Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/146817
No Average Joe A By Mike Scandura s a prep baseball player, Joe McCarthy hit .500 as a senior at Scranton (Pa.) High and was voted conference player of the year. On the football field, where he doubled as a quarterback and a running back, he finished his career with 2,275 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns; 283 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns; and 1,608 passing yards plus 10 touchdown passes. male rookie of the year joe mccarthy Yet when it came time to choose a sport to play in college, he didn't need long to decide which one he would play at Virginia. "During my junior year a couple of schools showed interest in me for football, but I let them know baseball was what I wanted to play," said McCarthy, who is UVa's Male Rookie of the Year. "Ever since I was a little kid, baseball was what I wanted Baseball's Joe McCarthy Was A Hit With His Bat And His Glove to play. I enjoyed football and basketball [he led his high school team to a pair of district titles and three league championships]. But I don't know what I would do if I didn't have baseball. "It was pretty easy to make my decision." McCarthy certainly made it look "easy" on the baseball diamond last season. He was named to the Louisville Slugger and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Freshman All-America teams, and was voted the ACC Freshman of the Year and second-team All-ACC. Not only did McCarthy hit a robust .336, but he also drove in 51 runs, scored 48, posted a .469 onbase percentage and tied the school record for walks in a season (54). Moreover, he didn't drop off during the NCAA Tournament. He hit .438 (7 for 16), which earned him regional all-tournament team honors. "Joe showed quickly in the fall that he was somebody we needed in our lineup every day," head coach Brian O'Connor said. "He stood out as somebody who was ready to make an impact in our lineup and that he was going to be consistent.