Feb. 1, 2010

Complete Release in PDF Format

USF Prepares for Start of 2010 Season: The Dons were picked to finish third in the WCC Preseason Baseball Poll. USF trailed only San Diego and Pepperdine in votes received. Senior RHP Doug Murray and JR INF Stephen Yarrow were also both selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team. USF will look to have a strong 2010 season behind the 23 returning letterwinners, including 2009 All-WCC First Teamers SS Derek Poppert and RHP Doug Murray. Murray paced the pitching staff with a perfect 9-0 record in 88.1 innings of work. Poppert was a spark offensively, hitting .352 with 52 RBIs and 16 SBs. USF begins their 2010 campaign against Pacific on Friday, February 19th in Stockton.

New Hitting Facility Providing Huge Benefits in the Rain: With the completion of the brand new indoor hitting facility, located down the left field line at Benedetti Diamond, the Dons are off and rolling as they prepare for the spring season. Wet weather has wrecked havoc all over the Bay Area, but it has been business as usual up on the Hilltop as the hitters and pitchers have worked hard to get their reps in. The cages have provided a space for the position players to take batting practice. It has also been a place where pitchers can throw their bullpens and get in their pitcher's fielding practice. But best of all, the hitting facility has been utilized for pitchers to throw live at-bats to the position players to give everyone the game like experience they need to prepare for the season. The alumni have found value in the facility as well as they continue to prepare for another year of professional baseball. And finally the Junior Dons have been getting great use out of being able to practice indoors to truly make the new indoor hitting facility some-thing that is ALL IN THE FAMILY!

Dons Alumni Quickly Climbing the Ladder of Professional Baseball: As the start of baseball season is quickly approaching the Dons couldn't be prouder of the successes of some of their recent alumni. Heading into Spring Training 2010 USF currently has three alumni on the 40 man rosters of their respective Major League Organizations and will head to big league camp in February. Scott Cousins, a 2006 graduate of the program spent the 2009 season with the Jacksonville Suns, the AA team in the Florida Marlins Organization. Cousins had 31 doubles, 12 homers, and 74 runs batted in on the year and was also sent by the Marlins this winter to the Rookie Career Development Program along with many other high profile prospects to prepare for potential Major League careers. Along with Cousins, fellow 2006 graduate Stefan Gartrell, a member of the Chicago White Sox organization, will compete this spring to make the big league roster. Gartrell had a monster year in 2009 hitting .281, with 86 runs scored, 31 doubles, 23 home runs and 89 runs batted in. He ended the year in AAA, but hopes this April he will find himself with the big team. The final Don alumni currently on a 40 man roster is the only one of the three to have seen time in the Major Leagues already. Aaron Poreda, a 2007 graduate, spent time with both the Chicago White Sox and the San Diego Padres last season. He ended the year with the Pa-dres after being involved in a trade that sent Jake Peavy to the White Sox. Make sure to continue to check out our USF Alumni as they continue ON THE RISE!