Jan. 27, 2012
WASHINGTON - When the Georgetown University baseball team plays in Florida during Spring Break, the team's trip will have a decided big league feel to it.
That will come on Friday, March 2 when the Hoyas face the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball in an exhibition game. The game will be held at the Nationals' Spring Training Home, Space Coast Park, in Viera, Fla. First pitch is slated for noon.
"Playing a professional team is a great opportunity for the young men on my team," Head Coach Pete Wilk said. "It's obviously a great way to measure yourself against some of the best in the sport, but for most of the players on our roster, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
The game against the Nationals will mark the second time in four years the Hoyas have played against the professional team in D.C. In 2008, Georgetown lost 15-0 to the Nationals. The meeting in 2008 was the first time since 1901 that Georgetown had played an MLB franchise.
The Nationals roster could feature former Georgetown catcher Erick Fernandez (C'11), an All-BIG EAST selection who was selected by Washington in the Major League Draft in both 2010 and 2011, respectively.
Space Coast Stadium was built in 1993 and is located at 5800 Stadium Parkway in Viera, Fla. The stadium serves as the spring training facility for the Washington Nationals as well as the regular season facility for the Brevard County Manatees, the Florida State League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Georgetown returns 27 letterwinners from last year's team, including five position starters and 13 pitchers, led by senior outfielder Rand Ravnaas (Fort Worth, Texas/All Saints' Episcopal), who was selected in the Major League Baseball Draft last year, and redshirt junior shortstop Mike Garza (San Antonio, Texas/Douglas MacArthur), who was named the Most Valuable Player of the Cape Cod League Championship series.
Georgetown will host the Eighth Annual First Pitch Dinner to start the season on Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Leo J. O'Donovan Dining Hall on the Hilltop. Former Major League Baseball Player and Hall of Fame member Dave Winfield will serve as the keynote speaker for the event. Cocktails and silent auction begin at 6:30 p.m., with dinner and events beginning at 7 p.m. For more information on the First Pitch Dinner, please contact Meagan Barry in the Hoyas Unlimited office via e-mail at mkb42@georgetown.edu, or in the office at 202-687-7159.
