University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
University of Virginia
BSB Opens 2021 Season at No. 5/16 Virginia
2/18/2021 10:03:00 PM | Baseball
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - It has been 346 days since the UConn baseball team last stepped on the field for a game before the Covid-19 pandemic ended the 2020 college baseball season and changed the world for everyone.
After many months of quarantining, wearing masks, and wondering what the season would look like, the Huskies are back to take on No. 5/16 Virginia at Davenport Field at Disharoon Park.
UConn closed 2020 on a five-game win streak to finish the year at 8-5 overall. The Huskies season was highlighted by winning a series against No. 1 Michigan, the first time the program had won a series against the top-ranked team in the country.
Covid-19 has brought so much hardship and tragedy but one of the few positives was the Huskies gained back many players that they believed would not be back in a UConn uniform.
5 YR SR Chris Winkel (OF) is back to captain the team with Christian Fedko (2B), who would have been a possible draft pick if the MLB Draft wasn't shortened to five rounds due to the pandemic.
UNC transfer and right-handed pitcher Ben Casparius gets the chance to represent his home state and will open the series on Friday as the ace of the UConn pitching staff.
Preseason All-American closer Caleb Wurster also gets another season to close out games for the HookC while 5 YR SR Kenneth Haus will also help out the back end of the UConn bullpen.
All of college baseball will feature depth and increased talent in 2021 and the BIG EAST preseason favorites are no exception.
BIG EAST Co-Preseason Player of the Year Kyler Fedko (OF), BIG EAST preseason All-Conference performer Reggie Crawford (1B) join Zach Bushling (INF), Pat Winkel (C) in a potent UConn lineup.
There will be plenty of competition for starting spots on the diamond and the Huskies like having to pick from a returning group of Kevin Ferrer (OF), Ben Maycock (OF), Erik Stock (OF), Chris Brown (INF), David Langer (INF) and Andy Hague (INF).
UMass Lowell grad transfer Ciaran Devenney (C) will give the Huskies a boost, replacing team captain Paul Gozzo as a reliable No. 2 to Pat Winkel behind the dish or power bat option in the designated hitter slot.
On the mound, the Huskies return Joe Simeone, Colby Dunlop, Andrew Marrero, Randy Polonia, Justin Willis, Jimmy Wang, Will Lucas, Pat Gallagher and two-way performers Stock and Crawford.Â
Juco transfers Austin Peterson (Wabash Valley) and Devin Kirby (Santa Rosa JC) will provide a spark as well. The depth on the mound will be key with the Huskies switching to four-game conference weekends in the span of three days.
The UConn baseball program has been to six NCAA Tournaments since 2010 and have made the last two NCAA Tournaments (2018 & 2019). UConn has produced seven MLB players under head coach Jim Penders, the 18th year head coach is already the all-time winningest coach in program history with 572 career victories.Â
All three games will be video streamed on ACC Network on the WatchESPN. Saturday and Sunday's games are scheduled to air on 91.7 FM WHUS with Chris Jones on the call. Friday's game is still to be determined with an alternative audio option available if WHUS is unable to produce the game.
