The University of San Francisco baseball team handed out its annual team awards on Monday, honoring the players who made the biggest impacts on and off the field in 2019.
BASE | Dons Hand Out Annual End-of-Year Awards
5/20/2019 5:07:00 PM | Baseball
SAN FRANCISCO — The University of San Francisco baseball team announced its annual team awards Monday after a successful season wrapped up Sunday with Senior Day and a doubleheader sweep of CSUN on The Hilltop.
The Dante Benedetti Award, given to the team's Most Valuable Player and named for the longtime USF head coach, was given to Jonathan Allen. Allen had a historic offensive season in his final year with the Dons. He hit 17 home runs – fourth-most in a single season at USF – and had 59 RBIs – the seventh-most in a single season. Allen had two multi-home run games during the year (at Santa Clara, March 29; at Pacific, April 20) and slugged .562 with an on-base percentage of .370 for an OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) of .932. Allen also had 10 doubles, three triples, stole three bases and posted a .992 fielding percentage while starting every game of the season in the outfield.
The Jesse Foppert Fireman Award, given to the team's top pitcher of the year and named for the second-round draft pick out of USF in 2001, was given to Alex Pham. Pham had a phenomenal sophomore year, leading the Dons with 90 strikeouts against just 28 walks (a better-than 3-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio), a team-best 3.30 ERA and a team-low .226 opponent batting average. He recorded at least one strikeout in every single one of his 21 appearances, including at least five in 10 of them. He did not allow a run in 12 of his outings while also recording six saves – seventh-most in a single season at USF.
The Jonnie Knoble Top Newcomer Award, named for first team all-WCC and all-academic honoree who graduated in 2007, went to Julian Washburn. A sophomore transfer out of Walla Walla Community College via Lewiston, Idaho, Washburn won his first eight decisions to keep up with the national leaders in wins for most of the season. He would finish with an 8-2 record and a share of the team lead with those eight victories. Washburn was a constant stabilizer for the Dons in relief, where seven of his eight wins came. He had eight relief appearances of at least three innings, not allowing a run in six of them.
The Jermaine Clarke Best Defensive Player Award, given to the player who flashed the best leather on the field and named for the three-time first team all-West Coast Conference alumnus who played parts of four years in the Major Leagues and still holds the Dons' career stolen bases record (86), was given to Jack Winkler. Winkler started every game this season at shortstop a year after starting at third base as a freshman. He led the team with 157 assists and helped turn 28 of USF's 44 double plays on the year.
The Con Dempsey Jr. Award, given to the player who comes on late in the season to make a significant impact and named for the former Don who played in the Majors in the 1950s, was given to Robert Emery. Emery was still batting below .300 into the month of April, but after a 2 for 3 day with a double versus No. 2/5 Stanford on April 9, his average never again dropped below .300. He finished the year batting a team-best .320 with a team-high 17 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI performances. He had four separate hitting streaks of at least eight games, and he hit nine doubles and two home runs with 19 RBIs from that April 9 date to the end of the year. Emery was also named to the Buster Posey Award watch list in 2019, an award given annually to the top collegiate catcher.
The team's Greg Moore Inspirational Award, given to the player who exudes excellence in academics, mentality, work ethic and life and named for the longtime USF pitching coach who is now the head coach at CSUN, was given to Tyler Villaroman. Villaroman batted in the leadoff spot for the Dons all year long while starting every day in center field. He stole a team-high 21 bases, second in the WCC, at a 91.3% success rate (21 for 23). He never committed an error this season in 120 outfield chances while batting .285 with three doubles, two triples, a home run, 18 RBIs and 35 runs scored. In the classroom, Villaroman posted a 3.61 Grade Point Average in his business administration major, and should receive WCC All-Academic honors later this week.
The team's Troy Nakamura Kipona Aloha Award, given to the player who personifies courage, respect and culture, and makes the best with what they have, and is named for the current longtime USF assistant coach and former player, was given to Jason Kreske. Kreske provided the Dons with gold-glove caliber defense all season long, charged with only one error in more than 40 games and 75 chances. He played in 41 games in 2019 and came through in the clutch on multiple occasions. It was his bunt single in the 13th inning against UC Riverside on March 10th that sent the Dons to a walk-off victory. Friday he started a late-inning rally for the Dons with a one-out pinch-hit single and later scored. He also had a two-RBI double in game two Sunday to help lead the Dons to a season-ending victory.
