The UVA baseball team heads into the NCAA Tournament with a solid group of veteran leaders, but the team has gotten a big boost this season from its freshmen, specifically the first-year position players.
A handful are playing key roles, and those guys will be counted on to continue to give the team a big offensive boost.
The 'Hoos have been hot hitters this season, leading the ACC in batting average, runs scored, and RBI, and they couldn't have done it without a talented group of freshmen.
Derek Fisher has been as good as advertised.
Drafted in the sixth round by the Texas Rangers coming out of high school, he has started almost every game for the 'Hoos, while batting .309 with 50 RBI.
Fisher says, "Something that I do differently now is I know I'm learning something every day, and I'm stepping up my game in every aspect."
Catcher Nate Irving has the second-most RBI among Wahoo freshman with 35.
But it's what he's done behind the plate, starting 46 games, which is impressive for UVA head coach Brian O'Connor.
"At this level of college baseball, to be the everyday catcher, and really not getting a break over the last five weeks, he's done a tremendous job," says O'Connor.
Freshman Branden Downes is batting .326 with 22 RBI.
Branden Cogswell and Kenny Towns have combined for 22 more RBI as freshmen.
Freshman Mike Papi has started 28 games, and has 30 hits, including eight doubles and a home run.
Fisher says, "Coming into this, we all knew we were pretty talented. I think the biggest thing we can take away from it is we all stepped up when it was our time and worked our way into the lineup."
Junior third baseman Stephen Bruno says, "At this point of the year, you can't even tell they're new players. They're veterans, and they've helped this club as much as the veterans have. They have tremendous confidence on their part, and that's what it takes to win."
Now the Wahoo first-years will get to showcase their talents on a bigger stage, where the stakes are higher.
O'Connor says, "That's what the ACC Tournament is for. It gets them ready for what tournament time is like. You try to get them to believe, and I know they do, in what their abilities are. Their contributions were significant in getting us here. Now they have to just relax and go out and compete and play."
The 'Hoos begin play in the NCAA Tournament Friday hosting Army at four o'clock.
