Baseball Helps Ease Pain Of Rough 2008-09

The Virginia baseball team eliminated Ole Miss on Sunday in an NCAA Super Regional, earning the first College World Series berth in school history in the process. The Hoos topped the Rebels 5-1 in the third game of the best-of-three series. UVa has won a single-season record 48 games to date.

Brian O'Connor's club is the latest UVa spring team to post impressive numbers and push deep into the postseason. Previously, men's tennis, men's lacrosse, women's rowing, women's and men's golf advanced to the final sites in their respective sports. Considering just how miserable this school year proved to be on the football and men's basketball front, many of the Cavaliers' other sports have performed very well in 2008-09. The Daily Press' David Teel tackled that very topic in his Sunday column - take a look. All told, the Hoos won a conference-leading 6 ACC Championships this school year and they will finish in the top 10 in the Director's Cup standings.

While all of those sports deserve a hat tip for their success, perhaps baseball has eased the pain of football and basketball season more than any other. Why? Because it's all been so unexpected. Many of the other spring sports and teams like Mark Bernardino's swim teams always perform well in the postseason. The baseball team's surprising run to the CWS, on the other hand, is historic. Virginia never had done it before. In fact, O'Connor's Cavaliers never had won an NCAA Regional much less a Super Regional.

It couldn't have come at a better time. Virginia fans, as GunnyHooway said on the EDGE message board, needed this. Before the spring, despite some teams' success, 2008-09 had been a rough season to follow the Hoos. It's so hard to go through a sports year when the two biggest sports struggle after all. Maybe it's a sign of things to come? Maybe like the Gator Bowl loss started a challenging cycle for Cavalier fans,the baseball run will start the path to more prosperous times?

Here's hoping!

Stay tuned to The Sabre for more coverage of the baseball team's postseason run.

Kris Wright
TheSabre.com

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

UVa football will hold its "Future Wahoo Day," the latest version of its Elite Junior Day, on Saturday. According to Bayside (Virginia Beach, VA) linebacker Henry Coley, the Virginia coaches expect 15 players to be in attendance. Coley, a 6-2, 230-pound inside linebacker recruit, is one of them. Other prospects we've confirmed include ...

QB/ATH Sam Gibson, Prattville (AL)
RB Kevin Parks, West Rowan (Mount Ulla, N.C.)
WR E.J. Scott, Good Counsel (Wheaton, MD)
OL Conner Davis, Deep Run (Glen Allen, VA)
OL Robby Havenstein, Linganore (Frederick, MD)
OL Shane Johnson, DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD)
OL Khamrone Kolb, Lake Braddock (Burke, VA)
OL Arie Kouandjio, DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD)
LB/S Ryan Cobb, Don Bosco Prep (Wykoff, N.J.)
LB Henry Coley, Bayside (Virginia Beach, VA)
LB Jamal Wallace, Green Run (Virginia Beach, VA)
S Kyrrel Latimer, DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD)

Throughout the week, TheSabre.com will attempt to confirm any other visitors expected in attendance. Following Saturday's event, we'll be in touch with each prospect to discuss his experience and the state of his recruitment.

There is no question that the coaches and fans hope for more commitments in this class. Kevin Parks is Virginia's lone commitment thus far in the 2010 class, but there is reason to believe the number will grow soon. Ryan Cobb, a versatile recruit out of top program Don Bosco, told TheSabre.com last week that he could well end his recruitment this weekend.

"June 13th might be my cut off day," he said in an EDGE article last week. "Virginia is pretty high on my list right now."

Good Counsel receiver E.J. Scott wants to decide soon and is very high on the Cavaliers. Don't be surprised if he pulls the trigger this weekend as well. And it wouldn't be a surprise to see DeMatha safety Kyrrel Latimer commit as well. Virginia leads for Latimer heading into this weekend.

Bayside's Henry Coley may not be close to making a commitment, but he is excited about this upcoming weekend because an offer seems extremely likely. Coley is the only expected visitor without an official offer from the Cavaliers, but I expect he'll have one before he leaves. Stay tuned for more on the talented defender early this week.

QB commitment imminent?

