1976 Arizona Wildcats baseball team

Summary

The 1976 Arizona Wildcats baseball team represented the University of Arizona in the 1976 NCAA Division I baseball season. The team was coached by Jerry Kindall in his 4th season at Arizona. The Wildcats finished with a record of 56-17 overall and placed 2nd in the Western Athletic Conference's Southern Division with a 12-4 in conference play, finishing 2nd in the WAC Southern. Arizona advanced to the postseason for the 3rd straight season and was placed in the Midwest Regional hosted by the University of Texas-Pan American at Jody Ramsey Memorial Stadium in Edinburg, Texas. The Wildcats defeated Texas-Pan American, Missouri and Texas A&M to advance to the College World Series for the 1st time since 1970 (and 10th overall). After losing their 1st game in Omaha, Nebraska to rival Arizona State, Arizona won the next 4 against Oklahoma, Clemson, Eastern Michigan and Arizona State to advance to the final game: a rematch against Eastern Michigan. The Wildcats defeated Eastern Michigan 7–1 to win their 1st National Championship in program history.

1976 Arizona Wildcats baseball
ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
CBNo. 1
Record56–17 (12–6 WAC)
Head coach
Assistant coachJim Wing (4th season)
Home stadiumWildcat Field
Seasons
← 1975
1977 →
1976 Western Athletic Conference baseball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Northern
BYU  x‍‍‍ 15 3   .833 26 21   .553
Wyoming  ‍‍‍ 10 7   .588 22 29   .431
Utah  ‍‍‍ 8 9   .471 15 26   .366
Colorado State  ‍‍‍ 2 16   .111 18 26   .409
Southern
No. 3 Arizona State  x‍‍‍y 17 1   .944 65 10   .867
No. 1 Arizona  ‍‍‍y 12 6   .667 56 17   .767
New Mexico  ‍‍‍ 4 14   .222 28 24   .538
UTEP  ‍‍‍ 3 15   .167 9 25   .265
x – Division champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 30, 1976[1]
Rankings from Collegiate Baseball

Previous Season edit

The Wildcats finished the 1975 season with a record of 41-13-1 and 14-4 in conference play, finishing 2nd in the WAC Southern. Arizona made the postseason for the 2nd straight season and were placed in the West Regional hosted by the University of Southern California at Dedeaux Field in Los Angeles, California. The Wildcats lost back-to-back games to Pepperdine and USC to end their season.

