The Penn State Behrend baseball team announced their team awards after finishing the season with a 24-17 record and going 12-6 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) regular-season while earning the #2 seed entering the conference tournament. After posting a 1-2 mark in the league tournament the blue and white earned the #2 seed and hosted the 2019 ECAC Tournament.
For the third straight season shortstop Scott Sada (Saegertown, PA/Saegertown) was named the team's Most Valuable Player. Sada broke the Division III record for career doubles, and ranked first nationally in doubles and doubles per game. He made the All-Conference team for a fourth straight time. Sada, the Behrend Male Athlete of the Year and a Preseason All-American, was also voted to the Division III All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Team. Sada earned All-ECAC honors for the third time after leading the team and conference in runs (53), doubles (24) and stolen bases (22). The shortstop was also first on the team with 59 hits, while driving in 34 runs and ripping six home runs to go with two triples. Recently Sada was named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District Team and All-America Team.
Phil Myers (DuBois, PA/DuBois Central Catholic) was selected by teammates at the Most Valuable Pitcher award for the 2019 campaign. The senior lefty posted a 2.35 ERA and logged almost 70 innings of work on the hill for the Behrend Lions, earning him Second-Team All-AMCC. Myers, the 2019 Behrend Scholar Athlete of the Year, garners his second All-AMCC honors. Overall, Myers tied for first with a league high seven wins, second in ERA (2.25), tied for second in complete games with four, and was second in innings pitched. Myers was also named the Google Cloud Academic All-District and All-America Team.
The Golden Glove award was earned by senior outfielder Ian Taylor (Wexford, PA/Vincentian Academy) who was the steadiest and most impactful defensive player between the lines. Taylor closed the gaps in the outfield all season and for the second consecutive year did not make an error. Offensively he was a main cog in the line-up ranking fifth on the team in hits (41) and had 15 of his 19 RBIs come in conference play. He also added 26 runs, nine doubles, two triples and a home run this season. Taylor, a second-team All-Conference selection was also named the Herb Lauffer Leadership/Scholarship award recipient for the team.
John Brittner (Cranberry, PA/Seneca Valley) was elected the team's Spirit & Hustle Award winner. The senior had a terrific season playing in all 41 games anchoring the designated hitter spot in the line-up. Brittner posted his best season of his collegiate career with a .327 batting average while knocking 13 doubles and driving in 28 runs this past spring.
The Most Improved Player honor was bestowed upon Jake Deitz after a very successful sophomore season. Deitz was thrust into the starting role behind the plate and was prepared. He competed in 36 games and contributed leadership and a .267 average while driving in 11 runs and mentoring the pitching staff. Deitz also was tabbed the AMCC Sportsmanship Award winner. This is also voted upon by his peers, and he was selected for respecting opponents, officials, and the game.
The Rookie of the Year award was a very competitive vote and went to Zack Bowen (Plum Borough, PA/Serra Catholic). The freshman performed well all season and became a regular as second base. He recorded 11 multi-hit games while moving along to a .325 average and drove home 25 runs. Bowen also earned mound time in six games and registered a pair of saves.
The blue and white will open the 2020 season at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky.