Baseball | June 1, 2017

PHILADELPHIA - La Salle University freshman Matt Holt was named the Big 5 Baseball Rookie of the Year, while graduate student Luke Reilly earned a spot on the All-Big 5 Team, it was announced by the organization on Thursday. Holt becomes the first Explorer since the Big 5 began recognizing all-stars in 2006 to earn Rookie of the Year accolades, while Reilly earns the second All-Big 5 nod of his career while also garnering All-Academic honors.

Holt was a standout on the mound for the Explorers this season, finishing with a 2-3 record and a 3.97 ERA. The Suffolk, Va. native made 14 appearances and 10 starts, collecting 56 strikeouts over 59.0 innings of work.

Most notably, the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team selection struck out eight over six scoreless innings against Delaware in the semifinals of the Liberty Bell Classic and then helped lead the Explorers to the tournament win at Citizens Bank Park in another commanding performance over Penn. Holt was honored with the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week twice and Big 5 Pitcher of the Week once this season. 

Reilly concluded his career at La Salle with 186 strikeouts to rank sixth on the school's all-time career list. Over his four-year career, the left-hander tossed 205.2 innings to stand just outside La Salle's career Top 10, and garnered 11 victories on the mound, one shy of a top-10 place. Academically, Reilly graduated with his bachelor's degree in 2016 and is currently pursuing his M.B.A. in finance.

2017 All-Big 5 Honorees
Player of the Year: Tim Graul, Penn
Pitcher of the Year: Hunter Schryver, Villanova
Rookie of the Year: Matt Holt, La Salle
Team of the Year: Penn
Coach of the Year: John Yurkow, Penn
 
C: Deon Stafford, Saint Joseph's
1B: Dominic Cuoci, Saint Joseph's
1B: Sean Phelan, Penn
2B: Todd Czinge, Villanova
SS: Matt Maul, Saint Joseph's
3B: Matt McGeagh, Penn
OF: Charlie Concannon, Saint Joseph's
OF: Tim Graul, Penn
OF: Cal Jadacki, Saint Joseph's
SP: Tim Brennan, Saint Joseph's
SP: Jake Cousins, Penn
SP: Luke Reilly, La Salle
SP: Hunter Schryver, Villanova
RP: Zach DeVincenzo, Saint Joseph's