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My Baseball Season Summary

The 2022 baseball team ended the season with a 39-19 record including a 1-2 record in the regional tournament. There were a couple of minor problems facing the staff in 2023 - finding reliable starters at second base, left field, and center field, and there was one very large obstacle - replacing all weekend starting pitchers and finding a lockdown relief pitcher (or two).
The incoming first year class provided potential replacements for position players in Harrison Didawick, Henry Godbout, and Luke Hanson. While the first year pitchers have potential, they obviously lacked experience facing ACC level competition. As a result, the staff hoped to find pitchers in the transfer market, and they added three who ended the season as our weekend starters - Connelly Early, Brian Edgington, and Nick Parker.
In spite of our potential problem areas, Virginia entered the 2023 season ranked #19 in the NCAA. Against a less than daunting out of conference schedule, Virginia dominated our opponents in pitching, hitting, and fielding, and the team improved in the national rankings to #17. The Cavaliers won the first three ACC challenges against UNC, NC State, and Florida State, and the team moved up to #5. Cracks become apparent when we lost two of three games against VT, and the pitching staff gave up 29 runs. The following weekend we swept Miami, but then lost two of three games to Pitt. We then lost all three games to Notre Dame, and allowed 25 runs before losing two of three to Duke, which scored 26 runs. We dropped to #21 in the rankings, but we swept Louisville and GT to end the season and bounced up to #12.
Virginia was 1-1 in the ACC tournament with a lopsided win over GT and a lopsided loss to UNC. Our pitching stepped up as we won all three regional games and then defeated Duke twice after losing the first game in the Super Regional. In an unfortunate end to an up and down season, Virginia lost our first two games in the World Series by one run each.
In spite of the team's limitations in returning pitching, and not having one senior starting position player, and a manager who has only won ACC Coach of the Year five times, National Coach of the Year three times, ACC Coach of the Decade, Virginia managed to end the season with a 50-15 record and another trip to Omaha. I am proud of this team and grateful for the coaches and players who wore the UVA uniform.

Charlotte guard Slay (2025) talks initial UVa contact, interest

Led by assistant coach Orlando Vandross, UVa was one of the many schools that contacted United Faith Christian Academy guard Bryce Slay on June 15th. The Charlotte native talked to @HoustonWilson about the Hoos, his plans, and much more.

Looking Ahead: What the end in Omaha could mean for UVa

After a rough end to UVa’s season this weekend in Omaha, @justin ferber takes a look at the way things wrapped up and why there’s plenty of reason to be excited about the Hoos next season.

Top 2024 WS&D Recruits

SwimSwam has listed their top incoming recruits. Katie Grimes is by far the cream of the crop, and she has not yet committed; whichever team that receives her commitment is likely to move up 1 place or more at the NCAA national meet because she has the best times in her class in the 200, 500, 1,000, and 1,600 free, 200 fly and 400 IM. UVA is adding #2, Leah Hayes, who has the best time in the 200 IM. Leah Shackley #3 and Ereka Pelaez #5 have committed to NCSU while #4 Levenia Sim is uncommitted. Maggie Wanecek #6 is headed to Wisconsin. UVA has commitments from #7, #8, and #9 who are Anna Moesch, Katie Christopherson, and Bailey Hartman respectively. Moesch has the best time in the 100 free, and Christopherson is best in the 200 breast.

CWS baseball preview

saw this mentioned elsewhere and read through it. Good, fair assessment by a Florida site on our side of the bracket.

CWS preview - UVA/Florida/TCU/OR bracket

Going to be tough, but my favorite line:
"Several MLB scouts have told Swamp247 that Virginia is their pick to win the national title this year while one said he anticipates the winner of Friday's matchup between the Cavaliers and Gators will go on to win it all."

Preview: UVa gets CWS play started tonight against the Gators

Preview: With the action in Omaha set to start later today, @justin ferber breaks down UVa’s side of the bracket at the CWS beginning with tonight’s matchup against Florida.

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Three-star ATH Minter talks about being back on Grounds for his OV

Three-star commit Ethan Minter, the first member of UVa’s 2024 recruiting class, talked to @BigGriff about his official visit to and being back on Grounds last weekend.

CavsCorner Podcast: Episode 515 ("Holes in the Lineup")

On Episode 515 of the CavsCorner Podcast (“Holes in the Lineup”), we look back at UVa’s emphatic Super Regional victory and cast our eyes ahead to this weekend’s CWS opener.

Site link: https://virginia.rivals.com/news/cavscorner-podcast-episode-515

: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cavscorner-podcast/id1072370337?I=1000616937551

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/+F0vh7YxmQ

Baseball Super

I don’t understand why BOC pulled Blanco to bring in Woolfolk to start the 8th. Woolfolk has not been good in a couple months. Now we’re down 5-4 in bottom of 8th. Berry was not great working out of Woolfolk’s jam. Parker had done such a nice job today.

My other thought, O’Donnell is a very shaky defensive center fielder.

Now we’ll need a comeback to win. And I don’t like the announcers saying we’ve won 45 or something in a row when leading after 7.

Super Regional Wrap: Hoos left little doubt in punching their tickets

Super Regional Wrap: As UVa gets ready to head out later this week, @justin ferber looks at how the Wahoos left little doubt in punching their ticket back to Omaha.

Four-star Rock School PF Jones talks UVa interest, recruiting

Ahead of what could be a very busy summer, four-star Rock School PF RJ Jones talked to @HoustonWilson about his recruitment, his interest in UVa, and much more.

UVA Hitting in the Super Regional

With the exception of left field, the position players and designated hitter were the same in all 3 games. O'Ferrall 8-15, .533, 1 home run, 2 RBI; O'Donnell 4-13, .308, 0, 3; Gelof 5-15, .333, 1, 5; Teel 4-12, .333,, 0, 5; Anderson 5-10, .500, 2, 5, Saucke 4-12, .333, 0, 2; Stephon 3-11, .265, 2, 4; Godbout 2-12, .166, 0, 3; Tuft 1-5, .200, 0, 0, and Didawick 2-5, .400, 0, 2. The first six in the batting order all averaged .300 or better in the 3 games, every position got at least 2 RBI, and four different players hit home runs.

Gelof powers Virginia to 14-4 win

Gelof was 3 for 5 with 1 home run and 4 RBI. O'Ferrall hit a home run to get the game started. Anderson and Stephan joined the home run parade. O'Ferrall, Anderson, Saucke, and Godbout each had 2 hits for the Cavs. Early started and pitched 7 innings; he allowed 9 hits and 3 runs O'Connor pitched the last 2 innings and gave up 1 run and 3 hits. Neither pitcher gave up a walk.

Three-star WR Zachary talks UVa commitment

One of UVa's string of commits this week, three-star WR Christian Zachary talked to @BigGriff about picking the Wahoos and what went into his decision.

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