Tommy Rafferty and the Devils head to Pullman, Washington.

April 8, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

Leading Off:

Arizona State looks to get back in the win column when they head to Pullman, Washington for a three-game Pac-10 series with Washington State. The Devils dropped two of three at Stanford last weekend, their first road trip of the year. Washington State split a four-game series at home with UC Davis last weekend. They play at Gonzaga on Tuesday. The Cougars are 2-4 in Pac-10 play this season.

Devils vs. Washington State:

Arizona State leads the all-time series with the Cougars 36-7. ASU swept WSU last year in Tempe. The Sun Devils are 9-3 at Bailey-Brayton Field in Pullman.

30-Game Starts:

The 2008 Sun Devils went 28-2 during their first 30 games, matching the 2003 Sun Devils for best start through the first 30 games of a season in school history. The 2003 team finished the year 54-14, falling to Cal State Fullerton in three games at the Fullerton Super Regional.

200 Club:

With the win over Stanford on Friday night, head coach Pat Murphy recorded his 200th career victory in Pac-10 play. Murphy now holds a 200-142 career mark in conference action, including conference titles in 2000 and 2007. Murphy has the third most Pac-10 victories among active coaches, trailing Stanford's Mark Marquess (514 in 31 years) and Washington's Ken Knutson (219 in 15 years). Murphy is in his 14th season at Arizona State.

Facing Tough Competition:

The Sun Devils will face one of the toughest schedules in the country in 2008. 13 of their opponents are or have been ranked at some point this season, including six who have spent time in the top five. Beginning with last weekend's series at Stanford, Arizona State will play 18 of 19 games against teams that have been ranked at one point this season.

Rankings:

Arizona State is ranked #2 in Baseball America, #3 in the NCBWA poll, the USA Today/Coaches Poll and in Collegiate Baseball. They are ranked fourth by Rivals.com.

Wofford Recap:

Arizona State swept the Wofford Terriers in a mid-week series in Tempe, taking Tuesday night 9-3 and Wednesday night 12-4 in seven innings...ASU pitching held the Terriers hitless for the first five innings, while the offense jumped out to an early 6-0 lead. Jason Kipnis and Brett Wallace each drove in three in the win...Wednesday was more of the same, as Petey Paramore went 3-3 with four RBI and Ike Davis homered twice as the Devils won a game shortened by travel curfew restrictions.

Stanford Recap:

ASU needed ten innings on Friday night at Sunken Diamond, but they pulled out a 6-4 win. Ike Davis homered and picked up the victory on the mound. Davis, Tommy Rafferty and Reyes Dorado did not allow a hit in 3.2 innings of relief work...Saturday and Sunday did not go as well for ASU, as they fell 12-2 and 10-2. Arizona State garnered only four hits in the loss on Saturday, then stranded 12 runners on Sunday. Arizona State has not won a series at Stanford since 1997.

Stranded:

Arizona State struggled to get hits with runners on base during the series at Sunken Diamond. The Devils stranded 33 runners over the three games, including a season 15 during the 10-inning win on Friday night.

Just Keep On Using Me:

Senior righty Tommy Rafferty has been one of the Pac-10's most dependable relievers out of the bullpen. Rafferty has made 18 appearances already this season, tops in the conference. Rafferty's six wins ties him with Mike Leake for most victories in the Pac-10 and second most in the nation. He transferred to ASU from Angelo State, where he made 19 appearances all of 2006. He sat out 2007 after Angelo State did not grant him his release.

Wall Ball:

Only 22 players have ever hit a ball over the Green Monster at Packard Stadium, and three of them are on the current roster. Last season, Brett Wallace did it and earlier this season Jason Kipnis did it. Ike Davis joined the list against UC Irvine on March 23. All the more impressive, Davis broke his bat on the swing. 16 of the 22 players to clear the wall were Sun Devils.

