Huskers Open Spring Practice Thursday

Lincoln -- The University of Nebraska baseball team begins its quest for the 2001 Big 12 Championship, as the Huskers begin spring practice Thursday afternoon from 2 to 5:30 p.m. either in Buck Beltzer Stadium or inside at Cook Pavilion.

"The key for us is that most of the guys came back in good shape," Van Horn said. " During the first couple weeks, we will work to get the kinks out and focus on the mental part of the game, areas such as defensive strategies, signals and baserunning. We'll also try to simulate some live games and get out on the field whenever possible to get ready for the season."

The Huskers enter the 2001 campaign with high hopes, returning 15 letterwinners from last season's 51-17 squad that finished one win away from the College World Series. Ranked fourth by Collegiate Baseball and fifth by Baseball America, NU returns five everyday starters from a year ago, including first-team All-Big 12 selections Matt Hopper (.352-21-71) and Dan Johnson (.368-21-56), who combined for 42 homers a year ago. They are joined by a pair of two-year starters in John Cole (.323-2-38, 16 SB) and Will Bolt (.350-3-41, 18 SB), while junior Adam Stern (.356-0-45, 12 SB) earned second-team All-Big 12 honors last season.

The Husker pitching staff is keyed by the return of junior All-American Shane Komine, who struck out a school-record 159 batters en route to posting an 11-4 record and a 2.24 ERA in 2000. The Big 12 Pitcher of the Year last season, Komine anchored a Husker pitching staff that led the nation with a 3.14 earned-run average. Sophomore left-hander Jamie Rodrigue (9-4, 2.64 ERA) and junior right-hander R.D. Spiehs (8-2, 3.23 ERA) will round out the weekend rotation, while junior closer Thom Ott (2-1, 1.26 ERA, six saves) returns after a strong sophomore season.

The Huskers open the season on Feb. 9, playing their first 14 games away from Buck Beltzer Stadium. NU will travel to nationally ranked Rice and will meet top-ranked Georgia Tech on Feb. 11 in Houston. Other highlights of the Huskers' early season schedule include contests against College World Series participant Louisiana-Lafayette, Wichita State and Ohio State before the Big 12 opener against Texas Tech on March 2. Nebraska opens the final season at Buck Beltzer Stadium on Friday, March 9 against Kansas State.

Last spring, Nebraska posted the finest season in school history, finishing with a 51-17 record, winning its second straight Big 12 Tournament title and advancing to the NCAA Super Regional in Palo Alto, Calif. The Huskers finished second in the Big 12 during the regular season with a 21-9 mark in league play and finished 11th in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.