Oct. 2, 2000

Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri baseball team will open its fall 2000 schedule with the Black and Gold game Fri., Oct.6, at 7:00 p.m. The Tigers will play their annual intrasquad game at the Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field complex on the Missouri campus.

One week after the Black and Gold game, the Tigers begin the five-game Fall World Series. The World Series runs from Oct. 15-Oct. 22, with games one and five beginning at 2:00 p.m., and games two and three starting at 7:00. First pitch in game four is at 3:00. All games are free to the public.

MU posted a 33-24 overall record with a 13-14 mark in Big 12 Conference play last season. The Tigers return 15 lettermen off that team, most notably All-American shortstop Ryan Stegall. Stegall, batted .353, with eight home runs and 57 RBI last season. He also saw time on the mound with a school-record 12 saves and a 3-1 record in 22 appearances.

The Tigers' starting pitching staff returns all of last season's conference starters with senior Jon Harris leading the group. Seniors Logan Dale, Pete Sansone and southpaw Mitch Kiler round out the staff.

Mizzou's other big gun is sophomore centerfielder Jayce Tingler, who was named to the Freshman All-America team. He had a .342 batting average and 31 RBI while playing in all 57 games for the Tigers last season.

The rest of the outfield includes junior Wes Fewell and sophomores Dan Bane, Kevin Henry and W.T. Hoover. Freshman Ryan Rallo will also vie for time in the outfield.

The MU infield will have some new faces to go with All-American Stegall. Junior second baseman Luke Cassis and senior first baseman Mick Weiss both played in over 35 games last season, but neither has played a full season at the college level. Junior Kurt Propst is pushing to be the starting first baseman and senior catcher Jon Williams will also see some action at third. Brian Desch has performed well as a freshman at catcher, which will allow the coaches more flexibility with Williams.

Head coach Tim Jamieson, now in his seventh year at Missouri hopes to use the fall season to teach his players what is expected offensively and defensively as well as good pitching and base running skills.

"We hope to get everyone on the same page philosophically and mechanically, and teach our players how execute in certain situations," Jamieson said.

MU BASEBALL FALL SCHEDULE
Oct. 6 - Black & Gold Game (7:00 p.m.)
Oct. 15 - Fall World Series Game #1 (2:00 p.m.)
Oct. 16 - Fall World Series Game #2 (7:00 p.m.)
Oct. 18 - Fall World Series Game #3 (7:00 p.m.)
Oct. 20 - Fall World Series Game #4, if necessary (3:00 p.m.)
Oct. 22 - Fall World Series Game #5, if necessary (2:00 p.m.)