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May 22, 2005
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`HOOS UP NEXT?: The Virginia Cavaliers (38-17, 14-14 ACC) have completed the regular season portion of their 2005 schedule and will now travel to Jacksonville, Fla. to compete in the 2005 ACC Tournament. The event will take place from May 24-29 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Virginia, the #7 seed in the ACC Tournament, will begin tournament play with a game against the #2 seeded Clemson Tigers on Wednesday, May 25th at 1:00 PM.
The winner/loser of the #7 Virginia vs. #2 Clemson game will play the winner/loser of the #3 Miami vs. #6 N.C. State contest. If Virginia beats Clemson, it will play the winner of the Miami/N.C. State game on Thursday, May 26th at 4:00 PM. If Virginia loses to Clemson, it will play the loser of the Miami/N.C. State game on Thursday, May 26th at 10:00 AM.
The portion of the tournament bracket that UVa will be competing in is double-elimination. Virginia will be looking for its first ACC Tournament victory in the “Sunshine State” as the Cavaliers are 0-4 all-time in ACC Tournament contests played in the state of Florida. UVa went 0-2 in both 1997 and 2002 when the ACC Tournament was held in St. Petersburg, Fla.
LAST TIME VIRGINIA & CLEMSON MET IN THE ACC TOURNAMENT: Virginia defeated Clemson 7-3 on May 16, 2001 in Fort Mill, S.C. the last time the Cavaliers and Tigers played in the ACC Tournament. Clemson was fresh off a three-game sweep over UVa (8-1, 17-1 & 5-4) on May 12-13 in Clemson, S.C. to close out the 2001 regular season before Virginia knocked off the Tigers in the next game both teams played (the first contest in the 2001 ACC Tournament).
VIRGINIA VS. OPPONENTS IN THE ACC TOURNAMENT: Virginia is 31-56 all-time in the ACC Tournament. UVa holds a winning record against two teams (Wake Forest and Maryland) in the ACC Tournament. The Cavaliers have recorded more wins against N.C. State (seven) than any other team in the conference in the tournament, but have also lost more times to the Wolfpack (14) than any other opponent as well. Virginia has won the ACC Tournament once when the Cavaliers accomplished the feat Durham, N.C. in 1996 and UVa’s Seth Greisinger was named the 1996 ACC Tournament MVP. Here is a look at how Virginia stacks up against its opponents in the ACC Tournament:
UVa's Opponent UVa's Record Meetingsvs. Clemson 4-10 14vs. Duke 1-5 6vs. Florida State 2-5 7vs. Georgia Tech 2-5 7vs. Maryland 5-4 9vs. North Carolina 4-8 12vs. N.C. State 7-14 21vs. Wake Forest 6-5 11Totals 31-56 87
LAST TIME VIRGINIA PLAYED IN THE ACC TOURNAMENT: Virginia went 0-2 in the 2004 ACC Tournament at the Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium in Salem, Va. The then #2 seeded Cavaliers opened tournament play with a 6-5 loss to #7 seeded Duke in UVa’s first contest on May 26th before also falling to #6 seeded N.C. State 6-5 in Virginia’s second game on May 27th. The two losses eliminated the Cavaliers from the tournament and marked the first time UVa had gone 0-2 in the ACC Tournament since 2002.
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHING FOR CAVALIERS IN ACC TOURNAMENT: Virginia will use its weekend rotation of Jeff Kamrath (RHP, 8-4, 2.28 ERA, 86.2 IP, 68 K), Matt Avery (RHP, 5-5, 4.52 ERA, 73.2 IP, 66 K) and Mike Ballard (LHP, 8-3, 3.42 ERA, 84.1 IP, 50 K) in addition to midweek starters Pat McAnaney (LHP, 7-0, 1.56 ERA, 52.0 IP, 37 K) and Robert Poutier (RHP, 5-1, 0.39 ERA, 46.0 IP, 25 K) in the ACC Tournament. The exact order of UVa’s rotation is yet to be determined and is likely to be chosen on a game-by-game basis.
