Rice Unfiltered

In the penultimate edition of The Jose Cruz Jr. Show for the 2023 season Bixby Family Head Baseball Coach Jose Cruz Jr. wraps up the series loss at WKU and the midweek win vs the Cougars. Max Johnson and Ben Dukes are the player guests and first-year athletic trainer Nikki Carvino is also interviewed by Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath.

Coach Cruz says the fight is still in the team. Parker Smith battled back after a tough start to keep them in the game and J.D. McCracken pitched well on Saturday. Coach concludes his segment by relaying two stories about the most famous people he’s met; one a home run king and the other an Academy Award winner.

Max Johnson tells the audience about growing up near Cincinnati and his path to Rice. He comes from an athletic family and loves the Texas weather so far. He also issues the bold claim that he’s the best basketball player on the team.

Ben Dukes opens up about getting some playing time and how it felt to contribute after a while not in action. He admits that it was a very tough time on him and a change in mindset helped him persevere.

Nikki Carvino talks about her New Jersey roots and her reason for loving athletic training so much, especially baseball. 

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After another tough week on the diamond for the Owls, Bixby Family Head Baseball Coach Jose Cruz Jr. recaps the series in San Antonio. Ben Royo, Drew Holderbach and Director of Player Development DC Arendas also join the show from Palace Social.

Coach Cruz liked the Owls offensive punch over the weekend but improvements still need to be made in the bullpen.

First baseman Drew Holderbach breaks down how he developed into such a strong defensive player and how his path to Rice from D-III Marietta College.

Shortstop Ben Royo breaks down his breakout freshman season and explains how he ended up at Rice after an injury his senior season in high school.

DC Arendas explains what his role is with the team in his first year and how that will expand in the off-season. He is glad to have some family that traveled to the big city to be near him.

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The Jose Cruz Jr. Show airs 7-8 pm on Mondays at Palace Social (4191 Bellaire Blvd.), hosted by Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath. It can be heard live on The Varsity Network App, the Rice Owls Gameday App and RiceOwls.com. It is also streamed on the Owls Facebook and YouTube pages. 

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On the latest edition of The Jose Cruz Jr. Show, Coach Cruz breaks down the heart-breaking sweep by #19 DBU. Guy Garibay Jr., Justin Long and Director of Analytics Adam Gurin also join the show.

Rice had the lead going into the eighth inning all three games vs the Patriots and Coach Cruz says the Owls are very close to turning it around. Jack Riedel and Manny Garza each had a productive series and coach was happy with the starting pitching.

Guy Garibay Jr. talks about the recent move to the leadoff spot. He also discusses his time in Cape Cod last summer and he rehashes his old kindergarten story of wanting to come to Rice.

Justin Long tells his unique story of converting from catcher to pitcher and how it originated. Working with a pitching coach that did the same thing helps a lot. And he reminisces about his lawn care business in high school.

Director of Analytics Adam Gurin explains his new role and how he goes about his day-to-day work life. He diagrams how special the pitching lab is compared to MLB clubs. 

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On the latest episode of The Jose Cruz Jr. Show coach breaks down the Owls series loss at MTSU. Featured guests are third baseman Jack Riedel, pitcher JD McCracken and assistant coach Rob Hardy.

Coach Cruz says the Sunday loss in Murfreesboro could have gone either way. The Owls made some improvements at the plate in the Saturday game and coach elaborates on the late-inning offense. He gives an update on Manny Garza and the continued great play of Ben Royo.

After giving an update on the new family Red Labrador, Riedel recaps his six-hit weekend, including his career high four-hit game Saturday. He breaks down what went into his improved defensive play this season.

McCracken said it was very special to pitch in his hometown in front of many friend and family members. He reveals why he was very selective entering the transfer portral. He and J.P. also discuss their different opinions on a Texas restaurant institution.

Coach Hardy goes in-depth about the Owls improved play at catcher. He also shares an interesting talk with the pilot after the plane landed in Houston. He finishes by giving a plug for the summer baseball camps.

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Every edition of The Jose Cruz Jr. Show is 7-8 pm Monday from Palace Social (4191 Bellaire Blvd). It is streamed live on the Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App and RiceOwls.Com and also on the Owls Facebook and YouTube pages. 

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This week’s show features Bixby Family Head Baseball Coach Jose Cruz Jr., associate head coach Paul Janish, switch-hitting catcher Manny Garza and center fielder Connor Walsh. 

Coach Cruz leads off wrapping up disappointing week of action for the Owls on the diamond, but there were still some positive performances. He talks about what needs to be improved He breaks down Parker Smith’s dominating performance vs. Charlotte and the play of guests Manny Garza and Connor Walsh. 

Walsh discuses being comfortable in his own skin now and how he ended up on South Main from the Florida panhandle town of Niceville. He ranks his favorite catches since playing centerfield and what the Owls need to do to pick up their play.

