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Four Former UB Players To Throw First Pitch

Former UB great and current pitching coach, Joe Hesketh, will get the ball rolling as he will throw out the pitch prior to UB’s game against Eastern Michigan on Mar. 31. Hesketh, who was inducted into the UB Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986, is one of the most dominant pitchers in UB history, recording an overall ERA of 1.77, including an incredible 0.91 his junior season. He also had 10 complete games in his Bulls’ career and picked up one of the greatest wins in school history a 4-0 shutout of baseball power St. John’s and future major league star Frank Viola. Hesketh also picked up the save in a win on the road over nationally-ranked Miami (FL). He would go on to earn the 1980 ECAC New York-New Jersey District Player of the Year honors.

The honor before UB’s game against Western Michigan on Apr. 14 will go to Bill Balfoort, who played for UB during the 1970-71 seasons. One of Balfoort’s claims to fame was that he pitched a perfect game in a 5-0 victory over Rochester on April 17, 1971. Balfoort finished that 1971 season with a 4-0 record and a 0.99 ERA in 45.1 innings of work.

Mike Dixon, a 1984 inductee into the UB Athletic Hall of Fame, will throw out the first pitch before UB’s Apr. 28 contest against Akron. Dixon played for the Bulls from 1974 to 1977 and held 18 offensive and defensive records upon graduation. He was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies after posting a batting average of .457, which was sixth in the nation. A first-team All-East and All-Western New York selection, Dixon was also the Most Valuable Player and team captain. Dixon later returned as interim baseball coach in 1981.

Throwing the first pitch during the May 5 game against Miami (OH) will be Brian Hansen, who was inducted into the UB Hall of Fame in 1983. Hansen was a member of the Bulls from 1966-68 where he was twice a first-team College Division All-American. In 1967, Hansen led the nation in batting with a .533 average. Over his three years, Hansen averaged .506, landing him a spot in the Philadelphia Phillies organization where he played four years. Hansen was also given the UB Scholar-Athlete Award.

“It is a great thing that we can bring back guys who made such an impact on our program through out the years,” said head coach Ron Torgalski. “It is hard to repay these players for what they have done for UB baseball, but hopefully this is a start.”