June 11, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky stars Austin Cousino and A.J. Reed have been named Freshman All-America by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, with Reed tabbed first team and Cousino named to the second team, it was announced on Monday afternoon.
Reed and Cousino have also been named freshman All-America by Louisville Slugger and Collegiate Baseball, becoming just the second and third UK players named freshman All-America in program annals. The duo joins 2008 shortstop Chris Wade as the only freshman All-Americans in program history.
A 6-foot-4, 230-pounder, Reed was tabbed as the only Southeastern Conference position player named to the NCBWA Freshman All-America first-team. UK’s freshmen duo marks two of three SEC players on the NCBWA Freshman All-America team, joining Mississippi State closer Jonathan Holder.
A left-handed pitcher and slugging first baseman, Reed was also a semifinalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award and was twice named freshman All-Southeastern Conference in 2012. UK’s centerfielder and leadoff hitter, Cousino was named SEC Freshman of the Year and will play on the 22-man USA Baseball Collegiate National Team during the summer.
A native of Dublin, Ohio, Cousino started 62 games in centerfield and as the No. 1 hitter for UK in 2012, setting new UK freshman school records for runs (61) and hits (83), batting .319 with 20 doubles, two triples, nine homers and 41 RBI, stealing 15-of-16 bases and leading the league with eight outfield assists. A 5-foot-10, 178-pound left-handed hitter, Cousino was named second-team All-SEC, the SEC Freshman of the Year, one of three All-SEC Defensive Team outfielders and to the All-SEC Freshman team in a voting of the league’s coaches.
Reed was named freshman All-SEC as both the first baseman and as the designated hitter, starring for UK on the mound and as a middle-of-the-order hitter in 2012. Reed hit .300 with nine doubles, four homers and 43 RBI at the plate in 55 games, totaling a 5-3 record and a 2.25 ERA on the mound, tossing 53.2 innings with nine walks and 51 strikeouts. He had a breakout game as the starting pitcher in the SEC Tournament opener against Ole Miss, tossing 5.2 shutout innings in his first career start vs. an SEC foe, also going 4-for-4 as the No. 4 hitter with a solo homer as the game-winning hit in a 2-0 win. Reed also set a new career high by tossing nine innings in relief during UK’s 21-inning thriller vs. No. 25 Kent State in the NCAA Tournament.
