Baseball to Face Tar Heels

Duke vs. North Carolina ** April 27-29 ** Jack Coombs Field ** Durham, N.C.

GAME TIMES
Thursday, April 27: North Carolina at Duke, 3 p.m., Jack Coombs Field Friday, April 28: North Carolina at Duke, 3 p.m., Jack Coombs Field Saturday, April 29: North Carolina at Duke, 1 p.m., Jack Coombs Field

BLUE DEVILS TO FACE TAR HEELS
Duke (14-33 overall, 4-14 ACC) hosts No. 10 North Carolina (36-11 overall, 8-10 ACC) in a three-game series Thursday-Saturday at Jack Coombs Field. North Carolina enters the series ranked No. 10 by the USA Today/Baseball Weekly coaches poll, No. 18 by Baseball America and No. 18 by Collegiate Baseball.

Duke has defeated four ACC teams- Georgia Tech twice, N.C. State and Virginia.

Game times are 3 p.m. on Thursday, 3 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday at Jack Coombs Field.

SERIES NOTES
Duke is 84-146-3 all-time against North Carolina. The series began in 1891 with Duke winning the first game. The score of the game was not available in Duke records.

North Carolina has won the last seven matchups between the two schools. The last time Duke won was an 11-10 victory at North Carolina on 3/30/97.

MEDIA COVERAGE
All three weekend games will be broadcast by the North Carolina Sports Radio Network with Stephen Gates, Craig Kocher and John Rose serving as play-by-play and color analysts respectively.

HILLIER AT CONCLUSION OF FIRST YEAR AS DUKE HEAD COACH
Duke head coach Bill Hillier earned his first victory at the helm of the Blue Devil baseball program in Duke's second game against Georgetown. Hillier, a former Duke assistant coach for seven seasons, began his new job this summer.

He comes back to Duke after serving five seasons as head coach of the UNC-Asheville program. Twenty-four of his players have been drafted by Major League Baseball squads and four of his former players including Quinton McCracken, Mike Trombley, Ryan Jackson and Scott Schoeneweis (all Duke players) have enjoyed big league careers.

BECKER CONTINUES ASSAULT ON DUKE RECORDBOOKS
Jeff Becker needs to break one more record (season or career) to tie Duke's lead for total records held. Currently, Becker (seven) trails Vaughn Schill (1997-99) for most records held with eight. His best chance is to become the all-time leader is in career RBI where he needs just seven RBI (192) to break the record held by Gregg Maluchnik (198). Duke has at least nine games remaining.


DUKE RECORDHOLDERS
TOTAL RECORDS HELD No.
Vaughn Schill (1997-99) 8
JEFF BECKER (1996-2000) 7
Joe Lewis (1951-53) 5
Stephen Cowie (1996-99) 4
David Darwin (1993-96) 4

TOTAL CAREER RECORDS HELD No.
JEFF BECKER (1996-2000) 6
Scott Shoeneweis (1993-96) 2
David Darwin (1993-96) 2
All others 1

JEFF BECKER RECORD WATCH
This chart depicts where All America candidate Jeff Becker stands on various Duke career offensive charts. Becker has already broken or is on pace to break all of these career offensive records by the end of the season:


STAT Becker Former/Record
Games Played: 229 219, Michael Fletcher
Games Started: 229 218, Frankie Chiou
At Bats: 903 859, Ryan Jackson
Runs: 220 203, Frankie Chiou
Hits: 316 277, Ryan Jackson
Doubles: 67 60, Vaughn Schill
Home Runs: 32 42, Ryan Jackson
RBI: 192 198, Gregg Maluchnik
Bases on balls: 103 126, Frankie Chiou

THE BECKER RECORDWATCH
Upon entering this weekend's three games against North Carolina, Jeff Becker owns a total of seven Duke statistical baseball records- season hit by pitch (12 in 1998), career at-bats (903), career hits (316), career doubles (67), career games played (229), career games started (229) and career runs scored (220). Becker is approaching the school record for career RBI as he has 192. The record is 198 set by Gregg Maluchnik.

Becker currently has Duke's third-longest hitting streak this season (11 games), the most multiple RBI games (11) and the most multiple hit games (19). He has had two four hit games this season.

