BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After throwing his first career complete-game shutout in a post-season berth clinching win over Ole Miss, sophomore southpaw James Paxton has been named the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced on Monday.
Paxton, who had lasted only two combined innings in his previous two starts, went the distance in his first collegiate complete game, striking out six, without issuing a walk and scattering seven hits. During his last three starts, Paxton had been limited in innings due to lingering injuries. Paxton emerged in just his fourth SEC start of his career, surpassing his previous career high of 5.2 innings.
On the year, Paxton has earned a 4-2 record and a save, notching a 2.57 ERA. Paxton, a native of Ladner, British Columbia, has worked 49 innings, allowing 42 hits and striking out 41. A year ago, Paxton led the Wildcats staff with 25 appearances out of the bullpen.
The SEC honor is the first such honor for Paxton and the second Pitcher of the Week accolade for the UK team, as Andrew Albers earned the award earlier in the year. Collin Cowgill and Sawyer Carroll have each been named SEC Player of the Week during the year.
Kentucky faces Alabama in the final game of a four-game day one of the SEC Tournament, on Wednesday at Regions Park in Hoover, Ala. First pitch is slated for 9 p.m. ET.
Andrew Albers Named to SEC Community Service Team
UK senior left-handed reliever Andrew Albers has been named the Kentucky representative on the Southeastern Conference Community Service Team, the league office announced Monday.
Albers has been the emotional and physical leader of the UK pitching staff since arriving on campus as a freshman in 2005. An individual with tremendous character, Albers has been a fixture in the Central Kentucky community, earning the UK Athletics Character Award, given to the Kentucky student-athlete that exhibited extraordinary commitment to excellence in athletics, service to others and personal conduct.
Albers has volunteered at several area elementary schools, promoting hard work, physical fitness, education and literacy during his time in Lexington. The senior from North Battleford, SK, also taught a postponing sexual involvement course at a local middle school, as well as assisting in events and supervising children at the Children?s Miracle League, a baseball league for disabled and handicapped children. Albers has functioned as a tutor in the UK center for tutorial and academic services, tutoring students in several courses, including a prenatal development class. The 6-foot, 200-pounder, has worked during summers at a local baseball instructional facility, helping children 9-14 on pitching techniques, as well as assisting in camp organization.
UK?s top reliever out of the pen in 2008, Albers has appeared in a team-best 27 games, earning a 2.52 ERA and a 7-4 record, with four saves. In 50 innings pitched, Albers has struck out 58 and walked 15.
A perfect example of Albers? commitment to the community could be found after UK?s regular-season ending loss to Ole Miss on Saturday. As a senior pitching in his final regular season game at Cliff Hagan Stadium, Albers gave up the two decisive runs in the loss, suffering just his fourth defeat of the year. Minutes after the conclusion of the game and after fans, players and staff had all exited the stadium, Albers was seen in the outfield grass playing catch and instructing a young baseball player, spending an extensive amount of time with the young little leaguer.
With 77 career appearances, Albers ranks tied for fourth all-time in UK history.
UK to Practice at Regions Park at 5 p.m. CT
UK will depart for Hoover, Ala., early on Tuesday morning, arriving in time for a 5 p.m. CT/6 p.m. ET practice time at Regions Park, the final practice time of the day.
Practice is open to the media and the public.
Aaron Lovett to Earn Starting Assignment vs. Alabama
The Wildcats will send senior right-hander Aaron Lovett to the mound in UK?s SEC opener on Wednesday with Alabama, to make his first career starting assignment.
So far in his two-year career after transferring from Kaskaskia Community College, Lovett has appeared in 42 games out of the bullpen. Lovett functioned as UK?s closer in 2007, tallying a team-high seven saves ? including six in SEC play ? earning a 2.20 ERA and a 3-3 record. In 2008, Lovett has earned a 4-1 record and a 4.40 ERA, notching a save in 43 innings, striking out 28.
Lovett worked in 1.1 innings on Friday vs. Ole Miss, not allowing a hit and striking out one. His best performance of his career came on May 10 vs. Tennessee, where the 6-foot-5, 205-pounder came on in relief in the third inning, working 6.2 innings of scoreless ball, before allowing back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the ninth and two out.
In 2006, UK played South Carolina in game one of the SEC Tournament, turning to surprise southpaw starter Tommy Warner, who made his first career SEC start. Warner turned in a gem, carrying a three-hitter into the ninth inning.
With a 3.27 career ERA, Lovett ranks fourth all-time in Wildcat history.
