THE SERIES:
Arizona (13-11) plays host to UC Santa Barbara (8-8) in its final non-conference series before opening Pac-10 play next weekend against California. The Cats will have just five regular season games outside of league play after their series with the Gauchos. Arizona is coming off a non-conference sweep at the hands of Arizona State last week in Tempe.

WILDCAT NOTES:
The Cats' three wins over Tulane (2/25-27) marked the first time the Green Wave had been swept in a series since losing three vs. Indiana (2/28-3/2/97) ... Wildcat pinch-hitters are 19-for-49 (.388) with two homers and 13 RBI this year after hitting .191-0-4 with just nine hits in 1999 ... The Cats homered four times in their 23-8 victory at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2/16), the first time they had done so since hitting four vs. Saint Mary's (1/22/99). They matched that total vs. Tulane (2/26) and at Arizona State (3/5) ... Arizona's 23 runs at TAMU-CC (2/16) were its most in a single game since a 25-6 home victory over Portland State (2/13/98) ... Ryan O'Donnell collected a pair of two-run pinch-hit singles in the sixth inning of the Cats' 21-7 victory over San Francisco (1/29). In one inning, O'Donnell matched Arizona's entire pinch-hit RBI total from a year ago with four ... The Cats scored 12 runs in the sixth inning of their Jan. 29 contest with USF, the most for a UA team in one inning since posting 16 in the seventh inning of a 40-10 victory over St. Francis in Tucson (2/22/95) ... Arizona is 144-5 (.966) dating back to 1993 in games it led after eight innings and 238-9 (.964) going back to 1990.

SHABANSKY RETURNS:
Senior left-hander Rob Shabansky made his first start since opening day, 1999, with three innings vs. Tulane on Feb. 27. Shabansky allowed two runs on four hits while striking out two to earn the victory.

DIGGINS RECOGNIZED:
Sophomore right-hander/designated hitter Ben Diggins earned both national player of the week honors from Collegiate Baseball and Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week recognition for his work during the Tulane series (2/25-27).

Diggins struck out a career-high 13 batters while throwing his second consecutive complete game Friday (2/25) in Arizona's 4-3 win. He allowed just two earned runs in becoming the first Wildcat pitcher since Ryan Frace in 1995 to pitch back-to-back complete games. Saturday and Sunday, while serving as the Cats' designated hitter, Diggins reached base nine times in 10 plate appearances. In the second game of the series (2/26), Diggins homered twice and set career-highs in hits (4), RBI (5) and total bases (10), leading UA to a 17-9 victory. For the week, Diggins compiled a 1.714 slugging percentage.

BEST TOOLS:
Baseball America has announced its list of "Best Tools" in the Pac-10, and three Wildcats were recognized. Junior Keoni DeRenne was named the league's top defensive shortstop as well as its best base runner. Senior center fielder Troy Gingrich was named the Pac-10's fastest runner. And sophomore right-hander Ben Diggins has the best fastball in the conference, according to BA. The magazine also names a preseason All-Pac-10 team to which Duncan was listed as an outfielder and Diggins as the utility player.

DUNCAN SETS MARK:
Sophomore right fielder Shelley Duncan posted back-to-back two-home run games against Nevada (2/12-13), becoming the first player in Arizona history to have more than four multi-homer games in his career. Duncan has done so six times. He joined Colin Porter (vs. USC, 3/20-21/98) as the only Wildcats to homer twice in consecutive games. Dennis Haines had a pair of multiple home run games in both 1972 and '74. In 1993, George Arias had four two-homer games.

Duncan has 28 home runs in only 74 career games, just eight shy of Kenny Corley's career Arizona mark of 36.

WILDCAT RECORDS:
Shelley Duncan has a school-record six career multiple-home run games ... Arizona batters were hit by a school-record six pitches vs. Tulane (2/26) ... Shelley Duncan equaled UA's individual record for hit by pitches in a game with three vs. Tulane (2/26) ... The Wildcats tied their single-game school record for triples with five vs. New Mexico (2/5) ... Arizona pitchers set a school record by hitting six batters in a single game vs. San Francisco (1/30) ... Though it pains me to say, Arizona set school records for runs allowed (32), earned runs allowed (25), total bases allowed (54) and largest margin of defeat (29) at Arizona State (3/4) and also matched the UA record for home runs allowed (7) in a single contest.

