VERLANDER NAMED CAA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Old Dominion University baseball player Justin Verlander of Goochland, Va., has been selected CAA Rookie of the Year by the league's coaches.

The 6-4 righthander led the CAA with a 1.90 earned run average and 137 strikeouts in 113.2 innings. He was also selected CAA Pitcher of he Week and Collegiate Baseball News National Player of the Week.

A freshman, Verlander fanned 10 or more batters five times, including an Old Dominion-record 17 in the 2-0 victory over James Madison last Friday night. The season strikeout total is the second highest season mark in CAA and ODU history.

Verlander was involved in all four Monarchs' shutouts this season, and opponents batted just .207 against him. Of the 83 hits he gave up this season, only 15 were for extra-bases and only two of those were home runs. Verlander threw eight complete games and averaged 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

Verlander has been selected CAA Pitcher of the Week twice this year. The single season ODU school record for strikeouts is 138 set in 1985 by All-American and former Major Leaguer Kevin Bearse.