State College, Pa., May 7, 2001 - The Penn State baseball team handed out its 2001 season awards this weekend at its annual team banquet. Sophomore Mike DeRenzo (Murrysville, Pa.) was named as the recipient of both the Ed Drapcho Award and the Shorty Stoner Award, honor the squad's most improved player and its top academic performer respectively. DeRenzo, a computer engineering major and a Verizon Academic All-America candidate, is currently leading the Nittany Lions with a .390 batting average and a .472 on-base percentage.

Senior catcher Chris Netwall (Allentown, Pa.) was recognized as the winner of the F. Joseph Bedenk Award, which is presented each year to the most valuable member of the Penn State baseball team. Netwall is among the school's career leaders in hits, home runs and RBI. The senior is currently hitting .311 on the season and has been a menace to opposing base stealers, throwing out 25-of-51 would-be base stealers.

Senior Dan McCall (Boalsburg, Pa.) rounded out the evening's award winners as he was presented with the Charles Medlar Award as the team's top pitcher. The left-handed hurler has posted an overall mark of 6-1, including three complete games, and a 3.84 ERA this season. McCall becomes the third Penn State pitcher to win the Medlar Award on multiple occasions, joining former Nittany Lions Keith Bevenour (1987-88) and Nate Bump (1995-98).

Penn State closes out the regular season this weekend as it hosts Big Ten foe Michigan State in a four-game series beginning on Friday, May 11 at 3:00 p.m.