It's a new era for USF baseball. First-year head coach Mitch Hannahs, who transformed Indiana State University into a consistent winner, has taken the helm.
He's anticipates potentially big things with the Bulls.
"The path to Omaha (and the College World Series) is a little cleaner here,'' Hannahs said at his introductory news conference. "I think if you don't have the expectation of getting to Omaha and playing well in Omaha, you probably shouldn't be coaching Division I baseball.''
But as the new era begins, it's appropriate to pay homage to the program's history. It's the 60th season for USF baseball, an anniversary that spurs memories of players and coaches, the great games, plus the wild, weird and wonderful things that happened along the way.
Hannahs believes in the power of memories, too.
"It's important to know the history of our university, of our athletics programs and, in particular, the baseball program,'' Hannahs said. "You have to understand those who came before you, those who put the foundation in place.
"And you have to take yourself to a place where you're playing for those people. You can't just play for me. We play for everybody who came before us and laid this in place. I want them to understand what it was like before the times we are in today. I think it helps develop an appreciation of what they're a part of. And I want everyone to understand as we get to work building those relationships that (the mission) is to make the university, our alumni and the city of Tampa extremely proud of what we're doing.''
To commemorate the 60th season of USF baseball, we present "60 Things To Know About USF Baseball.''
Some are obvious. Some are not. Many facts and trivia have been long-forgotten — until now.
It's a salute to anyone who ever laced up the cleats and wore the green and gold.
It's a poignant reminder to all the coaches and administrators, including those who witnessed games in the original primitive stadium (without lights) that was framed by sand spur-infested surrounding fields to haunt all the luckless players chasing down errant foul balls.
Most of all, it's a tribute to the loyal fans who have supported the program through its fascinating evolution.
We present our memories in three parts.
Part I: Players and Coaches.
Part II: The Games.
Part III: USF Baseball Trivia.
Ready? Play ball!
1. By most standards, catcher Scott Hemond (1984-86) remains the best player in USF baseball history. Hemond, from Dunedin High School, was a two-time All-American and two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection who had his number (11) retired by USF. He was the highest draft pick ever at USF (12th overall by the Athletics in 1986) and had a seven-season major-league career (where he played every position except shortstop and pitcher). In 1986, Florida State coach Mike Martin said Hemond was the best college catcher he had ever seen. Scouts compared Hemond's arm strength to Lance Parrish, Tony Pena and Gary Carter, MLB's leading catchers at the time. During a 15-game stretch in 1986, Hemond picked off five runners at third base, two more at first, and threw out 11 opponents trying to steal. "He was the kind of player you get maybe once every 10 years or maybe once every lifetime,'' USF coach Eddie Cardieri said.
2. After the 2006 season, Louisville's Lelo Prado, who landed in Tampa as an infant after his parents escaped Cuba, came home to become head coach at USF. And one year later in 2007, the Louisville program Prado essentially built from scratch earned its first berth in the College World Series. "I was happy for my former players, but I was hurting at the same time … I can't lie about that,'' said Prado, who guided the University of Tampa to a pair of NCAA Division II national titles before taking the Louisville job. "Part of you thinks, 'If only I had held on for one more year,' but there's no guarantee that a job like this (USF) opens up in your hometown,'' said Prado, who was USF's head coach from 2007-14. "It's bittersweet. Tell you the truth, it only puts more of a fire in my belly to get it done at USF.''
South Florida had 27 MLB draft picks during Prado's eight-year tenure, including Kevin Quackenbush, who pitched in over 200 big league games, and Austin Adams, who has appeared in nearly 200 MLB games and is currently in the Boston Red Sox organization.
