Baseball Team Ends Fall Practice
October 18, 2000 | Baseball
Oct. 18, 2000
The University of Louisville Cardinal nine wrapped up the fall portion of the season October 6th.
"I am really pleased with the attitude our team has ," said Head Coach Lelo Prado. "The guys came in this fall with a fantastic work ethic and already have a team chemistry that is as good as chemistry you typically find in the spring."
The season began with the team spending the night together in the club house in an effort to break the ice and build team chemistry. The team also practiced at 6:30 a.m., as opposed to the customary afternoon workouts.
"For us to be successful this season, everybody has to be on the same page," noted Prado.
Senior centerfielder Mike Hook and senior second baseman Matt Jarboe are among the returners from last season's team that the staff will look to for experience. "Hook and Jarboe both had an excellent fall session, picking up where they left off last year," added Prado.
With ten letterwinners returning, there will be a lot of new faces. Among those making a solid impression were freshman right-handed pitcher from Upton, KY Chase Cruse(Central Hardin HS) and junior college transfer lefty Garret Estabrook(Cypress CC). U of L loses 88% of its pitching victories from last seasons team and returns only two of its top ten hitters, so there will be plenty of opportunities. Sophomore Adam Haley has added 15 pounds of muscle, and the coaches are very pleased with the performances of freshman C/OF Carlos De la Osa(Miami Pace HS) and junior catcher Fernando Isa(Chipola JC).
"Carlos can flat hit, and Fernando will be a major asset behind the plate defensively," said Prado.
Newcomers Mike Budak and Scott Gerlach, both juniors from Mesa Community College, Brennan Hall, a freshman transfer from North Carlina State and freshman Jason LaFountain(Proctor HS) will be expected to compete for playing time in the infield with Jarboe, Haley and sophomore Morgan Bojorquez. Sophomore Dave Williams Jr. will most likely patrol one of the outfield positions with Hook, and redshirts Mark Jurich and Nathan Smith, junior Kevin Fishback, De la Osa and Bojrquez also seeing time.
Sophomores Carlos Fernandez and Mike Eilers and seniors Antonio "Cheech" Castellvi, Denny Williams and Andy Lopez Cao return as pitchers. Cruse and Estabrook will be joined by sophomore Mike Tisdale(St. Petersburg JC), junior Derek Davis(Shasta JC), freshman Chris Keaton(Walsh Jesuit HS), and junior David Fife(DeSales HS) to compete for innings.
The season will open Feb. 3rd and 4th at the home of likely preseason #1 Southern California.
