Bruin alumni bat around tradition with festivities

Tuesday, January 19, 1999

Bruin alumni bat around tradition with festivities

BASEBALL: Players sworn into UCLA Hall of Fame relish derby,
game events

By Evan Lovett

Daily Bruin Staff

They were all there.

From 76-year-old Wally Finch to 1999 UCLA Baseball Hall of Fame
inductee Eric Karros to returning All-American Garrett Atkins,
several generations of Bruin ballplayers were on hand to take part
in one of the greatest traditions involving UCLA athletics.

For the 25th consecutive year, coach Gary Adams organized a day
of festivities and fun to kick off the baseball season. There was a
home run derby and two alumni games, and plenty of stories and
reminiscing.

"It brings back a slew of memories. It means happy times for our
baseball family," Adams said. "It’s great to see all of these
guys."

It was a day showcasing the tradition of UCLA baseball, the 1969
Bruin team was the focus of the event, with more than 15 players
from that squad participating in the days’ events. The 1969 Bruins
were the first UCLA baseball team to reach the College World
Series, and they featured nine players that would later go on to
play professional baseball.

Another highlight of the afternoon was the induction of five
former greats into the UCLA Baseball Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame
is chosen by a 22-member "Tenth Man" committee consisting of
players from every decade of Bruin baseball. Dave Baker, Dennis
Delany, Tebbie Fowler, Frank Schwengel and Karros were all honored
at home plate in a ceremony in which they received plaques. The
five inductees raised the total of Bruin Baseball Hall of Famers to
61.

But in between all of the joking and story trading, there was a
matter of pride that needed to be taken care of. After a two-hour
batting practice, all thrown by Glenn Mickens, 27 former Bruins
stepped up to the plate to take a few whacks at the home run
derby.

In this high profile event, the fans were treated to three
swings for each batter. Eric Valent, the career leader in home runs
in Pac-10 history, was the first batter. He hit two home runs right
away to become an early favorite. Troy Glaus, third baseman for the
California Angels and finalist in last years’ event, was next. He
promptly launched two bombs, tying Valent for the lead.

Adam Melhuse, Torrey Lovullo, Chris Pritchett, and Dennis Delany
hit one home run apiece, good enough to advance to the next round.
The treat of the day had to be Eric Byrnes, however. Byrnes,
drafted in 1997 by the Oakland A’s, ripped two towering jacks, each
one measured at 460 feet or more.

The next round saw Melhuse, a catcher in the Toronto Blue Jays
organization, jump into the lead temporarily with two more home
runs. But Dennis Delany, a catcher from the 1978 Bruins and the
oldest player left in the contest, tied him with one roundtripper
and immediately became the crowd favorite. Pritchett, a first
baseman for the Angels, would slam two more, and Valent would tie
him at four, moving both men into the finals, with Adams suggesting
that first prize be a $10,000 bonus to be donated from their
contracts to the UCLA baseball program.

Pritchett was the first batter, and he did not connect on either
of his two swings. Valent took his first pitch 421 feet down the
right field line to end the contest and hold bragging rights for a
year.

"It feels good to win this thing," Valent said. "But it’s all
about fun and that is definitely what this day brings."

The second event of the afternoon was an alumni game that may
have been better suited for a beer league. It involved a team
comprised of players that were 40 years of age and above – "the
oldies" competing against alumni that ranged from 25 to 40 years
old.

"It’s good seeing the old guys come back – the older the
better," said Adams, who was definitely not referring to the
quality of play in the game.

David Sandford of the famed 1969 team was the starting pitcher
for the oldies. His defense would immediately let him down,
committing three errors in the top of the first inning that led to
five unearned runs. But the oldies fought back in the bottom half,
putting up a five spot of their own thanks to a two-run scoring
double by Rick Krekorian.

But the second and final inning was when age caught up to the
oldies. Former Astro and Ranger Jim York was torched for ten runs,
including a ground-rule double by Steve Sakowski, clearing the
bases. Adams mercifully ended the game after two so the premier
event of the day could begin.

The 1999 Bruins were pitted against a team of professional
players, all of whom came out of the Bruin factory. First Baseman
Garrett Atkins said that the current team was looking forward to
the game as more than just a practice game.

"It’s a good way to get loosened up for the season, get all the
nerves out. Plus, it’s a fun game. You get to meet all of the
alumni pro guys."

The professional experience proved too much for the overwhelmed
1999 team, as Glaus clouted a majestic, 481 foot two-run home run
to dead center field in the top of the first inning to give the
alumni an insurmountable lead. A relaxed Glaus said that "it’s fun
to come out and see the new team. It’s more relaxed over on this
side."

In the bottom half of the inning, Jim Parque of the Chicago
White Sox would silence the current Bruin bats with a dominating
array of pitches, proving why he was the first member of the 1997
draft class to reach the big leagues.

The second inning saw Parque continue his dominance, allowing
only one single, to 1998 freshman All-American and current second
baseman Chase Utley.

The 1999 Bruins posed a threat in the third, as Matt Pearl led
off with a double to left field off of Jake Meyer of the Chicago
White Sox. Freshman third baseman Randall Shelley moved him to
third with a sacrifice fly, and outfielder Michael Hymes sent him
home with a ground ball to the right side of the infield. That
would be the last score for the current ball club, however.

The third inning was the last of the day, as Valent continued
his prosperous return, lacing a single to right field and knocking
in the final run for the alumni.

The 1999 Bruins used this game to get ready for their Hawaii
trip next weekend, where they will play five games against the
University of Hawaii and Hawaii-Hilo.

As for Saturday, the current Bruins are not too worried about
their performance. "It’s fun. It gives you something to shoot for.
We all have the same goal – to be where they are," Atkins said.

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