2012 • SOPHOMORE SEASON: Joe was once again a bulldog on the mound in 2012 for Rams as he threw another 57 innings, the same total from a season ago………Joe struck out 29 hitters and walked 21, decreasing his walk total by over 10 from 2011………in 14 appearances, he finished with a 5-1 record and a 4.06 ERA. 2012 HIGHLIGHTS: Threw 4 innings of shut-out relief against nationally ranked Armstrong Atlantic State in the Rams opening game of the season on 2/3/12 striking out 2 Pirate hitters while walking zero…….earned his first victory of the season against Claflin University on 2/7/12 throwing 6 innings, striking out 4 and allowing 1 earned run……..had a no decision allowing 1 earned run over 4 innings of work against # 7 nationally ranked Millersville University on 2/12/12……..threw 7 innings of relief in a tough loss to Bloomsburg on 3/12/12 allowing just one earned run, striking out 5, and walking one……..helped the Rams earn the sweep of CIAA opponent St. Augustine’s on 3/18/12 throwing 6 innings and earning the victory allowing 4 hits and striking out 4……..improved his record to 4-0 on 3/29/12 beating Benedict College at New Bridge Bank Ballpark in Greensboro. He threw 7 innings in the victory, collecting 4 strikeouts and allowing just one walk and one earned run……..took a tough loss to Kuztown university on 5/19/12 in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Atlantic Regional throwing a stellar 6.2 innings.
2011 • FRESHMAN SEASON: “Sherbs” ability to command his off-speed pitches tied him for the team lead in wins (5)…….his most dominating performance may have come against Wingate University in the Rams first game in 38 years……..made 16 appearances as a freshman and finished the year with a 5-4 mark…….also started the 2nd most games (9) and threw 2 complete games while earning 1 save, striking out 57 hitters in 57 innings to help rank the Rams pitching staff #7 in the nation for strikeouts per nine innings (8.5K/9innings)……..in a limited DH role, Joe collected 3 hits in a few plate appearances as well………for his efforts, Joe earned WSSU Pitcher of the Year honors. 2011 HIGHLIGHTS: first collegiate start was a no decision vs. Wingate on 2/1/11 where he pitched 6.0 innings striking out 5 and only allowing 3 hits……..picked up the save in the first Ram’s win in 38 years after shutting down Armstrong Atlantic State on 2/6/11……..picked up his 1st win against Shaw on 2/9/11 pitching 5.0 innings and striking out 9 batters……..picked up his 2nd win against Lincoln on 2/20/11 going 4.1 innings striking out 5 batters……..threw a complete game victory over Elizabeth City on 2/27/11 picking up his 3rd win of the season striking out 6 batters and only allowing 1 walk and 1 earned run……..got the complete game win vs. Shaw on 4/5/11 giving up no earned runs and striking out 11 of 26 batters faced in 7.0 innings……..picked up the save vs. Virginia State on 4/10/11 (game 1)……..offensively, picked up his first and only career stolen base against Virginia State on 4/10/11 (game 2)……..picked up his 5th win of the season beating Virginia State in the CIAA tournament pitching 8.0 innings striking out 6 hitters faced.
HIGH SCHOOL: graduated from Southern Pines High School where he helped guide a talented Patriots baseball team to multiple 2nd round state tournament appearances…..also played a role in helping his team claim a 2010 conference regular season title under head coach Jeff Hewitt.
PERSONAL: Business Administration major……..born 9/5/1991…..…father is Terrence Paboucek and mother Sonia Herbert who passed away in 2008……..favorite thing about WSSU baseball is the new locker room on campus.
COACH RITSCHE ON HERBERT: “Joe was once again a grinder on the mound for us last spring as he neared 60 innings for a second straight season. He was very solid early on in the year against nationally ranked opponents in Armstrong Atlantic State and Millersville in which we took heartbreaking losses. If it wasn’t for Joe, we would have never even been in those games to begin with. He also proved his heart again in our final loss of the season against Kuztown in the NCAA Regional keeping us in it for most of the game. Joe is such a competitive kid that he wants the ball in every big situation.”
