Baseball: WVU Set for BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge
February 19, 2009 04:03 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
February 19, 2009
BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge Game Notes
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University baseball team begins its 2009 season with the inaugural BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge on Feb. 20-22 at various locations in Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Bradenton, Fla.
The inter-conference event features eight BIG EAST representatives and 10 Big Ten schools. WVU starts with its first-ever matchup against Indiana on Friday at 4 p.m. at McKechnie Field in Bradenton.
“Our team has worked hard throughout the entire offseason,” Coach Greg Van Zant said. “We’ve been looking forward to the BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge since it was first announced. As a team, we are anxious to get outside in some warm weather and start playing baseball again.”
The Hoosiers, who finished sixth in the Big Ten last season, return the core of their hitters that led the squad to a .339 team batting average. IU, tabbed as the preseason favorite in the conference, returns its top three hitters from 2008 as well as its top pitcher in junior left-hander Matt Bashore (7-3, 3.59 ERA). One of the country’s best catchers in junior Josh Phegley (.438, 15 HRs, 80 RBIs) returns behind the plate.
The Mountaineers follow with an early Saturday contest against Minnesota at 10 a.m. at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater. They finish up the round robin event against Illinois on Sunday at the Naimoli Complex in St. Petersburg.
The Golden Gophers suffered their first losing season in 2008 under 27-year Head Coach John Anderson. They return two key outfielders in fifth-year senior Matt Nohelty (.398, 1 HR, 20 RBIs) and two-sport athlete Eric Decker (.333, 2 HRs, 17 RBIs), who was an all-conference wide receiver in the fall.
Illinois finished 31-25 overall in 2008, including a 16-15 mark in the Big Ten. Shortstop Brandon Wikoff (.369, 1 HR, 61 RBIs) leads the returning position starters for the Illini, while senior right-hander Ben Reeser (3-2, 4.04 ERA) headlines a pitching staff that returns eight of its top nine throwers from a season ago.
WVU has been tagged as the visiting team for its first and third games against Indiana and Illinois, respectively. The Mountaineers will be the designated home team for their second contest against Minnesota.
The Mountaineers, coming off a 35-21 mark in 2008, return seven of their eight position starters that guided them to a .341 batting average last season. They also bring back four of their top pitchers from a season ago, including Team MVP and ERA leader Billy Gross (5-2, 3.01 ERA).
Leading the offensive lineup is sophomore Jedd Gyorko, who carried a .409 batting average along with eight home runs and 63 RBIs in 2008. The Morgantown native, who makes the switch to shortstop this season, has been recognized as a preseason All-American from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association as well as The Sporting News, and earned a spot on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.
Senior Justin Parks, who joins Gyorko on the Brooks Wallace National Player of the Year Watch List, returns for his final season. The Columbus, Ohio, native batted .378 with five home runs and 43 RBIs a season ago.
Also returning are two All-BIG EAST Third Team players in Joe Agreste and Vince Belnome. Agreste, known as a solid defensive first baseman, batted .369 with six home runs and 45 RBIs in 2008. Belnome, who starts out the year at second base, was the team’s top run producer last season with 66 RBIs.
Rounding out the BIG EAST award winners is senior centerfielder Austin Markel. The Elizabethville, Pa., native was a member of the 2008 BIG EAST All-Tournament Team and is WVU’s greatest power threat after tying for the team lead last season with nine home runs.
WVU follows its weekend slate with another Big Ten matchup on Monday, Feb. 23, against Northwestern. The time and setting for the contest is still to be announced.
