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Message: [QUOTE="dbmill, post: 4310818, member: 2504"] From this article: Connecticut’s infield defense has become a large part of the Huskies’ success. It protects the pitching staff but also breeds confidence, both for the pitchers to be more aggressive in the zone knowing the defense will be solid behind them but also for the hitters that can build off some strong glove work taking it with them into the batter’s box. Penders said it all started with second-year freshman Bryan Padilla taking command of the shortstop job. “We had kind of been praying like, ‘Come on, man. Take this because you’re the one guy that can make the above-average plays at shortstop,’ “ Penders said. “Bryan Padilla makes everybody better by taking that shortstop job. Now Bushling can be more comfortable at third or at second. Smitty hadn’t played a lot of second base. He had an abysmal game at Long Beach State where he couldn’t make a play to save his life. Now he’s got the confidence. He’s making plays. He’s just been out there for more repetitions.” UConn also found a defensive gem with Huber at first base. The graduate transfer from Division II Limestone University was thought to be a bat-first addition with an adequate glove, but he’s proven to be much more. “He’s been excellent,” Penders said. “Look at his feet around the bag. I mean, those two plays that he made is remarkable what he did with his feet, especially the second one going into the foul side at first base, being able to read that hop out of the hand. It’s really, really good. He’s saved our infielders a ton of errors. He’s got a really good head for the game too. I feel like he’s the captain of the infield out there. He’s got the most veteran presence to him. He does a really solid job.” [/QUOTE]

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