Connecticut has been one of New England college baseball’s models of consistency for a while now, clinching its third straight Big East regular-season championship and fifth straight NCAA tournament bid last spring.
While three MLB draft picks, reigning Big East Player of the Year Dominic Freeberger and closer Justin Willis have all departed, 21st-year coach Jim Penders’ club has plenty of reasons for optimism as it gets ready to lift the lid on 2024. Some things change, others stay the same.
The Huskies return four 40-RBI producers and five of the six pitchers who started games a season ago. Included in those groups are the Big East’s Preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year in graduate outfielder Jake Studley (Barrington, R.I.) and right-hander Stephen Quigley (Halifax, Mass.), who both transferred to the program last year from Division 3 powerhouse Wheaton.
“I think our team speed, from top to bottom in the lineup, is going to be really good. Our power might be a tick down, but I like the offense to a large extent and our defense should be strong,” Penders said. “Of course, the story is always going to be told on the mound. I should feel optimistic that all three guys that we expect to start have participated in the past, starting tournament games, and Super Regional games in some cases.”
