September 5, 2008

Celenza named MVP of Cal Ripken, Sr. Summer League

BALTIMORE - Salisbury University baseball standout Mike Celenza was named the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League's Most Valuable Player for the 2008 summer season announced by the league this week. This is the first MVP award for Celenza in the Cal Ripken, Sr. League and his second straight batting title. He was also named to the All-League team for the second consecutive season. This year's All-League team featured a majority of Division I players from baseball powerhouse programs like Clemson, Georgia Tech and Louisiana State.

The Gaithersburg, Md., native became the first player in league history to surpass the .400 mark, as he finished with a league-best .412 batting average. He played third base for the College Park Bombers, who finished second overall in the Cal Ripken, Sr. League.

Mike Celenza playing third base this summer Celenza also set league records for hits (56), RBIs (30), total bases (84), slugging percentage (.618), on-base percentage (.500) and tied the league record with 13 doubles. He had 19 multi-hit games in '08, including five three-hit games and one four-hit game, on July 24 against the Rockville Express. He began the season with six consecutive two-hit games and during his season-high eight-game hitting streak from June 22 to July 6, Celenza batted .484 (15-for-31) with four doubles, a home run, eight RBI, and six runs scored. In the League Championship Series, Celenza led the Bombers with a .526 batting average (10-for-19), four doubles, nine RBI, six walks and four runs scored. He won the Player of the Week Award twice, on June 16 and again on July 8, and started for the East in the 2008 All-Star Game on July 22.

Celenza, who is entering his junior season at Salisbury, was a key member of last year's 41-4 squad that was ranked in the top 10 for the majority. The first baseman started all 45 games in '08 where he earned All-Capital Athletic Conference first team honors and All-South region second team honors. The left-handed batter hit .371 for the Gulls and slammed seven home runs and knocked in 60 RBIs.