KVOA

Posted: Nov 12, 2009 10:49 AM

CORPUS CHRISTI - In the four-year history of the Whataburger College Classic, fans have been treated to appearances by top-ranked Rice and Arizona and all-tournament performances from players like Ike Davis, Sam Demel, Aaron Luna, Joe Savery, Colt Sedbrook, Eric Sogard and Jon Gaston.

Nationally-ranked and renowned clubs like Arizona State, TCU, Texas Tech, Notre Dame and South Alabama have also spent parts of their spring breaks at 734 East Port Avenue.

How does this sound for 2010? UCLA, Mississippi State and Oklahoma join Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the Whataburger College Classic's fifth edition March 12-14 at Whataburger Field.

The Bruins, Bulldogs and Sooners have combined for 77 NCAA tournament appearances and 19 trips to Omaha for the College World Series. The Sooners were national champions in 1951 and 1994 and finished 18th nationally in 2009.

Recalled Corpus Christi Hooks president Ken Schrom: "My first response when the field for 2010 was finalized was ‘WOW!' This will be a weekend at Whataburger Field to remember with three of college baseball's elite programs. It'll be a great opportunity for fans throughout South Texas - fans of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in particular - to come out and see the best in college baseball."

Tickets go to public sale for the Fifth Annual Whataburger College Classic on Friday, February 12. Hooks season-ticket holders may reserve their same-seat locations by calling the box office at 361-561-HOOK, x: 1. Season-ticket invoices offered the option.

Whataburger College Classic adult ticket packages for all three days are just $18, a terrific value! Youth packages (ages 4-12) are $9. Daily tickets are $8 and $4. Children 3-and-under are admitted free.

The schedule:

Friday, March 12
Mississippi State vs. Oklahoma, 2 p.m.
TAMUCC vs. UCLA, 6 p.m.

Saturday, March 13
Oklahoma vs. TAMUCC, 1 p.m.
Mississippi State vs. UCLA, 5 p.m.

Sunday, March 14
Oklahoma vs. UCLA, 11 a.m.
Mississippi State vs. TAMUCC, 3 p.m. (DH)



MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
City/State: Starkville, MS
Founded: 1878
Enrollment: 18,601
School Colors: Maroon & White
Home Field (capacity/year built): Dudy Noble Field (15,000/1967)
Conference: SEC (Western Division)
Athletics Website: www.MStateAthletics.com

COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: John Cohen
Alma Mater (year): Mississippi State University (1990)
Record at School (seasons): 25-29 (1)
Overall Record (seasons): 346-226-1 (10)
Assistant Coaches: Butch Thompson, Lane Burroughs, Nick Mingione

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
Brent Brownlee - OF, So., .290/1/11
Jet Butler - 2B, Sr., .335/4/37
Ryan Duffy - DH, Sr., .339/10/33
Connor Powers - 1B, Sr., .301/19/63
Nick Routt - LHP, So., 5-3/4.15
Russ Sneed - 3B, Sr., .333/9/43
Tyler Whitney - LHP, Sr., 3-4/5.18

Everyday Players Returning: 6
Everyday Players Lost: 3
Lettermen Returning: 17
Lettermen Lost: 15

2009 RECAP
Overall Record: 25-29
Home Record: 18-11
Road Record: 7-16
Neutral Record: 0-2
Conference Record (finish): 9-20 (6th in SEC West/12th overall)



THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
City/State: Norman, OK
Founded: 1890
Enrollment: 30,092
School Colors: Crimson and Cream
Home Field (capacity/year built): L. Dale Mitchell Park (2,700/1982)
Conference: Big 12
Athletics Website: www.SoonerSports.com

COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Sunny Golloway
Alma Mater (year): Oklahoma Christian College (1984)
Record at School (seasons): 170-98-1 (5)
Overall Record (seasons): 505-254 (12)
Assistant Coaches: Tim Tadlock, Mike Bell, Russell Raley

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
Garrett Buechele, 3B, So., .353/4/40
Casey Johnson, OF, Jr., .307/7/44
Chris Ellison, OF, So., .316/3/22
Cameron Seitzer, 1B/DH, So., .307/4/21
Ryan Duke, RHP, Jr., 3-1/3.22/16
Jeremy Erben, RHP, Sr., 0-1/3.62
J.R. Robinson, LHP, Sr., 3-1/6.49
Michael Rocha, RHP, Jr., 5-3/4.84
Everyday Players Returning: 4
Everyday Players Lost: 5
Letterman Returning: 17
Letterman Lost: 15

2009 RECAP
Overall Record: 43-20
Home Record: 26-5
Road Record: 13-11
Neutral Record: 4-4
Conference Record (finish): 17-10 (2nd)
Conference Tournament Record: 1-2
Postseason Record: 2-2 (Norman Regional)



TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI
City/State: Corpus Christi, TX
Founded: 1947
Enrollment: 9,650
School Colors: Blue and Green
Home Field (capacity/year built): Chapman Field (500/2002)
Conference: Southland
Athletics Website: www.goislanders.com

COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Scott Malone
Alma Mater (year): McMurry (1998)
Record at School (seasons): 42-71-1 (2)
Overall Record (seasons): 42-71-1 (2)
Assistant Coaches: Chris Ramirez, Marty Smith, Blaze Lambert

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
Jeramie Marek, OF, So., .335/2/20
Weston Montgomery, OF/P, So., .278/3/20; 0-0/2.70
Jacob Perales, OF, Jr., .282/5/26
Trey Hernandez, 1B/P .236/12/33; 2-3/8.20/4
Brandon Orr, P, Sr., 2-6/6.05
Roy Ferdin, P, Jr., 2-7/6.27
Brett Carnline, P, Sr., 3-7/7.14
Andrew Toppert, P, Sr., 1-5/5.40

Everyday Players Returning: 4
Everyday Players Lost: 5
Lettermen Returning: 17
Lettermen Lost: 13

2009 RECAP
Overall Record: 18-38
Home Record: 9-15
Road Record: 8-23
Neutral Record: 1-0
Conference Record (finish): 9-24 (12th)



UCLA
City/State: Los Angeles, CA
Founded: 1919
Enrollment: 37,500
School Colors: Blue and Gold
Home Field (capacity/year built): Jackie Robinson Stadium (1,250/1981)
Conference: Pac-10
Athletics Website: www.uclabruins.com

COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: John Savage
Alma Mater (year): Nevada (1991)
Record at School (seasons): 141-150 (5)
Overall Record (seasons): 229-234-1 (8)
Assistant Coaches: Rick Vanderhook, Steve Pearse, P.C. Shaw

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
Trevor Bauer, RHP, So., 9-3/2.99/2
Gerrit Cole, RHP, So., 4-8/3.49
Blair Dunlap, INF/OF, Sr., .301/7/39
Justin Uribe, INF/OF, Sr., .318/3/23
Garett Claypool, RHP, Sr., 2-1/3.49
Rob Rasmussen, LHP, Jr., 4-2/6.45/1
Matt Grace, LHP, Jr., 4-3/4.72
Chris Giovinazzo, OF, Jr., .286/1/15 RBI

Everyday Players Returning: 4
Everyday Players Lost: 5
Lettermen Returning: 17
Lettermen Lost: 12

2009 RECAP
Overall Record: 27-29
Home Record: 16-10
Road Record: 11-16
Neutral Record: 0-3
Conference Record (finish): 15-12 (t-3rd)