Spring Break
URI baseball set to kick off its season next week
Kayla Panu
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: Sports
02/13/09 - After finishing last season with 31 wins-the most in New England-the University of Rhode Island baseball team is ready to start playing again on Feb. 20 in North Carolina.
The Rams finished their 2008 season with an overall record of 31-27-1. They were knocked out of the Atlantic 10 Championship with a 3-0 loss to top-seeded Xavier University. Before that, they defeated Temple University, 7-1, in the first round, Xavier, 11-4, in the second round, but lost to the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, 11-1, in the semifinals.
"We had a good year," head coach Jim Foster said. "We had a lot of adversity and we kept getting better."
Foster was named the conference's best game coach by CollegeBaseballInsider.com.
"It's quite an honor," he said. "It's a good recognition by peers and I appreciate it."
Junior southpaw Nick Greenwood was also honored by this Web site, being named one of the league's top starting pitchers. He finished his sophomore season with six wins and a 3.72 ERA over a team-high 92 innings pitched. He also led the A-10 with 95 strikeouts and had a .266 opponent batting average.
"Nick had a good year last year that got him on the radar," Foster said. "He got noticed and now he has to back it up. I hope he can keep improving."
Greenwood, along with senior right-handed pitcher Luke Demko, was named to the Rivals.com A-10 Preseason All-Conference team. Demko set a new single-season record at URI with 26 appearances last season. Over the 43 innings he pitched, he had a 2.30 ERA and held opponents to a .181 average.
"Luke Demko had a great year," Foster said. "This season will be huge."
Two players that graduated last season also received accolades for their performances. Last year's starting catcher Zach Zaneski signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent and is with the Single-A affiliate Spokane Indians. Shaun Hagey was named to the 2008 Atlantic 10 All-Conference Baseball team.
The Rams finished their 2008 season with an overall record of 31-27-1. They were knocked out of the Atlantic 10 Championship with a 3-0 loss to top-seeded Xavier University. Before that, they defeated Temple University, 7-1, in the first round, Xavier, 11-4, in the second round, but lost to the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, 11-1, in the semifinals.
"We had a good year," head coach Jim Foster said. "We had a lot of adversity and we kept getting better."
Foster was named the conference's best game coach by CollegeBaseballInsider.com.
"It's quite an honor," he said. "It's a good recognition by peers and I appreciate it."
Junior southpaw Nick Greenwood was also honored by this Web site, being named one of the league's top starting pitchers. He finished his sophomore season with six wins and a 3.72 ERA over a team-high 92 innings pitched. He also led the A-10 with 95 strikeouts and had a .266 opponent batting average.
"Nick had a good year last year that got him on the radar," Foster said. "He got noticed and now he has to back it up. I hope he can keep improving."
Greenwood, along with senior right-handed pitcher Luke Demko, was named to the Rivals.com A-10 Preseason All-Conference team. Demko set a new single-season record at URI with 26 appearances last season. Over the 43 innings he pitched, he had a 2.30 ERA and held opponents to a .181 average.
"Luke Demko had a great year," Foster said. "This season will be huge."
Two players that graduated last season also received accolades for their performances. Last year's starting catcher Zach Zaneski signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent and is with the Single-A affiliate Spokane Indians. Shaun Hagey was named to the 2008 Atlantic 10 All-Conference Baseball team.
