GREENVILLE, Ill. – For the third year in a row, the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year award belongs to a Westminster pitcher.
Mason Kirkweg boasted the best record for a Blue Jay pitcher this year at 5-2, including a tie for the lead in wins on the team. His innings pitched (51.1), strikeouts (44) and ERA (3.52) were each second on the team. Kirkweg also posted one complete game on the year.
Kirkweg follows Ryan Clavin and Sam Huesgen for Westminster Newcomer of the Year awards over the last three seasons. In addition, he was named to the SLIAC Third Team.
Branden Beeler was the lone Blue Jay who earned First Team honors. He was one of three Westminster players who appeared in all 30 games and was a staple behind the plate for the Blue Jays. Beeler led the SLIAC in batting average at .420 and was second in the league in on-base percentage at .488 and slugging percentage at .705. He was also top 10 in hits (47), home runs (5) and runs (34).
Ian Cassidy, Ryan Klimkiewicz, and Ryan Clavin each earned Second Team nods for Westminster.
Cassidy proved to be the team's top pitcher this season, with five wins in nine starts. He lead the Blue Jay pitching staff in innings pitched (56.2) and ERA (3.36) while placing fourth in the league in complete games with four.
Klimkiewicz posted an average of .284 this season, including a .352 on-base percentage and .358 slugging percentage, with 23 this and 20 RBI.
Clavin was a top contender in several categories in the SLIAC this season, including leading the league in slugging percentage at .844 and tying for the league lead in home runs at 10 with 60 fewer at bats. He was also top-five in RBI (35) and batting average (.389).
Along with Kirkweg, both Hayden Hirschvogel and Will Stonecipher earned a spot on the Third Team.
Hischvogel batted .300 on the year with a .365 on-base percentage and .436 slugging percentage. He was one of three Blue Jays to play all 30 games this season, adding 26 RBI on 33 hits.
Stonecipher was one of the team's best power-hitters this season, posting a .573 slugging percentage which was good enough for seventh in the league. His .375 batting average was also a seventh-best number in the league.
Alex Dickneite was named to the SLIAC All-Sportsmanship team for his display of sportsmanship throughout the season.