University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Presents Team Awards at Annual Banquet
6/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Minnesota baseball program announced its 2011 team awards at the annual season-ending banquet on Tuesday, May 31, in the DQ Club Room at TCF Bank Stadium.
The Golden Gophers gave out eight awards: the Richard "Chief" Siebert Most Valuable Player, the Dianne Olson-Ficenko Dugout Club Player of the Year, the Paul Molitor Batting Champion, the Dave Winfield Pitcher of the Year, the Paul Fortin Scholarship/Athlete Award, the George Thomas Most Improved Player Award, the David Chelesnik Scholarship Award and the Teammate of the Year Award.
Junior shortstop AJ Pettersen, who was named All-Big Ten First Team last week, was the recipient of the Richard "Chief" Siebert Most Valuable Player Award. Pettersen led the Golden Gophers offensively the entire season, beginning the year with a 19-game hitting streak to extend a streak from last year to 22 games. For the season, Pettersen batted a team-high .344 (72-for-209) with 33 runs scored, 10 doubles, two triples, one home run, 12 runs batted in, a .394 on-base percentage, and eight stolen bases.
Pettersen also received the Paul Molitor Batting Champion honor, which goes to the Gopher with the highest batting average. He was one of four Gophers named to the All-Big Ten Tournament Team on Saturday.
Junior first baseman Nick O'Shea won the Dianne Olson-Ficenko Dugout Club Player of the Year. O'Shea, an All-Big Ten Third Team selection, was the Gophers' top power hitter with seven home runs, 10 doubles, a .500 slugging percentage, and 34 runs batted in. O'Shea also batted .299 (49-for-164) with 22 runs scored, while striking out just 15 times all season.
Junior outfielder Justin Gominsky received the David Chelesnik Award, which is presented to an athlete who best demonstrates the special qualities of courage, determination and perseverance that were exhibited by David Chelesnik. The special scholarship is given in memory of an outstanding student-athlete who died of bone cancer on Labor Day, 1984, after completing one year of a lifelong dream - to play for the Golden Gophers.
Gominsky missed most of the 2010 season with a knee injury, but returned this season to start all 49 games for the Gophers, ranking second on the team with a .307 (58-for-189) batting average, 30 runs scored and eight stolen bases. Gominsky, who was named to the All-Big Ten Tournament Team, also led the Gophers with three triples, while adding eight doubles and 18 runs batted in.
The Dave Winfield Pitcher of the Year Award was presented to senior pitcher Scott Matyas. Minnesota's closer for the past three seasons and a mainstay in the Gophers' bullpen since 2008, Matyas ended his collegiate career as the Big Ten's all-time saves leader with 36, as well as having made the most career appearances (94) in Minnesota's rich baseball history.
This season, Matyas led the Gophers with 11 saves and 26 appearances, posting a record of 1-1 with a 1.60 earned run average. Matyas allowed just 20 hits and nine runs (six earned) in 33.2 innings pitched, striking out 42 while walking just seven and holding opposing batters to a .167 average.
The George Thomas Most Improved Player Award was given to senior pitcher Cullen Sexton. A hard-throwing right-hander, Sexton had some impressive numbers in his final season, making 13 appearances and recording a 1.98 earned run average. He allowed just eight hits in 13.2 innings pitched, while striking out 11 and holding opponents to a .186 average.
Minnesota awarded the Teammate of the Year Award for the seventh year, given to the player whose attitude and actions most represent the team philosophy of the Golden Gophers' program. This year's recipient was senior middle infielder Drew Hanish, who selflessly volunteered to help the team by coaching first base during much of the first half of the season. Hanish appeared in 12 games this year, making one start, with a double and a run scored.
The Paul Fortin Scholarship/Athlete Award was a tough choice, as the Gophers have a plethora of outstanding performers in the classroom. This year's honoree was senior left-handed pitcher Luke Rasmussen, who recently graduated with a 3.56 grade point average in finance. Rasmussen made 12 appearances for the Gophers this season, recording 11 strikeouts in 12.1 innings pitched.
Minnesota ended its season with a record of 25-24 after going 3-2 at the Big Ten Tournament in Columbus, Ohio. The Gophers finished 13-11 in the Big Ten, earning the fifth seed for their Big Ten-record 27th tournament appearance.
