AUSTIN, Texas --- Tusculum College's Placido Torres has been named the 2016 NCAA Division II National Pitcher of the Year by the National College Baseball Writers Association announced officials Wednesday.

Torres becomes the first player in program history to earn National Pitcher of the Year laurels. He was also named to the NCBWA All-America first team, becoming the 21st baseball All-American in Tusculum history and the sixth Pioneer pitcher to garner All-America recognition.

Torres joins former Pioneers on the NCBWA All-America list including: Brent Gabel (2005), Maikol Gonzalez (2007, 2008), Kevin Hammons (2007), Carlos Garcia (2007), Christian Rosa (2007), Boo Morrow (2008), Rob Currie (2009), Sean Cotten (2010), Craig Goodman (2012) and Cade Stallings (2012).

Torres, a senior left-hander from North Brunswick, New Jersey, has been a consensus DII Southeast Region Pitcher of the Year honoree, receiving the recognition from the NCBWA, American Baseball Coaches Association and the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association. He was also named the 2015-16 Tusculum College Male Athlete of the Year.

Torres has accounted for the best season ever by a Tusculum hurler as he owns a perfect 11-0 record in his 14 starts where he pitched seven complete games, including a TC-single-season record four shutouts.
His 11 wins tied for second-most in a TC season and are the most by a Pioneer hurler during the NCAA Division II era (1999-present).

His 0.70 earned run average is best in the nation and is a new program and conference record. He leads all three NCAA divisions with a school single-season record 162 strikeouts. His seasonal strikeout total is the second most in SAC history and the 10th most in NCAA II history. He threw a school record 116 innings this season where he allowed 24 walks and limited the opposition to a .154 batting average. He also leads NCAA II in fewest hits allowed per nine innings pitched (4.73).

Earlier this season, the two-time All-SAC first team selection recorded a school single-game record 17 strikeouts against Stillman. He has posted 12 or more strikeouts on eight occasions this year, including 15 strikeouts in a one-hit shutout over Wingate, earning him national pitcher of the week honors by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Torres has been named SAC Pitcher of the Week six times and NCBWA Southeast Region Pitcher of the Week on four occasions.

Torres pitched a pair of complete game victories in his two postseason starts this year. He tossed a four-hit shutout in Tusculum's SAC Tournament opener against Lincoln Memorial, earning him a spot on the SAC All-Tournament Team. He followed that with last Saturday's nine-inning complete game victory over 15th-ranked Belmont Abbey in an elimination contest of the NCAA II Southeast Regional in Columbus, Georgia. In that game, he allowed a run on seven hits, with two walks and a dozen strikeouts.

During his two-year Tusculum career, he amassed a sterling 20-3 record in his 31 mound appearances with a 1.43 ERA which is the lowest ever by a Pioneer pitcher. In his 27 career starts, he has pitched eight complete games, including a program-record five shutouts. His 272 career strikeouts are a new TC record and are the sixth-most in the SAC record book. His 201.1 career innings pitched are sixth in program history, while his 20 wins are fifth-most by a Pioneer.

Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Howser Award Player of the Year, Regional Player of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors preseason All-America awards, publication and writing contests.

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2016 NCBWA/NCAA Division II All-America Baseball Team
National Player of the Year: Alex Wojciechowski, Minnesota-Duluth
National Pitcher of the Year: Placido Torres, Tusculum
National Coach of the Year: John Shehan, Millersville

First Team
C - John Silviano, Lynn
1B - Alex Wojciechowski, Minnesota-Duluth
2B - Dylan Cook, Georgia College
3B - Kyle Comer, Minnesota-Duluth
SS - Evan Rogers, Mars Hill
OF - Luke Ortel, Hillsdale
OF - Ryan Snyder, Quincy
OF - Corey Wood, Arkansas-Monticello
DH - Brandon Gomez, Nova Southeastern
UT - Reese Gregory, St. Cloud State
SP - Guillaume Blanchette, Lubbock Christian
SP - Brandon Miller, Millersville
SP - Placido Torres, Tusculum
RP - Matt Williams, Grand Valley State

Second Team
C - Will Albertson, Catawba
1B - J.D. Arrowood, St. Edward's
2B - David Glaude, Missouri Western
3B - Jay Jabs, Franklin Pierce
SS - Alexander DeGoti, Barry
OF - Shane Billings, Wingate
OF - Jordan Godman, Colorado State-Pueblo
OF - Patrick O'Donnell, Augustana
DH - Tyler Walters, Slippery Rock
UT - Justin Blechle, Quincy
SP - Matt Kostalos, St. Thomas Aquinas
SP - JR McDermott, Colorado Mesa
SP - Colin McKee, Mercyhurst
RP - Brandon Bonilla, Hawaii Pacific

Third Team
C - David Gauntt, Washburn
1B - Mike McClellan, Columbus State
2B - Fernando Garza, Philadelphia
3B - JP Sorma, Ashland
SS - Tre Porter, Shepherd
OF - Tyler Bugner, Newman
OF - Zach Daly, Lander
OF - Will Robertson, Delta State
DH - Jesse Rall, Missouri Southern
UT - Rudy Navarro, Cal State East Bay
SP - Matt Festa, East Stroudsburg
SP - Brandyn Sittinger, Ashland
SP - Bryce Zak, Angelo State
RP - Devin Raftery, Nova Southeastern

Honorable Mention
Catcher: Mitch Stoltzfus, Millersville (Pa.). First Base: Ben Holland, Lee (Tenn.). Second Base: Trent Giambrone, Delta State (Miss.); Hunter McFall, Lubbock Christian (Texas). Third Base: Stephen Lohr, California Baptist; Jared Wiesen, Gannon (Pa.). Shortstop: Tanner Morache, Dixie State (Utah); Nathan Prindle, Lindenwood. Outfield: Ryan Baldwin, Barry (Fla.); Robert Bennie, East Stroudsburg (Pa.); Sam Machonis, Florida Southern; J.J. Sarty, Shepherd; Karl Sorensen, St. Cloud State (Minn.). Designated Hitter: Zach Moon, USC Aiken; Trevor Podratz, Western Oregon; Alnaydo Rodriguez, Bridgeport (Mass.). Utility: Nate Olinger, Colorado Mines. Starting Pitcher: Wilson Adams, Alabama-Huntsville; Braden Chambers, Arkansas-Monticello; Tre Hobbs, Delta State (Miss.); Sheldon Miks, St. Cloud State (Minn.); Dylan Stowell, California Baptist; Tim Viehoff, Southern New Hampshire.