Nevada pitchers ready for season to start

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

RENO - Finally, the college baseball season is upon us.

And, there are three guys on the Nevada baseball roster - starting pitchers Rod Scurry, Chris Garcia and Mario Rivera - happy that opening day is 24 hours away.

The trio has been selected to start games in the season-opening three-game series against visiting UC Irvine, a College World Series participant a year ago.

Scurry, who was 3-7 with a 5.08 ERA, will start Friday's 2 p.m. opener against Scott Gorgen, who tamed the Pack 9-1 in last year's opening game of a three-game sweep.

Nevada coach Gary Powers said that Scurry earned the start because of his improvement in the off-season.

"He's more consistent," Powers said. "There were moments when he was brilliant last year and moments where he was 180 degrees away from that. He has a better idea of what he wants to do."

Coincidentally, one of Scurry's best games of the season was in early March when he faced UC Irvine and dropped a 3-0 decision. He said he felt better that game than he did all of last season.

"I can't wait to get the season started," Scurry said. "We've been playing against each other the last couple of months.

"Locating pitches. The curveball I've always had. My fastball is a lot better. I worked on mechanics the last five or six weeks with coach (Stan) Stolte."

The left-handed Garcia, who prepped at Reed High School and then went to Feather River College, is looking forward to his first collegiate start on Saturday. Garcia was 13-1 with a 1.67 ERA at FRC.

"I've been waiting for this game since I was a little kid when I used to come here and watch," Garcia said. "It's really a dream come true to be able to come back here and pitch.

"I definitely know I'll be nervous. Hopefully it will go away after one batter. They (Irvine) are a good team."

Powers said that Garcia is the first left-hander in the Pack rotation (at the start of the season). Patrick Mason made a few starts during his Wolf Pack career, which ended last season.

Rivera opened the season as a starter, suffered an injury and then worked as a closer at the tail end of the 2007 season.

Rivera said he prefers being a starter, and Powers said he earned that right with his performance during fall practices and scrimmages. Rivera starts the series finale on Sunday.

"He throws four pitches for strikes," Powers said. "He earned this opportunity. It's up to him."

Rivera, who throws a fastball, curve, slider and change-up, said he can throw strikes at any count with all four of his pitches. Even though he prefers to be a starter, Rivera pitched well as the team's closer last season.

Rivera's elevation to a starting role leaves the Pack without a closer. Powers said it will be done by committee this year. With the compacted schedule and four-game conference series, one guy can't do it all.

Returnees Mat Keplinger and Jacob Kaup, both left-handers, will work in relief along with right-handed newcomers Ryan Iodence, Derek Achelpohl, Stephen Bautista, Sammy Miller, Bryan Suarez and Kyle Dimartino. Achelpohl, Miller and Bautista appear to be the top candidates to close games.

• Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281

UC Irvine (0-0) at Nevada (0-0)

When: Friday (2 p.m.), Saturday (1 p.m.) and Sunday (noon)

Where: Peccole Park

TV/Radio: None/630 AM (Friday and Sunday games will be on the radio)

Coaches: Nevada's Gary Powers (761-595-4) is starting his 26th season; Irvine's Mike Gillespie (763-471 overall) is in his 1st season