Oct. 19, 2012

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State baseball team will begin fall practice on Oct. 22 and will hold its annual costume practice on Halloween night at Packard Stadium beginning at 5 p.m.

Fall practices at Packard Stadium will typically run Monday through Friday from 2:30-5:30 p.m., with a scrimmage taking place in the final 90 minutes each day. Workouts will go until Nov. 20 and are open to the public.

The Sun Devils secured their 50th straight 30-win season, which is the longest current streak in Div. 1 baseball, and finished the 2012 season in a tie for fourth in the conference at 36-20. The 2013 season begins on Feb. 15 when ASU hosts Bethune Cookman for a three-game series at Packard Stadium.

"This marks the beginning of our quest to win the Pac-12 Championship and go to Omaha," said fourth-year head coach Tim Esmay, who has guided ASU to the highest regular-season winning percentage in the Pac-12 since 2010. "We have a great returning core of position players and pitchers, and they will be joined a new crop of talented local and national freshmen student-athletes."

There will be an hour of practice on Oct. 31 before the Halloween scrimmage begins at 6 p.m. This will be one of the first chances to get a look at the 2013 team, and Sun Devil fans and families are encouraged to join in on the fun and dress up.

"Our costume game on Halloween is just another way for us to connect with our great fans, as well as learn a little more about each other," coach Esmay said. "It's a fun opportunity for ASU baseball followers to see a unique side of our team."

There are 19 returning lettermen on the 2013 team, including 10 position players and nine pitchers. The nation's third-ranked freshman class that features 16 newcomers, six of which were selected in the 2012 Major League Draft, joins them on the diamond.

Junior pitcher Trevor Williams, a First Team All-Pac-12 selection who led the conference with 12 wins last season and earned Collegiate Baseball All-America honors, is slated to be the Friday night starter. Senior catcher Max Rossiter and infielder James McDonald were named honorable mention all-conference and are expected to be significant contributors this season.

Williams participated for the USA National Collegiate Team this summer, becoming the 19th Sun Devil since 1984 to suit up for Team USA, and freshman LHP Ryan Kellogg, a native of Ontario, Canada, competed for the Canadian National Team before coming to Tempe in August.

"We've bolstered our pitching staff and added depth at each position," coach Esmay said. "But above all else, each guy will wear the Maroon and Gold with pride and play each inning the Sun Devil Way."