3. It seems bizarre to remember now. Chris Heintz, even during a productive career at Clearwater's Countryside High School, wondered if he had the right stuff to become a Division I college baseball player. Those doubts were quickly dismissed. From the day he arrived on USF's campus, Heintz became one of the program's most distinguished athletes and academic performers. "I just came in wanting to be a contributor,'' he said. Heintz, a shortstop/third baseman who also dabbled at catcher, became one of four USF players ever to bat .400 or greater in a single season (.400 exactly in 1996, when he also had 16 home runs, along with a program-record 95 RBIs and 106 hits). Heintz finished fifth in USF career batting (.351), ninth in hits (269), fourth in doubles (59), fifth in extra-base hits (93) and fifth in RBIs (191). Heintz, a 1996 All-American (and a two-time Academic All-American with a 3.89 grade-point average), was a 19th-round pick of the Minnesota Twins and played 34 major-league games over three seasons. He spent four seasons as an assistant coach on Lelo Prado's staff and had his number (23) retired. In 2013, he was inducted into the USF Athletic Hall of Fame.
4. Jack Butterfield's USF head-coaching tenure was brief (61-24-1 in two seasons, 1975-76), but meaningful. Butterfield was the Maine coach for 18 seasons, taking the Black Bears to third-place in the 1964 College World Series and being named NCAA National Coach of the Year. After quickly putting USF baseball on an upward trajectory, Butterfield was hired as a scout by the New York Yankees. He zoomed through the organization, rising to vice president of player development. In 1979, tragedy struck. Butterfield, 50, was killed in an automobile accident in Paramus, N.J. "His future with the Yankees was without limit,'' Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said. Butterfield was not forgotten by his USF players, including light-hitting Carlos Tosca, who was hired as a Yankees' minor-league coach in 1978. Tosca became manager of the Toronto Blue Jays (2002-04) and credited his career to Butterfield, whom he described as "a John Wayne type of character.'' Butterfield's tenants? Respect the game. Work daily on fundamentals. Be disciplined. Treat players firmly, but fairly. Back up talk with action. Do more with less.
5. Outfielder Drew Brutcher (2021-24) became one of the most prolific home-run hitters in USF history, finishing with 40 long balls, tied for the program's No. 4 all-time career mark. One obviously stands out because it was the program's most memorable homer. On June 12, 2021, the Bulls entered the ninth inning with a three-run deficit at No. 2-ranked Texas in Game 1 of the NCAA Super Regionals. USF scratched out a run, but there were two outs. Brutcher, a freshman, came up with a man on and worked the count to 3-2. One strike from USF defeat, Brutcher crushed a two-run homer to right field, picking on a curveball from All-American Tanner Witt, dramatically tying the game and momentarily silencing the partisan Longhorn crowd of 7,180. Texas won 4-3 on a ninth-inning walk-off, then eliminated the Bulls in Game 2, just short of the College World Series. But Brutcher's moment can't be forgotten. "It was all like a blur to me and I didn't know what to think in the moment,'' Brutcher said. "It's like when you're playing whiffle-ball in the backyard as a kid. You dream of those things. To get that opportunity and have it actually happen, I'm very grateful.''
Brutcher's notable teammates from that historic and memorable 2021 postseason run include: Orion Kerkering, Jack Jasiak, Brad Lord and Carmine Lane, each who were selected the following year in the 2022 MLB Draft.
6. Following the 1973 season, USF coach Hubert "Beefy'' Wright was asked about his second baseman, Mike Campbell. "If he doesn't make All-American,'' Wright said, "there ought to be an investigation.'' There was no need for that. Campbell, from Brandon High School and Polk Community College, became USF's first baseball All-American. He had a .439 batting average — fourth-highest in the nation and a program record that has stood for more than a half-century — to become one of the most accomplished athletes on USF's campus. Campbell's teammate, Don Ellison, batted .393 for the nation's 40th-best batting average. Campbell's most notable game occurred against the University of Pennsylvania, when he went 5-for-5 with a USF single-game record four doubles.
