Omaha Challenge Schedule, Rosters Announced
November 20, 2014 | Baseball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The teams for the Louisville baseball program's 2014 Omaha Challenge were determined Wednesday with a player draft inside the Omaha Room at Jim Patterson Stadium and the squads are ready to officially kick-off the competition on Sunday afternoon.
Junior righthanded pitcher Anthony Kidston (Black Team) and sophomore catcher Will Smith (Red Team) are the team captains for this year's Omaha Challenge, which begins with Sunday's paintball competition. The Challenge will continue on Monday with the shuttle run, tire flip and tug-of-war, while Tuesday's events include the towel hang and the bike race.
After halting the competition for the Thanksgiving holiday, action will resume on Dec. 1 with the ultimate football/dodgeball and truck push events. The Omaha Challenge will conclude on Dec. 2 with the 100-meter swim and the medley. Following the conclusion of the five days of competition, team and individual winners will be crowned by Louisville head coach Dan McDonnell.
With the top overall selection in the Omaha Challenge draft, Smith selected pitcher and defending individual champion Zack Burdi for the Red Team, while Kidston used his top pick on pitcher Robert Strader for the Black Team.
Along with Smith and Burdi, the Red Team will feature Zach Lucas, Nick Solak, Colby Fitch, Logan Taylor, Drew Harrington, Jonah Philley, Riley Jackson, Corey Ray, Blake Tiberi, Mac Welsh, Chandler Dale, Grant Schreiver, Brendan McKay, Jimmy Faul, Austin Clemons, Chris Elbrecht, Mike White and Alex Sears. Joining Kidston and Strader on the Black Team are Ryan Summers, Jordan Striegel, Sutton Whiting, Colin Lyman, Jake Sparger, Devin Hairston, Josh Rogers, Danny Rosenbaum, Kyle Funkhouser, Drew Ellis, Brandon Alphin, Sean Leland, Grant Weinmann, Michael Bollmer, Lincoln Henzman, Butch Baird, Kade McClure and Dylan Shoffner.
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.
FOLLOWING THE CARDINALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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