May 24, 2011
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Head coach Jim Penders was named the 2011 BIG EAST Coach of the Year as announced by the conference on Tuesday night as part of the 2011 BIG EAST Baseball Championship Opening Ceremonies. Matt Barnes was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year, while George Springer was tagged with BIG EAST Player of the Year honors. In addition to the major awards, 11 Huskies were named to the All-BIG EAST Teams.
For the second straight year, Penders was named the league's Coach of the Year as he led the Huskies to 39 overall wins and a league-record 22 victories during regular season play. The Huskies also won the 2011 Regular Season title. Currently in his eighth year at the helm of the Huskies, he is now a three-time recipient of the award, winning the honor in 2006 and in 2010, respectively.
Matt Barnes, who was tagged as the 2011 Preseason Pitcher of the Year, went on to register an 11-3 record during regular-season play, while earning an ERA of 1.11, a team-best. In 14 starts, Barnes threw three complete games, struck out 97 batters and pitched 105 innings. The junior earned eight wins in BIG EAST Conference play, tying the all-time single-season mark in league history. He is just one of three all-time UConn pitchers to register 10 or more wins in a single season and ranks tied for second with current teammate Greg Nappo with 24 career wins.
George Springer, who also earned a major award in the preseason as he was named BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year, led the Huskies during the regular season batting .379 in 55 games en route to being the unanimous selection for Player of the Year. The junior led the Huskies with 77 hits, 12 home runs, 51 runs scored and 72 RBI. He has stolen a team-high 29 bags and is slugging .685. This is the second major conference honor for the New Britain, Conn. native as he was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year in 2009.
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Barnes is just the second UConn pitcher to earn the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year honor as Charles Nagy was given the award in both the 1987 and 1988 seasons.
Springer becomes the fifth Husky to be tagged with Player of the Year honors and the first since Mike Scott was named Co-Player of the Year in 2001. Prior to 2001, Jason Grabowski earned the honor in 1996, while Sal Tinnerello earned the award in 1992. Dave Ford was the first-ever BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year in 1985 when the Huskies finished in first place in the league's North Division during that season.
Barnes and Springer were unanimous picks for the All-BIG EAST First Team, while Greg Nappo, Doug Elliot, Mike Nemeth, LJ Mazzilli, Ryan Fuller and Nick Ahmed made the All-BIG EAST Second Team.
Juniors Kevin Vance, John Andreoli and Tim Martin earned spots on the All-BIG EAST Third Team, respectively.
The Huskies will begin postseason play on Wednesday, May 25 as they are scheduled to take on Notre Dame at 8:00 p.m. at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.
2011 BIG EAST CONFERENCE BASEBALL AWARDS
BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR
George Springer, OF, Connecticut (Jr., New Britain, Conn.) *
BIG EAST PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Matt Barnes, RHP, Connecticut (Jr., Bethel, Conn.)
BIG EAST ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Trey Mancini, 1B, Notre Dame (Fr., Winter Haven, Fla.)
BIG EAST COACH OF THE YEAR
Jim Penders, Connecticut
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ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
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Pos.
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Player
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School
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Cl
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Hometown
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P
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Connecticut
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Jr.
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Bethel, Conn.
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P
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Justin Amlung
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Louisville
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So.
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Louisville, Ky.
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P
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Kyle Hansen
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St. John's
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So.
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Glen Gove, N.Y.
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P
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Joe DiRocco
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Seton Hall
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Sr.
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East Hanover, N.J.
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C
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Kevan Smith *
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Pittsburgh
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Sr.
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Cranberry Township, Pa.
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1B
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David Chester
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Pittsburgh
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Sr.
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Collinsville, Okla.
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2B
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Ryan Wright
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Louisville
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Jr.
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Fort Wayne, Ind.
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3B
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Jonathan Koscso
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USF
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Sr.
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Tampa, Fla.
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SS
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Joe Panik
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St. John's
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Jr.
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Hopewell Junction, N.Y.
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OF
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Justin Riddell
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Cincinnati
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Sr.
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Lexington, Ky.
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OF
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Connecticut
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Jr.
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New Britain, Conn.
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OF
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Rand Ravnaas
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Georgetown
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Jr.
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Fort Worth, Texas
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OF
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Jeremy Baltz
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St. John's
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So.
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Vestal, N.Y.
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DH
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Jeremy Gum
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West Virginia
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Sr.
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Bridgeport, W.Va.
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* unanimous selection
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ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
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Pos.
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Player
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School
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Cl
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Hometown
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P
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Connecticut
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Sr.
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Madison, Conn.
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P
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Matt Iannazzo
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Pittsburgh
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Jr.
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Norwalk, Conn.
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P
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Randy Fontanez
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USF
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Sr.
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Oviedo, Fla.
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P
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Kevin Quackenbush
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USF
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Sr.
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Tampa, Fla.
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C
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Connecticut
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Sr.
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Rocky Hill, Conn.
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1B
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Connecticut
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Sr.
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Washington, N.J.
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2B
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Connecticut
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So.
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Greenwich, Conn.
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3B
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Connecticut
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Jr.
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Old Lyme, Conn.
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SS
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Connecticut
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Jr.
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East Longmeadow, Mass.
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OF
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Stewart Ijames
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Louisville
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Jr.
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Louisville, Ky.
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OF
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John Schultz
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Pittsburgh
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Sr.
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West Lawn, Pa.
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OF
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Michael Lang
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Rutgers
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Sr.
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Dumont, N.J.
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DH
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Justin Glass
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Cincinnati
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Fr.
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Fort Wayne, Ind.
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ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAM
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Pos.
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Player
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School
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Cl
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Hometown
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P
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Connecticut
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Jr.
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Solana Beach, Calif.
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P
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Tony Zych
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Louisville
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Jr.
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Monee, Ill.
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P
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Brian Dupra
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Notre Dame
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Sr.
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Rochester, N.Y.
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C
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Erick Fernandez
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Georgetown
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Sr.
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Hialeah, Fla.
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1B
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Trey Mancini
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Notre Dame
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Fr.
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Winter Haven, Fla.
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1B
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Paul Karmas
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St. John's
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Sr.
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Douglaston, N.Y.
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3B
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Sean Lamont
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Georgetown
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Sr.
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Houston, Texas
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SS
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Grant Buckner
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West Virginia
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Sr.
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Elkview W.Va.
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OF
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Braden Kline
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Cincinnati
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Fr.
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Warsaw, Ind.
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OF
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Connecticut
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Jr.
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Shrewsbury, Mass.
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OF
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Casey Roche
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Pittsburgh
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Fr.
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Downingtown, Pa.
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DH
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Connecticut
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Jr.
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Stratford, Conn.
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DH
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Anthony Defabio
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Pittsburgh
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Jr.
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Pittsburgh, Pa.
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