Game Notes (PDF)
Live Game Stats (courtesy of Winthrop)
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The long wait is almost finally over for head coach David Seifert’s young University of Evansville baseball team, as the Purple Aces will officially kick off the 2008 season on Saturday at 12 noon, as UE will take part in the Johnny Gill Memorial Tournament hosted by Winthrop in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Evansville will battle Winthrop (Saturday at 12 p.m.), Gardner-Webb (Sunday at 10 a.m.), and nationally-ranked St. John’s (24th in Ping! Baseball’s Top 30--Monday at 11 a.m.) in the three-day tournament. Purple Aces fans can follow the action live on-line by viewing the live stats at www.winthropeagles.com.
This weekend’s tournament will be the first Division I baseball action for 22 newcomers at UE. It is a talented group of newcomers which ranked fourth in the Upper Midwest in Baseball America’s annual recruiting class rankings, and it features a 2007 Major League draft pick (infielder Sean Loggins), two NJCAA All-Americans (two-way player Tom Heithoff and pitcher John Trepel), an honorable mention Louisville Slugger High School All-American (infielder Brian Robinson) and three junior college players who have been drafted by Major League teams (pitchers Ryan Kussmaul and Corey Davisson, and infielder Peter Tountas). They will combine with 14 returning players from last year’s 35-23 squad to try and help Evansville record its fourth-straight 35-win season.
“I am really excited to get this season underway, and I?know that our team is as well,” said UE head coach David Seifert. “This group has brought a great attitude to practice every day, and the improvements that I have already seen in players have been impressive, so it will be fun to see this group in action.
“We might be a little inconsistent at times at the start with all of the new faces and the fact that we have not really been able to practice outside yet this spring. But, as our younger players grow into their roles, I really think that you will see this team take off, because the natural talent is there to succeed.”
Evansville will turn to its lone senior to try and lead the way offensively this season, as senior outfielder Jim Viscomi returns this year after earning first team all-MVC honors a year ago. Viscomi ranked third in the MVC in hitting at .374 and stolen bases with 22, while leading the Valley in runs scored with 59. He is on pace to rank in UE’s career top five in stolen bases and career top 10 in runs scored before the year is up, despite playing just three years at UE.
On the mound, Evansville will turn to newcomers Matthew Page and Tom Heithoff and sophomore Wade Kapteyn (2-2, 4.98 ERA in 2007) to set the tone in the center of the diamond this weekend. Page is expected to start the season opener for UE on Saturday, and in doing so, he is believed to be the first true freshman to start a season opener in UE’s Division I history. Heithoff will likely start Sunday’s battle with Gardner-Webb, while Kapteyn is expected to get the start against the reigning Big East Conference champion St. John’s Red Storm on Monday.
