Wow, what a great season Georgia Bulldogs Baseball had last year. The Bulldogs went all the way to the NCAA College World Series final championship game - only to lose at the very end (more on this below).
UGA baseball could make another run in 2009. In fact, the Dogs are ranked 4th nationally in pre-season polls.
But, what an amazing turnaround! Georgia baseball finished the 2007 season with a 23-33 overall and 11-19 SEC record. But, the 2008 team ended up with a 45-25-1 overall and 20-9-1 SEC record. UGA captured the 2008 Southeastern Conference title with a 12-10 win over 16th-ranked Vanderbilt and got a top Regional seeding in the 2008 NCAA Baseball Tournament. Georgia Bulldogs also won the Athens Regional and beat NC State in the Super Regional's. Individually, Georgia senior pitcher Joshua Fields was the 2008 winner of the National Stopper of the Year Award.
The 2009 Bulldogs will have a tough schedule. But under head coach David Perno, Georgia Bulldogs Baseball team looks to be strong again.
Last years discussion follows:
Georgia Bulldogs baseball is BACK! They won the SEC regular season title and got a top Regional Seed in the 2008 NCAA Baseball Tournament. They went on to win the Athens Regional and then beat NC State in the Super Regional's.
In the 2008 College World Series, UGA won their first four games. They beat #1 Miami and Stanford (twice) to win Bracket #1. And, in they won a dramatic come-from-behind game against Fresno State (4 runs in the 8th inning to win 7-6) in game one of the Championship Series. Unfortunatly, that was it. Georgia dropped the final 2 games of the series and lost to Fresno State.
Tough to come so far and lose in the last game of the season. But, at least they were playing in the last game of the season. Only one other team in America can say that. Also, what an amazing turnaround season for Georgia Baseball. Last year they went 22-33. This year (2008) the Bulldogs ended up with a 45-25-1 record.
They played hard and well and made us proud. Congrats!!
On to 2009.
Go Bulldogs!!
Georgia baseball had a tough 2007 season. They ended up with a losing record and last in the SEC East. They only had a .279 batting average, and 42 home runs.
UGA's head coach, David Perno, has switched the players to using metal bats during practice in order to figure out just what types of hitters are on the type. In addition, the coaches have been refining the bunting tactics of the team.
Last season the Georgia Bulldogs baseball team had players such as Jonathan Wyatt, who was the lead batter more times than not, but this season Wyatt has found himself playing professionally. This season it seems one of three players, Adam Fuller, Matt Ceroine, or Michael Demperio, will be stepping up to fill the shoes of Jonathan Wyatt. In 2007 Ryan Pesisel was leadoff batter for the team when Jonathan Wyatt was not, and this season it seems he's still looking promising with the possibility of taking the 3, 4 or 5 spot along with Josh Fields (a key player for the Dogs), and Joey Lewis.
Like all the other SEC teams, the Georgia Bulldogs baseball players are looking at a tough schedules. Thankfully the team holds a lot of potential. Two players in particular are rated one of the Top 30 prospects by Baseball America for the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. Gordon Beckham, who is a junior at UGA and a shortstop for the Georgia Bulldogs baseball team, was ranked number 16 and Joshua Fields was positioned as number 27.
Both of these gentlemen had an impressive season, and while the ranking does not include probability of being signed or where the players could be drafted, it does label the two as potential greats that have the scouts talking. Beckham had 15 RBIs and 13 home runs last season and a .307 batting average, while Fields laid out 45 strikeouts and seven saves with a 1-6. He was also the second round choice of the Atlanta Braves in the 2007 MLB draft. In addition to all that, Fields was the second highest drafted college player and returned to play for the Georgia Bulldogs baseball team.
It seems that Joshua Fields is a favored player among the team coaches as he has amazing talent on the pitching mound and is a major hitter for the team. It seems there is no ending to his energy either, as Fields can pitch a stunning inning, fetch an RBI or two and then head back out onto the mound. Fields is what they call a two-way player and if the Georgia Bulldog baseball coaches aren't careful, they'll use him up before he's able to hit the professional league.
The 2008 Georgia Bulldog baseball season starts on February 22nd with a three-game series against Arizona. All three games will be at home, on Foley Field, and take place on three consecutive days spanning the weekend. The Friday game begins at 5:00pm and the Saturday/Sunday games begin at 2:00pm.
SEC baseball is tough. So, it's hard to be sure the Dogs will stay on top down the stretch in 2008. But, right now, I wouldn't bet against them.
Check out these links for your UGA Fathead and Georgia Merchandise.
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