NKU opens against UW-Parkside

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University baseball team will begin the season at 1 p.m. Thursday with a home game against Wisconsin-Parkside at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex at Friendship Field.

The Norse will also be in action Saturday when defending regional champion Grand Valley State visits Highland Heights, Ky., for a doubleheader at noon. Those games were originally scheduled for Champion Window Field in Florence, Ky., but were moved back to the NKU campus for this weekend only.

All other NKU home games will be played at Champion Window Field this season, with a March 4 contest against Southern Illinois at Edwardsville marking the opening game for the Norse in their new venue.

Champion Window Field is also the home for the Florence Freedom of the Frontier League. Click here for directions to the facility.

Grand Valley State is ranked No. 8 nationally in one preseason poll, and the Lakers are seeking their fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II World Series. A year ago, Grand Valley State posted a 36-17 record.

NKU finished with a 31-26 overall record last season and was 22-14 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Norse are picked to finish third in the 2006 GLVC preseason poll behind defending league champion Wisconsin-Parkside and Saint Joseph’s.

Senior catcher Conor McGeehan received All-GLVC accolades and second team All-North Central Region honors last season. McGeehan batted .295 with six home runs and 27 runs batted in. He is also one of the top defensive catchers in the GLVC.

Kory Lonergan, a junior shortstop, was also named All-GLVC and All-North Central Region. He finished the season with a .322 batting average, 23 stolen bases and 12 RBI for the Norse. Sophomore left fielder Josh Moulton earned first team All-GLVC honors and batted .366 with three triples last season.