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Alabama Team Capsule
Posted: Fri June 11, 1999 at 12:36 p.m. EDT
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Coach: Jim Wells (5th year)
Nickname: Crimson Tide
Record: 51-14
Conference: Southeastern
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Enrollment: 18,500
NCAA Tournament Region and Seed: Tuscaloosa, 1
College World Series appearance: 5th
National Championships: none
Last CWS appearance: 1997
1999 NCAA Tournament Results
Regional: Beat Navy, 16-3
Beat So Mississippi, 10-4
Beat So Mississippi, 7-6
Super Regional: Beat LSU, 13-6
Beat LSU, 13-5
Probable Starting Lineup
C -- Kelley Gulledge (.356, 11 HR, 50 RBI)
1B -- Jeremy Brown (.354, 14, 66)
2B -- Sam Bozanich (.307, 8, 54)
SS -- Andy Phillips (.395, 22, 66)
3B -- Brent Boyd (.320, 7, 33)
LF -- Darren Wood (.317, 8, 41)
CF -- G.W. Keller (.394, 15, 67)
RF -- Erik Smallwood (.343, 6, 25)
DH -- Antonio Bostic (.377, 1, 19)
SP -- Manny Torres (10-2, 4.82 ERA)
SP -- Justin Smith (5-4, 5.91)
SP -- Scott Murphy (7-0, 5.52)
RP -- Lance Cormier (11 saves, 6.24)
OUTLOOK: No. 5 national seed. Alabama enters the CWS riding a
school-record 15-game winning streak, also the longest current
streak in the nation. A win over Oklahoma State would give the
Tide the longest winning streak in school history. The Tide has
averaged 11.8 runs per game during the tournament and are led by
senior SS Andy Phillips, who is one of five finalists for the
Dick Howser Trophy, awarded to the nation's best player. He is
batting .369 with 17 homers and 47 RBI during a 33-game hitting
streak, the longest in program history. Phillips is the school's
all-time leader in home runs, RBI, runs scored and total bases.
He leads this year's squad with 41 stolen bases. Phillips, C
Kelley Gulledge, CF G.W. Keller and 1B Jeremy Brown combined to
hit 48 of Alabama's 117 homers, the third highest total in
school history. Brown is riding a 19-game hitting streak and
has scored at least one run in 16 straight games. The Tide are
very young. Brown and 3B Brent Boyd are both freshman and
Gulledge and 2B Sam Bozanich are sophomores. Despite the
inexperience, the team committed the fewest errors in the SEC.
The pitching staff is also without a senior. Junior RH Manny
Torres and sophomore LH Jonathan Blankenship have combined for
20 victories. Torres missed both the 1997 and 1998 seasons
because of injuries. The right-handed Cormier led the SEC in
saves. Depth of pitching staff will play a major roll,
especially if the Tide are forced to play in the loser's
bracket. Alabama has reached the title game twice, losing to LSU
two years ago and to Texas in 1983.
© 2000 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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