Johnson, Alfonso and Cates Honored By BIG EAST

May 22, 2006

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Three University of Louisville baseball players were honored by the BIG EAST at the annual awards banquet Monday night, as junior second baseman Logan Johnson was named to the All-BIG EAST Conference Second Team, while sophomore catcher Derrick Alfonso and junior shortstop Chris Cates both were named to the All-BIG EAST Third Team.

"This is a great honor for these individuals, and it is nice for them to be recognized in our first year of competition in the BIG EAST," said Head Coach Lelo Prado.

Johnson lead the team in average (.325), doubles (18), home runs (10), RBI (47), slugging % (.576) and on base % (.464), while setting a school record and leading the BIG EAST in hit by pitches with 22 during the regular season. His 10 home runs tied him for 6th in the BIG EAST, while the 18 doubles is tied for 10th in a single season in Cardinal history and tied for fourth in the league.

Alfonso hit a career-best .293 with 13 doubles, two home runs and 25 RBI and was 4 for 5 on steals. Defensively he threw out 17 of 41 baserunners who attempted to steal, adding four pick-offs. He nabbed 10 of 20 would-be base stealers in conference games. Alfonso made 12 starts at third base and 40 behind the dish in which the Cards posted a 26-14 record.

Cates, who has made 158 consecutive starts on the middle infield, has played every inning of every game at shortstop for U of L. He has posted a .316 average with 13 doubles, two triples, a home run, 31 RBI, 36 walks, a school-record 14 sac bunts and a team-best 42 runs. He has struck out just 15 times in 215 at bats.

Standing 5'3", he is the shortest player in Division I baseball, and one of the top defensive shortstops in all of college baseball with just eight errors and a .974 fielding percentage. Last season he helped turn a school record 69 double plays, while this season the Cards have been ranked in the top five in double plays per game, turning 64 in 56 games.

The Cardinals finished the regular season with a nine-game winning streak and a 28-28 overall record. The 17-10 BIG EAST mark in the Cardinals first season in the new conference earned them the number three seed in the conference tournament. They will face the #6 seed Rutgers in the first game of the tournament at 10:00 Tuesday morning at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater. The Cards swept the Scarlet Knights in their three-game series earlier this season.

Audio broadcasts of all postseason games are available locally on WAVG 1450 AM radio and on-line at www.UofLsports.com.

2006 BIG EAST Baseball Award Winners


BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR
      Craig Cooper, Notre Dame, 1B, Senior, 6-1, 210, Plainview, N.Y./Chaminade

BIG EAST PITCHER OF THE YEAR
     Jeff Manship, Notre Dame, RHP, Junior, 6-1, 195, San Antonio, Texas/Reagan

BIG EAST ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
     Addison Maruszak, USF, SS, Freshman, 6-2, 190, Pinellas Park, Fla./St. Petersburg Catholic

BIG EAST COACH OF THE YEAR
          Jim Penders, Connecticut

All-BIG EAST First Team
1B - Craig Cooper, Notre Dame, Sr.
2B - Jim Negrych, Pittsburgh, Jr.
3B - Justin Jenkins, West Virginia, R-Jr.
SS - Todd Frazier, Rutgers, So.
DH - Anthony Smith, St. John's, Jr.
OF - Will Vogl, St. John's, Sr.
OF - Casey Bowling, West Virginia, Sr.
OF - Stan Posluszny, West Virginia, R-Sr.
P - Tim Norton, Connecticut, Sr.
P - Nick Tucci, Connecticut, Sr.
P - Jeff Manship, Notre Dame, Jr.*
P -  Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame, Jr.
C - David Carpenter, West Virginia, Jr.
* - Denotes unanimous selection

All-BIG EAST Second Team
1B - Chris Joachim, St. John's, R-Jr.
1B - Jeremy Hunt, Villanova, Sr.
2B - Logan Johnson, Louisville, Jr.
3B - Brett Lilley, Notre Dame, So.
SS - Greg Lopez, Notre Dame, Sr.
DH - Jeremy Barnes, Notre Dame, Fr.
OF - Bryan Maler, Connecticut, Sr.
OF - Danny Dressman, Notre Dame, Jr.
OF - Jeff Grose, Rutgers, Sr.
OF - Adam White, West Virginia, R-Fr.
P - Steve Blevins, Cincinnati, Fr.
P - Kyle Weiland, Notre Dame, Fr.
P - Billy Muldowney, Pittsburgh, Jr.
P - Matt Tosoni, St. John's, So.
P - Kevin Mulvey, Villanova, Jr.
C - Frank Meade, Rutgers, So.


All-BIG EAST Third Team
Josh Harrison, Cincinnati, OF, Fr.
Logan Parker, Cincinnati, 1B, Sr.
Larry Day, Connecticut, C, Jr.
Austin Wasserman, Connecticut, OF, Sr.
Derrick Alfonso, Louisville, C, So.
Chris Cates, Louisville, SS, Jr.
Matt Bransfield, Notre Dame, OF, Sr.
Peter Parise, Pittsburgh, OF, Jr.
Tim Querns, Rutgers, 3B, Jr.
Sam DeLuca, St. John's, 2B, Jr.
Dan McDonald, Seton Hall, RHP, So.
Craig Mirsky, Villanova, DH, Sr.
Kris Molloy, Villanova, OF, Sr.

The first and second teams are chosen by position; the third team is comprised of the remaining top 13 vote recipients, regardless of position.

NOTE: A tie in the voting created an additional pitcher, first baseman and outfielder on the second team.

University of Louisville Athletics

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Derrick Alfonso

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