VIRGINIA RECEIVES SEVENTH SEED IN ACC TOURNAMENT: Virginia was awarded the #7 seed in the 2005 ACC Tournament after going 14-14 in the ACC. Here’s a look at the conference seeds heading into the ACC Tournament and a look at how each team fared vs. Virginia during the 2005 regular season:
Place Team ACC Record vs. UVa in 20051. Georgia Tech 22-8 0-32. Clemson 21-9 2-13. Miami 19-10-1 2-14. Florida State 19-11 2-15. North Carolina 17-10-1 3-06. N.C. State 17-13 2-17. Virginia 14-14 ---8. Wake Forest 12-18 3-09. Virginia Tech 7-19 0-110. Maryland 7-23 0-311. Duke 5-25 0-3
UVA’S FOURTH-YEAR CLASS THE WINNINGEST EVER IN VIRGINIA BASEBALL HISTORY: Seven members of the University of Virginia baseball program played in their final home game at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium when Virginia faced Duke in the third game of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series on May 21st. The Cavaliers’ fourth-year class of Scott Headd (catcher), Jeff Kamrath (starting pitcher), Adam Laird (relief pitcher), Scott Morgenthaler (relief pitcher), Josh Myers (relief pitcher), Matt Street (right fielder) and Kyle Werman (second baseman) represent the winningest class of players to ever play for the Cavaliers in the history of UVa baseball. Virginia’s fourth-year class has won 138 games over the past four seasons, including 82 wins in the last two years under the direction of head baseball coach Brian O’Connor.
BAT-MAN: Virginia’s Ryan Zimmerman has already etched his name into several Top-10 career statistical categories in Virginia’s record books, but he’s also on pace to break a single season record he set himself one year ago. Zimmerman holds UVa’s all-time single season record for most hits after posting 90 last season (2004). He currently has 85 hits in 2005 entering the ACC Tournament and needs just five hits to tie and six hits to break his own school record. Zimmerman also has 55 RBI this season and is closing in one UVa’s school record single season mark of 67.
VIRGINIA’S FIRST-YEAR PHENOMS: Virginia lost several key veteran plays from its 2004 squad last season, but some would argue with the influx of talent the Cavaliers received from its first-year class this season, UVa has hardly missed a beat. Virginia’s first-year class of has been highlighted by a trio of Freshman All-American candidates in Sean Doolittle, Pat McAnaney and Robert Poutier.
Doolittle came to UVa with hopes of eventually filling the shoes of last year’s ACC Player of the Year and All-American selection – Joe Koshansky. Doolittle and Koshansky are both left-handed first baseman/pitchers. Doolittle has been nothing short of terrific in his first-year campaign and is enjoying a tremendous season both at the plate and on the mound and is one of UVa’s top players in both areas. The Cavaliers also received a huge boost with the additions of pitcher Pat McAnaney and Robert Poutier to their staff. Not to be overshadowed in his own class, outfielder/designated hitter Brandon Guyer has also made a significant impact on the Cavaliers.
Together, this group of first-year players has bolster Virginia’s lineup and all four players are enjoying some of the finest seasons ever for a first-year player in UVa baseball history. Here is a closer look at the production of Doolittle, McAnaney, Poutier and Guyer heading into the ACC Tournament:
Sean Doolittle - .327 BA, 65 H, 53 RBI, 34 R, 11 HR, 11 2B, 1 3B.Sean Doolittle - 0.87 ERA, 2-0, 41.1 IP, 58 K, .158 OBA.Pat McAnaney - 1.56 ERA, 7-0, 52.0 IP, 37 K, .225 OBA.Robert Poutier - 0.39 ERA, 5-1, 46.0 IP, 25 K, .185 OBA.Brandon Guyer - .293 BA, 53 H, 37 R, 28 RBI, 15 2B, 4 HR.
VIRGINIA JUST FIVE GAMES OFF RECORD PACE FROM 2004 SEASON: Virginia’s record of 38-17 overall through 55 games this season is just five games behind the Cavaliers’ mark of 43-12 through 55 games last year during UVa’s record-tying season for most wins (44) in 2004.
30-WIN CLUB: Virginia recorded its 30th win this season on April 27, 2005 to become just the sixth UVa team to win at least 30 games or more in a single season. Virginia also posted 30 or more wins in 2004, 1997, 1996, 1988 and 1985.
DOOLITTLE HITS VIRGINIA’S FIRST GRAND SLAM THIS SEASON: Virginia’s Sean Doolittle hit the Cavaliers’ first grand slam of the 2005 season when he accomplished the feat to lead UVa to a 10-4 victory over Duke on May 21st. Doolittle became the first Cavalier to hit a grand slam this season and the first UVa player to do so since Matt Street hit a grand slam vs. James Madison on April 21, 2004.
