Masi Named PSUAC Baseball Player Of The Year; Four Land First Team All-PSUAC

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State University Athletic Conference named Penn State Brandywine senior Matt Masi (West Chester, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) baseball player of the year on Monday. Masi also joined three of his teammates - Tommy Crumlish (Upper Darby, Pa./Monsignor Bonner), Brett Sheeran (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) and Kevin Sessa (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) as First Team All-PSUAC selections.

Masi, who is Brandywine's second student-athlete to earn baseball player of the year during the last three seasons, earned first team honors for the second consecutive season.

In 35 games this spring, Masi shattered the school's single-season home run record, launching a PSUAC-best nine long balls. He recorded a two-home run game against Westminster (Pa.) in Florida, blasted a home run during each game of a doubleheader against Cabrini, and then recorded home runs in five games against PSUAC opponents.

Masi recorded more extra-base hits (22) than singles (19), topping all PSUAC players in extra-base hits and total bases (85). His four triples were the second-highest total in the league, while his 41 total knocks ranked third.

As Brandywine's top power threat, Masi batted .376 in 109 at-bats, while boasting team-best totals with 30 RBI, 28 runs scored and 14 stolen bases.

A senior, Crumlish appeared in 26 games as Brandywine's third baseman. He posted career-bests with 27 hits, a .321 batting average and six extra-base hits. The first home run of his four-year career came in Florida against Martin Luther College.

Crumlish also knocked in 16 runs, while scoring 14 times.

Sessa, a sophomore, topped all PSUAC pitchers in victories, recording wins during seven of his 12 appearances (eight starts) on the mound this spring. He posted an earned run average of 4.30 after putting together a stretch of 24.2 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run during the middle of the season.

Against PSUAC opponents, Sessa was 6-1 with a 2.56 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 35.2 innings on the hill.

Sheeran started 34 games, batting .280 with 29 hits, the third-highest total on the team. The sophomore shortstop also stood second among Brandywine players with 10 stolen bases in 11 attempts and 23 runs scored. Sheeran added 10 RBI, seven of which came against PSUAC opponents.

In addition, T.J. Wiest (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) was named as the John Fritz Sportsmanship Award winner. Named after former PSUAC Commissioner John Fritz, the sportsmanship award is given to one player from each team in the league who best displays the core values of the league and sportsmanship to teammates and opponents throughout the season. Wiest concluded his four-year career with 19 hits and 18 RBI.

Brandywine finished the season with a record of 20-18 and as the runner-up in the PSUAC.