Publication Date: Wednesday, February 02, 2005
STANFORD ROUNDUP
He's making his pitch to play
He's making his pitch to play
(February 02, 2005) Freshman Nolan Gallagher has a strong outing during baseball sweep
by Rick Eymer
olan Gallagher never played baseball between September and May until he arrived at Stanford in the fall. Now he may never stop.
Gallagher made his collegiate debut, one of five players to do so in Stanford's series sweep of Fresno State over the weekend, by throwing three shutout innings to preserve a 7-0 shutout started by Jeff Gilmore on Sunday.
The Cardinal also won, 8-4, in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader. Stanford won Saturday, 12-1.
Gallagher grew up in Red Lodge, Mont., a small town in the mountains an hour outside of Billings known more for its skiing than baseball. The main highway through town - on the way south over the mountain top into Wyoming -- is closed half the year because of the weather.
"I'd start to throw in March and there's still a foot of snow on the ground," Gallagher said after striking out three with no walks in his debut. "It's a whole different world."
Gallagher had to travel at least an hour to other towns in the area just to get coaching, and to play on competitive teams.
But thanks to his family's interest in baseball, and his youth pitching coach, former Stanford star Jeff Ballard, Gallagher has made a successful transition to the California sun.
Gallagher's father Kevin played semipro and his older brother Tully plays at the Colorado School of Mines.
Nolan began watching the Cardinal every year in the College World Series thanks to his brother, a Stanford fan who dreamed of playing at Sunken Diamond.
Ballard, who pitched for the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates, took a 14-year-old Gallagher under his wings for a couple of summers and continued to keep an eye on his progress.
Ballard informed Stanford of Gallagher's potential and that led to an invitation to Stanford's summer camp. The rest was up to Gallagher.
"He's solid and has a good fastball," Stanford catcher John Hester said. "He has good command of his off-speed pitches. He's going to be a big help this year."
Gallagher earned the save in Sunday's first game, but he remains in contention for the third spot in the starting rotation behind Mark Romanczuk and Gilmore.
Blake Holler, Sunday's second game winner, along with Sunday starter Greg Reynolds and Erik Davis are all in the running.
"Eight pitchers will be happy," Stanford coach Mark Marquess said. "They will get a lot of innings. Holler, Reynolds, Gallagher and Davis can all start. There's a lot of competition for that spot."
The four relievers over the weekend - Matt Leva, Holler, Davis and Gallagher - combined to allow one run in 11 2/3 innings. The Stanford pitching staff sports a 1.67 ERA heading into this weekend's three-game series at Cal State Fullerton beginning Friday at 7 p.m.
"This is certainly indicative of what the pitching staff can do," Gilmore said. "Over the next two weeks we'll be playing arguably the best. That will be a true test."
All-American Jed Lowrie homered twice and drove in four runs in Stanford's 7-0 victory. Gilmore allowed two hits over six innings for the win.
Neither Gilmore nor Gallagher faced more than four batters in an inning, and David Gomez, who doubled three times, was the only Bulldog to reach as far as second base.
Chris Minaker and John Mayberry each added two hits.
In the second game, Jim Rapoport and Adam Sorgi homered while Hester added three hits to support Holler's 4 2/3 relief innings. He struck out five and allowed one run on three hits.
On Saturday, Minaker collected five hits and John Hester added three hits and drove in two runs in the Cardinal's victory. Mayberry added two hits and drove in two runs.
Romanczuk and Leva combined on the five-hitter.
Gallagher, Davis, Michael Taylor, Brendan Domaracki and Joe Ayers all made their college debuts over the weekend.
Women's swimming
Stanford freshman Caroline Bruce picked up right where the graduated Tara Kirk left things.
Kirk went undefeated in the 100 breast while at Stanford, winning four NCAA titles in the event.
Bruce seems well on her way to continuing that successful trend following a pair of Stanford victories over the weekend. The fifth-ranked Cardinal swam past UCLA, 176-124, on Saturday and USC, 193-103, on Saturday.
Bruce swam a 1:01.24 in winning the 100 breast against the Bruins, the fourth fastest time in the nation this season. Bruce's personal best in the event is a 1:00.83, which she swam on Dec. 19, 2002 (as a 16-year-old) while competing for the Wichita Swim Club.
Her best time in the 200 breast is 2:11.14, also set that same day.
Bruce recorded the fastest high school time in the nation in the 100 breast last year while at Trinity Academy, swimming a 1:01.03. Fellow Stanford freshman Erica Liu swam the second fastest time (1:02.11) while at Mitty High. Liu's personal best is a 1:00.48.
Kirk sent a school record (59.18) in winning the 100 breast at the NCAA meet. It's still the fastest time for a freshman and gives Bruce an attainable goal.
Bruce won three events both days as Stanford (4-0 in the Pac-10, 6-1 overall) continued its quest for another conference championship.
Stanford travels to California on Saturday, Feb. 12 in its final regular season dual meet at noon.
"We had some people step up and swim really well, including the obvious performance by Caroline Bruce," Stanford coach Richard Quick said after the UCLA meet. "She swam an outstanding 100 breaststroke. I'm just really pleased with her progress."
Bruce also won the 200 breast (2:12.04) and 200 IM against UCLA. She won the 100 breast, 200 breast and 400 IM against USC. She also swam on the winning 400 medley relay on Saturday.
Lacey Boutwell also turned in two top efforts, winning the 50 free (23.53) and 100 free (50.72) against the Bruins, and then added the 200 free (1:48.93) to her repertoire against USC for a total of five individual wins. She also swam on the winning 200 free relay team on Friday.
Brooke Bishop won both the 100 back (a season best 55.30 on Friday) and 200 back (a season best 2:00.45 on Saturday) on both days. She swam on both winning relay teams.
Gunn grad Ashlee Rosenthal won both the 1-meter (a season best 315.30) and 3-meter diving events against the Bruins, and Cassidy Krug won the 1-meter event (a season best 284.70) against USC. Rosenthal's 297.75 mark in the 3-meter on Saturday was a personal best.
Castilleja grad Sara Bowling recorded a season best 276.53 against the Bruins, qualifying her for the NCAA meet.
Freshman Elizabeth Durot won the 500 free both days, swimming a 4:49.33 against UCLA. Dana Kirk came back to win the 200 fly against the Trojans in 1:59.64.
"We're gaining momentum in our regular season as we build towards the postseason," Quick said.
Men's tennis
Stanford opened its season with a 5-2 victory over host California on Saturday as Sam Warburg led four players in singles wins, three in straight sets.
Warburg won his match, 6-4, 6-4, while KC Corkery won at No.2 singles, 6-4, 6-2. Phil Sheng also won in straight sets while Eric McKean won in three games.
Warburg and Corkery also won their doubles match.
The Cardinal host San Diego on Friday, and Fresno State on Saturday.
Women's tennis
Top-ranked Stanford opened its dual meet season with a 7-0 victory over visiting UC Davis on Thursday.
The Cardinal won all six of their singles matches in straight sets. Freshman Lejla Hodzic, a Pinewood grad, won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 6 singles and sophomore Anne Yelsey also beat her opponent 6-0, 6-0.
All-Americans Alice Barnes and Erin Burdette won their matches 6-2, 6-0 and 6-2, 6-1 respectively.
Friday's match against Cal Poly was postponed.
Stanford competes at the Team Indoors in Madison, WI beginning Thursday.
Women's gymnastics
Stanford came from behind to beat visiting Oregon State, 193.125-192.350, on Friday night.
Freshmen Alex Pintchouk won the all-around competition with a 38.675 while freshman Liz Tricase won the uneven bars with a score of 9.650 and the vault with a 9.900.
Freshman Stephanie Gentry received a 9.850 to win the floor exercise, and freshman Lauren Elmore earned a 9.750 on the beam for a win.
Stanford travels to Central Michigan University for a dual meet on Friday.
Men's volleyball
Stanford (2-4, 3-6) lost twice at home in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action over the weekend, dropping a 23-30, 42-24, 28-30, 30-24, 18-16 decision to UC Santa Barbara on Saturday after losing to Cal State Northridge on Thursday.
"Our guys are playing really hard, but in order to be successful in the MPSF we have to eliminate mistakes, and find a way to shut down other teams' big hitters," Stanford coach Don Shaw said.
Kevin Hansen recorded 60 assists, while Craig Buell who slammed down 16 kills.
Wrestling
Stanford experienced a little bit of everything on its trip through Oregon over the weekend, losing to Oregon, 22-21, tying Oregon State, 18-18, and beating Portland State, 33-18.
Stanford (1-2-1, 5-5-1) hosts Fresno State on Friday at 6 p.m.
Nathan Peterson, Imad Kharbush, and Ryan Hagen led the way with pins against the Vikings to give the Cardinal their first Pac-10 victory.
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