SENDING OUT AN S.O.S. – LAMBERT SAVING VIRGINIA IN RECORD FASHION: Virginia’s Casey Lambert, in just his second year as a Cavalier, established the new Virginia school record for most saves in a career with 19 when he posted his 11th save of the year in UVa’s 9-4 victory over William & Mary on April 27th. What’s more, Lambert’s 11th save this season is also a Virginia single season record for most saves in a season. Lambert broke the UVa single season record when he posted his ninth save following Virginia’s 4-2 victory over Georgia Tech on April 22nd. Lambert’s ninth save on April 22nd actually broke the former UVa single season saves record of eight – a record he tied himself one year ago as a first-year. Lambert currently has 21 career saves and 13 saves this season (2005) which are both school records.
O’CONNOR-METER: Virginia head baseball coach Brian O’Connor is in his second year as UVa’s head coach. His career coaching record at Virginia stands at 82-32 overall, 32-20 in the ACC. Last season (2004), O’Connor was named just the second Virginia baseball coach ever to be selected the ACC Coach of the Year. In his first season as head coach at UVa, O’Connor guided Virginia to a school-record tying mark of 44 single season wins and it its fourth NCAA Regional appearance – including its first ever NCAA Regional appearance as a host site.
VIRGINIA’S TEAM ERA ONE OF THE NATION’S BEST: UVa enters the 2005 ACC Tournament with a team ERA of 2.74 which is tops in the ACC, and is one of the best ERAs in the country. Three UVa’s five starting pitchers have an ERA under 2.50 as the Cavaliers’ pitching staff has posted 11 shutouts this season.
`HOOS BY THE MONTH: Virginia won eight of its 11 games in the month of February (8-3), won 11 of 14 games in March (11-3) and won 11 of 19 games in April (11-8). The Cavaliers are 8-3 in the month of May. Here is a look at UVa’s record broken down by the month:
Month Virginia's RecordFebruary 8-3, 0-0 ACCMarch 11-3, 4-3 ACCApril 11-8, 5-8 ACCMay 8-3, 5-3 ACC
VIRGINIA VS. RANKED TEAMS: Virginia has played 15 games this season against teams ranked in the national polls (Baseball America Top-25, Collegiate Baseball Top-30, ESPN/Sports Weekly Top-25, NCBWA Top-35) and the Cavaliers are 6-9 against nationally ranked teams this season. Here is a closer look at those contests:
Date Ranked Opponent UVa Result4/1 @ #11 North Carolina L, 8-74/2 @ #11 North Carolina L, 10-54/3 @ #11 North Carolina L, 3-24/8 #33 N.C. State W, 2-04/9 #33 N.C. State L, 6-04/10 #33 N.C. State L, 1-04/22 #4 Georgia Tech W, 4-24/23 #4 Georgia Tech W, 9-24/24 #4 Georgia Tech W, 2-14/29 #24 Florida State L, 8-15/1 #24 Florida State W, 6-25/1 #24 Florida State L, 7-25/13 #4 Miami L, 7-65/14 #4 Miami L 1-05/15 #4 Miami W, 4-3
VIRGINIA IN WEEKEND SERIES ACTION: Virginia has played in 14 weekend series matchups in 2005 and is 8-6 in weekend series outcomes. All of UVa’s weekend series went three-games except Virginia’s series with Virginia Tech on March 25-27. The series was shortened to just one game on March 27th at Radford University after playing conditions at VT’s English Field forced the cancelations of two games of the series and moved the series to a neutral site location. Virginia stands 24-16 overall in weekend series contests this season. Here is a look at the Cavaliers’ results for weekend series games:
