2005 Rhode Island Rams baseball team

The 2005 Rhode Island Rams baseball team represented the University of Rhode Island during the 2005 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Rams played their home games at Bill Beck Field as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They were led by head coach Frank Leoni in his thirteenth and final year as manager.

2005 Rhode Island Rams baseball
Atlantic 10 regular season champion
Atlantic 10 East Division champion
Atlantic 10 tournament champions
NCAA tournament, Long Beach Regional
ConferenceAtlantic 10 Conference
Record34-21 (18–6 A10)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Jim Foster (1st season)
  • Steven Breitbach (3rd season)
Home stadiumBill Beck Field
2005 Atlantic 10 Conference baseball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L T PCTW L T PCT
East
Rhode Island  x‍†‍‡‍y 18–6–0 .75034–21–0 .618
Fordham  ‍‍‍ 17–7–0 .70834–21–0 .618
Massachusetts  ‍‍‍ 9–15–0 .37516–33–0 .327
St. Bonaventure  ‍‍‍ 8–16–0 .33324–25–0 .490
St. Joseph's  ‍‍‍ 8–16–0 .33314–38–0 .269
Temple  ‍‍‍ 8–16–0 .33317–33–0 .340
West
George Washington  x‍‍‍ 17–7–0 .70841–19–0 .683
Dayton  ‍‍‍ 16–8–0 .66736–23–0 .610
Duquesne  ‍‍‍ 13–11–0 .54221–35–0 .375
Richmond  ‍‍‍ 12–12–0 .50022–35–0 .386
La Salle  ‍‍‍ 9–15–0 .37518–34–0 .346
Xavier  ‍‍‍ 9–15–0 .37517–35–0 .327
† – Conference champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of May 28, 2005[1]
Rankings from D1Baseball

The Rams won the East Division championship, notching a 34-21 (18-6) record.[2] In the 2005 Atlantic 10 Conference baseball tournament, the Rams clinched the top seed, and the bye-round, and defeated sixth-seeded Richmond and second-seeded George Washington in the championship game en route to their first-ever NCAA Division I baseball tournament as a four seed, where they were knocked out in the first round by top seeded Long Beach State and third-seeded Pepperdine.[3] After the conclusion of the tournament, Leoni accepted the job at fellow Atlantic 10 Conference member William & Mary to be the head coach of the Tribe.[4] The Rams would not make another appearance in the NCAA Division I baseball tournament until 2016.[5]

Background Information

The University of Rhode Island opened in 1889, following the Second Morrill Act, an amendment to the pre-existing Land Grant Act.[6] The baseball team was founded in 1898 and began to play on and off throughout the years before finding consistency in 1907.[7] Rhode Island had rarely featured successful teams throughout the years prior to Frank Leoni's hiring as manager in 1993. Leoni was a starter on Rhode Island's baseball team from 1988-1990, playing shortstop for the Rams.[8] When hired in 1993, he was the youngest head coach in modern history of NCAA Division I baseball. He immediately began a winning culture in Rhode Island.

Previous Season

The 2004 team finished 35-20-1 (20-4) overall, becoming just the second Atlantic 10 Conference member to win 20 conference games in a season.[7] The top seed overall in the 2004 Atlantic 10 Conference baseball tournament, the Rams lost to fourth-seeded St. Bonaventure in the first round before defeating second-seed St. Bonaventure and third-seeded Richmond in the losers’ bracket before falling to the Bonnies again in the championship game.[2] The Rams failed to clinch an at-large bid into the 2004 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

Preseason

Rhode Island starting pitcher Zach Zuercher was named to Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's Second-Team All-American list.[9]

Preseason All-American Second Team.
Player No. Position Class
Zach Zuercher25PJunior

Rhode Island was predicted to win the Atlantic-10 Conference and make their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance.[10]

Roster
2005 Rhode Island Rams baseball team
PlayersCoaches
#Pos.NameB/THeightWeightYearHome town
1 OF Daryl Holcomb L/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr Wilmington, DE
2 INF Joe Viscuso R/R 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sr Farmingdale, NY
3 OF Dave Savard R/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 160 lb (73 kg) So Nashua, NH
4 OF CJ Simons R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Richmond, RI
5 RHP James Norcott R/R 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 175 lb (79 kg) So Norton, MA
6 RHP Jamie Delgidio R/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Narragansett, RI
8 RHP Steve Holmes R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 215 lb (98 kg) So Lincoln, RI
9 INF Wayne Russo R/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 165 lb (75 kg) RS Jr Warwick, RI
10 RHP Mick Lefort R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Lincoln, RI
11 INF Mike Rainville L/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr Pawtucket, RI
13 RHP Brett Pulanski R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Fr Nashua, NH
14 INF Tom Venedam R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Suffern, NY
16 INF Shaun Hagey L/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Ephrata, PA
17 C Zach Zaneski R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Waterford, CT
18 C Josh Nestor R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Jr Nashua, NH
19 RHP Matthew Bruderek R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Norrtion, PA
21 RHP Matt Miranda R/R 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 170 lb (77 kg) RS Fr Suffern, NY
22 LHP Mike Harris L/L 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr Old Bethpage, NY
23 RHP Dan Frederick R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sr Dracut, MA
24 LHP Adam Perkins L/L 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) RS So Hudson, NH
25 LHP Zach Zuercher L/L 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Warwick, RI
26 INF Chris Stelma R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sr Glenwood, NJ
27 OF Matt Sullivan R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Sr Nashua, NH
28 RHP Gil Pena R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS Jr Warwick, RI
29 C Scott Brown L/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Portland, ME
30 RHP Dave Lipson R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr Norwalk, CT
33 INF Ryan Cunningham R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So Centreville, VA
35 C James Deady R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Fr Cranston, RI
Head coach

