University of Connecticut Athletics
Baseball Picks 2019 Tri-Captains
11/27/2018 2:08:00 PM | Baseball
STORRS, Conn - Keeping with tradition, the UConn baseball team concluded their fall workouts atop Cemetery Hill, at the graves of university founders, Charles and Augustus Storrs. Head coach Jim Penders then announced the team's 2019 captains, as voted on by the team. Mason Feole, John Toppa and Chris Winkel will captain the team for the 2019 season.
Toppa returns as captain for his senior season after captaining the team in 2018. The senior was the only Husky to start all 60 games last season and hit .283 with 67 hits, 34 runs scored, nine doubles, three triples, one home run and 30 RBIs. The UConn left fielder walked 28 times, stole 11 bases and did not commit an error in the outfield…The Portsmouth, R.I. native recorded a .363 on-base percentage and registered18 multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI efforts
Feole becomes a captain after a stellar sophomore season that ended with him being selected to pitch on the 2018 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Feole was named an All-American by ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-American, Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America. The left-hander was also an ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team performer along with being First Team American Athletic Conference. The Wakefield, R.I. natives became the Ace of the UConn pitching staff midway through last season and led the Huskies in ERA (2.50), wins (9), starts (16), inning pitched (100.2) and strikeouts (120). He became the first pitcher since Colin McLaughlin (1979) to record 120 strikeouts in a single-season.
Winkel garners captain status after a breakout sophomore season in Storrs. The versatile first basemen played in 59 games with 55 starts and registered 986 fielding percentage.The Orange, Conn. native set career-highs by hitting .264 with 53 hits, 22 runs scored, 11 doubles, four home runs and 33 RBIs.Â
The Huskies open the 2019 season in Lakeland, Fla., at the Spring Training home of the Detroit Tigers, against the Louisville Cardinals starting on Friday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m.
