University of Connecticut Athletics
HookC Preseason BIG EAST Favorite, Three All-Conference Picks
12/20/2022 12:22:00 PM | Baseball
NEW YORK - The UConn baseball team has been picked as the preseason favorite in the BIG EAST Conference with all seven place votes from the BIG EAST coaches going to the Huskies.Â
The Huskies are coming off back-to-back seasons in which the team has captured both the regular season and tournament titles in the league.
Right-handed pitcher Ian Cooke was selected as the BIG EAST Preseason Pitcher of the Year and joins outfielder Korey Morton and first baseman Ben Huber on the Preseason All-Conference team.Â
The New Milford, Conn. native went 7-1 with a 3.64 ERA in his first season in Storrs to earn Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American honors. Cooke appeared in 20 games and made six starts with two stellar starts against USC and Boston College. He struck out 54 batters in 54.1 innings and notched one save during the year.Â
Huber was immediate impact transfer for the Huskies, leading the team with 69 runs scored in the middle of the UConn order. The first baseman slugged 11 home runs and drove in 66 runs in 66 games. He hit .327 with 85 hits, 80 doubles and walked 39 times.Â
Morton earned First Team All-BIG EAST accolades as a designated hitter in 2022. The Norwalk, Conn. native hit .411 in 41 games with 51 hits including 11 doubles, one triple, six home runs and 28 RBI. The speedster scored 29 runs and swiped nine bags.Â
UConn opens its 2023 season in Florida against Ohio State on Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at CoolToday Park at 7 p.m.
2023 Preseason Baseball All-BIG EAST Team and Awards Preseason Player of the Year Jack Housinger, Gr., SS, Xavier  Preseason Pitcher of the Year Ian Cooke, So., RHP, UConn  Preseason All-BIG EAST Team* C – Owen Carapellotti, So.., Georgetown 1B – Ben Huber, Gr., UConn 2B – Andrew Meggs, Sr., Creighton 3B – Kevin Michaels, RJr., St. John's SS – Jack Housinger, Gr., Xavier DH – Jack Grace, Sr., Creighton OF – Korey Morton, Jr., UConn
OF – David Glancy, RJr., St. John's OF – Will Gale, RJr., Seton Hall OF – Garrett Schultz, Sr., Xavier SP – Ian Cooke, So., UConn ^ SP – Cade Lommel, Jr., Creighton SP – Dominic Cancellieri, Jr., Creighton SP – Luke Bell, Sr., Xavier RP – Tommy Steier, Gr., Creighton  ^ - denotes unanimous selection * due to a tie in voting, there is an extra member on the preseason all-conference team.  Preseason Coaches' Poll First place votes in ( ) 1.  UConn (7) – 49 2. Creighton (1) – 43 3.  Xavier – 36 4. Georgetown – 30 5.  Seton Hall – 23 6.  St. John's – 21 7. Villanova – 15 8.  Butler – 7
