2007 Long Beach Regional

(capsules compiled by Jamie Learakos, Stuart Smith, Scott Day, Sean Ryan, Phil Stanton)

1. Long Beach State 49ers

Long Beach, California

At-large bid from Big West

2007 record: 15-6, 37-18 (tied for 2nd in Big West)

Coach: Mike Weathers (Chapman, 1971)

Record at school: 223-129, 6 years

Overall record: 502-409-3, 17 years

Assistant coaches: Troy Buckely, Nick Walsh, T.J. Bruce

Team offense: .295 BA, 354 R, 37 HR, .420 SLG, .380 OBA, 37/66 SB

Team pitching: 3.44 ERA, 492.1 IP, 480 H, 157 BB, 336 K

Top hitters: Shane Peterson (.341 BA, 36 R, 4 HR, .497 SLG, 10 SB), Matt Cline (.335 BA, 34 R, .379 SLG, 9 SB), Steve Tinoco (.329 BA, 16 R, 2 HR, .443 SLG), Robert Perry (.326 BA, 42 R, 6 HR, .491 SLG), Danny Espinosa (.319 BA, 36 R, 7 HR, .532 SLG, 2 SB), Jason Corder (.292 BA, 22 R, 7 HR, .511 SLG).

Top pitchers: Bryan Shaw (2.44 ERA, 44.1 IP, 36 H, 21 BB, 39 K), Andrew Liebel (2.53 ERA, 85.1 IP, 80 H, 13 BB, 47 K), Omar Arif (2.61 ERA, 72.1 IP, 77 H, 20 BB, 38 K), David Roberts (2.78 ERA, 35.2 IP, 35 H, 12 BB, 34 K).

Last NCAA appearance: 2005 (1-2 at Long Beach Regional)

Notes: 27 current & former major leaguers including Yankees’ Jason Giambi, A's Bobby Crosby and Angels’ Jered Weaver will all be pulling for sixth-year coach (and current USA Baseball coach) Mike Weathers to take his Dirtbags deep into the tournament.  Mike Weathers hit his 500th career victory this season against Loyola Marymount. Long Beach State was selected as one of the 16 host sites for next weekend's NCAA Baseball Regionals.

2. UCLA Bruins

Los Angeles, California

At-large bid from Pac-10

2007 record: 14-10, 30-26 (3rd in Pac-10)
Coach: John Savage (Nevada, 1991)
Record at school: 78-92, 3 years
Overall record: 165-174-1, 6 years

Assistant coaches: Brian Green, Matt Jones, P.C. Shaw
Team offense: .293 BA, 329 R, 46 HR, .427 SLG, .380 OBA, 49 SB
Team pitching: 5.06 ERA, 462.2 IP, 486 H, 173 BB, 400 K
Top hitters: Gabe Cohen (.360 BA, 29 R, 9 HR, .571 SLG, 4 SB), Alden Carrithers (.350 BA, 48 R, 2 HR, .445 SLG, 7 SB), Brandon Crawford (.338 BA, 46 R, 6 HR, .514 SLG, 11 SB), Jermaine Curtis (.331 BA, 27 R, 3 HR, .458 SLG, 4 SB), Cody Decker (.323 BA, 28 R, 13 HR, .634 SLG, 1 SB), Will Penniall (.309 BA, 22 R, 2 HR, .407 SLG, 7 SB).

Top pitchers: Tyson Brummett (3.54 ERA, 119.1 IP, 120 H, 25 BB, 101 K), Garett Claypool (3.54 ERA, 53.1 IP, 44 H, 18 BB, 35 K), Tim Murphy (5.66 ERA, 62 IP, 70 H, 25 BB, 84 K), Gavin Brooks (5.53 ERA, 84.2 IP, 99 H, 26 BB, 72 K).

Last NCAA appearance: 2006 (1-2 at Malibu Regional)

Notes: Freshman Jeff Rapoport’s brother, Jim, plays in the St. Louis Cardinals' organization. Will Penniall’s father played baseball at UCLA in 1975-76 and went on to play in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.  Gavin Brooks was ranked No. 1 in the 2006 So Cal Top 50 Player Rankings with Gabe Cohen being ranked No. 8 in the same year. 

3. Pepperdine Waves

Malibu, California

At-large bid from West Coast Conference

2007 record: 14-7, 35-20 (3rd in WCC)

Coach: Steve Rodriguez (Pepperdine, 2001)

Record at school: 148-96, 4 years

Overall record: same

Assistant coaches: Rick Hirtensteiner, Sean Kenny, Chuck Hazzard

Team offense: .303 BA, 303 R, 22 HR, .394 SLG, .369 OBA, 58/79 SB

Team pitchers: 3.24 ERA, 491.2 IP, 458 H, 197 BB, 334 K

Top hitters: Adrian Orbitz (.355 BA, 50 R, 1 HR, .423 SLG, 15 SB), Danny Worth (.346 BA, 43 R, 3 HR, .485 SLG, 11 SB), Donald Brown (.342 BA, 34 R, 3 HR, .460 SLG, 6 SB), Chase d’Arnaud (.333 BA, 34 R, 3 HR, .452 SLG, 4 SB), Ryan Heroy (.267 BA, 22 R, 6 HR, .395 SLG, 1 SB).

Top pitchers: Barry Enright (1.73 ERA, 125 IP, 110 H, 13 BB, 85 K), Adam Olbrychowski (3.03 ERA, 62.1 IP, 58 H, 19 BB, 39 K), Robert Dickman (3.70 ERA, 82.2 IP, 91 H, 26 BB, 47 K), Brett Hunter (3.94 ERA, 82.1 IP, 69 H, 47 BB, 76 K).

Last NCAA appearances: 2006 (2-2 at Malibu Regional)

Notes: Catcher Mark Tracy is the son of current Pittsburgh Pirate manager and former Los Angeles Dodger manager, Jim Tracy.  Junior Adrian Orbitz is a resident of Puerto Rico and was a fifth-round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs in the 2004 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.  Last summer, he played for the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod League, appearing in 38 games and batting .224 with a home run, eight RBI and 10 stolen bases.  This year, pitcher Barry Enright is a unanimous All-West Coast Conference selection.  He has 12 wins, tying for third-most in the nation, and his ERA ranks 8th nationally.  Juniors Donald Brown, Barry Enright, Adam Olbrychowski, Adrian Ortiz and Danny Worth were recognized for their performances by being named to the 2007 West Coast Conference (WCC)/Rawlings All-Conference Team.

4. Illinois-Chicago Flames