The University of Mississippi Athletics
Bittle Named Preseason All-America By Baseball Writers
12/16/2008 | Baseball
OXFORD, Miss. Ole Miss senior reliever Scott Bittle has been named as a preseason first team All-America selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association, the organization announced on Tuesday.
This is the second preseason award for the Rebel, as the right-handed hurler was also named to the preseason Brooks Wallace Watch List for Player of the Year.
Bittle is the top returning pitcher for the Rebels as the right-handed closer chose to return to Ole Miss for his senior season after being drafted by the New York Yankees with the 75th overall pick of the 2008 MLB Draft. He also garnered All-America honors from Baseball America, Rivals.com and the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association.
As a junior last season, Bittle led the nation in strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched and tallied 130 strikeouts on the season. The 130 strikeouts is third all-time on the single season list behind Lance Lynn and Will Kline, who set the top two marks during the 2007 season.
The junior led the Southeastern Conference in strikeouts during the regular season, earning All-SEC Second Team honors as he also was named a semi-finalist for the Clemens Award and the Stopper of the Year.
Bittle posted an 7-1 mark on the season, picking up wins in relief over Mississippi State, No. 6 Vanderbilt, at No. 8 Georgia, Auburn, at No. 20 Kentucky and against No. 12 Missouri to send the Rebels to the NCAA Coral Gables Regional Championship game. In the win over Missouri, Bittle struck out a career-high 12 batters in 4.1 innings pitched and accounted for all 13 outs in his time on the mound.
Bittle also posted eight saves on the season, including preserving Rebel victories over Southern Miss, LSU, at No. 10 South Carolina, Arkansas and No. 6 Georgia in the SEC Tournament.
Ole Miss will open the 2009 campaign on February 20, 2009 at South Alabama in a weekend tournament.
