McKay, Ray Named NCBWA All-Americans
June 10, 2015 | Baseball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Freshman Brendan McKay and sophomore Corey Ray of the Louisville baseball team received All-America honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association on Wednesday afternoon.
McKay (Darlington, Pa.) was named First Team All-America as a utility player while Ray (Chicago, Ill.) was a Second Team selection as an outfielder. They join pitchers Zack Burdi and Kyle Funkhouser, who were Third Team All-America selections by Collegiate Baseball newspaper, giving the Cardinals four different players with All-America honors this season.
Having previously earned NCBWA Freshman All-America honors and chosen as the ACC Freshman of the Year, McKay had a 9-3 record with a 1.77 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 96.2 innings and 20 appearances on the mound, including 13 straight weekend starts. An All-ACC First Team selection as a pitcher and a Second Team honoree as a utility player, McKay hit .308 with four home runs, 34 RBI, 38 walks and 32 runs scored in 58 starts as a hitter.
An All-ACC First Team selection, Ray hit .325, 11 home runs, 56 RBI, 34 stolen bases (in 44 attempts), 15 doubles, five triples and 46 runs scored while starting all 65 games. Starting multiple games in each of the three outfield positions this season, Ray gained national attention on April 18 by stealing home in the bottom of the ninth inning to score the game-winning run and complete a series sweep of visiting Wake Forest.
Both Ray and McKay will report to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in Cary, N.C., on June 18. Ray accepted a spot on the team last month, while McKay will look to earn a spot on the 24-man roster during the team trials.
In Dan McDonnell's nine seasons as head coach, Louisville has produced a total of 22 All-American selections. The Cardinals ended the 2015 season with a 47-18 record after advancing to their third straight NCAA Super Regional.
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