April 27, 2010

PHILADELPHIA – In voting conducted by the city’s head coaches and sports information offices, La Salle sophomore right-handed pitcher Kevin Christy has been named the Philadelphia Big 5 Pitcher of the Week.

Christy struck out six batters in 6.2 scoreless innings on Friday versus Saint Joseph’s. The sophomore allowed only one runner to reach third and left the game leading 1-0, before the Hawks rallied with two runs in the ninth. He leads the team in ERA, innings and strikeouts and is among the Atlantic 10 Conference's leaders in those categories.

This is Christy's second Big 5 Pitcher of the Week award of 2010, also getting a nod on March 29, which ties him with Villanova's Brian Streilein for the most this year. The last Explorer to earn a pair of Big 5 pitcher awards in the same season was Kevin Fuqua, who had two in 2008 (March 11 and April 8).

In all, Fuqua has three career honors, also earning one in 2009 (April 6), while former Explorer hurler Dan Waters has taken home the most in a career at La Salle. Waters earned three in 2006 (March 20, May 1, and May 22), which is the most by an Explorer in a single season, and his five total (March 5 and May 21, 2007) are the most in a career.

Also in 2007, La Salle took home eight total weekly Big 5 honors, five pitchers and three players, which is two more than the quantity the Explorers have earned this season (four players, two pitchers).   

Penn senior outfielder Tom Grandieri earned the Player of the Week after batting .652 (15-for-23) with five doubles, two home runs and eight RBI in five games last week. He had at least two hits in all five games, including three with three hits. Grandieri sported a 1.130 slugging percentage.

The Big 5 will announce its weekly player and pitcher awards every Tuesday throughout the season. The fifth annual all-Big 5 baseball team will be announced at the end of the season.