Virginia offered Tuscola (Waynesville, N.C.) signal caller Tyler Brosius over the weekend, when the 6-3, 225-pound rising senior made an unofficial visit to Charlottesville. The visit went great and Brosius is seriously considering ending his recruitment. We hope to follow up with the talented prospect as soon as possible for the latest on his recruitment.

Brosius, who threw for 2,347 yards and 27 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions, also boasts offers from ECU, Maryland and Pitt, among others.

Chris Horne, our resident recruiting expert, provides updates throughout the week for Edge subscribers about UVa's commitments and recruiting targets in football and men's basketball. To sign up for an Edge subscription, please check out the Sabre Edge Sign Up and Information Page. If you're already on board as an Edge subscriber, click the links below to catch up on recruiting.

Sabre Edge recruiting updates from the past week ...

Recruiting Overview: 2010 Class Needs
The University of Virginia heads into the summer with only one verbal commitment in its 2010 recruiting class, but the ever-successful Elite Junior Day is on the horizon. Prior to the recruiting event and summer camp season, let's take a look at Virginia's overall needs in the 2010 recruiting class, including how many scholarships may be available and which positions may be the primary focus of the staff.

Don Bosco Prep Standout Favors Cavs
UVa has offered three prospects out of prominent Don Bosco Prep (Wykoff, N.J.) in the 2010 class and appears poised to reeling one in. 6-1, 220-pound athlete Ryan Cobb currently favors the Cavaliers and plans to return to Charlottesville for Virginia's "Future Wahoo Day" on June 13th.

More recent recruiting updates on The Sabre ...

• DeMatha's Latimer to Attend UVa Prospect Day
• Top WR Target Perhaps Nearing a Decision
• Davis Sees Decision Coming this Summer

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Zimmerman Makes Gift to Virginia Baseball

Official Release
UVa Athletics Media Relations

Ryan Zimmerman, a former All-America third baseman at Virginia and currently a member of the Washington Nationals, has made a $250,000 contribution to the Virginia Athletics Foundation for improvements to benefit the UVa baseball program. Zimmerman is currently in his fourth full season with the Nationals.

The gift to VAF from Zimmerman is designated for an expansion project at Davenport Field, home of Virginia baseball. The project includes construction of a team meeting room, weight room, indoor batting cages, training room, a hall of fame area, umpires' locker room and visiting locker room. The project will enhance the University’s ability to secure future NCAA events. A possible second phase of the project would include additional seats and suites and would require additional private gifts to fund it.

“The stadium project is very important to the future of Virginia baseball and the development of players in the program,” Zimmerman said. “The Virginia baseball program was critical in my development into a major league player. I would not be where I am today without the past support of donors to the Virginia baseball program. I now have the opportunity to join that group and help UVa baseball remain among the best programs in the country.

“During my career at Virginia, I was fortunate to play in an NCAA Regional hosted by UVa at Davenport Field. That was a great experience for our team. I want to help ensure that future players at UVa have the same opportunity to play in an NCAA Regional on their home field. I hope others will join me in support of this project.”

The Virginia Athletics Foundation has been in a quiet fund raising phase for this project and this gift pushes the fund raising total over $3 million. The athletics department is currently working with the University administration and an architect to determine the final cost and design of the expansion. Once the final cost is determined, 100 percent of the cost of the project will need to be in place with pledges and 50 percent of the cash will need to be received in order to begin construction. In addition, an operational endowment is required to be in place to handle the annual operational expenses of the new facility.

Zimmerman played three years at Virginia before being drafted by the Nationals as the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball First-year Player Draft. In 2005, Zimmerman started all 61 games for the Cavaliers at either third base (his primary position) or shortstop. He led Virginia with a .393 batting average, 92 hits, 59 runs batted in, 51 runs, 18 doubles, four triples, a .581 slugging percentage, 136 total bases and 17 stolen bases. He also had six home runs.

He ended his Virginia career with a .355 (250-704) batting average and ranked on several of the Cavaliers’ career statistical lists, including fifth in doubles (47), sixth in hits (250) and seventh in runs batted in (140). He also held the school record for hits in a season with 92 in 2005.

Zimmerman was named USA Baseball’s Athlete of the Year in 2004 when he led Team USA to a gold medal finish and earned tournament MVP honors in the World University Games.

