Tony Watson Season 2004

• 2007 Clemens and Wallace Award Watch Lists
• 2007 Preseason All-American (Collegiate Baseball NCBWA and Rivals.com)
• 2007 Second-Team All-Big 12
• 2006 MLB 17th-round Draft Pick (Baltimore)
• 2006 Third-Team All-American (CB and NCBWA)
• 2006 First-Team All-Big 12
• 2006 Cape Cod League All-Star
• 2005 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American
• 2003 MLB 23rd-round Draft Pick (Florida)

2007: In his final season with the Huskers, All-American Tony Watson pitched his way to a 6-4 record and led the team with a career-high 81 strikeouts. He also was the team-leader in innings pitched with 99.0 and finished the season with a 4.09 ERA. Watson's best game of the season came against Texas on April 20 when he pitched a two-hit, complete game shutout. The left-hander struck out six without a walk to earn his fourth win on the season. His performance on the mound during the season earned him second team All-Big 12 honors.

2006: Watson was one of the most consistent pitchers in the conference, earning All-America and All-Big 12 honors in 2006 • Posted a 10-2 mark with a 2.87 ERA in a team-high 100.1 innings of work • Ranked among the Big 12 leaders in nearly every pitching category, including ERA (third), wins (fourth), opponent batting average (.236, fifth), innings (seventh) and strikeouts (11th) • Went at least six innings in 12 of his 15 starts, including a complete-game five-hitter against Texas A&M on April 14 • Allowed one earned run or less in seven of his 15 starts • Suffered the loss in the NCAA Tournament against San Francisco on June 2, allowing one earned run on five hits over 6.2 innings of work • Worked out of the bullpen in the Big 12 Tournament, going 2-0 without allowing an earned run in 5.2 innings of work, highlighted by 5.1 innings of four-hit, four strikeout ball against No. 6 Texas on May 27 • Was 5-1 with a 3.72 ERA in nine Big 12 starts, tying for fifth in wins and seventh in innings pitched (58.0) and strikeouts (38) • Held No. 13 Oklahoma to one run on eight hits over 6.1 innings of work in a 10-4 Husker win on May 20 • Saw his personal 12-game win streak snapped in a 4-1 loss at Baylor on May 13, his first loss in 18 starts • Overcame a rocky start to earn the win over Texas Tech on April 29, as he allowed four runs in the first inning before holding the Red Raiders scoreless from the second to the sixth and fanning six in a 14-4 victory • Lasted just 2.1 innings in a start against No. 5 Texas on April 22, allowing season highs in both hits (nine) and runs (four), but got a no-decision as NU rallied to win 7-5 • Tossed the first complete game of his career in a win over Texas A&M on April 14, scattering five hits and fanning six in a 4-3 Husker win • Turned in a spectacular performance in a no-decision at Missouri on April 8, allowing one earned run on three hits over 7.2 innings in a dual against eventual first-round draft pick Max Scherzer • Left with a 2-1 lead in a game NU won in 13 innings • Held Kansas State to three runs on eight hits over 7.1 innings in a 5-4 victory over the Wildcats on April 1 • Overcame early wildness to turn in a dominant effort against Kansas on March 25, allowing one run on three hits while striking out a career-high 10 Jayhawks over seven innings • Combined with Luke Wertz on a two-hit shutout of South Dakota State on March 17, allowing two singles while striking out six in a 10-0 victory  • Matched up with Alabama’s Wade LeBlanc on March 10 and turned in a strong effort, allowing one run on five hits over six innings as NU eventually won 2-1 in 11 innings • Was solid in a no-decision against Arizona, allowing one run on four hits over 6.1 innings, as he matched his then-career best with eight strikeouts • Established then-career bests in both strikeouts (eight) and innings (seven) in earning the win over Texas State on Feb. 24, allowing three runs in a 10-3 victory • Turned in a strong outing in the opener, holding Charleston Southern to one run over six innings in NU’s 11-1 win on Feb. 16.

