Shannon named Ivy Player of the Year

It's been a miserable end to the season for the Penn baseball team. Five consecutive losses to Princeton spelled the end of not only the 1996 campaign, but the team's reign as Ivy League champions. But things got a little brighter for four Penn players when the all-Ivy teams were announced. The Quakers were well-represented, with one pick on the first team and another three on the second team. The most prominent Penn product was Mike Shannon. The Quakers first baseman/pitcher was named Ivy League Player of the Year and gained a spot on the first team. It isn't hard to see why the Montoursville, Pa., native was so designated. Shannon batted .444 overall, including .469 in Ivy League contests, making him the winner of the coveted Blair Bat, the conference batting title. The senior co-captain also threw in 18 doubles and ran up a 3-0 mark as the Penn's ace starter. Dan Thompson, a senior at Yale, was selected as Pitcher of the Year, while Harvard's Hal Carey garnered Rookie of the Year honors. Thompson went 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA in Ivy League action. Carey hit .319 in helping the Crimson to a league-best 14-6 record and the Red Rolfe Division title. Big things were expected of Shannon after a 1995 campaign in which he was selected as a third-team All-American and led the Quakers to the NCAA tournament. He delivered and, in doing so, became the first Quaker ever selected as Player of the Year. "He definitely deserves it," Penn coach Bob Seddon said. "He's one of the better hitters we've ever had here." Although his last game in a Penn uniform was an 18-1 rout of La Salle on April 24, in which he went 6-for-7 at the plate, Shannon's career ultimately ended in disappointment. The team's finest offensive performer was relegated to the bench for Penn's last five games with a cut hand. All five of those games were Quakers losses, which eventually anointed Princeton Ivy League champion. "I would have liked to finish out the season," Shannon said. "Our goal was to win an Ivy League championship and get back to the college tournament. That was really fun." Shannon, who says he enjoys travelling and playing the game, would like to extend his career beyond college ball. But for the second year in a row, Shannon was not selected in the amateur draft. Although both the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees both expressed interest, neither offered him a free agent contract. Also recognized by the Ivy League were three second-team all-Ivy players -- shortstop Mark DeRosa, centerfielder Sean Turner and designated hitter Mark Nagata. DeRosa overcame a slow start to finish fifth in the league in RBIs with 36. He was selected in the seventh round of the draft by the Atlanta Braves and forfeited his senior year of eligibility to sign. He spent the summer in short-season A ball playing for the Eugene (Ore.) Emeralds. Turner, a 1996 graduate, transferred to Penn from Stanford before the 1994 campaign. He was among the Ivy leaders in hits and doubles. A pair of Penn softball players were chosen for the all-Ivy second team, as well. Laurie Nestler earned a spot in the outfield by batting .320 as a junior, while outfielder Arlyn Katzen was selected as the utility player. The versatile freshman hit .276 in Ivy League play while playing both catcher and outfield.