Oct. 23, 2008
PHILADELPHIA -
Senior OF Sean Barksdale and senior 2B Carmen Del Mastro have been named the captains of the 2009 Temple baseball team, head coach Rob Valli announced today. The duo was selected after voting by their teammates and the coaching staff this week.
"I speak for our entire team when I say that we are proud to have Carmen and Sean represent us as captains," Valli said. "They epitomize everything that a baseball player, teammate, and friend should be."
Barksdale is a two-year starter in right field for the Owls. The Cardinal O'Hara HS product is a career .333 hitter at Temple with 25 doubles, six triples, 12 home runs and 41 stolen bases. His 106 RBI in two seasons is one short of John Marzano's school record for back-to-back campaigns.
A 2007 First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection, Barksdale was also named the Philadelphia Co-Player of the Year as a sophomore after batting .359 with seven home runs and 59 RBI. He batted .377 over his final 30 games last season to finish with a .307 average with five home runs, 47 RBI and 27 steals. Barksdale takes a 15-game hitting streak into the 2009 season.
Del Mastro has been a two-year starter at second base for Temple. He batted a career-high .290 as a sophomore in 2007 in 28 starts. Last season, the Roman Catholic HS product battled injuries to start 46 games. He batted .266 with 16 stolen bases to help TU to its first postseason appearance since 2002.
Temple opens its season on February 20 at the Florida Gulf Coast Classic against perennial national power Wichita State.
