FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville baseball team completed its first official week of practice for the 2009 season with a pair of entertaining full-squad scrimmages on Friday and Saturday at clear and warm Jim Patterson Stadium.
With temperatures reaching 60 degrees both days, third-year head coach Dan McDonnell’s squad took advantage of the great weather with 18-innings of work to close the week. After the offense led the way on Friday, the pitching and defense were back in command on Saturday afternoon.
“Today’s scrimmage was much cleaner than yesterday’s, and even though we had a lot of offense on Friday, we also made some mistakes and were a little sloppy at times,” said McDonnell. “Overall, we really got a lot accomplished this week, especially the last two days, and that’s encouraging. This is what these guys have been waiting for and I’m pretty happy with where we’re at after one week.”
Ranked in the top 25 in all of the major preseason polls, including a No. 8 ranking in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll, the Cards will open the 2009 season on Friday, Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m. ET, against SEC foe Florida. The Cards and Gators will meet in a three-game series in Gainesville on Feb. 20-22, while U of L’s home-opener is set for Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. ET, at Jim Patterson Stadium.
Louisville, the unanimous favorite to win the 2009 BIG EAST Conference title according to the league’s head coaches, returns eight of nine position starters for 2009 led by All-American third baseman and preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year Chris Dominguez. McDonnell’s squad also returns a deep stable of talented pitchers, led by All-American and BIG EAST Preseason Pitcher of the Year Justin Marks.
Last season, Louisville earned its second straight NCAA Championship bid after winning the program’s first ever BIG EAST Tournament title. The Cards finished 41-21 overall in 2008 after being eliminated from the Athens Regional by eventual College World Series runner-up Georgia.
