Spring Break
Opening weekend in Florida
Kevin Velturo
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: Sports
|
The first game is at 10 a.m. against Michigan State, and the second is against Ohio State Saturday, at 4 p.m. The final game is against Northwestern on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Coach Jim Penders addressed the disappointment stemming from not making the Big East tournament last season.
"Since our season ended prematurely in Pittsburgh last May, our coaching staff and student-athletes have been working toward getting back on the field and reaching our goal of a championship season," Penders said on the team's Website.
UConn lost only five players from last year's team, including Erik Turgeon, who signed with the Mets. The team has been predicted to finish sixth in the Big East by the coaches.
Among seven starters who will return this season is shortstop Mike Olt, who was named to the Player of the Year pre-season watch list in December. Olt, who is only a sophomore, led the team in home runs and RBIs last year with 13 and 61, respectively. He did so while hitting a solid .318 - placing him fifth on the team.
Olt's companion in the middle infield, Pierre LePage, also returns to the Huskies for his sophomore year after a standout freshman season. LePage was the leading hitter, batting .341 while starting 49 of 55 games, and ended the season on a six-game hitting streak. LePage was also tied for the team lead in steals with 19.
In terms of pitching, the Huskies' best, and most experienced, returning pitcher is senior captain David Erickson. In 2008 Erickson led the team in appearances, with 18. He finished with a record of 3-2 and a scant earned run average of 2.70. Perhaps the most telling statistic of Erickson's is his solid walk-to-strikeout ratio. Erickson walked 18 batters and struck out 34 in just 36.2 innings.
John Folino, who led the team in wins with four last season, has been picked to the pre-season All-Big East team.
Michigan State is almost the complete opposite of the Huskies in terms of experience. The Spartans have 14 new players, including 11 freshmen. Last season UConn was downed 11-1 by Michigan State in an early season match-up. The Spartans best returning hitter is Chris Roberts, who led the team in average last year with .363 while starting in 46 games.
Ohio State also has some recent success against the Huskies. The two teams met in Florida last year and the Buckeyes came away with a 6-4 win. In its history, Ohio State has won the last three and four match-ups.
The Huskies have no recent history against Northwestern. The Wildcats have Jake Goebbert, one of their top hitters from last year returning. Goebbert had the second highest team average (.353) and led the team in home runs (10).
Noticeably absent on the Huskies' schedule this year is last year's Big East champion, and pre-season favorite to win, Louisville.
UConn does not play a home game at J.O. Christian Field until March 20, against West Virginia.
Be the first to comment on this story