DuPREE RANKS SECOND ON ALL-TIME CAREER PITCHING APPEARANCES LIST
Senior relief pitcher Brad DuPree is now in second place on the all-time Duke career pitching apperances list. Upon entering this weekend, DuPree has 84 career appearances, second behind David Darwin's 95 set between 1993-1996.

BROADWAY IS ON FIRE!
Freshman first baseman Larry Broadway (West Palm Beach, Fla./Wellington) has raised his average to .318 from the .250 average he was hitting on March 28 against Virginia Commonwealth. He currently ranks second on the team behind Jeff Becker (.358).

Over his last 10 games, Broadway is hitting .452 (19-42) with six runs scored, six doubles, three home runs and 10 runs batted in. His slugging percentage is .810.

Included in his last 18 games is a 12-game hitting streak. Over those games, Broadway has hits in 16 of his games. He currently has a five-game hitting streak.

HOT DEVILS OVER LAST 10 GAMES
Over its last 10 games, Duke's offense has generated 10+ hits in seven games. Three Blue Devils are hitting at least .410 including Larry Broadway (.452/19-42), Wes Goodner (.419/13-31) and Jeff Becker (.410/16-39).

HIGH POINT DEFEATS DUKE 3-2
Blue Devils outhit Panthers, strand 10 runners on base High Point took advantage of its five hits as Duke stranded 10 runners as the Panthers defeated the Blue Devils 3-2 Wednesday at Jack Coombs Field. The loss drops Duke to 14-33 while High Point improves to 16-28-1.

High Point jumped out to an early lead with one run in the first inning when Buck Hamrick reached base on two-base error and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Buddy Webb's sacrifice foul ball to right field drove him in.

The Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the fifth when Jed Thomas doubled to left center and scored on Tim Dixon's RBI double to right field. High Point went up 3-0 in the sixth when Duke battled back from the 3-0 deficit with two runs in the seventh when Wes Goodner led off with a single followed by walks to Gideon Thompson and J.D. Alleva. With two outs, Jeff Becker's double to right field scored by Thompson and Alleva. That was all the Blue Devils would score.

High Point starter Kevin Burch (4-3) earned the victory after going 6.2 innings and allowing seven hits, two runs and four walks. Reliever Chas Welch earned his first save of the season as he threw the final 2.1 innings and allowed two hits.

Duke starter Steve Schroeder (3-6) earned the loss after throwing the complete nine innings and allowing five hits and three runs. Wes Goodner registered a 3-5 day for Duke while Jeff Becker went 2-5 with two RBI. Andy Harney went 3-4 with an RBI for High Point.

CARADONNA EMERGES AS STAFF ACE
Junior righthander Ryan Caradonna has emerged as Duke's No. 1 starting pitcher. In two of his last three starts, Caradonna has dominated opponents for wins. He earned victories against Virginia and North Carolina State.

Against Virginia, Caradonna pitched his second complete game of the season and his career after throwing nine innings and allowing nine hits and one run. He struck out five of his 35 batters faced. In his other complete game, Caradonna pitched a 7.0 inning shutout against Brown.

Prior to this season, Caradonna contributed as a relief pitcher and designated hitter. He only started four games prior to this season on the mound. He has since concentrated solely on pitching and the results have been outstanding.

RISING BATTING AVERAGES
Three Blue Devils have raised their batting averages by amazing standards. Sophomore J.D. Alleva was batting just .155 on March 3, 2000 and has raised his batting average to its current .292 level. In just the month of April, freshman Larry Broadway has improved his batting average by 60 points, raising his from .258 on April 1 to .318 on April 26.

Junior Wes Goodner has seen an enormous rise from his .143 on March 4, 2000 to his current .308 batting average on April 26, 2000.

YOUTHFUL BLUE DEVILS
With a young team, Duke has had to rely upon several freshmen to step up with big seasons. Pitching-wise Duke has had three freshmen pitchers start this year. Kevin Perry (3-5, 5.73 ERA), Jeff Alleva (1-5, 6.05 ERA) and Kevin Thompson (1-2, 6.14) have a combined 14 starts and 62 appearances through the team's first 47 games. They have also accounted for 33.8 percent of innings pitched (133.1 of 405.2).

