Stanford Cardinal
Overall Rank: #16
Conference Rank: #3 Pac-12
The Stanford Cardinal were one step away from reaching the College World Series in 2011. It was Head Coach Mark Marquess’ 27th visit to the NCAA Tournament with the Cardinal in his 36 year tenure. A member of the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, Coach Marquess is the fourth winningest active college baseball coach. He brings back seven of his starters in the field from last year and a group of experienced starting pitchers. Among the newcomers are seven freshmen who were selected in the 2011 MLB draft. The Cardinal will play one of the toughest schedules in the country, playing the arduous Pac-12 opponents as well as taking on the likes of Rice, Texas and Vanderbilt at home.
2011: 35-22, 14-12
2011 Postseason: NCAA, Eliminated in Chapel Hill Super Regionals (two losses to North Carolina)
Coach: Mark Marquess, 36th Season
Field Players:
Junior Stephen Piscotty was All-Pac-10 in 2011, ranking second in average in the conference at .364. Along with his team high average, the third baseman led the club with 82 hits. Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Brian Ragira led the Cardinal in RBI with 46. The first baseman earned Freshman All-American honors. Outfielder Tyler Gaffney hit .327 with 35 RBI last season. The junior finished up 2011 with a 22 game hit streak. Junior Kenny Diekroeger hit .293 last spring. The short stop is expected to be a first round draft pick in the 2012 MLB draft. Second baseman Lonnie Kauppila hit .298 and turned in a .992 fielding percentage, making just two errors in 258 chances.
Pitchers:
Stanford will begin the 2012 season with a tested rotation. Junior Mark Appel made 17 starts last year. The USA National Team player went 6-7 with a 3.02 ERA for the Cardinal in 2011. Right hander, Dean McArdie, was 7-4 in 12 starts. Red-shirt junior Brent Mooneyham returns to action for Stanford after missing last season due to injury. Mooneyham was drafted last June by the Washington Nationals.
Who to Watch:
Of the Cardinal’s 10 freshmen, seven were picked in the 2011 MLB draft. Wayne Taylor was drafted in the 14th round by the Angels. A tremendous athlete, Taylor was the Texas High School Baseball Player of the Year and an All-State quarterback at Memorial High in Houston. The catcher played just half his senior year because of injury, and still Taylor hit 17 home runs and slugged 1.183. Lake Worth High graduate Dominic Jose was drafted in the 15th round by the Angels. The outfielder was considered one of the top outfield recruits in Florida. Alex Blandino, drafted in the 38th round by the A's, provides Coach Marquess with flexibility playing both infield and pitching. Blandino was an All-State infielder in 2011, set the St. Francis High career home run record as a senior and was 4-1 on the mound with a 2.18 ERA. Spenser Linney and Austin Slater were selected in the 44th round by the Padres and Dodgers respectively. Linney, who lettered at Head Royce School in Alameda, was named a 2011 All-American. The left hand pitcher struck out 114 in 57.2 innings. Slater was a two-time state champion, was named High School All-American and hit .398 his senior season. David Schmidt and John Hochstatter were picked in the 47th round. The St. Louis Cardinals picked Schmidt. The state champion pitcher was named All-State his senior season. Hochstatter, a High School All-American pitcher, was drafted by the Twins and played on the Under 18 National Team last summer.
Final Projection:
The Stanford Cardinal bring back all but one of their fielders and offense from a team that was close to reaching Omaha. With a good portion of last year’s pitching staff coming back and the highly touted newcomers, the Cardinal are set to make their 28th trip to the NCAA Tournament and a solid run at the College World Series.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Stephen Piscotty, 3B, 225; Kenny Diekroeger, SS, 225
Hits: Stephen Piscotty, 3B, 82
Home Runs: Austin Wilson, OF, 5
RBIs: Brian Rigira, 1B, 46
Runs: Tyler Gaffney, OF, 42
Stolen Bases: Kenny Diekroeger, SS, 8
Wins: Dean McArdie, P, 7
Innings Pitched: Mark Appel, P, 110.1
Strikeouts: Mark Appel, P, 86
Saves: None
Madness 2012 MLB Draft Rankings:
#1 Mark Appel
#8 Kenny Diekroeger
#53 Stephen Piscotty
#80 Jacob Stewart
