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 Jay Alexander presented Jason Chapieski with three awards, including MVP. |
May 8, 2006
DETROIT - The WSU baseball program held its annual banquet Monday evening at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center on the WSU campus in Detroit. The program included an awards presentation and the ever-popular senior speeches.
Senior infielder Jason Chapieski (Windsor, Ont.) picked up three awards: Most Valuable Player, Top Hitter and Top Defensive Player. Chapieski is the team leader in batting average (.353), on-base percentage (.459), runs (36), hits (60), walks (27) and stolen bases (16). As the lead-off man in all 52 games played, Chapieski has accumulated a team-high 16 multi-hit games. He also has twice as many assists (124) than any of his teammates and has recorded a hit in 24 of his last 26 games.
Junior starter Dan Barnes (Grand Ledge, Mich.) was selected as the Top Pitcher. Barnes has the lowest ERA of any starter at 3.30 and is tied for the team lead with four wins. In 60.0 innings pitched, Barnes has struck out 39 batters while holding opponents to a .272 batting average. The two-sport athlete picked up his biggest win with a 12-6 victory at fifth-ranked Ashland on April 19.
The Warrior Award, which is given to the player who represents outstanding contributions to the Wayne State baseball program and to the university, was presented to senior outfielder Kurt Kieleszewski (Macomb, Mich.). The biological sciences major is the president of WSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a five-time Athletic Director's Honor Roll (term gpa 3.5+) selection.
Senior Mat Yenrick (Toledo, Ohio) earned the Most Improved Player award as the lefty lowered his ERA from 10.95 last year to 4.04 this season. Yenrick was named the GLIAC Pitcher of the Week on May 1 after he recorded back-to-back three-hitters, including WSU's only shutout of the year against Saginaw Valley State.
The Gary Chapp Spirit Award went to freshman John Skaggs (Adrian, Mich.). As a redshirt, the natural first baseman put the team before himself and served as the bullpen catcher.
There was also a special presentation to 14 players by Nina Jackson of the S.M.A.R.T. mentoring program.
Wayne State prepares for the GLIAC Tournament where it faces top-seeded Grand Valley State May 11 at 3 p.m.
