RICHMOND, Va. – For the first time in school history, the Virginia Tech baseball team had a student-athlete earn a major award from the Virginia Sports Information Directors, as both Ian Seymour and Carson Taylor took home the organization's 2020 Pitcher of the Year and Player of the Year honors, respectively, after the shortened season due to COVID-19.
The duo previously made history just two weeks ago during the 2020 MLB First-Year Player Draft when Seymour was chosen in the second round and Taylor was a fourth-round selection. It marked the first time at school that two Hokies were taken within the top four rounds of the same draft. They were also the only two players drafted from the state of Virginia this year, and previously became Tech's first teammates to earn All-America status in the same season since 2003.
Since the inception of the state's VaSID postseason honors, no Hokie had ever earned either of those awards before, while former Tech coaches Chuck Hartman (1992, 1993, 1997) and Pete Hughes (2010) were named the Coach of the Year a combined four times and Mark Zagunis took home the Rookie of the Year honor in 2012.
Seymour, as a starting pitcher, and Taylor, at catcher, each also earned a spot on the state's first team, marking the first time since 2013 the Hokies had two players make the first team. Starting pitcher Chris Gerard and second baseman Nick Biddison were voted to the second team, which gives the Hokies their most honorees on the state squad since 2013, as well, when a school-record tying six made the team.
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2020 VaSID All-State University Division Baseball Team
Player of the Year: Carson Taylor – Virginia Tech
Pitcher of the Year: Ian Seymour – Virginia Tech
Rookie of the Year: Chris Newell – University of Virginia
Coach of the Year: Brian O'Connor – University of Virginia
First Team
SP – Griff McGarry – University of Virginia
SP – Ian Seymour – Virginia Tech
SP – Justin Showalter – James Madison
RP – Andrew Abbott – University of Virginia
RP – Stephen Schoch – University of Virginia
C – Carson Taylor – Virginia Tech
1B – Steven Carpenter – VCU
2B – Max Cotier – University of Virginia
3B – Zack Gelof – University of Virginia
SS – Colby Higgerson – Radford University
OF – Chase DeLauter – James Madison
OF – Will Knight – VMI
OF – Chris Newell – University of Virginia
DH – J.D. Mundy – Radford University
UT – Jack Cone – William & Mary
Second Team
SP – Chris Farrell – William & Mary
SP – Chris Gerard – Virginia Tech
SP – Hunter Gregory – Old Dominion
RP – Austin Gerber – Radford University
RP – Landon Riley – Liberty University
C – Logan Michaels – University of Virginia
1B – Matt Courtney – Old Dominion
2B – Nick Biddison – Virginia Tech
3B – Chris Dengler – Old Dominion
SS – Nick Zona – James Madison
OF – Kyle Battle – Old Dominion
OF – Brandon Henson – VCU
OF – Brandon Raquet – William & Mary
DH – Hunter Hart – William & Mary
UT – Dan Leckie – University of Richmond