Connecticut Huskies baseball

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Connecticut Huskies
Baseball current event.svg 2019 Connecticut Huskies baseball team
Connecticut Huskies wordmark.svg
Founded1896;123 years ago (1896)
University University of Connecticut
Head coach Jim Penders (16th season)
Conference The American
Location Storrs, Connecticut
Home stadium J. O. Christian Field
(Capacity: 2,000)
Nickname Huskies
ColorsNational Flag Blue and White [1]
         
College World Series appearances
1957, 1959, 1965, 1972, 1979
NCAA Tournament appearances
1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1965 1968, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1979, 1990, 1993, 1994, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018
Conference tournament champions
1990, 1994, 2013, 2016
Conference champions
2011

The Connecticut Huskies baseball team represents the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut in college baseball. The program is classified in the NCAA Division I, and the team competes in the American Athletic Conference. The team is coached by Jim Penders.

University of Connecticut Public research university in Connecticut

The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land grant, National Sea Grant and National Space Grant research university in Storrs, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1881.

Storrs, Connecticut town

Storrs is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Mansfield within eastern Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 15,344 at the 2010 census. It is dominated economically and demographically by the presence of the main campus of the University of Connecticut and the associated Connecticut Repertory Theatre.

College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional players, as baseball's professional minor leagues are more extensive, with a greater history of supplying players to the top professional league. Moving directly from high school to the professional level is more common in baseball than in football or basketball. However, if players do opt to enroll at a four-year college to play baseball, they must complete three years to regain professional eligibility, unless they reach age 21 before starting their third year of college. Players who enroll at junior colleges regain eligibility after one year at that level. In the most recently completed 2017 season, there were 298 NCAA Division I teams in the United States.

Contents

UConn has appeared in five College World Series and 20 NCAA Tournaments.

College World Series College baseball tournament conducted by the NCAA

The College World Series (CWS) is an annual June baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska. The CWS is the culmination of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Baseball Championship tournament—featuring 64 teams in the first round—which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight participating teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets, with the winners of each bracket playing in a best-of-three championship series.

NCAA Division I Baseball Championship

The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the eight-team College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. Oregon State is the 2018 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament champion, defeating runner-up Arkansas 5-0 in Game 3 to win the 2018 College World Series championship finals.

Facilities

The Huskies play at J. O. Christian Field, a 2,000 seat stadium located at the southwest edge the campus athletic complex. Some games are also played at minor league venues in Connecticut, most frequently Dunkin' Donuts Park in Hartford, Connecticut, Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium in Norwich, Connecticut and New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut, all of which seat over 6,000 spectators.

J. O. Christian Field

J. O. Christian Field is a baseball stadium in Storrs, Connecticut, United States. It is the home field of the Connecticut Huskies baseball team of the NCAA Division I's American Athletic Conference. The stadium holds 2,000 people. It is named after former UConn baseball coach and athletic director, J. Orlean Christian.

Dunkin Donuts Park Baseball stadium in Hartford, Connecticut

Dunkin' Donuts Park is a 6,121-seat baseball park in Hartford, Connecticut. It is the home field of the Hartford Yard Goats of the Eastern League. The stadium has a total capacity of 6,850 people, including standing room, which was reached numerous times during its inaugural season of 2017. It was planned to open for the 2016 season on April 7, but numerous constructions delays postponed this opening and forced the Yard Goats to play the entire season on the road. The stadium opened in time for the team's 2017 home opener on April 13.

Hartford, Connecticut capital of Connecticut

Hartford is the capital city of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. The city is nicknamed the "Insurance Capital of the World", as it hosts many insurance company headquarters and is the region's major industry. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford area of Connecticut. Census estimates since the 2010 United States Census have indicated that Hartford is the fourth-largest city in Connecticut, behind the coastal cities of Bridgeport, New Haven, and Stamford.

In 2017, UConn released plans for new athletic and recreation facilities, including a new baseball stadium. The stadium will be built across the street from the existing J. O. Christian Field, on the site of Morrone Stadium, and will seat 1,500. Construction is expected to begin on the athletic complex in mid-2018. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Morrone Stadium

Morrone Stadium, officially known as Joseph J. Morrone Stadium is the on-campus soccer stadium at University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut.

