Oregon State Beavers
Overall Rank: #14
Conference Rank: #2 PAC-12
Oregon State Team Page
The Oregon State Beavers reached the NCAA Super Regional round in 2011 for the first time since their back-to-back College World Series Titles in 2006 and 2007. In addition to the National Titles, long-time Head Coach Pat Casey has taken his club to the Tournament six out of the last seven years. The 2011 team had eight players taken in the MLB draft. Coach Casey starts 2012 returning 15 letter winners, including six position starters. The 2011 PAC-10 Coach of the Year will augment his returners with a highly ranked group of recruits.
2011: 41-19, 17-10
2011 Postseason: NCAA Eliminated in Nashville Super Regional (two losses to Vanderbilt)
Coach: Pat Casey, 18th Season
Field Players:
Sophomore Kavin Keyes was outstanding as a rookie, earning Freshman All-American honors. He led the Beavers with 55 hits and was third with a .302 average. The All-Conference pick highlighted his first season with a 14-game hit streak. Senior infielders Ryan Dunn and Danny Hayes both led the team last spring with four homeruns and 30 runs scored. Dunn was an All-Conference performer while Hayes fielded .988, making just two errors in 158 chances. Additionally, he was second among the Beavers with 32 RBI.
Pitchers:
Junior Tony Bryant was All-Conference as a reliever for Oregon State and second in saves in the PAC-10 with 12. The young right hander finished with a 1.52 ERA, fanning 40 in 47 innings. Matt Boyd spent the summer playing on Team USA. The southpaw came on in relief 30 times for the Beavers in 2011, posted a 1.57 ERA and struck out 35. Sophomore Ben Wetzler is the lone returner that had more than three starts last season. Wetzler went 6-3, punching out 50.
Who to Watch:
A talented group of recruits join the Beavers for the spring campaign. Freshman Jace Fry was picked by the A’s in the ninth round of the 2011 MLB draft. The Beaverton, Oregon Southridge High product was named Oregon 6A Pitcher of the Year. As a senior, he was 10-0 with a 1.42 ERA. The lefty struck out 92 in 59 innings. A 14th round draft pick of the Pirates, freshman Jordan Dunatov hit .492 as a senior at Horizon High School in Scottsdale, AZ. Freshman Carlos Rodriquez, a 6’2” left handed pitcher, was picked by Atlanta in the 20th round last June. At Tolani High (Kapolei, Hawaii) he earned All-State honors and was rated Hawaii’s number one recruit as a junior. In 2011 he struck out 56 batters in 39.2 innings. Nate Esposito, a 46th round pick by Oakland, adds a little versatility to the lineup, playing catcher and infield. The freshman from Granite Bay (CA) High School hit .329 as a senior.
Final Projection:
Oregon State’s veterans will need to take their game to the next level to help the Beavers’ continue to be competitive at the highest levels. Coach Casey appears to have his club headed in the right direction, climbing back to the Super Regionals a year ago. The trends are good for the Beavers with wins going up, ERA coming down. Oregon State will be in the thick of the inaugural PAC-12 race, they will make their third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and a run at another trip to Omaha.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Kavin Keyes, IF, 182
Hits: Kavin Keyes, IF, 55
Home Runs: Ryan Dunn, IF, 4; Danny Hayes, IF, 4
RBIs: Danny Hayes, IF, 32
Runs: Ryan Dunn, IF, 30; Danny Hayes, IF, 30
Stolen Bases: Ryan Barnes, IF/OF, 8
Wins: Ben Wetzler, P, 6
Innings Pitched: Ben Wetzler, P, 67.2
Strikeouts: Ben Wetzler, P, 50
Saves: Tony Bryant, P, 12
