Kingston, Tokarski and Copeland to Be Recognized by Pitch & Hit Club

Dec. 14, 2010

NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State head baseball coach Mark Kingston, junior second baseman Kevin Tokarski and former Redbird pitcher Ryan Copeland will each receive awards at the 2011 Pitch & Hit Club of Chicago awards evening, Pitch & Hit Club vice president Ken Miller announced Tuesday. Kingston will be presented with the college coach of the year award, Tokarski will receive the college player of the year honor, and Copeland will be named Chicago area minor league player of the year.

"With the season Illinois State had and the wonderful job this staff has done at ISU, we're very happy to present them with these awards," Miller said. "The program has come so far in a short period of time, and we're very proud of the job Mark has done."

In his first season as head coach, Kingston guided the Redbirds to their first-ever share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship, their first State Farm MVC Tournament title since 1994 and their first NCAA Tournament game win since 1976. In addition to his Pitch & Hit Club honor, Kingston was also named the 2010 Valley Coach of the Year.

"Any time a coach wins an award like this, it's because the team did some great things," Kingston said. "This is a testament to the work the players and assistant coaches put in. So I accept the award, but it's obviously an award for all of us."

Tokarski was a key to the Redbirds' success, as the redshirt sophomore set six ISU single-season records in 2010, including most hits (84), runs scored (70), doubles (25) stolen bases (33), walks (53) and intentional walks (7). He also broke the school's career stolen bases mark (60) in just two seasons. For his efforts, Tokarski earned three All-American selections, and was named Joe Carter MVC Player of the Year and State Farm Valley Tournament Most Valuable Player. The Pitch & Hit club honor is yet another award that the Downers Grove, Ill., native can add to his resume.

"This recognition means a lot to me, especially because of how many great players there are in the Illinois area," Tokarski said.

Kingston said Tokarski is deserving of the honor, and he admits that the Redbirds may not have been as successful last season without Tokarski in the lineup.

"Kevin had one of the greater years I've seen as a coach," Kingston said. "We called him the igniter. He started so many rallies and he got so many big hits."

Another vital member of the 2010 team was Copeland. The left-handed pitcher posted a 3-1 record with a 2.09 ERA in 24 appearances, and as a reliever, Copeland limited opposing batters to a .175 average and fanned 53 in 43 innings. Drafted in the 32nd round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, Copeland played in the Rookie Appalachian League for the Cardinals of Johnson City, Tenn. The Des Plaines, Ill., native went on to earn the Appalachian League Pitcher of the Year award and led the Cardinals to the league title.

"Ryan pitched so many meaningful innings and closed out so many games for us," Kingston said. "He was really the spark that turned our season around last year when he moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen."

Kingston, Tokarski and Copeland will receive their awards at the Pitch & Hit Club's 65th annual awards evening, scheduled for Jan. 30, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.

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