Longwood University Athletics

Coach Bolding: “John is the Lancers’ most experienced pitcher.  He is a highly intelligent pitching craftsman who makes very few mistakes.  I regard John as possibly equal to the great Tony Browning of yesteryear in his overall command of the art of pitching.  John is stingy on walks, fat pitches, and fielding mistakes, and brilliant on pitching tempo.  He should gobble up the innings in 2009 and give his team a chance to win every time he strolls to the mound.”

2009: Fourth-year team member … will open season in starting rotation … 2008: 6-4, 4.57 ERA, 69.0 innings pitched, 35 strikeouts (4.57) … made 14 appearances, starting 10 with four complete games … had season-opening stretch of six appearances covering 34.1 innings with a 2.62 ERA and 21 strikeouts (5.51) … led pitching staff in wins, won-loss percentage (.600), innings pitched, complete games, fewest walks allowed (8, 1.04), and runners picked-off (2) … team season-best 9.0 innings two times, including vs Coppin State (March 14) and Stony Brook (March 22) … Division I Independent All-Academic Team … 2007: 5-2, 2.74 ERA, 46.0 innings pitched, 27 strikeouts (5.28) … made 16 appearances, starting two with one complete game and one save … had season-opening stretch of six appearances covering 21.2 innings with a 0.83 ERA and 13 strikeouts (5.40) … Division I Independent All-Academic Team … 2006: 1-2, 4.96 ERA, 32.2 innings pitched, 25 strikeouts (6.89) … made 21 appearances, starting one … led team in appearances, and games in relief (20) … had final eight-game stretch of appearances (one start) covering 11.1 innings with a 3.97 ERA and eight strikeouts (6.35) … High School: Four-year standout at West Potomac … two-time All-District … team MVP as a senior, and team Coach’s Award as a sophomore … also participated in basketball … Personal: Son of John Sr. and Mary Walker … mother was on swim team at Vanderbilt  … worked for Virginia Baseball Club during summer 2008, coaching youths aged 5-12 … a cousin (Jonathan Brooks) played football at New Mexico … athletic training major.