University of Houston Athletics
2011 Baseball Season Preview Part 1: Outfield
1/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 21, 2011
HOUSTON - With the 2011 University of Houston baseball season just a month away, UHCougars.com will give fans a position-by-position preview in a four-part series to be released each Friday through Feb. 11. The series kicks off when we take a look at the Cougar outfield, which will be led by seniors Caleb Ramsey and Joel Ansley.
Here is an in-depth look at the Cougar outfield.
OUTFIELD
Experience reigns in the Cougar outfield in 2011. They return two leaders from last season's team, including senior Caleb Ramsey, the team's batting average leader. Also looking to guard the outfield wall is senior Joel Ansley, with a group of newcomers filling the final spot.
Ramsey is coming off an impressive summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League and will see action this season at right field. He was named a starter in the Cape's All-Star game, representing Yarmouth-Dennis. He went 2-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base and was named the East MVP. He would go on to finish the summer with a .324 batting average and 12 extra base hits.
"Caleb returned from a great summer in the Cape and he was steady in the outfield this fall," Whitting said. "He makes great plays and has an accurate arm from the right field."
The senior leads all returners with a .341 batting average. During his junior campaign, Ramsey posted a team-high 14 doubles, three triples and three home runs. He also put together a 21-game hitting streak during the season, which ranks as the fourth longest in school history.
"He is the heart and soul of our team right now," Whitting added. "He is a leader and he is doing a really good job."
Looking to hold court in centerfield is Ansley, a 2010 transfer from Wharton Junior College. In his first season as a Cougar, Ansley posted a .333 batting average with 10 doubles, seven triples and five home runs. His seven triples were the ninth most in single-season history and he already sits in 10th place in the career records.
"Joel was a surprise to me at exactly how good he is in centerfield," Whitting said. "He made some great plays during the fall and can cover a lot of ground out there. That was a big surprise for me."
While the left field starter is not as clear as the other two positions, freshman Landon Appling is expected to earn the start on opening day.
"The biggest surprise for our staff was Landon Appling," Whitting said. "He is a scrappy, get it done, nothing fancy but plays extremely hard. He played really good in left field during the fall."
Appling was an All-District and All-State player at El Campo High School. He was a two-time Victoria Area Player of the Year and was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 47th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft.
Newcomers Tyler Magliolo and Jonathan Davis will provide depth in the outfield.
UP NEXT
Next week's preview with feature the infield.