Mr. Double:

Ike Davis is climbing up the school's all-time doubles list. Davis now has 61 doubles in his career, leaving him three shy of Casey Myers (1998-2000) for fifth all-time. Clay Westlake (1973-76) is the school's all-time leader with 88. Davis has 18 already this year after hitting 23 last season. The 18 doubles is tied for second most in the nation.

      Most Career Doubles, ASU History

      1. Clay Westlake, 1973-76.... 88

     2. Andrew Beinbrink, 1996-99 75

     3. Dustin Pedroia, 2002-04.... 71

     4. Antone Williamson, 1992-94..... 70

     5. Casey Myers, 1998-2000.. 64

     6. Ike Davis, 2006-P.......... 61

     7. Dan Rumsey, 1986-89...... 58

     8. Jeff Phelps, 1998-2001..... 57

       Jeff Larish, 2002-05.......... 57

Walk This Way:

Petey Paramore led the Pac-10 in bases on balls last season, totaling 53 in 64 games. His good eye has continued so far in 2008, as he has already drawn 32 walks. Paramore now has 119 walks in his career and is only the 22nd Sun Devil to ever draw over 100. The 119 walks is tied with Willie Bloomquist (1997-99) and Rick Peters (1974-77) for  8th most in school history. Alvin Davis (1979-82) is the all-time leader with 207.

      Most Career Walks, ASU History

      1. Alvin Davis, 1979-82........ 207

     2. Jeff Larish, 2002-05......... 200

     3. Andrew Beinbrink, 1996-99 154

     4. Clay Westlake, 1973-76.... 148

     5. Doug Newstrom, 1991-93.. 131

     6. Mike Kelly, 1989-91.......... 127

     7. Barry Bonds, 1983-85....... 122

     8. Willie Bloomquist, 1997-99. 119

       Rick Peters, 1974-77......... 119

       Petey Paramore, 2006-P. 119

Keeping A Weather Eye:

Arizona State is drawing a ton of walks as a team, drawing 207 so far this season. Last season they drew 319 free passes as a team. The school record for bases on balls in a season is 482, set in 1982. The Devils have also been hit by 34 pitches this year.

Sold Out:

March 28's game against USC was sold out, the second sell out of the season. The game against Arizona on March 18 also filled Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. and ticket brokers were asking for a reported $75 a ticket. ASU has already drawn over 70,000 fans this season.

Players of the Week:

Ike Davis was named to the College Baseball Foundation's National All-Star Lineup three straight weeks, and was named a Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week. He was also named Pac-10 Player of the Week consecutive weeks, the first person since Travis Buck in 2004 to earn that distinction. Brett Wallace was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week following opening weekend and Marcel Champagnie was a College Baseball Foundation National All-Star on March 4.

Washingtonians:

Senior right hander Dustin Brader returns to his home state of Washington this weekend, the only student-athlete on ASU's roster from the Pacific Northwest. Brader is from Selah, Washington, which is almost 200 miles west of Pullman. Sophomore manager Brendan Cunningham is from Spokane, Washington, 75 miles north of Pullman.

Call To The Hall For Bane and Bannister:

Legendary Sun Devil pitchers Eddie Bane and Floyd Bannister have been named to the College Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2008. Bane pitched for ASU from 1971 to 1973, recording a 40-4 career record with a 1.64 ERA. He threw the only perfect game in Sun Devil history, striking out 19 in a 9-0 win over Cal State Northridge in 1973. Bane is the school's leader in career strikeouts, fanning 535 in his three seasons in Maroon and Gold. Floyd Bannister went 38-6 with a 1.88 ERA from 1974 to 1976, throwing 29 career complete games, second most in school history. He won 19 games in 1976, tied for the school single season record, and struck out an ASU record 217 in 1975. He was the #1 overall pick in the 1976 MLB draft. Bane and Bannister join Bobby Winkles, Jim Brock and Bob Horner as Sun Devils in the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Family Matters:

