John Denton’s Season Preview F
inally, the talk of UCF’s baseball program taking the next step is more than just talk. Now, there is literally and figuratively concrete proof in the expanding facility and the impressive product on the field that the Knights are moving closer to the elite level in college baseball. JD: You have talked since you got here about the need to improve the facilities at UCF to help this baseball program compete at the highest levels. How excited are you that construction of Phase I of the renovations are underway?
TR: “We got a great bounce. By getting to the regional, you get the experience of being there. Now, when you tell players on a day-to-day basis this is what it takes to get there, it makes more sense to them now. Last year, we had 15 games left in the season and we sat everybody down and talked about what we needed to do
to get an at-large bid. With all of the veterans we have now there’s a real understanding there. From an outside standpoint, getting to a regional, getting in the top 25 and with the renovations we have going on with our stadium, I hope that it shows the country that UCF is back in the national spotlight and in a position to make a run to Omaha.’’ JD: Your theme for this season is “good to great.” What makes you think that this program is ready to make that next step and truly be great this season? TR: “Last year what we did was good and in no way do I want to diminish what we accomplished. But now it’s about taking the next step and that’s the determination that this team has. In order to do something you haven’t done you have to do something different. And from our standpoint it’s just about everybody playing better and be consistent throughout the year. For us to become great, the experience we have is going to be huge.’’
TR: “It’s exciting for the guys and it’s exciting for everybody involved with the baseball program. We’ve talked about it a couple of years now and to see it actually going up it’s an exciting time for our program. “The number one component for UCF baseball to take the next step is improving our facility. There isn’t a number two because that’s number one. That’s just the facts.’’ JD: Getting to the NCAA Regional was a huge accomplishment for this program. What kind of bounce did you get in momentum for the offseason and for the season ahead?
to get an at-large bid and we did it. I wanted our guys to know what it took. “Going to a regional, now they know you play 56 regular-season games and every game matters
JD: After getting to a regional last year the next step in the progression would be getting to a Super Regional this season. Is that the carrot for this team? TR: “The carrot is Omaha (for the College World
A History of Excellence The Beginning Years
While 1973 might be the first official season for the UCF baseball program, its foundation was laid in 1970 with the formation of the UCF club team. The FTU Goldsox played a 20-game schedule in the Amateur Baseball League of Central Florida, and started their season in early May. The team, led by head coach Jack Pantelias, consisted of mostly freshmen and sophomores, and competed against teams like the Sanford Giants, the Orlando Flyers and Burger King. In 1971, the Goldsox posted a 15-12 record after winning their last eight games. Pantelias led FTU the following season, which saw the team go 13-18 with Allen Tuttle finishing with a .363 batting average. However, Pantelias left before the end of the season to be with his family, so Doug Holmquist stepped in to close out the year. Holmquist then served as the first UCF head coach at the university level in 1973, and went on to earn a winning record in each of his three seasons in Orlando. During that 1973 campaign, Mike Ferrell dominated at the plate, boasting a .374 average with 46 hits in 123 at-bats. Dave String, meanwhile, led the team in RBI with 21, as the Goldsox hit .260 as a team.
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Building Success
The Knights posted just three losing seasons in their first 10 years at the NCAA level. When Jay Bergman ventured to UCF in 1983, the program took off. The skipper led the Black and Gold to 23-straight seasons of at least .500 ball and the program’s first NCAA D-I Tournament appearance in 1989. Teams in the Atlantic Sun fell victim to the Knights on a routine basis. After playing in the Sun Belt Conference in 1992, UCF claimed the A-Sun (formerly the TAAC) title in its first try the following season. From Tim Barker to Chad Ehrnsberger, UCF players began receiving nationwide recognition for their achievements on the field and in the classroom. Their efforts enabled the Knights to reach the postseason nine times from 1989 to 2004. Along with team success, several players went on to experience the professional ranks. In 1995 alone, six Knights were drafted in the top 14 rounds while 10 total players were taken in the 1998 MLB Draft.
The Jay Bergman Field Era
A new home awaited the UCF baseball program in 2001 and fans were quick to enter its gates. The Knights ranked 38th in the country as they averaged 911 fans per game. UCF responded by treating the fans to a 51-14 season, an A-Sun title and a No. 7 national ranking. Knight supporters continued to cheer on UCF as the Black and Gold remained a staple in the top 25 through 2005. It climbed back into the spotlight in 2008 by reaching as high as No. 16. UCF eventually left the A-Sun for one of the toughest baseball conferences in the land by joining Conference USA for the 2006 campaign. In a nine-team league that typically sends four to five programs to the NCAA Tournament, the Knights faced their biggest challenge to date. With the competition level growing on the diamond, the fan base remained strong as well. In 2009, the Knights set a school record for highest-attended series and single-game average (1,088 fans per game). On April 20, 2011, 3,601 fans packed the baseball complex for the largest crowd in school history. In all, three of the program’s top-20 series draws came in 2011 with the best yet to come.