STANDISH, ME – The 2010 SJC Baseball team awards have been announced. Nine players were honored at the annual baseball awards banquet, which was held at the Woodlands Club in Falmouth, Maine in early May.
Robert R. Doyle Award: Senior outfielder Craig Woodbrey (Gorham, ME)
Named for former SJC Pitching Coach "Bobby" Doyle, who worked with Coach Sanborn for 12 seasons, this honor is given annually to the team member who best-embodies Coach Doyle's spirit, dedication and love for the game of baseball.
Woodbrey, selected as one of the team's three captains last spring, played the majority of the year in center field for the Monks after the SJC outfield corps was decimated due to injuries. In 43 games and 31 starts, he hit .327 (33-101) with three home runs and 22 RBI and sported a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 60 putouts in the outfield. Woodbrey entered the season with a minimal role, but never sulked and refused to relinquish his starting spot when those who were hurt returned.
Father John Tokaz Award: Senior pitcher Chris Nanof (Clinton, MA)
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.
After tossing just 16 innings in his first two years and posting a 7.81 ERA as a junior, Nanof became one of the Monks' most reliable relievers in 2010. He notched 2.95 ERA with a 4-0 record and 23 K's – against just five free passes – in 21.1 innings of relief last season and was the winning pitcher in two of the team's three victories at the New England Regional Tournament. Aside from his sizeable contribution between the lines, Nanof played a huge role as a team leader and was often involved in the Monks' recruiting efforts.
Most Valuable Player: Senior first baseman Ben Grant-Roy (Biddeford, ME)
Grant-Roy closed out his quietly consistent career with his finest season, as the four-year starter hit .408 (62-152) with 42 runs, 13 doubles, five home runs and 51 RBI in 2010. As a senior, he set career-highs in at bats, hits, RBI, batting average and on-base percentage (.500) and is the first SJC Baseball player to garner three First Team All-GNAC accolades. Always a gamer, Grant-Roy was most reliable in pressure situations and was recognized for this attribute with GNAC Tournament MVP and NCAA DIII New England Regional All-Tournament honors this year. He leaves the Monks ranked in the top five in 11 offensive categories, but his defensive skills were equal to his offensive prowess, as "BGR" made just three errors in 367 chances for a .992 fielding percentage in 2010.
Rookie of the Year: Freshman third baseman Mike Pratt (Dartmouth, MA)
One of the team's top recruits for the 2010 season, Pratt entered the year with high expectations and he delivered early. In his first taste of college baseball, the rookie went 5-6 in a doubleheader against Clark University on March 7th and smacked a three-run homer against WPI the following day. Although he wouldn't maintain this otherworldly pace, Pratt enjoyed a fine freshman season and should be a mainstay in the middle of the Monks' lineup for the next three years. He hit .287 (31-108) with 22 runs, five homers and 28 RBI in 2010 and registered several of the team's biggest hits during the season. Pratt hit a key home run and drove in five runs against Suffolk on March 28th, rapped two-run single against the Rams in the GNAC Championship on May 2nd, and belted a three-run jack against Wheaton in the NCAA Regional on May 21st. For his efforts, Pratt was selected as the GNAC Rookie of the Week three times in 2010.
Coaches' Award: Senior second baseman Mike Burdin (Gardiner, ME)
A senior captain and arguably the heart of the 2010 squad, Burdin was at the center of the Monks' success last spring. He hit .403 (58-144) with 41 runs, 10 doubles and 34 RBI and ranked fourth in all of NCAA DIII Baseball with 12 sacrifice bunts as a senior. A dual-player during his first two seasons, with more innings (66) than at bats (63), "Burdy" became a staple in the Monks' infield as a junior and collected 108 hits in two seasons as a starter. A very good defender, Burdin made just six errors in 193 chances for a .969 fielding percentage and helped the Royal Blue turn a team-record 45 double plays in 2010.
Most Dedicated Player: Sophomore infielder Kyle Neagle (Lisbon Falls, ME)
Neagle, who transferred to Saint Joseph's after a year at Franklin Pierce, was a pleasant surprise for the Monks' coaching staff during the 2010 campaign. A tireless worker and intelligent player, Neagle worked his way onto the varsity roster early in the season and filled several important roles, including pinch runner and defensive replacement. He scored 12 runs, many in late-and-close situations, and stole three bases while participating in 28 games as a first-year player. Also an excellent student, the reliable Neagle fits the mold as the kind of individual the Monks' staff seeks in their recruiting efforts. Look for him to compete for some serious time in 2011.
Pitcher of the Year: Sophomore pitcher Sam Murray (Walpole, MA)
Murray emerged as the Monks' ace as a sophomore after seeing his freshman season cut short due to injury. After a breakout effort, he began to fill his trophy case with 2010 GNAC Pitcher of the Year, All-NEIBA Second Team and All-ECAC Second Team honors and was named as the GNAC Pitcher of the Week twice as a second-year hurler. Murray led the SJC staff in ERA (2.43), games started (10), complete games (5), shutouts (2) and fewest BB/9 (1.07) and tied for the team lead in wins (7). Look for this crafty southpaw to continue his development and emerge as one of the very best pitchers in New England in 2011.
Gold Glove Award: Senior catcher Travis Adams (Saco, ME)
Due to injuries to fellow catchers Ian Lee '11 (Hampden, ME) and Jon Dahms '12 (Gorham, ME), Adams was the only backstop standing after April 18th and started behind the plate in the Monks' final 15 games and 36 contests overall as a senior. His starts total as the SJC receiver is the most in program history and the Royal Blue posted a 28-8 record with him calling the games for the St. Joe's staff. An excellent two-way player, Adams posted a .992 fielding percentage with two errors – including a catcher's interference call – in 251 chances and threw out nine would-be basestealers last spring. He also hit .347 (42-121) with 25 runs, 10 doubles, four long balls and 25 RBI and registered a team-best 16-game hitting streak in 2010. Even though he was the Monks' lone catcher, save a couple of "relief" appearances by Andy Devereaux '12 (Hope Valley, RI), his offense didn't suffer. From April 18th on, Adams actually saw his average rise from .313 to .347 and hit .429 over the team's final 15 contests.
Hitter of the Year: Junior outfielder Todd Keneborus (Hollis Center, ME/Cheverus)
After hitting a solid .336 (71-211) with 51 runs and 45 in his first two seasons combined, Keneborus broke onto the scene in a big way with a monstrous offensive effort and posted a season for the SJC record books as a junior. A GNAC Player of the Year, ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-America and D3baseball.com Third Team All-America selection last spring, Keneborus hit .464 (77-166) with 52 runs, 15 doubles, 13 triples, four home runs and 65 RBI during his third season. He shattered the team's single-season and career records for triples in 2010 and tied the season mark for hits while his RBI tally is tied for second all-time. The 2010 NCAA DIII New England Regional All-Tournament choice recorded a staggering 27 multiple-hit games and drove in at least two runs in 14 different contests.
Saint Joseph's went 35-13 overall with an 11-3 record in GNAC play in 2010 en route to winning the team's second conference crown in three seasons as a league member. The Monks made their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance and defeated #5 Worcester State, #3 Western New England and #2 Wheaton as the #8 seed at Eastern Connecticut State University in late May.