The impending retirement of UCLA baseball coach Gary Adams has
had an obvious effect on recruiting: Potential recruits have no
idea who will be coaching in 2005.
But for four recruits, the program itself was enough of a
selling point to commit to UCLA. One of those is Jason Zinser, a
6-foot-8, 210-pound right-handed pitcher out of La Jolla Country
Day High School in San Diego. Zinser has shown the ability to throw
harder than 90 mph. He also hit .361 as the designated hitter for
his high school team.
Zinser admits that the departure of Adams was a difficult pill
to swallow. In the end, however, the uncertainty surrounding the
future of the baseball program wasn’t entirely
overwhelming.
“I was a little concerned about Gary Adams retiring, but I
know the rest of the coaching staff will still be around, and Adams
will still be around in a different role,” Zinser said.
“I have faith in the athletic department to hire the right
coach.”
The other three recruits are outfielder Kris Kasarjian (Westlake
Village, Notre Dame High), outfielder Michael Metzger (Fair Oaks,
Jesuit High) and infielder Matt Ware (Lancaster, Quartz Hill High).
Ware ““ no relation to the UCLA junior cornerback of identical
namesake ““ was rated as one of the top 100 players
in the nation by Baseball America.
SOFTBALL: Three softball recruits have already
said they will sign with UCLA for the 2005 season: Krista Colburn,
Jennifer Schroeder and Anjelica Selden.
Colburn, a pitcher and shortstop at Kamiak High in Multikeo,
Wash., was a four-time Wesco 4A all-conference selection.
“I absolutely love the atmosphere at UCLA,” Colburn
said. “The people, girls and coaches are so welcoming, like
you’re at home.”
Schroeder, a third baseman, outfielder and catcher, attended
Esperanza High in Yorba Linda, the same school attended by current
freshman Kristen Dedmon.
Selden, a pitcher who amassed an ERA of 0.04 at Vanden High last
year, was named the MVP of the Capital Valley Conference in
2003.
WOMEN’S GOLF: The women’s golf team
has picked up two commitments in Vanessa Brockett and Amie
Cochran.
Brockett, from Campbell Hall High in Los Angeles and Cochran,
from West Torrance High, are considered to be two of the top
recruits in the country.
“I wanted to stay in Los Angeles,” Brockett said.
“I knew a lot of the girls, and I think I fit in well. I
wanted to go on a team that was good, and UCLA was an easy
pick.”
MEN’S GOLF: Coach O.D. Vincent has picked
up four commitments who are expected to sign during the early
signing period.
Kevin Chappell, from Buchanan High in Fresno, won the Southern
California finals last year.
Brandon Christianson, from Valencia High, is a two-time MVP of
the Foothill League.
Daniel Im, from La Mirada High, was named the 2003 Los Angeles
Times Golfer of the Year.
Craig Leslie, from Ferris High in Spokane, Wash., finished first
in stroke play at the 2003 Pacific Northwest Amateur
Championships.
WOMEN’S TENNIS: UCLA picked up three
commitments.
Tracy Lin, from Canyon High in Anaheim, won the 2002 USTA
National Open Championships Under-18 division, and is the daughter
of former Bruin Eric Lin.
Elizabeth Lumpkin, from Naperville Central High in Illinois, was
the state’s first four-time singles champion.
Riza Zalameda, from Beverly Hills High, won the Bay League
singles title and is considered to be one of the nation’s top
recruits.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL: UCLA received a
commitment from Tony Ker, a libero and outside hitter from Valencia
High who led his team to its first-ever CIF title last year.
SWIMMING: The UCLA swim team received a
commitment from Erin Ketchum, who specializes in distance
freestyle, from Capistrano Valley High in Mission Viejo.
The early signing period runs today through Nov. 19. Look
for more recruiting updates throughout the week.