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Nick Mingione named SEC Coach of the Year, Sean Hjelle Pitcher of the Year

UK Athletics
UK Athletics

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Nick Mingione is the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year, the league announced on Monday afternoon. Sophomore righthander Sean Hjelle was named the Pitcher of the Year.

Mingione led the Wildcats to 38 wins in his first season with the Wildcats and kept UK in the SEC championship race until the final day of the regular season. UK is likely to host a regional bid and could also earn a national seed.

Hjelle was a key piece in UK’s run. The Minnesota native finished the season 9-2 with a 3.17 ERA. He's the first UK pitcher to win the award. It’s another prestigious honor for Hjelle as he was named a Freshman All-American last season.

"To earn a conference pitcher of the year award takes great consistency," pitching coach Jim Belanger said. "What Sean was able to do for our team every Friday, and especially in SEC play, shows how resistant and tough he was this year. The most impressive thing to me is how he started the year. He struggled in his first few starts of the season and never wavered from his routine, plan and commitment to get better everyday. Where some would crack and fold, he was a rock and has been a rock for our team all year."

Several other Wildcats took home awards. Outfielder Tristan Pompey and closer Logan Salow were named First Team All-SEC. Pompey led the SEC in average and hits during league play. Salow had 10 saves and opponents hit just .136 against him this season.

Catcher Troy Squires, first baseman Evan White and second baseman Riley Mahan were named Second Team All-SEC. White was also placed on the SEC-All Defensive Team despite missing 13 games early in the season with injuries. Zach Logue was named SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Logue had a 3.96 ERA as an engineering major.

Postseason play begins for UK on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. when it faces either Vanderbilt or South Carolina in the SEC Tournament. The Wildcats are the No. 3 seed in the tournament.

Follow Cats Illustrated beat writer Derek Terry on Twitter.

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