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Tony Zych Class: Sophomore Hometown: Monee, Ill. High School: St. Rita Height / Weight: 6-3 / 175 Position: RHP Experience: 1L B/T: R/R

Honors
2009 Freshman All-America (Louisville Slugger)
2009 Freshman All-America (Ping! Baseball)
2009 All-BIG EAST Tournament

2009: Earned Freshman All-America honors from Louisville Slugger and Ping!Baseball with a 6-2 record, two saves and a 3.25 ERA. Made 21 total appearances, including three winning starts. Finished with 31 strikeouts in 44.1 innings and opposing batters hit just .235 against him. Improved to 3-0 in a starting role with 6.0 strong innings of work in the Cards' 5-3 win over Vanderbilt in the NCAA Regional final. Earned All-BIG EAST Tournament honors with a career-best 6.0 innings of work to earn the win in the Cards' BIG EAST title game victory over UConn. Allowed only one run on six hits in the win over the Huskies. Pitched a scoreless ninth inning in the Cards' 12-1 BIG EAST title clinching win over USF on May 15. Improved to 4-2 on the season with 4.0 innings of two-hit baseball in his first career start on May 6 against No. 25 Ohio State. Took his second career loss after allowing three runs on two hits on April 26 against Notre Dame. Allowed one run on one hit in the ninth inning against Vandy on April 22. Tossed 1.1 innings of perfect relief against IU on April 21. Picked up his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning of relief at Rutgers on April 19. Had his scoreless innings streak ended at 14.2 after giving up two runs on three hits to earn the first loss of his career on April 14 against Kentucky. Picked up win No. 2 on the season with his inning of scoreless relief against Pitt on April 11. Also had 1.0 inning of scoreless relief against Panthers on April 9. Was 1-for-1 at the plate in a pinch hitting role against Indiana on April 7. Extended his scoreless streak to 12.1 innings with 1.2 innings of relief with two strikeouts on April 5 at Cincinnati. Continued his scoreless streak on the mound with 1.2 shutout innings of relief on April 1 against Ball State, which included getting through a bases loaded, one-out jam. Also had a hit and one RBI in the win over BSU. Was very impressive on March 28 allowing no runs on only two hits in a career long 4.2 innings of relief in the Cards' 17-inning win over Seton Hall. On March 25 against WKU, he gave the Cards' a perfect ninth inning working from 94 to 97 mph on the radar gun to earn his first career save. Pitched a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout on March 22 against Georgetown. Had one inning of scoreless relief against Iowa on March 15. Pitched 0.2 innings of relief at UT recording two strikeouts. Picked up a pair of hits in 2-for-2 day with two RBI on March 6 against Milwaukee. Got his first career hit on a pinch-hit single on March 1 against Bowling Green. Allowed one run on two hits in 2.2 innings to earn his first career win against EKU on Feb. 25. Made his pitching debut on Feb. 22 at Florida with 2.2 innings of shutout relief allowing only one hit and striking out three against Florida. Was 0-for-4 in first start as the Cards' DH on Feb. 21 at UF. Was 0-for-1 from the plate in college debut as a pinch hitter at Florida on Feb. 20.

High School: Earned four letters in baseball at St. Rita High School where he was coached by Mike Zunica. Numerous prep honors include American Baseball Coaches Association Rawlings High School Gold Glove, ABCA Rawlings All-Region Team, Rawlings Preseason All-American, UnderArmour Preseason All-American, National Baseball Coaches Association All-District Team, Illinois HS Baseball Coaches Association All-Area, Illinois Coaches Association Senior East All-Star team and Chicago Tribune All-State Special Mention. Hit .426 with eight home runs, 33 runs scored and 30 RBI as a senior second baseman. Was 7-2 with a 2.63 ERA and 56 strikeouts on the mound. Led St. Rita to the Final 8. Selected in the 46th round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs. Also earned one letter in football as a defensive back and two letters in golf.

Personal: Born Anthony Aaron Zych on Aug. 7, 1990 in Hazelcrest, Ill. Son of Don Zych and Deb Zych. Has one younger brother, Nico, and one younger sister, Kailey. Undecided on a major at U of L. After college, he plans to play professional baseball. Person with the most influence on his athletic career was his dad, who has always pushed him to do his best and taught him a great work ethic. Hobbies and interests include hunting and playing pool. Favorite movies are 61*, Sandlot and Remember the Titans. Favorite TV show is Entourage. Favorite athletes are Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. Favorite foods include Trix, Snickers and pasta. Favorite restaurants are Chipotle and Buffalo Wild Wings. Favorite team is the New York Yankees. Country music is his favorite, but he likes to mix in some of everything. If he could eat dinner and play golf with three people, he would pick Derek Jeter, Manny Ramirez and Taylor Swift. Something not many people know about him is that he loves to hunt deer with a bow and arrow. Best athlete he's ever faced was Darius Fleming in a one-on-one basketball game. Tony's dad Don played Division III football.