By Compiled By Ben Lampkin
After putting together one of the most impressive seasons in University of Louisville baseball history, sophomore rightfielder Mark Jurich, along with head coach Lelo Prado, is participating with the USA Baseball National team in international competition starting Friday in the Netherlands.
Jurich led U of L in almost every offensive category this past spring, including a .365 batting average, 74 hits, 16 homeruns, and a .724 slugging percentage. He also played an exceptional right field and was the main cog in U of L’s drive to their first-ever berth in the NCAA Regional Tournament.
After his stellar season, Jurich was selected to the NCBWA All-American third team, ABCA All-Region second team and the Conference USA first team following the 2002 slate. He was then chosen to participate in tryouts for the 2002 USA Baseball team, coached by Lelo Prado, and was selected after the week-long audition.
Jurich has played in 10 of the first 17 games for the National team, starting in nine games thus far. In 36 at-bats, he is hitting .250 with nine hits, seven runs, one home run, and three RBI. His best performance came in Game 3 of the 31st Annual USA versus Japan All-Star series held in Long Island on July 1. Jurich had two hits and both RBI in the 2-0 USA victory.
Team USA will be competing in the Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands from July 19-28, with their opening match coming against Chinese Taipei. They will then travel to Italy to compete in the FISU Collegiate World Baseball Championships (Aug. 2-11).
In additional U of L baseball news, pitcher Carlos Fernandez has been selected to played in the New England Collegiate Baseball League all-star game on Saturday in Mansfield, Connecticut.
Fernandez, a junior right-hander, is 2-1 with a team-leading 1.02 ERA, three saves and 11 appearances in the wood bat league for college players.
He has fanned 27 batters and allowed just nine hits and four walks in 17.1 innings. Opponents are hitting just .150 against Fernandez and he has allowed just one extra-base hit as a member of the Danbury Westerners.
