June 6, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky centerfielder Austin Cousino and two-way standout A.J. Reed have been named Freshman All-America by Louisville Slugger and Collegiate Baseball, it was announced on Wednesday morning.
Cousino and Reed are the first UK freshman All-America honorees since shortstop Chris Wade in 2008, when he became the first player in program history to earn freshman All-America accolades. Cousino – the 2010 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year – and Reed – a semifinalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award – helped pace the Wildcats to a historic 2012 season that saw UK shatter the school single-season wins mark.
A native of Dublin, Ohio, Cousino enjoyed a historic 2012 season as the top freshman in the talent-laden SEC. A 5-foot-10, 178-pounder, Cousino started all but one of UK’s record 63 games, hitting leadoff and playing centerfield in each contest. A selection to the 22-man USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, Cousino led UK in nearly every offensive category, including average (.319), at bats (260), runs (61), hits (83), doubles (20), triples (two), stolen bases (15) and outfield assists (eight). He added nine homers and 41 RBI, posting a .515 slugging mark and a .408 on-base percentage. Following the year, the SEC coaches voted Cousino the SEC Freshman of the Year, a second-team All-SEC outfielder, a member of the All-SEC Defensive Team and on the All-SEC Freshman team, also earning a spot on the NCAA Gary Regional All-Tournament team.
Reed, a native of Terre Haute, Ind., emerged as one of the top two-way players in the nation during his freshman season, and was one of 10 semifinalists for the Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award. An All-SEC freshman selection as both the first baseman and designated hitter, Reed hit .300 during the year in 55 games and 51 starts, with nine doubles, four homers and 43 RBI. On the mound, Reed appeared in 16 games with five starts, posting a 5-3 record and a 2.52 ERA, tossing 53.2 innings, allowing 54 hits and nine walks, striking out 51.
The 2011 Indiana High School Player of the Year, Reed shined during the SEC Tournament, tossing 5.2 shutout innings in his first start against an SEC foe and going 4-for-4 at the dish with a solo homer off Ole Miss’ Bobby Wahl for the game-winning RBI in a 2-0 win. In the NCAA Tournament, Reed turned in a heroically epic performance in the 21-inning opener with No. 25 Kent State. After serving as the designated hitter for the first nine innings, Reed moved to first base for the next three innings. With UK closer Trevor Gott completing his career-long four shutout inning appearance and UK needing shutout innings, Reed took the mound in the 13th inning and worked nine innings in relief.