Freshman OF/LHP Matt Newman has Maroon and Gold in his blood. His father, Randy, was a pitcher for the Sun Devils in 1981 and 1982, winning 15 career games and the 1981 National Championship. Freshman catcher Andrew Pollak is the brother of former Sun Devil football great Mike Pollak, who played center for the Devils from 2004 to 2007. Mike was a two-time All-Pac-10 performer. Andrew wears number 76, the same number Mike wore on the gridiron. UTL Mike Murphy is no relation to head coach Pat Murphy, although he is the first player named Murphy Pat Murphy has ever coached. New assistant coach Josh Holliday is the son of former Oklahoma State head baseball coach Tom Holliday and the brother of current Colorado Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday.

2008 Pre-Season Honors:

ASU has several pre-season All-Americans on its roster. Brett Wallace and Josh Satow were both named First Teamers by the NCBWA as well as Collegiate Baseball. Petey Paramore joined them on the NCBWA list. Mike Leake was named a Second Team selection by both the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball. Kiel Roling was named to the Second Team by the NCBWA. Ike Davis was a Third Team selection by both the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball. Wallace, Davis and Paramore were all named Second Teamers by Baseball America.

Pac-10 Picks:

The Sun Devils were picked to finish second in the Pac-10 in the annual preseason coaches poll. ASU got three first place votes, while Arizona was picked to win with six first place votes. Arizona State won the Pac-10 last season. Arizona finished second.

Golden Spikes Watch List:

Ike Davis, Petey Paramore and Brett Wallace have all been named to the 2008 Golden Spikes Award Watch List. ASU has had three Golden Spikes winners, Bob Horner, Oddibe McDowell and Mike Kelly.

Wallace Award Watch List:

Arizona State has four players on the Wallace Award Watch List. Brett Wallace, Josh Satow, Mike Leake and Petey Paramore are all on the initial list. Wallace was Semi-Finalist for the award last season.

Captain and the Bench Award Watch List:

Head coach Pat Murphy has named junior catcher Petey Paramore as the captain of the 2008 Sun Devils. Paramore has also been named to the Watch List for the Johnny Bench Award, the third straight year he has made the list.

Coach Murphy Honored:

Pat Murphy has been inducted into the Florida Atlantic University Baseball Hall of Fame. Murphy played for the Owls from 1981 to 1982, then coached three years at the school.

Schedule Strength:

Arizona State will once again face one of the toughest schedules in the country this season. ASU will play three teams (Oregon State, UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton) that went to Omaha last year, in addition to Super Regional teams Wichita State, Michigan and UCLA.

Honoring Pat Tillman:

Former ASU football player and American Hero Pat Tillman had strong ties to the ASU Baseball program. In addition to his brother Kevin playing for ASU, Pat became extremely close with head coach Pat Murphy. Murphy wears jersey #42 in honor of Tillman, and in January 2007, Murph donated $100,000 to the baseball program for the construction of the Tillman Training Room, a room that will honor both Pat and Kevin and their commitment to both Arizona State University and the United States of America. The team wears a memorial "PT*42" patch on their jerseys in honor of Pat.

Fandemonium:

Not only were the 2007 Devils dominant on the field at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark, but they were dominant at the turnstiles as well. The Devils went 35-3 at home and led the West Coast in attendance for the third straight season. 116,205 fans came out to see the Sun Devils in 2007, the highest attendance since 1984. ASU finished 17th nationally in average attendance, averaging 3,141 fans per game.

Tournaments:

The Sun Devils hosted three tournament in 2008. The DeMarini Invitational with Vanderbilt, Oregon State and Miami,OH was opening weekend, then the 6th Annual Coca-Cola Classic, featuring ASU, Hawai'i, Michigan, Portland and Northern Illinois, took place the following weekend, with games being played in both Surprise and Tempe. The Bob Schaefer Memorial Tournament spanned four days and featured Florida International, Northern Colorado and UC Irvine.

Up Next:

The Sun Devils will return home to host two-time defending national champion Oregon State in a three-game Pac-10 series at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.