STITT'S 100TH:
Arizona's 5-2 victory over Saint Mary's (1/23) marked the 100th of head coach Jerry Stitt's career. In just his fourth season, Stitt joins J.F. "Pop" McKale, Frank Sancet and Jerry Kindall as the only Arizona coaches to reach the century mark in victories.

DURAZO'S DEFENSE:
Junior Ernie Durazo went 35 consecutive games without an error before a throwing miscue vs. San Francisco (1/29). That was the longest error-free streak for a Wildcat first baseman since Arizona joined the Pac-10 in 1979. Marc Wing went 34 straight contests in 1983 and '84 without an error. Durazo accepted 291 consecutive chances without committing an error. Here are the longest error-free game streaks by UA first basemen in the last 22 years:

        Player          Year (s)        Games
1.      Ernie Durazo    1999-00         35
2.      Marc Wing       1983-84         34
3.      Todd Landry     1993            31
4.      Billy Owens     1990            24
5.      Jeff Gjerde     1995            23

PRESEASON HONORS:
Three Wildcats have earned a total of five preseason All-America honors.

Sophomore right-hander Ben Diggins was named a first-team All-American by Baseball America. Sophomore right fielder Shelley Duncan earned second-team honors from BA and third-team recognition from Collegiate Baseball. Both Collegiate Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association named junior shortstop Keoni DeRenne a second-team preseason All-American.

DIGGINS ELIGIBLE FOR DRAFT:
Sophomore right-hander Ben Diggins is eligible for the major league baseball draft following this season due to an exception in MLB's rules. Ordinarily, players at four-year colleges are not eligible for the draft until following their junior year. However, an exception to the rule allows players who turn 21 within 45 days of the draft to be eligible. Diggins turns 21 on June 13, less than two weeks after the draft.

DRAFT PREVIEW:
Sophomore right-hander/designated hitter Ben Diggins figures prominently in Baseball America's 2000 draft preview. Voted the No. 2 prospect for the draft coming out of college this year (behind California's Xavier Nady), Diggins is called the best two-way player and the hardest thrower available. He is also listed as one of the best athletes and possible the best power hitter possibly coming out of college this year. Junior shortstop Keoni DeRenne is rated the 75th-best draft prospect and named as one of the best defensive players.

Sophomore right fielder Shelley Duncan is listed as the sixth-best prospect available in the 2001 draft.

TEAM USA '99:
Junior Keoni DeRenne and sophomores Ben Diggins and Shelley Duncan were all part of the 1999 USA Baseball national squad that posted a 24-15 overall mark.

DeRenne was the team's starting shortstop and hit .376 with a remarkable .506 on-base percentage. He drew 32 walks while striking out just 12 times. Diggins served as the team's closer, posting a 2.05 earned-run average in a team-high 16 appearances. He allowed just 10 base hits in 22.0 innings under Arizona pitching coach Bill Kinneberg, who filled the same capacity for Team USA. Duncan saw limited action before joining the Jayhawk League.

SHABANSKY TOPS IN '90s:
Senior left-hander Rob Shabansky was Arizona's winningest pitcher in the 1990s, despite missing all of 1999 with an elbow injury. Shabanksy's 15 wins edged out James Johnson's 12 victories. Here are the Cats' winningest pitchers by decade:

Decade  Pitcher Record
1950s   Don Lee 36-7
1960s   Rich Hinton     32-8
1970s   Dave Breuker    29-10
1980s   Ed Vosberg      29-19
1990s   Rob Shabanksy   15-8

KNST-RADIO:
KNST, AM-790, will carry 30 regular season games this season, including each Pac-10 contest, plus all postseason action. The station has served as UA's flagship station for 19 years. Sports director Brian Jeffries and Ryan Radtke will handle the play-by-play duties.

