Season Starts at End of Month

There's an upbeat feeling among BYU's baseball team as it is less than a month away from opening the 2003 season.

First, a decision was recently released by the Mountain West Conference office that Cougar All-American Kainoa Obrey was granted an extra year for a medical hardship. Obrey, a third baseman, is officially a junior again after injuring his back and missing most of last season.

Now healthy, Obrey leads a group that returns five starters from last season's team that was a hit away from advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament over USC. Obrey may not be around for long as he was a 11th round draft last season by the Kansas City Royals, but at least he has an option of another year with BYU.

Joining Obrey as returning starters for the Cougars who open the season with a three-game series at the University of Arizona on Jan. 30 are centerfielder Doug Jackson, shortstop Ranger Wiens, second baseman Rob Itri, designated hitter Jake Stubblefield, outfielder Ryan Chambers, as well as pitchers Jeff Mousser, Scott Koffman, Jeff Garcia and relief ace Tyler Dabo.

"I'm very optimistic about this season, I think we are going to be okay," said BYU Coach Vance Law who enters his fourth season at the Cougar helm. "We've been practicing during the Fall with wood bats and it has helped us improve our mechanics by getting the bat in the right position."

Law just returned from San Diego where he attended the annual coaching convention. Later this week he flies to Washington, D.C., where the former major league player will again participate in rookie career development training.