7 Frank Leoni

Assistant coach(es)

Jim Foster
Steven Breitbach

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: January 22, 2024

Season

Regular Season

Rhode Island began their season on a rough patch, losing eight out of their first ten games to No. 12 Florida, Maryland, Central Michigan, IPFW, Sacred Heart, Kentucky and Miami (Ohio).[11] The Rams did not capture their first win until March 13, upsetting SEC member Kentucky 7-5. Rhode Island kept their losing skid going throughout the month of March. Once April hit, however, and conference play began, Rhode Island began a tear throughout their schedule. After going 6-11 throughout February and March, Rhode Island went 15-4 throughout the entirety of April, with highlight wins against division rivals Richmond, St. Bonaventure and Temple.[11] They continued their surge, with a commanding 12-game winning streak heading into the month of May. Rhode Island clinched the Atlantic-10 Regular Season title on May 14 with an 8-0 at Massachusetts.[12]

Atlantic 10 Tournament

After finishing 34-21 (and 18-6 in conference), Rhode Island would clinch the number one overall seed in the 2005 Atlantic 10 Conference baseball tournament. The Rams would not look back, defeating #4 seed Dayton 7-4 in the quarterfinals and #6 seeded Richmond 8-3.[2] In a rematch of the Atlantic 10 Championship game from the previous year, Rhode Island would defeat #2 seeded George Washington 9-7 to clinch Rhode Island's first ever NCAA tournament berth in college history.[2][13] Second-baseman Wayne Russo would win the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, after going 7-11 hitting with a .636 batting average, two doubles and three RBIs,[14] and catcher Josh Nestor and outfielders Daryl Holcomb and David Savard would join Russo in the All-Tournament Team, with Nestor making his second straight All-Tournament Team.

Atlantic 10 tournament teams
(1) Rhode Island Rams (2) George Washington Colonials (3) Fordham Rams (4) Dayton Flyers (5) Duquesne Dukes (6) Richmond Spiders
Round 1QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
1Rhode Island7
5Duquesne54Dayton4
4Dayton81Rhode Island8
6Richmond3
2George Washington3
6Richmond4136Richmond10
3Fordham1
1Rhode Island9
2George Washington7
Lower round 1Lower round 2Lower final
5Duquesne9
6Richmond4
3Fordham4
2George Washington42George Washington10
4Dayton2
4Dayton13
5Duquesne9

NCAA Tournament

The Rams clinched the number four seed in the Long Beach Regional, joining number one seeded Long Beach State (hosts of the regional), second-seeded USC and third-seeded Pepperdine in Long Beach.The Rams' first taste of the tournament would be cut short, however, as an 11-2 defeat to Long Beach State in the first round, and a 2-1 walk-off defeat in the sudden death loser's bracket to Pepperdine would eliminate the Rams in the first two days of the tournament.[15] USC would wind up defeating Long Beach State to advance to the Corvallis Super Regional, where they were promptly knocked out by Oregon State, whom clinched a berth to the College World Series.[16] Following the tournament, Frank Leoni accepted the job at conference-rival William & Mary. Jim Foster would promptly be hired by Rhode Island to succeed Leoni.[17]

Long Beach Regional teams
(1) Long Beach State Dirtbags (2) USC Trojans (3) Pepperdine Waves (4) Rhode Island Rams
First round Second round Regional finals Super regionals
               
1 Oregon State 4
4 Ohio State 3
1 Oregon State 11
3 St. John's 1
3 St. John's 5
2 Virginia 3
1 Oregon State 19 —
Corvallis Regional–Goss Stadium
3 St. John's 3 —
4 Ohio State 2
2 Virginia 1
4 Ohio State 1
3 St. John's 11
8 Oregon State 10 8 10
Southern California 4 9 8
1 Long Beach State 11
4 Rhode Island 2
1 Long Beach State 4
2 Southern California 6
3 Pepperdine 3
2 Southern California 7
2 Southern California 2 5
Long Beach Regional–Blair Field
3 Pepperdine 9 2
4 Rhode Island 1
3 Pepperdine 2
3 Pepperdine 6
1 Long Beach State 3

