Feb. 2, 2007
WACO, Texas -- Baylor junior right-hander Nick Cassavechia was named to the 2007 Stopper of the Year Watch List, announced Friday by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Cassavechia joined Texas sophomore Austin Wood as the only Big 12 pitchers on the 35-man list.
A product of St. Mark's High School in Dallas, Texas, Cassavechia posted a 3-4 record with eight saves and a 3.03 ERA as a sophomore in 2006. He stranded 24 of 27 inherited runners (88.9 percent) and held a lead or a tie in 16 of 18 opportunities (88.9 percent). Cassavechia was dominate when entering a game as opponents were 2-for-25 (.080) in first at bats against the Baylor closer.
Cassavechia's 2006 saves total tied for the sixth-best tally in school history. He tied fellow Bear Jeff Mandel for fourth in the Big 12 last season in saves. Cassavechia and Mandel, who moves to the starting rotation for 2007, are the two top returning pitchers in saves in the conference this year.
Baylor opens its 2007 season Feb. 9-11 at the Minute Maid Park College Classic. The Bears face Houston at 7 p.m. Friday, Rice at 7 p.m. Saturday and Vanderbilt at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
