UVA Baseball’s elimination in the College World Series ended the 2021 spring sports season for the Hoos.

And since that thrilling run to Omaha is still fresh in everyone’s mind, there’s no need to rehash it. Instead, I’ll offer up some superlatives that capture the best of the 2021 baseball season.

Without further ado, below are what hopefully become an annual list of awards at HoosPlace following the conclusion of the Hoos’ baseball season.

Pitcher of the Year – Andrew Abbott

All you really need to know about Abbott’s 2021 season is that he bet on himself to show MLB that he could thrive as a starting pitcher and along the way cemented his status as a first ballot UVA Baseball Hall of Famer.

If you’re into accolades, Abbott was First Team All-ACC (should have been Pitcher of the Year but was robbed – typical ACC media junk), Collegiate Baseball Second Team All-American, Baseball America Third Team All-American, NCBWA Third Team All-American, D1 Baseball Second Team All-American, and Perfect Game/Rawlings Second Team All-American.

Abbott led the ACC in strikeouts while finishing third overall in Division 1 with 162.

He put up silly strikeout numbers on multiple occasions this season – 14 in 5.2 IP at Florida State, 11 in 5.2 IP versus Louisville, 14 in 7.0 IP versus Duke, 16 in 7.1 IP versus Wake Forest (a combined no hitter as well), 11 in 6.2 IP at Boston College, and 10 in 6.0 IP versus Tennessee in Omaha.

He capped his UVA career in style, picking up the win in UVA’s 6 to 0 victory over Tennessee in the Hoos’ 2021 College World Series opener. In his final appearance as a Hoo, Abbott pitched 6.0 shutout innings where he stuck out the aforementioned 10 Volunteers.

Virginia's Ace card ?♠️ This season, Andrew Abbott threw the third-most strikeouts in the country and tossed 31-straight scoreless innings. #GoldenSpikes | #SemifinalistSpotlight | @UVABaseball pic.twitter.com/2MqKegfwx8

— Golden Spikes Award (@USAGoldenSpikes) June 15, 2021

Batter of the Year – Zack Gelof

Kyle Teel had slightly better overall numbers than the elder Gelof brother. But Zack wasn’t far behind in most categories.

He tied Teel for the team lead in home runs. And he tied Teel for second in RBI.

Gelof also led the team in runs, hits, doubles, and walks while finishing third in stolen bases.

He also hit a missile in Game Two against Dallas Baptist that nearly went through the left field bleachers.

Zack Gelof’s home run proved to be the game-winning hit. It also means both Gelof brothers have hit home runs in both the regional and super regional this spring. pic.twitter.com/yDxKRx1zFr

— Bennett Conlin (@BennettConlin) June 13, 2021

Gelof was also the only Hoo to make the All-College World Series Team where he hit .583, scored 3 runs, walked 2 times, drove in 2, and stole 1 base.

The team’s offensive turnaround is often partially credited to moving Gelof back into the lead off spot in the batting order.

Defensive Player of the Year – Chris Newell / Nic Kent

Newell’s overall body of work on the season was better. His ability to cover enormous amounts of ground in the UVA outfield kept him in the lineup while he struggled considerably at the plate.

Chris Newell Goes up to ROB a solo Homer from Dallas Baptist that would have made their lead 1, potentially sending them to Omaha if Virginia ends up winning close pic.twitter.com/JHKpZP8d06

— MLB Walk Offs & Game Winning Plays (@MLBWalk_Offs) June 14, 2021

But the leather flashed by Kent in the season’s final game against Texas practically single-handedly kept the Hoos in the game against the Longhorns. Despite Texas winning the game, Kent’s relentless effort on defense, not to mention his multiple web gems, was the talk of the college baseball world. He earns a tie with Newell on the strength of that performance.

What did we just see?