Game log
2005 Rhode Island Rams Baseball Game Log (34-21)
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie        = Canceled      Bold = Rhode Island team member     * Non-conference game
Regular Season (31-19)
Postseason

*Denotes non–conference game • Schedule source • Rankings based on the teams' current ranking in the D1Baseball poll

Stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; BB = Walks; AVG = Batting average; SLG = Slugging average

Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB AVG SLG
Matt Sullivan55208537114113431015.341.606
Scott Brown5420446681503431523.333.451
Ryan Cunningham532003273122745310.365.550
Mike Rainville54195385792336620.292.405
Dave Savard5017436501133211025.287.437
Wayne Russo541663657130435932.343.494
Daryl Holcomb481564453613231512.340.449
Josh Nestor511553347111533532.303.484
Joe Viscuso5114520333211469.228.297
CJ Simons306315194111547.302.444
Chris Stelma25548153011001.278.304
Zach Zaneski213857102401.184.368
Shaun Hagey142337100401.304.348
James Deady6912000000.222.222
Matthew Bruderek21100010011.0001.000
Team Totals551791370560103134632783189.313.462

Source:

Pitching

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

Player W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER BB SO
Zach Zuercher633.051414091.173343134103
Dan Frederick565.3814140777949463268
Steve Holmes714.341211074.27240361877
Adam Perkins933.03229068.16934231262
Jim Norcott333.18146145.14320161629
Tom Venedam232.56220131.227139725
Mike Lefort202.01190922.12055622
Matthew Bruderek003.09110011.2105449
Brett Palanski014.825109.157536
Jamie Degidio000.004006.150029
Dave Lipson007.20600596425
Gil Pena0115.436004.289832
Mike Harris000.003002.220003
Mike Miranda009.00200121120
Team Totals34213.751545511451.1424223188141420

Source:

Offseason

2005 MLB Draft
Main article: 2005 Major League Baseball draft
Round Pick Player Position MLB Team
#9#290Zach ZuercherLHPSt. Louis Cardinals[18]

Third baseman Mike Rainville and right-handed pitcher Mick Lefort were both signed as undrafted free-agents after the draft, by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays[19] and the Chicago Cubs respectively [20]

Awards

See also

References
  1. "2005 Baseball Standings" (PDF). atlantic10.com. Atlantic 10 Conference. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  2. "Baseball_Records_thru2011.pdf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 19, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  3. "2008 Men's College World Series Records Book" (PDF). Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  4. "Frank Leoni - Head Coach". Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  5. "Rhode Island Captures 2016 Atlantic 10 Championship; Rams Are NCAA-Bound". Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  6. "Detailed History - The University of Rhode Island". Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  7. "2005 Baseball Media Guide For WEB" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 5, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  8. "Tribe Head Baseball Coach Frank Leoni Inducted into Rhode Island Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame". July 2, 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  9. "Zuercher Adds To Preseason Honors; Named Second-Team 2005 Louisville Slugger All-American". January 2, 2005. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  10. "Rhody Baseball Picked To Win Atlantic-10 Title And Make First-Ever NCAA Appearance". February 2005. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  11. "2005 Baseball Schedule - University of Rhode Island". Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  12. "Baseball Drops Opener Of Doubleheader To UMass 3-1; Would Clinch Atlantic 10 Regular Season Title With Victory In Second Game". May 14, 2005. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  13. "CHAMPIONS: Baseball Wins First-Ever Atlantic 10 Crown; Earns First NCAA Berth". May 28, 2005. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  14. "Russo named MOP as Rams capture first NCAA berth". May 31, 2005. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  15. "Baseball Season Ends With 2-1 Loss To No. 18 Pepperdine In NCAA Tournament". June 4, 2005. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  16. "Baseball vs Southern California on 06/13/2005". Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  17. "Jim Foster Named Head Baseball Coach". Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  18. "Zuercher Picked By St. Louis Cardinals In Ninth Round Of Major League Draft". gorhody.com. June 7, 2005. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  19. "Rainville Signs Free Agent Contract With Tampa Bay Devil Rays Organization". June 15, 2005. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  20. "Lefort Is Third Player Off 2005 Baseball Team To Get Shot In Pros; Signs Contract With Chicago Cubs". June 16, 2005. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  21. "Baseball's Zach Zuercher Named Atlantic 10 Pitcher Of The Week". April 11, 2005. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  22. "Perkins Named Louisville Slugger National Player Of The Week; Atlantic 10 Pitcher Of The Week After Throwing No-Hitter". April 18, 2005. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  23. "Sullivan Named Atlantic 10 Player Of The Week; Zuercher Tabbed Pitcher Of The Week". April 25, 2005. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  24. "Baseball's Zack Zuercher Repeats As Atlantic 10 Pitcher Of The Week". May 2, 2005. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  25. "Zuercher Named Atlantic 10 Pitcher Of The Week For The Fourth Time This Season". May 16, 2005. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  26. "Baseball Gets Three Players Named First-Team All-Conference, Four Earn Second Team Honors". May 24, 2005. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
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