Garko Might Be Regular Guy at Stanford

Ryan Garko thought he might have to bide his time this season at Stanford.

With seven regulars back from a team that reached the College World Series last season, it didn’t seem likely that Garko would contend for a regular job as a freshman.

But it appears to be only a matter of time before that happens.

“He’s going to be a good player for us in the future,” Stanford Coach Mark Marquess said. “We’ve got good depth this season at catcher and first base, but we think he could help us this season with his bat.”

Garko, who played at Servite High, had two at-bats as a pinch hitter early in the season, and was 0 for 3 as a designated hitter Friday in Stanford’s 11-5 loss at Florida State.

“I’m learning a lot this season,” Garko said. “It’s a big difference from high school. The pitching is so much better in college, especially here.”

Garko, however, was encouraged by batting .347 in fall scrimmages. He also had a good summer playing in the Connie Mack League, and was a member of the U.S. junior national team last spring.

Garko was a catcher at Servite his senior year, batting .444. During his four years there, he batted .484 with 24 home runs and 147 runs batted in.

This season, he has mostly been backing up senior Craig Thompson at first base.

“I can catch, play first base or play the outfield,” Garko said. “There will be a lot of openings on this team next fall with all the veterans we have playing this season.”

Garko said he considered UCLA and Cal State Fullerton before Stanford made him an offer. “I thought I was going to end up at UCLA, but getting the chance to come to Stanford has been a dream come true for me. The academic and athletic combination is great.”

Garko graduated from Servite with a 4.2 grade-point average and was on the honor roll during his first quarter at Stanford. “I really didn’t expect to be able to do that here, so I’m pleased,” he said.

NOTEWORTHY

Stanford’s Geoff Abrams lost in three sets in the semifinals of the Rolex National Indoor Championships at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas, last weekend. Abrams, ranked No. 4 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Assn., was beaten by unranked Jeff Morrison of Florida, 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 6-3. Abrams, who played at Newport Harbor High, is 18-4 this season.

Roxanne Staniorski, a freshman catcher for San Jose State, was nine for 22 (.409) with nine RBIs and two runs last week, earning Western Athletic Conference softball player of the week honors. Staniorski played at Fountain Valley High.

Redshirt freshman Jenny Topping, who played at La Habra High, is back playing for the Washington softball team this spring after a knee injury ended her season after five games last year. Topping was eight of 15 with three home runs and 11 RBIs before she was sidelined.