Even after an illustrious high school career, Brendan McKay has exceeded that success in hist first season at Louisville.
The pitcher earned the ACC freshman of the year award Monday, also earning spots on the all-ACC first team as a starting pitcher, all-ACC second team as a utility player and all-freshman team.
The former Blackhawk High pitcher and Darlington native was 8-2 in the regular season with a 1.64 ERA. He also led the conference with 100 strikeouts. And before he became a regular in the Cardinals' weekend rotation, he contributed four saves as a closer.
If that wasn’t enough, McKay’s versatility surfaced with an expanding playing role as designated hitter/first baseman for the Cardinals when he was not pitching. For that, he’s also in the running for the John Olerud Award for the nation's best two-way player after hitting .318 with 2 home runs, 29 RBIs and 4 stolen bases.
Blackhawk coach Bob Amalia said McKay’s honors are a big accomplishment. He also said McKay’s athletic ability as well as his calm and confidence set him apart from other young players and helped him be such a big part of Louisville’s team in his first season.
“I’m not surprised because I knew he would have success,” Amalia said. “He had that kind of ability and mind to be successful.”
As a senior at Blackhawk, McKay pitched 72⅓ consecutive scoreless innings to tie the second-longest streak in U.S. high school baseball history.
The Cardinals (42-14, 25-5), led by ACC coach of the year Dan McDonnell, sports a league-high five All-ACC first-team players as well as two second-teamers and two freshman team honorees. Louisville is the No. 1 seed heading into the ACC championships that begin Wednesday.
Megan Ryan: mryan@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1722 and Twitter @theothermegryan.
First Published: May 19, 2015, 4:00 a.m.