“Ryan’s commitment to the Virginia baseball program shows his respect for his career in a Cavalier uniform,” said UVa head baseball coach Brian O’Connor. “I am very excited to have Ryan involved with this important project for the future of our baseball program.”

Zimmerman has his own foundation, ziMS Foundation, which works to find a cure and help those who are affected by multiple sclerosis.

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Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

• Four Rowers Earn All-America Honors: Desiree Burns and Jennifer Cromwell were named Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association first team All-Americans, while Amanda Chase and Augusta Stratos earned second team honors, the organization announced Friday.
• Kickoff Times and Broadcasts Set for Early Season UVa Football Games: The Atlantic Coast Conference announced the start times and television/Internet broadcasts for its early-season football games for the 2009 season. The Cavaliers’ 2009 season opener against William & Mary on Sept. 5 has been scheduled to kickoff at 6 p.m. There is no television broadcast for this contest but it will be available online at ESPN360.com. Virginia’s Sept. 12 home game against TCU will start at 3:30 p.m. and be televised by ESPNU. On Sept. 19 the Cavaliers travel to Southern Mississippi for the team’s first road game. That contest is slated for a 3:30 p.m. start and will be televised by CBS College Sports.
• Tim Taylor and Wendy Palmer Join Women’s Basketball Coaching Staff: Tim Taylor has been named associate head coach and Wendy Palmer has been named assistant coach, head women’s basketball coach Debbie Ryan announced Thursday. Taylor was an assistant for UVa from 2000-05 and most recently the head boys basketball coach at Madison County High School, while Palmer played for Ryan from 1992-96, is an 11-year WNBA veteran and spent the last two years as an assistant coach at Kentucky.
• Cavalier Women’s Golfers Pick Up More Honors: Three members of the Virginia women’s golf team have been named to Golfweek’s All-America squads. Junior Whitney Neuhauser and sophomore Calle Nielson were tabbed third-team All-Americans and senior Jennie Arseneault was an honorable mention selection.
• Dombrowski Inducted into Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame: The Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame will introduce its 10 member class of 2009, Wednesday afternoon, June 10 in the Pavilion area at HSBC Arena. Former New Orleans Saints offensive lineman, Williamsville native and University of Virginia All-American Jim Dombrowski, one of several inductees expected on hand for the announcement, will give remarks on behalf of the class.

For more Hoo news or to read full releases, check out Virginiasports.com.

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Issue No. 247 - June 23, 2006

Virginia Baseball Close to Breakthrough

Will the disappointing end to this season become a driving force for Sean Doolittle and the Cavalier baseball team?

Certainly, many University of Virginia baseball fans have been watching the College World Series with interest. Why? That's simple. Miami, Georgia Tech, Clemson, and North Carolina all advanced to the CWS this season - the Cavaliers beat each of those teams at least once in 2006.

Of course, one ACC team fared better than the rest in Omaha as the Tar Heels advanced to the final to face Oregon State for the National Championship. That's actually good news for Hoo fans. After all, the Cavaliers defeated North Carolina 2 out of 3 times this season. In total, the Hoos topped CWS participants Miami twice, Clemson three times, GT once, and UNC twice. In other words, the UVa baseball program is extremely close to a breakthrough of a major proportions.

The last remaining stumbling block has been the postseason where the Cavaliers have made three straight NCAA Regional appearances, but have yet to reach the Super Regional round. With such a young team this season, perhaps the disappointment of losing in the regional round at home this season will be a driving force for the program. Tasting defeat in the 2005 postseason led the UVa men's lacrosse team down a path of unending hardwork and dedication, which helped the 2006 Cavaliers roll to the National Championship. If the baseball team takes on a similar year-long drive to erase the disappointing end to this record-breaking season, then 2007 could hold a breakthrough moment for Brian O'Connor and company.

Kris Wright
TheSabre.com
Editor

Check Out SabreMail #247.

