Post by rainman on Feb 20, 2009 6:39:47 GMT -5
WVU opens against Big Ten favorite
MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University opens its baseball season Friday at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla., against Indiana, which has been picked as the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten championship.
The two teams clash on the first day of the Big East/Big Ten Challenge event in Florida. Starting time is 4 p.m.
“I’m anxious to see how we do in the four games down there this weekend,” WVU coach Greg Van Zant said before the Mountaineers left on Thursday. “We could win all of them or lose all of them.
“Our team has worked hard throughout the entire offseason. We’ve been looking forward to the Big East/Big Ten Challenge since it was first announced.
“We’re anxious to get outside in some warm weather and start playing baseball again.”
West Virginia has seven of eight position starters back from last year’s team that posted a 35-21 record. The team batted .342 in 2008.
Leading the offense will be All-America shortstop Jedd Gyorko, who batted .409 and had eight home runs and drove in 63 runs. Senior Jason Parks hit .378 with five homers and 43 RBIs last season.
Van Zant has not announced a starting pitcher for Friday’s game. He has seven hurlers ready to go, with others having good potential.
Indiana’s Hoosiers, who finished sixth in the Big Ten last year, return most of their hitters who, as a team, compiled a batting average of .339.
They also still have their top pitcher, junior left-hander Matt Bashire. He posted a 7-3 record and 3.59 ERA in 2008.
The catcher, junior Josh Phegley, is one of the best in collegiate baseball. He batted .438 with 15 home runs and 80 RBIs last year.
In other weekend games, West Virginia plays Minnesota at 10 a.m. Saturday in Clearwater and on Sunday Illinois will be the opponent at St. Petersburg. It also will have a game on Monday against Northwestern at a site yet to be determined.
MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University opens its baseball season Friday at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla., against Indiana, which has been picked as the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten championship.
The two teams clash on the first day of the Big East/Big Ten Challenge event in Florida. Starting time is 4 p.m.
“I’m anxious to see how we do in the four games down there this weekend,” WVU coach Greg Van Zant said before the Mountaineers left on Thursday. “We could win all of them or lose all of them.
“Our team has worked hard throughout the entire offseason. We’ve been looking forward to the Big East/Big Ten Challenge since it was first announced.
“We’re anxious to get outside in some warm weather and start playing baseball again.”
West Virginia has seven of eight position starters back from last year’s team that posted a 35-21 record. The team batted .342 in 2008.
Leading the offense will be All-America shortstop Jedd Gyorko, who batted .409 and had eight home runs and drove in 63 runs. Senior Jason Parks hit .378 with five homers and 43 RBIs last season.
Van Zant has not announced a starting pitcher for Friday’s game. He has seven hurlers ready to go, with others having good potential.
Indiana’s Hoosiers, who finished sixth in the Big Ten last year, return most of their hitters who, as a team, compiled a batting average of .339.
They also still have their top pitcher, junior left-hander Matt Bashire. He posted a 7-3 record and 3.59 ERA in 2008.
The catcher, junior Josh Phegley, is one of the best in collegiate baseball. He batted .438 with 15 home runs and 80 RBIs last year.
In other weekend games, West Virginia plays Minnesota at 10 a.m. Saturday in Clearwater and on Sunday Illinois will be the opponent at St. Petersburg. It also will have a game on Monday against Northwestern at a site yet to be determined.
