CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. ­– HERO Sports has announced former Southeast Missouri starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi as the Division I Pitcher of the Year. Lucchesi was also tabbed as part of the organization's All-America Team.
 
The distinction was decided by HERO Sports' writing staff and is the highest level of awards given throughout the year.
 
The senior finished the 2016 season with a 2.19 earned run average and a 10-5 record. His 149 strikeouts led the country in the category and is the new mark for single-season strikeouts at Southeast Missouri and in the Ohio Valley Conference. He finished with a 12.08 strikeouts per nine innings mark.
 
Lucchesi's 242 career strikeouts broke the Southeast career record. He tipped the mark in his NCAA Tournament start. He concluded his two-year career at Southeast with a 2.62 ERA, a 17-7 record, held opponents to a .216 batting average, and worked 199.0 innings.