Dec. 31, 2009

Lineup Card

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

Dec. 16-31, 2009

Former LSU third baseman Derek Helenihi has signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago Cubs and will join the team for spring training. Helenihi batted .255 with four home runs and 23 RBI. He started at third in all six College World Series games for the Tigers in 2009, helping LSU claim the national title.

Former Volunteer standouts J.P. Arencibia, Chris Burke, Chase Headley and Luke Hochevar are expected to attend the 18th Annual Tennessee Baseball Leadoff Banquet on Friday, Feb. 5, at the Knoxville Convention Center. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and program at 6:30 p.m.

Nebraska will participate in the Grand Island Meet and Greet on Saturday, Jan. 16, from 9-11 a.m. at the Home Federal Savings and Loan. Sponsored by the Husker Home Run Club, the event is free to all club members and kids 12 and under. Participants will be able to hear the Husker coaching staff and meet several players.

Pacific will honor military personnel with free admission to its eight Sunday home games at Klein Family Field during the 2010 season. The Tigers will wear camouflage jerseys on these “Salute to the Troops” games.

The Maryland baseball team recently visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The facility provides health care for military service members. The Terps passed out shirts, hats, jackets and other apparel. Maryland also expects its indoor training facility to be completed by late January.

Former Major League outfielder and Nicholls State alum Darryl Hamilton will return to his alma mater on Jan. 30 to serve as the keynote speaker at the Colonels’ 2010 First Pitch Banquet at the Nicholls Student Union Ballroom. Hamilton played four seasons at Nicholls State. He scored a school-record 67 runs in 1985 and owns the career record with 140 steals. Hamilton was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 11th round of the 1986 MLB Draft. He batted .291 in 13 major league seasons with the Brewers, Rangers, Giants and Mets. Hamilton, a member of the Nicholls Athletic and Louisiana Sports Halls of Fame, currently works with MLB’s Department of On-Field Operations.

Seniors Dylan de Graaf and Daniel Ottone have been voted 2010 captains for Western Carolina in voting by the players. Outfielder de Graaf started 23 of his 45 games in 2009. He hit just under .300 with two homers and 20 RBI. He was perfect in eight stolen base attempts. Right-hander Ottone was 3-3 with eight saves and a 3.86 ERA as the Catamount closer this past season. He fanned 38 in 35 innings.

The Illinois State baseball team posted a 3.0 GPA in the fall semester, matching the highest single-semester mark for the program. Freshman Chad Hinshaw led the Redbirds with a 4.0 GPA. Junior Ryan Court registered a 3.77 GPA.

Former Georgia State standout Derek Simmons has signed to play with the Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League. He hit .344 in two seasons with the Panthers. Simmons was a two-time first team all-CAA performer.

Former Texas A&M-Corpus Christi pitcher Justin Grota has signed a spring training contract with the Las Cruces Vaqueros of the Continental Baseball League. Grota had a 4-5 record with 12 starts in 35 appearances in two seasons with the Islanders.

Long Beach State signee James Wernke was found dead in Fullerton after going missing on Saturday, Dec. 12. According to news reports, his body was found on the morning of Dec. 15 in a rain-filled creek near where he was last seen walking his girlfriend’s dog on Saturday afternoon. Wernke was a pitcher at Santa Ana College.

Ozzie Smith will be the keynote speaker and clinician for the 32nd annual GTI Systems, Inc. “Meet the Stars” Banquet and annual Old Dominion Baseball Clinic on Jan. 29 and 30. A member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Smith played 19 seasons in the major leagues. Smith spent four seasons with the San Diego Padres and 15 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He won 13 Gold Gloves at shortstop and made 15 All-Star Games. Smith compiled 2,460 hits and stole 580 bases.

San Jose State will co-host the inaugural Jack Gifford Memorial Tournament in 2010 with Santa Clara. The tournament, to be held March 11-14, is named after the late Jack Gifford, an avid baseball fan and long-time supporter of several college programs around the Bay Area. Air Force, UC Davis and Southern Illinois will also play in the tournament.

Former Florida State head coach Charlie Armstrong passed away on Dec. 13 at the age of 87. Armstrong coached the first four FSU baseball teams and was the first assistant football coach in Seminole history. He posted a baseball record of 46-29 from 1948-51. Armstrong was inducted into the Florida State Hall of Fame in 1994.

Members of the South Alabama baseball team and Diamond Girls helped the Salvation Army the past two weekends. They helped with the Angel Tree program, sorting donated gifts into appropriate age categories. The players and Diamond Girls each adopted two angels and provided gifts as well.

Former Kentucky catcher Sean Coughlin has been named the Arizona Diamondbacks Minor League Position Player of the Year. He batted .287 in 77 games with 15 doubles, 11 home runs and 40 RBI. His season was cut short when he broke a bone in his hand during the Southern League All-Star Game in July.