Jurich Named preseason All-Conference

Jan. 21, 2004

CHICAGO, ILL - Senior outfielder Mark Jurich has been selected to the Conference USA Preseason First Team for the second consecutive season. The 13 player team includes three outfielders and is determined by the head coaches in C-USA.

Last season, Jurich was hampered by a hand injury that required surgery in the first game of the year. He was limited to just 32 games, and didn't fully recover to 100% until summer. He still managed to hit .285 with 11 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 33 RBI in 130 at bats.

Jurich was tabbed by the Atlanta Braves in the 13th round of the 2003 MLB Amateur Draft at the conclusion of the season, but elected to remain in college for his final season.

In 2002 he was just the third All-American in U of L history, played for the USA Baseball National Team and was a First Team All-Conference Selection after hitting .365 with 16 home runs and 60 RBI.

The Cardinal Nine returns 20 players from a team that was 34-23 last year. Louisville will open the slate in California to play four games in five days beginning February 18th, before returning home on February 25th when they will face Eastern Kentucky in the home opener.

Coming off of its sixth consecutive NCAA appearance and armed with 17 returning lettermen, Tulane has been selected as the preseason favorite in the 2004 Conference USA baseball poll.

East Carolina junior infielder/outfielder Darryl Lawhorn, who has hit 33 home runs in his first two collegiate seasons, is the Preseason C-USA Player of the Year.

Clayton Jerome of TCU, who was named Conference USA Pitcher of the Year last season, was selected to repeat that honor this spring.

2004 PRESEASON BASEBALL COACHES POLL(as selected by C-USA's head coaches)
1.  Tulane (7)2.  Southern Miss (3)3.  Houston (2)4.  USF5.  East Carolina6.  TCU7.  Louisville8.  Charlotte9.  Cincinnati10. Memphis    UAB12. Saint Louis
PLAYER OF THE YEARDarryl Lawhorn, East Carolina (Junior, Outfielder)
PITCHER OF THE YEARClayton Jerome, TCU (Senior, Righthander)
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMP   J.R. Crowel So. TulaneP   Clayton Jerome  Sr. TCUP   Garrett Mock    Jr. HoustonRP  Austin Tubb Sr. Southern MissC   Devin Ivany Jr. USFIF  Jeff Baisley    Jr. USFIF  Jarrett Hoffpauir   Jr. Southern MissIF  Myron Leslie    Sr. USFIF  Tommy Manzella  Jr. TulaneOF  Brian Bogusevic So. TulaneOF  Mark Jurich    Sr. LouisvilleOF  Darryl Lawhorn  Jr. East CarolinaDH/UT   Brad Willcutt   Jr. Southern Miss

Conference USA contributed to this release.

University of Louisville Athletics

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