The 2017 OUA champion University of Toronto Varsity Blues baseball team were recognized with two major awards and six all-star nods as announced Monday.  
 
A sixth-year pitcher from Mississauga, Ont., Graham Tebbit was named OUA Top Pitcher and a first team all-star after making his mark on the 2017 season. A Masters of Exercise Science student, Tebbit led the OUA in wins (5) and ERA (0.55) in the regular season, also ranking second in total strikeouts (43) and strikeouts per game (11.73). The Blues ace parlayed that into a spectacular performance at the OUA championship, picking up a quarter-final shutout win and championship-final save to secure the Blues fifth banner in program history.
 
Joining Tebbit as a major award recipient is first-year right fielder Michael Deluca, who earns OUA rookie of the year and first team all-star honours. A social science major, Deluca was instrumental to the Blues overpowering offence, which led the OUA in runs (108) and RBI (95) in 2017. The speedy outfielder registered 15 hits, six stolen bases and 18 runs over 15 regular season games. The Richmond, Ont., native posted lines of .326 (AVG), .436 (OBP), and .392 (SLG). Deluca added an exclamation point to his first season with the Blue and White, punching in three RBI in the Blues 8-3 championship final win.
 
Also named OUA first team all-stars were outfielder Sebastien Lech and third baseman Gabriel Nakonechny. A third-year mathematics major from Dundas, Ont., Lech posted a .372 batting average, .404 on base percentage, and .465 slugging percentage on 16 hits, recording 13 RBI and eight runs. Meanwhile, a third-year international relations major from Toronto, Nakonechny receives an all-star nod for the third consecutive season after leading the OUA in runs (21) and stolen bases (16), adding six RBI with a batting line of .385 (AVG), .515 (OBP), .462 (SLG).
 
Lastly, U of T veterans Tanner Young-Schultz and Bradley Bedford were also named OUA second team all-stars. Fifth-year catcher Young-Schultz displayed power at the plate and poise behind it. The computer engineering major from Stratford, Ont., led the OUA in home runs (2) and triples (3), while finishing second in RBI (16). Rounding out the outfield for U of T, Bedford displayed defensive range in centre field, along with double digit runs (16) and RBI (14).

Major Award Winners
Hitter of the Year – Ryley Davenport, Laurier
Pitcher of the Year – Graham Tebbit, Toronto
Rookie of the Year – Michael Deluca, Toronto
Coach of the Year – Scott Ballantyne, Laurier
 
First Team All-Stars
Catcher – Ryley Davenport, Laurier
1st Base – Jeff Martin, Western
2nd Base – Matt Legg, Brock
Shortstop – Robbie Cant, Laurier
3rd Base – Gabriel Nakonechny, Toronto
Left Field – Michael Deluca, Toronto
Right Field – Sebastian Lech, Toronto
Center Field – Justin Gideon, Brock
Designated Hitter – Nick Spillman, Brock
Starting Pitcher – Graham Tebbit, Toronto
Relief Pitcher – Quinn Finch, McMaster
 
Second Team All-Stars
Catcher – Tanner Young-Schultz, Toronto
1st Base – Nick Cook, Laurier
2nd Base – Taka Ryan, Laurier
Shortstop – Noah Koffman, Brock
3rd Base – Austin O'Boyle, Queens
Left Field – Christopher Nolfi, Western
Right Field – Tyler Nakamura, Brock
Center Field – Bradley Bedford, Toronto
Designated Hitter – Jesse Fishbaum, Ryerson
Starting Pitcher – Kyle Symington, Laurier
Relief Pitcher – Dylan Jacober, Western
 
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