Garza talks about how he ended up at Rice from Rio Grande City, Texas. He breaks down the path to becoming a switch hitter and gives everyone an update on his twin brother, also a college baseball player. 

Associate head coach Paul Janish reveals his favorite big league moment involving a home run at Wrigley Field. And Paul has has started dabbling into the podcast world as well!

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Every edition of The Jose Cruz Jr. Show is 7-8 pm Monday from Palace Social (4191 Bellaire Blvd). It is streamed live on the Owls Gameday App, The Varsity Network App and RiceOwls.Com and also on the Owls Facebook and YouTube pages. 

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On the latest edition of the Rice Owls Insider, Director of Athletics Dr. Joe Karlgaard and Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath discuss many subjects surrounding Rice Athletics. Joe recaps winter sports which saw the men’s and women’s basketball teams competing in post season play and the swimming team’s success in the first AAC Championship meet. With Houston as the host of the 2023 Final Four, Joe also discusses how many Owls staffers had a chance to volunteer at the event and moving back to campus, he previews the new floor is being installed at Tudor Fieldhouse.

Looking to spring sports, Joe updateson the progress of baseball at the midway point of the season. He also discusses the Owls golf team momentum heading into the conference tournament and how bothtennis teams seem to be peaking at the right time. Concluding spring sport updates, he covers another successful track season and spring football as it winds down this week

Finally, Joe recapsthe very successful Day of Giving and looks forward to the coaches caravan events and the Night of Flight events for which we invite you to join us! Night of Flight: Ascending to the American will take place on April 27in the R-Room at Rice Stadium. Visit RiceOwls.com/NightOfFlight for more information. If you’re interested in attending one of the Coaches Caravan events, you can sign up at the links below:

April 18 in Washington, D.C.

April 20 in Dallas

April 25 in Austin

May 11 in Katy

May 12 in The Woodlands

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On the latest edition of The Jose Cruz Jr. Show, coach and Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath discuss the last week of Rice baseball. They recap the tight series vs LA Tech and the wild loss at UH.

Right fielder Aaron Smigelski reveals what led to his recent offensive firepower and how his hockey background makes him a tougher player.

Relief pitcher Jack Ben-Shoshan tells how he made the transition from being a position player and his connection to Rice baseball growing up.

First year pitching coach Parker Bangs gives the audience insight on the improvements to the Owls staff and he breaks down a few of his pupils individually. He believes his national championship pedigree at South Carolina is a good fit with the Owls. 

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The first edition of The Jose Cruz Jr. this season features a Bellaire Cardinals theme. Billy Forney of Palace Social discusses the new host location and his Owls ties from the past. Bixby Family Head Baseball Coach Jose Cruz Jr. recaps the first half of the season and improvements in his second season.

CUSA Pitcher of the Week Parker Smith elaborates on his Friday night pitching success this season. He reminisces about coming to Owls games as a kid and wanting to be the Friday night starter.

Second baseman Pierce Gallo also joins the show to break down his career high four-hit game vs FAU. He goes into great depth about what he wants to do after baseball and his favorite classes at Rice.

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In the final edition of The Scott Pera Show from Valencia’s Tex-Mex Garage coach and J.P. cover a wide range of topics, from the last two games at UAB and Charlotte to a retrospective of the six years of the Pera era. And binge-worthy shows, facial hair, movies and dogs!

Assistant coach Van Green joins the show to talk about this season’s highs and lows, but also the joy of becoming a father for the first time and his roots in Birmingham.

Coach Pera reflects back on his last six seasons at Rice and stumps J.P. with a piece of buzzer beating trivia. Milestones, big wins, and growth are discussed. And then the tres leches cake was sampled live on-air by the request of a fan!

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It’s another special presentation of The Scott Pera Show! The womens basketball team is featured with second-year head coach Lindsay Edmonds and senior guard Katelyn Crosthwait. Jake Lieppert from the Owls mens team also makes an appearance.

Cach Pera leads off recapping the Owls wire-to-wire win over Western Kentucky and the gritty effort by Max Fiedler. He’s accomplish he a rare feat in college basketball with another 300-200-100 season. Coach also reflects on getting to 17 wins, a high in his tenure at Rice.

Coach Edmonds and J.P. talk about the Owls season up until now, including the 18-point win at Western Kentucky and the career effort from India Bellamy. Coach speaks about some freshman that are coming into their own recently and she also highlights what needs to be done down the stretch for a strong finish.

Senior Katelyn Crosthwait reflects with J.P. about coming to the big city from tiny Washington, Oklahoma. Her dog River gets a mention and a certain star men’s player is the dog-sitter when Katelyn is on the road. She talks candidly about whether she wants to use her extra year of eligibility and when she enters the real world what she talks about what she’d like to do.

Senior Jake Lieppert is “juco tough” and talks about his three years at Rice and bouncing back from injury. He highlights his big first half vs WKU and what the Owls need to do down the homestretch to get a bye in the first round of the tournament. 

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