Preseason All-America Honors Roll in for Anderson, O’Ferrall

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia shortstop Griff O’Ferrall solidified himself as a consensus preseason All-American and junior Ethan Anderson picked up his second preseason All-America nod after Baseball America and NCBWA announced their respective teams this week.

O’Ferrall was named a Second Team Preseason All-American by Baseball America and a third team honoree by National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Anderson was also listed on the NCBWA’s third team.

Virginia Preseason All-America Honors

Griff O’Ferrall – D1Baseball (Second Team), Perfect Game (Second Team), NCBWA (Second Team), Baseball America (Third Team).

Ethan Anderson – D1Baseball (Second Team), NCBWA (Second Team)

Anderson had a breakout sophomore season for the Cavaliers last year, starting all 65 games at first base. At the plate, he batted .375 (97-for-259) with 71 runs, 26 doubles, 15 home runs and 66 RBI. Anderson led the ACC, ranked fourth in the country and broke UVA’s single season record with 26 doubles. He ranked in the top-10 in the ACC in eight different categories and was a Third Team All-ACC selection.

In ACC and NCAA Tournament play, Anderson hit six home runs – two in the ACC Tournament, one in the Charlottesville Regional, two in the Charlottesville Super Regional and one at the College World Series. He became the first Cavalier ever to homer in all four stages of the postseason in a single year or career.

O’Ferrall broke the single-season UVA record for hits with 108 as a sophomore on last year’s College World Series team. He has played every game of his Cavalier career at shortstop, including all 65 last season. At the plate he batted .396 (108-for-273) with 20 doubles, two triples, a home run and 42 RBI. He was successful on 16 of his 18 stolen base attempts.

O’Ferrall was one of five finalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, annually bestowed on the nation’s top SS and earned First Team All-ACC accolades. He was recognized as a Third-Team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Virginia Preseason National Rankings
Baseball America – No. 10
D1Baseball.com – No. 14
NCBWA – No. 11
Perfect Game – No. 10