May 6, 2008
NEW HAVEN, Conn.--Following a team vote, utility man Stefan Schropp was elected captain of the 2009 Yale baseball team at the annual year-end team banquet, held Sunday night in the Kiphuth Varsity Room. In addition, the team handed out seven awards and recognized its eight departing seniors.
Schropp, a junior from Fort Myers, Fla., played five different positions in 2008. He finished third on the team with a .345 batting average and second with 51 hits while starting games at first base, second base, third base and left field. Schropp also made four appearances on the pitcher's mound and earned the win in the Bulldogs' 5-3 victory over then-No. 5 South Carolina.
"I am tremendously honored to follow in a great tradition of Yale baseball captains," Schropp said. "We are all looking forward to building on the successes of this year by adding a talented ground of incoming freshmen to the already strong nucleus of returning players that we have. Everyone on the team is looking forward to developing as a squad and working together towards the goal of an Ivy League championship in the 2009 season."
"Stefan showed great leadership qualities as a junior this season, and it's a natural progression for him to be our next captain," Mazzuto Family Head Coach John Stuper said. "He had a tremendous year on the field, and his teammates were obviously impressed with his character off it."
In addition, Schropp received the Paul Sortal Award, which goes to the player who "maximizes his ability to the fullest." He shared the award with senior infielder Dan Soltman. Soltman, who originally made the team as a walk-on his freshman year, started 24 games this season at second base and shortstop. He was also the recipient of the first Martin I.J. Griffin Award, which was instituted by Joe Conway and Fred Berg in honor of their mentor, Martin I.J. Griffin, and goes to the graduating senior who is the most outstanding scholar-athlete on the baseball team. Soltman has a 3.75 GPA in history.
Conway's daughter, Elizabeth, presented the Griffin Award and later, Conway presented a special recognition award to Associate Head Coach Bill Asermely for instituting the mentorship program that has been invaluable to many team members in their post-baseball careers.
Outgoing captain Steve Gilman was the most decorated player of the evening, sharing three awards, including the G.H. Walker, Jr. Award as most valuable player. The senior pitcher was the definition of a "lights-out" closer in 2008. In 17 appearances, he went 4-0 with five saves. Gilman had 27 strikeouts in 27 innings and allowing just three earned runs all season, posting a sterling 1.00 ERA.
"Steve was the glue that held this team together," Stuper said. "His leadership and incredible performance on the field really led this team to rely on him in many ways."
Gilman shared MVP honors with fellow seniors Josh Cox and P.J. Gorynski. Cox set school records with 72 hits and 191 at-bats while batting a career-high .377. The team's leadoff man, he stole 21 bases in 25 attempts this season. Gorynski started the season as the Bulldogs' second baseman, but moved behind the plate for the final 13 games after season-ending injuries took down Yale's top two catchers in the same weekend. Gorynski hit .315 with 27 RBIs and belted seven home runs, including a walk-off shot to beat Harvard on April 13.
Gilman shared the Raymond W. (Ducky) Pond Pitching Award with senior starter Brian Irving. This award goes to the pitcher "who has made the greatest contribution to the baseball team during his career at Yale and who best exemplifies the qualities and excellence of `Ducky' Pond." Irving made nine starts and tied Gilman for the team lead with four wins. He posted a 3.86 ERA and led the Ivy League with 59 strikeouts in 51.1 innings.
For the second straight year, Gilman received the Burnat-Grass Teammate Award, which goes to the player "who best exemplifies the qualities of toughness, hard work, character and integrity, while putting the team above himself." He shared the award with senior pitcher John Henry Davis. Davis made 19 appearances out of the bullpen, posting a 3.48 ERA and striking out 22 in 20.2 innings.
Davis, who emerged as one of the most reliable options out of the Yale bullpen over his career after appearing in only one game as a freshman, shared the Coach's Award with senior outfielder Jake Doyle. Doyle returned to the team this season after a shoulder injury kept him from playing in 2007. He smashed seven home runs and finished second on the team with 29 RBIs. Doyle started 40 games in right field and did not make an error in 68 defensive chances.
Seniors Cox, Davis, Doyle, Gilman, Gorynski, Irving, Soltman and Alex Christ were also recognized for their four years of service.
"I'm really going to miss this senior class," Stuper said. "They are eight of the finest people I've ever coached. They set the tone and helped this team get over the hump. Even after all the injuries, they never made any excuses. They just went out and played as hard as they could."
The final award given out was the David M. Darst Hustle Cup, presented to the freshman "who made the greatest contribution to the baseball team through desire, enthusiasm and hustle." Third baseman Andy Megee and pitcher Vinny Lally shared the award. Megee was one of two Bulldogs to play in every game, starting 43 games at third base and making two appearances on the mound. He hit .265 with four home runs and 19 RBIs. Lally made 23 appearances out of the bullpen, the second-most for a single-season in school history. The left-hander went 1-1 with a 6.04 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 22.1 innings.
The Bulldogs went 20-24-1 in 2008 and finished second in the Red Rolfe Division with a 9-10-1 Ivy League mark. Yale set the single-season school record with 42 home runs, and the pitching staff became just the second staff in school history to record 300 strikeouts.
Report filed by Joe Clifford, Yale Sports Publicity