/
.
Three Cavaliers Named Preseason All-Americans
Story Links
Feb. 3, 2015
Twitter: @UVaBaseball | Coach O’Connor Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Three members of the Virginia baseball team have been named to various preseason All-America teams. Nathan Kirby (Jr., Midlothian, Va.), Joe McCarthy (Jr., Scranton, Pa.) and Brandon Waddell (Jr., Houston, Texas) each have earned spots on at least one of the preseason All-America squads.
Kirby was a unanimous selection as a preseason First-Team All-American. He earned the distinction from Baseball America, D1Baseball, Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and the NCBWA.
McCarthy was a second-team selection on the Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball and NCBWA teams. Waddell earned a spot on the second team for Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA and was a third-team honoree by Perfect Game.
The reigning ACC Co-Pitcher of the Year, Kirby was a consensus first-team All-American last season when he went 9-3 with a 2.06 ERA. In 113 1/3 innings, the left-hander allowed just 68 hits and 33 walks while striking out 112. On April 4, he recorded just the fourth no-hitter in program history when he no-hit Pittsburgh; Kirby struck out 18 in the dominating performance, the second-most strikeouts in program history. One of 21 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award, he recorded a quality start in 15 of his 18 starts (at least six innings pitched and three runs or fewer allowed).
A two-time All-ACC selection, McCarthy started all 69 games last season, batting .301 with six home runs and 49 RBI. The outfielder led the team with 16 doubles and 11 stolen bases and was one off the team lead with 77 hits. During his two seasons at UVa, McCarthy is a .317 batter with 152 hits in 129 games. An on-base machine, he reached base safely in all but five games in 2014 and has reached base in 122 of his 129 career games.
A left-handed pitcher, Waddell was 10-3 with a 2.45 ERA in 18 starts as he became the 11th pitcher in program history to record at least 10 wins in a season. In a team-high 114 innings, Waddell limited opponents to 98 hits and just 19 walks with a .236 batting average. A Third-Team All-ACC honoree, Waddell had a huge postseason, going 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA in four starts, including a complete-game victory in Game 2 of the College World Series Finals. He also was named to the All-College World Series Team.
Ranked as high as second nationally in the preseason, Virginia opens its 2015 season on Feb. 13 with a three-game series at East Carolina. The Cavaliers’ home opener is Feb. 17 against VCU.
Season tickets, 10-Game Mini Packages and single-game tickets currently are on sale through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office. Tickets may be purchased by logging on to VirginiaSports.com, calling (800) 542-UVA1 or by visiting the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.