2019 Baseball Letter from the Athletic Director
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2019 Baseball Letter from the Athletic Director Dear Friends of UConn Avery Point Baseball: I offer my sincerest greetings as the 2019 season kicks off for our baseball program at the University of Connecticut Avery Point. Pointers Expectations will continue to be high for our storied baseball squad this spring. Coming off another 30-win Pointers season a year ago, the program has its sights set on another berth in the College World Series this coming May. Now with a few months under my belt here as the Athletic Director at UConn Avery Point, it has been a pleasure interacting with our dedicated coaching staff and talented student-athletes. I’m looking forward to officially watch them all in action on the diamond very soon. A lifelong Connecticut native, I began my duties as AD in October after spending the past 17-plus years in athletic administration at Quinnipiac University and Southern Connecticut State University. Longtime AD and Hall of Fame baseball coach Roger Bidwell officially retired last summer, and we wish him all the best in retirement. My family and I are ecstatic to be a part of UConn Nation, and we look forward to seeing you at an upcoming game this spring. Thank you for your continued support of UConn Avery Point athletics. Go Pointers! Michael Kobylanski Athletic Director Pointers WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE Content Page # Letter from the AD.........................Inside Front Cover Letter from the Campus Director................................1 UCAP Quick Facts......................................................1 2018 Season in Review...............................................2 University of Connecticut at Avery Point...................2 Record of Excellence..................................................2 Pointers Philosophy of UCAP Baseball Program.....................2 2019 Preview...............................................................3 Annemarie Seifert, Ph.D. Coaches and Management Staff .............................4-6 2019 Roster.................................................................7 Campus Director Player Profiles.....................................................8 - 16 University of Connecticut Avery Point Baseball Beyond UCAP...........................................17 2018 Schedule and Results.......................................18 The days are starting to get a little longer, and the 2018 Statistics...........................................................19 weather a little warmer – which means baseball season has arrived here at UConn Avery Point. We are proud Alumni Currently Playing in College...............20 - 21 to welcome all UConn Nation members and fans back UCAP Major Leaguers.............................................22 to support our team for the 2019 season. Alumni Currentl Playing Professionally...................23 The upcoming season should be another exciting Drafts Picks...............................................................24 one for our Pointers’ baseball program, which has Tournament Results..................................................24 developed a long-standing tradition of excellence both All-Americans...........................................................25 on and off the field. Hall of Fame.............................................................26 The numerous College World Series appearances Records..............................................................27 - 30 and regional championships that this team has posted 2019 Schedule...........................................Back Cover over the years only begins to tell the story. Hundreds of young men have developed under the tutelage of several outstanding head coaches – including current UCAP QUICK FACTS skipper Mike Aldrich – to become major contributors Location..1084 Shennecossett Rd., Groton, CT 06340 in all facets of the professional world. Main Telephone Number........................860.405.9000 Our athletes are students, family members, friends, Website.............................www.averypoint.uconn.edu and role models for the entire UConn and Southeastern Connecticut communities. We recognize and celebrate Enrollment..............................................................800 their leadership and strong character, and wish them Colors....................................................Navy & White the best in the coming season. Athletic Department Phone.....................860.405.9183 Thank you for your support of our programs and Athletic Department Fax........................860.405.9043 UConn Avery Point. It promises to be an exciting spring at Washington Park! I look forward to seeing Affiliation....National Junior College Athletic Association you at a game this season. Campus Director........................Dr. Annemarie Seifert Pointers Pointers Athletic Director..........................Michael Kobylanski Assistant Athletic Director................George Hardison 2019 Baseball 2018 Season in Review The 2018 Pointers finished the season with an impressive record of 30-12-1. The team posted 405 runs, a batting average of .317, and 36 homeruns. The season ended in dramatic fashion, as the Division II Region XXI Champion Pointers fell to Monroe Community College (Rochester, N.Y.) in extra innings by s score of 4 - 3 in the East District Tournament. Pointers UCAP was led at the plate by freshman Alex Petchark with a Pointers batting average of .350, 7 homeruns and 49 RBI. The program is excited for his return in 2019. Collin Bakken and Gary Costello were major contributors in the Pointers pitching rotation. Bakken posted an ERA of 2.16 with a 7 - 3 record, 38 strikeouts and 4 saves. Costello’s record was 7 - 1 with 43 strikeouts. Both players will be returning in 2019. THE UNIVERSITY·OF CONNECTICUT AT AVERY POINT UConn Avery Point is one of five regional campuses in the University of Connecticut system. Located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Thames River, UConn Avery Point challenges students with specialized four-year degree programs in English, Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies. Students here also receive an outstanding education in more traditional areas of study, beginning their college journey in most any of the 100+ majors that UConn offers and then, upon completing of the first 54 credits, seamlessly transition to the main campus in Storrs to finish their degree. Students at Avery Point benefit from small classes taught by esteemed faculty, distinctly modern facilities and unlimited opportunities for undergraduate research, internships and education abroad programs. The interdisciplinary approach to learning is complemented by a fully-staffed Academic Center where supplemental free tutoring in math, the sciences, writing, computer literacy and study skills help students participate with confidence in every class. At UConn Avery Point you can start small, save money and still enjoy all the benefit of a nationally renowned UConn education while taking advantage of our beautiful waterfront location. PHILOSOPHY OF THE UCAP BASEBALL PROGRAM The philosophy of the UConn Avery Point Baseball Program is to help our players adjust to college life and meet the demands both academically and athletically, enabling them to continue to the Storrs campus. They may also achieve success at other four year programs, while competing at the college level. This can be challenging, but with much hard work our athletes learn to succeed academically, and compete athletically. Our emphasis on academics is achieved through mandatory study halls, and our Academic Advisor who monitors and assists our players throughout the year. The UCAP Program is one of individual attention to its player’s academic and athletic needs in a small and personal setting. Our goal at Avery Point is to teach our players to be successful in the classroom, as well as on the playing field. RECORD OF EXCELLENCE Since 1999, The UCAP Baseball Program has posted impressive winning percentage of 80%, 606 wins and 182 losses, and an average of 32 wins per season. The 2010 team established the program record with 41 wins, and the 2003 team posted the best winning percentage of 85.3% with a 29-5 record. During the past 18 years UCAP has won 13 NJCAA Division II New England Championships (1999, 2000, 2004-2008, 2010, 2011,2013; 2015; 2017); Seven East District Championships (1999, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017), Seven World Series appearances (1999, 2004,2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017), capped off with the 41-10 National Runner-Up performance of the 2010 team, and a 3rd place finish for the 2015 team. In addition, in 2006, three UConn Avery Point alumni played in the major leagues: shortstop John McDonald and pitcher Pete Walker with the Toronto Blue Jays and outfielder Rajai Davis with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2008, John McDonald played for the Toronto Blue Jays and Rajai Davis for the Oakland A’s. In 2011, Rajai Davis joined John McDonald with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2013, Pete Walker was named the Pitching Coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2013, John McDonald played for the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox and Rajai Davis was 2nd in the American League with 45 stolen bases with Toronto. In 2016, Rajai Davis played for the American League Champion Cleveland Indians, leading the league with 43 stolen bases. The Indians advanced to the World Series vs. the Chicago Cubs playing an epic 7-game series, which The Cubs won in extra innings. Rajai hit a game tying 2-run home run in Game 7, and an RBI single in the 10th inning to lead Cleveland. Pete Walker completed his 5th