TicketsBearcat Baseball Opens Practice
Contact: Shawn Sell
1/24/2003
Senior RHP B.J. Borsa |
CINCINNATI, Ohio ? The University of Cincinnati baseball team opens official practice today in preparation for the start of the 2003 campaign which begins in just two weeks.
"We have a short period of time to prepare since we open in two weeks," said Bearcat head coach Brian Cleary. "Its important for us to have productive practices since we have no time to waste. We are fortunate that all of our players came back from Christmas break healthy and in good shape. We are looking forward to the start of the season."
The Bearcats return 16 letterwinners from last season's squad which went 26-29-1 and narrowly missed qualifying for the Conference USA Tournament. Cincinnati features one of the top fielding shortstops in the nation in senior Brad Schutz, while also boasting senior righthanded pitcher B.J. Borsa, one of the top pitchers in school history. The duo will serve as co-captains for the 2003 season.
After finishing ninth in last season's C-USA race, the Bearcats have been chosen eighth in a poll of the league's coaches entering this season. Cincinnati will again battle a daunting schedule, playing College World Series qualifier Notre Dame and NCAA participants Ohio State and Virginia Commonwealth in non-conference action in addition to the always vigorous C-USA slate. Cincinnati kicks off its 2003 schedule on Friday, Feb. 7 when they open a three-game set with Duke in Durham, N.C.