University of Houston Athletics
Sullivan Named Preseason All-American by NCBWA
11/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 13, 2002
HOUSTON - University of Houston pitcher Brad Sullivan was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association annual preseason All-America team on Wednesday.
Sullivan, who was the first consensus All-American in both UH and Conference USA history a year ago, was one of four starting pitchers named to the First Team and one of five C-USA honorees named to the three preseason squads.
A year ago, the Nederland, Texas, native threw to a 13-1 record with a 1.82 ERA and a UH single-season record 157 strikeouts. As the season went along, Sullivan became even stronger.
In his last 42.0 innings of work during the C-USA regular-season series finale against Tulane, the C-USA Tournament, the NCAA Regional at Mesa and the NCAA Super Regional at Austin, Sullivan surrendered only two runs and 24 hits for a 0.43 ERA while striking out 43.
The junior righthander continued his dominance in the summer as a member of Team USA. He posted a 7-0 record in the off-season with a paltry 0.72 ERA and 50 strikeouts in only 50.1 innings of work. He collected two wins, including a one-hitter in the series finale, during the USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series on the way to being named the Series Most Valuable Player.
Finally, he was recognized as the Summer National Player of the Year by Baseball America magazine in late August.
Tim Stauffer (Richmond), Justin Simmons (Texas) and Kyle Sleeth (Wake Forest) joined Sullivan as the First Team starting pitchers. Relief pitchers Huston Street (Texas) and James Russell (Villanova) also made the First Team.
Sullivan was one of three players from Conference USA to be named to the First Team, joining utility player Michael Aubrey (Tulane) and designated hitter Darryl Lawhorn (East Carolina).
Other Conference USA players represented the Preseason All-America Teams were outfielder Terry Trofholz (TCU, Second Team) and outfielder Mark Jurich (Louisville, Third Team).
Sullivan and the Cougars open the 2003 season on Feb., 7-9 at the Pepperdine Tournament in Malibu, Calif. The Cougars face UC Santa Barbara at 12:30 p.m., Feb. 7, in the tournament opener for both teams.
