Sophomore Ryan Richter picked up his first victory of the season on Tuesday night.

Ryan Richter Named Freshman All-American

June 3, 2009

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame rising sophomore Ryan Richter was named to the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-America Team, as announced Wednesday. The southpaw was one of 20 rookie pitchers and the only from any BIG EAST Conference school to make the squad.

Richter (South Bend, Ind.) posted a 5-2 record and 3.86 ERA in 2009, recording 19 strikeouts and 17 walks in 30.1 innings. He made 13 appearances for the Irish, including three starts. Richter registered victories against Valparaiso, Central Michigan, Toledo, Michigan and Louisville. He was at his best out of the Notre Dame bullpen. In 10 relief outings, Richter went 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 21.1 innings. He allowed just 13 hits and punched out 12.

In BIG EAST action, Richter logged a perfect 1-0 mark and compiled a 1.42 ERA in 6.1 innings of work over four relief appearances, including 3.0 scoreless and hitless innings of relief against Louisville. In fact, Richter yielded just one hit in those appearances and foes batted just .059.

Notre Dame baseball players now have combined for 21 Freshman All-America seasons, dating back to 1990. The Irish have featured at least one Freshman All-American in 11 of the past 13 seasons (all but 2003, 2008), including seven others in the current decade: outfielder Brian Stavisky (2000), second baseman Steve Sollmann (’01), right-handed pitchers Grant Johnson (’02), Jeff Samardzija (’03) and Kyle Weiland (’06), third basemen Brett Lilley (’05) and A.J. Pollock (’07).

Notre Dame’s 20 previous Freshman All-Americans include eight who were named to the more selective Baseball America teams (which are TBA, as is the Rivals.com Freshman All-America team). Those who have been named BA first team Freshman All-Americans include the likes of infielder Brant Ust (’97), RHP Aaron Heilman and Stavisky, plus RHP David Sinnes (’90) and the second base duo of Greg Layson (’91) and Sollmann (’01). Johnson and outfielder Paul Failla (’92) – who later converted to shortstop – were named second team Freshman All-Americans by Baseball America.

— ND —