FERRUM
Jacob Holland, a 2014 graduate of Southampton Academy and a senior at Ferrum College, has recently been named Pitcher of the Year by the USA South Athletic Conference. This information comes from www.usasouth.net, and was confirmed via the college.

Reportedly, all honors were determined by votes from the baseball coach at each institution. In his case, that’s Coach Ryan Brittle.

Holland was last featured in The Tidewater News (“Baseball always on his mind” June 6, 2014) when he was finishing his time as pitcher and shortstop for the SA Raiders. At that time, Holland already had confirmation he would be playing for the Ferrum Panthers. He also had acknowledged then that Raider coaches Tim Nixon and Dale Marks had “a big impact on my life.”

According to the conference website, Holland becomes the third Panther in five years to earn USA South Pitcher of the Year honors in the sport of baseball. He has a perfect 3-0 record in 10 appearances, all of which were starts on the mound. In 54.0 innings pitched, Holland has established a 2.17 ERA and averaged 10.17 strikeouts per game, each of which ranked second in the Conference. Each of Holland’s three wins came over USA South foes as he posted a 2.19 ERA.

This season, he collects First Team All-Conference honors as a starting pitcher for the first time. Finally, Holland was named USA South Pitcher of the Week once this year.

Asked for comment, Brittle said of him, “Jake is an outstanding young man who has worked extremely hard both on and off the field. He has been successful on the mound for us this year and is very deserving of the USA South Pitcher of the Year award.”

Holland is the son of Jason and Kim Holland of the Holland Borough in Suffolk, and has a brother, Bryce Holland, also of Southampton Academy. They are the grandsons of Charlie and Diane Mathias and Frankie and Peggy Holland, all of Suffolk.