Holder Named First-Team Freshman All-American By NCBWA
The Gulfport, Miss., native was named Monday by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association to the first team unit of the 2012 NCBWA Division I Freshman All-American Team. Thirty-two freshmen representing 19 different conferences are included on the first-team and second-team honor squads. Holder is one of three SEC players on this year's NCBWA all-frosh listing, joining Kentucky utility player A.J. Reed and UK outfielder Austin Cuisino.
Holder set the school record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched, blanking opponents over the first 27.1 innings of his collegiate career. The former Gulfport High School standout compiled a 2-1 freshman year record with nine saves and a remarkable 0.32 earned run average, earning all-tournament team honors in the Bulldogs' successful run through the SEC Tournament after registering three saves and a win in his four SEC Tournament appearances.
Last month he was accorded similar national honors when he was named by Collegiate Baseball newspaper to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Team.
Holder is set to begin collegiate league baseball competition this week for the Wareham (Mass.) Gatemen of the Cape Cod Collegiate League.