Belfiore Named District Player of the Year
June 08, 2009 | Baseball
June 8, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Boston College junior Mike Belfiore was named the 2009 National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) District I Player of the Year.
Belfiore played a significant role in leading the Eagles to their first NCAA Championship appearance in 42 years. He was also a semifinalist for the Stopper of the Year award and an All-ACC Second Team performer this season.
The Commack, N.Y., native started 59 games this year at first base and also served as the closer in the bullpen. At the plate, Belfiore hit a .273 clip with 11 homers and 62 RBI, which ranks fourth in a single season at BC.
Belfiore continuously came through in clutch situations, driving in half of his RBI with two outs in an inning. He batted .325 with runners in scoring position and delivered a walk-off grand slam on May 10 in a 10-6 win against Le Moyne.
On the mound, Belfiore posted a 5-1 record with nine saves and a 2.05 ERA in 25 appearances. He tossed 48.1 innings in 2009 and allowed 15 runs - 11 earned - on 44 hits. He walked 12 batters while punching out 59.
The most impressive performance of his career came in his last appearance this season in the Austin Regional versus Texas which lasted 25 innings - the longest game in NCAA history. Belfiore entered a tied game in the ninth inning, worked 9.2 scoreless innings and allowed just three hits. He struck out 11 in his outing, throwing 86 strikes and 129 total pitches.
District I consists of the schools from Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
