Latest news with #NationalPitcheroftheYear
USA Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
UNC baseball ace named finalist for National Pitcher of the Year award
UNC baseball ace named finalist for National Pitcher of the Year award All year long, one pitcher for North Carolina has dominated over all others. Undefeated ace Jake Knapp, already named ACC Pitcher of the Year, is now one of five finalists for the National Pitcher of the Year from the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Knapp joins Gabe Craig from Baylor, Jacob Morrison from Coastal Carolina, Zan Taylor from UNC Wilmington, and Dylan Volantis from Texas. Three of the five finalists for the NPOY award hail from the Carolinas. Knapp finished his 2025 campaign with a 13-0 record and a 1.98 ERA. In 14 starts and 15 appearances, he threw 95.1 innings, allowing 21 earned runs on 63 hits with 85 strikeouts. Opposing batters hit .186 against the star pitcher. Knapp was tied with Zane Taylor for the third lowest ERA in the nation, just a hundreth over Evan Dempsey from FGCU. The Tar Heels ace also led all of college baseball with 13 wins on the season, tied with Ricky Ojeda from UC Irvine; however, Ojeda lost a game, Knapp hasn't. It is clear why the graduate right-hander is one of the best in the business, and he is getting the necessary recognition on the team, conference, and national levels. The winner of the prestigous award will be announced on June 13th, just a week and a half away. The inception of this award was in 2009, and since then, no UNC baseball pitcher has won the award. Knapp has a chance to not only be recognized as the best, but he can make UNC history in the process. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Patrick Mahomes goes through the emotions during Texas Tech's dramatic walk-off win over Oklahoma at WCWS
Patrick Mahomes, seen here during a Red Raiders basketball game, is a fan of all things Texas Tech. (John E.) Patrick Mahomes is in many ways most certainly not like the rest of us. But he was every sports fan while watching his Red Raiders in Monday's dramatic Women's College World Series semifinal. The former Red Raiders quarterback hasn't been in the stands for Texas Tech's WCWS run, but he's been keeping a close watch. And he was rewarded on Monday during arguably the most exciting game of the tournament. Advertisement Texas Tech held a 2-0 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning and was three outs away from securing a spot in the championship series against Texas and eliminating juggernaut Oklahoma, which has won the last four WCWS titles. All-America pitcher and National Pitcher of the Year NiJaree Canady secured the first two outs of the inning to get within one out of a complete game shutout for Texas Tech. She worked Oklahoma junior Abigale Dayton to an 0-2 count. But she didn't get the third strike. With a runner on first, Dayton lifted Canady's 0-2 offering over the right-field wall to tie the game at 2-2 and keep Oklahoma's championship hopes alive. Just seconds later, Mahomes reacted on social media. He was understandably disappointed. Canady got the third out of the inning with no more damage, and Texas Tech still faced a chance to win the game in regulation in the bottom of the seventh. Advertisement There, the Red Raiders put runners on second and third base with one out on a single by Mihyia Davis and a double by Hailey Toney. Lauren Allred took the plate with multiple avenues to plate the game-winning run. She delivered with a sacrifice run to right field. Davis tagged up from third base, and the throw home missed the target, allowing Davis to score the walk-off winner without a play at the plate for a 3-2 Texas Tech win. Mahomes reacted again, his mood having taken a dramatic turn for the better. Mahomes' Chiefs started a round of OTAs on Monday that will end on Wednesday, the same day as Texas Tech's Game 1 against Texas. So he'll have a chance to catch at least one game in person if he decides to make the trek from Kansas City to Oklahoma City. But even if he doesn't, he'll almost certainly be watching as the Red Raiders seek to win the program's first national championship against an in-state rival.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Patrick Mahomes goes through the emotions during Texas Tech's dramatic walk-off win over Oklahoma at WCWS
