UALR Coach Dirk Kinney is entering his second season as the pitching coach/recruiting coordinator at UALR. Kinney came with head coach Scott Norwood from Ouachita Baptist, where the duo guided the Tigers to a second-place finish at the 2008 NCAA Division II College World Series and a school-record 51-16 campaign. Check out his blog here.
Spotlight
Player of the Week Matt Cusick Southern California
Junior SC infielder Matt Cusick from Mission Viejo, California
is Ping!Baseball's Spotlight Player of the Week. Cusick is
an extremely versatile player who will starting at second
base for the Trojans after spending his first two seasons
at first and third base. USC head coach decided to have Cusick
make the transition to second base in order to get him as
many reps as possible and showcase him for professional scouts.
Cusick's ability to get on base (.486 on base percentage)
and not strike out (only 11 strikeouts in 225 ABs) make him
a key hitter at the top of the Trojans' lineup as the Trojans
position themselves for a run back to the top of the Pac-10
and ultimately a return to Omaha in the College World Series.
In his 2006 sophomore season, Cusick started every game
as the Trojans' third baseman and earned All-Pac-10 honors.
He was second on the team with a .369 batting average which
included four home runs (during the series with UCLA he led
off two straight games with a home run). He led USC with 27
multi-hit games, including 10 three-hit games and also paced
the club with a 43 walks and a .486 on-base percentage.
During the summer Cusick played for the Brewster Whitecaps
of the Cape Cod Baseball League. In the pitching strong league,
Cusick batted .304 and earned All-Cape Cod League honors and
played in the Cape Cod League All-Star Game.
Cusick also enjoyed an excellent 2005 freshman campaign
which earned him All-Pac-10 honorable mention recognition.
He finished his first year with a .311 batting average (third
on the team), four home runs, 35 RBI and led the starters
with a season-low 20 strikeouts. He became the first freshman
to be the Trojans' leadoff hitter in a season opener since
former USC great and 1998 CWS Most Outstanding Player Wes
Rachels in 1995.
Junior SC infielder Matt Cusick from Mission Viejo, California
is Ping!Baseball's Spotlight Player of the Week. Cusick is
an extremely versatile player who will starting at second
base for the Trojans after spending his first two seasons
at first and third base. USC head coach decided to have Cusick
make the transition to second base in order to get him as
many reps as possible and showcase him for professional scouts.
