Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1500454
JUNE 2023 23 with a deep postseason run has a real shot at the program's all-time strikeout record. The Cavaliers finished unbeaten in non- conference action at a remarkable 25-0. It was the first time in program history UVA went an entire year without a non-conference loss in the regular season. In fact, UVA was the first college baseball team since 2015 and only the third since 2009 to go unblemished in non-conference action. The unprecedented success was in large part due to Early, a third- year transfer at Army West Point, a traditional power in the Patriot League. Early enjoyed a tremendous amount of success for the Black Knights and was named the 2022 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year. Early slid into the midweek starter role for the Cavaliers in 2023 and flourished. He posted a 10-1 mark with a 3.18 ERA and a staff-best 78 strikeouts in 65 innings. He became the 13th pitcher in Cavalier history to win 10 wins in a season and the first since Connor Jones in 2016. The Atlantic Coast Con- ference coaches rewarded him with third-team All-ACC recognition. "Whenever my name is called, I'm ready to be there," Early said after UVA's final midweek start against Radford May 10. Parker bounced back from injury in admi- rable fashion, picking up pivotal wins against Duke, Louisville and Georgia Tech in his final regular-season starts. One of the most expe- rienced pitchers in college baseball, Parker is 6-0 on the mound, and UVA is 10-2 in games he's started. Over the course of the last five seasons, he's started 52 games, 40 at Coastal Carolina and 12 this season for the Cavaliers. The 52 starts are the second most by any ac- tive pitcher in Division I baseball. Edgington has been UVA's most consistent starter over the course of the 2023 season and has turned in some big time perfor- mances. Four of his 7 wins have come against conference foes, including a signature perfor- mance of the season against Miami April 7. The well-traveled right-hander pitched seven innings of 1-run baseball and struck out 10 batters, the second of his two double-digit strikeout performances on the year. Edgington began his collegiate career in 2018 at Saint Joseph's University in Philadel- phia and after an injury his freshman season, he found himself at Mercer County (N.J.) Community College for the 2019 season. He pitched well enough to draw the attention of Elon University where he spent the next three years and received his undergraduate degree. With the Hoos in need of a veteran pitcher, O'Connor and the Cavaliers came calling. "If you would've told me my freshman year at St. Joe's that I'd end up doing six years of school and my last year would be at University of Virginia, I'd probably tell you that there's no chance," Edgington said. "But it's been a good experience, and I don't think I'd change any- thing about it." Edgington was one of two Cavalier transfers to earn All-ACC honors when he was listed on the third team in a vote of the league's 14 head coaches. The honor was a personal validation of an unorthodox journey six years in the making. The final piece of the Virginia transfer pitching class has been Angelo Tonas, an experienced lefty from Georgetown. The Hills- borough, Calif., native also brought a wealth of experience to the Cavaliers' staff, even some at Disharoon Park where he recorded two eighth- inning outs against the UVA last season. Tonas has appeared in 87 collegiate games, includ- ing 20 in relief for the Cavaliers in 2023. He has been credited with 4 wins, 3 against ACC opponents. UVA has reaped the benefits of a transfer portal that statistically has been an over- whelming success. The quintet of Early, Edging- ton, Hungate, Parker and Tonas are responsible for 30 wins over 234 innings of work. Ask any coach, general manager or base- ball connoisseur, and they will tell you the key to success for any baseball team is the performance of its pitching staff. Fortunately for the Cavaliers hurlers this year, they have been backed by one of the best offenses in the country. The combination has helped UVA to 44 regular-season wins, the second most in program history, and put the Cavaliers in posi- tion to succeed in June. Brian Edgington, a graduate transfer from Elon, turned in a 7-3 record with a 3.66 ERA on the mound in the regular season. (Photo courtesy UVA) " First and foremost, I believe our program is always going to be built on the development of the high school player. But the supplementation of our transfer group is really exciting." UVA HEAD COACH BRIAN O'CONNOR