2013 Kleberg Bank College Classic
Islanders, Hooks Partner Again
The 2013 Kleberg Bank College Classic features perennial NCAA Tournament entries Oklahoma and New Mexico, plus the Iowa Hawkeyes. The third annual KBCC is the eighth round-robin event hosted by the Islanders and Corpus Christi Hooks in as many seasons and unfolds at Whataburger Field February 22-23-24.
"We are delighted to have the Sooners, Lobos and Hawkeyes in this year's field," Texas A&M-Corpus Christi coach Scott Malone said. "Oklahoma was here three years ago and Sunny (Golloway) took that club all the way to Omaha. In fact, UCLA was here in '10 and they wound up at the College World Series as well.
"Ray Birmingham has done a remarkable job at New Mexico. They've been to the NCAAs three straight times and won the 2012 Mountain West regular-season and tournament titles. Iowa gives those Big Ten teams headaches; they took two out of three from 13th-ranked and conference champion Purdue at the end of the year. Jack Dahm always has the Hawkeyes ready to play and they have a very deep and talented sophomore class."
"Scott (Malone) did a great job of putting this field together," Hooks tournament administrator Matt Rogers said. "We love the intersectional flavor; that's what the best early season tournaments provide, an opportunity for fans to see great college teams and their prospects from different parts of the country."
Golloway and the Sooners reached the Super Regionals at South Carolina last June before falling to the two-time defending national champion Gamecocks. OU was 12th in the final Collegiate Baseball poll, 14th by Baseball America and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Senior outfielder Max White, a first-team All-Big 12 selection, tops a list of five returning everyday players. Juniors Jonathan Gray and Dillon Overton combined for 14 wins and 230 strikeouts over 226 innings.
In all, Oklahoma has made 35 NCAA appearances, including five straight. The Sooners have advanced to Omaha 10 times, with national titles in 1951 and 1994.
2012 Mountain West Co-Players of the Year DJ Peterson and Mitch Garver are among six returning New Mexico regulars. Peterson was named to five All-America teams and played for Team USA. He captured the MW triple crown (.419/17/78). Garver topped Division I catchers in hits, runs, batting average and total bases.
The Lobos were eliminated in three games at the UCLA Regional after their second straight conference tournament championship.
Iowa is loaded with second-year talent and has lots of left-handed pitching. Sophomore southpaw Sasha Kuebel earned All-Big 10 and freshman All-America mention with a 6-0 mark. Taylor Kaufman (3-0) is another talented sophomore lefty. Senior left-hander Matt Dermody has been drafted thrice, most recently by the Diamondbacks. The Jakes - sophomores Mangler at second base and Yacinich at shortstop - team with classmate and center fielder Eric Toole to provide up-the-middle defense.
The Islanders have two All-Southland Conference holdovers: senior first baseman Jonathan Gonzales and sophomore outfielder Jordan Lee. Outfielder Stafford Brantley, infielder Brad Porras, catcher/outfielder Eric Weiss and pitchers Matt Danton, Trevor Foss, Adam Hoelscher and Tim Keller will be counted on for leadership.
2013 Kleberg Bank College Classic tickets go on sale Friday, February 1, at the Whataburger Field box office, on-line at cchooks.com and by calling 361-561-HOOK. Tickets will also be available at the Islanders athletic offices on campus.
Adult Classic packages for fans 13-and-up are $24 each. Youth Classic packages (4-12) are $12. Daily tickets run $10 and $5, respectively. There is no charge for children 3-and-under. All seating is reserved.
SCHEDULE
Thursday, February 21: Baseball America Team Workout Day
Friday, February 22: Oklahoma vs. Iowa, 2 p.m. | New Mexico vs. Islanders, 6 p.m.
Saturday, February 23: Iowa vs. New Mexico, 2 p.m. | Oklahoma vs. Islanders, 6 p.m.
Sunday, February 24: New Mexico vs. Oklahoma, 9:30 a.m. | Iowa vs. Islanders, 1 p.m.
*team listed second is home club
