Senior catcher Beau Seabury doesn't light up the scoreboard. His .269 batting average is respectable, but it isn't his offensive firepower that makes him so valuable to the Cavaliers.
"He's an instant leader [as a catcher]," Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said. "If he's not throwing [runners] out, we're not winning as many ballgames as we do."
In Wednesday's loss to JMU, Seabury threw out three runners, including a pick off to second base.
Seabury pulls down 35 percent of attempted base stealers, which puts him in the upper echelon of ACC catchers. He is tied for third in the ACC, with 14 runners thrown out this season.
"Beau will be a very tough guy to replace," O'Connor said.
But when all is said and done for the 2007 Cavaliers this summer, O'Connor will take on the task of replacing Seabury and the other seven seniors on the Virginia squad.
Reliever Alex Smith, closer Casey Lambert, outfielders Tim Henry, Brandon Marsh and Mike Mitchell, infielder John Scaglione and catchers Seabury and Ryan Hudson comprise the Class of 2007.
"This senior class has won more games in this uniform than any other senior class in school history," O'Connor said. "That tells you the contributions they've had to this program and their careers."
The eight make up a diverse class and serve in all facets of the team's success.
Seabury, Marsh and Mitchell are everyday starters. Others, like Scaglione and Henry, perform off the bench. Smith is a go-to lefty out of the bullpen, and Lambert serves as the team's closer and the top man in the Virginia pen.
A few of these seniors will have the chance to advance their careers in the pro ranks in the coming future.
"Seabury, Mitchell, and Lambert have the best chance [to get to the pros]," O'Connor said. "And rightfully so -- they're good players. I hope they get the chance to continue their careers."
Lambert, who is 1-1 and owns a career-best 0.83 ERA, is considered the most likely candidate to advance in professional baseball.
Tied for the ACC lead in saves throughout a career, Lambert has been a dominating pitcher since his debut as a Cavalier. Currently in the best of his four seasons, Lambert has plenty of reasons to be optimistic about his future.
Neither Mitchell nor Seabury is sure about what the future holds.
"Hopefully, people are looking at me," Mitchell said. "I'd love to play baseball after college."
While some look to continue their careers next season, others are ready to make the transition out of baseball.
Mitchell said if he doesn't end up in baseball next year, he plans to go to graduate school.
"I was mixed on if I got drafted if I'd go or not," Marsh said, adding however that he thinks his offensive production, which is down this year (.276), won't be enough to get him in the draft.
"I don't feel like there's anything more I have to accomplish," Marsh said. "This has always been my goal to play at a quality D-1 baseball school and get an education, and there isn't a place better than U.Va. that I could've come to accomplish that goal. "So I don't feel the need to play after this year. I feel the need to finish this year strong."
But with the College World Series not scheduled to begin until June 15, the Cavaliers (34-10) still have plenty of baseball ahead of them, depending on how far they advance in the postseason. And the eight seniors will have a few moments left on the diamond to take in the sights and sounds and savor the glory of their achievements throughout the past four years.
Marsh said he cannot believe how quickly his time at the University is coming to a close.
"You get so wrapped up in the season," Marsh said. "You're so focused on the season sometimes you lose track."
But Marsh, Mitchell and Seabury all agree they are happy to be leaving with the team at such a high.
"We worked the hardest this year," Marsh said. "We still have a bitter taste in our mouth from last year, losing at home in a regional."
Virginia wraps up its ACC schedule with series against Maryland, N.C. State and Boston College, starting this weekend at Davenport Field. At No. 3 in the country, the Cavaliers have the potential to make an unprecedented run if they can fire on all cylinders.
"Last year we had everything going our way," Marsh said. "So this year, I think it takes more than having things go your way. It takes coming on at the end of the season and I really see our team doing that."
For now, Virginia fans will wait and watch with bated breath.
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