Feb. 8, 2004

EDINBURG, TX-Last year, The University of Texas-Pan American's baseball team inaugurated the UTPA/Al Ogletree Classic. This year, the Broncs won their own tournament, coming from behind to defeat Lamar, 2-1, in what proved to be the championship game Sunday afternoon at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium. The Broncs and Cardinals both finished with 2-1 records, but Texas-Pan American was declared the champion because of their head-to-head victory against LU. Sam Houston finished third with a 1-1-1 record, while Kansas was fourth at 0-2-1.

Lamar starter Kevin Poenitszch and senior lefthander Tommy Sorden (Austin, TX/Bowie HS/Navarro College) of the Broncs were dominant early. Texas-Pan American broke through in the third, scoring an unearned run to take a 1-0 lead. Junior second baseman Marco Garza (Mission, TX/Mission HS) was hit by a pitch and advanced to second base on a passed ball by catcher Michael Ambort. Junior shortstop Aaron Flowers (Rowlett, TX/Rowlett HS/Northeast Texas CC) singled to right to score Garza, and give UTPA a 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals tied it in the fourth. First baseman Ryan Finan's infield single gave LU its first base runner against Sorden. Designated hitter Nick Klusaw doubled Finan to third. Ambort hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field to tie the game.

Texas-Pan American untied it in the seventh. Junior right fielder Matt Sisk (Fort Worth, TX/Arlington Heights HS/New Mexico) led off with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. He moved to third when Lamar second baseman Jo Jo Henry misplayed Garza's grounder for an error. Sophomore catcher Jarod Hickle (LaGrange, TX/LaGrange HS) singled to left to score Sisk with the eventual winning run.

Sorden went 5 2/3 innings, allowing just three hits. Junior righthander Juan Saenz (Mission, TX/Mission HS) relieved in the sixth, and coaxed LU left fielder Jordan Foster to fly to right with a runner on second and two out. Ambort led off the eighth with a double, but was retired when Bronc junior third baseman Ricky Broyles (Longview, TX/Spring Hill/Northeast Texas CC) fielded the ball and turned it into a fielder's choice. Pinch-hitter Brett Winn walked, but center fielder Rocky Craigen was thrown out attempting to steal third before Saenz fanned shortstop Jeremy Gray to end the inning. Broyles pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save in as many chances and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

"We got good pitching and played good defense, and that was the key," said UTPA Head Coach Willie Gawlik. "Tommy Sorden pitched a great game, and Juan Saenz came in and got a big out, retiring Jordan Foster with a man in scoring position. Ricky Broyles made a great play at third base in the eighth, Matt Sisk made another great catch in right field, and Jarod Hickle made a big throw to catch that guy stealing. We made the plays, didn't make any errors and got some timely hitting, and that was the difference."

Broyles was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Ben DiOrio as a utility player (Sr. Canon City, CO/Canon City HS/Seward County CC), junior catcher Matt Eichel (Grapevine, TX/Grapevine HS), and Sorden.

Saenz earned the win in relief, improving to 1-0, while LU's Chris Buechner, who relieved Poenitszch in the sixth, took the loss to fall to 0-1. Broyles earned his third save in as many opportunities.

Texas-Pan American improved to 4-3 with the victory, while Lamar fell to 2-1 with the defeat. The Broncs will return to action when they visit the Cardinals for a four-game series, beginning next Friday.

UTPA/AL OGLETREE CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

1B-Ryan Finan, Lamar

2B-Matt Baty, Kansas

3B-Ricky Broyles, Texas-Pan American

SS-Jeremy Holzbach, Sam Houston State

UT-Ben DiOrio, Texas-Pan American

UT-Ryan Baty, Kansas

OF-Jordan Foster, Lamar

OF-John Allen, Lamar

OF-Matt Tribble, Kansas

OF-Dustin Martin, SHSU

C-Matt Eichel, Texas-Pan American

C-Michael Ambort, Lamar

P-Ryan Rafferty, Sam Houston State

P-Scott Vanderweg, Lamar

P-Kyle Stutes, Lamar

P-Tommy Sorden, Texas-Pan American

Most Valuable Player-Ricky Broyles, Texas-Pan American