TicketsPitchers Star In Scout Day Scrimmage
DeLuca rips three hits during event
Contact: Shawn Sell
11/1/2004
Jon DeLuca had three hits during Scout Day at the UC Baseball Stadium. |
CINCINNATI, Ohio---Despite heavy early morning rains, the University of Cincinnati baseball team was still able to hold its Professional Scout Day on Monday night in the UC Baseball Stadium. Nearly half of the 30 Major League Baseball franchises were represented for the event.
The highlight of the event was a five inning, controlled intra-squad scrimmage, which allowed nearly all of the Bearcat players to see action. When the dust settled, the 10 UC pitchers that competed stole the show, yielding just four hits on the day.
?I am really pleased with the pitching and defense today,? said Bearcat head coach Brian Cleary. ?It?s typical for the hitters to be a little behind at this point, but I expect them to catch up soon. Today was a good day to showcase our players for the professional baseball community. We continue to have a good relationship with pro baseball and we look forward to carrying that into the future.?
The big hitting star of the day was junior third baseman Jon DeLuca, who recorded three hits, including a double and a triple and scored one of the day?s two runs. Junior Elliot Salcedo, who is making the move to catcher this season, added an RBI single for the Bearcats. Another junior, second baseman Mark Muscenti swapped two bases on the day.
As mentioned, 10 of the Bearcats? hurlers saw time on the mound, with many turning in outstanding outings. Senior Jim Olds opened the event with 1.2 perfect innings, while picking up two strikeouts. Classmates Kyle Markle and Tony Maynard each threw one-plus innings, with each of the right-handers striking out two and walking one. Another senior Josh Kay was also solid, striking out two in 1.2 innings of work.
The day?s scoring got underway with junior college transfer Nick Prater on the mound in the bottom of the first inning. Muscenti reached on a fielding error and promptly stole second. DeLuca was next and his chopper was fielded cleanly by Pat LeMasters, but the latter?s throw was wild allowing Muscenti to score.
DeLuca was part of the second run of the day in the top of the second inning, with senior lefty Mike Foley on the mound. With two out, DeLuca lined a triple down the right field line. Salcedo was next and his liner up the middle eluded a diving Matt Ogden for a single.
The Bearcats will continue with their fall practice through the next two weeks, culminating with the return of the Red/Black Fall World Series. That five-game event will get underway on Sunday, Nov. 14.