July 19, 2009

Former George Mason catcher Chris Henderson was one of the top players in the nation in 2009 and he was honored earlier this week by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) as he was named the 2009 Virginia Player of the Year. Henderson batted .413 with 14 homers, 22 doubles, 58 RBI and 70 runs scored as he was named a finalist for the Bench Award as well as being chosen CAA Co-Player of the Year. Virginia's Danny Hultzen was named Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year and Brian O'Connor of Virginia was named Coach of the Year.

Henderson, the first Mason player named first-team All-American, was drafted in the 21st round by the Los Angeles Dodgers after having one of the best seasons in school history. He has a .320 on-base percentage playing for the Arizona Dodgers of the Arizona League while learning a new position, third base. He was one of four Mason players chosen to the All-Virginia first team.

Scott Krieger, a second-team All-American, was named to the All-State team in the outfield, his third such selection. He hit .372 with 20 homers, 80 RBI and 68 runs scored and was named CAA Co-Player of the Year with Henderson. Mike Modica was named to the team at pitcher after going 11-2 with a 4.34 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 87 innings. He was named second-team All-American as well. Rising junior Shane Davis was selected at designated hitter after batting .323 with six homers, 12 doubles and 29 RBI in 164 at-bats.

Krieger, who was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 19th round, is batting .289 with seven homers and 26 RBI in 22 games for the Helena Brewers of the Pioneer League. He had three homers in a game last month. Modica, who was drafted in the 24th round by the Houston Astros, has made eight appearances for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League and he has a 0.93 ERA while having allowed just five hits and four walks in nine and two-third innings. In his first six games he allowed just three base runners and no runs.

Justin Bour was named to the Virginia All-State second team after hitting .339 with 17 homers, 66 RBI and 48 runs scored. He was drafted in the 25th round by the Chicago Cubs and he hit .273 with two homers, 13 RBI and seven runs scored in his first 14 games for the Arizona Cubs of the Arizona League before being promoted to the Boise Hawks of the Northwest League. In four games there he has gone 4 for 15 with a homer, four RBI, four runs scored and a .421 on-base percentage.