THIRD TEAM ALL-BIG TEN (2011) ACADEMIC ALL-BIG TEN (2011)
AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2011 Pieced together an outstanding sophomore campaign, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors after going 6-4 with a 3.19 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 84.2 innings of work ... Held his opposition to a .234 batting average, which was the lowest mark in the conference ... Also ranked among the top-10 pitchers in wins, ERA, innings pitched, and strikeouts ... Allowed two runs or less in nine of his first 10 outings during the year ... Picked up his first win of the season after limiting NC State to one run on four hits over 5.1 innings of work on March 5 ... Continued to shine against top-notch competition after recording seven strikeouts while holding No. 26 Wichita State to just one hit over five innings on March 20 ... Posted another seven strikeouts during six shutout innings against Le Moyne on March 27 ... Put together his finest start of the season against Illinois on April 2 after setting a career-high with nine strikeouts while allowing just one run during a complete game effort ... Allowed just two runs in each of his next three starts, highlighted by a six-inning, one-hit effort against Purdue on April 17 and an eight-inning, five-strikeout performance against Ohio State on April 23 ... Earned his sixth win of the season after striking out seven while allowing just three hits over 6.2 innings against Iowa on May 7 during a nationally televised game on the Big Ten Network ... Wrapped up conference action with a 4-0 record, 3.06 ERA, and 36 strikeouts ... Started the first game of the Big Ten Tournament against Purdue, firing five innings with two strikeouts on May 25 ... Only qualifying pitcher in the Big Ten that did not allow a single home run during the year ... Honored with the Ed Drapcho Award as Penn State[apos]s most improved player ... Cut his ERA in half and allowed 12 fewer hits despite firing nearly twice as many innings as he did during his freshman campaign.
AS A FRESHMAN IN 2010 Saw significant action in freshman campaign, going 1-4 with a 7.95 ERA in 18 games (six starts) ... Was sixth on the squad with 43 innings pitched ... Ended the season with strong performance in the finale vs. Michigan (5/22), throwing 1.1 scoreless frames along with two strikeouts ... Allowed three runs in four innings vs. La Salle (4/27) in final start of the season ... Pitched a scoreless inning vs. Mount St. Mary[apos]s (4/21) ... Made first Big Ten start vs. Northwestern (4/11), throwing 4.2 innings while allowing four earned runs with five strikeouts, a game the Lions went on to win ... Allowed only one earned run in three innings against Bucknell (4/6) ... Picked up first-career win behind 5.2 stellar innings out of the bullpen vs. Kent State (3/31). Only allowed two runs on four hits with four strikeouts ... Went a career-high six innings in start against Kent State (3/21) while picking up a career-high seven strikeouts ... Showed flashes of brilliance at Texas A&M (3/9) in first-career start. Retired nine of the first 10 batters ... Tossed two strong innings against Lamar (3/6), only allowing one earned run ... Threw two scoreless innings in first collegiate appearance against Seton Hall (2/27).
SUMMER LEAGUES: Along with a strong showing in high school baseball, also competed as a member of the Tri-State Arsenal and The Jack Cust/Tri-State Arsenal Super Seventeen Team ... Teams won the AAU ([apos]07), ECTB ([apos]07) and Triple Crown ([apos]08) National Championships ... All players went on to Division One Baseball ... Was recognized by Hot Stovers Baseball Club for outstanding achievement in the field of play ... Squad posted a remarkable 56-4 record in 2007 and 48-8 mark in [apos]08, led by Walter[apos]s 13-1 and 9-2 records, respectively.
HIGH SCHOOL: Racked up endless honors and awards as a member of the Haddonfield Memorial High School Bulldawgs ... Named First Team All-Colonial Conference in 2009, one year after earning second team accolades... Was selected as team captain as well in leading squad to the [apos]09 Colonial Conference Championship ... Strong in the classroom as well, making first honors all four years while earning Scholar Athlete Award as a senior ... Member of the National Honor Society ... A part of Peer Mentoring and Peer Leadership programs as well ... Also played varsity football and basketball.
PERSONAL: Full name is John Christopher Walter Jr. ... Born on May 20, 1991 in Vorhees, N.J. ... Parents are John and Bonnie Walter ... Both parents played a varsity sport at Penn State as John was a former Nittany Lion football player from 1981-85 and Bonnie played field hockey from 1982-86 ... Brother of Alex (16) and Jake (12) ... Undecided on a major.
ON CHOOSING PENN STATE: 'On my visit with Coach Bell, he took me into the stadium and showed me around the dugout and locker rooms. This was incredible in itself; however it wasn[apos]t until I went onto the field and watched the pump up video on the big screen did I know I wanted to come here. Everything sort of fell in place and I felt comfortable from then on. I couldn[apos]t stop smiling the rest of the visit and I am now extremely happy for my decision.'
WALTER[apos]S CAREER STATISTICS
Year ERA W-L APP GS CG SHO CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR BF BAA
2010 7.95 1-4 18 6 0 0 0 0 43.0 58 41 38 25 27 14 1 4 176 .330
2011 3.19 6-4 15 15 1 0 0 0 84.2 72 39 30 53 59 14 2 0 379 .234
Total 4.79 7-8 33 21 1 0 0 0 127.2 130 80 68 78 86 28 3 4 593 .269
GETTING TO KNOW JOHN
Nickname: Johnny Walters
Major & Why: Undecided
Favorite Thing About Penn State: Other than baseball, Creamery Chocolate Milk and The Phoenix
Favorite Thing About Medlar Field At Lubrano Park: My locker and the hill behind the stadium
Favorite Major League Baseball Player: Matt Stairs
Favorite Penn State Sport Other Than Baseball: Football
Favorite Athlete (Any Sport): Michael Jordan
Favorite Pro Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Favorite Sports Broadcaster: Harry Kalas (RIP)
Favorite Musical Artist: Jimi Hendrix, Eminem/Dr. Dre, and Warren Zevon
Favorite Movie: Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
Favorite TV Show: Entourage
Favorite Website: Youtube.com
Favorite Food: Steak and Potatoes
Hobbies: Garageband
Childhood Idol: Doug Funnie
Place I[apos]d Like To Visit: Rosenblatt Stadium, Omaha, NE
If I Had $1 Billion, I Would: Do whatever I want to do
After Penn State, I Would Like To: Play more baseball