Coaches

The following is a list of all UConn coaches and their known records, through the 2017 season. [7]

Coach
Tenure
Wins
Losses
Ties
Pct.
No coach1896–1898690.400
T. D. Knowles1899–19011191.555
Edwin O. Smith 1902–19051391.591
George E. Lamson1906–190812131.480
John Sullivan1909–1910970.563
James Nicholas1911090.000
No coach1912660.500
Robert Edger1913460.400
Charles A. Reed1914040.000
J. J. Donovan1915170.125
D. E. Chase1916180.111
John J. Donahue1917110.500
Roy J. Guyer1919660.500
William Mellor1920380.273
Ross Swartz19212111.154
J. Wilder Tasker 1922–192312180.400
Sumner Dole1924–193564902.416
J. Orlean Christian 1936–19612541707.599
Larry Panciera 1962–19792971605.650
Andy Baylock 1980–20035564928.530
Jim Penders 2004–present4883454.585

Year by year results

The Huskies were a regional power under coaches J. Orlean Christian and Larry Panciera, making twelve appearances in the NCAA Tournament and five appearances in the College World Series from 1957 to 1979. The end of true regional play has hurt teams from the northeast, Connecticut included, as they have made just five NCAA Tournament appearances in 28 seasons since beginning play in the Big East in 1985. The Huskies made their first Super Regional appearance in 2011, defeating traditional power Clemson before falling to eventual national champion South Carolina. Connecticut has claimed three Big East Conference Baseball Tournament Championships in 1990, 1994, and 2013, one Big East Regular season championship in 2011, and one divisional championship in the first year of Big East competition in 1985.

J. Orlean Christian American football, basketball, baseball coach, college athletics administrator

Joseph Orlean Christian was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at the University of Connecticut from 1934 to 1949 and as the head baseball coach there from 1936 to 1961. Christian was also the school's athletic director from 1950 to 1966 and filled in as interim head basketball coach during the 1935–36 season. He served as the first commissioner of the Yankee Conference, from 1966 to 1971. Christian died on October 21, 1979 at the age of 81 in a convalescent home in Willimantic, Connecticut. The University of Connecticut's home baseball field, J. O. Christian Field, is named in his honor. Christian's 66 wins as head football coach at Connecticut were the most in program history until Randy Edsall surpassed him in 2010.

Larry Panciera was a college baseball coach at the University of Connecticut where he led the Huskies to three College World Series appearances in eighteen seasons. Panciera coached the Huskies from 1962 through 1979, finishing with a 297–160–5 overall record.

Clemson Tigers baseball baseball team of Clemson University

The Clemson Tigers baseball team represents Clemson University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers are currently coached by head coach Monte Lee and play their home games in Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The program has reached the NCAA Tournament in all but one season dating back to 1987. Clemson has made twelve appearances in the College World Series with an all-time record of 12–24 in Omaha.

Huskies in the pros

Connecticut has produced dozens of professional players, coaches, and umpires, most notably Jeff Fulchino (Florida Marlins, Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres), Jesse Carlson (Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox), Bob Schaefer (numerous coaching positions with 11 teams, currently Washington Nationals), Charles Nagy (Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres; coach Arizona Diamondbacks), Walt Dropo (1950 AL Rookie of the Year), Jim Reynolds (umpire), and Dan Iassogna (umpire). Ten players were selected in the 2011 MLB Draft, including first round picks Matt Barnes (Boston Red Sox) and George Springer (Houston Astros). [8] As of 2017, Nick Ahmed, Matt Barnes, Scott Oberg, George Springer are on active Major League rosters.

