Indiana University Athletics
In the Dugout with Billy O'Conner
12/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dec. 28, 2005
Along with head coach Tracy Smith and assistant coaches Ty Neal and Micah Nori, the Indiana baseball team also welcomes 12 new players to the 2006 roster. In the coming weeks, IUHOOSIERS.com will feature each IU newcomer. After outfielder Trevor McConnell took his turn in the spotlight, catcher Billy O'Conner is up next.
A 5-10, 175-pound catcher out of Cincinnati, O'Conner started his last two seasons at Elder High School for head coach Mark Thompson. During the 2005 season, O'Conner co-captained Elder to a 28-1 record, the best mark in school history, and its 12th Division I state championship. In the postseason, O'Conner posted a .391 batting average as he earned second team GCL and honorable mention all-city honors for the second consecutive season.
As a junior in 2004, O'Conner batted at a .375 clip with 10 RBI, 12 runs and nine stolen bases. In his senior season, he increased his production with 29 runs and 12 RBI in addition to eight stolen bases. O'Conner also played for the Cincinnati Weststars this past summer, hitting .372 over 28 games.
The son of Bill and Maureen O'Conner plans to study business at IU.
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
High School: Elder
Position: Catcher
Height/Weight: 5-10/180
Bat/Throw: R/R
If you were to play another sport at IU, what would it be?
Football
Best thing about Bloomington:
There are good places to eat around town.
Best thing about the team:
Camaraderie
What are three words that best describe coach Smith?
Leader, motivator, hard-worker
Who would play you in a movie?
Kevin Costner
Which professional player would you compare yourself to?
Jason Kendall - Oakland A's
What is your favorite major league ballpark?
Wrigley Field
What would be the title of your autobiography?
For the Love of the Game
What is your favorite/most memorable sports moment?
Winning the 2005 Ohio High School State Baseball Championship.
Should Pete Rose be eligible for the Hall of Fame?
Yes
Should college baseball switch to wooden bats?
Yes
Who is the best hitter and pitcher in major league baseball?
Hitter- Albert Pujols, Pitcher- Roger Clemens
Should baseball impose a salary cap?
Yes
Who is the one MLB pitcher you would want to face?
Pedro Martinez
Favorite baseball team:
Cincinnati Reds
Favorite player:
Ken Griffey Jr.
Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?
No, I just get focused on the game.
Why did you choose IU?
Indiana is a great academic institution that offered me the chance to play baseball at the collegiate level.