Nic Kent is a highlight machine! #SCTop10 #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/A3xxcCpBkg

— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) June 25, 2021

Newcomer of the Year – Kyle Teel

Along with Andrew Abbott winning Pitcher of the Year, this was about as big a lock as possible.

Teel led the Hoos in OPS, OBP, SLG, AVG, and tied for the lead in home runs.

Teel may have a difficult time topping this hit during the remainder of his career.

ABSOLUTELY LEGENDARY!!!

Kyle Teel a GRAND SLAM to give UVA a 5-2 lead in the B7!!!

?: https://t.co/4O21OYhA3i#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/YcjvZjS3aE

— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) June 14, 2021

But he also continued to perform well after this momentous blast as he was one of the top bats in Omaha.

Coach of the Year – Drew Dickinson

Oak doesn’t count, so it’s really between Coach Drew and Coach Mac.

And Coach Drew is the clear winner for 2021.

The pitching staff kept the team afloat until the bats came to life over the last two-fifths of the regular season. And that pitching staff always answered the bell in the postseason when it was win or go home time.

Coach Drew’s work to resurrect Griff McGarry’s career at the end of the season was a revelation. The year over year improvement from Blake Bales into one of college baseball’s best relief pitchers was in large part Dickinson’s handy work. And the in-season development seen by arms like Brandon Neeck and Matt Wyatt did not go unnoticed.

Most Underappreciated – Brendan Rivoli

In a season where nearly every veteran on UVA’s roster had a prolonged moment in the sun, Brendan Rivoli had yet another solid season while flying under the radar.

It could be argued that Rivoli had the most consistent bat in the Hoos’ lineup. Perhaps that was what kept him out of the spotlight – always solid but rarely drawing attention to himself.

Rivoli finished the season once again among the batting leaders on the roster – 3rd in AVG, tied for 4th in doubles, tops in HBP, tied for 2nd in triples, 7th in RBI, 6th in stolen bases, and 3rd fewest strike outs among regulars.

? WATCH IT GO!!! ?

Brendan Rivoli his first HR of the season makes it 5-0 UVA in the B4! #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/FCILW2JCKR

— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) May 14, 2021

It was too bad to see him relegated to the bench during the postseason after being one of only five Hoos to get a hit against South Carolina in the Columbia Regional opener. The Hoos played against type from there out, eschewing the usual lefty-righty matchups in the batting order for what felt like the first set lineup the entire season with Alex Tappen in LF in place of Rivoli.

Moment of the Year – Logan Michaels on Father’s Day

In a postseason full of memorable moments, this one is clearly the top. It was the rare event from the sporting world that transcends the sport itself and makes a mark on the larger popular culture.

The story about Logan and his father has been covered extensively elsewhere. But Mr. Michaels getting the homerun ball back from the fan that caught it and their bond that developed was icing on the cake.

It’s hard to imagine any father and son that were not touched by this story.

Cancer survivor Jeff Michaels, father of UVA catcher Logan Michaels, with 11-year old Kamryn Cotton, who delivered his son's home run ball from the left field stands on Father's Day. They sat together tonight. Man, I love the #CWS! pic.twitter.com/WvVzgyTeBm

— Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee) June 25, 2021

Honorable Mention Moment – McGarry/Neeck/Ortiz/Schoch/Wyatt in Columbia

To the larger baseball world, only Stephen Schoch and Griff McGarry had a reputation heading into the postseason. But the work done by this quintet in elimination games in Columbia, during both the Regional and Super Regional rounds, must be called out.

Without their threading of the needle from the mound, moments like Devin Ortiz’s walk off versus ODU, Kyle Teel’s grand slam against Dallas Baptist, or the CWS opener victory over Tennessee do not happen.

How about these Hoos!!!@UVABaseball is on ???
2⃣4⃣ Ks by Brandon Neeck & Griff McGarry ?#GoHoos | #Wahoowa ?? pic.twitter.com/H8CKFs47my

— Virginia Cavaliers (@VirginiaSports) June 7, 2021