USA – Texas Longhorns sophomore right-hander Chance Ruffin was named to the 2009 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Pro-Line Athletics Preseason All-America Team, the NCBWA announced on Tuesday. He was tabbed a third-team starting pitcher.

Ruffin was arguably the best freshman starting pitcher in the nation in 2008. In 10 starts, he went 7-0 with a 1.56 ERA, while striking out 60 over 57.2 innings. Ruffin was named the Big 12 Conference Freshman Pitcher of the Year, posting an 8-3 record with a 1.96 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 78 innings. He held opponents to a .191 batting average for the season.

The northpaw was one of just two freshmen nationally to earn All-America honors from Baseball America in 2008. Ruffin was also named to the Louisville Slugger’s Freshman All-American Team by Collegiate Baseball and the Pro-Line Athletics Freshman All-American Team by the NCBWA.

Ruffin was one of just three Big 12 players to be named to one of the three All-America teams, joining second-team SP Tyler Lyons (Oklahoma State) and third-team OF Aaron Senne (Missouri).

Courtesy: University of Texas Athletics

Tags: NCAA