UConn baseball: Springer has sensational spring, Fatse shines in All-Star game

The post-season accolades continue to accumulate for UConn’s freshman sensation, George Springer, who posted a sensational spring for the Husky nine.

After breaking the UConn rookie record for homers - with 16, the outfielder from New Britain became the first-ever UConn baseball player named Big East Rookie of the Year and was subsequently named to the All Big East First Team.

In addition to leading the Huskies in homers this season, Springer also paced the team in runs scored - with 75, and runs batted in - with 57.  And his .358 batting average was first among players with more than 60 at bats.

First baseman, Mike Nemeth, finished second in batting with a .346 average, and tied infielder Pierre LePage from Wolcott for the team lead in hits - with 80.

Springer also stole a dozen bases this spring and had a key assist against South Florida in the Big East tourney, when he gunned down a runner at the plate to preserve a tie in a game UConn went on to win, to advance to the title game.

Unfortunately, Springer, who was named to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America team - as chosen by Collegiate Baseball, a newspaper dedicated to amateur baseball - couldn’t prevent another team of Louisville sluggers from capturing the 2009 Big East Championship, when the top-seeded Cardinals flew past UConn in the conference title tilt, 11-3.

That was a lot farther than some had thought head coach Jim Penders’ squad would advance in the tournament, in which the Huskies were seeded sixth.

With that strong end-of-season showing during the Big East Championship in Clearwater, Fla., the Huskies finish the season 36-24.

Despite advancing to the title game of the Big East Tournament, the UConn baseball team did not get invited to the NCAA Tournament, but a trio of Huskies did participate in one more post-season game.

Springer, who hails from New Britain, senior David Erickson, a right-handed pitcher from Stratford, and junior Peter Fatse were selected to play in the 35th Annual NEIBA New England College Baseball All-Star Game held at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Mass. on June 4.

The annual contest pits all-stars from Division I against a team of all-stars from Divisions II and III.

Erickson came in to strike out the side in the final inning, as the University Division won the game 11-0, thanks in large part to a big night by Fatse - who was named Player of the Game for his three hits, including a homer, and two runs scored.

For Fatse, this was his second post-season honor this season. He was named to the 2009 Big East All-Tournament team, along with UConn infielders Mike Nemeth and Pierre LePage.

Posted June 10, 2009