STANDISH, ME - Saint Joseph's College Head Baseball Coach Will Sanborn '86 has announced the 2009 Monks Baseball Team Awards. Nine awards were given to 11 different recipients at this year's banquet, which was held at the Woodlands Country Club in Falmouth, Maine on May 11th.
Junior Varsity Head Coach and Varsity Assistant Mike Greve is the 2009 Robert R. Doyle Award recipient. Greve spent countless hours working with hitters and quickly formed a rapport with all the players and staff members during the year. It's no coincidence that the 2009 Monks' hitters produced record-breaking offensive numbers with Greve offering key hitting tips and utilizing his seemingly tireless arm for batting practice all year. The award, named for former SJC Pitching Coach "Bobby" Doyle, who worked with Coach Sanborn for 12 seasons, is given annually to the team member who best-embodies Coach Doyle's spirit, dedication and love for the game of baseball.
Seniors Michael Hebenstreit (Centerville, MA) and Wade Oliver (Owls Head, ME) share the 2009 Father John Tokaz Alumni Recognition Award. Father John Tokaz served as the college chaplain for nine years and, during his time at St. Joe's, impacted the lives of many Monks baseball players with his dedication to the education and character development of these young men.
The 2009 Most Valuable Player is Pat Moran '10 (Winterport, ME). A standout two-way player as a starting pitcher and designated hitter/outfielder, Moran enjoyed an outstanding junior campaign in both aspects of his game. On the hill, he tossed 62 2/3 innings and led the Monks with an 8-1 record, 75 strikeouts and just six walks. As one of the most feared hitters in the GNAC, Moran belted a league-high 11 home runs and paced the conference in slugging percentage (.813) while hitting .411 (46-112) with 44 RBI. For his efforts he was named the GNAC Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-Conference as a pitcher and designated hitter, and collected All-NEIBA First Team, D3Baseball.com All-America Honorable Mention and ECAC DIII Baseball Third Team honors.
Infielder Danny Achorn '12 (Bow, NH) has been selected as the 2009 Rookie of the Year. As a freshman, Achorn hit .306 (19-62) with 13 RBI while capably manning the shortstop position for the Monks. Unfortunately, both for Achorn and the Royal Blue, his season was cut short due to injury.
The 2009 Coaches' Award recipient is Chris Campbell '11 (Rochester, NH). Campbell broke out in a big way as a second-year player under Coach Sanborn, hitting .423 (63-149) with 43 runs, 28 RBI, eight stolen bases and a sparkling .479 on-base percentage. After playing second base, shortstop, left field and third base for the Monks during the season, Campbell was named First Team All-Conference as a utility player and received All-NEIBA Third Team honors. His 63 hits ranks as the sixth-highest total in program history for a single season.
Seniors Stephan Gorsun (South Berwick, ME) and Andrew Pooler (Southwest Harbor, ME) share the 2009 Most Dedicated Player Award. Both players spent nearly as much time off the practice and playing field as on helping to promote the program in a positive manner during their four years. Their all-around contributions will certainly be missed in the coming seasons.
The 2009 Pitcher of the Year is right-hander Kevin Chamberlain '11 (Scarborough, ME). The sophomore hurler enjoyed a solid season, having sported a 5.05 ERA and a 3-1 record with 32 strikeouts against seven walks in 41 in 2009. The highlight of his season came against Husson on April 1st, when the workhorse held the Eagles without a hit for seven innings and earned his first collegiate win with two hits allowed in 7 1/3 frames of work.
First baseman Ben Grant-Roy '10 (Biddeford, ME) takes home the 2009 Gold Glove Award. The junior certainly saved his fellow infielders some miscues on the stat sheet last season and is well-known by his foes as a hard-nosed and fearless defender who isn't afraid to sacrifice his body to make a play.
One of the most consistent players of the 2009 season, catcher Ian Lee '11 (Hampden, ME), is the Monks' 2009 Hitter of the Year. From April 4th through the end of the year, Lee's batting average never dipped below the .444 mark as he finished his sophomore campaign hitting .475 (75-158) with 40 runs, 53 RBI and 17 doubles. His hits total and his batting average both rank as the third-best single season marks at Saint Joseph's. Also outstanding defensively behind the plate, Lee garnered All-Conference Second Team and D3Baseball.com All-America Honorable Mention honors.
Saint Joseph's, the 2009 GNAC regular season champions, went 31-13 with a 13-1 record in conference play. 2009 marked the seventh time in program history, the fourth in the last five seasons, which the Monks reached the 30-win plateau.
