Release from Kennesaw State Athletics:
The historic 2014 season by the Kennesaw State baseball program has caught the attention of the voting members of the Atlanta Sports Council as head coach Mike Sansing, Max Pentecost and the team have been named finalists in their respective categories for the 2015 Atlanta Sports Awards, it was announced on Tuesday (Feb. 24).
The Atlanta Sports Awards will be held at The Fox Theatre on Thursday, March 5, beginning with a silent auction and reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and the awards ceremony at 7 p.m.
The awards to be presented include Coach of the Year presented by The Home Depot, Collegiate Athlete of the Year presented by AT&T, High School Athlete of the Year presented by Kia, Professional Athlete of the Year presented by SunTrust Sports & Entertainment and Team of the Year presented by PrimeSport.
Sansing, who guided the Owls to a 40-24 record, the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament title, the NCAA Division I Tallahassee Regional championship and a trip to the Louisville Super Regional, is a finalist for the Coach of the Year award presented by The Home Depot along with McEachern High School girls basketball coach Phyllis Arthur and Georgia Tech head football coach Paul Johnson.
Pentecost, a 2014 first-team All-American, Johnny Bench Award winner and the No. 11 overall selection by the Toronto Blue Jays in last summer’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, is a finalist for the Collegiate Athlete of the Year presented by AT&T along with Georgia State men’s basketball player R.J. Hunter and Ollie Schniederjans of the Georgia Tech men’s golf team.
The baseball team, which made its first-ever NCAA Division I postseason appearance a year ago, is a finalist for the Team of the Year presented by Primesport along with the Buford High School football team and the Georgia women’s swimming and diving team.
“For a decade, we’ve had the honor of recognizing outstanding athletes and sports organizations across the metro Atlanta region,” said Dan Corso, executive director of the Atlanta Sports Council. “We’re thrilled to continue this incredible event, paying tribute to tremendous performances both on and off the field from our top athletes, coaches and teams. These honorees excite fans with victories and inspire them with their community service.”
Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and former Braves pitcher Tom Glavine and former University of Georgia wide receiver Chris Conley will also be honored at the Atlanta Sports Awards. Glavine and Conley were previously announced as the recipients of the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Coca-Cola and Community Spirit Award presented by Georgia Power, A Southern Company, respectively.
The 2015 Atlanta Sports Awards Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Coach of the Year presented by The Home Depot
Awarded to an Atlanta high school, collegiate or professional coach whose dedication and commitment to coaching excellence is fostered in the lives of his/her athletes both on and off the field.
- Phyllis Arthur — McEachern High School girls basketball
- Paul Johnson — Georgia Tech football
- Mike Sansing— Kennesaw State University baseball
Collegiate Athlete of the Year presented by AT&T
Awarded to the Atlanta collegiate athlete who demonstrates superior physical ability in his/her sport.
- R.J. Hunter — Georgia State University men’s basketball
- Max Pentecost— Kennesaw State University baseball
- Ollie Schniederjans — Georgia Tech men’s golf
High School Athlete of the Year presented by Kia
Awarded to the Atlanta prep athlete who demonstrates superior physical ability in his/her sport.
- Michael Chavis — Sprayberry High School baseball
- Caitlin Cooper — Woodward Academy girl’s swimming and diving
- Asia Durr — St. Pius X Catholic High School girls basketball
Professional Athlete of the Year presented by SunTrust Sports & Entertainment
Awarded to the Atlanta professional athlete who demonstrates superior physical ability in his/her sport.
- Julio Jones — Atlanta Falcons
- Craig Kimbrel — Atlanta Braves
- Paul Millsap — Atlanta Hawks
Team of the Year presented by PrimeSport
Awarded to an Atlanta high school, collegiate or professional team whose dedication and work ethic resulted in a consistently high level of achievement or a championship.
- Buford High School football
- University of Georgia women’s swimming and diving
- Kennesaw State University baseball
The Sports Inquirer 
Leave a comment