Baseball's Jake Lemoine Named Preseason All-American
12/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
For a complete release from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, CLICK HERE.
HOUSTON - Houston Baseball junior Jake Lemoine was recently tabbed a Louisville Slugger Third Team Preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, announced by the organization on Friday.
Under head coach Todd Whitting, pitching coach Frank Anderson and assistant coaches Trip Couch and Mike Taylor, Lemoine will return to the Cougars' pitching staff that finished the 2014 season ranked second in the nation in walks allowed per nine innings, third in strikeout-to-walk ratio and among the Top 10 in ERA, WHIP and walks allowed.
The Bridge City, Texas native competed for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team during the 2014 summer and was also tabbed the nation's Premier Player of College Baseball, voted by the fans.
Lemoine was one of 10 starting pitchers named to the Third Team. He was just one of two players from the American Athletic Conference and the only pitcher named to any of the three All-American teams.
Only six total players from universities in the state of Texas were honored with Lemoine being one just four pitchers in that mix.
LEMOINE AT HOUSTON
Was named to USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team as part of the 24-man roster ... Helped Team USA to an 18-8-2 overall record ... Made five appearances on the bump with four starts ... Finished with a 2.45 ERA and a 2-2 record ... Struck out 15 in 18.1 innings ... Held opponents to a .194 average ... Tossed 5.0 shutout innings with six strikeouts in win over Chinese Taipei ... Also fanned five in 5.2 innings in tie vs. Chinese Taipei ... Threw 3.0 scoreless frames in first summer start vs. Fayetteville SwampDogs ... Was part of a team that traveled to The Netherlands and Cuba as well as met teams on USA soil.
Honored as the Premier Player of College Baseball, voted by the Fans...Named to the American Athletic Conference Second Team...Enjoyed a solid sophomore campaign, posting a 2.87 ERA and a 6-8 record in 17 starts...Combined for two shutouts and held opposing hitters to a .249 average...Tossed his first career complete game in a 9.0-inning, one-run, season-high nine-strikeout gem at Rutgers (April 5)...Went at least 7.0 innings in his first four starts...Didn't allow an earned run in his first 14.2 innings, posting wins over Nicholls State (Feb. 15) and Michigan (Feb. 22)...Led the pitching staff with 87 strikeouts, posting at least four in 13 of his 17 starts...Finished second-best on the team with 106.2 innings tossed...Earned wins over Nicholls State, Michigan, at UCLA (March 8), Towson (March 15), College of Charleston (March 22), Rutgers, and UConn (May 10)...Pitched 37.0 more innings and made seven more starts in 2014 compared to 2013...Allowed two hits in 10.0 shutout innings in back-to-back starts vs. Towson and College of Charleston to earn consecutive wins...Helped Houston to a 48-win season, an American Conference tournament title, Regional Championship and appearance in an NCAA Super Regional for the first time since 2003.
FAN APPRECIATION DAY & ALUMNI GAME
Poised and ready to embark on yet another exciting season, Houston Baseball invites fans, free of charge, to its annual Fan Appreciation Day and Alumni Game, slated for 1 p.m., Saturday, February 7 at Cougar Field. Gates open at 11 a.m. and fans must register for the event, which is free of charge, in order to receive your `print at home' ticket. All fans that register will be entered in to win a variety of Houston Baseball prizes, including a grand prize pack. Winners must be present at Cougar Field when their name is called in order to receive their prize.
To register, CLICK HERE.
PRIZES for REGISTERING & ATTENDING
For registering and attending Fan Appreciation Day, four individual prizes will be announced and distributed during the Alumni Game.
- Game hat
- Autographed ball
- Chance to watch BP during a select home game this season
- Dinner with Houston Baseball student-athletes
GRAND PRIZE: Autographed ball, game hat, game-worn jersey, chance to announce the Houston hitters for an inning and throw out the first pitch, while also receiving two tickets to a select home game this season
FAN APPRECIATION DAY ACTIVITIES
- Free admission - but must register and be present to win prizes
- Schedule posters/cards distributed
- Photo op with Championship trophy
- Kids Zone open
- Concession stands open
- Pregame `Anthem Buddies'
- Postgame Kids Clinic (8th grade & under) / run the bases
- Postgame autograph session with 2015 Cougars
- Meet & Greet with your 2014 Regional Championship team
Former Houston standouts will make their way to Cougar Field in preparation for the Alumni Game, which featured over 60 players in years past, including names like Michael Bourn, Brad Lincoln, Doug Drabek, and Jesse Crain.
The game will feature your 2015 Cougars vs. a roster of former standouts. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to watch batting practice, which begins at 11 a.m.