Two weeks ago, ESPN Radio reported that former KNST broadcaster Eric Thomae would be returning to the air as the Wildcats' color analyst. Though Thomae has been keeping a low profile as late, rumors concerning his broadcasting future continue to run rampant. This week, USA Today quoted unnamed sources as saying Thomae was returning to his native land of Japan to serve as play-by-play man for the Chunichi Dragons. To that we say, "Domo arigato, Chunichi Dragons."

RED-SHIRTS/INJURIES:
Junior first baseman Ernie Durazo aggravated a strained hamstring vs. Tulane (2/26) and has missed the Cats' last four games. He is questionable for this weekend's series with UC Santa Barbara. Senior right-hander Dave Abbott will red-shirt the season following Tommy John surgery last April 20. He plans to return for the 2001 campaign. Junior right-hander Sam Shelton will miss the season as well. Junior right-hander Ben Vigeland will red-shirt the year.

Sophomore right-hander Peter Fredericks is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his left foot.

DRAFTED CATS:
Fourteen current Arizona players have been chosen a total of 17 times in the Major League Baseball Draft. Mike Meyer, Trevor Mote and Rob Shabansky have been selected twice. Here's a complete list of players drafted:

Player                  Year    Club            Round
Rob Shabansky           1995    Royals          68th

Tony Milo               1996    Mets            7th
Sam Shelton             1996    Dodgers         68th
Mike Meyer              1996    Dodgers         69th
Kevin Huff              1996    Dodgers         71st

Peter Fredericks        1997    Astros          10th
Ryan O'Donnell          1997    Padres          32nd
Trevor Mote             1997    Twins           32nd

Ben Diggins             1998    Cardinals       1st*
Trevor Mote             1998    Royals          30th
Rob Shabansky           1998    Red Sox         39th
Ernie Durazo            1998    Mariners        46th
Kenny Huff              1998    Blue Jays       47th

Mike Meyer              1999    Giants          14th
Matt Abram              1999    Diamondbacks    10th
Ken Riley               1999    Marlins         31st
Klent Corley            1999    Angels          48th
*---Sandwich Pick

SANCET FIELD:
Frank Sancet Field is in its 34th season as the home park of Arizona baseball. The Cats have an 851-360-3 (.702) all-time mark at Sancet Field. UA has had just three losing records at Sancet. Arizona was 20-11 at home last year. Sunday's game with Saint Mary's was the Cats' 1,200 at Sancet. The spacious park is 360 feet down the foul lines, 380 to the power alleys and 400 to center field. A 12-foot fence comes in to left and right center before giving way to a six-foot fence across the center field area. New chair-back seats were installed last season behind home plate.

ALUMNI GAME:
San Diego Padre Jake Thrower's bases loaded triple capped a five-run first inning, leading the Alumni to a 7-6 victory in Arizona's annual All-Pro Alumni Game (2/6).

The Alumni hold an 11-3-2 advantage in the series, which began in 1982. Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Curt Schilling served as the Alumni's guest manager.

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Scott Erickson earned the win, allowing just one unearned run. Florida Marlins southpaw Ryan Moskau picked up the save with a perfect seventh inning. Freshman lefty Nathan Duarte took the loss for the Cats. For Arizona, sophomore right fielder Shelley Duncan went two-for-two including a home run.

The alumni won the pregame home run hitting contest, 11-9, behind Alan Zinter's six long balls.

EARLY SIGNEES:
Collegiate Baseball preseason All-Americans Moises Duran and Jake Whitesides lead a deep and talented group of 13 high school and junior college players who have inked letters of intent during the early signing period to attend Arizona and play baseball beginning in the fall of 2000. Eleven high school seniors and two junior college sophomores comprise the group, which includes nine pitchers.

This is as strong a recruiting class as we have had, Jerry Stitt, who is entering his fourth year as Arizona's head coach, said. It rivals the first class we signed in 1997, which was ranked fourth in the nation. Our first need in the near future is pitching, and we met that need with a great group of young arms. Brian Anderson is the top pitching prospect in Tucson. Plus, the addition of Moises Duran, Stephen Hunt, Ryan Richardson and Jake Whitesides solidify positions that were in need of filling.