2005: Watson put together a strong rookie campaign in 2005, earning Freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball • Compiled a 6-1 record with a 2.82 ERA in 23 appearances, holding opponents to a .246 average • Fanned 39 over 44.2 innings, including a career-high six batters in a relief appearance against Northern Iowa in Des Moines on April 20 • Made 18 of his 23 appearances in relief, recording two holds and a 1.19 ERA • Pitched exclusively in relief during the NCAA Tournament, allowing only one hit in three appearances • Collected his first career save against Creighton in the NCAA Regional on June 4, retiring the only batter he faced in a 10-8 Husker win • Pitched twice during the Big 12 Tournament, earning the victory over No. 17 Missouri by going a season-high 5.1 innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out four Tigers • Made five relief appearances in Big 12 play, not allowing an earned run, while scattering just two hits over five shutout frames • Had his best outing during conference play at Kansas on March 26, firing three innings of one-hit ball • Picked up three wins in his four regular-season starts, as he went 5.0 innings against Northern Colorado on March 18 and against Northern Illinois on May 17 • Allowed two runs on four hits while striking out four against NIU • Fanned four over two scoreless innings in front of a crowd of over 20,000 against Creighton at Rosenblatt Stadium on May 10 • Turned in one of his best outings of the year against Northern Iowa at Des Moines’ Principal Park on April 20, allowing one unearned run over 4.2 innings while striking out six Panthers, as NU rallied from a 4-1 deficit to win 7-4 • Tossed two innings of no-hit relief to earn the win against Western Illinois on March 23 • Earned the victory in NU’s 5-2 win over Northern Colorado on March 16, allowing two runs on three hits • Suffered his only loss against No. 18 USC on March 6, allowing a two-run homer to eventual first-round pick Jeff Clement • Earned a victory in his Husker debut at Hawaii-Hilo on Feb. 19, allowing one run on two hits in 3.1 innings of relief.

2004: Watson took a medical redshirt after undergoing shoulder surgery in January of 2004 for a torn labrum.

Dallas Center-Grimes High School: Watson was one of the Midwest’s top pitching prospects at Dallas Center-Grimes High School for Coach Byron Peyton • Drafted in the 23rd round by the Florida Marlins • Totaled a 29-9 record and 513 strikeouts, the eighth-highest total in Iowa high school baseball history • His strikeout total was the most by an Iowa high school pitcher since major leaguer Cal Eldred recorded 743 strikeouts from 1983 to 1986 • Was nearly unhittable as a senior in 2003, going 9-0 with three saves and a miniscule 0.10 ERA, striking out 148 hitters in 69 innings • Displayed pinpoint control, tossing three no-hitters while equaling or setting state records for fewest walks (min. 65 IP) with 10 and lowest single-season ERA (0.10) • Allowed one earned run and 31 hits during his senior campaign • Selected as a first-team Super State selection by the Iowa High School Coaches Association and was the 2003 Class 3A recipient of the Bob Feller Award, given to the top pitcher in each high school class • Was a three-time all-district and All-Raccoon River Conference selection, compiling an 11-1 mark with a 0.63 ERA as a junior en route to second-team all-state honors • Fanned 155 and allowed just 31 hits in 77 innings of work while his only loss was a 1-0 setback to Carlisle • earned five letters in baseball, while also garnering three letters in both football and basketball • Looked at Wichita State, Texas A&M, San Diego and Northern Iowa before choosing NU.

Personal: Born on May 30, 1985, in Sioux City, Iowa • Parents are Steve and the late Angie Watson • Has one sister (Ashley) • Is a sociology major.

Career Stats

Year	ERA	W-L	App	GS	CG	SHO/CBO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
2004						Medical Redshirt
2005	2.82	6-1	23	5	0	0/0	1	44.2	41	20	14	26	39
2006	2.78	10-2	17	15	1	0/1	0	100.1	88	36	31	24	69
2007	4.09	6-4	15	15	2	1/0	0	99.0	96	52	45	30	81
TOTAL	3.32	22-7	55	35	3	1/1	1	244.0	225	108	90	80	189