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Patrick Connaughton spending offseason pitching in the Cape Cod League

Iowa State v Notre Dame

DAYTON, OH - MARCH 22: Pat Connaughton #24 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish handles the ball against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second half during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 22, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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Most college basketball players spend their springs and summers relaxing.

Yeah, they’re still going to be working out and training to get better. Some are going to be focusing on getting healthy and rehabbing nagging injuries. The best of the best get a chance to practice with Team USA and, if they’re good enough, head overseas to represent our country.

In short, the offseason is dedicated to making sure that they are better basketball players next season.

The same can’t be said for Notre Dame’s sophomore shooting guard Patrick Connaughton.

He spent his spring pitching for the Irish baseball team, starting 10 games and going 4-2 with a 1.71 ERA.

And this summer, he’s pitching for the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod League, a league dedicated to showcasing the country’s best collegiate baseball players. Think about that. He’s a starter on a team that will finish near the top of the ACC in hoops and one of the better pitchers in the country on the diamond.

That’s not an easy thing to do, even if he does fall in love with Jessica Biel while there.

“A lot of kids I know and have competed against say they also want to play two sports at school, but I tell them, you’ve got to be ready for it,” Connaughton told the Cape Cod Chronicle. “It’s a tough task if you want to excel at both. It’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff that takes a lot of time and effort. You’ve got to treat your body right and stay on top of school work so that you’re not ineligible for one sport much less two. You have to spend more time in the weight room and really make your time count.”

Connaughton is a talent on the hardwood and a key cog for the Irish heading into the 2013-2014 season. He’s a big, physical guard that’s a knock-down three-point shooter, a leader and the team’s defensive stopper. He’s strong enough in the paint and on the glass that head coach Mike Brey should be able to play four guard lineups next season.

But here’s the thing: he’s probably got a brighter future as a pitcher. He’s got the size, he can hit mid-90s with his fastball and he’s got four other pitches in his arsenal. Those aren’t a dime-a-dozen.

Nobody does two-sport stars like Notre Dame. In recent years, both Golden Tate and Jeff Samardzija have reached the pros, Tate in football and Samardzija in baseball, after starring in two sports for the Golden Domers.

You can find Rob on twitter @RobDauster.