NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware baseball team honored the five senior members of the squad and handed out five awards at the 14th annual baseball banquet on Monday evening at the Bob Carpenter Center.

During the event, the Blue Hens celebrated the individual accomplishments of seniors Mike McGuire, Dan Richardson, David Slovak, Steve Spiese, and Adam Tsakonas. The team also honored Ryan Reed with the Pape Lukk Most Valuable Player Award, while Delaware named Ryan Cuneo the Offensive Player of the Year. Kyle Davis received the Defensive Player of the Year honor, and Slovak was named the team’s top pitcher. Tsakonas rounded out the award winners, taking home the Perry E. Burkett Award for inspiration, determination, and dedication to the game of baseball.

Reed (Milton, DE/Cape Henlopen - top right) took over as the team’s starting catcher this season and responded with an outstanding junior year. In 44 starts, including 37 behind the plate, he has hit .306 with five home runs and 24 RBI. He also stands fourth on the team with 12 doubles and is fifth with 49 hits. On the defensive side of the ball, he has posted a .986 fielding percentage while gunning down nine runners attempting to steal.

Cuneo (Freehold, NJ/Freehold - middle right) has used an incredible late-season surge to post the team’s highest batting average with a .354 mark. He is currently riding a 24-game hitting streak, which stands as the fifth longest in program history. He also leads the team with 48 RBI, ranks second with 52 hits and 13 doubles, and stands third with six home runs. A starter in 39 games, he also has posted the second highest fielding percentage on the team at .985.

Davis (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) is the only member of the team to start all 51 games for Delaware. During that time, he has anchored the Hens’ middle infield defense, splitting time between second base and shortstop. He ranks first on the team with 166 assists and has helped turn 32 double plays. The leadoff hitter all year long, he leads the team with 65 hits, 49 runs scored and 21 doubles. Along with his .298 batting average, he has also clubbed four home runs, stolen five bases, and knocked in 34.

Tsakonas (Pottstown, PA/Boyertown) leads the team with 12 home runs and stands second on the squad with a .349 batting average. Despite missing the latter portion of his senior season after falling ill in late-April, the tri-captain still holds the highest on-base percentage (.470) and slugging percentage (.699) on the team. A versatile player, he has started 30 games in centerfield after splitting time between the corner infield positions over the last three seasons.

During his standout four-year career, Tsakonas has posted a .315 batting average with 35 home runs and 137 RBI. His 35 homers are currently tied for the fourth most in Blue Hen history and the most by a player who was primarily an infielder.

Slovak (Louisville, KY/Eastern - bottom right) has served as the team’s relief ace during the 2008 campaign, making 27 appearances out of the bullpen. Over that time, he has notched a team-best 3.12 ERA with five saves over 40.1 innings. He has also held the opposition to a .223 batting average while striking out 44.

One of the finest relievers in Blue Hen history, Slovak has posted 17 career saves, just one shy of tying the all-time program record held by Scott Gellert. In his two years in Newark, the side-wheeling right-hander has used an incredible slider to post a 3.68 ERA over 88 innings. A two-team CAA Pitcher of the Week selection, he also earned a place on the second-team All-Conference squad last year after setting Delaware single-season records with 35 appearances and 12 saves.

Delaware (21-30, 10-17 CAA) caps off its 2008 campaign with a game on Tuesday at 3 p.m. against Maryland before traveling to Richmond, VA for a three-game series with the VCU Rams beginning on Thursday at 7 p.m.