Duran is beyond question the best player in Tucson. He has tremendous bat speed. Whitesides is one of the best prospects to sign with this program in a long time. He's a tremendous high school player, and he'll make a tremendous college player. This is a great class.

Richardson is the younger brother of former Wildcat pitcher Jim Richardson (1988-89). Right-hander Sean Rierson was a member of the Chapparal HS that finished the year ranked 20th in Collegiate Baseball's national poll last season and was listed among that publication's list of high school underclassmen to watch. Whitesides was voted No. 70 on Baseball America's list of the top 100 high school prospects for the 2000 draft.

ZASA SHINES:
Sophomore public address announcer Jimmy Zasa returns for his third season as "The Voice of the Wildcats." A favorite of fans and players alike, Zasa is best known for his familiar call "Home Run Sheeelleeey Dunnncannn." Zasa's enthusiasm and exuberance always bring out the excitement in Wildcat fans everywhere. Bear Down!

HEAD COACH JERRY STITT:
Jerry Stitt leads the Cats in his fourth season as head coach.

After three straight last-place finishes in the Pac-10 South, Stitt has led the Cats to back-to-back-to-back winning seasons and a return to postseason play thanks to improved pitching and defense and, under his direct tutelage, the continued success of Wildcat hitters.

Arizona qualified for an NCAA regional last year for the first time since 1993. The year before, the Cats ranked among the nation's leaders in doubles, triples, homers, runs scored and slugging percentage while reaching as high as No. 2 in one national poll.

Stitt has posted an 108-83 (.565) mark in his three seasons at the helm of the Cats, earning his 100th career win vs. Saint Mary's Jan. 23. He follows J.F. Pop McKale, Frank Sancet and Jerry Kindall as the only head coaches since 1922 and is only the 14th coach in the 93-year history of Arizona baseball.

Stitt was an All-American at UA in 1968 as a senior and was drafted in the 32nd round by the Cleveland Indians. He played three years in the Tribe organization before moving to coaching.He joined the Cats' coaching staff in 1978 and had been its associate head coach since 1992.

ARIZONA VS. UCSB:
The Cats lead the series, 14-6, since the schools first met in 1978. The teams last met in 1996, when Arizona swept a two-game series.

LAST TIME vs. UC SANTA BARBARA
Date            W/L     Score   WP              LP              Save
2/27/96 W       12-2    Hussman Cain            None
2/28/96 W       6-1     Ford    Bean            Crossan

PITCHING PROBABLES vs. UC SANTA BARBARA
Friday (7 p.m.)
LHP Rylie Ogle (2-0, 6.30) vs. TBA
Saturday (1 p.m.)
LHP Troy Kinto (1-1, 2.30) or LHP Jim Bullard (1-0, 2.00) vs. TBA
Sunday (1 p.m.)
RHP Gabe Neboyia (1-1, 4.13) vs. TBA

Probable Wildcat Lineup
        No.     Pos.    Player                  Class   Ht.     Wt.     Hometown
1.      2       CF      Troy Gingrich (L)       Sr.     5-10    180     Apache Junction, Ariz.
2.      25      2B      Trevor Mote (B) Jr.     6-1     185     Kingman, Ariz.
3.      11      SS      Keoni DeRenne (B)       Jr.     5-7     146     Honolulu, Hawaii
4.      18      RF      Shelley Duncan  So.     6-5     210     Tucson, Ariz.
5.      44      1B      Ernie Durazo (L)        Jr.     5-9     195     Tucson, Ariz.
6.      33      DH      Ben Diggins             So.     6-6     230     Prescott Valley, Ariz.
7.      12      LF      Ryan O'Donnell (L)      Jr.     6-0     180     Casa Grande, Ariz.
8.      17      3B      Erik Torres             Jr.     5-10    168     Tucson, Ariz.
9.      26      C       Chris Cunningham (L)    So.     6-1     190     Diamond Bar, Calif.