Three members of the VCU Rams baseball team were recognized in the Atlantic 10 Conference end-of-season awards, according to a May 19 announcement. Patrick Steitz and Zachary Peters were both named first-team All-Atlantic 10 selections, while Dawson Newman earned an All-Rookie honor.
This is the first time since 2003, when VCU was part of the Colonial Athletic Association, that multiple Rams pitchers have been named to the first-team All-Conference list. The recognition highlights individual achievements and reflects positively on the team’s pitching staff.
Patrick Steitz finished his season with a WHIP of 1.02, ranking him nineteenth nationally and leading all pitchers in the Atlantic 10. He pitched a total of eighty-five innings with an ERA of 2.96, both leading marks in the conference. Steitz was also recognized as a National Pitcher of the Year Award Semifinalist and twice received Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week honors. “The 6-8 righty tossed in the Rams’ lone combined shutout, a two-hitter, and has allowed one or fewer runs in eight of his fourteen starts,” according to team sources.
Zachary Peters began his season by earning A-10 Pitcher of the Week honors and went on to record one of the lowest ERAs among pitchers with at least forty innings pitched nationwide. He ranked among conference leaders in saves (six), wins (five), and strikeouts (seventy-eight). “He also closed both of VCU’s combined one-hitters and both seventeen-strikeout games,” said team representatives.
Dawson Newman contributed as a reliever throughout his rookie campaign for VCU, making fifteen appearances out of the bullpen along with four starts—two without allowing any runs. He ended his regular season leading all underclassmen on his team with thirty-nine strikeouts while posting an ERA of 2.50.
VCU will begin its Atlantic 10 Championship schedule at Capital One Park in Tysons, Virginia against Davidson on Wednesday, May 20.
