Full Centennial Conference Release
HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Centennial Conference announced its postseason baseball awards on Tuesday afternoon, with Haverford well represented on the annual listing of honors. Junior Will Karp took home the conference's Gold Glove of the Year award for the second straight season, while also notching a first-team All-Conference selection for the first time in his career. A trio of Haverford pitchers were also honored with All-Conference designation, as sophomores Nathan Bass and Andrew Johnson took a spot on the second team, and junior Brandon Jenkins was named an honorable mention. Senior Ethan Lee-Tyson was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team for the third consecutive year after capping one of the finest careers in program history.
Karp is the first Centennial Conference player to pick up the Gold Glove of the Year award twice since its inauguration in 2015. An honorable mention All-Conference selection a season ago, Karp added a breakout season offensively to his highlight-stuffed defensive resume as he hit recorded an impressive .403/.459/.545 slash line from the leadoff spot in conference games this season. Proving to be a nearly unstoppable force on the basepaths, Karp paced the Centennial as he tallied 17 stolen bases in just 18 attempts against conference competition.
The Princeton, N.J. product recorded multi-hit games in 11 different Centennial contests, including a four-hit contest in a road win against Muhlenberg on April 2. Overall, Karp led the Fords offensively in average (.377), on-base percentage (.448), slugging (.490), stolen bases (29), triples (3), and total bases (74). His 29 total steals tied for the fourth-most in the program's single-season history as he tied his 29 from just a season ago. Karp is already fourth in program history in career steals (73) through his three seasons on campus.
Karp has the rare distinction of picking up defensive honors for the second straight season at a new position, as the junior shifted over to shortstop for the 2019 campaign and picked up where he left off at second base, consistently making difficult plays seem routine while showing tremendous range and a strong arm. Karp was sixth in the Centennial in conference games in infield assists (50), while helping to turn eight double plays against Centennial foes.
Bass was called upon for starting assignments with regularity for Haverford, taking the ball in the first inning five times against conference teams. Bass posted a 2-2 record in those outings, logging 28.2 innings pitched while registering a 2.83 ERA with 30 strikeouts. His strikeout total in conference games ranked third in the Centennial.
The Falls Church, Va. product was named Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Week on March 30 after holding Gettysburg to just three hits in seven shutout innings, striking out 12 in an 8-1 triumph for Haverford at Kannerstein Field. Bass also twirled a gem in his final regular season contest against McDaniel, throwing seven scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out seven in an emphatic 11-0 win over the Green Terror as Haverford clinched a playoff berth.
Johnson proved to be a vital swingman for the Fords, as he went an unblemished 4-0 in Centennial games, adding six relief appearances to one start. Johnson struck out 18 in 23.1 innings and allowed just five earned runs for a 1.93 ERA, the third-lowest in Centennial games. The Redding, Conn. native allowed just two hits in five innings for a March 30 win against Gettysburg, and also picked up wins in relief against Ursinus (Apr. 12), Swarthmore (Apr. 18), and McDaniel (Apr. 27). Overall, Johnson finished his season with seven wins, tied for the second-most in the conference.
Jenkins takes home an honorable mention nod after emerging as a shutdown lefty in the Haverford bullpen after transitioning from a starting role earlier in his career. The Monrovia, Calif. product appeared in seven conference contests, and racked up four saves in 17 innings of work. Jenkins struck out 17 batters and held opponents to just a .197 batting average. He did not allow an earned run in those appearances, and surrendered just one extra-base hit in a Centennial game.
Jenkins provided a heroic relief win on April 2 as Haverford prevailed in extra innings. The junior went six shutout innings, striking out five and allowing just four hits as the Fords took a road victory over the Mules in 12 innings. Jenkins then notched saves in three of his final four conference outings, logging the final three frames in a home win over Muhlenberg (Apr. 8) before being called upon in the ninth of one-run victories against Ursinus (Apr. 12) and Johns Hopkins (Apr. 13). Jenkins also pitched the final two innings of Haverford's win over McDaniel to pick up his fourth and final save of the season. Jenkins' four saves were the most for a Haverford reliever since Patrick Falkoff had seven in 2014.
Sportsmanship team selection Lee-Tyson again proved to be an integral cornerstone for the Fords this season as he helped lead the squad to a spirited Centennial Conference postseason run, smacking a pair of difference-making home runs in Haverford's eventual 8-5 triumph over Franklin & Marshall. Lee-Tyson took over the Haverford program record for games started (150), at bats (589), runs scored (163), and hits (210) this season. Lee-Tyson also leaves Haverford in the top five in program career history in total bases (319), home runs (20), and stolen bases (70). He is also within the program's top 10 all-time in RBI (111), doubles (35), triples (8), and slugging percentage (.542).
The Fords reached the 20-win mark for the eighth time in the last 10 seasons and qualified for the Centennial Conference tournament for the 13th time in the last 15 years. Haverford will now look forward to the release of All-Region awards, which are slated to be announced later this month.