Houston Baseball will open its 2015 season on Friday, February 13 when it welcomes Minnesota to Cougar Field for a three-game series, slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. The series will continue on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m. and wrap on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m.
JOIN THE DUGOUT CLUB
LEVELS
PINCH HITTER
For a minimum monthly installment of $25 or a minimum one-time gift of $300, supporters can take advantage of the Pinch Hitter level, which will guarantee an invitation for two to exclusive Dugout Club events and Houston Baseball team apparel.
DIAMOND
For a minimum monthly installment of $100 or a minimum one-time gift of $1,000, supporters can take advantage of the Diamond level, which will guarantee batting practice passes for two to any home game, invitation for two to exclusive Dugout Club events and Houston Baseball apparel.
**Cougar Pride points will be applied accordingly.
For more information on joining the Dugout Club, please contact the Houston Baseball office at (713) 743-9396.
For more information regarding Cougar Pride, please call (713) 743-GOUH.
BUY SEASON TICKETS
Fans can purchase season tickets online by visiting UHCougars.com/Basetickets and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.
To purchase tickets in person, fans can visit the Athletics Ticket Stadium Office located on the northeast corner of TDECU Stadium, just outside of Gate 1 off Cullen Boulevard. Parking is available in the TDECU Stadium parking garage with the first 30 minutes free of charge. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m., to 5:30 p.m.
All UH main campus students are admitted FREE to regular-season baseball home games with a valid student ID.
A LOOK AT THE 2015 SCHEDULE
For the ninth consecutive season, Houston will open its slate at Cougar Field, having accumulated a winning record of 14-6, which includes three straight weekend sweeps the past three seasons under Whitting - who will begin his fifth season at the helm.
"I'm really excited about this year's schedule," Whitting said. "It is probably one of the most competitive ones we have made since our staff took over in 2010."
Houston will open the season hosting Minnesota on Feb. 13-15. The Cougars and Gophers will meet for the first time since 1987 as they have met 25 previous times.
The home slate for the Cougars will continue with their third straight weekend series at Cougar Field when it welcomes first-time opponent Columbia for a four-game series, set for Feb. 27-March 1.
"Our fans will have a great opportunity to see us play against great opponents here in our city," Whitting said.
QUICK HITS
OUR CITY
• 31 home games; 36 in the city of Houston
• First seven games of the season played at Cougar Field
• 19 of first 21 games played in the city of Houston
• First five weekends played in city of Houston - four at Cougar Field
OPENING WEEKEND
• Houston will host Opening Weekend for the ninth consecutive season
• Cougars are 14-6 all-time during Opening Weekend under Whitting
• Cougars have swept the last three Opening Weekend series under Whitting
A LOOK BACK AT 2014
Houston is coming off a 2014 season that saw it ranked No. 11 in the nation to finish the year and notch one of the best seasons in program history, tying a program-record with 48 wins and earning its first trip to the NCAA postseason since 2008. The Cougars were ranked nationally for 13 straight weeks during the season, polling in as high as No. 5 in the nation during week 17.
Houston captured the Baton Rouge Regional title with back-to-back wins over LSU to advance to the Austin Super Regional (vs. Texas) - a first since 2003. 2014 also saw Houston win the American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship tournament title with a win over Louisville. The Cougars posted the nation's No. 1 RPI in non-conference, regular-season play with an impressive 27-5 record.
The 27 regular-season, non-conference wins was the most since 27 in 2002 for the program. Houston posted a home record of 25-8 for the most home wins since Cougar Field was redone in 1995. The Cougars opened 2014 with four straight home weekend sweeps, marking the first time in program history to accomplish that feat. Houston saw itself earn a season sweep of Rice - first since 1991 to reclaim the Silver Glove trophy, which has been with the Owls since 2000.
The Cougars were led by one of the nation's top pitching staffs as senior relievers Chase Wellbrock (5-0, 12 SV) and Tyler Ford (9-0, 4 SV) combined for a 14-0 record and 16 saves. Freshman RHP Andrew Lantrip was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and the conference's Rookie of the Year, while eight other Cougars earned All-League honors.
The postseason saw sophomores Josh Vidales and Kyle Survance earn American Baseball Championship and Baton Rouge Regional Most Outstanding Player honors, respectively. Three Cougars were tabbed All-Region led by seniors Casey Grayson and Chase Wellbrock on the First Team and senior Tyler Ford on the Second Team. Off the field, the Cougars continued to excel in the classroom, led by sophomore Justin Montemayor, who was tabbed a First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District award winner.
STAY CONNECTED
Stay up to date with all Houston Baseball news and highlights by following us on Twitter @UHCougarBB or on Facebook at /HoustonCougarBaseball. Fans can also follow head coach Todd Whitting @toddwhitting on Twitter.
