The University of Mississippi Athletics
Baseball Team Hands Out Awards At End-Of-Season Banquet
6/1/2004 | Baseball
June 1, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - Even though its season will continue with NCAA Regional action this weekend at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field, the Ole Miss baseball team held its annual end-of-the-year banquet Monday evening at the South Zone of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Fourth-year head coach Mike Bianco and his staff honored three individuals with four different awards at the banquet. Sophomore 1B/LHP Stephen Head was named the team's Most Valuable Player and Most Outstanding Offensive Performer, while sophomore RHP Mark Holliman was honored as the team's Pitcher of the Year and junior 2B Cooper Osteen picked up Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
Heading into this weekend's action, Head leads Ole Miss in batting average (.348), on-base percentage (.420), slugging percentage (.579), total bases (128), hits (77), RBIs (52) and runs scored (40). The left-handed slugger from Raymond, Miss., has also belted 12 home runs on the campaign.
On the mound, Head has posted a 6-2 record to go along with a 3.08 earned run average. In less than two full seasons at Ole Miss, the southpaw has registered 18 saves - a mark that is just six short of tying the school's all-time career record (24).
Holliman has been Ole Miss' Friday night starter for the entire season. In 15 appearances heading into the NCAA Regional, the right-hander has turned in a 9-2 record and team-best 2.64 ERA. The Germantown, Tenn., product also leads the Rebels in innings pitched (105.2), strikeouts (99) and complete games (3).
Osteen heads into postseason play fielding at a .978 clip. The Ft. Pierce, Fla., native has collected 152 assists - a total which ranks first among Southeastern Conference second basemen. The Junior College transfer has also been involved in 45 of the team's 60 double plays this season.
Ole Miss returns to action with the NCAA Oxford Regional this weekend at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field. The top-seeded Rebels face No. 4 Western Kentucky (Sun Belt Conference) in a Friday night tilt at approximately 7 p.m. No. 2 Washington (Pac-10 Conference) and No. 3 Tulane (Conference USA) open the regional that afternoon at 3 p.m.
2004 Ole Miss Baseball Award Winners
Most Valuable Player - Stephen Head
Most Outstanding Offensive Performer - Stephen Head
Pitcher of the Year - Mark Holliman
Defensive Player of the Year - Cooper Osteen
