Team Awards Announced

Austin Pinorini won both the Silver Bat and Most Improved awards.
Austin Pinorini won both the Silver Bat and Most Improved awards.
Dominic DeMiero won both the Most Valuable Pitcher and Player awards.
Dominic DeMiero won both the Most Valuable Pitcher and Player awards.

Bellevue College’s baseball team members recently voted for the annual team awards. In the most balanced and deep pool of candidates, Evan Johnson edged out Danny Torlai and Andrew Medalia and seven others for the Paul Villiott Most Inspirational Award. The ten nominees is one of the highest in recent years and is “an indicator of how great our teammates are; there are many who put forth a great passion for this club in 2016 and were great teammates,” says Coach Mark Yoshino. Other nominees for the inspirational award included Kash Koltermann, Josh Thompson, Dylan Vchulek, Lawyer Braun, Oscar White, Zach Usselman, and Alex Worthington.

The Bulldogs had two players winning multiple awards. Austin Pinorini won both the Most Improved (from fall to spring) and Silver Bat award, which is for the top hitter on the squad. Yoshino notes, “we had ten candidates for Most Improved also, which shows how many guys continue to push forward getting better throughout the year.” Pinorini, who had a sluggish start in the fall due to sickness and fatigue from an exhausting summer baseball schedule, led the team in hitting this year as a freshman, earning the nickname “mailman” for delivering key hits in big situations throughout the year. Dominic DeMiero, won both the Most Valuable Pitcher award, and in a close call, won the Most Valuable Player award over Joe Wainhouse as well.

Lawyer Braun took home the Gold Glove honors over Jordan LaFave.

The players’ names will be emblazoned on both the annual plaques and website that features names of the past winner since the inception of Bellevue College baseball in 1970.

Last Updated May 31, 2016