AWARD PLAQUE winners for Benicia High’s 2016 boys varsity baseball team included (standing from left) Steve Urias, Cole Eigenhuis, Maurice Calhoun, Anthony Lopez, Makoa Copp, Isiah Saguar, Justin Badger, Xian Covington-Hunt; (front row) Alex Osterholt, Riley Pitkin, Jared Jackson, Joey Daini and Josiah Peterson.

Benicia High’s varsity baseball program handed out team awards Wednesday at the home of manager Jim Bowles.

The Panthers finished with a 19-12 record and captured the Solano County Athletic Conference and Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championships, winning their final eight games of the season and 11 of their last 12.

“This team was really tight-knit and everybody stayed together, and that’s why we won,” Bowles said.

Juniors Steve Urias and Cole Eigenhuis we named Co-Most Valuable Players. Urias hit .479 and led the team in RBIs while Eigenhuis went 7-1 with a 1.60 earned-run average and 74 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched.

“Steve was a consistent hitter for us all year and Cole was our big-game pitcher that no one else had,” Bowles said.

Sophomore Joey Daini was named the Offensive Player of the Year while fellow sophomore Makoa Copp was Defensive Player of the Year. Daini hit .437 and led the team in doubles and home runs. Copp hit at the top of the lineup most of the season and was a steady defensive presence at second base.

“Makoa made every defensive play that came his way and Joey carried us offensively when other guys were struggling,” Bowles said.

Senior Riley Pitkin, who was the winning pitcher in Benicia’s victory over Bella Vista in the SJS championship game, was named the Utility Player of the Year and joined seniors Justin Badger and Alex Osterholt as Captains Award winners. Senior Anthony Lopez was named Pitcher of the Year after going 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA and two saves, and senior Josiah Peterson took home the Coach’s Award.

Seniors Maurice Calhoun and Xian Covington-Hunt were Co-Playoff MVPs. Other award winners for the Panthers included junior Jared Jackson (Rookie of the Year) and seniors Ethan Payne (Most Improved) and Isiah Saguar (Hall of Fame Career Playoff MVP).

“I’m going to miss this team a lot,” Bowles said. “It was a really fun year.”

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