MOBILE, Ala. - A pair of former University of South Alabama baseball players took part in the final minor league game of the season when they played in the 2009 Triple-A Baseball National Championship Tuesday night at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City.
David Freese and P.J. Walters, who played together at USA in 2005 and 2006, teamed up as members of the St. Louis Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds. They helped the Redbirds win the 2009 Pacific Coast League championship, matching them up with the International League champion Durham Bulls for the national championship, where Durham won 5-4 in 11 innings.
Walters got the start on the mound for Memphis, but did not factor in the decision after allowing four runs on four hits with three strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Freese started at third base and hit in the clean-up spot, where he went 0-for-2, but also drew a pair of walks and drove in the game-tying run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.
Though they fell just short of the national championship, both had memorable seasons in 2009. Freese made his Major League debut as a pinch hitter on opening day, and Walters wasn't far behind, making his Major League debut as the starting pitcher in a nationally televised game between the Cardinals and Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Freese played in 11 games for the Cardinals before returning to Triple-A, where he finished the year with a .313 batting average, 11 home runs and 48 RBI in 64 games played.
Walters made a few trips to the majors and pitched in a total of eight games for the Cardinals. He compiled an 8-10 record with a 4.54 ERA in 21 games for the Redbirds.
Another pair of former Jags are approaching the end of their seasons in the Major Leagues. Adam Lind, who is in his first full season with the Toronto Blue Jays, is hitting .301 with 30 home runs and a team-leading 106 RBI. He also ranks second on the team in batting and home runs.
Juan Pierre, an outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has had one of his best years as a pro in 2009. Despite coming off the bench for most of the season, Pierre is hitting .314 with 27 stolen bases. His batting average is the highest it has been since 2004 when he hit .326, and his .374 on-base percentage is close to his career-best mark of .378 set in 2001, his first full season in the majors.
With 10 games remaining, Pierre's Dodgers have a magic number of two to clinch a playoff berth and hold a five-game lead on the Colorado Rockies in the National League West division.
As far as current Jags, the 2010 USA baseball team will attempt to begin its fall practice schedule Thursday. The Jags were slated to begin fall practice more than a week ago, but recent rain has forced the coaches to push the start date back.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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