Patrick Mahomes, seen here during a Red Raiders basketball game, is a fan of all things Texas Tech. (John E.) Patrick Mahomes is in many ways most certainly not like the rest of us. But he was every sports fan while watching his Red Raiders in Monday's dramatic Women's College World Series semifinal. The former Red Raiders quarterback hasn't been in the stands for Texas Tech's WCWS run, but he's been keeping a close watch. And he was rewarded on Monday during arguably the most exciting game of the tournament. Advertisement Texas Tech held a 2-0 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning and was three outs away from securing a spot in the championship series against Texas and eliminating juggernaut Oklahoma, which has won the last four WCWS titles. All-America pitcher and National Pitcher of the Year NiJaree Canady secured the first two outs of the inning to get within one out of a complete game shutout for Texas Tech. She worked Oklahoma junior Abigale Dayton to an 0-2 count. But she didn't get the third strike. With a runner on first, Dayton lifted Canady's 0-2 offering over the right field wall to tie the game at 2-2 and keep Oklahoma's championship hopes alive. Just seconds later, Mahomes reacted on social media. He was understandably disappointed. Canady got the third out of the inning with no more damage, and Texas Tech still faced a chance to win the game in regulation in the bottom of the seventh. Advertisement There, the Red Raiders put runners on second and third base with one out on a single by Mihyia Davis and a double by Hailey Toney. Lauren Allred took the plate with multiple avenues to plate the game-winning run. She delivered with a sacrifice run to right field. Davis tagged up from third base, and the throw home missed the target, allowing Davis to score the walk-off winner without a play at the plate for a 3-2 Texas Tech win. Mahomes reacted again, his mood having taken a dramatic turn for the better. Mahomes' Chiefs started a round of OTA's on Monday that will end on Wednesday, the same day as Texas Tech's Game 1 against Texas. So he'll have a chance to catch at least one game in person if he decides to make the trek from Kansas City to Oklahoma City. But even if he doesn't, he'll almost certainly be watching as the Red Raiders seek to win the program's first national championship against an in-state rival.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tennessee upsets top-seeded Texas to reach semifinals of SEC Tournament
HOOVER, Ala. (WATE) — Gavin Kilen drove in three runs in extra innings to help lead the Vols to a 7-5 win over top-seeded Texas in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. SEC Pitcher of the Year Liam Doyle was given the start, but he struggled. The Vols fell behind 4-0 after four innings. Tennessee's offense came alive in the back half of the game. Cannon Peebles brought home Tennessee's first two runs with a single to center. Liam Doyle named National Pitcher of the Year semifinalist UT put two more on the board in the sixth inning. Dean Curly had a bases-loaded walk, and Reese Chapman drove in his 48th RBI of the season with a sac fly. The game went to extra innings. Kilen gave Tennessee its first lead with his 15th home run of the year, but Texas drew even on an RBI single by Kimble Schuessler. It took till the 12th inning to break the tie again. Kilen smacked a double into the right-center gap. Peebles and Jay Abernathy both scored. Tennessee's Danny White named Athletic Director of the Year Brandon Arvidson pitched one of the best games of his career. He threw 5.1 innings with nine strikeouts and no earned runs. Nate Snead closed the game down by completing 2.2 innings with three strikeouts. UP NEXT: The Vols advance to the semifinals, where they'll face the winner between Oklahoma and Vanderbilt. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Two Lady Vols earn First-Team All-America honors
Two Lady Vols earn First-Team All-America honors Tennessee softball players Karlyn Pickens and Taylor Pannell, have been named First-Team All-America by Softball America. Pickens was also recognized as the organization's 2025 National Pitcher of the Year. A two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year, Pickens (22-8), leads the nation with a 0.90 ERA. She has recorded 252 strikeouts. Pickens, a five-time All-America performer, has appeared in 37 games, including 27 starts. She has pitched 186.1 innings and recorded 20 complete games and six shutouts. Pannell, a redshirt sophomore, has a career-best .399 batting average in 2025, while totaling 15 home runs, 62 RBIs. She has recorded 65 hits, including 11 doubles, two triples and nine stolen bases. Pannell, a Milan, Illinois native and two-time First-Team All-SEC performer, has posted a .502 on-base percentage and a .767 slugging percentage. She was also named to the NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region Team, receiving first-team honors. Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
