Dayton Flyers

Joe Gayda was named Most Improved and Best Practice Player by the Flyer baseball team

DAYTON, Ohio – The University of Dayton baseball team has named Brian Blasik its 2010 Most Valuable Player. Joe Gayda and Trent Haughn were also honored by their teammates for their contributions this season.

Blasik, a Germantown, Ohio native, led the Flyers with a .346 average with 18 doubles, eight home runs, 37 RBI and one triple for the Flyers. The sophomore hit .418 in his final month of Atlantic 10 conference play, which included seven doubles, five home runs and 15 RBI for a .818 slugging percentage. He was extremely versatile seeing time at first base, third base, outfield and in the designated hitter slot.

Redshirt freshman Gayda was tabbed for two awards. The Strongsville, Ohio native was named Most Improved Player after redshirting last season. Gayda was projected to be a reserve outfielder heading into the year, and earned his way into the starting role in 51 of UD’s 55 games. He also was named the Best Practice Player. Gayda was named A-10 Rookie of the Week earlier this season after amassing four RBI and a home run in an 11-4 win over Xavier. He led all starters with a .412 on-base percentage and has a .965 fielding percentage. Gayda had six outfield assists and hit .297 on the year.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Haughn was named Most Valuable Pitcher.  He made a big impact on the Flyer pitching staff this season. After joining the incoming recruiting class in the middle of last summer, Haughn made 27 appearances this season and tied Cale Ort for the single-season record for appearances by a UD pitcher. The Ottawa-Glandorf product went on to record the team’s lowest ERA at 4.14. Haughn led the team with three saves and posted an 0-2 record this season.

The Flyers finished the season at 23-32 and 12-15 in the Atlantic 10. UD graduates seven seniors this year. In addition, 20 returners will play for a wood bat league this summer, the most in program history. A full report on where the players are playing this summer will be released later this week.