7. Bulls baseball has gotten great exposure through Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan (USF 2016-18), who emerged in 2021 as an American League rookie with a 10-6 mark and a 3.43 ERA, plus 141 strikeouts and just 37 walks over 123 1/3 innings. McClanahan built on that in 2022, earning the starting spot for the AL All-Star Team while finishing 12-8 with a 2.54 ERA and earning sixth-place in the AL Cy Young Award voting. His 2023 season (11-2, 3.29 ERA) ended prematurely with injury and he missed all of 2024. "If I look at what really made the difference for me as a pitcher, it's what I learned at USF,'' McClanahan said. "I don't think I would've been ready for pro ball out of high school (drafted in the 26th round by the Mets out of Cape Coral High School). I was immature. I needed to grow. USF really made all the difference for me — as a pitcher and as a person.'' McClanahan established himself as a USF sophomore with 120 strikeouts in 76 1/3 innings, plus a 14.1 strikeout ratio over nine innings (second nationally). The Rays made McClanahan the 31st overall selection in the 2018 amateur draft. "What a cool story,'' said former USF head coach Billy Mohl (2018-24), who was McClanahan's pitching coach. "Our guy pitching for the hometown team, doing so well, getting his team to the playoffs with a shot at winning the World Series. It's just awesome to see.''
McClanahan's USF teammates included Coco Montes, David Villar, Peter Strzelecki, Phoenix Sanders, Andrew Perez, Joe Genord, Joe Cavallaro, Tommy Eveld, Kevin Merrell, Brandon Lawson, Luke Maglich, Ryan Valdes, Carson Ragsdale and Alec Wisely – all MLB draft picks.
8. The name alone — Robin Roberts — suggests baseball royalty. Roberts was best known as one of the "Whiz Kids'' when the Philadelphia Phillies won the 1950 National League pennant, but he established himself further with a career built on longevity and productivity. Roberts, a right-handed pitcher, was 286-245 with a 3.41 ERA over 19 major-league seasons. He surpassed the 20-victory mark in six consecutive seasons with the Phillies, leading the NL in wins for four of those years (1952-55), while starting five All-Star Games. He also led the NL in games started (1950-55) and complete games (1952-56), showing a durability that is no longer seen. At one point, Roberts compiled 28 consecutive complete-game starts (including one in 17 innings). In 1976, a few months after being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Roberts was named the third head coach in USF baseball history. He had been working in investments while also coaching a high-school team in Pennsylvania. Saying he felt he could give something back while continuing the fierce competitiveness that marked his mound presence, Roberts was at USF from 1977-85. He will be remembered as orchestrating the first conference champion and postseason team in program history (1982 Sun Belt Conference title). His Bulls players — with a combination of awe and respect — said Roberts made a huge difference. His number (36) was retired by USF. "I learned so much from that man,'' said former Bulls player Ken Eriksen, who became the longtime USF softball coach. "When he talked, you listened. That man was a baseball legend.''
9. To find the high school of first baseman Ross Gload, you had to drive some 90 minutes from the nearest major airport, a journey on the Long Island Expressway onto Sunrise Highway, then a lonely two-lane road that took you near the tip of Long Island at East Hampton High School. "We sure didn't see a lot of college coaches there,'' Gload said. But on a memorable spring night, when Gload slammed three home runs, there was USF coach Eddie Cardieri seated in the stands. Cardieri, who had established a pipeline of New York-area recruits, was tipped off about Gload. "I couldn't get Ross signed fast enough,'' Cardieri said. In just three seasons (1995-97), Gload set USF career records for home runs (54), RBIs (241) and extra-base hits (113), while finishing second in batting average (.375) and seventh in hits (175). At the time, Cardieri said Gload was the best defensive first baseman he had ever seen. "I'm talking a la Don Mattingly or Keith Hernandez,'' Cardieri said. "Ross had unbelievable (offensive) numbers, eye-popping numbers. He never showed any fear. Some guys mentally couldn't handle the expectations placed upon him. But Ross was the model of consistency.'' Gload, a 13th-round pick of the Marlins, played 10 seasons in the major leagues after being named All-American and Conference USA Player of the Year. In 2010, he was inducted into the USF Athletic Hall of fame and his number (7) was retired. "As far as individual awards, I don't think about them,'' Gload said. "With me, it has always been a team thing.''
10. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more mercurial college postseason than the one enjoyed by USF reliever Orion Kerkering in 2021, when the Bulls landed in the NCAA Super Regionals. In his first 10 2/3 postseason innings, Kerkering allowed two earned runs on seven hits with 14 strikeouts and four walks. In the American Athletic Conference Tournament at Clearwater, he had a three-inning save in an elimination-game victory against Tulane — in a game that ended after midnight — then followed the next afternoon with a two-inning save in an 8-7 championship-game win against UCF. "My attitude was it didn't matter against who or where, when I got the ball, I was going all out to get the job done,'' Kerkering said. He outdid himself in 2023. After becoming a fifth-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in the previous year, Kerkering went from the Single-A Clearwater Threshers of the Florida State League to the Phillies' pennant race in just a few short months. In his major-league debut, Kerkering retired three consecutive New York Mets (two by strikeout) as his father, Todd, pumped his fists and sobbed from the stands. It was a heartwarming moment, but not a fluke. In Kerkering's first seven major-league innings (including four one-inning postseason appearances), he struck out 10 batters and didn't allow an earned run. "From the second he stepped on the mound in his debut, he looked as confident as anybody we have,'' Phillies shortstop Trea Turner said. Back at USF, head coach Billy Mohl showed faith in a then-undersized Kerkering, who displayed an uncanny ability to spin the breaking ball at Venice High School.
11. No other USF baseball coach — or few coaches in any of the athletic program's sports, for that matter — had the long-term success of Eddie Cardieri. In 21 seasons as head coach, he was 731-545 (.572). He had five seasons with 40-plus wins and 16 seasons with 30 wins or more. Cardieri's teams won eight conference titles — five regular-season crowns and three tournament championships — across the Sun Belt, Metro and Conference USA. His Bulls made nine NCAA Regional appearances. He was also a five-time conference Coach of the Year. And in 2024, Cardieri's accomplishments received the ultimate validation when he was selected for the USF Athletic Hall of Fame. Cardieri was devoted to baseball his entire life, becoming a standout player at Bishop Barry High School (now St. Petersburg Catholic), Valencia Community College and Florida Southern College. He became the head coach at Saint Leo University before joining the USF staff of Robin Roberts. When Roberts retired, Cardieri was elevated to head coach in 1986. He never lost his fascination for the game. "Every day I put the uniform on, I'm excited to go to the field,'' Cardieri said. "It's like fishing. There are no two days on the water exactly the same. Well, no two baseball games are the same — ever. That's why it's challenging and why it piques your interest.''
12. It's funny how life works. When Chris Welsh was a Knothole League player in his native Cincinnati, he visited Crosley Field in 1966 to see the legendary pitcher Robin Roberts, a future Baseball Hall of Famer who was winding down his career with the Chicago Cubs. Welsh had long been a fan, so he went over to Roberts, who sat on a tarp, and asked for an autograph. At first, Roberts refused because the Cubs-Reds game was in progress, but then he looked at Welsh and said, "For you, I'll make an exception.'' A decade later, Welsh was a left-handed pitcher for USF and a member of the school's athletic council that made the final recommendation to bring aboard Roberts as the program's third baseball head coach in 1976. Welsh became one of the few Bulls to play for three USF head coaches — Hubert "Beefy'' Wright, Jack Butterfield and Roberts. Welsh was so enthused to play for Roberts that he opted not to sign with the New York Yankees, who made him a 24th-round draft pick after his junior season. Welsh returned as a USF senior. He finished with 19 career victories and a 2.55 ERA. Welsh was drafted again by the Yankees, a 21st-round selection in 1977, and this time he signed. After being traded, he played five seasons in the major leagues (Padres, Expos, Rangers and his hometown Cincinnati Reds in 1986). Suiting up for the Reds was a dream. Before his senior USF season, Welsh was back home and promised a chance to pitch batting practice with the Reds. But team officials blanched in the clubhouse when noticing Welsh's mustache (the Reds had a no-facial hair policy). Welsh knew his buddies already were in the stadium to watch his performance. "Where's the razor?'' Welsh said with a shrug, assuring his opportunity. That began a long association with the Reds. In addition to the 1986 playing season, Welsh has served as the Reds' television network color analyst since 1993.
