Virginia, Iowa lead 4-team Jax College Baseball Classic field
One of the biggest weeks in college baseball in Duval began on Tuesday when Florida played at North Florida and Florida State played at Jacksonville University — the first time those two national power programs had games in Jacksonville on the same night.
The week will be capped by a fourteam tournament at the home of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp that includes a 2023 College World Series participant and another that tied its school record for victories in one season.
The Jax Baseball Classic, co-sponsored by the Jumbo Shrimp and Peak Events, will begin on Friday with four teams playing a round-robin format at 121 Financial Ballpark.
It starts on Friday at noon when 14thranked Virginia (3-0), coming off its sixth CWS appearance under coach Brian O’Conner, will face Wichita State (2-1) at 2 p.m., followed by Iowa (3-1) vs. Auburn (4-0) at 6 p.m.
Auburn faces Wichita State (noon) and Virginia plays Iowa (4 p.m.) on Saturday. Sunday’s games are Iowa vs. Wichita State (noon) and Virginia vs. Auburn (4 p.m.).
Tickets are available at ballpark gates or by visiting jaxcollegebaseballclassic.com.
Virginia 1B Ethan Anderson is on the preseason Golden Spikes Watch List after a 2023 season in which he hit .375 with 15 home runs.
Here’s a look at the participating teams:
Virginia Cavaliers
2023 record:
2023 post-season:
50-15.
Won ACC Coastal Division, won NCAA regional and superregional, went 0-2 in the CWS.
Brian O’Connor (21st season,
Coach:
839-353).
Key players (2023 stats):
Junior SS Griff O’Farrall (.396, 20 2B, 42 RBI, 16-18 stolen bases); Junior 1B Ethan Anderson (.375, 15 HR, 66 RBI, 26 2Bs.
The Cavaliers are the preseason pick by ACC coaches to repeat as
Notable:
Coastal Division champions. O’Farrall and Anderson are both on the preseason Golden Spikes Watch List.
Iowa Hawkeyes
2023 record:
2023 post-season:
Lost to Maryland 4-0 in Big Ten championship, went 2-2 in NCAA regional.
Rick Heller (11th season, 320191).
Coach:
44-16 (tied school record).
Key players (2023 stats):
Junior RHP Brody Brecht (5-2, 3.74, 109 strikeouts in 77 innings); junior RHP Marcus Morgan (5-2, 3.72); Junior LF Sam Peterson (.319, 11 HR, 47 RBI, 20 stolen bases).
Big Ten coaches picked the Hawkeyes to win the conference in their preseason poll.
Notable:
Auburn Tigers
2023 record: 34-23.
2023 post-season: 0-2 in NCAA regional.
Coach:
Butch Thompson (ninth season, 256-187).
Key players (2023 stats):
Sophomore C Ike Irish (.361, six HR, 50 RBI); graduate Bobby Peirce (.343, five HR, 26 RBI).
The Tigers return 21 players from last year’s team as Thompson will be vying for a third appearance in the CWS.
Notable: 2023 record:
2023 post-season:
NCAA.
Coach:
Brian Green (first season, 209201 at Washington State and New Mexico State).
Key players (2023 stats):
Junior 1B Ryan Callahan (.425, 18 2Bs, 56 RBI at Johnson Community College); Sophomore C Mauricio Millan (.315, 15 2B, 26 RBI.
Notable:
Green went 91-79 in four seasons at Washington State prior to coming to Wichita.