Baseball Begins Practice
Jan. 9, 2002
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami baseball team officially began practice for the 2002 season on Monday, January 7 at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus.
Miami will spend the first week, prior to the start of classes, practicing twice a day from 10:30 a.m. to Noon and 1:30-4 p.m. Once school begins on Monday, January 14, practice will resume at 2:30 p.m. daily. All sessions are open to the public.
“We are excited about the new season beginning,” said Head Coach Jim Morris. “We play an extremely competitive schedule this year and all of our practices are critical.”
The defending National Champions return a balanced roster of nine position players and nine pitchers along with the addition of 13 newcomers. Among the 18 players returning from last season’s squad the claimed the 2001 College World Series title are preseason All-Americans Kiki Bengochea (RHP), Javy Rodriguez (SS), Kevin Howard (3B), Danny Matienzo (C), George Huguet (RHP) and Luke DeBold (RHP).
Last season under Morris, Collegiate Baseball and the ABCA’s 2001 National Coach of the Year, the Hurricanes won their fourth National Championship and second in the last three seasons. The team finished 53-12 and ended the year riding a national-best 17-game win streak.
The 2002 schedule may be the toughest in the nation featuring numerous programs that dominated during the 2001 year. The season opens with a CWS re-match against Tennessee in a three-game series at Mark Light Stadium, followed by games against Florida International, Florida, Minnesota, Southern California, Cal State Fullerton, Houston, South Florida, Rutgers, UCLA, Florida State, Long Beach State, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and Jacksonville. Road trips in 2002 will be to FIU, the Homestead Challenge, Cal State Fullerton’s Kia Bash, FSU, UNC and Georgia Tech.
For more information on Miami Hurricanes baseball season and individual game ticket packages call 1-800 GO CANES or (305) 284-2263 in Miami-Dade County. To join the excitement, log on to hurricanesports.com and follow the action.
