St. John's University Athletics
Baseball Program Holds 14th Annual Bullpen Golf Outing
7/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
July 26, 2011
QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's baseball program hosted its 14th Annual Bullpen Golf Outing on Monday at The Garden City Country Club in Garden City, N.Y. The event, with title sponsor Chartwells, raised more than $25,000 to benefit the Red Storm baseball program.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance were Hall of Fame coaches Jack Kaiser, Lou Carnesecca and Jack Curran.
"This is our 14th outing and it continues to get bigger and better each year," said head coach Ed Blankmeyer. "After missing last year's outing while I was overseas with Team USA, it is great to be back to have the chance to gather with so many of our former players, coaches and friends of the program that have been so supportive."
The "Coach Jack Kaiser Baseball Advocate Award" was presented at the event to Jerry Kelly. This award is the highest honor that the St. John's baseball program bestows upon an alumnus, friend, benefactor, parent, coach or fan. The individual possesses the same characteristics as Coach Kaiser: loyalty, dedication, hard work, and exceptional support of the baseball program.
One of 15 members of the all-time St. John's 200-hit club, Kelly helped the then-Redmen win three BIG EAST Tournaments (1985, 1986 and 1988) in his four seasons. A career .292 hitter, Kelly ranks third all-time with 171 runs scored and his 205 hits rank 14th. Kelly, who was a member of the 1986 BIG EAST All-Tournament Team, helped lead St. John's to three NCAA Tournaments and a 120-78-2 (.605) record.
St. John's (36-22) advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 33rd time in program history in 2011, a total that ranks tied for eighth all-time. Led by Blankmeyer, who became the all-time winningest coach in BIG EAST play with a conference win against Pittsburgh on May 6, the Red Storm reached the BIG EAST Championship Finals for the second-straight season. All-American shortstop, Brooks Wallace Award Finalist and first team All-BIG EAST honoree Joe Panik was selected in the first round (29th overall) of the MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants, the highest Red Storm draftee since 2005. Panik was one of four St. John's players to earn All-BIG EAST honors, a group that included a conference-best three first team selections.
