The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Green Defeats Gold to Conclude Fall Training
11/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 3, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-- The UAB baseball team has concluded its 23 days of fall training that was capped off with its "Green vs. Gold" intrasquad series that ended with a 1-0 victory in game six yesterday by the "Green" team to win the series, 4-2. Freshman shortstop Jonathan Merritt hit a double to lead off the 10th inning of game six and eventually scored on bases loaded walk to score the only run of the game.
First-year head coach Brian Shoop liked his teams' attitude and work ethic throughout the fall camp and believes there is still work to be done in their spring camp.
"I was pleased with the way they worked and their attitude was great," Shoop said. "I really like these players. I wish we had 14 more days to work, but I feel that we got everything done that we wanted to and now we'll pick it up again in late January."
Several players had many bright moments in the team's intrasquad series. The "Green" team was able to close out the series by pitching seven scoreless innings, three of which were by sophomore right-hander Mitch Kloskowski who gave up just one hit and struck out four.
Other notable pitching performances came from sophomore right-hander James Oliver who threw four innings, allowing zero runs, two hits and struck out three, while junior left-hander Rodney Wodson earned one of the "Gold" teams' two victories. Wodson pitched three innings in which he fanned five.
Another lefty that stood out was freshman Shay Crawford who pitched three innings and allowed just one run, while junior right-hander Jimbo Crew earned the victory in game four, pitching three innings and allowing just one run.
Shoop said he saw some good things from his pitching staff in the past few weeks but notes that there is still work to be done, with strikes being the main focus.
"We left with a lot of questions still remaining," Shoop said. "We honestly don't know our starting lineup or rotation yet. As a team we need to throw more strikes and we need to defend better. Those are two areas the guys will be working on individually right now."
Offensively, junior second baseman Phil Bell was 4-for-8 in the series, while junior shortstop Brett Hall went 3-for-9 at the plate and had a spectacular run-saving back-hand play to save game six in the ninth. Junior catcher Ben Shelley displayed patience at bat in the series, drawing four walks.
Several players stood out to Shoop offensively, saying that without a doubt several of the guys can hit in Conference USA.
"I thought Ryne Lovdahl and Ryan Keedy were very good offensively and they can absolutely hit in this league," Shoop said. "Jorge Gutierrez and Jonathan Merritt took the lead at the middle infield positions as they both defend very well and do the little things very well."
With 14 newcomers filling the UAB dugout this season, Shoop said he was impressed by many of them and that there are plenty of starting positions left to be won and some could be filled with some new faces.
"Of the newcomers I thought Cody McMurry had an outstanding fall and gave an outstanding attitude and has really made a strong case to be one of our starting outfielders," Shoop said. "There are many positions that still remain very competitive and they will be won during the spring camp or as the season moves along."
The UAB Blazers will open their season in February. So far the program has announced a three-game series at Arizona State, Feb. 23-25 and the remainder of the schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
