BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech head coach Pete Hughes was named the 2010 Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) Division I Baseball Coach of the Year on Tuesday, highlighting the annual awards as voted on by the state’s media relations professionals.
In addition, four Hokie players were selected to the University Division All-State Team, including catcher Steve Domecus and outfielder Austin Wates on the first team, and outfielder Buddy Sosnoskie and starting pitcher Justin Wright on the second team.
Hughes, in his fourth season at Virginia Tech, was named the coach of the year for the first time after directing the Hokies to a 40-22 season, including the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2000. Hughes guided the Hokies to regular-season series wins at No. 3 Georgia Tech, at No. 4 Florida State and at home over No. 9 Miami.
Domecus, a resdhirt senior from Novato, California, found himself on the team for the second straight year, as he was a member of the second team in 2009. The catcher was named a third-team All-American by Ping!Baseball this year after leading the Hokies with 92 hits, 27 doubles, 62 runs scored and a .635 slugging percentage. He also tied for the team lead with 13 home runs, and ranked second in batting average (.365), runs batted in (60) and stolen bases (12). His 92 hits tied a school record set in 1985, and his 27 doubles broke the old mark of 25 set in 1989.
Wates led the Hokies and ranked second in the ACC with a .382 batting average, earning first-team All-ACC honors and a spot on the ABCA/Rawlings All-Atlantic Region second team. The junior from Richmond, Virginia, also paced Tech with five triples, 18 stolen bases, 36 walks and a .491 on-base percentage.
Sosnsoskie arguably improved more than any Hokie in 2010, finishing the year with a .347 batting average and 13 home runs. The redshirt sophomore from Front Royal, Virginia, also provided one of the season’s biggest hits, clubbing a three-run double with two outs in the ninth to lift Tech over No. 1 Virginia on April 18.
Wright earned National Player of the Week recognition from Collegiate Baseball/Louisville Slugger after recording a career-high 15 strikeouts during a complete-game, 6-2 win over No. 6 Georgia Tech at the ACC Championship. For the season, the junior from Montclair, Virginia, fanned 100 batters in 98 innings, while building an 8-5 record and a 3.95 ERA, on his way to second-team All-ACC honors.
George Mason senior shortstop Ryan Soares was selected as the state’s Player of the Year by VaSID. Additionally, Virginia sophomore Danny Hultzen was chosen as Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season, and VMI freshman Corey Spangenberg was voted Rookie of the Year.
For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Baseball).