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4 J.T. LaFountain Hometown: Utica, N.Y. High School: Proctor HS Height / Weight: 6-0 / 184 Position: INF/C Birthdate: 10/26/1981 B/T: B/R

2005: Named second-team All-Conference USA. Completed his Cardinal tenure tied for third in games played(207), sixth in at bats (729), eighth in runs (162), first in hit by pitches (34), fifth in doubles (47), eighth in hits (229) and sixth in walks (107). Lead the team in average(.337), home runs (8), RBI (48), total bases (104), sluggin %(.523) and topped C-USA with eight sacrifice flies. Drove in the man at third with less than two out in 20 of 28 opportunities. Posted 13 multi-RBI games. Started 20 games at catcher, 24 at second base and eight at third. Five of his home runs and 26 of his RBI cane in 29 C-USA games. Had 20 walks and 18 strikeouts in league games. Hit a home run in his final collegiate at bat (5/26). Walked three times in win over UAB (5/19). Went 2 for 4 with a pair of walks, three runs and two RBI in win over Wright State (5/16). Drove in three runs on 1 for 2 effort, with two walks in win at #24 TCU (5/14). Logged a 2 for 3 effort with a sac fly at #24 TCU (5/13). Went 3 for 5 with a walk in two runs scored in win at Charlotte (5/6). Was 2 for 5 with two RBI, and was hit by a pitch twice, also driving in the game-tying run in the bottom of the 12th with two out on a 3-2 pitch in win over WKU (4/25). Went 3 for 6 with two RBI and two runs in win at SLU (4/24). Scored three runs in win at SLU (4/23a). Was 2 for 5 with two RBI and two runs scored in win at Xavier(4/20). Picked up his 200th career hit, becoming the 10th in Cardinal history to match that milestone, busting a single up the middle for the first base hit in Jim Patterson Stadium history. Went 2 for 4 with a double in that game against ECU (4/15). Started at catcher for the first time in his career, going 3 for 4 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored in win at Houston (4/10). Was 2 for 4 with a run scored in the win at Houston (4/9). Hit a solo home run in the first and walked twice against USF(4/3b). Drove in three against UK (3/30). Went 5 for 9 with a home run and two runs scored in the Cards' two wins over #1 Tulane. Named C-USA Co-Hitter of the Week after posting 6 for 12 series at UC, which the Cards swept. Had three home runs, two doubles, six runs and nine RBI in the three-game set. Went 3 for 4 in game two of the series with four RBI, tying a career high that he set on the same date in 2002 at Oklahoma State. His two-run home run in the ninth sealed the win in the conference opener at UC (3/18), driving in three and scoring twice on the day. Went 3 for 4 in first game if doubleheader against Miami (3/6), and followed with a 2 for 5 effort in the nightcap, scoring twice and driving in three on his second home run of the season. Jacked a three-run home run to right center in win over Toledo (2/25). Went 3 for 5 with a double (2/26). Returned to the field for the first time in 636 days after sitting out 2004 season with a knee injury. Drove in a run in his first game back, and went 2 for 5 with three runs the next day in win over Kent (2/19). Hit safely in all three games of the Kent series.

2004: Sat out the season as a medical redshirt. Drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 48th round of the MLB Draft. Completed his undergraduate degree and has begun work on a master's in sports administration.

2003: Named to the Conference USA All-Tournament Team, going 5 for 17 with a double, two home runs, five RBI and 17 assists in four games. Had an 11-game hitting streak, raising his average from .286 to .314. Was 2 for 5 with a pair of RBI, including a homer to right at EKU(5/13). Blasted a three-run homer from the right side of the plate against Houston, going 5 for 8 with five RBI in last two games of the series. Followed with another three-run bomb at UK(5/7) from the other side of the dish. Had a hit in each of the three games against ECU, going 4 for 5 in the opener. Surpassed former double-play teammate Adam Haley when he was hit for the 15th time on the season against ECU establishing a new U of L record he then extended to 16. Is third on the career list with 25. Has played in 119 consecutive games, starting 115 in a row. Scored three runs in win at Cincinnati(4/12), walking three times and getting hit by a pitch once. Cranked his third home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth against Murray(4/8), going 3 for 6 with four RBI in the game. Went 2 for 4 with four RBI and two runs in win over Evansville(4/2), blasting a three-run home run to right. Drove in a pair of runs against USF(3/30). A perfect 3 for 3 against USM(3/21). Drove in three runs, going 3 for 4 in win at Memphis(3/16). Scored four runs, going 3 for 6 at the plate in win over WKU(3/11). Named to dean's list and AD Honor Roll.

2002: Enjoyed a solid season, playing every game and starting all but one. Started 34 games at second, 21 at short and one at third. Tied for the team lead the team in walks(33) and posted a team-high .365 batting average in C-USA games. Also lead the team scoring 50 runs. Scored 30 runs and drove in 24 in 30 conference games. Batted .316 with 12 doubles, four home runs and 37 RBI. Posted a 13-game hit streak 5/1-5/18 in which he hit .340 with 10 RBI, 17 runs to wrap up the regular season. A terror with the bases loaded, J.T. was 4 for 6 with two doubles a home run and 13 RBI. Jacked a grand slam at Oklahoma State(3/20) in a 3 for 6 effort. Was 4 for 5 at Saint Louis(3/23) with three RBI, clearing the bases to tie the game with two out in the bottom of the ninth. Had eight assists against Indiana State(3/2), and was 10th in the league with 157 for the season. A switch-hitter, who batted .305 from the left side and .344 as a righty. Named to dean's list and AD Honor Roll.

2001: Saw action at all four infield positions, primarily at third and shortstop. Hit .265 with six doubles in forty games. Started 23 games. Singled in his first collegiate at bat against #2 USC(2/3). Was 3 for 4 at Western Kentucky(4/24) with two RBI and a run scored, doubling and hitting his first career home run-a towering shot to right. As switch hitter, he hit .299 as a lefty. Was 3 for 7 with two RBI and two runs against ranked opponents. Lead the team with 12 walks in 22 conference games. Made the AD honor roll.

High School: A four-year letterwinner in baseball for the Proctor High School Raiders as a shortstop and pitcher. Also lettered in basketball twice. Was twice named all-state as a shortstop, and earned 1999 player of the year honors. The Raiders won the sectional title and placed third in the state tournament his senior season. Hit .568 as a junior and .539 his senior year.

Personal: Born 10/26/81 to Jim and Cindy LaFountain in Utica, NY. Major is exercise science with a minor in justice administration. Former big leaguers Mark Lemke and Andy Van Slyke are also from Utica. New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith attended Proctor HS. His dad and mom are his greatest influence on him athletically. Jim was an All-American and Academic All-American in the mid 70's and Cindy was a gymnast at U of L. Jim still holds NCAA record for grand slams in a game(3) and inning(2). Favorite teams are the Yankees and Steelers and Derek Jeter is his favorite ballplayer. Favorite food is toasted peanut butter and jelly. His dream dinner guests would be His grandfather, Jennifer Lopez and Babe Ruth. Likes to draw in his spare time.

Career statistics for: LaFountain

Year       Avg   GP-GS     AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR  RBI   BB   SO   SB-ATT
2001....  .265   40-23     98   18   26    6    0    1   10   18   22    1-3
2002....  .316   57-56    215   50   68   12    0    4   37   33   35    3-3
2003....  .313   57-57    217   52   68   16    0    8   47   25   23    2-4
2005....  .337   53-53    199   42   67   13    0    8   48   31   34    1-1
TOTAL...  .314  207-189   729  162  229   47    0   21  142  107  114    7-11