Jeremy Accardo, a junior who led Illinois State in saves and hit .333 this season, was voted the 2003 Illinois State Baseball Team Most Valuable Player. Four teammates joined Accardo in receiving honors.
Junior outfielder Nate Whitney was named the teams Most Improved Player, junior Todd Stein was selected as the teams Most Improved Pitcher, senior infielder Jon Peacock was given the Team Captain Award, and junior pitcher Kyle Zaleski was selected for the Hustle Award.
Accardo, a junior from Mesa, Arizona was counted on both offensively and defensively this year. Accardo hit .333 on the season for Illinois State, with six home runs and 31 RBI. Defensively, not only was Accardo solid all season long at shortstop, but the right-hander was also the Redbirds closer. He went 4-2 with four saves and had a 5.94 ERA.
Hes improved so much since his freshman year and the last six weeks of the season he was one of the best players in the Valley, said Brownlee. His play down the stretch really allowed us to be able to play for something during the last weekend of the season.
The 2003 Most Improved Player Award went to the teams leading hitter, junior Nate Whitney of Bloomington. After struggling with the transition from junior college baseball early, Whitney turned it on in Missouri Valley Conference play, as he hit .365 during the MVC season, which was the fifth best in the league. Whitney's .339 season average also led the team this season.
Nate struggled early on but really played well late in the season, said Brownlee. He was another one of those guys whose elevated play allowed us to get back in the conference race.
The Redbirds Most Improved Pitcher went to Todd Stein, a junior from St. Louis, Missouri. Stein finished the 2003 season with a record of 3-5 and an ERA of 5.30.
From where Todd was last year, he has improved most over the course of the season, added Brownlee. He is a guy that really solidified our starting staff, and always gave us a chance to win on Friday when he was called upon. We feel that Todd has the chance to have a very good 2004 season.
Brownlee also added that the Most Improved Pitcher Award was the closest vote on the team, saying that, All of our pitchers improved so much this year, it was hard to single just one out.
Jon Peacock, a senior from Roselle, was given the Team Captain Award. Peacock hit .263 on the year, with 8 home runs and 38 RBI. Throughout the season, Peacock spent time as the Redbirds first baseman and second baseman.
This award really says something about the leadership that Jon possesses, Brownlee said. Jon had to overcome some injuries late in the year and he showed his character by fighting through them and continuing to play hard.
Junior Kyle Zaleski won the teams Hustle Award. Zaleski finished the season with a team-high six wins (6-5), and an ERA of 5.24. During a mid-season stretch where the Redbirds had accumulated numerous injuries, Zaleski stepped up even more, and played a few games in rightfield.
Kyle is one of my all-time favorites as far as players that I have coached, remarked Brownlee. He has good talent and skills, but he is one of the fiercest competitors Ive ever been around. He is one of the players were looking for to step up and lead this team next year.
The Redbirds finished up the 2003 season with an overall record of 23-29, and a Missouri Valley Conference mark of 14-17, which left them at seventh in the league. All awards were voted on by team members and coaches.
