Injuries lead to inconsistency

By Grant Hughes

Heading into a solid stretch of West Coast Conference play in April, the Santa Clara men's baseball team sits at an even 16-16. Unfortunately for the Broncos, their balanced record is pretty much the only consistent thing about the team so far this season.

The Bronco bats have been loud this year, generally plating runs in bunches. Unfortunately, Santa Clara has struggled to pair solid pitching with strong offensive production.

"It's really just an issue of putting both sides together, and we haven't been as consistent as we need to be," junior closer Anthony Rea said. "All the pieces are obviously there. We can definitely hit, and we have strong pitching too. We've just got to do both in the same game more often."

In conference this season, the Broncos are third from the bottom in the WCC, allowing 5.82 runs per game. In contrast, the offense produces 5.6 runs, a figure that places them right in the middle of the pack, in a virtual tie for fourth with Loyola Marymount. With a 5-4 league record, the Broncos sit in second place in the WCC's West Division standings, trailing only 8-1 Pepperdine.

"So far this season, we've shown we can score runs, and we're confident we can pitch well enough to win," Head Coach Mark O'Brien said. "The injuries are really the biggest reason that our record isn't quite what we'd like it to be."

Prize recruit Jared Hughes has pitched an ineffective 16 innings while battling the injury bug all season. Pitching Coach Tom Meyers said the team is merely being cautious with Hughes, who at 18 has a long career ahead of him.

"His injury is really just a stress injury to the elbow, sort of like tendinitis," Meyers said. "We're just being careful with him, given his age and his potential down the line."

Hughes is scheduled to pitch this weekend, but will be closely monitored by the coaching staff. Sophomore Patrick Overholt, the team's projected closer, has not taken the mound this season, and will not pitch until next year. Overholt led the team in 2003 with an ERA of 3.00, and his Bronco record 10 saves helped slam the door on opponents in the late innings. The Freshman All-American will return next season after recovering from a Tommy John operation last fall.

"Losing Pat was a pretty big blow, and we just needed someone to step up to try and fill in," said Rea, Overholt's replacement. "This is his job. When he comes back next year, he'll take over, and our bullpen will be that much stronger."

Some might wonder if Overholt will regain his job so easily from Rea, whose work as the Bronco closer this season has been nothing short of spectacular. Rea leads the team with a 2.10 ERA, and with nine saves already, is sure to eclipse Overholt's year-old record.

"Anthony's easily one of the best college pitchers I've ever coached," O'Brien said. "When we get into the seventh, eighth, ninth inning, we're all confident that Anthony's going to close it out. He's been great his whole career."

The Broncos' offense would do well to take cues from Rea's consistency, but injuries have recently struck some of Santa Clara's frontline hitters as well. With a patchwork lineup taking the field, the chemistry required for consistent play is harder to come by.

Sophomore shortstop Michael Lange, with his .326 batting average, has not played in a month, and may be out longer. Sophomore transfer, starting third baseman Dustin Realini has not played since March 26 against San Francisco. Sophomore David Hoffmire has filled in admirably for Realini, posting a .333 average in limited action since taking over at third base. Lange's replacement, Eric Newton, has struggled both at the plate (.241 batting average) and in the field (10 errors).

"Whether guys are hurt or not, we have to pick each other up," Texas transfer and leading slugger Nic Crosta said.

Added O'Brien, "No, our record's not exactly where we want it to be, but the good thing is that there are plenty of games left. We'll get a run going. We're confident we can do that."

In order to pull away from mediocrity, the Broncos will need continued dominance from Rea, as well as improvement from their starting hurlers. Consistency will be the key, according to just about every Bronco player and coach. And if the Broncos don't pull it all together soon, their record is in danger of staying at a very consistent .500 all season long.

û Contact Grant Hughes at (408) 554-4852 or ghughes@scu.edu.