HARRISONBURG, Va. - Senior utility player Brig Tison and junior relief pitcher Chris O'Grady highlighted a quartet of George Mason award recipients, as the 2012 Colonial Athletic Association year-end awards were handed out at the pre-championship banquet on Tuesday evening.

Tison and O'Grady were both tabbed to the All-CAA first team, while senior outfielder Dan Schafferman earned second team honors and senior designated hitter Zack Helgeson was named to the third team.

Tison was just one of two players to start all 55 games for the Patriots this season en route to collecting first team honors for the first time in his career after being tabbed to the second team each of the past two seasons. Playing the left side of the infield for Mason this season, he currently leads the team with a .368 batting average, .425 on-base percentage, 44 runs scored, 84 hits and 13 stolen bases. Concluding his playing career at Mason this year, Tison currently ranks 16^th all-time in at bats, 21^st in runs scored, fifth in hits, 12^th in stolen bases, fifth in sacrifice hits and fifth in batting average.

O'Grady has been outstanding in the closer role for the Patriots this season, posting a 2-0 record with 14 saves and a 0.50 ERA in 24 appearances. His 14 saves currently tie his for the Mason single season record, while he stands third all-time on the career saves list with 15. He has limited opponents to just 18 hits and two earned runs while striking out 49 over 36 innings of work. For his accomplishments, O'Grady was named to the NCBWA's Dick Howser and Stopper of the Year semifinalist lists.

Earning his first All-CAA honors of his career, Schafferman started 53 games for the Patriots during his senior season. Batting .337 with 70 hits, 36 runs scored and 39 RBI's, his batting average, hits and runs scored totals currently put him second on the team. A four-year player at Mason, Schafferman ranks among career leaders in RBI's (13^th) and batting average (19^th).

Helgeson also collected honors for the first time in his career after starting all 55 games this season while leading the team with 43 RBI's, 17 doubles, 12 home runs, a .557 slugging percentage and 108 total bases. Playing the final two seasons of his collegiate career at Mason, Helgeson has started all 109 games over the past two seasons and belted 27 home runs, which is good for 13^th on the career leaders list.

Hofstra took home two major awards, as senior outfielder Danny Poma was named the Player of the Year and junior second baseman Matt Ford was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year. William and Mary senior Matt Davenport earned Pitcher of the Year honors, while Northeastern second baseman Jason Vosler was tabbed as the Rookie of the Year and UNC Wilmington Head Coach Mark Scalf took home Coach of the Year honors.

The fourth-seeded Patriots take to the diamond tomorrow, facing No. 5-seed VCU in the opening game of the double-elimination 2012 Virginia 529 CAA Championship at noon at Eagle Field.