Sports • Wednesday, March 12, 2014
THE DAILY WILDCAT • 7
BASEBALL
HOCKEY
Berger emerges for Arizona
Historic season for Cats
BY EVAN ROSENFELD
The Daily Wildcat
Arizona baseball coach Andy Lopez has said “defense wins games” time and time again. But going into Tuesday’s game, Lopez has seen his team commit more errors (19-17) and compile a worse fielding percentage (.972) than its opponents (.974). Junior catcher Jordan Berger has represented a defensive bright spot this season. Going into Tuesday’s game, Berger had only two errors in nine games played and seven starts. “I just never stop working,” Berger said. “The main thing I’ve worked on is defense, and as a catcher, that’s the most important thing. ... This year, I really embraced working on defense and it’s paid off a lot.” Berger said that as a catcher, it’s crucial to get every strike for your pitcher, and that he studied film of himself to get better. “Hitters, when they are down in the count, it’s much tougher to get base hits and puts a lot of pressure on them when we get ahead in the count,” Berger said. “I’ve really taken a big responsibility to get strikes for my guys and have put a lot of work into getting better at it.” He said that sometimes, it just takes a slight rotation of the wrist to bring a low strike up in the zone. “I really work on trying to extend and twist my wrist to the left in order to frame the pitch. We want to get that low strike for our guys,” Berger said. “Our pitchers are taught to throw low strikes, so [framing] is definitely something I’ve been working on.” CARLOS HERRERA/THE DAILY WILDCAT Over his first two years with the team, JUNIOR CATCHER Jordan Berger is tagged out at second base during the Wildcat’s matchup with Kent State on Sunday at Berger started in just two games behind Hi Corbett Field. Berger has become a mainstay at catcher this season and improved his offense this season. the plate as a freshman. In his sophomore campaign, Berger was utilized for his ability staff, so every strike they throw they need to games. He collected nine RBI in 25 at-bats so to make contact instead of catch and started get. He does a pretty good job of doing that.” far this season. six games “The key with hitting is just trying to make Berger’s only as the two errors of hard contact,” Berger said. “That’s what I I’ve really taken a big responsibility designated the year came try to do. I go up to the plate hacking at the to get strikes for my guys. hitter. This against Long fastball, and if I see one, try to go the other — Jordan Berger, year, he has Beach State way with it.” junior catcher emerged on March 5. as the His fielding defensive catcher coach Lopez covets. percentage was .967 over nine games played “He’s not getting careless or sloppy,” and seven starts this season. In addition, — Follow Evan Rosenfeld Lopez said. “We don’t have an overpowering Berger was hitting .280 going into this week’s @EvanRosenfeld17
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PAC-12
FROM PAGE 6
California somehow managed to finish fourth. Best Player: point guard Justin Cobbs, 15. 6 ppg Odds: 20-1
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o. 5 Colorado (21-10, 108)
The Buffaloes need to do well in order to secure a bid to the NCAA tournament, but can make a deep run. They play a less talented Trojan team in the first round. If forward Josh Scott can continue to be a force down by the basket, Colorado has an excellent chance to reach the finals, especially if its guards can limit the oppositions 3-point scoring. Best Player: forward Josh Scott, 14.5 ppg Odds: 10-1
BY JOEY PUTRELO The Daily Wildcat
Wildcat hockey got two King Kong-sized gorillas off its back in the 2013-14 season. For eight years, the program only got to watch the postseason from home and lost 37 straight games its rival from up north. But this season Arizona (17-24-0, 8-8-0 WCHL) returned to the national tournament and finally defeated ASU.
Rundown
Previously an independent program, Arizona joined the Western Collegiate Hockey League this year. This season ASU, Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, Colorado and Colorado State became part of the WCHL as well. Wildcats head coach Sean Hogan also welcomed his second recruiting class. Featuring nine freshmen, it was his largest at the UA. Tommy Bennett was the lone walk-on of the season. Once again Hogan created one of the toughest schedules in the league. Of the 40 games the Wildcats played, 25 were against teams invited to last season’s national tournament. In the Preseason National Coaches’ poll, Arizona began its 2013-14 campaign as the No. 19 team in the league. Right before the opening games against NAU, Hogan named his senior left wing Ansel Ivens-Anderson the new captain to succeed Brian Slugocki. Shortly after, the rankings would be determined by computer calculations, and at the end of October the Wildcats had made it to No. 10. The last time the UA had been ranked that high was in the
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o. 6 Stanford (19-11, 108)
The Cardinal had a surprisingly good season that included a couple of upset victories. Forward Dwight Powell was named to the conference’s first team All-Conference team. Best Player: guard Chasson Randle, 18.8 ppg Odds: 9-2
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o. 7 Oregon (22-8, 10-8)
No one is hotter than the Ducks right now. And no one has had more of a roller coaster season. After winning its first 13 games, Oregon proceeded to drop eight of its next 10, only to finish the season on a seven-game winning streak. The final stretch of the season included a upset victory at home over then No. 3 Arizona. Best Player: guard Joseph
Young, 18.2 ppg Odds: 25-1
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o. 8 Utah (20-10, 9-9)
The Utes s h o w e d much growth from 201213. Their one major blemish was their 2-8 road record. They also have yet to play a game on a neutral court, like the Pac-12 tournament is. Best Player: guard Delon Wright, 16. 1 ppg Odds: 45-1
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o. 9 Washington (17-14, 9-9)
It’s been a while since the Wildcats beat Washington 71-62 on Jan. 4. But if Wa s h i n g t o n gets past Utah in its first round game, it will meet up with Arizona. However, UW doesn’t have the size or talent in the post to compete with Utah, and
HOCKEY, 8
especially the UA. Best Player: guard C.J. Wilcox, 18.5 ppg Odds: 50-1
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o. 10 Oregon State (1614, 8-10)
The Beavers won’t be going to the NCAA tournament without winning the Pac-12 tournament. And that probably w o n ’ t h a p p e n . Despite having the conference’s leading scorer on its roster in Roberto Nelson, OSU doesn’t have the depth. Best Player: point guard Roberto Nelson, 20. 6 ppg Odds: 75-1
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o. 11 Washington State (10-20, 3-15)
Though it was also a while a g o , Arizona fans still p r o b a b l y remember holding the Cougars to 25 total points on Jan. 2. Washington State’s
inability to score was a theme all season long. The Cougars scored 62.4 ppg, one of the lowest in the country (336). Best Player: guard DaVonte Lacy, 19.1 ppg Odds: 100-1
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o. 12 USC (11-20, 2-16)
Not much needs to be said about the Trojans. They were the only team in the Pac-12 that didn’t have a single player named to the c o n f e r e n c e ’s honors list or honorable mention list. There’s lots of work to be done in south central Los Angeles, and it starts with bringing in the right athletes. Best Player: Guard J.T. Terrell, 10.0 ppg Odds: 90-1
— Follow Luke Della @LukeDella
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