ROCHESTER, NY - Dean Ennis (Middle Island, NY/Longwood) has captured the second-straight Empire 8 Rookie of the Week Award for Pioneer Baseball after fellow newcomer Ty Montrose (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) managed to garner rookie honors last week for the team. Ennis pitched wonderfully in his first career appearance for the Pioneers, piloting them to a win and grabbing his first conference recognition during this week's awards cycle.

Ennis picked up a big win against Emerson College in his first collegiate appearance on the mound this past week. The newcomer from Middle Island went five innings in his Pioneer debut, shutting out the Lions over the five-frame spell and doing enough to pick up his first career win in the effort. Ennis allowed five hits, but managed to bounce back each time, fanning five batters to escape any danger as he grabbed the shutout victory. Ennis' superb start pushed the Pioneers to a big 4-3 victory, getting the newcomer's career off to an excellent start. He proved to be the focal point in a big victory down in Florida during the spring break slate, helping the Pioneers pick up some momentum towards the end of their stay down south.

This award marked the third time in three awards cycles that the Pioneers took home some conference recognition, with Kooper Knabe (Cortland, NY/Cortland) getting a Pitcher of the Week nod during the opening week of awards. 

Ennis' Pioneers will be back in Utica this weekend to begin their Empire 8 Conference schedule at home with a three-game set against fellow Mohawk Valley side SUNY Poly. The two teams will meet at the home of the Pioneers for a Saturday doubleheader before returning on Sunday for the series finale. Saturday's doubleheader is slated to start at 1:00 PM while Sunday's matchup will begin at 12:00 PM.