FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Charlotte Baseball Begins 2009 Spring Practice
Charlotte, N.C. – The Charlotte 49ers begin practice in preparation for the 2009 baseball season on Sunday, February 1 with a noon practice and 1:30 scrimmage. The public is invited to attend. This is the first day that teams can practice as a whole, following months of individual workouts over the winter.
Charlotte is aiming for its third-straight Atlantic 10 Conference title, which has never been accomplished in league history. The Niners have put together 49 and 43-win seasons over the past two, and are fourth in all of Division I Baseball in win percentage over the past three seasons.
The Niners were selected by the league’s coaches and by “Baseball America” to win their third straight crown. FULL STORY
The Razorback baseball team begins practice on Sunday
FAYETTEVILLE – Major League pitchers and catchers may not report to camp for another two weeks, but the University of Arkansas Razorback Baseball team begins its preparations for the 2009 season on Sunday afternoon as it conducts its first practice of the year. The Hogs are slated to be on the field of Baum Stadium at 1 p.m. for stretching with practice scheduled for 1:30 p.m., weather permitting.
“We are excited to get started,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. “We had a good fall and have been looking forward to this ever since.” >FULL STORY
FSU Seminole baseball is just 19 days from opening day.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State Baseball is gearing up for what looks to be an exciting season in 2009. Following a run to the College World Series last year, the Seminoles hope to make a return trip to Omaha in ’09 returning 18 letterwinners while welcoming 13 newcomers.
The quest for a second straight trip to the College World Series begins Sunday, February 1 as the team hits the field in their first official practice of the 2009 season. The Seminoles enter the preseason ranked in the top 25 in five polls including four that position the Garnet and Gold in the top 10. FULL STORY
Georgia Southern Baseball Takes to Field for First Practice
STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern Baseball began the 2009 season on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 1), going through the first official practice at J.I. Clements Stadium. The Eagles open the campaign on Friday, February 20th against Presbyterian.
Head coach Rodney Hennon worked all the available pitchers at least one inning during an intersquad scrimmage to close out the first practice of the year.
Three Eagles already earned preseason honors. Senior outfielder Ty Wright, senior catcher Griffin Benedict and junior third baseman A.J. Wirnsberger were all named Third Team Preseason All-America by various media outlets. In all 19 letterwinners return from last year’s 33-25 team that finished 16-11 (fourth place) in the SoCon. FULL STORY
Georgia Tech Countdown to First Pitch: 19 days
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech baseball team begins the 2009 season Friday, Feb. 20 when it opens a three-game series with Lipscomb. Every day, leading up to the first pitch, a different member of the 2009 squad will check in with their thoughts on the upcoming season. Today’s blog, the first of the year, is by sophomore shortstop Derek Dietrich.
It has been nine long months since our last baseball game and like wild horses we are chomping at the bit. The entire team is excited that Opening Day is nearly here. Only 19 days to go until we can debut our strong 2009 Yellow Jacket Baseball Team!
During the fall and winter we have worked hard, on and off the field, to strengthen our bodies and hone our individual baseball skills. Now, with spring in the air, excitement is building and everyone is anxious to finally converge as a team when practice begins today. FULL STORY
Kansas State Baseball Holds First Spring Practice
MANHATTAN, Kan. – With the start of the collegiate baseball season less than three weeks away, the Kansas State baseball team began its preparations for the 109th season in school history on Sunday with a workout at Tointon Family Stadium.
Kansas State, which begins its season Friday, February 20, with a three-game series at Houston, returns 14 letter winners – including six position starters and five pitchers – from a squad that went 29-29 overall, 11-16 in the Big 12 and advanced to the school’s first Big 12 Championship title game in 2008.
The Cats, who recorded the most conference victories and its highest conference finish (tied for sixth) since 2002, return five pitchers who combined for 21 starts in 2008. The Wildcats will rely heavily on junior A.J. Morris and seniors Lance Hoge and Todd Vogel, while sophomore Thomas Rooke, who tied for fifth in school history with 25 appearances out of the bullpen last year, could be called upon to start some games this year for the Wildcats, but is invaluable as the team’s top middle reliever. FULL STORY
LSU Baseball Practice to Begin Sunday
BATON ROUGE — The top-ranked LSU baseball team holds its first full-squad practice at noon Sunday in the original Alex Box Stadium, as the Tigers look forward to the 2009 season opener.
The ’09 season begins on February 20 when LSU faces Villanova in the New Alex Box Stadium. The Tigers have been engaged in individual workouts and conditioning drills for the past three weeks.
“We can’t wait to get started,” said third-year coach Paul Mainieri, the 2008 National Coach of the Year. “There’s an aura of confidence surrounding our team that makes me feel we can reach significant goals this season.” FULL STORY
Rice Baseball Team Holds First Practice of 2009 Sunday Afternoon
HOUSTON – The Rice baseball team, ranked as high as No. 3 in the country in three national preseason polls, held its first practice of 2009 on Sunday (Feb. 1) at Reckling Park. Head coach Wayne Graham, now in his 18th season at the helm of the Owls’ program, welcomed back 15 returning lettermen from last season’s squad that went 47-15 and reached the College World Series in Omaha for a third-straight year.
“We’re very excited about the season and we’re ready to go,” coach Graham said. “I think everybody’s excited about getting started. Our goal is for the pitchers to get the ball over the plate and to keep it down. We hope our defense is as good as we think it can be. FULL STORY
UCF Baseball’s Preseason Practices Open Up on Sunday
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) – While the winter weather has taken over most of the country, the UCF baseball team was greeted by 60-degree temperatures Sunday as it kicked off its preseason practices. And the Knights had a new look on the diamond to celebrate the occasion, as their white and black uniforms now sport last names on the back.
First year head coach Terry Rooney gathered the squad in the dugout for a quick meeting before the players stretched in right field. The infielders and outfielders then separated to work on defensive drills, while the pitchers stayed in right field for some flatground work.
After an hour of warming up, UCF’s first scrimmage got underway, an eight-inning affair which saw senior Jaager Good (Gray Team) and sophomore Brennan Dobbins (White Team) serve as the starting pitchers. Senior Gil Gomez (Gray) and freshman Bryan Brown (White) also saw time on the hill as each pitcher went four innings Sunday. FULL STORY
USA Baseball Begins Preseason Drills
MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama baseball fans were treated to a different version of “Super Sunday” when the Jags opened spring practice at 11 a.m. Sunday at Stanky Field.
With less than three weeks remaining before the start of the regular season, head coach Steve Kittrell said his team has no time to waste.
“We’ve got a chance to be a pretty good ballclub, but we’ve got to use our time wisely and work hard these next three weeks to get to where we’re ready to open up the season,” Kittrell said. “Our guys looked really good for the first day.” FULL STORY
