May 20, 2003

RICHMOND, VA. - Old Dominion University sophomore righthander Justin Verlander (Goochland, VA.) was named first team All-CAA, as selected by the league coaches.

Verlander finished the 2003 season with a 7-6 record and a 2.46 earned run average. He led the CAA and ranked 25th nationally in strikeouts with 139 in 116.1 innings. He average 10.78 strikeouts per nine innings.

Verlander broke Kevin Bearse' ('87) single season strikeout mark with 139. Bearse, who is a member of the ODU Sports Hall of Fame and pitched for the Cleveland Indians in 1990 fanned 138 in 1985. Verlander just missed the record last year with 137 as a freshman. The CAA single season record is 143 set in 2000 by Mike Smith of Richmond.

Verlander fanned ten or more batters six times. His highest was a no decision against George Mason where he fanned 15 in eight innings. He defeated Vanderbilt, 2-0 and Oklahoma State, 2-1 this year, while losing to then 18th ranked Clemson, 2-0.

Eddie Kim of James Madison was named CAA Player of the Year, while Jeff Palumbo of George Mason was named CAA Defensive Player of the Year. Rookie of the Year honors went to William and Mary lefthander, Forrest Cory and VCU head coach Paul Keyes (ODU' 84) was named CAA Coach of the Year.

ALL CAA FIRST TEAM
C- Jeff Parrish	        VCU		OF- Jamie Hemmingway	UNCW
1b-Eddie Kim		JMU		OF- Mike Butia		JMU
2b- Nick Jones	        VCU		DH- Mike Costello	Towson
SS- Brian McKenna	Towson	        SP - Justin Orenduff	VCU
3b- Nick Shimer 	GMU		SP- Justin Verlander	ODU
OF- Michael Brown	W&M		RP - Cla Meredith	VCU