The Wittenberg University baseball program announced the 2023 Team Awards this past weekend at their annual Family Day Event. With many baseball family members in attendance the day's events included an intersquad scrimmage, team picnic, and the traditional team awards being handed out. Below are the four individual recipients who will forever be enshrined in the program's history.
Most Valuable Player: Conor O'Malley (SR/OF)
Senior outfielder Conor O'Malley was chosen as the team's 2023 Most Valuable Player. He was the only player to play in all 42 games last season. Slashing an impressive .368 AVG/.500 OBP%/.564 SLUG%. O'Malley led the team in multiple offensive categories including At Bats (163), Runs (52), RBI (55), HR (6), BB (36), and OBP. He also was ranked with the top players on the team in other offensive categories such as hits (60), 2Bs (14), AVG, and SLUG. During the season he had hit streaks of 7, 8, and 11 games while notching 20 multi-hit games. Conor was the centerpiece for the Tiger lineup as he accounted for over 100 runs in 42 games. O'Malley led the NCAC in conference batting average with a .460, which was 35pts higher than the next highest average. At the end of the season Conor was recognized as the most decorated player in the program having earned Academic All-NCAC, First Team All-NCAC, and was the third player in program history to earn both d3baseball.com and ABCA All-Region honors.
Pitcher of the Year: Michael Osmond (Graduate/LHP)
Left-handed pitcher Michael Osmond was named Pitcher of the Year for the 2023 season. The left hander finished the season with a 6-2 record while recording one save. Osmond threw a team leading 63 innings for the Tigers last season. He not only led the team in innings pitched but also ERA (3.57), strikeouts (78), and K/9 at an impressive 11.14. Osmond's dominance last season was also done with great command having only walked 18 batters over those 63 innings and showcasing a WHIP of 1.22. His 78 strikeouts tied a single season program record, and 42 Ks led the entire NCAC. For his efforts, Osmond was honored as NCAC pitcher of the week twice, and later named to the All-NCAC First Team. Osmond is now attending graduate school at Troy University in Troy, Alabama.
Rookie of the Year: (SO/INF) James MacAuley
The 2023 Rookie of the Year goes to sophomore James MacAuley. James made an immediate impact on the Tigers last season. Playing primarily as the team's second baseman, MacAuley played in 40 of 42 games while making 36 starts. In his rookie campaign, MacAuley slashed an impressive .308/.442/.377. He finished with 40 hits, 9 doubles, 37 runs scored, 21 runs batted in, and stole 5 bases in 130 ABs. Not only did MacAuley have a stellar season offensively, but where he may have impacted the most was in the middle infield. James fielded an impressive .964 over 166 total chances while recording 82 assists, 78 put outs, 19 double plays all while only committing 6 errors.
Red Maurer Award: Maxwell Monachino (Graduate/OF)
Graduate outfielder Max Monachino spent 4 years as a loyal team member and ambassador for Wittenberg University. On the field Monachino's never give up attitude earned him a major contributing role in last year's record-breaking season. Known for his elite speed and superb defensive play, Monachino played in 38 games for the Tigers. In 85 at bats, Max hit an impressive .318 recording 27 hits, 7 doubles, 28 runs, 15 rbi, 12 walks, and posted a .422 OBP. Defensively, Monachino ran down 52 outs for his Tigers team last season. Monachino was also named to the Academic All-NCAC Team for his performances on and off the field last season.
Monachino not only found success on the field, but off the field, graduating magma cum laude with a double major in Finance and Economics. He was an active member of the Economics Club, Investment Club, CABLE (Communication and Business Leaders Experience), and the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity on campus. Last year he was awarded the prestigious 2023 Faculty Award for Excellence; which is voted on by faculty members only and given to the student with the greatest potential for career success. Monachino is currently working as an Investment Banking Analyst at Houlihan Capital in their downtown Cleveland, OH office.
Congratulations to the awards winners for all their hard work and dedication to the Wittenberg Baseball Program!