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ATLANTA – Another milestone in the history of Kennesaw State University and its athletics program was achieved as the Owls baseball program was a multiple winner at the 2015 Atlanta Sports Awards hosted by the Atlanta Sports Council at the Fox Theater in Atlanta on Thursday (Mar. 5).
 
Head coach Mike Sansing's 2014 Owls club was named the Team of the Year presented by PrimeSport and former KSU All-American Max Pentecost was voted Collegiate Athlete of the Year presented by AT&T.
 
"It's special that we were recognized, that the Atlanta Sports Council realized what that team had done and what Max had done," Sansing, who also was a finalist for Coach of the Year presented by The Home Depot, said. "That to me, as much as winning it, is that people kind of watched you and saw what happened and how things evolved and give you credit for it."
 
Sansing 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. It marked Kennesaw State's first-ever A-Sun Conference title and NCAA Division I postseason berth.
 
The Owls were one of three finalists for the award along with the Buford High School football team and the Georgia women's swimming and diving team.
 
Pentecost was a major catalyst in the Owls' success as he was 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.
 
Kennesaw State's leading hitter from a year ago was a finalist along with Georgia Tech men's golfer Ollie Schniederjans and Georgia State men's basketball player R.J. Hunter.
 
"When you do good things and work at things, you hope that once in a while you get recognized," Director of Athletics Vaughn Williams said. "Our baseball program had a magnificent year. It represented everything that Kennesaw State is about. The possibilities of our young people and what they can do, not only the field, but as individuals. We're really appreciative of Max Pentecost and his effort. He is a true Owl, along with Mike Sansing and the entire team.
 
"When you can get recognized inside the perimeter, by the businesses, the sports people in Atlanta, I think it is an indication that we are doing some good things at Kennesaw State, both as a university and athletics department," Williams added. "I'm very Owl Proud today."
 
Atlanta Sports Award winners:
 
Coach of the Year presented by The Home Depot
• Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech football
 
Collegiate Athlete of the Year presented by AT&T
• Max Pentecost, Kennesaw State University baseball / Toronto Blue Jays
 
High School Athlete of the Year presented by Kia
• Michael Chavis, Sprayberry High School / Boston Red Sox
 
Professional Athlete of the Year presented by SunTrust Sports & Entertainment
• Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
 
Team of the Year presented by PrimeSport
• Kennesaw State University baseball
 
Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Coca-Cola
• Tom Glavine, Atlanta Braves / MLB Hall of Fame
 
Community Spirit Award presented by Georgia Power, A Southern Company
• Chris Conley, University of Georgia football
 
 ABOUT THE ATLANTA SPORTS AWARDS
Created in 2006 by the Atlanta Sports Council, the Atlanta Sports Awards has become a way to rally the Atlanta sports community to recognize athletic excellence on a yearly basis. The Atlanta Sports Awards honors those who distinguish themselves from among the five million people living in Atlanta. That includes all professional sports teams, universities, junior colleges and more than 250 public and private high schools in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.AtlantaSportsAwards.com.
 
ABOUT THE ATLANTA SPORTS COUNCIL
The Atlanta Sports Council (ASC), a division of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, facilitates the growth and development of sports in metro Atlanta by serving as an event recruiter. The organization plays an important role in improving the quality of life for residents in the region, works to drive economic growth and visibility, and acts as an advocate for the area teams and annual sporting events.  For more information, visit www.AtlantaSportsCouncil.com
 
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