#27 Chris Soriano Baseball Roster

Veteran catcher and 2008 team tri-captainwho has served in bullpen role, after first earninga walk-on roster spot in the fall of 2005 … ahard worker and team-first leader who wasnamed a team captain for the 2008 season … asteady catcher who does good job taking controlof pitching staff in bullpen and game situations,in addition to making strides in his blocking andthrowing skills … has made key improvementswith his bat speed and pitch recognition sincejoining the Irish … started game-1 for Gold teamin 2007 fall intrasquad series (0-for-2, K; 8-1 loss,but Gold won the series) … earlier played ingame-3 of [apos]06 BGS, starting in left field as Goldwon 8-3 to take that series (0-for-3) … joined hisNotre Dame teammates Evan Sharpley and JohnSeabaugh (`07) as members of the MichianaLand Sharks (Northern Indiana Wood BatLeague) during summer of [apos]06 … one of NotreDame baseball[apos]s 46 all-time monogram winnersfrom New Jersey … his jersey #27 has been wornby several previous Irish catchers, most recentlyPaul O[apos]Toole with the 2002 College World Seriesteam … several of his former teammates play forBIG EAST teams: Villanova[apos]s Gus Guida (N.J.Aces), Jeff Grantham of St. John[apos]s (RandolphBaseball Club) and Rutgers newcomer DJAnderson (Delbarton HS) … hails from samehigh school as current Notre Dame freshmaninfielder Greg Sherry … carried 3.28 cumulativeGPA into the 2008 spring semester.

AS A JUNIOR: Appeared in six games whilebatting 2-for-4 with three RBI, two strikeouts anda hit-by-pitch … played in 14-3 winover Duquesne (in Clearwater, Fla.)and in 12-1 win over New York Tech,later on the spring-break trip (1-for-1, RBI) … also saw time in homewins over Western Michigan (HBP;17-9), Chicago State (1-for-1, 2 RBI;14-4) and West Virginia (17-6).

AS A SOPHOMORE: Earnedroster spot via walk-on tryouts andthen was awarded a monogramafter serving important role as topbullpen catcher throughout 2006season … appeared in six games,batting 3-for-6 with two runsscored, a walk and a strikeout …made his college debut at theMetrodome, in 11-1 loss to Nebraska(0-for-1, K) … played in first springbreak game, a 16-2 win over Iowa (inSan Antonio; 0-for-1) … singled andscored in 12-0 win over Valparaisobefore going 2-for-2 with a run in 15-1 win over Oakland … also played ingames with Manchester (BB; 8-2)and Cleveland State (0-for-1; 12-1).

PREP & PERSONAL: Lettered as catcher atDelbarton HS in junior and senior seasons ([apos]03,[apos]04) … compiled .330 career batting avg. (22 RBI,HR, 13 2B) … senior team captain on squad thatwent 27-4 and earned #11 state ranking …earned all-conference and all-city honors as asenior … also played hockey, as senior defensemanfor team that won conference an regionaltitles … hails from same high school that producedformer Notre Dame All-America basketballforward Troy Murphy and numerous formerIrish lacrosse standouts … uncle Tony Sorianoplayed baseball at Xavier … born Dec. 24, 1985,in Morristown, N.J. … son of John and NancySoriano … full name is Christopher ThomasSoriano … a pre-professional studies major(with a minor in theology), enrolled in theCollege of Science.