Both Larry Broadway (first base) and Troy Caradonna (catcher) have started all 47 games at their respective positions and outfielder Doug Bechtold has emerged as Duke's second-best hitter with a .302 batting average (29-96). Broadway has given Duke a solid defender at first base while sporting a .318 batting average from the left side while Caradonna is in his first year as Duke's starting catcher with a .267 batting average.

TWO-WAY PLAYERS
Head coach Bill Hillier makes full use of his 19-man roster. Several are two-way players including pitcher/designated hitter Ryan Caradonna, pitcher/infielder Jeff Alleva (has played second base) and pitcher/first baseman Larry Broadway. Pitcher Kevin Thompson even drove in two runs in his first collegiate pinch-hitting debut at Elon.

BECKER IN FIFTH YEAR AT DUKE
Jeff Becker returns to the Duke baseball squad for a fifth year. Becker was granted a medical redshirt after playing in only nine games last year due to a foot injury. He was drafted as a junior but decided to finish up his career at Duke and return for his senior season. Just nine games into his senior season, Becker went down with a foot injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. A three-year All ACC player and 1996 ACC Freshman of the Year, Becker is an All America candidate in his final year as a Blue Devil. He should also be drafted high in the 2000 MLB Draft.

COACH HILLIER EXTENDS DUKE COACHING CAREER
Head coach Bill Hillier is in his first year as head Duke baseball coach. He blends a glimpse of Duke baseball past along with dedicated focus on the future as he served as an assistant coach with the Blue Devils from 1988-1994. From Duke, he became the UNC Asheville for five seasons (1995-1999). He has high hopes for the program and plans several facility improvements. Hillier has coached virtually every big-name player to pass through the Duke baseball program. It is that knowledge of the program's history combined with his vision of the program's future is what will undoubtedly make the program a success.

DUKE FAMILY COMBINATIONS
Duke baseball has two sets of brothers and a father-son duo. Second baseman Jeff Alleva and righthanded pitcher Jeff Alleva are brothers and sons of Athletic Director Joe Alleva. Righthanded pitcher/DH Ryan Caradonna is the older brother of starting catcher Troy Caradonna. The duo is also a battery on the mound and behind the plate. Assistant coach Bill Hillier, Jr. is the son of head coach Bill Hillier. Duke also has two Thompsons on the roster- Gideon and Kevin. They are not related.

JACK COOMBS FIELD UPGRADE
Hillier has big plans for Jack Coombs Field. Already a new fence, warning tracK and foul poles have been installed in the outfield. A new P.A. system and new seating complete with chair backs have been installed in the main grandstand. Other plans include increased bleacher seating, renovations of the batting cages and the building of an office structure.

BLUE DEVILS SIGN EIGHT PLAYERS FOR 2000-01 SEASON
Hillier touts class as best-ever in Duke school history
The Duke baseball program signed eight players to National-Letters of Intent Blue Devil head coach Bill Hillier announced Monday. All eight players will enter as freshmen at Duke University in the 2000-01 school year.

Hillier, who served six seasons (1988-1994) as an assistant baseball coach at Duke, touts his first recruiting class as head coach at Duke as one of the best ever.

"Our 1991 group was about as good talent-wise but they didn't have the arms that this class has," Hillier said. "You never know about recruiting classes until after two or three years but this class is the best-ever recruited to Duke."

Duke recruiting coordinator Erik Filipek was also happy with the eight signees.

"We believe this class can help us build a national power here at Duke," Duke baseball recruiting coordinator Erik Filipek said. "We signed five pitchers that will make an immediate impact- two of them being two-way guys. With the legitimate position players we signed, we feel we've made each area on the field more competitive. Overall, we're excited to bring in the caliber of athletes we signed."

