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Xavier Musketeers baseball

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Xavier Musketeers baseball
2024 Xavier Musketeers baseball team
Founded1926; 98 years ago (1926)
Conference historyMidwestern City Conference (1981–1995)
Atlantic 10 Conference (1996–2013)
UniversityXavier University
Athletic directorGreg Christopher
Head coachBilly O'Conner (7th season)
ConferenceBig East Conference
LocationCincinnati, Ohio
Home stadiumJ. Page Hayden Field
(Capacity: 500)
NicknameMusketeers
ColorsNavy blue, white, and gray[1]
     
NCAA Tournament appearances
2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2023
Conference tournament champions
2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2023
Regular season conference champions
2008, 2016

The Xavier Musketeers baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball program of Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. The program's first season was in 1974, and it has been a member of the NCAA Division I Big East Conference since the start of the 2014 season. Its home venue is J. Page Hayden Field, located on Xavier's campus. Billy O'Conner is the team's head coach starting in the 2018 season. The program has appeared in 5 NCAA Tournaments, with the most recent appearance in 2023. It has won four conference tournament championships and 2 regular season conference titles. As of the start of the 2022 Major League Baseball season, 8 former Musketeers have appeared in Major League Baseball.

History

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A Xavier pitcher in 2018

Early history

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The program's first season of play was 1926.

Conference affiliations

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Xavier in the NCAA Tournament

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Year Record Pct Notes
2009 1–2 .333 Houston Regional
2014 1–2 .333 Nashville Regional
2016 2–2 .500 Nashville Regional
2017 2–2 .500 Louisville Regional
2023 2–2 .500 Nashville Regional
TOTALS
8–10 .444

J. Page Hayden Field

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Xavier began playing at the location in the 1920s.[2] In 1935, the field's dimensions were adjusted with the construction of the O'Connor Sports Center beyond the right center field fence. The field was renovated again in 1982 because of a donation made under the name of J. Page Hayden (1898–1979), the field's namesake. Following the 2010 season, a new playing surface, brick backstop, and dugouts were added.[2]

From 1980 to 2013, Xavier baseball has a 450–307–3 overall record at the field.[2]

Head coaches

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Xavier's longest tenured head coach are John Morrey, who has coached the team for 12 years.

Current coaching staff

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  • Head coachBilly O'Conner
  • Pitching coach – Doug Willey
  • Assistant coach – Brian Furlong
  • Assistant coach – Austin Cousino
  • Volunteer assistant coach – Jake Yacinich

Musketeers in the Major Leagues

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= All-Star = Baseball Hall of Famer
Athlete Years in MLB MLB Teams
Red Dooin 1902–1916 Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants
Jim Boyle 1926 New York Giants
Buzz Boyle 1929–1930, 1933–1935 Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers
Gordon McNaughton 1932 Boston Red Sox
Jim Brosnan 1954, 1956–1963 Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox
Jim Bunning 1955–1971 Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers
Ron Moeller 1956, 1958, 1961, 1963 Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, Washington Senators
Charles Leesman 2013–2014 Chicago White Sox
Vinny Nittoli 2021–present Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics
Zac Lowther 2021–2022 Baltimore Orioles

Taken from Baseball Reference.[3] Updated June 28, 2021.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Xavier University: Brand and Graphic Identity Guide (PDF). Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Hayden Field". Go Xavier. Xavier University Athletic Department. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  3. ^ "Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH) Baseball Players". Retrieved June 28, 2021.
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