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MU8WHH
I'age vs
ust call Jason Tyner 'Mr. Single'
By Jamie Burch
The Battauon
|o% students avidly watch
datelek wonders try to hook up
Ion Ml'foi&uigled Out. Texas A&M
homore outlmcler Jason Tyner, a
[admitted Jenny^cCarthy admirer,
fid be the show’s inject contestant,
wse he is “Mr, SinglSULast season,
le hitting an impressiv^JO?, 'lyner
|3 singles with no home rin
per has never been and nefer will
listaken for a power hitter. Imto?
ter-at-bats, the 6Toot sophomoi
[hit 103 singles and no home runs. 1 '
(ugh he has hit a phenomenal .419
High 63 games, Ty n t* r has only con-
ted nine times for extra base hits
it doubles, and one triple).
(ware of his knack for hitting singles,
jersaid he is not bothered by his lack
lower.
[1 just like hitting,” Tyner said. “If 1 ever
thorite run, I’d be pretty excited. 1 did
)ne home run in batting practice last
and everyone dogpiled me. Practice
stopped for about five minutes.
[(Head) Coach (Mark) Johnson
Us me to hit it on the ground, so
t’s what 1 mainly focus on. Who
jws, I might hit one out if the wind
lowing out one day.”
Johnson said lyner needs to take ad-
tageof his strengths and not worry
jut going deep.
JHe (Tyner) won’t be as good a hit-
§fhe tries to hit for power,” Johnson
“He’s got to use his talents. His
[nts are speed, getting out of the
(well, putting the bail in play, and
[ping the ball on the ground.
“That’s the most impressive thing. He the plate.”
doesn’t try to do more than he should do. Prior to his sophomore year at A&M,
He knows what his role is, what his lyner was invited to try out for the Unit-
weapons are, and he stays
with it.”
Senior outfielder
johnny Hunter,acknowl
edging that the team
constantly kids Tyner
about not going long,
said he respects the
sophomore's ability.
“He’s hard on himself,”
Hunter said. “He’s a com
petitor. He brings a lot of
competitiveness to the
He’s a great player
antmlot of fun to watch.”
Sirius are just part of Tyner’s game.
The sopWnore is also a threat on the
basepathTM, year as a freshman, lyn
er set a singr||season record for most
stolen bases wuMl. Clocked at 4.5 in
the 40-yard dash, pfener was caught just
five times in 46 attertmts.
The speedster said\e was excited
about breaking the recor
“It was a real big thrill for flteto come
in and contribute right away,” T%r said.
"I like stolen bases, so it was a lot oljun
Johnson respects Tyner’s speed,
said the sophomore changes the outlod
of the game when he is on the basepaths.
“When he gets on base, it’s a major
problem for the pitcher and catcher,”
Johnson said. "They have to change up a
little bit. The catcher probably won’t lo
cate the pitches as well to the next hitter
because he’s concentrating on lyner get
ting a jump.
“When the catcher’s focus is ta*en
away, the hitter has an advantage at
j
“Coach Johnson
wants me to hit it
on the ground, so
that’s what I
mainly focus on.”
Jason Tyner
Sophomore outfielder
ed States Olympic Base
ball Team (Jan. 10-12).
Tyner turned in an im
pressive performance,
hitting .500 Oof-14),
while scoring seven runs
in four games. He was
also perfect between the
bases, successfully steal
ing base twice.
Reminiscing about
past Olympic teams, Tyn
er said he would love to
represent his country.
“[Trying out) was
one of the biggest thrills of my life,”
Tyner said. “Playing for Team USA
would be the ultimate amateur ac
complishment, besides winning the
national championship.
“I went to the 1984 Olympics and
watched (Will) Clark, (Mark) McGwire,
and (Rafael) Palmeiro. I just love the uni
form, the hats, and everything about it.”
Though Tyner is only a sophomore, he
said he has thought about one day play
ing Major League Baseball.
“I would like to get drafted,” lyner
said. “But, education is No. 1 for me. I’m
not going to rely on it, until it happens.
ht now, I’m just enjoying college base-
bmafthopins the Aggies can win the
natilfiaimampionship this year.”
nerj|ld his downplay of the ‘
Shg^l^ims from the fact that he
t drafted out of high school. He s
fan only laugh that the scouts are now
knocking down his door.
See Tyner, Page 4
1
7
. ::vr-/
mm
Ji
y
. •: -
: • : v T'
or
pressure to perform
By Krishna Buffi n
The Battauon
Ireshman pitcher Casey Possum knows
: a little something about pressure.
A Baseball America All-American
'her his senior year at Midway Higl\
fool in Waco, Possum was highly rj
(iteci by both college teams and prples-
ial teams.
Respite being drafted in thj^eventh
N by the Arizona Diamoijjmcks, Fos-
p made the choice to atJmd A&M and
^college ball
[There is the mon^but I wanted an
icatton,” Fossi^n said. “The money
Rot enougl^) miss the opportunity
educath
Wmmd gained enough experience
in Wfh school and elsewhere to join
for Leagues. He was one of four
r players invited to the USA Team Tri-
fin Tampa, Fla., in January.
issum threw the most strikeouts of
jy tcher with eight in four innings of re-
e only walked one and earned a win
pH i White team.
iM Pitching Coach Jim Lawler said
Possum’s sug^ss at the trials will help
him in hiswst season with the Aggies.
“As aJffishman to be playing in a na-
tionaj^furnament gives him inner-confi-
demto and to be successful adds a feather
lis hat,” Lawler said. “I have definitely
Teen his on the field confidence.”
A&M Head Coach Mark Johnson said
Possum’s experience this summer and at
the trials gave Possum the confidence he
needs to compete at the college level.
“When you get into a big arena on a na
tional level,” Johnson said. “It gives you
confidence to compete against other guys
and compare himself against other people
his own age.”
This confidence has translated into suc
cess in the infancy of the baseball season.
For the first time during the Mark
Johnson era, Possum started the open
ing game of the season. Against South
west Texas State, Possum worked five
innings and allowed only five hits and
one earned run. He walked three and
struck out three.
Lawler said Possum will be able to adjust
and get better as he pitches more games.
“He’s a focused kid who had a high
level of success in the summer
leagues,” Lawler
said. “He’s ready
and he’s going to
adjust as he
throws because
he’s not going to
be able to adjust
until he goes
into a game.”
Possum
was an inte-
gral reason
A&M’s re
cruiting
class was
ranked
No. 1 in
the na
tion.
' 11
y 1
:<r
Hi
mr ..jvgBft
Of A&M’s 11 recruits, eight
were drafted by major league
ball clubs. Possum said the
pressure to perform and
prove what scouts are ex
pecting of him will only
make him better.
“The pressure gives
me a reason to stay and
get better,” Possum said.
“I like the pressure.”
Perhaps Possum’s
greatest contribution to
the team this season will
be that he is only one of
four pitchers who
throws lefthanded.
“A lefthanded pitcher
is a priority anytime,”
Lawler said.
See Fossum, Page 4