| Joe Thamann |
 |
|
 | Class:
Freshman
|
| Hometown:
St. Louis, Missouri
|
| High School:
St. Louis University HS
|
|
| Height / Weight:
6-4 / 205
|
| Position:
First Baseman
|
| Birthdate:
11/01/1981
|
| Bats::
Left
|
|
|
|
|
Defensively-gifted first baseman who will combine with freshman second baseman Steve Sollmann to give the Irish tremendous range and athleticism on the right side of the infield ... replaces another strong defensive first baseman, in 2000 graduate Jeff Felker ... rated by Baseball America as BIG EASTs fifth-best newcomer (Irish freshman RHP Aaron Edwards is third on that list, Sollmann fourth) ... has bulked up from 190 to 205 pounds since arriving at Notre Dame ... an improving offensive player who can hit the ball hard with regularity ... also should contribute on the mound, as 6-4 lefthander with good command of his fastball ... one of five lefthanded hitters in probable starting lineup ... joins Irish baseball program that has produced 12 letterwinners from Missouri ... will don No. 21 last worn by RHP Scott Cavey (1997-2000) ... others to wear 21 include CF Dick Nussbaum (71-74) and 1B Henry Valenzuela (85-86).
PREP & PERSONAL: A three-sport letterwinner at St. Louis University High School, including four seasons as a 1B and LHP ... his senior stats included a .420 batting average, three home runs and 30 RBI for team that went 23-4 (7-1 on the mound, 3.23 ERA, 57 Ks, 25 BB in 45 IP) ... set school record after batting .578 as a junior, plus a conference-leading 42 hits, 34 RBI, 11 doubles, three triples, one home run and just one error in 25 games (3-1 on the mound, 2.44 ERA, 17 Ks, 8 BB) ... first team all-conference as a junior, after leading team to 20-5 record ... three-year member of conference all-academic baseball team ... hit .300 with 20 RBI as sophomore on team that went 17-5 and reached state quarterfinals ... honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore ... hit .370 as a freshman, with 15 RBI on team that advanced to state semis and posted 14-9 season ... second team all-conference as a freshman ... received SLUHS freshman scholar-athlete award ... led St. Louis Comets to fifth-place finish at 97 AAU national tournament, batting .467 with a 3.92 ERA and no errors in 35-5 season ... an all-star pitcher with Crestwood Junior Legion team in summer of 98 ... played for Midwest Prospects during summer of 99, hitting .370 with one home run and 35 RBI on team that finished third at AAU national tournament in Norman, Okla. ... led Billikens football team to four conference titles and two regional championships (1999, 2000) ... football team captain as a senior, when he earned all-state honors ... totaled 45 receptions for 575 yards and nine TDs before missing final three games due to his injury (the team went 11-2, losing in state semifinals) ... twice all-conference and all-city in football ... started at wide receiver and punter, setting school record with 175 receiving yards in a game vs. McCluer HS as a junior ... his junior-year football stats included 655 receiving yards and 12 TDs ... led 99 football team to state semifinals (19-14 loss to Melville) and 11-2 final record ... totaled 35 receptions for 500 yards and 10 TDs in 99 football season ... also lettered in varsity basketball as a sophomore ... member of student council ... sister Kate Thamann played softball at Maryville University ... born Nov. 1, 1981, in St. Louis ... son of Joseph and Karen Thamann ... full name is Joe B. Thamann ... enrolled in the First Year of Studies ... intends to major in accounting.
