Jan. 28, 2009
ORLANDO (UCFAthletics.com) - Rounding out the infield, UCFAthletics.com now spends part eight of the UCF baseball season preview on the Knights' third basemen. This exclusive feature will wrap up Thursday when we take a look at the UCF outfield.
Part One, Jan. 19 - Initial Outlook/Coaching Staff/Schedule
Part Two, Jan. 20 - Starting Pitchers
Part Three, Jan. 21 - The Bullpen
Part Four, Jan. 22 - Catchers
Part Five, Jan. 23 - First Base/Designated Hitter
Part Six, Jan. 26 - Second Base
Part Seven, Jan. 27 - Shortstop
Part Eight, Jan. 28 - Third Base
Part Nine, Jan. 29 - Outfield
Third Base
Brown - Jr. - .367, 48 GP, 45 GS, 169 AB, 39 R, 62 H, 14 2B, 0 3B, 9 HR, 49 RBI, 14 HBP, .985 FLD%
Backup rotation of Jake Huxtable, Kyle Mills and Kiko Vazquez
An invited walk-on in 2007, Shane Brown exploded on the college baseball scene as a sophomore. While he was batting .367 with nine homers and 49 RBI during the year, he had to do so as UCF's primary first baseman after Kiko Vazquez fell victim to an injury. But Brown will be back at the hot corner for his junior year.
"Shane Brown is our starting third baseman, and he is just a baseball player," smiled head coach Terry Rooney. "He does all of the little things right, and defensively he has worked with coach Palumbo to try to improve his consistency. He had a great year last year, a great summer as well, and last fall he started where he left off by swinging a great stick. Shane will hit in the middle of our lineup and will play a very big role for us.
"Backing him up could be Huxtable along with Mills and Vazquez. It could be more of a revolving situation as far as who we will look to off the bench at third base."