Bulldogs claim three major awards
BULLDOGS CLAIM THREE MAJOR NEC AWARDS
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Just days after clinching their second Northeast Conference regular season championship in three years, the Bryant University baseball team received more exciting news on Thursday as junior Peter Kelich (Jackson, N.J.), freshman Kevin McAvoy (Syracuse, N.Y.) and head coach Steve Owens were among the major award winners and five more were named all-conference at the NEC's annual awards dinner prior to the conference tournament.
The conference leader in wins and ERA, Kelich was recognized as the NEC Pitcher of the Year, while McAvoy took home NEC Rookie of the Year honors with an impressive 1.54 ERA against league opponents. In just his second season with the Black and Gold, Owens earns his first conference award as the league's top bench boss. Fairleigh Dickinson's Ryan Kresky was named the NEC's Player of the Year.
Matching former Bulldog Brent Almeida's accomplishments from 2010, Kelich claimed the NEC Pitcher of the Year award after leading the circuit in earned run average (ERA). The lone NEC starter with a sub-2.00 mark, the junior righty limited opponents to 1.81 runs per 9.0 innings. He struck out nearly thrice as many batters as he walked, fanning 74 and issuing 26 bases on balls. In conference play, Kelich held opposing batters to a .194 aevrage and posted a 0.94 WHIP (walks-hit per IP) to go along with a 1.57 ERA. Kelich, who posted an 8-3 overall record in 2012, has made a habit of stockpiling wins since breaking into Bryant's starting rotation as a freshman. He has 23 victories, including 17 against NEC foes, in three seasons. His 6-1 record in NEC play this season matches the 6-1 league mark he accounted for in 2010 when The Bulldogs snagged their first regular season conference crown.
For the second straight year, the NEC Rookie of the Year award went to a starting pitcher. One year after Sacred Heart southpaw Nick Leiningen took home the honor, McAvoy added his name to the list. While Kelich had the lowest overall ERA in the NEC, McAvoy was the league leader in ERA during conference play. The right-handed rookie hurler pitched to a 1.54 ERA and won all four of his decisions against league opponents. Displaying good control, a trait not always synonymous with freshmen, the 6-foot-2 New York native allowed only 11 free passes and nine earned runs over 52.2 innings against NEC hitters. Overall, his 5-1 record was tops amongst the league's rookie pitchers and his 2.94 ERA was the sixth-lowest amongst all NEC hurlers.
Since arriving in Smithfield, Owens has kept an already-successful program on track. Taking the reins for the 2011 campaign, the veteran skipper has steered Bryant to back-to-back 30-win seasons and now has a regular season conference crown to celebrate. He presided over the conference's top pitching staff, which accounted for a league-low 3.05 ERA and allowed fewer than one hit per inning of work. The NEC Coach of the Year award is Owens' first, but the former head coach at Le Moyne is no stranger to postseason accolades. Owens won the MAAC Coach of the Year honor in 2004 and 2006.
Named to the First Team All-NEC as well, Kelich was joined by juniors Kevin Brown (Northborough, Mass.) and Salvatore Lisanti (Bronx, N.Y.). Although he is no stranger to all-league accolades, the left-handed slugging Brown is a first teamer for the first time. The former NEC Rookie of the Year (2010) garnered second team all-conference recognition as a freshman and sophomore. Brown, who batted .281 as a junior, continued to provide power. He hit nine home runs to finish one shy of the NEC lead and his 16 doubles tied him for fourth amongst the conference's best. In three collegiate seasons, Brown has hit 55 doubles, 13 triples, and 20 round-trippers. In addition to piling up extra-base hits, the 6-foot, 190-pound rightfielder has been an "Ironman" of sorts. Brown has started 163 consecutive games for Bryant, meaning he has not missed a single contest in his three years as a Bulldog.
The junior righty, who spent his high school career at Fordham Prep in The Bronx, pitched to a 1.54 ERA over 25 appearances, all of which came out of the bullpen. Stepping in for former all-NEC closer Mark Andrews, who graduated last May, Lisanti saved nine games and allowed only six earned runs in 35.0 innings. He earned the save in six of Bryant's 24 conference victories and posted 2-1 record to go along with an 0.92 ERA against NEC opponents.
McAvoy also earned second team honors and was joined by senior first baseman Jamie Skagerlind (Holden, Mass.). Skagerlind hit .298 and finished with 16 doubles and five home runs. He finished his career with 204 hits and posted a .996 fielding percentage. He leaves Bryant as the all-time leader in that category.