May 15, 2003
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vs. Oklahoma Sooners (21-27, 9-15 Big 12)
Columbia, Mo. - Taylor Stadium (2,200)
Fri.-Sun., May 16-18, 2003
TIGERS HONOR SIMMONS WITH BRONZE BUST ON FRIDAY
On Friday at 5 p.m., before the start of the Oklahoma series, a bronze bust of Hall of Fame Head Coach John "Hi" Simmons will be unveiled on the concourse at the stadium that bears his name. Between 30 and 50 members of his former players, as well as three of his sons, will be in attendance.
? ? ? Simmons, who passed away in 1995, coached at Mizzou from 1937-73, finishing with a record of 481-294-3. He led the Tigers to the 1954 NCAA title, had three other squads (1952, '58, '64) finish second, and in total brought six teams to the College World Series. He also skippered Mizzou to 11 conference championships.
? ? ? The Lancaster, Mo., native coached 19 All-Americans, including nine first-team choices. A former president of the American Baseball Coaches Association, Simmons was inducted in the State of Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1977, and is a lso a member of the ABCA Hall of Fame.
MIZZOU ENTERS FINAL WEEKEND WITH BIG 12 SEED IN DOUBT
The Missouri baseball team, which moved into fifth place in the Big 12 without even playing a conference game last week, plays its final games of the 2003 regular season this weekend in hopes of improving both its seed for the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament, as well as its chances of an NCAA Tournament bid.
? ? ? The Tigers will make their attempt by facing an Oklahoma squad that has had an uncharacteristically tough season, yet is hot as of late (winners of seven of its last 10 games) and has also had Mizzou's number over the last three seasons (10-0 overall vs. Mizzou).
SOONER SERIES NOTES
Oklahoma leads the all-time series, 130-92, in a matchup that has been played since 1912, five years after the Sooner State's admission into the Union. Since the formation of the Big 12, Oklahoma has held a 15-4 advantage, including 5-3 in Columbia.
TIGERS TO HONOR TINGLER, BILICA BEFORE SATURDAY'S GAME
Prior to the start of Saturday's game, Head Coach Tim Jamieson and the Missouri baseball program will recognize its two seniors, centerfielder Jayce Tingler (Smithville, Mo.) and right-handed pitcher Brian Bilica (Jefferson City, Mo.), for their contributions to the program.
? ? ? Tingler will finish his career as a four-year starter for the Tigers, mostly as their leadoff hitter. His next hit will break the school record he currently shares with former standout Ryan Fry (1995-98), and is in the top 10 in several other categories.
? ? ? Bilica, a 27-year-old walk-on who made his Tiger debut this season, has provided invaluable leadership as the elder statesman of the team. He has seen action in four games, and didn't allow an earned run until this past Friday against Rockhurst.
BROSHUIS EARNS ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT PLAUDITS
Sophomore RHP Garrett Broshuis (Advance, Mo.) has been named to the 11-member Verizon? Academic All-District VII Baseball Team, as voted upon by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). As a member of the team, Broshuis' name now is forwarded onto the national ballot for consideration as an Academic All-American.
? ? ? Broshuis holds a 3.92 cumulative grade-point average in psychology, and has posted a perfect 4.0 GPA last semester. He has twice been a member of both the Big 12 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll and Student-Athlete Dean's List. A member of Mizzou's Student-Athlete Advisory Council, Broshuis attended the 2002 NCAA Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla.
? ? ? Broshuis and sophomore Travis Wendte (Moore, Okla.) also were named to the 2003 Baseball Academic All-Big 12 Team earlier this week.
TINGLER FEATURED IN BASEBALL AMERICA AS HE NEARS RECORDS
Senior CF Jayce Tingler (Smithville, Mo.) is featured in the May 1 issue of Baseball America, which hit newsstands last week. Chicago Cubs pitching phenom Mark Prior is on the cover.
? ? ? Tingler, an all-Big 12 candidate, is close to several Tiger career records. His next hit will give him 266, passing Ryan Fry (1995-98) as Mizzou's all-time hit king. In addition, Tingler's 162 career walks are just three away from breaking the record held by Matt Nivens (1994-97). Finally, Tingler needs to score six runs to pass Fry's 223 as Mizzou's career leader in that category.
TIGER TURNAROUND
It's safe to say (and Baseball America has) that Missouri is one of college baseball's biggest surprises this season. Picked ninth by the league's coaches before the start of the season, the Tigers have played well enough to secure a berth in the Big 12 Tournament with several weekends to spare, and are poised for their first upper-division finish in the league for the first time since 1998.
? ? ? With three games left to play in the regular season, plus at least two games in the Big 12 Tournament to follow, the Tigers have made the list of the best turnaround jobs in school history.
BRICKTOWN WILL BE TIGERTOWN THIS MONTH
With its win on Saturday against No. 13 Texas A&M, coupled with Texas Tech's pair of losses against Nebraska over the weekend, Mizzou has clinched a berth in the 2003 Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Baseball Tournament. It will mark the Tigers' first visit to Oklahoma City since 2000. This year's tournament will take place at SBC Bricktown Ballpark from May 21-25.