BLACKSBURG — Old Dominion’s reliever Brad Gero (Lake Worth, Fl.) and outfielder Nick Walker (Virginia Beach, VA.)were named to the 2014 Virginia College Sports Information Directors (VaSID) All-State University Division Baseball team today.
Virginia’s Brian O’Connor, who guided his Cavaliers to the College World Series Finals picked up his eighth Coach of the Year honor while his starting pitcher Nathan Kirby was voted the Pitcher of the Year. William & Mary’s Michael Katz is tabbed the state’s Player of the Year, while Liberty’s Parker Bean picks up the Rookie of the Year award.
Gero, a first team All East Region selection co-led Conference USA in saves with 12 which ranked him 12th nationally and set a new ODU single season record for appearances with 39 which led the league and ranked fourth nationally.
He compiled a 3-4 record with 44 strikeouts in 53.1 innings of work. He had a 2.87 earned run average and opponents only hit .256 against him as he helped lead the Monarchs to a 36-26 record and the school's first NCAA appearance since 2000.
Gero, who came to ODU from Dayton State Community College completed his career at ODU with a 7-7 record, 13 saves, and a 2.93 ERA. Last year, he ranked fifth in the CAA with 26 appearances. His 65 career appearances in just two seasons rank him ninth all-time at ODU, while his 13 career saves tie him for fourth all-time with Andy Lee (1996-99), Mike Grohs(1989-91) and Bill Schultz (1986-90). The top three ODU all-time save leaders are Ron Walker (1995-97) with 17, Wayne Gomes (1991-93) with 16) and Adam Wisniewski(2009-11) with 15.
Nick Walker, a freshman outfielder/infielder was named to the 2014 Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-American Baseball team last month and was the only freshman to be named first team All-Conference USA. He led the Monarchs in batting (.309) and stolen bases (16), adding 11 doubles, four home runs and 26 RBI. Walker also drew a team-best 25 walks to give him a .393 on-base percentage. Walker had 16-multiple hit games and a 20-game hitting streak. He reached base 23 straight games during the season and finished the season with a .438 slugging percentage. Walker, who scored 43 runs this season also earned a spot on the C-USA All-Tournament team.
The Cavaliers led the way with a record 10 total players on the all-state team, and tied their own record with six first team members (2009). Nine of the state’s 13 Division I baseball programs had at least one representative, with William & Mary (7) and Liberty (6) earning the next most. Old Dominion, VCU and Virginia Tech each had two.
2014 University Division All-State Baseball
FIRST TEAM SECOND TEAM
FIRST BASE *Mike Papi, Jr., Virginia Alex Close, Jr., Liberty
SECOND BASE Ryan Seiz, Jr., Liberty Branden Cogswell, Jr., Virginia
SHORTSTOP Vimael Machin, Jr., VCU Daniel Pinero, Fr., Virginia
THIRD BASE Ty McFarland, Sr., James Madison Kenny Towns, Jr., Virginia
CATCHER *Mark Zagunis, Jr., Virginia Tech Ryan Hissey, So., William & Mary
OUTFIELD Michael Katz, Jr., William & Mary Derek Fisher, Jr., Virginia
Nick Thompson, Jr., William & Mary Nick Walker, Fr., Old Dominion
*Joe McCarthy, So., Virginia * Bill Cullen, Sr., VCU
DESIGNATED HITTER Charley Gould, So., W&M Brendon Hayden, Jr., Virginia Tech
UTILITY Ashton Perritt, Jr., Liberty Kevin Casey, Sr., William & Mary
STARTING PITCHERS Nathan Kirby, So., Virginia Aaron Myers, Jr., Longwood
Trey Lambert, Sr., Liberty Jason Inghram, Jr., William & Mary
Artie Lewicki, Sr., Virginia Anthony Montefusco, Sr., George Mason
Brandon Waddell, So., Virginia Parker Bean, Fr., Liberty
RELIEF PITCHERS Nick Howard, Jr., Virginia Joseph Gaouette, So., William & Mary
Brad Gero, Sr., Old Dominion Matt Marsh, Sr., Liberty
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Michael Katz, William & Mary
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Nathan Kirby, Virginia
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Parker Bean, Liberty
COACH OF THE YEAR: *Brian O’Connor, Virginia
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