News Gleaner Online - Sports/Male Athlete of the Year: Kris Dufner

Kris Dufner with Catholic League Basketball champions

Male Athlete of the Year: Kris Dufner
Two-sport star stands out for Crusaders

BY STUART LONDON
Sports Writer

While Father Judge's basketball team prepared for the Alhambra Tournament following its Catholic League championship win over Cardinal O'Hara, starting shooting guard Kris Dufner would come into the gym for practice-from another practice.

Dufner might have been a big reason the Crusaders won the basketball title for the first time in 21 years but he is also part of the baseball team that hopes to win a title of its own this season. As of April 19 the baseball team is 5-0 in the league.

Due to being a standout in both sports, Kris Dufner has been named the 1998 News Gleaner Male Athlete of the Year.

Dufner will be honored, along with award winners in other sports, on May 20 at the News Gleaner / Frankford Rotary Sports Banquet at the Chateau Caterers. For ticket information call 535-4274.

As a junior, Dufner hit .360 for the baseball team and was named first team All-Catholic as a shortstop. He is well on his way this to repeating that feat as of press deadline he was hitting a sweet .390.

In basketball, Dufner averaged 14.5 points and combined his outside shooting with the inside play of Jim Reeves to give the Crusaders a powerful one-two punch.

As Judge marched to the championship, Dufner scored in double figures in all three playoff games, including a career-high 28 points in the opening round against North Catholic.

In playoff wins over Roman Catholic and Cardinal O'Hara, the first wins by a Northern Division team over a Southern Division squad in postseason play in 11 years, Dufner made his points count, seemingly scoring at a key point in the game every time.

Judge baseball coach Joe McDermott thinks Dufner is even better because of the experience.

"He is much more confident," McDermott said. "He doesn't let the little things bother him. So far, he been very good and he plays with much more confidence since coming off the basketball season."

Most of the time, baseball players concentrate mainly on that sport. With the high school season, American Legion in the summer and various camps and all-star games, there is not much time for the top flight player to make room to be really good at another sport.

"I usually get football players, not too many baseball players," said Judge basketball coach Bill Fox. "Baseball keeps him occupied during the summer but he did find time to play in a couple of tournaments we were in.

"When school started he was dedicated to basketball."

About the only other baseball players Fox can remember making a major impact on his team in 24 years as coach are Mike Cummiskey (a 1988 graduate) and Bob Heck ('82).

"He's a fine student athlete," Fox said. "He had a good year for us. The coaches voted him second team All-Catholic so he obviously made an impression."

To Dufner, whatever sport he is playing at the time is his favorite.

"When its baseball season I like the baseball the best," said Dufner. "When it's basketball I like it the best."

When it came to college, Dufner's love of both sports came to a head.

To play both basketball and baseball he would probably have to go to a Division II or III college. Division I baseball programs usually are year-round propositions with no time for other sports.

Dufner decided to sign with the University of Delaware, which was ranked 18th in the country as of press deadline, for a baseball scholarship that will cover over half his expenses.

Dufner might have a shot at making the Blue Hens roster if he went out for basketball _ but he doesn't expect to.

"I was always thinking baseball for college," said Dufner. "I like basketball but I wanted to go Division I for baseball and you can do both at that level."

Dufner's split interests will end soon but he is looking for one more unique double, the Crusaders are favored to win the Northern Division and he can achieve the rarity of starting on Catholic League championship baseball and basketball teams in the same year.

Back to Front Page | News Archives | Contact Us | Advertising