By Dylan Hernandez
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Well, if anything, UCLA head coach Gary Adams is keeping his
players optimistic.
The Bruins are 14-20 on the year, 1-2 in conference games.
They’ve lost most close games they have been involved in.
And in a three-game homestand this weekend, they will have to
face Arizona State (22-12), a team ranked 23rd in Baseball
America’s latest national rankings.
Yet, Adams, UCLA’s skipper in his 28th season in Westwood,
is telling the Bruins that they can do what no one else thinks they
can do.
“We’re still going for a conference
championship,” Adams said.
Whoa.
Looks ridiculous?
It isn’t.
Adams isn’t being unrealistic about his team’s
ability.
“In the preseason (Pac-10 poll), we were pegged for eighth
place,” Adams said. “So far, they’ve hit the nail
on the head.”
What he is doing, however, is convincing his young squad that
it’s making progress, that the strides it’s made can
lead to something positive ““ perhaps even a conference
title.
“Everyone has confidence to win every game,” second
baseman Ryan Rasmussen said. “(The recent losses) in no way
impact it. We have so much confidence.”
The Bruins do have some tools to work with.
UCLA has six players with 50 or more at-bats hitting higher than
.300, including catcher Josh Arhart, who leads the team with a .388
average.
Designated hitter Adam Berry has 14 home runs on the year and
his average of 0.50 round-trippers per game ranks third in the
nation.
Outfielder Ben Francisco, meanwhile, leads the Pac-10 in both
runs (38) and steals (16).
Also, UCLA holds an 8-6 record at home Jackie Robinson Stadium,
the site of this weekend’s games.