13. The Natural. That's how shortstop Jason Dellaero was regarded during his two seasons (1996-97) with USF baseball. Dellaero's fastball was clocked at 94 mph, but he remained as an acrobatic, rifled-armed middle infielder. "I love to get the ball and gun it over to first base, just punch a guy out,'' Dellaero said. "Just grab it and throw. I enjoy that probably more than anything. I hope I'll always have that feeling.'' Dellaero, a transfer from St. John's University, made an instant impact on his teammates. "An amazing athlete,'' Bulls second baseman Shawn West said. "You should see him play basketball. He can do big-time dunks. He's just one of those naturals. He's a guy who certainly could become a great pitcher if he chose to do that. I truly believe he gets more satisfaction from making a great defensive play over striking out 10 batters. He just loves to be in the middle of things.'' With 39 home runs and 136 RBIs in Dellaero's two USF seasons, scouts took notice. The Chicago White Sox made Dellaero the 15th overall pick in the 1997 draft. He had an 11-game cup of coffee in the big leagues two seasons later.
14. Jesuit High School outfielder Ryan Lockwood initially signed with the University of Florida, but transferred to USF for the 2008 season as a redshirt freshman. Lockwood then proceeded to put on an unforgettable show for his hometown fans. He was named first-team Freshman All-American by three major outlets (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and the National College Baseball Writers Association) and first-team All-Big East Conference after batting .415 (second-best in program history) and compiling a program-record 30-game hitting streak. That streak was paused when Lockwood suffered a season-ending broken finger at St. John's (limiting him to pinch-running duties), then he reached 32 straight when he got hits in the first two games of 2009. Additionally, Lockwood had a streak of reaching base in 87 consecutive games (over two seasons) that was halted on May 2, 2009. Initially in the streak-ending game, Lockwood was called safe on a fielder's choice, but then ruled out on runner's interference.
15. When Mark Kingston was hired as USF head baseball coach in 2014, he inherited a program that had gone 12 consecutive years without an NCAA Regional appearance. "Whether or not we went to a regional in 2003 has nothing to do with a kid making a decision once he graduates from high school in 2015 or 2016,'' Kingston said. "I don't consider that an issue. We can, we should and we will be an elite program. We will. It won't happen overnight. It will happen brick by brick. The foundation of our program is we will work harder and smarter than anyone we face. We'll be the type of team where you'll tell your kid, 'That's how you want to play.' '' Kingston was a man of his word. The Bulls made NCAA Regional appearances in 2015 (34-26-1) and 2017 (42-19). Kingston then took the job at South Carolina.
16. He came from one of Tampa's most distinguished baseball families, so it was no surprise when Lou Garcia Jr. (1975-76) became a USF stalwart. After transferring from Hillsborough Community College, Garcia batted .405 (fifth nationally) with 53 RBIs (seventh nationally) as a junior and earned All-American honors. Garcia's father, Lou Sr., was a University of Florida infielder (and basketball player) before becoming the baseball coach at Robinson High School (1971 state championship) and HCC (three Suncoast Conference championships). Garcia's brothers had great success at the college and minor-league levels. Billy Garcia as a junior-college All-American at HCC and batted 265 consecutive times without striking out while playing at Southwestern Louisiana. Tony Garcia played in the Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs organizations.
17. Infielder Myron Leslie (2001-04) quietly became one of the most consistent offensive forces in USF baseball history. He was named a first-team Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball after a 94-hit season and a .366 batting average. Leslie was also USF's leading hitter (.361) as a senior. He played the most career games (241) in USF history, while finishing with the program's most hits (312), runs (227), doubles (74) and walks (174). He was an eighth-round pick of the Oakland Athletics in 2004 and reached the Double-A level. "I've always been about doing the right thing, academically and athletically,'' Leslie said. "Your confidence comes from your preparation. That's why I like to be always prepared.''
