April 22, 2002

NORFOLK, VA. - BASEBALL AMERICA magazine has selected Old Dominion University freshman pitcher Justin Verlander (Goochland, VA.) to its mid-season Freshmen All-America team.

Verlander joins freshmen pitchers Garry Bakker of North Carolina, Phil Humber of Rice, Glenn Swanson of UC Irvine, and Taylor Tankersley of Alabama. Also on the mid-season squad are Devin Ivany (c) of South Florida, Vance Sinisi (1b) of Rice, Eric Patterson (2b) of Georgia Tech, Dave Nicholson(3b) of California, Paul Janish(ss) Rice, outfielders Jeremy Slayden of Georgia Tech, Seth Smith of Mississippi, and Clay Timpner of Central Florida, designated hitter Darryl Lawhorn of East Carolina and Tim Layden of Duke.

Although just 4-5, Verlander ranks among the nations top 20 with a 1.89 earned run average. He has 91 strikeouts in 85.2 innings and has six complete games in 11 starts with two shutouts. In four CAA games, Verlander has a 1.95 earned run average, but the Monarchs have scored only two runs in those games.

ODU hosts Radford Tuesday at 3 p.m.