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Callahan named LEC rookie of the Year
KEENE, N.H. 5/12/09 - Keene State College outfielder Cody Callahan has been named the Little East Conference rookie of the year. The freshman from Seekonk, Mass. becomes the second Owl in as many seasons to receive the honor, joining Bobby Doyon, who shared the honor last year. Pitcher Jim Slack also received the award in 2002.
Callahan, who also was named to the All-LEC second team, went from walk-on to a player with walk-off home run potential. "I didn't have any expectations. I came in as a walk-on not knowing what to expect," said Callahan. "During the fall I showed the coaches what I could do and they gave me a chance to play during the spring week trip to Arizona. I was fortunate to maintain my hitting throughout the season."
Callahan led all Little East Conference rookies in nearly every offensive category: batting average (.455), doubles (19), hits (65), on-base percentage (.524), RBI (52), and slugging percentage (.790).
Callahan made an immediate impact in the Keene State lineup, beginning his collegiate career with a season-high 13 game hitting streak. He hit safely in 32 of his 38 games, including registering multiple knocks 18 times. In his college debut, Callahan went four-for five to drive in a season-best seven runs against The College of New Jersey on March 14. The All-Little East, second-team pick smacked 29 extra base hits, including nine home runs, to record 113 total bases on the campaign. He was named the top hitter in the nation for the week ending March 22 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Five Owls joined Callahan on the All-LEC team. Outfielders Bobby Doyon (Keene, N.H.) and Jeff Perkins (Dunbarton, N.H.) and catcher Anthony Cipolla (Glastonbury, Conn.) were named to the first team while infielders Jamie Chevalier (Amherst, N.H.) and Keith Patnode (Keene, N.H.) joined Callahan on the second team.
Doyon followed a fine freshman campaign with an equally strong sophomore season for the Owls. He was among the LEC leaders in every offensive category; first in hits (73) and total bases (134), tied for first in home runs (13), send in RBIs (72), fifth in runs (56), and fourth in batting (.435). Doyon hit safely in 37 of the 40 games he played, and had 24 multi-hit games, including five-hit games against the College of New Jersey (3/14) and Amherst College (4/9) and a six RBI performance vs. Plymouth State. The Owls right fielder capped his season by belting two home runs and knocking in five runs in the championship round of the LEC Tournament against top seed Southern Maine.
Perkins, who moved up from the second-team last season, continued to be a force in the field and at the plate as KSC's lead-off hitter. In the LEC, the senior centerfielder was tied for first in triples (6), fourth in hits (57), and third in hitting (.453). He had at least one hit in 35 out of 41 games and 22 multi-hit contests. Season highlights included a five RBI game against William Patterson and a five hit, four RBI effort vs. Plymouth State (4/24).
A sparkplug behind the plate, Cipolla is making his first appearance on the LEC All-Conference team. The junior receiver posted career highs, batting .368 with three home runs and 31 RBIs. He had a season high four hits against LEC rivals Plymouth State (4/24) and UMass-Dartmouth (5/2).
A three-time LEC All-Star, Chevalier shined in the field and at the plate. The consistent second baseman batted .353, hit a home run and drove in 28 runs. He head 22 multiple hit games, including a four-for-four afternoon against the College of New Jersey (3/14).
Patnode made an immediate impact after joining the Owls from McNeese (La.) State. The junior third baseman batted a solid .408 with nine home runs and 45 RBIs. The prolific hitting Patnode cracked two home runs and had five RBIs against R.I. College (4/4) and went seven-for-eight with a home run, two doubles, and five RBIs in a doubleheader sweep over UMass-Dartmouth (5/2).
