Sept. 30, 2009

Lineup Card

Lineup Card is a new feature on CollegeBaseballInsider.com, highlighting notes from around college baseball.

Sept. 21-30, 2009

Hartford will name its baseball facility Fiondella Field after Robert Fiondella, former chairman and CEO of Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Co., and his family. The dedication ceremony will occur on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m. It is free and open to the public. Following the dedication, a Little League Challenger Exhibition Game will be played. The Challenger Division allows youth participation in baseball and softball for children with disabilities.

Illinois junior left-hander Phil Haig has been dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules. Haig made 16 starts for the Illini this past season, the top mark for the team. He posted a 7-3 record with a 4.92 ERA. In 82.1 innings, Haig allowed 99 hits and 24 walks with 44 strikeouts.

Former Tigers Bo Jackson, Frank Sanders, Hal Baird, Gabe Gross, Tim Hudson and David Ross are scheduled to participate in Auburn’s annual Celebrity Home Run Derby on Oct. 16. Gates open at 5 p.m. with donations going to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County. Following the 6 p.m. Home Run Derby, the current Tigers will hold a nine-inning scrimmage.

Longwood will rename Lancer Stadium “Charles Buddy Bolding Stadium” on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 4 p.m. It will recognize the veteran head coach, entering his 32nd season at Longwood. Bolding has a record of 844-457-4, including 28 winning seasons. The dedication will be followed by the annual Old-Timers’ Game.

Virginia will hold a celebration of the 2009 season on Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. at Davenport Field prior to the start of Game 6 of the Orange and Blue World Series. Admission is free. The Cavaliers will receive their rings for winning the ACC Championship and advancing to the College World Series.

Longwood has hired former Lancer hurler Brian McCullough as an assistant coach. A four-year starter, McCullough will be the pitching coach and assist with all baseball operations, including recruiting. He holds school career records with 329 innings pitched and 258 strikeouts. McCullough pitched professionally for three years.

Massachusetts had its baseball awards banquet and the 2009 E. Joseph Thompson Most Valuable Player Award went to Mitchell Clegg and Jim Macdonald. Clegg was 7-1 with a 4.15 ERA, while Macdonald batted .343 with 12 doubles, nine homers, 40 runs and 53 RBI. Sam Boone received the Coaches’ Award as the team’s most improved player. He started 49 games with 53 hits, nine doubles, eight homers and 42 runs. Adam Tempesta received the Dennis DellaPiana Memorial Award, which recognizes courage, determination and sportsmanship. Tempesta set UMass career records with 182 games, 747 at bats and 54 doubles. He batted .341 with 19 doubles, five homers and 34 runs.

Kentucky will have its Alumni Weekend on Oct. 30-31, coinciding with the football homecoming game with Mississippi State. There will be a golf scramble on Friday at 1 p.m., followed by an intrasquad game at 4 p.m. and an alumni home run derby after the game. The Wildcats with have another intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday.

VMI has hired Jonathan Hadra as an assistant coach. The 2004 graduate of VMI was an assistant at Bradley last season. Hadra coached one season with Keydets following graduation before spending three years as an assistant at Western Kentucky. Hadra was a four-year letterman at VMI and earned a degree in Economics and Business.

Oregon State head coach Pat Casey and his wife, Susan, received the 2009 Nell and John Wooden Coaching Achievement Award from the World Sport Humanitarian Hall of Fame. The annual award recognizes a coach and spouse who have made exceptional contributions to their players’ lives and in the community. Casey is preparing for his 16th season with the Beavers and has led OSU to a pair of national championships.

Marist has added John McGorty as an assistant coach. The former first baseman played for the Red Foxes from 2002-03. McGorty was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and played for the Oneonta Tigers of the New York-Penn League in 2003. He has spent the past three seasons as an assistant at Dowling College, which made its first College World Series appearance in 2009.

Florida State announced that right-handed pitcher Jack Posey injured the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, which required Tommy John surgery. Posey will redshirt for the 2010 season.