The eight signees are from eight different states. Several are two-way players. Following is information on Duke's eight baseball signees:

EVAN ANDERSON
(P/OF, 6-4, 190, Norman, Okla./Norman)
Enters senior season at Norman H.S. in Norman, Okla. ... threw three-hitter vs. California in the Sunbelt Classic ... named Team One All Star Showcase Classic as a junior; selected for Area Code Games All Star Game by Chicago White Sox ... finished 1999 season with 137 strikeouts in 97 innings ... struck out six out of 12 batters faced in Area Code Games tryout ... registered 15 strikeouts vs. Putnam City Western in 3-1 win and finished with 13 strikeouts in 3-2 win against Edmund North last year ... chose Duke because of its combination of academics/athletics ... plans to attend medical school.

COLIN BEGLEY
(P/OF, 6-3, 215, Nashville, Tenn./Hume-Fogg)
Enters senior season at Hume-Fogg H.S. in Nashville, Tenn. ... named All District, All Middle Tennessee as a junior ... Team One competitor ... All GNBA team and Most Valuable Player.

GREG BURKE
(P/INF, 6-4, 180, Bellmawr, N.J./Gloucester Cath.)
Enters senior season at Gloucester Catholic in Bellmawr, N.J. ... named all conference, all parochial, All South New Jersey and All State as a junior last year ... earned pitching victories in three of four state playoff victories including a 13-strikeout performance in semi-final and four-hit performance in state final ... played in All Star Game for Carpenter Cup for Tri-Cape team (5 K's in 2 IP) ... led Brooklawn team to American Legion World Series in 1998 and 1999.

JUSTIN CALLIHAM
(OF, 6-1, 195, Myrtle Beach, S.C./Myrtle Beach)
Enters senior season at Myrtle Beach H.S. ... earned All Region, Honorable Mention "Toast of the Coast" Team and 1998 Hawaiian Tropic All Tournament team honors ...accumulated 30 base hit bunts in first three years of high school baseball ... led team all three years in stolen bases ... three-year starter at centerfield ... played for Carolina Clippers, traveling All Star team this past summer ... batting leader and stolen base leader on American Eagles, national team based in San Diego, Calif.

JUSTIN DILUCCHIO
(P/INF, 6-4, 200, Paoli, Pa./Episcopal Academy)
Enters senior season at Episcopal Academy in Merion, Pa. ... 1999 Honorable Mention Philadelphia All City ... 1999 All Star InterAc Team ... selected to compete in Area Code Tryouts ... led Episcopal Academy to Interac League championship for first time in 50 years ... pitched most innings and had most wins on squad last year ... earned Bronze Medal at Penn. State Keystone Games ... also played in several other All Star tournaments ... plays basketball.

DREW JERDAN
(UTIL, 6-5, 220, Marietta, Ga./Wheeler)
Enters senior season at Wheeler H.S. in Marietta, Ga. ... named 1998 All City in Atlanta ... named East Cobb Astros MVP in 1995-1997 ... named East Cobb Astros best pitcher in 1998 and Wheeler H.S. best pitcher in 1999 ... threw one-hit shutout in regional championship and hit home run to lead team to 1-0 victory as a sophomore ... threw one-hit shutout to get into AAU World Series championship game ... selected to several all tournament teams in AAU baseball ... father, Myles Jerdan, played basketball at Northwestern (1967-71).

ADAM LOFTIN
(C/INF, 6-0, 190, Raleigh, N.C./Leesville)
Enters senior season at Leesville H.S. in Raleigh, N.C. ... named all conference as a sophomore and junior and honorable mention all conference as a freshman ... set school records for most hits in a game and consecutive hits ... selected to All-Babe Ruth World Series team in 1994 ... named to 1999 Bobby Murray Invitational All Tournament team and went 6-10 with two home runs.

BRYAN SMITH
(INF, 6-0, 185, Longwood, Fla./Lake Brantley)
Enters senior season at Lake Brantley H.S. in Altamonte Springs, Fla. ... named to two all tournament teams- All Big Blue Bonanza and Cypress Creek Orlando Classic teams ... played in All Star Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla. and went 11-22 with seven doubles and eight RBI ... team captain for both baseball and football ... has played quarterback on football team for three seasons.

Players Mentioned

J.D. Alleva

Jeff Alleva

Jeff Becker

Troy Caradonna

Stephen Cowie

Brad DuPree

Michael Fletcher

Wes Goodner

Gregg Maluchnik

Vaughn Schill

Steve Schroeder

Duke information