Perritt Named to Initial NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
2/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Liberty's Ashton Perritt is one of 37 pitchers named to the initial watch list for the 11th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball. The honor is annually given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I.
Perritt, who also starts in the outfield, has been named to a 2015 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America team by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, as a relief pitcher. The two-way player has also been named to the 2015 Preseason D1Baseball.com All-American team as a utility player.
The Whiteland, Ind., native was a member of the midseason and final NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List and selected to the Big South All-Conference second team, last season. In addition, he was named to the VaSID All-State first team as a utility player.
The right-hander posted a 1-2 record with 1.52 ERA and a career-high 12 saves over 29 2/3 innings in 2014 and his 12 saves were second in the Big South and the second most in a single season by a Liberty pitcher. In addition, he struck out 28 batters and walked five in 21 appearances for the 41-18 Flames, who made their second consecutive NCAA Regional Appearance in 2014.
Perrit was selected by the Atlanta Braves as a pitcher during the 17th round of the 2014 Major League Draft, but decided to return to Liberty for his senior year.
Perritt will enter 2015 ranked second all-time in program history with 22 career saves. He has led the Flames in saves each of the past two seasons.
At the conclusion of the regular season, the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award. The NCBWA's All-American Committee will select the winner, with this year's recipient being announced during the College World Series.
Liberty, ranked as high as No. 23 in the preseason polls, will open its 2015 campaign at No. 19 Kennesaw State, this Friday in the Atlanta Challenge. The Owls were an NCAA Super Regional Participant in 2014. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. The Flames will also visit Georgia State, Saturday and Georgia Tech, Sunday as part of the Atlanta Challenge during collegiate baseball's opening weekend.