Personnel edit

Roster edit

1976 Arizona Wildcats baseball roster[2][3]
  Pitchers

• Robert Chaulk

• David Crutcher

• Bruce Ferguson

• Craig Giola

Steve Powers

• Chuck Zopfi

Infielders

• Al Lopez

• Les Pearsey

• Bill Simpson

• Pete Van Horne

• Glenn Wendt

Outfielders

Ken Bolek

• Robin Carlsen

Dave Stegman

• Don Zimmerman

Catchers

Ron Hassey

• Bob Woodside

Coaches edit

1976 Arizona Wildcats baseball coaching staff[4]

1976 Schedule and results edit

1976 Arizona Wildcats Baseball Game Log[5]
Regular Season
Date Opponent Site/Stadium Score Overall

Record

WAC

Record

Feb 13 Pepperdine Wildcat FieldTucson, AZ W 13-2 1-0
Feb 14 Pepperdine Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 8-0 2-0
Feb 14 Pepperdine Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 15-3 3-0
Feb 16 Cal State Dominguez Hills Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 17-10 4-0
Feb 17 Cal State Dominguez Hills Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 11-6 5-0
Feb 20 Azusa Pacific Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ L 3-5 5-1
Feb 21 Azusa Pacific Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 9-0 6-1
Feb 21 Azusa Pacific Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 10-0 7-1
Feb 23 Cal Poly Pomona Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 4-3 8-1
Feb 24 Cal Poly Pomona Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 12-7 9-1
Feb 25 Cal Poly Pomona Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 11-7 10-1
Feb 26 San Diego State Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ L 6-7 10-2
Feb 27 San Diego State Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 11-5 11-2
Feb 28 San Diego State Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 5-3 12-2
Feb 28 San Diego State Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 14-13 13-2
Mar 1 at Grand Canyon Brazell FieldPhoenix, AZ L 6-7 13-3
Mar 2 Grand Canyon Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 15-0 14-3
Mar 5 La Verne Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 8-5 15-3
Mar 6 La Verne Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 9-6 16-3
Mar 8 Oklahoma Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 7-1 17-3
Mar 8 Oklahoma Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 6-3 18-3
Mar 9 Oklahoma Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 14-1 19-3
Mar 9 Oklahoma Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 9-8 20-3
Mar 11 at San Diego State Smith FieldSan Diego, CA W 7-1 21-3
Mar 12 at San Diego State Smith Field • San Diego, CA L 1-5 21-4
Mar 13 at San Diego State Smith Field • San Diego, CA L 4-6 21-5
Mar 13 at San Diego State Smith Field • San Diego, CA W 6-4 22-5
Mar 15 at Pepperdine Waves ParkMalibu, CA L 3-4 22-6
Mar 15 at UCLA Sawtelle FieldLos Angeles, CA L 0-5 22-7
Mar 16 at Pepperdine Waves Park • Malibu, CA W 1-0 23-7
Mar 17 at USC Dedeaux Field • Los Angeles, CA L 3-4 23-8
Mar 18 at USC Dedeaux Field • Los Angeles, CA L 4-6 23-9
Mar 19 at La Verne Galvin Park • Ontario, CA W 10-5 24-9
Mar 20 at La Verne La Verne Field • La Verne, CA L 6-10 24-10
Mar 20 at La Verne La Verne Field • La Verne, CA W 4-3 25-10
Mar 23 Colorado Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 17-2 26-10
Mar 25 USC Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 8-0 27-10
Mar 26 USC Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 8-5 28-10
Mar 27 USC Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 8-4 29-10
Apr 1 Northern Arizona Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 14-6 30-10
Apr 2 Northern Arizona Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 9-3 31-10
Apr 3 Northern Arizona Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 6-0 32-10
Apr 8 at Arizona State Packard StadiumTempe, AZ L 2-7 32-11 0-1
Apr 9 at Arizona State Packard Stadium • Tempe, AZ L 9-11 32-12 0-2
Apr 10 at Arizona State Packard Stadium • Tempe, AZ L 5-6 32-13 0-3
Apr 17 UTEP Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 15-3 33-13 1-3
Apr 17 UTEP Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 8-1 34-13 2-3
Apr 18 UTEP Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 12-1 35-13 3-3
Apr 23 New Mexico Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 5-3 36-13 4-3
Apr 24 New Mexico Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 8-6 37-13 5-3
Apr 24 New Mexico Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 8-3 38-13 6-3
Apr 30 at UTEP Dudley FieldEl Paso, TX W 16-0 39-13 7-3
May 1 at UTEP Dudley Field • El Paso, TX W 3-1 40-13 8-3
May 1 at UTEP Dudley Field • El Paso, TX W 10-3 41-13 9-3
May 7 at New Mexico Lobo FieldAlbuquerque, NM W 6-3 42-13 10-3
May 8 at New Mexico Lobo Field • Albuquerque, NM W 6-3 43-13 11-3
May 9 at New Mexico Lobo Field • Albuquerque, NM W 10-4 44-13 12-3
May 13 Arizona State Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ L 1-2 44-14 12-4
May 14 Arizona State Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ L 4-9 44-15 12-5
May 15 Arizona State Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ L 9-14 44-16 12-6
WAC Playoffs
May 21 Wyoming Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 19-0 45-16
May 22 Wyoming Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 6-2 46-16
May 24 BYU Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 7-6 47-16
May 25 BYU Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ W 4-0 48-16
NCAA Midwest Regional
May 28 at Texas-Pan American Jody Ramsey Memorial Stadium • Edinburg, TX W 5-0 49-16
May 29 vs Missouri Jody Ramsey Memorial Stadium • Edinburg, TX W 10-1 50-16
May 30 vs Texas A&M Jody Ramsey Memorial Stadium • Edinburg, TX W 8-2 51-16
College World Series
Jun 12 vs Arizona State Johnny Rosenblatt StadiumOmaha, NE L 6-7 51-17
Jun 13 vs Oklahoma Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE W 10-2 52-17
Jun 14 vs Clemson Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE W 10-6 53-17
Jun 16 vs Eastern Michigan Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE W 11-6 54-17
Jun 17 vs Arizona State Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE W 5-1 55-17
Jun 18 vs Eastern Michigan Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE W 7-1 56-17

Midwest Regional edit

Midwest Regional Teams
Texas-Pan American Broncs Arizona Wildcats Missouri Tigers Texas A&M Aggies

College World Series edit

1976 College World Series Teams
Arizona Wildcats Arizona State Sun Devils Auburn Tigers Clemson Tigers Eastern Michigan Hurons Maine Black Bears Oklahoma Sooners Washington State Cougars
Upper round 1Upper round 2Upper finalSemifinalsPreliminary finalFinal
Clemson9
Auburn4
Clemson2
Eastern Michigan310
Eastern Michigan3
Maine2
Eastern Michigan2
Arizona State1
Arizona State710
Eastern Michigan6
Arizona6
Arizona State9Arizona7
Washington State3
Washington State6
Oklahoma1Eastern Michigan1
Arizona5Arizona7
Lower round 1Lower round 2Arizona State1
Washington State3
Auburn8Maine6
Arizona State7
Maine9
Maine0
Clemson6
Arizona10Arizona10
Oklahoma2

Awards and honors edit

Bob Chaulk
  • College World Series All-Tournament Team[6]
Craig Giola
  • First Team All-WAC South[7]
Ron Hassey
  • College World Series All-Tournament Team[6]
  • First Team All-WAC South[7]
Steve Powers
Dave Stegman
  • First Team All-American[7]
  • College World Series All-Tournament Team[6]
  • First Team All-WAC South[7]
Pete Van Horne
  • College World Series All-Tournament Team[6]
Glenn Wendt
  • First Team All-WAC South[7]

1976 MLB Draft edit

Player Position Round Overall MLB Team
Ron Hassey C 18 422 Cleveland Indians
William Simpson INF 20 471 St. Louis Cardinals
Ken Bolek OF 24 550 Detroit Tigers
Bruce Ferguson RHP 31 660 California Angels

[8][9]

References edit

  1. ^ "College Baseball Conference Standings – 1976". boydsworld.com. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  2. ^ "1976 Arizona Wildcats - The Baseball Cube". TheBaseballCube.com. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  3. ^ "2023 BSB Media Guide" (PDF). University of Arizona Athletics. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  4. ^ "2023 BSB Media Guide" (PDF). University of Arizona Athletics. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  5. ^ "2023 BSB Media Guide" (PDF). University of Arizona Athletics. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e "CWS record Book" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e "2012 Arizona Baseball Media Guide". ArizonaWildcats.com. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  8. ^ "MLB Amateur Draft Picks who came from". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  9. ^ "MLB Amateur Draft Picks who came from "University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)"". Retrieved October 18, 2012.