Boston College Athletics
Baseball Racks Up Nine Conference Honors
May 22, 2002 | Baseball
May 22, 2002
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. - For Boston College, Notre Dame, Rutgers and Virginia Tech, their focus is on claiming a BIG EAST Tournament championship, which kicks off on Thursday afternoon at Commerce Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, N.J.
However, on Wednesday evening, the BIG EAST Conference took time to recognize all 11 conference teams and their players at the annual awards banquet. For the Eagles, it was a very special evening as six members of the team earned nine conference honors.
Heading the list of award winners was Boston College head coach Pete Hughes. Hughes, who is in his fourth year as coach for the Eagles, was named 2002 BIG EAST Coach of the Year after leading Boston College to a third-place finish in the conference and a 15-11 record. Over his five years, he has accumulated an overall record of 120-86-1 (.582). The Eagles' 15-11 mark established a new team record for BIG EAST victories. Hughes has now been honored by the conference twice (2000).
To go along with Hughes, freshman Chris Lambert also earned two major conference awards. Lambert was first named 2002 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, which was followed by being named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year.
The freshman had a sensational season for Boston College. He joins Charles Nagy of Connecticut ('87) as the only freshman to claim pitcher of the year honors. He also becomes the first player in conference history to claim both pitcher and rookie of the year honors.
Lambert was solid all season, as he posted a 9-2 record (5-2 in BIG EAST play) with a 2.94 earned run average (3.49 in conference). He also fanned 79 batters and hurled four complete games. He is the first Eagle hurler to earn rookie recognition and is also the first freshman in school history named to the All-BIG EAST First Team.
"It was great for Chris and our program to be recognized, and for a freshman to earn these awards will hopefully give him the incentive to pitch at a high level for three more years," Hughes said.
Senior catcher Jeff Mackor was one of only two players (Steve Stanley - Notre Dame) to repeat on the All-BIG EAST First Team. Mackor has started and played in all 53 games this season, and he ranks fourth on the squad with a .335 batting average. Mackor's season stats also include 65 hits, 16 doubles, five home runs and 36 RBI.
Fellow seniors Neal McCarthy and Brian Durkin were both named to the first team. McCarthy, who has suffered through injuries the entire season, finished the regular season second on the team with a .372 average, and he also recorded 15 doubles. Durkin, who was BC's designated hitter, poured it on around the middle of the season and gave the Eagles' lineup a boost. Durkin led the Eagles with 13 home runs, two of which he had in the final regular season series against Notre Dame.
The final honorees of the evening for Boston College were freshman Drew Locke and senior Brian Macchi, who were named to the third team. Locke the Eagles with a .418 batting average, and he recorded amazing 56 hits in only 43 games. Macchi, who will miss the remainder of the 2002 due to a broken knuckle, tied Mackor for the team lead in hits (65), while leading the team in doubles (24) and RBI (62).
Notre Dame's Steve Stanley became the first player in conference history to repeat as BIG EAST Player of the Year. A two-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection, the senior ranked first in the conference with a .431 batting average, while also leading the league in conference hits (44) and runs scored (30).
Boston College will take on Virginia Tech in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament at 7 p.m. Thursday. Lambert is scheduled to pitch game one against Virginia Tech's Joe Saunders.
2002 BIG EAST Baseball Postseason Award Winners
BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Steve Stanley, Notre Dame, CF, Senior, 5-8, 155, Upper Arlington, Ohio/Worthington Christian
BIG EAST PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Chris Lambert, Boston College, RHP, Freshman, 6-0, 195, Manchester, N.H./Manchester Memorial
BIG EAST ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Chris Lambert, Boston College, RHP, Freshman, 6-0, 195, Manchester, N.H./Manchester Memorial
BIG EAST COACH OF THE YEAR
Peter Hughes, Boston College, 172-116-1, 6th season; At BC: 120-86-1, 5th season
All-BIG EAST First Team
P - Chris Lambert, Boston College, Fr.
P - Isaac Pavlik, Seton Hall, Sr.
P - Joe Saunders, Virginia Tech, Jr.
C - Jeff Mackor, Boston College, Sr.
1B - Brant Colamarino, Pittsburgh, Jr.
2B - Marc Tugwell, Virginia Tech, Jr.
SS - Spencer Harris, Virginia Tech, Jr.
3B - John West, Virginia Tech, Sr.
OF - Casey Grimm, Seton Hall, Jr.
OF - Neal McCarthy, Boston College, Sr.
OF - Steve Stanley, Notre Dame, Sr.**
UT - Charles Bilezikjian, St. John's, Sr.
DH - Brian Durkin, Boston College, Sr.
All-BIG EAST Second Team
P - Bobby Brownlie, Rutgers, Jr.
P - Billy Biggs, West Virginia, Jr.
P - James Russell, Villanova, Jr.
C - Paul O'Toole, Notre Dame, Sr.
1B - Rob Cafiero, Villanova, Sr.
2B - Steve Sollmann, Notre Dame, So.
SS - Brett Burnham, Connecticut, Jr.
3B - Brendan Mannix, Villanova, Sr.
OF - Chris Graziano, Villanova, Jr.
OF - Val Majewski, Rutgers, Jr.
OF - Brian Stavisky, Notre Dame, Jr.
UT - Peter Soteropoulos, Connecticut, Jr.
DH - Brad Rea, Pittsburgh, Sr.
All-BIG EAST Third Team
P.J. Hiser, Pittsburgh, RHP, Jr.
Tom Wheeler, Rutgers, RHP, Sr.
Mike Leonard, Connecticut, C, So.
Bryan Spamer, Pittsburgh, SS, So.
Andy Bushey, Notre Dame, 3B, Sr.
Brian Macchi, Boston College, OF, Sr.
Drew Locke, Boston College, OF, Fr.
Cy Hess, Connecticut, OF, Sr.
Bill Quinn, Georgetown, OF, Fr.
Brad Bauder, Virginia Tech, OF, Jr.
Todd Crawford, Seton Hall, UT, Sr.
Wyatt Toregas, Virginia Tech, UT, Fr.
Matt Bok, Notre Dame, DH, Sr.
** - unanimous selection
The first and second teams are chosen by position, with the third team the remaining top 13 vote recipients, regardless of position.
