Dartmouth Baseball Announces Award Winners and 2008 Captains

Monday, June 4, 2007

HANOVER, N.H. - Junior pitcher Russell Young (Cleburne, Texas), who captained 2007 Dartmouth baseball, was named this year's team MVP and a co-captain of the 2008 squad.

Joining Young as a co-captain for the 2008 season is junior outfielder Damon Wright (Dallas, Texas), a second team All-Ivy honoree this year.

Young went 51.1 innings this year, picking up wins over Cincinnati and Princeton. He went the distance against the Tigers, as he scattered five hits and struck out seven in a 2-1 victory. The left-hander was on the mound for nine starts, and also was tabbed Dartmouth's pitcher of the year.

Freshman Nick Santomauro (North Caldwell, N.J.) picked up two awards. A first team All-Ivy selection, the right fielder was named Dartmouth's rookie of the year and best offensive player.

He led the Big Green in all major hitting categories, including batting average (.395), hits (49) and RBI (23).

Senior pitcher Jeff Wilkerson (Walnut Creek, Calif.), a four-year letterwinner, was presented Dartmouth's James Henry Cooke Award, given to the player who has done the most for Big Green baseball during his career. This spring, the right hander was the iron man of the staff with a team-high 57.1 innings with three complete games among his nine starts.

Wilkerson threw complete nine-inning games against Fairfield (a 4-1 win) and Columbia (an 8-3 victory). On April 29, he wrapped up his collegiate career with a complete-game, seven-inning win at Harvard, 2-1.

Named Dartmouth's most improved player was shortstop Erik Bell (Sierra Madre, Calif.) who started all 37 games. He tied for the team lead with 132 at bats and earned a batting average of .280.

Teammate of the year honors went to senior outfielder Andrew Nacario (Carlsbad, Calif.). He started 33 of 36 games, splitting his time between left field and designated hitter.

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