Sparger, Summers and Taylor Named Louisville Baseball Captains
December 02, 2016 | Baseball
Trio of seniors selected as captains by players and coaches for the 2017 season
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Senior righthanded pitcher Jake Sparger and senior outfielders Ryan Summers and Logan Taylor have been selected by University of Louisville players and coaches as team captains for the Cardinals baseball team in 2017
Sparger (Eau Claire, Wisconsin) has 50 career appearances on the mound for the Cardinals, including five starts, and has accumulated a 3-2 record with a 3.42 ERA in his first three collegiate seasons. During his junior campaign in 2016, Sparger made 19 relief outings finishing with 21 strikeouts in 19.1 innings. In 2015, he was 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 14 relief appearances and 17.1 innings pitched.
Summers (Westfield, Massachusetts) has 37 collegiate starts while appearing in 108 games during his career at Louisville. Last season, Summers played in 42 games finishing with a .195 batting average after closing the 2015 season with a .226 average and 10 stolen bases in 30 starts and 56 total appearances.
Taylor (Lexington, Kentucky) enters his senior season having played in 177 games overall and making 81 total starts. Last season, Taylor finished with a .280 batting average, including five triples, while also stealing 18 bases and scoring 40 runs in 44 starts and 61 total appearances. As a sophomore in 2015, Taylor hit .358 with eight stolen bases in 14 starts and 60 appearances and was named to the NCAA Louisville Regional All-Tournament Team.
The Cardinals are scheduled to open the 2017 season on Feb. 17-19 in Clearwater, Florida with a trio of games at Bright House Field. Louisville will face Alabama State on Feb. 17 at 3 p.m., ET, Maryland on Feb. 18 at 6 p.m., and Ball State on Feb. 19 at 1 p.m.
ABOUT LOUISVILLE BASEBALL IN 2017
The Cardinals return a trio of All-Americans and 19 total letterwinners from last year's team, which won its second straight ACC Atlantic Division championship, advanced to its fourth straight NCAA Super Regional and reached the 50-win plateau for the fourth time in school history. Two-time John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-American Brendan McKay returns for his junior season after finishing with a 12-4 record, 2.30 ERA and 128 strikeouts on the mound and a .333 batting average, six home runs, 19 doubles and 41 RBI at the plate last season.
Junior righthander Kade McClure, an All-American selection by the NCBWA and Perfect Game in 2016, is expected to give the Cardinals a 1-2 All-American punch in their weekend rotation after closing his sophomore season with a 12-0 record, 2.54 ERA and 77 strikeouts 13 starts and 15 total appearances. Joining McKay in the Louisville lineup is junior shortstop Devin Hairston, who hit .361 with three home runs, 16 doubles and 45 RBI while earning ABCA Third Team All-America honors last season.
In 10 seasons guiding the Louisville baseball program, McDonnell has placed the Cardinals among the nation's elite programs with three College World Series berths, six NCAA Super Regional appearances, nine NCAA Regional bids, seven regular season conference championships, two conference tournament titles, 29 All-Americans and 456 wins overall.
FOLLOWING THE CARDINALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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