Texas Tech University Athletics
Get Ready for Opening Day!
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
February 1, 1999
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech baseball team begins its 1999 campaign with its first home series of the season- four games against Howard University (Washington D.C.) from Feb. 5-7. Fridaygs game is at 3 p.m., Saturdays doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. and Sundays game is at 2 p.m.
TTU CANCELS ANNUAL ALUMNI GAME...The Red Raiders annual alumni game was cancelled on Saturday due to inclement weather.
TECH EARNS MORE PRESEASON AWARDS...Baseball America picks Red Raiders to finish second in Big 12 Conference
The Texas Tech Red Raider baseball was selected finish second in the Big 12 Conference this season by Baseball Americas college baseball preview magazine. Texas A&M, the 1998 Big 12 regular season champions, was voted to win the conference, followed by Texas Tech (2nd), Oklahoma State (3rd), Baylor (4th), Texas (5th), Missouri (6th), Oklahoma (7th), Nebraska (8th), Kansas (9th), Iowa State (10th) and Kansas State (11th). Texas Tech hosts both Texas A&M and Oklahoma State this season at Dan Law Field in Lubbock.
Texas Tech also collected some individual preseason honors by Baseball America. The magazine listed four Red Raiders for preseason all-conference honors including catcher Josh Bard, third baseman Brennan Burns, outfielder Miles Durham and starting pitcher Shane Wright. Bard was mentioned as the second-best draft pick in the upcoming 1999 Major League Baseball draft, while Durham was voted the conferences third pick in the 2000 Major League Baseball draft. The magazine also rated each conferences "Best Tools." Bard was voted the leagues "best pure hitter" and "best catcher-arm", shortstop and newcomer Chris Sampson was voted the "fastest runner", and Wright was labelled as the pitcher with "best control."
Texas Tech (44-20/18-11 last season) was picked by Collegiate Baseball as the favorite to win the Big 12 championship. The Red Raiders will enter the 1999 season ranked 13th nationally by Collegiate Baseball, 19th by Baseball America and 20th by Baseball Weekly/ESPN.
Tech will begin its season with the annual alumni game on Saturday, January 30, 1999 at 3 p.m. Texas Tech baseball alums expected to return to Dan Law Field include Mark Brandenburg, Joe Dillon, Monty Ward and Clint Bryant.
1999 PRESEASON POLLS (as of January 21, 1999)
Collegiate Baseball: 13th (Big 12 teams- 13. Texas Tech, 17. Texas A&M, 19. Oklahoma State, 22. Baylor, 31. Texas, 32. Oklahoma)
Baseball America: 19th (Big 12 teams- 11. Texas A&M, 19. Texas Tech, 21. Oklahoma State)
Baseball Weekly/ESPN: 20th (Big 12 teams- 14. Texas A&M, 20. Texas Tech, 24. Oklahoma State)
1999 PRESEASON ALL AMERICA (for Texas Tech)
Collegiate Baseball: First Team- Shane Wright, Second Team- Josh Bard
Baseball America (selected by scouts): Second Team-Josh Bard
1999 PRESEASON CONFERENCE PROJECTIONS
Collegiate Baseball- Texas Tech picked to win Big 12 Conference
Baseball America- Texas Tech picked to finish second in Big 12 Conference
INDIVIDUAL PRESEASON HONORS (for Texas Tech)
Collegiate Baseball Players to Watch: Shane Wright, Josh Bard, Brad Ralston, Ryan Ruiz
Baseball America Preseason All Conference: C-Josh Bard, 3B-Brennan Burns, OF-Miles Durham, RHP-Shane Wright
Baseball America Top Prospects in 1999 MLB Draft: Josh Bard
Baseball America Top Prospects in 2000 MLB Draft: Miles Durham
Baseball America "Best Tools" in the Big 12: Best Pure Hitter- Josh Bard, Fastest Runner- Chris Sampson, Catcher/Best Arm- Josh Bard, Best Control- Shane Wright.
BASEBALL SEASON TICKETS ON SALE...Season, Big 12 ticket packages on sale for 1999 season The Texas Tech ticket office announced that season tickets for the 1999 Texas Tech baseball season are currently on sale. Tickets for the entire 31 regular season home schedule at Dan Law Field are $125. Season tickets for faculty and staff members are $100. To order tickets or more information, please call the Texas Tech ticket office at 888-GO BIG 12 or at (806) 742-4412.
There is also a Big 12 Conference package available for $90. This package includes five three-game weekend conference series and 15 total home games. Big 12 schools visiting Texas Tech this season include Kansas (Feb. 26-28), Texas A&M (March 12-14), Iowa State (April 2-4), Nebraska (April 30-May 2) and Oklahoma State (May 14-16).
Tickets for individual games will also go on sale by order following the first home series against Howard (Feb. 5-7). Individual game tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students.
Texas Tech which finished 44-20 last year, won the Big 12 Tournament title and appeared in an NCAA Regional for the fourth consecutive year, will enter the season nationally ranked 13th by Collegiate Baseball, 19th by Baseball America and 20th by USA Baseball Weekly (coaches poll). The final college baseball poll, selected by The Sporting News, has yet to be released. Two All America players in catcher Josh Bard and righthanded pitcher Shane Wright return to the squad.
Big 12 Tournament tickets are also available through the Oklahoma City All Sports Association. The tournament will be held May 19-23 in Oklahoma Citys Southwestern Bell Ballpark in Bricktown. Ticket prices for the Big 12 Tournament are: Box Seats- All Session $80, Individual Game $15; Reserved Seats- All Session $60, Individual Game $12; General Admission- All Session $40, Individual Game $7. Please call the Oklahoma City All Sports Association at (405) 236-5000 to order tickets and for more ticket information.
GAME TIMES CHANGE FOR BAYLOR SERIES...Baylor changes night game times to afternoon times
The Texas Tech baseball series at Baylor, from March 26-28, has had some time changes, Bears coach Steve Smith announced Friday. Baylors baseball field, currently undergoing renovations, will not have its stadium lighting installed for the series, so all three game times have changed to 2 p.m. (see updated schedule below). Originally the Friday and Saturday games were both scheduled for 7 p.m.