The Dante Benedetti Award, given to the team's Most Valuable Player and named for the longtime USF head coach, was given to Jonathan Allen. Allen had a historic offensive season in his final year with the Dons. He hit 17 home runs – fourth-most in a single season at USF – and had 59 RBIs – the seventh-most in a single season. Allen had two multi-home run games during the year (at Santa Clara, March 29; at Pacific, April 20) and slugged .562 with an on-base percentage of .370 for an OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) of .932. Allen also had 10 doubles, three triples, stole three bases and posted a .992 fielding percentage while starting every game of the season in the outfield.
The Jesse Foppert Fireman Award, given to the team's top pitcher of the year and named for the second-round draft pick out of USF in 2001, was given to Alex Pham. Pham had a phenomenal sophomore year, leading the Dons with 90 strikeouts against just 28 walks (a better-than 3-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio), a team-best 3.30 ERA and a team-low .226 opponent batting average. He recorded at least one strikeout in every single one of his 21 appearances, including at least five in 10 of them. He did not allow a run in 12 of his outings while also recording six saves – seventh-most in a single season at USF.
The Jonnie Knoble Top Newcomer Award, named for first team all-WCC and all-academic honoree who graduated in 2007, went to Julian Washburn. A sophomore transfer out of Walla Walla Community College via Lewiston, Idaho, Washburn won his first eight decisions to keep up with the national leaders in wins for most of the season. He would finish with an 8-2 record and a share of the team lead with those eight victories. Washburn was a constant stabilizer for the Dons in relief, where seven of his eight wins came. He had eight relief appearances of at least three innings, not allowing a run in six of them.
The Jermaine Clarke Best Defensive Player Award, given to the player who flashed the best leather on the field and named for the three-time first team all-West Coast Conference alumnus who played parts of four years in the Major Leagues and still holds the Dons' career stolen bases record (86), was given to Jack Winkler. Winkler started every game this season at shortstop a year after starting at third base as a freshman. He led the team with 157 assists and helped turn 28 of USF's 44 double plays on the year.
The Con Dempsey Jr. Award, given to the player who comes on late in the season to make a significant impact and named for the former Don who played in the Majors in the 1950s, was given to Robert Emery. Emery was still batting below .300 into the month of April, but after a 2 for 3 day with a double versus No. 2/5 Stanford on April 9, his average never again dropped below .300. He finished the year batting a team-best .320 with a team-high 17 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI performances. He had four separate hitting streaks of at least eight games, and he hit nine doubles and two home runs with 19 RBIs from that April 9 date to the end of the year. Emery was also named to the Buster Posey Award watch list in 2019, an award given annually to the top collegiate catcher.
The team's Greg Moore Inspirational Award, given to the player who exudes excellence in academics, mentality, work ethic and life and named for the longtime USF pitching coach who is now the head coach at CSUN, was given to Tyler Villaroman. Villaroman batted in the leadoff spot for the Dons all year long while starting every day in center field. He stole a team-high 21 bases, second in the WCC, at a 91.3% success rate (21 for 23). He never committed an error this season in 120 outfield chances while batting .285 with three doubles, two triples, a home run, 18 RBIs and 35 runs scored. In the classroom, Villaroman posted a 3.61 Grade Point Average in his business administration major, and should receive WCC All-Academic honors later this week.
The team's Troy Nakamura Kipona Aloha Award, given to the player who personifies courage, respect and culture, and makes the best with what they have, and is named for the current longtime USF assistant coach and former player, was given to Jason Kreske. Kreske provided the Dons with gold-glove caliber defense all season long, charged with only one error in more than 40 games and 75 chances. He played in 41 games in 2019 and came through in the clutch on multiple occasions. It was his bunt single in the 13th inning against UC Riverside on March 10th that sent the Dons to a walk-off victory. Friday he started a late-inning rally for the Dons with a one-out pinch-hit single and later scored. He also had a two-RBI double in game two Sunday to help lead the Dons to a season-ending victory.
| Award | Winner |
| Dante Benedetti (Team MVP) | Jonathan Allen |
| Jessee Foppert Fireman (Top Pitcher) | Alex Pham |
| Jonnie Knoble Top Newcomer | Julian Washburn |
| Jermaine Clarke Best Defensive Player | Jack Winkler |
| Con Dempsey Jr. (Late Impact) | Robert Emery |
| Greg Moore Inspirational | Tyler Villaroman |
| Troy Nakamura Kipona Aloha (Courage, Respect, Culture) | Jason Kreske |
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/ BaseballMonday, April 27
Monday, April 27
Saturday, April 11
Saturday, April 11
