Sept. 3, 2014 RENO, Nev. - The University of Nevada baseball team named its summer players of the year, head coach Jay Johnson announced Wednesday. Junior Adam Whitt and sophomore Austin Dick are the Wolf Pack's summer league pitchers of the year, while junior Ryan Howell and freshman Cal Stevenson earned position player of the year honors.
"Summer baseball is a huge part of player development in our program," said Johnson, who enters his second season at Nevada after guiding the Pack to 31 wins last season. "Adam, Austin, Ryan and Cal had terrific summers and represented Nevada in a tremendous manner on the field."
Whitt, a 6-foot-3 native of Carson City, Nev., led the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod League in wins despite pitching out of the bullpen in each appearance. Whitt allowed just five runs in 36 innings of work, tallying a perfect 5-0 record on the mound. Whitt also led the team in ERA (1.00), strikeouts (34) and saves (4). Whitt was named to the Cape Cod League All-Star team and was named CCL Reliever of the Year. As a sophomore, Whitt posted a 3.71 ERA and pitched over 53 innings for the Pack.
Dick also pitched out of the bullpen in every appearance and posted his team's best ERA, leading the Marysville Gold Sox to a Horizon Air Summer Series championship and a 40-7 record. The Rocklin, Calif., native pitched 34.1 innings with a 1.05 ERA, 3-0 record and six saves. Dick allowed just four earned runs, surrendering 21 hits in over 34 innings of work. As a true freshman, Dick saw appearances in five games last spring for Nevada.
Howell, who will join Nevada this fall after playing at Chabot College in 2013, led the Green Bay Bullfrogs of the Northwoods League in hits (58), RBI (44), runs (45) and doubles (14). Howell provided nearly half of Green Bay's home runs with 11 on the season. Last year, Howell led Chabot College with a .317 batting average.
Stevenson was named to the California Collegiate League All-League Team after batting .392 for the PUF Caps this summer. A 5-foot-9 two-way player, Stevenson ranked fourth in the league in batting average and stolen bases (12). Stevenson is a native of Fremont, Calif.
Nevada will open its 2015 season on Feb. 13 at Abilene Christian, kicking off a three-game series in Abilene, Texas.
Nevada Pitchers of the Year
Name Pos. Class Team
Austin Dick RHP So. Marysville Gold Sox (Horizon Air Summer Series)
Adam Whitt RHP Jr. Cotuit Kettleers (Cape Cod League)
Nevada Position Players of the Year
Name Pos. Class Team
Ryan Howell 1B/RF Jr. Green Bay Bullfrogs (Northwoods League)
Cal Stevenson OF Fr. PUF Caps (California Collegiate League)
