<p>For Immediate Release
Friday, January 19, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771</p>
<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy baseball junior right-handed pitcher/outfielder Mitch Harris (Mt. Holly, N.C.) has been ranked 15th in CSTV’s national Preseason Player of the Year poll, voted on by a panel of collegiate baseball writers.</p>
<p>In the past months leading up to the 2007 season, Harris has been selected a preseason All-American and a member of the Brooks Wallace Award (National Player of the Year) and Roger Clemens Award (National Pitcher of the Year) Watch Lists.</p>
<p>The right-hander from Mt. Holly, N.C., enjoyed a sophomore season in 2006 where he became the first pitcher in Patriot League history to win the Triple Crown (wins, ERA and strikeouts) in earning Patriot League Pitcher-of-the-Year honors. He tied the league’s single-season record with 10 wins, established a new Patriot League single-season strikeout record with 113 strikeouts and ranked second in league history with a 1.74 earned run average. The right-hander also was the only pitcher in the Patriot League in 2006 to sport an opposing batting average under .200 (.189) and a WHIP less than 1.00 (0.93).</p>
<p>In his final start of the 2006 season against Coppin State, Harris hurled the fifth complete-game no-hitter in the program history. The right-hander faced only one batter over the minimum and used 90 pitches, 64 of which were strikes, to record Navy’s first complete-game no-hitter in more than seven years. Harris struck out 12 batters in that contest, marking a career high and the seventh time he had fanned 10-plus batters in a game during his sophomore campaign.</p>
<p>Harris opened his sophomore year with wins in each of his first-seven starts, marking the first time a Navy pitcher had recorded the feat in 45 years. Over his final-five starts of the year, the right-hander hurler posted a miniscule 0.82 earned run average in 33.0 innings with 42 strikeouts, while holding the opposition to a .123 (14-for-114) batting average.</p>
<p>The right-hander was one of six pitchers that ranked among the top-35 pitchers in the country in strikeouts per nine innings, ERA and wins. Harris’ 12.30 strikeouts per nine innings placed him fourth in the nation, while his 1.74 earned run average ranked ninth and his 10 victories tied him for 34th. Of the other five pitchers, two were drafted among the overall top-10 picks (Brady Lincoln - Houston, Tim Lincecum - Washington) and two others were drafted in the first-four rounds (Steven Wright - Hawaii, Eddie Degerman - Rice).</p>
<p>Harris also significantly contributed at the plate as a sophomore, tying for the team-best batting average, hitting at a .333 clip (50-for-150). He belted nine doubles, two triples, one home run and drove in 27 runs. He posted 15 multi-hit efforts and seven multi-RBI performances, as well as recording a .412 (14-for-34) batting average during Patriot League action. The right-handed hitter will be expected to play in the outfield and as a designated hitter this year in non-pitching days. </p>
<p>Last season, the Midshipmen finished the year with a 32-21-1 record, winning 20 more games than the previous season for the largest win-improvement in school history.</p>
<p>Navy will open its 2007 slate with a three-game series in Tallahassee, Fla., against Florida A&M on Feb. 9-11.</p>
<p>2007 CSTV Preseason Player of the Year</p>
<p>Pl. Name, School Points
- Wes Roemer, Cal State-Fullerton 76
- Sean Doolittle, Virginia 65
- Kellen Kulbacki, James Madison 58
- Joe Savery, Rice 53
- Pedro Alvarez, Vanderbilt 46
- Matt Wieters, Georgia Tech 35
- David Price, Vanderbilt 29
- Jemile Weeks, Miami (Fla.) 23
- Cole St. Clair, Rice 17
- Andy D’Alessio, Clemson 15
Receiving Votes: Nick Schmidt (Arkansas), Damon Sublett (Wichita St.), Jake Arrieta (TCU), J.P. Arenciba (Tennessee), MITCH HARRIS (NAVY), Emeel Salem (Alabama), Matt LaPorta (Florida), Alex Wilson (Winthrop), Amiel Traynum (Cal St. Northridge), Chad Flack (North Carolina), Charlie Gamble (N.C. A&T), Josh Horton (North Carolina), Wrandal Taylor (Prairie View A&M), Zack Cozart (Mississippi), Steven Strausbaugh (Western Carolina), Nick Chigges (C. of Charleston), Marcus Davis (Alcorn State), Calvin Lester (Prairie View A&M), Darwin Barney (Oregon State).</p>