Baseball's Daniel Latham Named NCBWA Preseason All-American
Nov 14, 2006 | Baseball
Nov. 14, 2006
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tulane University baseball standout Daniel Latham was named among the best closers in the nation as the senior right-hander from Covington, La., was named third-team preseason All-American, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced Tuesday.
Latham, who set the Tulane and Conference USA career saves record last season, claimed the preseason distinction after posting 33 saves during his first three collegiate seasons. He enters the 2007 season just 16 saves away from the NCAA mark of 49 set by USC's Jack Krawczyk from 1995-98.
"This is a well deserved honor based on the three years he's been here," Tulane head coach Rick Jones said. "He's Tulane's and Conference USA's all time saves leader, and he still has a year left to play. We have a history of a lot of outstanding closers, and this speaks of Daniel's ability, consistency and competitiveness year in and year out. Having him back for his senior year certainly makes our team better."
As a junior in 2006, Latham led the Green Wave and C-USA with 14 saves - which ranked tied for ninth nationally. His 35 appearances led the team and ranked second in the league, and he posted a 5-3 record with 41 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 47.1 innings of work.
He had 14 multiple-strikeout outings, including five games with three Ks, and posted wins in relief against Manhattan (March 4) and UNO (March 21, at East Carolina (April 28), vs. Marshall (May 6) and against East Carolina in the C-USA Tournament (May 26). Latham did not allow an earned run in 23 of his 35 appearances, and held opponents hitless 10 times. He allowed just seven of 26 inherited runs to score while posting a 4.10 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 7.80 strikeout-per-nine average.
For his career, Latham has an 11-4 record with 130 strikeouts and 35 walks while limiting opponents to a .269 batting average in 158.1 innings on the hill. While sharing the closer's role with Joey Charron in 2004 and Sean Morgan in 2005, Latham posted six and 13 saves, respectively. His 14 saves in 2006 ranks second in Tulane single-season history while his 2005 total sits third.
Latham is lone player from a Louisiana team to claim NCBWA Preseason All-America honors and is one of six student-athletes from C-USA to do so. Joining him on the preseason squad are first-teamer Cole St. Clair (RHP, Rice), second-teamers Brendan Murphy (DH, Marshall) and Joe Savery (UT, Rice) and third-team honorees Adam Amar (1B, Memphis) and Brian Friday (SS, Rice).
