Bruin Ballplayers Having Outstanding Summers
June 30, 1999
The hype surrounding UCLA's quest for the national championship in 2000 has begun. UCLA players are making a statement all around the world this summer.
All-American Bill Scott, a frontrunner for the National Player of the Year Award in 2000 and the potential top pick in the 2000 draft, has made his presence felt on the international scene this summer. Over in Japan, he batted .300 (6-20) and belted three homers, including two opposite field shots, for Team USA. Scott was named as the Americans' "Most Outstanding Player" of the series.
Scott leads Team USA in hits (15) and runs scored (10). He is second in batting average (.366, RBI (nine) and doubles (three), and is tied for second in home runs (four). Scott batted .380 with 28 homers and 86 RBI for UCLA as a sophomore in 1999.
All District VIII second baseman Chase Utley is off to a great start in the Cape Cod League, batting .294 for the Cotuit Kettleers. All-American Garrett Atkins, Utley's teammmate at both UCLA and Cotuit, has been red-hot. On Tuesday, Atkins helped lead Cotuit to an 8-2 victory over Falmouth by going 2-4 with a walk.
Lefthander Ryan Carter has not been scored upon in two relief appearances for Cotuit. On Sunday, he pitched 1.2 scoreless innings and struck out four. He has been lighting up the radar gun this summer, throwing around 92 m.p.h.
Lefthander Rob Henkel, who had established himself as one of the premier lefthanders in the nation before going down with an elbow injury in 1998, has returned to action this summer and looks to be back in old form. Henkel pitched a scoreless inning in his debut on Friday. He threw a pen on Monday and looked outstanding. He is expected to pitch again on Thursday.
Over in the New England Summer Collegiate League, outfielder Brian Baron has been having a great summer with the Torrington Twisters. He is batting .302. Baron's UCLA and Torrington teammate Warren Trott was 1-2 with an RBI and walk to help lead the Twisters to a 4-1 victory over Middletown on Tuesday. Trott started at third base.
Utilityman Nick Lyon is off to a great start with the Kenai Peninsula Oilers in the Alaska Baseball League. He is batting .298 (8-27).