February is baseball's month of renewal. Emerging from their months of hibernation, players are rested and ready to set out on another arduous season. In Florida and Arizona's MLB training camps, the sweet sound of wooden bats cracking against crisp white balls fills the air as part of a symphony that signals opening day's approach.
For college ballplayers, February marks the beginning of the season itself, and a chorus of metallic pings can be heard as teams strive to prepare for the regular season as well as hopeful post-season trips ending at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. For the Virginia baseball team coming off a stellar 2004 campaign, the 2005 journey begins this afternoon when the team travels south for the start of a three-game weekend series against the formidable UNC Wilmington Seahawks.
The Seahawks, who started off their season strong with a pair of shut-out victories in a two-game sweep over the UMD-Eastern Shore last weekend, have lost in the championship game of the NCAA Regionals in each of the past two seasons. The Seahawks were the 2004 champion of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) conference tournament.
"They're going to be a very tough opponent," senior pitcher Jeff Kamrath said. "It's going to be a good test to start our season."
Kamrath, a team co-captain, sat out last season with an elbow injury. His healthy return will add depth to Virginia's starting rotation. The Cavaliers are expected to send junior Matt Avery to the mound this afternoon, followed by junior Mike Ballard on Saturday, with Kamrath toeing the rubber in Sunday's series finale. Ballard should play a critical role in Virginia's pitching rotation after also missing the entire 2004 season due to injury.
The Seahawks will counter with senior left-hander Zach Kimball today, followed by senior right-hander Ronald Hill on Saturday, with junior Thomas Benton set to duel with Kamrath on Sunday.
Kamrath expressed optimism that this year's squad can build on last year's success.
"This year's team has a lot of weapons," he said. "It helps that me and Ballard are coming back from injury. Matt Avery was a strong pitcher for us last year, and we've got guys like Casey Lambert and Ryan Zimmerman that are going to be huge factors. We have some freshmen that are really going to step up. Once all of these guys mature in the season and get a feel for college baseball, we're going to be really successful."
Head coach Brian O'Connor has infused this squad with a high level of confidence.
"Everything he does is very professional," senior co-captain Kyle Werman said. "He tells it like it is and everything he does is for the team."
Kambrath showed some of the same confidence when speaking of this weekend's challenge.
"They're a very good team," he said. "But at the same time they're going to be facing a very tough team in us so it should be a very well fought series."
For the 2005 Virginia baseball team, the journey begins this afternoon.
Read More
Virginia baseball has an ace up its sleeve and in its bullpen — Dean Kampschror
By Xander Tilock | YesterdayThe senior pitcher is exactly what the Cavaliers need to succeed in 2025.
Wrestling gets blown out 34-9 on long road trip to Stanford
By Ryan Weiner | 2 days agoSolid performances from its most reliable trio were not enough for Virginia.
Freshman excellence powers No. 5 men’s tennis past Boise State, No. 19 Alabama
By Thomas Baxter | 2 days agoVirginia, unlike many other regional hosts, held serve as its quartet's top seed.
