Bruins try to round up a victory against Gauchos

Bruins try to round up a victory against Gauchos

UCLA designated hitters Olson, Theodorou lead team with high
averages

By Yoni Tamler

Daily Bruin Contributor

With a record of 9-4, a No. 6 national ranking, and a recent
three-game sweep of Pepperdine, the fun is just beginning for the
UCLA baseball team.

But before the Bruins head toward Six-Pac play they face UC
Santa Barbara, where pitcher Matt Klein spent the past two seasons
before coming to UCLA.

The game, scheduled for 2 p.m. today in Santa Barbara, is one of
two the Bruins play against the Gauchos (9-2) this year.

* * *

Junior Cass Olson made good work of his limited playing time
early in the season, and now it’s paying off. Olson, who previously
played only when regular first baseman Pete Zamora was the starting
pitcher, now shares the designated hitter position in the lineup
with Nick Theodorou. Olson is the DH when the opposing team starts
a left-hander, and Theodorou – a switch hitter – starts against
righties.

"Last year was kind of tough because I played only when Pete
would come in to pitch to finish off games," said Olson, who led
the Bruins in reserve appearances in 1995. "So now it’s a lot
easier to hit when he’s starting and I get to start the games at
first and play the whole game. It’s a lot easier to get into the
game."

Although Olson has more than delivered in every opportunity (his
two home runs and .444 batting average are tops on the team),
Theodorou remains consistent and leads the team in on-base
percentage (.613).

"The situation is fine because between the two of us someone
will always hit," Olson said.

* * *

Sunday’s 10-6 defeat of Pepperdine marked Gary Adams’ 700th win
as head coach at UCLA. The milestone comes in Adams’ 22nd season at
UCLA, where he had compiled a .538 winning percentage going into
1996. Adams also happens to be 11 victories shy of 900 career wins,
which includes his head coaching days at UC Irvine (1970-74), where
he led the Anteaters to back-to-back NCAA Division II Championships
in 1973-74.

* * *

The best defense is a good offense – a familiar maxim to the
Bruins, who have had their fair share of fielding foibles this
season. Fortunately, the Bruins have combatted their rusty gloves
with staggering offensive prowess. UCLA hitters are combining for a
game-average of eight runs and are hitting .306 as a team, while
racking up 32 errors in the season’s first 13 games (2.46 E’s per
nine innings).

In the Pepperdine series, the Bruins turned double plays with
ease and spread their hitting attack throughout the team: eight
different players had at least three hits, with no player having
more than five.

* * *

Rightfielder Jon Heinrichs has been one of UCLA’s most
consistent players this year. Heinrichs is tied for the club lead
among every-day players with 11 walks, he’s second in stolen bases
with five and is batting .340.

PATRICK LAM

Rightfielder Jon Heinrichs owns a .340 batting average and is
tied for the team lead with 11 walks.

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