Zack Pitts

Height:
6-3
Weight:
190
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Elizabethtown, Kentucky
High School:
Elizabethtown HS

Drafted in the 24th Round by the St. Louis Cardinals
2008 Preseason BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year
2008 Preseason NCBWA All-American
2008 Preseason Louisville Slugger All-American
2008 Wallace Watch list
2007 BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year
2007 First team All-BIG EAST
2006 NECBL All-Star

2008: Went 6-5 with a 4.90 ERA in his senior season, striking out 71 in 75.1 IP. Drafted in the 24th round of the MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Notched his sixth win of the season with seven strong innings against Rutgers(5/16), giving up two runs on four hits and two walks, striking out three. Used five pitches to retire the side in order, striking out one at IU (5/6). Tossed seven shutout innings, scattering four hits in win at GU(5/3) on Derby Day, striking out six. Worked a scoreless ninth to earn his first career save, preserving a shutout of MSU(4/29). Notched win number five with 6.1 innings against Villanova (4/18). Picked up the win in the BIG EAST opener over UConn(3/20) with a solid six innings. Worked a tidy seven innings, facing five over the minimum, matching his career-high with nine strikeouts in win over Kent (3/14). Tossed seven innings, allowing a run on four hits and a walk while striking out six to earn the win against N.C. State (2/29). Picked up a win in his first start of the season, twirling 5.1 scoreless innings, striking out seven against CSU(2/22a) in the opener.

2007: Named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year and first team All-BIG EAST, posting a school record-tying 10 wins, adding a 2.52 ERA while tossing a school record 121.2 innings. Tied for the league lead in wins and starts (18), was second in innings, third in K's(91), and 6th in opponents average (.231). Ranks third in U of L history with a 3.58 ERA entering the 2008 season. Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 30th round of the 2007 MLB Draft. Logged seven shutout innings, guiding the Cards to a Super Regional win over OSU(6/8), also tying the single season win record(10), and establishing a new standard for single season innings (117.0) on a day he was selected in the 20th round by the Nationals. Permitted one earned in 2.1 IP out of the bullpen, striking out two on one day's rest to pick up the win over Miami (6/3). Worked 6.2 innings of no-hit baseball in opening game of BIG EAST Championship against Villanova (5/22). Spun eight masterful innings in win over Notre Dame(5/12), allowing a run on four hits and a walk, striking out five. Continued his All-America-caliber season with eight strong innings at Seton hall (4/20), allowing a run on five hits and a walk, striking out four in the win. Was masterful in complete-game win at UConn(4/13), scattering six hits and a walk while striking out seven. Retired the final ten batters, notching 1-2-3 seventh, eighth and ninth innings. Allowed just one hit and two baserunners over eight innings in win over Pitt (4/5), striking out eight. Made seventh consecutive quality start, allowing one earned run and striking out five in 6.2 IP against WVU (4/1). Notched a career-best nine strikeouts in seven shutout innings at Villanova (3/24). Worked eight shutout innings and carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning in win over Xavier (3/16). Set a new career-best with eight innings of work, allowing two earned runs and striking out five in win over Indiana State (3/9). Tallied seven-plus innings, tying a career-high with seven K's in win over Illinois State (3/2). Retired 11 straight at one point and faced two over the minimum through seven. Hard-luck loser at Stetson (2/23), allowing four unearned runs in 5.1 IP, striking out a career-high seven. Made his 2007 debut as the ace of the staff in 4-0 win over Northwestern State (2/16), pitching five scoreless innings, while striking out three and not allowing a baserunner to third, picking up the win.

2006: Took the hill 14 times, working 31.1 innings as a sophomore. Twirled a scoreless inning of relief in Senior Day win over Seton Hall (5/20). Earned a win in his first career start, tossing a career-long 5.2 innings, allowing a run while scattering eight hits and three walks against Evansville (4/11). Allowed a hit and struck out three in two scoreless innings in shutout win at GU (4/8). Twirled a perfect frame in win over EKU (3/29). Put in a scoreless frame of work at Georgia (3/11). Tossed a perfect frame at EKU (3/17). Made an impressive season debut with three innings of one-hit ball, striking out two at FAU (2/17).

2005: Made five appearances in his freshman campaign. Pitched a perfect sixth in shutout of Evansville (5/17). Put in two solid innings in win over Butler (5/10), picking up his first two college strikeouts. Tossed a perfect eighth in win at SLU (4/23a).

High School: Lettered twice in basketball and four times in baseball as a pitcher and infielder. Named All-State as a junior and senior Named News-Enterprise Player of the Year, team MVP, team captain, Wendy's HS Heismann recipient and Gatorade Player of the Year from his HS. Went 7-1 with three saves, 86 strikeouts and a 1.58 ERA as a senior.

Personal: Born 3/30/86 in Elizabethtown, Kentucky to Jeffrey and Rhonda Pitts. Has one older brother. Is majoring in finance. Before the Cardinals won the Super Regional in Louisville, advancing to the College World Series in Omaha, his biggest thrill in sports was winning the Connie Mack World Series in 2004. His hobbies and interests include training dogs, trucks, pool and ping pong. His favorite movies are 300 and Shooter. Also likes to watch Nip/Tuck, Entourage and Rock of Love on TV. Listens to country and rock music. Michael Jordan, Mariano Rivera and Cal Ripken Jr. are his favorite athletes. Favorite foods include Trix, Twix, and steak and potatoes. The Orioles are his favorite team. His dream dinner guests are Dane Cook, Abe Lincoln and Jessica Simpson. His uncle Larry Gilbert plays golf on the Senior PGA Tour, and his brother Jay played at Bellarmine. Not many people know that he has an 18" steel rod in his left femur.

Pitts' Career StatsYear       ERA   W-L   App  GS  CG SHO/CBO  SV    IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO2005.... 15.19   0-0     5   0   0   0/1     0   5.1   10    9    9    3    22006....  5.74   1-1    14   4   0   0/1     0  31.1   42   20   20   11   232007....  2.52  10-3    20  18   1   0/3     0 121.2  105   47   34   24   912008....  4.90   6-5    18  14   0   0/1     1  75.1   88   51   41   22   71TOTAL...  4.01  17-9    57  36   1   0/6     1 233.2  245  127  104   60  187

Conference GamesYear       ERA   W-L   App  GS  CG SHO/CBO  SV    IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO2005....  0.00   0-0     1   0   0   0/0     0   1.0    0    0    0    0    02006....  6.75   0-0     4   0   0   0/1     0   6.2   11    5    5    0    62007....  2.22   4-2     9   9   1   0/0     0  65.0   56   21   16    9   472008....  5.73   3-4     9   9   0   0/0     0  48.2   60   39   31   14   41TOTAL...  3.86   7-6    23  18   1   0/1     0 121.1  127   65   52   23   94