18. Bespectacled and rail-thin, Jimmy Herget (2013-15) often looked like he was headed to a chemistry lecture, not the pitching mound. But make no mistake, once Herget took command of a USF baseball game, he was a bulldog, a strike-throwing machine who befuddled opponents with versatile arm angles and surgeon-like precision. "He's a competitor,'' Bulls coach Lelo Prado said. "He loves the challenge. A lot of guys don't want to pitch against the good teams, but Jimmy Herget wants the ball against the top teams we play. He doesn't necessarily need to rare back and throw it by guys. He's a pitcher. He knows what he's doing out there on the mound.'' Herget, who had a program-record 1.26 ERA as a sophomore, finished with USF-best 1.96 career ERA, 24 victories (tied for seventh all-time) and 263 strikeouts (eighth). He was a first-team Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball and Big East Conference Rookie of the Year, while earning a pair of first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors. Herget was a sixth-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2015. He has played six major-league seasons with the Reds, Rangers, Angels and Braves, while having a notable 2022 season with the Angels (2-1, 2.48, nine saves).
19. Stability. Dependability. Consistency. Those were the hallmarks of Mike Pilger's USF baseball career (1996-99), when he was mostly a leadoff batter. He arrived as a shortstop, but became an outfielder because Coach Eddie Cardieri was determined to find a place in the lineup for his multiple skills. Cincinnati coach Brian Cleary best summarized Pilger's value to USF. "Pilger's just a pain in the neck to play against,'' Cleary said. "He's smart and uses his speed very well. He keeps turning singles into doubles. I hate playing against him.'' A check of USF's career record book finds Pilger's name well-represented. He has the most at-bats (944), while ranking second in hits (311 to 312 for Myron Leslie), games played (238), stolen bases (81), runs (219) and doubles (64).
20. The strength of USF third baseman Carmine Lane (2020-22) stretched far beyond the baseball diamond. Lane, a hard-nosed "cage rat" and one of the best hitters in USF history, endured unthinkable hardships in his personal life with two of the people he loved the most. Along with the demands of being a student-athlete, Lane was often the caretaker and confidant of his father and hero, Thomas Lane, who battled oral cancer, and his girlfriend, USF softball player Alexis Buchman, who was diagnosed with brain cancer after having surgery to remove a tumor. For the USF baseball program, which held an annual "Cut For The Cure'' cancer awareness game (when Bulls players and staff had their heads shaved on the field), the cause became personal. "Carmine has had to toughen up at a very young age,'' Bulls coach Billy Mohl said. "These are hard battles to go through for anyone. What people don't understand is what a battle cancer really is, the stages you go through, what it does to their body, what it does to their mind.'' Lane somehow compartmentalized the ongoing battles with cancer and never let it affect his on-field play with the Bulls. Lane led the Bulls with a .306 batting average in 2021, collecting 11 home runs and 43 RBIs. In 2022, he was selected first-team All-American Athletic Conference, when he again led the Bulls in batting (.332), while hitting 10 homers and collecting 54 RBIs. Lane, who now plays in the Florida Marlins' organization, continues to be driven by the memory of his girlfriend.
Coming on Tuesday
Part II: The Games
About USF Baseball
The South Florida Baseball program played its first season in 1966 and will enter its 60th campaign in 2025. Mitch Hannahs was named South Florida's eighth head coach in program history on June 8, 2024 after compiling 355 wins over 11 seasons at Indiana State. The 2023 ABCA NCAA DI Midwest Region Coach of the Year guided the Sycamores to six conference titles and five NCAA Regionals.
The Bulls have made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and earned their first-ever Super Regional berth in 2021. The Bulls have won five conference tournament titles (3 Sun Belt, 1 Metro and 1 American) and six regular season championships (3 Sun Belt, 2 Metro and 1 C-USA). USF baseball players have been recognized with All-America honors 12 times and 19 Bulls have earned Freshman All-America accolades. USF has had 131 MLB Draft Picks. Former 2018 first-round draft pick, Shane McClanahan, is a two-time MLB All-Star.
– #GoBulls –
