May 22, 2009
DURHAM, N.C. – Yellow Jacket sophomore Deck McGuire has been named a finalist for the 2009 National Pitcher of the Year Award, the College Baseball Foundation and Mizuno announced Friday.
McGuire posted a perfect 10-0 record in the 2009 regular season and led the Atlantic Coast Conference in wins, strikeouts (101) and opponents’ batting average (.210). He became the first Yellow Jacket to earn the league’s top pitching honor when he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year earlier this week.
The Richmond, Va., native began the season by striking out a career-high 13 batters against Lipscomb and has eclipsed 10 strikeouts in a game three times this year. He’s posted a career record of 18-2 in his two years on the Flats.
McGuire became the first Tech pitcher to earn first-team All-ACC honors since Cory Vance did so in 2000 and was one of five Yellow Jackets named to all-conference teams in 2009.
The five finalists have a combined record of 58-3. Each player has recorded double-digit wins and no one has more than one loss.
“These pitchers have put up some staggering numbers this season,” said Landon Holly, Pitcher of the Year Award chairman. “There have been many quality pitching performances this season, but these players stand out.”
“To have five conferences represented in our five finalists says a lot about the quality of pitching found across the country. These pitchers have all made an impact on their teams this year.”
The CBF, the Dick Howser Trophy Committee and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association will announce the recipients of the 2009 college baseball awards as well as the Dick Howser Trophy finalists on June 13 in Omaha, Neb., at the start of the College World Series.
The Pitcher of the Year Award officially will be presented on July 2 in Lubbock as part of the College Baseball Awards Show, which will recognize the top players in college baseball. In addition to the Pitcher of the Year Award, other awards presented during the show will include the Dick Howser Trophy for the national player of the year, and the Brooks Wallace Award honoring the nation’s top shortstop. The College Baseball Awards Show will be complimented by the National College Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as a part of the July 1 through July 4 college baseball celebration.
2009 National Pitcher of the Year Finalists
Name School ConferenceMike Leake Arizona State PAC 10Deck McGuire Georgia Tech ACCEric Arnett Indiana Big 10A.J. Morris Kansas State Big 12Stephen Strasburg San Diego State Mountain West
