 BB/9 IP), 2.5 K/BB, 13.2 “WHIP,” 14 2B, 3B, 3 HR, .283 opp. batting avg. (.397 slugging), WP, 4 HB, 11-13 SBA
2004 MAC Stats: 2.45 ERA, 2-0, 6 GP/2 GS, SV, 18.1 IP, 17 H, 6 R/5 ER, 12 Ks, 4 BB, 8 2B, .254 opp. batting avg., HB, 1-2 SBA
UC IRVINE
1st Game Starter – Brett Smith
(RHP, Jr.; La Habra, CA; 6-5/225; 1st team all-Big West Conference)
2004 Overall Stats 2.19 ERA, 8-4, 15 GS, 2 CG, 1 solo ShO/2 shared, 106.2 IP, 94 H (7.9 H/9 IP), 37 R/26 ER, 107 Ks (9.0 Ks/9 IP), 27 BB (2.3 BB/ 9 IP), 4.0 K/BB, 10.2 “WHIP”, 12 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, .240 opp. batting avg. (.327 slugging), 5 WP, 7 HB, 2 PO, 4-9 SBA
2004 Big West Stats: 1.68 ERA, 3-3, 7 GS, 2 CG, solo ShO, 53.2 IP, 41 H, 14 R/10 ER, 54 Ks, 10 BB, 4 2B, 3B, 3 HR, .212 opp. batting avg., 2 WP, 5 HB, 2-4 SBA
UCI Career Stats: 3.63 ERA, 21-10, 48 GP/46 GS, 3 CG, 2 solo ShO/2 shared, 293.1 IP, 293 H, 140 R/118 ER, 264 Ks, 111 BB
2nd Game Starter – Glenn Swanson
(LHP, Jr.; San Diego, CA; 6-1/155)
2004 Overall Stats: 5.35 ERA, 6-3, 16 GP/14 GS, 77.1 IP, 83 H (9.7 H/.9 IP), 50 R/46 ER, 74 Ks (8.6 Ks/9 IP), 29 BB (3.4 BB/9 IP), 2.6 K/BB, 13.1 “WHIP,” 18 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, .278 opp. batting avg. (.407 slugging), 6 WP, 7 HB, 4 PO, 1-4 SBA
2004 Big West Stats: 7.89 ERA, 1-2, 7 GP/6 GS, 29.2 IP, 32 H, 27 R/26 ER, 31 Ks, 11 BB, 10 2B, 4 HR, .274 opp. batting avg., 4 WP, 4 HB, PO, 1-2 SBA
UCI Career Stats: 4.44 ERA, 16-17, 45 GP, 42 GS, 3 CG, 2 SV, 265.1 IP, 272 H, 174 R/131 ER, 224 Ks, 95 BB
ARIZONA
1st Game Starter – Koley Kolberg
(RHP, Jr.; Coppwell, TX; 6-1/175; transfer from Navarro JC)
2004 Overall Stats: 4.60 ERA, 8-6, 20 GP/18 GS, 4 CG, SV, 125.1 IP, 152 H (10.9/9 IP), 82 R/64 ER, 107 Ks (7.7 Ks/9 IP), 55 BB (4.0 BB/9 IP), 2.0 BB/K, 14.9 “WHIP,” 19 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR, .299 opp. batting avg. (.395 slugging), 7 WP, 6 HB, 3 PO
2004 Pac-10 Stats: 6.12 ERA, 4-3, 9 GP/8 GS, 2 CG, SV, 57.1 IP, 67 H, 42 R/39 ER, 49 Ks, 33 BB, 10 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, .300 opp. batting avg., 4 WP, 3 HB