|
 
| Ping!Baseball Spotlight Interview
Matt La Porta
University of Florida |
As a sophomore in 2005 Florida Gator slugger Matt LaPorta
had one of the most prolific offensive years in SEC history.
He batted .328 with 26 homeruns and 79 RBI, thus earning him
a number of awards including and honors. The short
list includes: being a member of the 2005 USA Baseball National
Team, a first-team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches
Association (ABCA), Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball
Louisville and all-tournament honors at both the NCAA Gainesville
Regional and the SEC Tournament. LaPorta strained an oblique
muscle last year which kept him out of 13 games and hindered
his production, but the righty from Port Charlotte, FL. still
managed to crank out 14 homeruns with a .538 slugging percentage
and .530 on base percentage. This year Matt is back on stride,
hitting .412 with eight homeruns and an incredible .788 slugging
percentage. He also became U of F's all time homerun leader.
Today, following an impressive weekend in which he helped
the Gator baseball team to a road sweep of Auburn, LaPorta
was chosen as the SEC's Player of the Week. LaPorta was 7-for-13
(.538) with seven RBI, three homers, three doubles and also
hit four times.
 Ping!:
You were selected in the 14th round by the Boston
Red Sox in last year's MLB draft and could have joined six
other Gator teammates team in leaving Gainesville to play
professional baseball. How hard of a decision was it for you
to return for your senior year?
LaPorta: It was not that difficult of a decision.
I did a lot of soul searching and I knew that U of F is where
God wanted me to go.
Ping!:
With a list of high school honors you could have selected
a number of universities to attend. What made you choose Florida
over other schools?
LaPorta: The coaching, support staff here
at the university is phenomenal as well as the training facilities.
Also my mother graduated from U of F.
Ping!:
As of March 15th you're batting .379 with 5 homeruns and only
three strikeouts (as of March 25, .412 with 8 homeruns
and only 8 K's!). Is it safe to say the oblique muscle
strain that hindered you last year is a thing of the past?
LaPorta: Yes, it is safe to say that the
strain is a thing of the past.
Ping!:
As a first team All-American, member of the USA Baseball National
Team and player on the 2005 Florida College World Series team,
you?ve been apart of a number of memorable moments. Is there
one game, at-bat or event that stands out above the others?
LaPorta: No, Ii have been blessed with great
baseball moments in my life. But if I had to choose it would
be when a teamate of mine got his first colleigate at bat
against notre dame in the regionals and hit a grand slam.
Seeing the joy on his face was a great feeling for me.
Ping!:
With the recent successes of UF?s college football and basketball
teams does the Gator baseball team feel any added pressure
to win?
LaPorta: No, there is no added pressure this
year. It is another year for us to be successful.
Ping!:
Once your tenure playing college baseball is over you?ll undoubtedly
be paid to play in the professional ranks. Is it going to
be hard swinging lumber instead of aluminum?
LaPorta: No, I have played with wood over
the past three summers and to me there is not much of a difference
because a good hitter can hit with anything.
Ping!:
Whenever baseball teams win a big game everyone runs to the
mound and piles on the pitcher. With you being a first baseman,
I would imagine you?re pretty close to the bottom of the victory
scrum. How do you avoid injury when everyone is piling on
you?
LaPorta: Well I go to the pile, but I try
not to be the one on the bottom because I don't want to get
hurt (laughs).
PREVIOUS PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS
* - DII
DII
Previous Years
DII
PREVIOUS COACH SPOTLIGHTS
DII
2008
|
