Polanco, Baytop Win CIAA Top Baseball Awards
Shortstop Ariel Polanco (Sr./Harlem, N.Y.) of Saint Augustine’s University was named CIAA baseball player of the year, and left fielder Jason Baytop of the Falcons was selected CIAA baseball rookie of the year at the CIAA Spring Sports Festival Awards Banquet held at the Gateway Dining & Event Center on the Virginia State University campus on Wednesday, April 17, 2013.
Polanco heads five players on the All-CIAA teams including four in the first team. In addition to Polanco, the Falcons placed right-hand pitcher John Hailey (Sr./Rockingham, N.C.), catcher Clarence Peace (Jr./Creedmoor, N.C.) and first baseman Pat Hall (Sr./Virginia Beach, Va.) on the first team. Utility player Daveed Todd (Sr./Chicago, Ill.) landed on the second team.
Baytop was one of five Falcons on the All-CIAA rookie team. The others are right-hand pitcher Desmond Cheek (Fr./Asheboro, N.C.), utility player William Thomas (Fr./Yorktown, Va.), third baseman Carey Cheek (Fr./Baltimore, Md.) and center fielder Bobby Delly (Fr./Lancaster, S.C.).