In a cross-town pairing relocated nearly a thousand miles to the south, Georgetown played an exhibition game against the Washington Nationals at Space Coast Park in Viera, Fla. The Hoyas lost the contest 15-0 in the first action of Spring Training for the Nationals, who compete in Florida’s Grapefruit League. And while it may have been a walk in the park for the likes of Dmitri Young, Ronnie Belliard, Austin Kearns and Ryan Zimmerman, it was an important litmus test for a Georgetown team poised to make great strides in 2008. The game was the Hoyas’ first taste of baseball’s highest level since 1901, when they last competed against a major league franchise.
“We would really like to make this an annual event,” Nats manager Manny Acta said. Of course such a prospect is more than fine by the Hoyas, many of whom have harbored dreams of playing professionally for as long as they can remember.
For now, though, Georgetown baseball finds itself in the midst of a watershed season. Coming off of its fifth straight 20-win campaign (21-34 in 2007), the program has both the talent and versatility to earn a Big East tournament bid, and more. The Hoyas boast a deep and experienced pitching staff, but have performed inconsistenly thus far in 2008. After winning 4 out of its 5 games after the Nationals showdown and placing second at the Rollins College tournament, Georgetown has now dropped 4 straight, the last a 10-9 defeat in Wednesday’s home opener against UMBC. The Hoyas return to action Friday afternoon for the first of a 3-game series against UConn.
