The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

College Sports

May 16, 2010

Enourato is all-time WVU great

By Mickey Furfari For The Register-Herald

MORGANTOWN — Chris Enourato is one of the best late-innings relief pitchers in West Virginia University’s baseball history.

The 6-foot, 205-pound senior from Bridgeport owns the all-time school career records for most saves with 21 and appearances with 68. He has a 17-5 record and 4.23 earned run average.

Enourato, a right-hander, was a highly effective starter for Bridgeport High School. But he agreed to be a reliever when he enrolled at WVU as a freshman.

“I’ve really enjoyed my years here,” he said. “Things worked out well for me. My favorite pitch is a good breaking ball and I have a good slider.”

Coach Greg Van Zant obviously has been pleased with Enourato’s performances. He said, “Boy, he’s going to be sorely missed. He’s so unselfish. He just wants to win games.”

“You’ve got to have a guy down in the bullpen that can shut the door when a game is tight. He’s been doing that since he came here. He’s done a great job for us.”

Enourato has graduated with a bachelor’s degree in athletic coaching education. But he hopes to be selected by some club in next month’s baseball draft. Some scouts have shown interest.

His 21st save came last weekend in a 6-5 victory over Notre Dame. So he contributed to the first-ever WVU three-game series sweep of the Irish.

“That was awesome,” Enourato said. “I wanted to help the team move closer to qualifying for the Big East Tournament.”

In helping the Mountaineers to a 22-26 record, he made 16 appearances, pitched 56 innings, struck out 52 and walked 11. He also gave up 70 hits, 30 earned runs, 12 doubles and six home runs.

Enourato posted a 4-1 record during that stretch and had an ERA of 4.80.

His career statistics for 68 appearances include a 17-5 record and 4.28 ERA. The 21 saves topped the previous record of 14 saves by Mike Marz in 1993-94.

Other career totals: 162 innings pitched, 172 hits, 77 RBIs, 46 walks, 164 strikeouts, 29 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs and 18 hit batsmen.

Enourato, whose diving sinker is his out pitch, remains one of the top closers in the Big East Conference. He is listed on a couple of watch lists for closers.

He starred in the Valley League last summer and was named to its all-star team for the second time.

He was a running back and linebacker in football at Bridgeport High as well as a starting pitcher in baseball. He was a two-time all-stater in baseball, All-Big 10 Pitcher of the Year and All-Harrison County Player of the Year.

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