Black Squad Wins Omaha Challenge Team Title
December 03, 2013 | Baseball
Dec. 3, 2013
2013-14 Louisville Baseball Omaha Challenge Photo Gallery
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Entering the final day of competition facing a deficit, the Black squad battled back to earn the team title in the Louisville baseball team's annual Omaha Challenge on Tuesday, while freshman pitcher Zack Burdi of the Red team won the individual title.
Burdi, who entered the fifth and final day of competition with a lead, performed well in both the 100-meter swim during the morning and the physically demanding medley in the afternoon to close the event with 240 points overall. The righthanded throwing younger brother of Cardinals' junior closer Nick Burdi, Z. Burdi led a trio of freshmen in the top four spots in the final individual results. Freshman infielder Nick Solak was second with 227 points, senior catcher Shane Crain was third at 214 points, freshman catcher/outfielder Ryan Summers was fourth with 213 points and redshirt freshman pitcher Robert Strader was fifth at 210 points.
 Freshman RHP Zack Burdi  | |
In the team race, the Black squad, led by captain and junior infielder Zach Lucas, scored 3,218 points overall to win the title, while the Red team, led by captain and junior righthander Jared Ruxer, finished with 3,174 points. Joining Lucas on the winning Black squad was Solak, Crain, Strader, Joe Filomeno, Cole Sturgeon, Drew Harrington, Danny Rosenbaum, Will Smith, Jordan Simons, Brad Hedden, Logan Taylor, Jonah Philley, Jordan Striegel, Mason Richardson, Kyle McGrath, Josh Rogers, Grant Kay, Matt Rowland and Michael Bollmer. Competing alongside Ruxer on the Red team was Burdi, Summers, Jakson Deyer, Jeff Gardner, Ryan Lauria, Corey Ray, Jake Sparger, Brandon Alphin, Kyle Funkhouser, Colin Lyman, Blake Tiberi, Alex Sears, Nick Burdi, Sutton Whiting, Kyle Gibson, Aaron Gershenfeld, Mike White, Anthony Kidston and Alex Chittenden.
In Tuesday's first event, the 100-meter swim at the Ralph Wright Natatorium, freshman Mason Richardson of the Black team earned the victory with a time of 1:07, while sophomore Jonah Philley and freshman Matt Rowland were second and third respectively. In the afternoon medley inside the Trager Center, Lucas set the pace for his title-winning Black team with the top time of 1:38.44. Junior lefty Joe Filomeno was a very close second at 1:38.70, while redshirt sophomore Jakson Deyer was third at 1:41.50.
The Omaha Challenge concludes a busy fall semester for the Cardinals, who will now focus on finishing strong in the classroom as final exams begin on Dec. 11. Following a break for the Holidays, classes resume on Jan. 6 for the spring semester and the Cardinals will conduct their first official, full-squad practice session for the 2014 season on Jan. 24.
About the Omaha Challenge
After being hired to lead the Cardinals, McDonnell introduced an intense test of physical and mental stamina during his first fall at the University of Louisville with what he refers to as the Omaha Challenge.
Two captains are selected and teams are drafted to compete against one another in a five-day series of events that tests the athleticism of the teams and the individuals, with a team crown and an individual champion to be named at the end of the competition. Sports performance coach Zach Farrel oversees the competition, while also motivating his charges to extend themselves to their limits.
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