Army's Rowley remains on Pitcher of the Year Watch List
LUBBOCK, Texas - The College Baseball Hall of Fame announced on Friday the 25 pitchers on the newest edition of the Pitcher of the Year Award Watch List, and Army junior RHP Chris Rowley's name was among them.
Rowley was also tabbed one of 35 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy on Friday. Earlier this month, he was selected as the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year and earned a spot on the all-conference first team.
Rowley (11-0, 1.79 ERA) is one of just 10 starting pitchers among the 35 semifinalists. He leads the nation with 11 victories, ranks second in WHIP (0.78), stands sixth in hits allowed per nine innings (5.36), is eighth with six complete games and lists 24th with a 1.79 earned run average.
The third-year performer has 71 strikeouts in 85.2 innings pitched over 13 starts. He has yielded just nine extra base hits (all doubles) this season, and opponents are batting a mere .173 against him.
The Duluth, Ga., native has already established Academy single-season records for wins (11), shutouts (five), consecutive shutouts (four), consecutive scoreless innings (29) and consecutive innings without giving up an earned run (29). Rowley, who was named Patriot League Pitcher of the Week a record-tying four times this season, is quickly closing in on Army's single-season mark for innings pitched (90.0).
Rowley was nearly unhittable versus Patriot League foes during the regular season. He fired four consecutive complete-game shutouts to open the conference season, and finished the league slate with a perfect 5-0 mark and a microscopic 0.51 ERA. He allowed just two runs on 12 hits and three walks over 35 innings, while striking out 33 batters. Conference opponents batted a paltry .103 against him during the regular season.
Army (39-12) returns to action on Sunday and Monday (May 20-21) when the Black Knights host the Patriot League Championship Series. The program needs to win the best-of-three series in order to secure a berth in the upcoming NCAA Regionals (June 1-4).
2012 PITCHER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
Pitcher, School
Michael Morin, North Carolina
R.C. Orlan, North Carolina
Carlos Rodon, N.C. State
Alex Alemann, St. Louis
Michael Lorenzen, Call State Fullerson
Trent Blank, Baylor
Josh Turley, Baylor
Andrew Heaney, Oklahoma State
Ross Stripling, Texas A&M
Michael Wacha, Texas A&M
Matthew Reckling, Rice
Nick Petree, Missouri State
Kurt Heyer, Arizona
Brady Rodgers, Arizona State
Trevor Williams, Arizona State
Mark Appel, Stanford
CHRIS ROWLEY, ARMY
Corey Littrell, Kentucky
Kevin Gausman, LSU
Chris Stratton, Mississippi State
Michael Roth, South Carolina
Daniel Minor, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Travis Ballew, Texas State
R.J. Alvarez, Florida Atlantic
Michael Wagner, University of San Diego