Rice Owls Final '07 Rank: 3 56-14

The Rice Owls (56-14) had another sensational season in 2007, fulfilling preseason prophecies that pegged them as a College World Series title contender. The Owls reached the 50 wins for the fifth time since 1999 and finished with their fourth highest win total in school history. Despite a returning roster that includes an excellent mix of young and veteran talent, continuing their streak of excellence in which they’ve won at least 42 games every season since 1995, won’t be cakewalk. A phenomenal pitching staff returns for head coach Wayne Graham, but offensive stalwarts Joe Savery, Tyler Henley, Brian Friday and Danny Lehmann left campus to pursue professional baseball. However enough veterans and new talent will be in Houston to make Rice a strong contender.

Sophomore Ryan Berry was tabbed the National Freshman Pitcher of the Year by a number of organizations for his remarkable debut season. Berry went 11-3 with a 3.01 ERA in 122.2 innings for the Owls, striking out 125 batters while only walking 34. Right handed hurlers Matt Langwell and Chris Kelley should fill out the rest of the weekend rotation. Langwell appeared in 23 games last season, starting 11. During his time on the hill he compiled an 8-2 record with a team leading 2.35 ERA. Kelly went 3-3 with a 3.43 ERA while toeing the rubber. Senior reliever Cole St. Clair missed the first two months of the season with a shoulder injury, but returned to put up the kind of numbers Rice fans were accustomed to, saving nine games with a 1.91 ERA while limiting opposition to a .214 batting average. He may the transition to the starting rotation if someone can step into his closer role.

Assuming the pitching staff continues its dominance over the last decade, the Owl batters won’t need to plate many runs, but there are plenty of excellent bats to go head to head in a slugfest if they need to. Junior Aaron Luna hit .315 and led the Owls in a number of major offensive categories including homeruns (13), RBI (66), slugging percentage (.570), walks (48) and on base percentage (.447). Another returning deep ball threat for Rice is senior Jordan Dodson. Dodson batted .302, was second on the team in homeruns with eight and trailed only Luna and first round draft pick Joe Savery with 55 RBI. Jess Buenger, Jared Gayhart and Diego Seastrunk are also returning regulars from the 2007 lineup who could all have breakout seasons. Buenger, a junior switch-hitting infielder, hit .306 with seven homeruns, Gayheart hit .339 with 18 extra base hits in 165 at bats and the sophomore third baseman Seastrunk hit .304 with 14 extra base hits. Senior infielder and former MLB draftee J.P. Padron had great fall where he shared the team lead in hitting with Luna. Last season Padron made good use of limited opportunites, hitting .310 with eight extra base hits in 71 at bats.