The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Fall Practice Underway For Blazer Baseball Team
10/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Oct. 1, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB baseball team opened its fall practice period Friday afternoon with a three-hour session at Young Memorial Field.
The Blazers will practice six days a week over the next five weeks as they begin preparations for the upcoming 2011 season in the spring.
Since returning to campus for the start of classes, players have been going through individual workouts, but Friday marked the first time the entire team was on the field together for a full practice.
UAB is coming off its second consecutive winning season after going 28-25 in 2010. The Blazers again won four of their eight Conference USA series, finishing in a tie for fifth place in the final league standings.
Back this season are junior center fielder Jamal Austin, a 2010 all-conference performer, and sophomore infielder John Frost, a conference all-freshman team selection last year.
Additional returning position starters include senior second baseman Nick Crawford, senior third baseman Andrew Manning, sophomore outfielder Ryan Ussery and sophomore catchers Harry Clark and Jacob German.
On the mound, the Blazers return five pitchers, including senior starter Ryan Woolley. The right-hander was drafted for the second time this past summer but opted to return for his senior season with the Blazers.
That group will be bolstered by 11 new pitchers as part of UAB's 18-member class of newcomers. The class, which features nine freshmen and nine transfers, was recently recognized in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's list of the nation's top recruiting classes.
The Blazers' fall practice period is scheduled to run through Nov. 6. The team is slated to practice Tuesdays through Thursdays from 1:30 to 4:20 p.m., Fridays and Sundays from 1:30 to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays will be used as make-up dates in cases of bad weather.
As always, all practice sessions will be held at Young Memorial Field and are open to the public.
