NEW YORK — Columbia baseball head coach Brett Boretti has announced the 2023 team awards that consist of Most Valuable Player, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, the Mr. Hustle Award, the Joseph Allen Award, and the Core Values Award.
In 2023, the Lions led the Ivy League overall in home runs (72), batting average (.306), runs (376), runs batted in (340), slugging percentage (.517), and total bases (850) for the second-straight season. Columbia also led the conference in on-base percentage (.401). Defensively, the Lions allowed a league-low 21 stolen bases (20 less than Dartmouth who had the second-least allowed) and led the Ivy League with 42 turned double plays.
Co-Most Valuable Players: Andy Blake (SS) and Weston Eberly (C)
Blake was the 2023 Ivy League Player of the Year and a First Team All-Ivy selection. The senior captain appeared and started in all 45 games. Blake reached base in every game and recorded a hit in all but five games. The Hopewell Township, New Jersey native had 20 multi-hit games and led Ivy League hitters in seven offensive categories, including batting average (.366), hits (75), and runs (53). He set the program's single-season record for hits with 75 and was named to the All-ECAC Team. Blake signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels earlier this month.
Eberly appeared in 44 games and made 42 starts behind the plate in 2023. The senior captain was a Second Team All-Ivy League selection and was named one of 13 semifinalists on the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Watch List. He picked off five runners on the basepaths and caught 14 runners stealing, which was the most in the Ivy League. At the plate, Eberly batted .309 with 51 hits, 11 doubles, nine home runs, 41 RBIs, and posted a .435 on-base percentage. On April 25, Eberly hit the team's record-breaking 65th home run of the season. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox with pick No. 479 in the 16th round of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft earlier this month.
Cy Young: Joe Sheets (RHP)
Sheets was named Honorable Mention All-Ivy League after making all of his starts in 2023. The sophomore right-hander allowed three home runs which ranks tied for the league-least and allowed just one home run in seven Ivy League starts. Sheets walked 19 batters, which ranked tied for fourth-least in the Ivy League. The Wilmington, Delaware native tossed seven or more innings twice on the season, including April 2 against Cornell in which he struck out a season-high six batters and earned the win. He was also named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team.
Rookie of the Year: Jack Kail (2B)
Kail appeared and started in 39 games in 2023. He recorded his first collegiate hit on March 3 at UNC Wilmington and belted his first collegiate home run on March 29 vs. Monmouth. The McMurray, Pennsylvania native struck out just 14 times in 133 at-bats and ranked tied for 74th in the country in toughest to strikeout.
Mr. Hustle Award: Griffin Palfrey (INF/RHP)
The Mr. Hustle Award exemplifies a player who always displays the most overall hustle on the field in practice and games.
Palfrey ranked second on the team in batting average (.356) and RBIs (44) in 2023. The sophomore was tied for second on the team in hits (62) and ranked in the top ten among Ivy League hitters in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, OPS, hits, RBIs, and doubles. Palfrey was named Ivy League Player of the Week on March 13 and had the longest hitting streak on the team (17 games). He made eight appearances on the mound.
Joseph Allen Award: Camron Hubble (RHP)
The Joseph Allen Award is presented annually to a member of the team who has made the greatest contribution in terms of inspirational leadership, sportsmanship, college loyalty, and service as a player.
Hubble recorded seven scoreless outings in 2023, including five-straight from April 12-29. The senior captain was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team. The Westerville, Ohio native appeared in 15 games out of the bullpen and tallied 13 strikeouts in 18.2 innings of work.
Core Values Award: Hayden Schott (OF)
The Core Values Award is presented to the player that upholds the Columbia Baseball core values (family, character, passion, pride, and presence) more than any other player.
Schott Appeared and started in all 45 games for the second-straight year. He was named Second Team All-Ivy League and was tied for the team-lead with 11 home runs. The senior captain ranked in the top 10 among Ivy League hitters in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, OPS, runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, and at-bats. The Newport Beach, California native batted .333 with 62 hits, 11 home runs, 16 doubles, and 31 RBIs. Schott posted a 1.000 fielding percentage in Ivy League play and was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia baseball, follow @CULionsBaseball on Twitter and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
