June 9, 2009

Thank you for visiting the Baseball Coaches’ Corner.  The 2009 season will be remembered for the way it finished with the team going 14-4-1 down the stretch to achieve 20 wins again.  All six graduating seniors were Blanket Award recipients and six new players earned their first Major “C” Award this year.

Among the honors received by players in 2009 are the following:

Junior pitcher Joe Pankow (Naperville North HS, IL) was named Most Valuable Player with a record of 6 – 1, 2 saves, and an earned run average of 2.38.

Senior outfielder Kyle Schmitt (Fremd HS, IL) earned First-Team All UAA honors with a .357 batting average and a team high 46 runs scored from the leadoff spot in the batting order.  Senior first baseman/catcher Scott Hofer (San Marino, CA) and freshman designated hitter Trace Capps (Bloom Township HS, IL) were named to the All UAA Second Team with Capps earning UAA Rookie of the Year honors.

Five different players were awarded UAA Athlete of the Week honors during the season:  Hofer, Capps, sophomore pitcher Dan McConologue (Lockport Township HS, IL), sophomore second baseman Nick Fazzari (Glenbard South HS, IL), and freshman pitcher Preston Atteberry (Ft. Worth, TX).

Senior catcher Thomas Gonzalez (Newton, MA) was named the 2009 J. Kyle Anderson Award recipient as the player who best exemplifies character, leadership, integrity, and dedication to the team while distinguishing himself with his accomplishments on the field.

Finally, the Department of Physical Education and Athletics’ premier male student-athlete award, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Medal, was awarded to Scott Hofer as the senior with the best all-around record for athletics, scholarship, and character.

The 2009 season was a strong one for the Maroons, but we are already looking forward to 2010 as we return seven starting position players and our top five pitchers.  In addition, the incoming recruiting class of ten players should add some contributions immediately.  Plans are being made for the team to begin the 2010 season in Vero Beach, Florida at Dodgertown, the former spring training site of the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Other highlights of the 2010 schedule include a three-game home series with the University of Dallas, a four-game series with Washington University in St. Louis, and a May 5th game in Evanston against Northwestern University.  Our Alumni Game in 2010 will be held on Saturday, April 17th.  We hope that alums can begin making plans now to join us.

-Coach Baldea