Cavalier Corner

August 2013

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said. "He really can run. He can get down the line really quick and has the ability to beat out an infield single. He moves well and is quick. He's one of those special athletes you get at this level." The fact McCarthy drew so many walks (ranking sixth nationally) and reached base safely in 36 straight games at the start of the year wasn't a skill he just developed overnight. "Throughout my entire career, I've been a patient hitter," McCarthy said. "I don't really like to chase pitches. I felt I really was seeing the ball this past year, which helped me not chase pitches." Like any good player regardless of level, McCarthy had to make adjustments during the course of the season. "Early in the year, I was being really patient," he said. "Later in the year, you saw my walk totals go down and I got more base hits. Pitchers saw I was a patient hitter. If I got a pitch that I liked I would take a hack at it." Best Of The Rest Nobody appreciated McCarthy's patience more than O'Connor, who slotted him in the No. 3 spot in UVa's lineup. "When you're playing at this level of baseball and start to hit in the middle of the lineup, you learn how teams are going to pitch you is going to change once they get a scouting report," O'Connor said. "You're constantly making adjustments. Joe had to understand he had to make adjustments through the entire season in order to be successful in terms of how pitchers were going to try to get him out." McCarthy's defensive play as UVa's right fielder was overshadowed at times by his offensive stats. But O'Connor, for one, didn't take McCarthy's defense for granted. "He made some spectacular catches throughout the spring," O'Connor said. "He's a very, very good defensive outfielder because he can run and has good baseball instincts in terms of the routes he takes to the ball." ◆ 1. Mac Styslinger, Tennis — The rookie teamed with fourth-year Jarmere Jenkins to win the NCAA doubles championship and was an integral singles player who earned All-ACC honors. He compiled a 30‑9 record in singles while playing primarily at the No. 4 slot, and he also notched 16 doubles victories in the No. 1 slot. He qualified for the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships, was named an All-American and claimed a spot on the NCAA's alltournament team as a doubles player. 2. Luke Papendick, Swimming and Diving — The native of Kinnelon, N.J., was named the ACC Freshman of the Year award after he earned a runner-up finish in the 200-yard backstroke. Papendick went on to win the event's consolation final at the NCAA Championships en route to an honorable mention All-America certificate. His time of 1:41.50 set a school record. 3. George DiCamillo, Wrestling — The Highland Heights, Ohio, native finished his debut campaign with a record of 33-10 en route to claiming the ACC title — Virginia's only one in 2013 — at 133 pounds. He reached the round of 12 at the NCAA Championships, where he fell one win shy of All-America status, and was named the wrestling Rookie of the Year and a first-team all-state pick by the Virginia Sports Information Directors. 4. Tanner Scales, Lacrosse — The rookie continued Virginia's tradition of earning the ACC Freshman of the Year award — he is the 11th Cavalier to do so in program history — but he is just the second UVa defensemen to ever do so, joining Mike Schattner in 1988. The Denver native led the nation's freshmen with 25 caused turnovers. 5. Connor Rog, Cross Country — Rog was named the ACC Freshman of the Year after he finished the 2012 ACC Cross Country Championships in 18th place, making him the first rookie to cross the finish line. — Ryan Tice

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