TicketsJan. 16, 2009
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Coming off a school record 39 wins last season and a BIG EAST Conference Championship game appearance, the University of Cincinnati baseball team was picked to finish fifth in the BIG EAST in 2009 by the BIG EAST head coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their respective teams. Seniors Michael Hill and Cameron Satterwhite were chosen to the all-BIG EAST Preseason Team.
Last season, Hill finished with a 6-4 record and owned a 3.46 ERA in 80.2 innings of work. He threw three complete games last season and opponents hit just .264 off the righthander.
Satterwhite was a third-team all-BIG EAST selection last season after compiling a .364 batting average with 82 hits and 61 RBI. Satterwhite ranked third in the conference in slugging percentage (.662), doubles (21), and home runs (14).
Louisville was unanimously chosen as the favorite to win the 2009 conference championship amassing 121 points. Louisville's Chris Dominguez and Justin Marks took home Preseason Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year honors, respectively.
USF was picked to finish in second place with 103 votes, followed by Notre Dame (99 votes), St. John's (93 votes), and Cincinnati (77 votes). Filling out spots six through 10 were Connecticut, West Virginia, Rutgers, Seton Hall, and Villanova. Pittsburgh and Georgetown were selected 11th, and 12th, respectively.
The Bearcats kick off their 2009 campaign when they travel to the St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Fl., area to compete in the inaugural BIG EAST/Big Ten Baseball Challenge. UC opens its season versus Purdue at 1 p.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 20, before taking on Michigan at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, and Ohio State at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22.
Preseason BIG EAST Poll
Team Points (First Place Votes) 2008 Overall 2008 BIG EAST
1. Louisville* 121 (11) 41-19 16-11
2. USF 103 31-27 14-13
3. Notre Dame 99 33-21-1 16-10
4. St. John's 93 (1) 41-14 20-7
5. Cincinnati 77 39-20 19-8
6. Connecticut 62 27-28 11-16
7. West Virginia 60 35-21 13-14
8. Rutgers 58 23-29-1 11-16
9. Seton Hall 49 31-25 15-12
10. Villanova 31 30-28 12-15
11. Pittsburgh 27 19-34 7-19
12. Georgetown 12 18-32 7-20
Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year:
Chris Dominguez, Jr., 3B, Louisville
Preseason BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year:
Justin Marks, Jr., LHP, Louisville*
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Pos. Name, Class, School Key 2008 Stats (All Games Played)
LHP Justin Marks, Jr., Louisville* 9-2, 2.37 ERA, 14 GS, 0 CG, 0 ShO, 91.0 IP, 39 BB, 89 SO
RHP Eric Maust, Jr., Notre Dame 6-3, 4.52 ERA, 10 GS, 0 CG, 0 ShO, 69.2 IP, 23 BB, 46 SO
RHP Michael Hill, Sr., Cincinnati 6-4, 3.46 ERA, 12 GS, 3 CG, 0 ShO, 80.2 IP, 16 BB, 65 SO
RHP John Folino, Sr., Connecticut 4-4, 5.11 ERA, 7 GS, 0 CG, 0 ShO, 56.1 IP, 12 BB, 39 SO
RHP Sean Black, Jr., Seton Hall 3-3, 3.44 ERA, 8 GS, 1 CG, 1 ShO, 65.1 IP, 30 BB, 59 SO
C Jeff Arnold, Jr., Louisville .333 avg., 183 AB, 39 R, 61 H, 14 2B, 2 HR, 32 RBI, 12 SB
1B Jaren Matthews, So., Rutgers .294 avg., 214 AB, 37 R, 63 H, 11 2B, 10 HR, 54 RBI, 8 SB
2B Jeremy Barnes, Sr., Notre Dame .307 avg., 199 AB, 40 R, 61 H, 15 2B, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 3 SB
3B Chris Dominguez, Jr., Louisville .365 avg., 249 AB, 68 R, 91 H, 13 2B, 21 HR, 75 RBI, 11 SB
SS Jedd Gyorko, So., West Virginia .409 avg., 232 AB, 62 R, 95 H, 17 2B, 8 HR, 63 RBI, 4 SB
OF Ryan Lockwood, So., USF .415 avg., 193 AB, 44 R, 80 H,15 2B, 0 HR, 37 RBI, 12 SB
OF A.J. Pollock, Jr., Notre Dame .350 avg., 217 AB, 49 R, 76 H, 15 2B, 4 HR, 42 RBI, 28SB
OF Cameron Satterwhite, Sr., Cincinnati .364 avg., 225 AB, 49 R, 82 H, 21 2B, 14 HR, 61 RBI
DH Chris Affinito, Sr., Seton Hall .308 avg., 201 AB, 38 R, 62 H, 9 2B, 10 HR, 40 RBI, 0 SB