For Vanderbilt Baseball, the Price is Always Right
By Amanda Blair

Pictured: Vanderbilt pitcher David Price (VU Photo)

Vanderbilt may have just won its first ever national championship in bowling over the weekend, but it's the Vanderbilt baseball team that has been making the most noise on campus this season. The team is currently ranked #1 in the country and while the Commodore roster is full of talent, it is junior David Price's pitching that has kept Vanderbilt on top.

Over the weekend, Price became Vanderbilt's career strikeout leader with 351. Before the record-breaking game with Kentucky was over on Friday night, the record had swelled to 355.

"It is nice to have the record, not only because I am on top, but because of all the names that are on the record sheet before me," said Price. "To be on the same list as those types of pitchers is truly an honor in itself."

Indeed. The previous record holder was fellow lefty and former Vanderbilt and Toronto Blue Jays player Mike Willis, who held the record for 35 years.

"The record means a lot to me, because I came to college to be successful in baseball, and I think having this record means that I have been somewhat successful," said Price.

Price has certainly been more than "somewhat successful." In 2006, during just his sophomore season, Price was named to the Third-Team All-American List, set a school record for most strikeouts in a season with 155, and was a finalist for both the Golden Spike Award and the Roger Clemens Award.

Last summer, Price was named Summer Player of the Year by Baseball America.

2007 has also been kind to Price. Voted a pre-season First Team All-American, Price is a candidate for both SEC and National Pitcher of the Year, as well as being on the watch list for both the Roger Clemens Award and the Brooks Wallace Award.

Hopefully for the Commodores, Price can lead Vanderbilt to its second ever national championship in the College World Series in June.