Player awards

Retired numbers

The Huskies have retired three numbers in their more than 100-year history. [9]

Uconn Huskies baseball retired numbers
No.NamePos.Career
17 J. O. Christian Head Coach1936–61
28Andy BaylockHead Coach1980–2004
35 Larry Panciera Head Coach1962–79

All-Americans

The following All-Americans are recognized by the University of Connecticut. First team selections are noted with a check. [10]

SeasonNamePositionABCABACBNCBWA
1958 Bob Wedin Pitcher
Green check.svgY
N/A
1959 Moe Morhardt Outfielder
Green check.svgY
N/A
Bill Stevens Outfielder
N/A
1961 Joe Clement Pitcher
N/A
1963 Eddie Jones Pitcher
Green check.svgY
N/A
1967 George Greer Outfielder
N/A
1968
N/A
1972 John Ihlenburg Third baseman
N/A
1976 Tom Germano Pitcher
N/A
1979 Colin McLaughlin Pitcher
N/A
Randy LaVigne Outfielder
N/A
1988 Charles Nagy Pitcher
N/A
1993 Dennis Dwyer Outfielder
N/A
1994 Brian Majeski Outfielder
N/A
1996 Jason Grabowski Designated Hitter
Green check.svgY
N/A
1997
N/A
1999 Mike Scott Outfielder
N/A
2010 Mike Nemeth First baseman
2011 Matt Barnes Starting pitcher
Green check.svgY
Green check.svgY
Green check.svgY
George Springer Outfielder
Green check.svgY
Green check.svgY
Green check.svgY
Kevin Vance Pitcher
2013 L. J. Mazzilli Second baseman
2015 Vinny Siena Third baseman
Carson Cross Pitcher
2016 Anthony Kay Pitcher

Related Research Articles

Harry A. Gampel Pavilion building in Mansfield, Connecticut, United States

Harry A. Gampel Pavilion is a 10,167-seat multi-purpose arena in Storrs, Connecticut, United States, on the campus of the University of Connecticut. The arena opened on January 21, 1990, and is the largest on-campus arena in New England. It was named after industrialist and 1943 UConn graduate Harry A. Gampel, a philanthropist who walked with Martin Luther King Jr., and who donated one million dollars for the construction of the arena. It is about 216,000 sq ft (20,100 m2). Gampel Pavilion is the primary home to the Connecticut Huskies men's basketball, women's basketball, and women's volleyball teams.

Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field football stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut

Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field is a stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut. It is primarily used for football and soccer, and is the home field of the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies. In the fall of 2010, it was home to the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League. The stadium, which opened in 2003, was the first stadium used primarily by an NCAA Division I-A team to open in the 21st century. The permanent stadium capacity is 40,000, consisting of 38,066 permanent seats with a standing-room area in the scoreboard plaza that can accommodate up to 1,934 people. It also has a game day capability to add approximately 2,000 temporary seats as it did for UConn football vs. Michigan in 2013. Connecticut played on campus at Memorial Stadium in Storrs, before 2003.

Connecticut Huskies college athletic program of the University of Connecticut, US

The Connecticut Huskies are the athletic teams that represent the University of Connecticut. The school is a member of the NCAA's Division I and the American Athletic Conference. The university's football team plays at Rentschler Field, and the men's and women's basketball teams play on-campus at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion and off-campus at the XL Center.

The Connecticut Huskies men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball team of the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut. They currently play in the American Athletic Conference and are coached by Dan Hurley.

The Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team is the college basketball program representing the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut, in NCAA Division I women's basketball competition. They currently play in the American Athletic Conference, the successor of the Big East Conference, as the last remaining original member of the conference.

The 2003–04 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2003–2004 NCAA Division I basketball season. Coached by Geno Auriemma, the Huskies played their home games at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut, and on campus at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut, and are a member of the Big East Conference. The Huskies won their fifth NCAA championship, and third consecutive, by defeating the Tennessee Lady Vols, 70–61.

The 2002–03 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2002–2003 NCAA Division I basketball season. Coached by Geno Auriemma, the Huskies played their home games at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut, and on campus at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut, and are a member of the Big East Conference. The only loss the Huskies suffered all year was to Villanova in the championship game of the Big East Women's Basketball Tournament. Villanova beat the Huskies by a score of 52–48. The Huskies won their fourth NCAA championship by defeating the Tennessee Volunteers, 73–68.

The 2001–02 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2001–2002 NCAA Division I basketball season. Coached by Geno Auriemma, the Huskies played their home games at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut, and on campus at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut, and are a member of the Big East Conference. At the Big East Women's Basketball Tournament, the Huskies won the championship by defeating Boston College 96–54. The Huskies won their third NCAA championship by defeating the Oklahoma Sooners, 82–70. The starting five of Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Asjha Jones, Tamika Williams, and Diana Taurasi are generally considered the greatest starting lineup in Women's College Basketball history.

