June 3, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Collegiate Baseball named pitcher Sonny Gray, second baseman Riley Reynolds and designated hitter Aaron Westlake to its Louisville Slugger’s Freshmen All-American team Wednesday morning.
The trio played significant roles in helping lead the Commodores to a 37-27 season and a NCAA regional championship game appearance in 2009.
Gray, an invitee to the USA National Team trials later this month, finished with a 5-1 record and 4.30 ERA, while notching 72 strikeouts in 58.2 innings of work. He started the year as a closer and recorded four saves before moving into a starter’s role against Georgia on May 8. The Smyrna, Tenn., native went 2-0 in four starts with a 3.20 ERA and 32 strikeouts and just eight walks in 25.0 innings. He closed out the season with 9.2 innings of scoreless work at the NCAA Louisville Regional with 13 strikeouts and just one walk in two appearances. He threw eight innings of seven-hit shutout ball in a 10-0 win over Indiana on May 30 in Vanderbilt’s first ever shutout in 27 NCAA tournament games.
Reynolds, an All-SEC freshman team member and Louisville All-Regional team selection, batted .332 on the year with 15 doubles and 22 RBI. He had a team best 19-game hitting streak earlier in the season that was also the third longest in the league. Reynolds also played a solid second base with just eight errors in 242 chances. The Lee’s Summit, Mo. native started in 61 of 63 games played at second, including all 29 in conference action. He led the Commodores in batting at the NCAA tournament with a .375 batting average (6-for-14) with two doubles and four runs scored.
Westlake, an All-SEC freshman team member and Louisville All-Regional team selection, currently holds the Southeastern Conference batting title with a .377 batting average to go with 10 homers, 15 doubles and 57 RBI. He led the team with 15 multi-RBI games and was second with 26 multi-hit games, including five four-hit games this season. Westlake started in 62 of 63 games played including all 29 in conference play. The Redding, Calif., native started 14 games at catcher earlier in the year due to injuries, marking the first time he had ever played the position. He was 7-for-19 (.368) at the Louisville Regional with three doubles, two homers, four RBI and five runs scored.
“All three guys played significant roles for us this season and are lynchpins to the future success of our program,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. “I am happy to see them get recognized by Collegiate Baseball and I know they will only continue to get better.”