June 15, 2011
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M sophomore pitcher Michael Wacha was named a third team All-American by Baseball America on Wednesday as the right-hander and his Aggie teammates continue preparations for the 2011 College World Series.
Wacha, a Freshman All-American a season ago, rounded out the Aggies' impressive weekend rotation which has now seen all three of its members receive All-America recognition during the last two seasons.
The Texarkana, Texas, native enters the CWS with a 9-3 record and a 2.12 ERA, and currently is second among all Big 12 pitchers with 118 strikeouts in 123.0 innings of work. He has tossed two complete games this year while holding opponents to a .237 average.
Despite Wacha's impressive overall season numbers, perhaps his greatest contribution to the Aggies' drive to Omaha, Neb., and the College World Series has been how the 6-foot-6 right-hander has stepped up down the stretch. Since an injury caused teammate and Friday-night starter John Stilson to miss a turn in the rotation during the Aggies' series with Nebraska in mid-May, Wacha is 4-0 with a 1.76 ERA.
Additionally, during the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, Wacha is 2-0 with a 0.89 ERA in two starts, including a solid 7.1 inning outing at Florida State on Monday to clinch the Aggies' first Super Regional victory and trip to Omaha since 1999.
Wacha, along with teammate Tyler Naquin, was also honored this spring with a selection to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, which is scheduled to face the Japanese National Team in a series of games July 3-9.
The Aggies will begin their run at the CWS on Sunday when they face defending National Champion South Carolina in a 6 p.m. contest (CT) at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha.