Baseball Earns Six All-BIG EAST Conference Honors
5/24/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 24, 2011
Clearwater, Fla. - Six Pitt baseball players earned All-BIG EAST conference honors including two first-team members, the conference announced Tuesday night during the opening festivities at Bright House Field.
Seniors Kevan Smith and David Chester both earned All-BIG EAST first-team honors.
Smith was a unanimous decision, garnering the accolades for the second consecutive season. A native of Cranberry Twp., Smith tied St. John's Joe Panik for the league batting average (.396). Chester earned the award after leading all conference hitters in home runs with 14.
Senior outfielder John Schultz and junior pitcher Matt Iannazzo collected second-team honors.
In 2011, Schultz set Pitt records for career walks, runs and doubles. The left fielder also added 10 outfield assists to go along with his .352 batting average. Iannazzo led the Panthers with seven wins and tossed four complete games.
Two first-year Panthers rounded out the awards. Junior transfer Anthony Defabio and freshman Casey Roche were third team selections.
Defabio finished the season on a tear, hitting .330 during the season in 36 games. Switching between catching duties and the designated hitter role, Defabio drove in 25 runs in just 100 at-bats. Roche earns the honors as one of the top freshman in the league. In 34 games, Roche batted .367 and scored 21 times.
All six selectees were honored and presented with plaques before the home run derby and fireworks display capped off the evening.
-30-
