12
Pure
Continued from Page 9
Rape did not just bounce back. He returned
to form and added a third pitch to his arsenal.
He was A&M’s opening-day starter and
combined with two other pitchers - Shane
King and Chris Scarcella — to no-hit South
west Texas State. Rupe leads the staff in strike
outs with a career-best 100 and has the lowest
earned run average among the Aggies’ starters.
He now has 256 strikeouts in four seasons
at A&M, placing him third on the schools’ all-
time list.
Just as important as his contributions from
the mound has been the wisdom he has passed
down to other pitchers. Ten of A&M’s 15 hurlers
are either freshmen or sophomores and the ad
vice Rupe gives them does not go unnoticed.
“His presence out there is almost like having
another coach out there sometimes,” Pitching
Coach Jim I^awler said. “He understands how to
prepare for a game. He knows that if his fast
ball’s not working one night he can still win. He’s
learned how to beat people without velocity.”
Learning how to win is something the
young team has done well this season. Rupe
said he hopes the success continues.
“I want to win the Big 12,” he said. “I want
to walk out of here with a ring. That’s my
whole goal right now.”
A&M’s last conference title came in 1993,
the season before Rupe arrived at A&M. The
five-year conference title drought is the longest
since Coach Mark Johnson took over in 1985.
“I think all the players are self serving,”
Johnson said. “They want a ring for them
selves, but I think it would be really special for
everyone if Ryan got a rin#
After all, leaving wgP a rin g and a few
records would be quitf’ an accomplishment
for a guy who mam s*P ec ted to bypass col
lege all together. TM’Ugh all of his trials and
tribulations, Ru/^as learned so much more
than he ever^* mec ^ he could have.
“He’s x&iHy a guy who could have shut it
down," j(?/w ,son said. “The doctors really ques
tioned iWiether or not he could throw again,
butiic/^rsisted and continued through it. Cri-
sis is .j/ways a learning experience and he’s re-
a/Zymatured with all he’s been through.”
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Thursday • April30,
Harsch uU|
Continued from Page9
Mmm, Mmm,Good
With three games against
and the conference tournament:
remaining, several Aggies have:
ready written their names inllie
record books with outstanding
performances over the course
the Big 12 season.
John Scheschukhasbrokenl
Bynington’s RBI mark of35,set!
1989 by dim
home 39 nm
He is close to
passingCM
Alexander's
1995 Souths
conference
campaignof
total basest
70, but team-
Scheschuk mate Craig
Kuzmichas
beaten him to it by piling up 74
Both Scheschuk and Kuzmic
have 11 home runs on thecoi
ence year, which betters the ten
blasts John Curl hit in 1995.
Leftfielder St even Truitt non
stands alone in the categoryof
most doubles in a league season ^
as his 13 two-baggers put hint'
five Aggies who are tied with tei
And some guy namedlynerl
established new marks foracoi
ference season with 32 runsscoi
18 steals and 54 hits. JasonTyntt
steal mark breaks his recordofl ^
that was set last season.
okt|
A Deluxe Apartment in the!
A&M’s recent run of sura
which has seen the Aggiestaki
four straight and nineoftheiiil^
eleven, has done morethanji
put the team into contention
the Big 12 title this weekend;
gotten them credit inthepols
well.
A&M is ranked lOthintheBa
ball America poll, ajumpupfrn
12th a week ago and theirhiglte
ranking of the year in anypoi.
I'Cisrl >.ill \merica has five f|
six Big 12 South teams ranked,
A&M leading the way. Baylor
stands at 16th, followed by Okla
homa State at 17th, Texas Techai
21st and Oklahoma at 22nd.
The only omission?Texas,
which has a 9-14 Big 12 recorda
a 2 1 -28-1 overall mark. Fhattie
came against Stanford, currenik
ranked 1st nationally, as theCai
nal had to leave to catch a
back to California withthescoit
tied at the end of the sixth
Travis Harsch isafreshm ^
Journalism nt ( 0
TYNER
Continued from Page9
This past summer,Tyneraniil
low Aggie Casey Possum travt
around the world with on
Baseball team. Tyner led thetean
hitting with a .434 average.
Sophomore left fielderStevel
itt saidthatT)
er is the typf
guy he wants
a teammate.
“He is
type of pi
who goes
and gives usl
all," Truitt sJ
“Hewantstof
as much as i
ofus. Hekno
Tyner
his role on the team andheiscoif
with his role. He comes out hereto
successful and to help the team
Johnson said that Tyner's teat
mates benefit from his play.
“(Steve) Scarborough gets aid
fast balls to hit because jynerisa
ally on base and is such a
steal,” Johnson said. "He crei
havoc for other teams.”
Because of his success on
field, some expect Tyner to h
high-round draft choice in that
coming draft.
“I expect to be drafted in
first three rounds, butyount
know,” Tyner said. “The
very unpredictable.”
Presently, Tyner is enjoyii
the attention he is receiving
pro scouts.
“ Right now I’m just kind ofi
the wave,” Tyner said.
Christmas I received Chrii
cards from major league teantt
just enjoying it.”
Tyner said that he will &
whether to turn pro or return to
when the time is appropriateJ
now he has his mind on other
“I began playing organized^
ball when I was five, and I lo' ! '
from the beginning,” Tyner sail
has always been a dream ofniin
play pro ball, but right now I a®
enjoying this team. My maingi 1
to win the Big 12 and get the
Hopefully we will host a regional
cause this is the greatest pla (
play in all of college baseball.'