Big East honors three

Pitt’s baseball season didn’t quite turn out the way head coach Joe Jordano would have… Pitt’s baseball season didn’t quite turn out the way head coach Joe Jordano would have liked.

But it wasn’t because of the lack of effort put forth by three of his major players, Jim Negrych, Billy Muldowney and Peter Parise.

The Big East recognized this as well.

Last week, the Big East honored Negrych, Muldowney and Parise as members of the 2006 All-Big East team. Negrych landed on the first team, while Muldowney and Parise were named to the second and third teams, respectively.

The honor is Negrych’s third-consecutive mention to the team and his second on the first team. His lone year of not being named to the first team came in 2004 — his freshman season, when he found himself on the second team.

Negrych finished his junior season with a .396 average and 60 RBIs, which placed him in not only the Big East, but the national leaders as well in the two categories.

His efforts have earned him high regard and have him considered as one of the top 50 collegiate prospects for Major League Baseball’s upcoming draft. He is also a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy awarded to the top player in college baseball.

The selection for Muldowney is his second straight honor as a second-team member. Muldowney led Pitt in nearly every pitching category with a 5-4 record, 3.16 ERA and 99 strikeouts.

Muldowney’s total of 99 strikeouts gives him 188 in his two-year career at Pitt, placing him second all-time in school history.

Parise hit .314 on the year with 13 doubles, four home runs, 31 RBIs and 10 stolen bases for his first-ever selection to the All-Big East team. He also doubled up for Jordano as a relief pitcher.

Having his Panthers on the All-Big East team is nothing new for Jordano.

With the announcement of Negrych, Muldowney and Parise being honored, it marks the fifth consecutive season that Jordano has had at least three of his Panthers selected to the team.