Dec. 5

Lineup Card

Lineup Card is a feature highlighting notes from around college baseball.

December 1-5, 2010

San Francisco head coach Nino Giarratano has been named the four-year college Coach of the Year by the Northern California Scouts Association. Giarratano has had 32 Dons sign professional baseball contracts.

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) will move its national office to 1631 Mesa Avenue, Suite B, Colorado Springs, CO 80906. The NJCAA relocates from northeast to southwest Colorado Springs as of Jan. 1, 2011. The office will be in the Copper Building along with the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and severan USA sports governing bodies.

Former Northwestern star and current New York Yankee manager Joe Girardi has been named by the NCAA as one of six recipients of this year’s Silver Anniversary Award, presented to individuals of merit 25 years following the completion of their collegiate athletic career. Bo Jackson, who played baseball, football and outdoor track at Auburn, will also be honored. Girardi was a three-time Academic All-American for the Wildcats and earned a degree in industrial engineering in 1986. He was a two-time All-Big Ten catcher and third team All-American in 1985. Girardi played 15 years in the major leagues and won three World Series rings with the Yankees.

Former Long Beach State and current Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria will be the featured speaker for LBSU’s annual Leadoff Dinner on Thursday, Jan. 27, at The Grand in Long Beach. The Big West Player of the Year was the third overall pick in the 2006 Major League draft. A three-time All-Star, Longoria has won a pair of Gold Gloves and one Silver Slugger award in his first three seasons.

Texas A&M received a pledge of $7 million from alums and Blue Bell Creameries executives Ed. and Howard Kruse along with Blue Bell Creameries as a lead gift for renovation and expansion of Olsen Field. The athletic department has requested that the name of the facility be changed to C.E. “Pat” Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park. The $16 million first phase includes construction of a two-story center with a new locker room, players’ lounge, coaches’ offices, training and weight facility as well as club seating, wider concourse, and new concession stands and restrooms. Construction will begin in February.

Several members of LSU’s 2009 national championship team joined head coach Paul Mainieri at Home Run For Hearts, an event that benefited the Louisiana Pediatric Cardiology Foundation. Pictured from left are Buzzy Haydel, Ryan Schimpf, Blake Dean, Mainieri, Sean Ochinko, Nicholas Pontiff and Chris McGhee.

Rene Ruiz has returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach. The all-conference shortstop helped the Jaspers win their first MAAC title in 2006. Ruiz played professionally the past two years, primarily in the Continental Baseball League.

Bill Bavasi, the vice-president of Scouting, Player Development and International Operations for the Cincinnati Reds, will be the featured speaker at Wright State’s 2011 First Pitch Banquet on Wednesday, Jan. 26. The event will include dinner and a silent auction.

Duke’s on-campus facility, Jack Coombs Field, has undergone renovations which were recently completed. The field is now covered by synthetic turf. Adjustments were made to the field dimensions, lighting was improved and a new fence was installed. The Blue Devils will play their mid-week games there and will hold their weekend contests at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Virginia has sold out its 2011 reserved season tickets for new buyers. Renewals will continue until Dec. 10. General admission season tickets are still available. Single-game tickets will go on sale Feb. 1.

(photo courtesy of LSU Media Relations Office)