Behrend Lions Baseball Announces Team Honors for 2008
The Penn State Behrend Lions baseball program released the team's award winners for the 2008 campaign. "We have high-quality people in our program," said head coach Paul Benim. "These honors are voted on by their peers and coaches. This group is special and should be very honored."
The program selected David Koerbel (Pittsburgh/Central Catholic) as the team's Most Valuable Player. Koerbel, the 2008 AMCC Player and Pitcher of the Year, was nationally ranked in NCAA Division III for ERA, wins, strike-outs and strike-outs per nine innings. He led the program with a 5-0 record in the AMCC with five complete games and a 1.80 ERA. Overall this spring he was 8-2 this spring with seven complete games in 11 starts. He struck-out 73 hitters in 70 innings and walked only 13.
The pitching staff was again the strength of the Behrend Lions this season. Ace reliever, Ben Cain (Venetia/Peters Township) was named the program's Most Valuable Pitcher. Cain, a junior right-hander, was 5-0 with five saves this spring, and a glaring 0.76 ERA in more than 35 innings of work. He posted 35 K's and only eight walks.
The Most Improved Player for 2008 was Dustin Dubensky (Punxsutawney/ Punxsutawney). The sophomore slugger moved along to a .365 clip while knocking in a team-high 46 RBIs. Dubensky set a school record with 23 doubles this spring and ranked fifth nationally for total doubles.
The Rookie of the Year award was earned by freshman Ed Kessler (Bethel Park/Bethel Park). Kessler hit .310 with a pair of home runs and drove home 16 runners. He also stole six bases and played solid infield defense for the blue and white.
Josh Fyffe (Fredonia/Sharpsville), last season's team's MVP and Rookie of the Year, was voted the squad's Golden Glove winner. The defensive standout played superb defense at shortstop for the Behrend Lions often turning in highlight reel plays. Fyffe had 121 assists and 65 putouts while making only 10 errors.
Junior pitcher Andy Chrobak (Laurel/New Castle) was selected as the Spirit and Hustle Award winner. Chrobak proved to be an influential force on the younger members of the program and brought positive energy each and every day to the diamond. Chrobak was 7-4 with a 2.90 ERA and a team-high 71.1 innings pitched.
Seniors Paul Henry (Mamont/Kiski Area) and Jason Bartlett (Erie/Iroquois) were tabbed as the Herb Lauffer Leadership and Scholarship Award winners. Henry Both catchers were instrumental in the team's success in 2008 leading Behrend to an impressive 17-1 AMCC regular-season record and regional ranking of fifth in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic region polls. Behrend then earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament and posted the second most wins in school history with a 34-12 overall record.
"As we look ahead to 2009, there is no doubt in my mind that we will contest every pitch, at-bat, out, inning and every game from start to finish this season," said coach Benim. "As a result of our players competitiveness and the team chemistry, we possess the ability to achieve great things next spring!"
Web site contact: behrendsid@psu.edu
Updated June 14, 2008
© 2008 The Pennsylvania State University