Tyler Wilson of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues baseball team has been named the 2009 most valuable pitcher as announced by the Ontario University Athletics today (Oct. 15).

The Port Hope, Ont. native received this distinction after recording a solid 1.86 ERA in an impressive 53 innings this season, allowing only 13 runs on 47 hits during the 2009 regular season.

Wilson stepped up when his team needed him most this season, pitching a complete game shutout versus the first-place Western Mustangs on October 4 to keep the Blues playoff hopes alive. The third-year graduate student went on to lead his team into extra innings in game 2 of the OUA semifinal, again versus the Mustangs, pitching eight innings, allowing only five hits and striking out two. 

Wilson is the third consecutive Varsity Blue to be named the OUA pitcher of the year - Jake Gallo (Toronto) won in 2007 and Marek Deska (Mississauga, Ont.) was recognized in 2008.

Four other Varsity Blues were recognized as OUA all-stars. Third-year shortstop David Fallico (Toronto), third-baseman Chris Dahiroc (Ajax, Ont.) and outfielder Pat Janssen (Toronto) were all named first team OUA all-stars, while outfielder Jamie Lekas garnered OUA second team status.

This is Lekas’ and Fallico’s second OUA all-star recognition, having been named to the 2008 first and second teams, respectively.

MAJOR AWARDS
Most Valuable Hitter         Mike Walker                  Brock
Most Valuable Pitcher      Tyler Wilson              Toronto
Rookie of the Year            Andrew Greenberg     Laurier
Coach of the Year             Mike Lumley                Western


FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Position                       Player                            School
Catcher                        Devlin Connelly           McMaster
First Base                    Craig Howse               Guelph
Second Base              Bruce Craine               Western
Shortstop                    David Fallico                Toronto
Third Base                  Chris Dahiroc              Toronto
Outfield                         Mike Walker                 Brock 
                                       Andrew Thomson       Western 
                                       Pat Janssen*              Toronto 
                                       Chris Piccini*               McMaster
Designated Hitter       Mitchell Peragine        Brock
Starting Pitcher            Adam Reynolds         Guelph
Relief Pitcher               Josh Robinson           Laurier


SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Position                      Player                                 School
Catcher                       Chris Pittaway                  Laurier
First Base                   John (Alex) McGregor     McMaster
Second Base             Casey Burnie                   Brock
Shortstop                    Mike Glinka                       Waterloo
Third Base                 Aaron Butler                      Waterloo
Outfield                       Calen Hamelin                Waterloo 
                                     Jamie Lekas*                  Toronto 
                                     Matt Marinelli*                   Brock 
Designated Hitter     Jesse Milanovich             Laurier
Starting Pitcher         Jordan Townshend         Western
Relief Pitcher             Matt Martinow                   Brock

* - denotes tie