For Immediate Release: Thursday, March 13, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

BRONCS HOST UTPA/AL OGLETREE CLASSIC

EDINBURG, TX-It's tournament time for The University of Texas-Pan American's baseball team.

The Broncs will host the first annual UTPA/Al Ogletree Invitational at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium this weekend. Texas-Pan American will host Prairie View A&M Friday night at 7:00 p.m. after Illinois and Iona play at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, Iona and Prairie View meet at 3, and the Broncs and Illini meet at 7, and Sunday, Illinois plays Iona at 12 noon, while UTPA and Prairie View play at 7:00 p.m. Former UTPA Head Coach Al Ogletree will throw out the first pitch for the game between the Broncs and Panthers Friday evening.

The Broncs bring a 10-12 record into this weekend's games after splitting a pair against Sam Houston State earlier this week. Illinois is 3-1 after defeating Kansas State and winning two of three at Louisville. Prairie View is 5-22, and Iona is 0-2 after losing their only two games to Coppin State.

"I'm excited about the tournament," said UTPA Head Coach Willie Gawlik. "Having Al Ogletree's name on the tournament is something exciting, for the baseball program, the school, and for the community. It's exciting to have schools from other parts of the nation who are very familiar with Coach Ogletree. Itchy Jones from Illinois and the people from Iona and Prairie View are all familiar with him. It's exciting for our baseball alumni to see this happen."

The competition should be good. "Iona will have a pretty scrappy team," said Gawlik. "Illinois will have a good team, they're a topflight program. Prairie View has a new coach, and they're rebuilding, as we are. We've been in most of our games, and if we get good pitching and play good defense, we can be in every game. When the pitching has gotten out of hand, the defense has usually not followed suit. I think we'll play well this weekend."

After the tournament ends, the Broncs will play Iona twice more at home: Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

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