Louisville Baseball Hosts 2009 Media Day Press Conference
February 17, 2009 | Baseball
Feb. 17, 2009
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- Head Coach Dan McDonnell
- Senior P Gavin Logsdon & Senior SS John Dao
- Junior P Justin Marks
- Junior 3B Chris Dominguez
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville baseball head coach Dan McDonnell and selected Cardinal players previewed the 2009 season on Tuesday at the annual media day press conference at Jim Patterson Stadium.
McDonnell, who is entering is third season in Louisville, spoke with reporters and was joined by senior shortstop John Dao, junior third baseman Chris Dominguez, senior left-handed pitcher Gavin Logsdon and junior lefty Justin Marks.
The Cards, ranked No. 8 in the Collegiate Baseball preseason poll and in the top 25 in all of the major preseason polls, will open the 2009 season on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET, against SEC foe Florida, which is ranked as high as No. 11 in the Rivals.com preseason poll. The Cards and Gators will meet in a three-game series in Gainesville on Feb. 20-22, while U of L's home-opener is set for Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. ET, at Jim Patterson Stadium.
Louisville, the unanimous favorite to win the 2009 BIG EAST Conference title according to the league's head coaches, returns eight of nine position starters for 2009 led by Dominguez, an All-American third baseman and the BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year. McDonnell's squad also returns a deep stable of talented pitchers, led by Marks, an All-American on the hill and the 2009 BIG EAST Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Also on Tuesday, both Dominguez and Marks were named First Team Preseason All-America by College Baseball Insider. Over the last two months, Dominguez has been selected as the Preseason National Player of the Year by The Sporting News and has been named First Team All-America by numerous publications, while Marks has been named Preseason All-America by several publications as well.
Last season, Louisville earned its second straight NCAA Championship bid after winning the program's first ever BIG EAST Tournament title. The Cards finished 41-21 overall in 2008 after being eliminated from the Athens Regional by eventual College World Series runner-up Georgia.