Coming Soon

The Sabre has you covered when it comes to Hoo news. Here are a few of the articles to expect on the site soon:

• JHoo's Summer Reading JHoo's Summer Reading Series continues this week.
• Baseball Keeps Rolling: The Sabre had a photographer on hand in Mississippi for UVa's regional win. Stay tuned for photos! We'll also have coverage as the team preps for the College World Series.
• Jed Williams: Jed Williams is working on his next column about the Hoos.

In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles since the last SabreMail

Unexpected CWS Run Continues
"My friend told me that Omaha will happen when you least expect it, " Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said. When you least expect it? When you consider what this team has faced in recent weeks, Virginia's path certainly fits that bill. UVa earned its slot in the College World Series by defeating Ole Miss 5-1 on Sunday in an NCAA Super Regional.

Cavaliers Earn Spot In Omaha
OXFORD, Miss. - It would be impossible to conclude the drama of Virginia's improbable run to the College World Series without including a chapter on adversity. Brian O'Connor's club had faced it all season with heart-breaking after gut-wrenching loss. Yet his young Cavaliers persevered. So it seems only fitting that the next chapter in this Cinderella story would include another story of triumph over tribulation.

Cavs Show Toughness Again
After Virginia lost a heartbreaking 12-inning game to Ole Miss on Friday, the Cavaliers' ninth one-run loss of the season, coach Brian O'Connor said he knew his team would respond with a good effort on Saturday. No hesitation. Never mind the pressure of a Super Regional, he believed his players would react the exact same way they had all season - with plenty of fight and a lot of grit. Boy was he right.

Hoos Even Super Regional Series
OXFORD, Miss. - Coach Brian O'Connor said it best following Friday's loss at Ole Miss. "When we've had difficult one-run losses, they have responded every time and been ready to play the next day and not rolled over." With the pressure squarely on his young Cavaliers (47-13-1), O'Connor's club responded with an improbable come-from-behind victory to knot the best-of-three Super Regional at one win a piece.

Hoos In Tough Spot After Loss
After twice taking the lead in a Super Regional battle with Mississippi, the Virginia baseball team had put itself in prime position - a 3-2 lead and just 3 outs away from a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-3 series. With home team designation in the final two games of the series already in place, UVa could have put a ton of pressure on the Rebels with a win.

Defensive Lapses Doom Hoos
OXFORD, Miss. -The Cavalier defense was flawless in the Irvine Regional but Friday afternoon in Oxford, defensive miscues proved to be Virginia's undoing. UVa (46-13-1) fell 4-3 to Ole Miss (44-18) on a 12th-inning, solo walk-off home run by Matt Smith. The Rebels lead the best-of-three NCAA Super Regional 1-0.

Double Play Proves To Be Pitchers' Pal
Diamonds, dogs, and double plays. Everyone needs a best friend. For pitchers, UVa coach Brian O'Connor says, you'll find no better friend than the double play. Two outs for the price of one? It can erase mistakes, shift momentum, or alter the final score and when you're a team like Virginia, it's a critical piece of the defensive puzzle.

Q&A - Danny Hultzen
The depth of the UVa baseball team's pitching staff has become a topic of discussion with the team's recent domination in both the ACC Tournament and NCAA Regional play. Danny Hultzen has proven himself to be an integral part of that staff with a 9-1 record and a 2.01 ERA over 80.2 innings. As a freshman, Hultzen contributed in clutch moments in his first season, including pitching in the 5-0 win over top-ranked UC-Irvine last Saturday night. Unlike some college pitchers, however, Hulzten's role on the team has not been limited to the mound.

Photo Gallery: Men's Tennis In NCAAs
In case you missed it, The Sabre was on hand for the Virginia men's tennis team's NCAA match with Navy and has an EDGE photo gallery up that captured the action. There are 66 images including shots of the eventual National Champion doubles team of Dominic Inglot and Michael Shabaz.

JHoo's Summer Reading '09: Quarterbacks
Year in, year out, I tell myself that I am going to shake up the usual order of things with the summer reading and start with a position other than the quarterbacks. Year in, year out, I start with the quarterbacks. Most years, it is because it seems to be the obvious starting point. This year? Well, it is because it is the obvious starting point. After all, we had a three quarterback race going into the spring, we had a three quarterback race coming out of the spring ... and now we have a three quarterback discussion that is likely to last most of the summer. So let's kick it off now.

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