MSSU Athletics
Justin Maskus, Athletic Media Relations Director
JOPLIN, Mo. – Missouri Southern senior lefty Zach Parish is the consensus Division II National Pitcher of the Year as the American Baseball Coaches Association gave Parish their honor today.
Already named the Natioanl Pitcher of the Year by both the Baseball Writers and D2 Conference Commissioner’s Association, Parish is now a consensus National Pitcher of the Year after the ABCA Announcement.
Parish has racked up the awards this season. The Tahlequah, Okla. native was the MIAA Pitcher of the Year, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Region and National Pitcher of the Year, the American Baseball Coaches Association Regional and National Pitcher of the Year, as well as the D2CCA Regional and National Pitcher of the Year. He was a first-team All-MIAA, All-Region and All-American selection by each organization.
Parish became the NCAA Division II all-time leader in strikeouts this season as he ended his career with 488 strikeouts. Parish tied his MSSU single-season record with 136 this year. Parish also finished the season with the best single-season ERA for a starter in MSSU history (1.21) and the second-best career ERA for a starter (2.16).
This season, Parish led the MIAA and ranked third nationally in strikeouts. He was second in the MIAA and third nationally in wins, while ranking first in the MIAA and eighth nationally in WHIP. He ranked first in the MIAA and fifth nationally in hits allowed per nine innings, while ranking first in the MIAA and second nationally in ERA. Parish was the active career leader in all of college baseball (d1, d2, d3) in wins, strikeouts, innings pitched and starts. Parish finished the season with an 11-1 record and a 1.21 ERA. HE struck out 136 batters, while walking just 25 and held opposing batters to a .162 batting average.
The ABCA All-America team and Pitchers and Players of the Year were first recognized in 1949 and now includes nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and high school. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007.