Baseball Opens 2004 Season with Gardner-Webb
Friday, February 6, 2004 | Baseball
The 2004 University of Florida baseball season will begin this weekend as the Gators host Gardner-Webb University in a two-game series at McKethan Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. and the series will conclude with a 1 p.m. game Sunday,. Feb. 8.
Florida is beginning their 90th season of baseball this weekend. UF is ranked in all three major preseason polls. The Gators are 20th in both the Baseball America and Sports Weekly/ESPN poll and 15th in the Collegiate Baseball poll.
After starting last season having to replace six starters and their entire pitching rotation, Florida returns six positional starters and 93 percent of their innings pitched in 2004.
A pair of preseason all-americans will be in the lineup for Florida when they take the field for the first time in 2004. Both Ben Harrison and C.J. Smith received preseason honors prior to the season. Harrison was drafted in the fourth round last year and Smith in the sixth round but both elected to return for their senior and junior years respectively.
Numerous activities are planned at the ballpark and the first 1,000 fans will receive a free schedule magnet courtesy of Sunshine Network. In addition, new Florida president Dr. J. Bernard Machen will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Machen started his duties at Florida at the beginning of 2004 and will kick off the 2004 Florida baseball season. Prior to the game from 12:45-1:30 p.m. the Gainesville Community Band Brass Quintet will also be playing in the concourse.
