The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazer Baseball Opens Practice With Saturday Intrasquad
1/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 31, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB baseball team held its first intrasquad scrimmage of the spring on Saturday as the Blazers opened full-team practice for the 2011 campaign.
The team held another intrasquad on Sunday as it began a stretch of three weeks of practice before the Feb. 18 season opener against Virginia in Auburn, Ala.
The Blazers are looking to build on back-to-back winning seasons under fifth-year head coach Bran Shoop. This year's version is working to incorporate a group of 18 newcomers with 14 returning players.
Center fielder Jamal Austin headlines the returning group. A second-team all-league performer last year, Austin was announced Thursday as a member of the C-USA preseason all-conference team.
Additional returning starters include infielders Nick Crawford, Andrew Manning and John Frost, outfielder Ryan Ussery, and catchers Jacob German and Harry Clark, who split time behind the plate for much of the 2010 season.
Twice-drafted Ryan Woolley is back for his senior season on the mound, joining Blake Huddleston, Ben Bullard, Mark McKinley and Trey Waltman as veteran members of the UAB pitching staff.
The Blazers' 2011 schedule features 29 home games with the home-opening series set for the second weekend of the season, Feb. 25-27 against Xavier at Young Memorial Field.
