June 13, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – The post-season accolades continue to grow for Vanderbilt with freshmen pitchers T.J. Pecoraro and Kevin Ziomek being named Freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Pecoraro’s first season as a Commodore was an overwhelming success with the Dix Hills, NY native going 7-0 with a 1.59 ERA in 17 games, including six starts. His first collegiate campaign came to an end in the opening game of the Southeastern Conference Tournament against Georgia when the right-hander injured his elbow.
Ziomek has been counted on as one of the top left-handers out of the Vandy bullpen all year. The lefty has made 25 appearances, including five starts, going 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA to go along with 46 strikeouts over his 44.2 innings. The Amherst, Mass. native has been lock down tough when entering the game with runners on base allowing only eight of his 25 inherited runners to score.
Pecoraro and Ziomek join fellow freshmen Conrad Gregor and Tony Kemp as freshmen All-Americans. Gregor and Kemp earned the honor from Louisville Slugger last week. It marks the first time in school history that four freshmen have been recognized as freshmen All-American breaking the record set in 2009 when Sonny Gray, Riley Reynolds and Aaron Westlake picked up the award.
The Commodores play in the school’s first-ever College World Series when Vandy squares off against North Carolina Saturday afternoon in the first game of the tournament at 1 p.m. on ESPN.