University of Connecticut Athletics
Baseball Captains Announced As Fall Workouts Conclude
11/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
STORRS, Conn - As is tradition, the UConn baseball team concluded their fall workouts, this morning atop Cemetery Hill, at the graves of university founders, Charles and Augustus Storrs. Head coach Jim Penders then announced the team's 2018 captains, as voted on by the team. Three juniors; left-handed pitcher P.J. Poulin, catcher Zac Susi and outfielder John Toppa will captain the Huskies in 2018.
Huskies wrap up fall season with traditional early morning workout and naming of captains! #UConnNation pic.twitter.com/b2ssfD3g8l
-- UConn Baseball (@UConnBaseball) November 17, 2017
Poulin (Marion, Mass.) earns tri-captain status after a dominant last six weeks of the 2017 season. Poulin recorded a 2.30 ERA in his final 11 appearances of the season, pitching 27.1 innings, he struck out 24 and held opponents to a .227 batting average against. The left-hander carried that momentum into the summer with the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod Baseball League. The Marion, Mass. native registered a miniscule 1.27 ERA in 17 appearances with the Braves
Junior P.J. Poulin, voted a tri-captain this morning, talks about the honor and preparations for the upcoming season!
-- UConn Baseball (@UConnBaseball) November 17, 2017
Susi (Southington, Conn.) was the Huskies most clutch performer at the plate in 2017, leading the team with 15 RBIs in the seventh inning or later. He played in 57 games and hit .286 on the year with nine doubles, two triples, two home runs and 40 RBIs. He ranked second on the team with 18 multi-hit games and eight multi-RBI games. The Southington native garnered Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star standing after succeeding with the Bourne Braves over the summer.
Junior Zac Susi discusses this morning's workout and being named a tri-captain! pic.twitter.com/whlAzJ7ETd
- UConn Baseball (@UConnBaseball) November 17, 2017
Toppa (Portsmouth, R.I.) came on strong after battling an injury to kick off the 2017 season. The outfielder produced a 10-game hit streak during the middle of the season that helped raise the Huskies into the Top-25 rankings. Toppa finished the season at .267 with nine doubles, one triple and 12 driven in while stealing 10 bases. Along with Susi, Toppa earned a trip to the Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game with a productive summer with the Wareham Gatemen.
Junior John Toppa on being named captain and his continued rehab. pic.twitter.com/Tu63Yak3sM
-- UConn Baseball (@UConnBaseball) November 17, 2017
UConn begins the 2018 season on February 16 at Kennesaw State in Kennesaw, Georgia.
