The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Baseball to Begin Fall Practice Friday Afternoon
10/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB baseball team will officially begin fall practice Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at Young Memorial Field.
"All falls are important but this is an especially critical fall after losing 334 innings from the mound and six of our nine starting position players," head coach Brian Shoop said. "We need to grow up quickly this fall in order to continue competing on a national level like we have the past two years."
The Blazers will hold their first intersquad scrimmage on Saturday with practice set to begin at 11 a.m. and the game set for 12 p.m. The Green and Gold will practice from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. on Monday's, Wednesday's, Thursday's and Friday's. Saturday's practices are set for 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. throughout the fall pending weather.
Scout Day and the second intersquad scrimmage will be Friday, Oct. 30 at 1:30 p.m., and the final intersquad, combined with Family Day, is set for Saturday, Nov. 7. All practices are open to the public.
UAB returns 18 players from a season ago, including three full-time positional starters and three additional players with starting experience. The returnees are highlighted by 2015 All-Conference USA Second Team catcher Esteban Tresgallo, Griffin Gum, who hit .274 in 50 starts in 2014, and shortstop Adam Smith, a starter in nearly all of the Blazers' games this past spring.
Seniors Evan Peterson and Mitch Williams also return for their final campaigns, while sophomore Brett Blackwood returns with some time in the starting lineup as a freshman last season.
UAB lost every starter from its 2015 rotation including seniors Alex Luna and Johnny Lieske, and junior James Naile who was drafted by the Oakland A's in the 20th round of the MLB Draft.
Out of the bullpen, the Blazers return sophomore All-Conference honoree Ryan Ruggles, along with junior Thomas Lowery, who combined for an 11-5 record in more than 100 innings pitched in 2015. Also returning to help anchor UAB's relief effort will be Cory Eller, Stephen Baggett, Dylan Munger, Adam Lamar, Nick Altobella and Justin Kemp, who's coming off surgery last season.
UAB adds 11 newcomers to its 2016 roster, including eight pitchers and six players who also primarily play in the field or can play both ways.
"We have a lot of new and young talent and it could be fun to watch these young Blazers grow and develop," Shoop added. "We also have some veteran players who have not played a huge role yet and who have been waiting their turn so to speak. I know they are looking forward to their opportunity to show their talents and leave their mark on UAB baseball."
UAB is coming off one of its best seasons in recent years after reaching the Conference USA Championship game for the second time in the last four seasons. The Blazers tallied 33 wins, the third 30-win season in the last four years for the program.
Head coach Brian Shoop returns for his 10th year as the leader of the UAB baseball program. In his nine years in Birmingham, Shoop has guided the Blazers to a 262-258 record. During his tenure, Shoop has guided 29 All-Conference USA honorees, 13 C-USA All-Tournament team honorees, 11 C-USA All-Academic team honorees, two all-Americans, three all-region selections, one academic all-American, 164 C-USA Honor Roll honorees and 37 C-USA Academic Medal recipients.
WEEKLY FALL PRACTICE SCHEDULE
All practices open to the public
Monday: 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Off day
Wednesday: 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday: 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Sunday: Off day
For more information on the UAB baseball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
