The University of Akron Athletics
John Valek III, Baseball
Junior LHP John Valek III (Parkland, Fla. / Stoneman Douglas) was named the Zips' Student-Athlete of the week on April 20.
Valek struck out a career-high 12 batters while only walking one to lead Akron to a 7-4 win over Miami (Ohio) on Friday, April 17. Valek pitched at least 7.0 innings for the fifth-consecutive outing and allowed two runs, one earned, and held the RedHawks to just four hits. The southpaw struck out the side swinging in the top of the second frame and retired 12-straight batters between the second and fifth inning.
Valek's 12 strikeouts on Friday are the most recorded by an Akron pitcher in a single game since 2006. He combined with a pair of relievers to strike out a total of 14 batters in the game, the most the pitching staff has recorded in a game since the 2009 season.
On the season, Valek owns a 3.10 ERA and has logged a team-high 66.2 innings of work including one complete game. The junior has allowed just 23 earned runs on the season and has given up 50 hits. After posting 28 total strikeouts last season, Valek has registered 45 so far this season and has walked 20. With a record of 5-3, the southpaw has the most wins of the Akron pitching staff after making 10 starts.
With 244.1 career innings pitched, Valek is just 1.2 innings shy of moving into Akron's top-10 career innings pitched and tying Dave Young (1956-59) for 10th at 246.0.
