University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Baseball Announces 2014 Team Awards
September 25, 2014 | Baseball
In 2014, Geannelis earned an All-New England Second Team selection as a utility player and was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and to the A-10 All-Rookie Team. The Williamstown, Mass., native saw action in 29 games with 26 starts in 2014 and paced the Minutemen with a .347 batting average and logged 16 RBI and 11 runs scored. The two-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the week belted five doubles and two home runs to contribute to a squad-best .463 slugging percentage. He registered 10 multi-hit games on the season, as well.
On the mound, Geannelis led UMass with four wins over 14 appearances with two starts. He posted a 4-3 record with a 4.85 earned run average over 29.2 innings with nine walks and 16 strikeouts.
In Atlantic 10 play, Geannelis hit a team-high .382 (21-for-55) with two doubles, two home runs, 12 RBI and five runs scored over 15 games. He tossed 22 innings over 11 appearances in conference action, registering a 4.09 ERA and a 4-2 record with five walks and 14 strikeouts.
Jennings collected the Coaches Award for most improved after completing his second season as a converted catcher for the Minutemen, appearing in 42 games with 28 starts last spring. He hit .264 (28-for-106) with 11 RBI, nine doubles and seven runs scored.
Sanford received the Dennis DellaPiana Memorial Award for exemplifying courage, determination, and sportsmanship. First instituted in May of 1966, the award honors the memory of Dennis DellaPiana, who was truly a great student-athlete at the University of Massachusetts in the mid 1960's, but died in April of 1966 during his senior year after a long battle with Hodgkin's disease. His courage, determination and sportsmanship were outstanding.
In his final season with the Minutemen, Sanford started all 46 games and hit .253 (42-for-166) with six doubles, 11 RBI and 24 runs scored after appearing in 12 contests in 2013.