Date Virginia's Opponent Results2/11 @ UNC Wilmington L, 5-22/12 @ UNC Wilmington W, 2-02/13 @ UNC Wilmington W, 7-42/18 Bucknell W, 7-22/19 Bucknell (DH 1) W, 2-02/19 Bucknell (DH 2) W, 13-32/26 Fordham (DH 1) W, 5-02/26 Fordham (DH 2) W, 13-32/27 Fordham L, 3-23/4 @ Wake Forest L, 11-83/5 @ Wake Forest L, 15-83/6 @ Wake Forest L, 7-63/11 Marist W, 3-03/12 Marist W, 10-53/13 Marist W, 6-03/18 Maryland W, 4-13/19 Maryland W, 6-53/20 Maryland W, 5-23/27 vs. Virginia Tech W, 8-54/1 @ #11 North Carolina L , 8-7 (14)4/2 @ #11 North Carolina L, 10-54/3 @ #11 North Carolina L, 3-2 (11)4/8 #33 N.C. State W, 2-04/9 #33 N.C. State L, 6-04/10 #33 N.C. State L, 1-04/15 @ Clemson L, 13-44/16 @ Clemson L, 3-24/17 @ Clemson W, 9-24/22 #4 Georgia Tech W, 4-24/23 #4 Georgia Tech W, 9-24/24 #4 Georgia Tech W, 2-14/29 #24 Florida State L, 8-15/1 #24 Florida State W, 6-25/1 #24 Florida State L, 7-25/13 #4 Miami L, 7-65/14 #4 Miami L 1-05/15 #4 Miami W, 4-35/19 Duke W, 7-15/20 Duke W, 7-25/21 Duke W, 10-4
VIRGINIA BREAKS SCHOOL-RECORD FOR SHUTOUTS IN A SEASON IN JUST 19 GAMES: This year’s Virginia team has posted a school-record 11 shutouts so far this season. On March 13th with its 6-0 shutout win over Marist, Virginia posted its seventh shutout this year which set a new UVa school record for most shutouts in a single season after just 19 games! The former record for most shutouts in a single season at Virginia was six set by the 1996 squad. Also, included in the Cavaliers’ seven shutouts this season was a 5-0 victory over Fordham and an 8-0 win over Old Dominion on February 23rd in consecutive games which marked the first time Virginia shutout consecutive opponents since defeating Seton Hall 8-0 and 4-0 on March 2, 1996.
CLOSER LOOK AT VIRGINIA’S SHUTOUTS: Virginia is enjoying a record setting year for most shutouts in a single season. The Cavaliers have shutout a school-record 11 opponents this year and even more impressive, UVa posted a shutout in seven of its first 19 games this season. Here is a look at Virginia’s shutout wins this season:
Date Opponent Score2/12 @ UNC Wilmington W, 2-02/19 Bucknell W, 2-02/23 Old Dominion W, 8-02/26 Fordham W, 5-03/8 Longwood W, 8-03/11 Marist W, 3-03/13 Marist W, 6-04/8 N.C. State W, 2-04/13 Maryland-Eastern Shore W, 6-05/3 Richmond W, 11-05/16 North Carolina A&T W, 2-0
MCANANEY’S PERFECT ON THE MOUND: Virginia first-year LHP Pat McAnaney improved his record to a perfect 7-0 this season after picking up the win in UVa’s 2-0 victory over North Carolina A&T. McAnaney has been tremendous on the mound as a mid-week starter as the lefty has turned in a 1.56 ERA and has struck out 37 batters in 52.0 innings pitched.
SCORE ON POUTIER IF YOU CAN: Virginia’s first-year pitcher Robert Poutier have been very difficult for opponents to get a hit off of, and even harder to score a run off of. In fact, Poutier has tossed 46.0 innings and allowed just two earned runs on 30 hits while striking out 25 batters and has a 0.39 ERA.
CAVALIERS NOT BEATING THEMSELVES WITH ERRORS: Last season, much of the success Virginia enjoyed was due to not beating itself with costly errors. In 2004, UVa established a new single-season school record fielding percentage mark of .973 while committing just 62 errors to their opponents 105. Heading into the ACC Tournament this season (2005), Virginia’s opponents have committed 102 errors to just 52 for UVa.
VIRGINIA’S POWERFUL ONE-TWO NEWCOMER PUNCH: Virginia’s first-year duo of Sean Doolittle and Brandon Guyer have provided some immediate power to the Cavaliers’ lineup. Doolittle has hit a team-leading 11 home runs (including one grand slam) and Guyer has hit four home runs this season. The duo has hit 15 of UVa’s 34 home runs on the year.
WERMAN HITTING BALLS & BOOKS: Virginia’s Kyle Werman was named to the 2005 Academic All-District III University Division Baseball squad as a Second Team selection. The team is part of the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team selected by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Werman’s award marks the second time he has been honored for his academic achievements in his UVa career. In 2003, he was also named to the 2003 Verizon Academic All-District Baseball Team as a Second Team selection.