Friday, November 04, 2005

Valparaiso University's baseball program recently recognized its team award winners for the 2005 season.

Mike Arensdorff (Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott H.S.) took home numerous honors, while John Giusti (Coventry, R.I./Coventry H.S.), Jon Rupno (Oneida, Wis./Pulaski H.S.), Adam Knobel (Conover, Wis./Saint Charles H.S.), and Ben Nice (Morrison, Ill./Morrison H.S.) were also honored.

Arensdorff was the recipient of the first Triple Crown Award. He also was the recipient of the Batting Average title, Slugging Percentage crown, and top Fielding Percentage. The sophomore last year hit .382 with four home runs and 43 RBIs on his way to a First Team All Mid-Continent Conference selection. He also posted a team-best .981 fielding percentage.

Giusti earned the Jeff Raymond Award and was named Rookie of the Year after hitting .320 with 14 RBIs. He tallied a .437 slugging percentage and reached base 42.1% of the time.

Rupno was named the Most Improved Player after hitting .314 and driving in 33 runs. Defensively he posted a .947 fielding percentage.

Knobel won the ERA title, posting a 1.95 ERA while registering eight saves. His 14 career saves were most in school history.

Nice was named the Most Valuable Player of the Junior Varsity Team.

On the same weekend the awards were handed out, Lee Evans notched a hole-in-one during the Father/Son/Alumni golf outing held on hole number eight at Aberdeen.