UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- After a stellar rookie season for the Penn State baseball team, freshman James Coates (Girard, Ohio) has been named to the 2013 All-Big Ten Freshman Team, one of six to be named unanimously. In addition, senior Luis Montesinos (Miami, Fla.) has been named a Sportsmanship Award Honoree after completing his tremendous career as a Nittany Lion.
Coates immediately made a huge contribution to the Lions, playing in all 50 contests while starting 49. The Girard, Ohio native ends the 2013 season leading his squad with an on base percentage of .392, as well as with a .295 batting average. Ending the year on a seven-game hitting streak and a 12-game reached base streak, the freshman collected 15 multiple-hit games while recording at least one hit in 35 contests and tallying a team-best 27 runs. In 173 at bats, Coates notched 51 hits, two doubles, a triple and 17 RBIs for a .318 slugging percentage. The rookie also led the Lions in stolen bases with 10, ending with a team-high .833 stolen base percentage. Make 47 starts at left field, Coates fielded at a .963 clip and consistently came up with game-making saves, including his diving catch against Villanova on May 14.
Concluding his four-year career at Penn State against Michigan State on Saturday, Montesinos leaves his mark after competing in 172 games for the Blue and White. In his senior campaign, the second baseman ends the season with 50 hits, 24 RBIs and 17 runs with a team-best seven doubles and two triples. Collecting a team-high 64 total bases, Montesinos posted a .282 batting average with a .362 slugging percentage, recording 16 multiple-hit games along the way with five multiple-RBI contests. After leading the Lions with eight sac bunts this season, the senior now sits at 25 in his career for third in the Penn State all-time record book. Montesinos also sits fifth in all-time assists with 441 after posting 161 during the 2013 season and 163 in 2012. A steady leader for the Nittany Lions, the veteran ends his career with 608 at bats, 159 hits, 65 RBIs, 76s runs and 24 doubles, as well as one home run which he tallied on March 9, 2013 at Houston Baptist.