Cardinals Dominate Preseason All-BIG EAST Infield

Jan. 5, 2007

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The University of Louisville baseball team makes up three-fourths of the infield on the preseason All-BIG EAST baseball team as selected by the head coaches as Jorge Castillo, Chris Cates and Logan Johnson have all been named to the 13-member team, while the Cards have been picked to finish third in the league, capturing one first place vote.

St. John's received seven of the 12 first place votes and 116 points overall, while defending champion Notre Dame followed with four first place votes and 110 points. The Cardinals received 95 points, with Rutgers (78), UConn (75), USF (71), Cincinnati (68) and West Virginia (53) rounding out the top eight, followed by Pitt (43), Seton Hall (42), Villanova (24) and Georgetown (17).

Castillo, a junior from Miami, posted a .317 average with 16 doubles, four home runs, and 44 RBI to go with a .991 fielding percentage. He played in all 60 games, starting 59 at first base and as the designated hitter.

Went 6 for 10 with three 2B, HR and seven RBI in first three games of BE Championship, helping the Cards to the title game against Notre Dame.

Cates, a senior from Brandon, Florida was named Third-Team All-BIG EAST following last season. He led the team with a .332 average and 47 runs scored, while belting 14 doubles, two triples and a home run, driving in 32 and walking 37 times for a .432 OBA.

The shortest player in NCAA Division I baseball at 5'3", Cates committed just seven errors and helped set a team record for double plays (75). His 16 sac bunts, was a new single season record for the Cards, and his 35 career SAC's is also a new Cardinal standard.

Cates started all 60 games at shortstop, playing every inning, extending his streak to 163 consecutive games in his career - missing just one his freshman year. Also set a new U of L single season record with 213 assists.

Johnson, a junior from Owensboro, Kentucky led the Cardinals with 10 home runs, seven of which were hit in conference games, tying him for the BIG EAST lead. Ranked in the top ten in six offensive categories in the BIG EAST.

Piled on 49 RBI, a .554 slugging % and 18 doubles, earning him Second Team All-BIG EAST honors last season. Hit .319 overall with a .361 average in conference games. Was hit by a pitch a school record and league-leading 25 times, giving him 42 for his career - also a school record. Added 36 walks and a .465 OBA.

Johnson was named to the 2007 Brooks Wallace Award Watch, presented annually to the national college baseball player of the year.

The Cards will begin their second season in the BIG EAST after a third place regular season finish and runner-up finish in the championship.

They will be under the guidance of first-year head coach Dan McDonnell, hired in June as the 18th coach in Cardinal baseball history. McDonnell, a former assistant at Ole Miss, helped lead the Rebels to within a game of the College World Series each of the last two seasons.

The Cards return seven starters and 17 letterwinners from last seasons' team.

2007 BIG EAST PRESEASON BASEBALL POLLPlace    Team (1st)  Pts.    2006 Record/Finish1.  St. John's (7)  116 40-19, 16-10/4th2.  Notre Dame (4)  110 45-17-1, 21-5-1/1st3.    Louisville (1)  95  31-29, 17-10/3rd4.  Rutgers     78  29-28-1, 13-14/t-6th5.  Connecticut 75  39-18-1, 18-6-1/2nd6.  USF     71  23-35, 12-15/8th7.  Cincinnati  68  32-26, 13-14/t-6th8.  West Virginia   53  36-22, 14-13/5th9.  Pittsburgh  43  23-29, 10-17/t-9th10. Seton Hall  42  17-34, 7-20/12th11. Villanova       24  27-27, 8-18/11th12. Georgetown  17  24-32, 10-17/t-9th

2007 PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEARTodd Frazier, Rutgers, Jr., SS, 6-4, 215, Toms River, N.J./Toms River South
2007 PRESEASON PITCHER OF THE YEARKyle Weiland, Notre Dame, So., RHP, 6-4, 190, Albuquerque, N.M./Eldorado
2007 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Pos.  Name, School, Class Key 2006 Statistics (All Games Played)P   Steve Blevins, Cincinnati, So.  9-5 record, 5.70 ERA, 16 starts, 3 CG, 2 ShO, 101.0 IP, 48 BB, 68 SOP   Kyle Weiland, Notre Dame, So.   2-4 record, 16 saves, 2.37 ERA, 30 appearances, 49.1 IP, 20 BB, 48 SOP   Scott Barnes, St. John's, So.   3-2 record, 3.66 ERA, 11 starts, 64.0 IP, 35 BB, 74 SOP   Wade Korpi, Notre Dame, Jr.     7-2 record, 2.00 ERA, 12 starts, 1 CG, 1 ShO, 76.1 IP, 27 BB, 94 SOC   Larry Day, Connecticut, Sr.     .332 avg., 229 AB, 34 R, 76 H, 12 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 51 RBIIF  *Todd Frazier, Rutgers, Jr.     .366 avg., 227 AB, 62 R, 83 H, 14 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR, 51 RBI, 21-28 SBIF    Logan Johnson, Louisville, Sr.   .319 avg., 204 AB, 41 R, 65 H, 18 2B, 10 HR, 49 RBIIF  Jorge Castillo, Louisville, Jr. .317 avg., 224 AB, 34 R, 71 H, 16 2B, 4 HR, 44 RBIIF  Chris Cates, Louisville, Sr.   .332 avg., 232 AB, 47 R, 77 H, 14 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 32 RBIOF  Adam White, West Virginia, So.  .368 avg., 201 AB, 48 R, 74 H, 6 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 27 RBI, 19-22 SBOF  Chris Joachim, St. John's, Sr.  .398 avg., 216 AB, 52 R, 86 H, 12 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 46 RBI, 20-24 SBOF  Justin Jenkins, West Virginia, Sr.  .376 avg., 250 AB, 62 R, 94 H, 25 2B, 10 HR, 49 RBI, 8-10 SBDH  Anthony Smith, St. John's, Jr.  .366 avg., 186 AB, 40 R, 68 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 46 RBI
* - unanimous selection

University of Louisville Athletics

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Jorge Castillo

Chris Cates

Logan Johnson

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