Huskies of Honor award given by the University of Connecticut

Huskies of Honor is a recognition program sponsored by the University of Connecticut (UConn). Similar to a hall of fame, it honors the most significant figures in the history of the Connecticut Huskies—the university's athletic teams—especially the men's and women's basketball teams. The inaugural honorees, inducted in two separate ceremonies during the 2006–07 season, included thirteen men's basketball players, ten women's basketball players, and four head coaches, of whom two coaches—Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma—and two players—Ray Allen and Rebecca Lobo—are also enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Since that time, an additional nine women's basketball players, seven men's basketball players, five national championship teams, one women's basketball assistant coach, and one athletic director have been honored.

James F. Penders is the baseball coach of the Connecticut Huskies. Penders began his time with the Huskies in 1991, as a player on the varsity team. In his senior year, he was named a co-captain and helped to lead the Huskies to victory in the 1994 Big East Conference Baseball Tournament. Penders was named as an assistant coach of the Huskies in 1997, and became head coach after the 2003 season.

Raymond Michael "Ray" Reid is an American college soccer coach and the head coach at the University of Connecticut Huskies men's soccer team. He has led UConn to one NCAA Division I national championship, eight Big East regular season championships and four Big East tournament championships. Before coming to UConn, he was the head coach at Southern Connecticut State University, leading the team to three NCAA Division II national championships in eight seasons. Reid leads all coaches in the nation in winning percentage (.769) and has won four NSCAA Coach of the Year awards.

Connecticut Huskies baseball represents the University of Connecticut in college baseball at the NCAA Division I level.

Burrill Family Field at Connecticut Softball Stadium is the home field of the Connecticut Huskies softball team of the University of Connecticut. The stadium is located along Jim Calhoun Way, on the university's Storrs, Connecticut campus, adjacent to J. O. Christian Field and across from Morrone Stadium and the Burton Family Football Complex. The field is named for the Burrill Family, five of whom are UConn alums.

Karen Mullins is an American college softball coach, most recently the long-time head coach of the Connecticut Huskies softball team. She served in that role from 1984 to 2014. She announced her retirement on May 19, 2014.

The 2017–18 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Huskies were led by sixth-year head coach Kevin Ollie. The Huskies split their home games between the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, and the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on the UConn campus in Storrs, Connecticut as members of the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 14–18, 7–11 in AAC play to finish in eighth place. They lost in the first round of the AAC Tournament to SMU.

The 2018–19 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team represents the University of Connecticut in the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Huskies are led by first-year head coach Dan Hurley and participate as members of the American Athletic Conference. The Huskies split their home games between the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, and the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on the UConn campus in Storrs, Connecticut.

The 2019 Connecticut Huskies football team will represent the University of Connecticut (UConn) during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Huskies will be led by head coach Randy Edsall, who is in the third year of his second stint as head coach at the school. The team will play their home games at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut, and will compete as members of the East Division of the American Athletic Conference.

References

  1. "Brand identity Standards" (PDF). University of Connecticut. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  2. Tim Tolokan (March 12, 2018). "Time to Bring UConn Baseball into a New Home". UConn Huskies. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  3. Dan Madigan (February 3, 2017). "UConn releases info on possible new athletic facilities". The Daily Campus . Storrs, Connecticut . Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  4. Aman Kidwai (November 2, 2017). "UConn Getting New Soccer, Baseball, and Softball Stadiums". The UConn Blog. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  5. Kathleen Megan (March 2, 2017). "UConn Trustees Approve $4.75 Million Design for 3 New Stadiums". Hartford Courant . Hartford, Connecticut . Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  6. Kathleen Megan (February 10, 2017). "With Feasibility Study And Ticket Surcharge, UConn Moving Forward on Plans For New Stadiums". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  7. 2012 Baseball Media Guide. UConnHuskies.com. p. 46. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
  8. 2012 Baseball Media Guide. uconnhuskies.com. pp. 49–51. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  9. "Three Former UConn Baseball Greats Have Numbers Retired". UConn Huskies. June 1, 2004. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  10. 2012 Baseball Media Guide. uconnhuskies.com. p. 48. Retrieved 2012-06-25.