ECAC Announces 2016 DIII South Baseball All-Stars
DANBURY, Conn. - The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2016 Division III South Baseball All-ECAC Selections and major award winners.
Tom LaBriola from Salisbury University earned the award for player of the year, with Brian Resnik of Waynesburg University collecting the honor for ECAC DIII South Baseball Pitcher of the Year. Moravian College's Mike Mittl received the award for top rookie, while Marymount University's Frank Leoni rounded out the major award recipients with the accolade for coach of the year.
Player of the Year
Tom LaBriola - Salisbury University, Jr., Catcher
LaBriola was an offensive force for the Gulls in 2016. The left-handed hitting catcher batted .457 and drove in 52 runs in the regular season while also scoring 42 times himself. The junior notched 59 hits, highlighted by 10 doubles and four round-trippers, and also played sound defense behind the plate, recorded a fielding percentage of .989. LaBriola was recently named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings DIII All-South Region Second Team.
Pitcher of the Year
Brian Resnik - Waynesburg University, Sr.
Resnik earns the award for pitcher of the year after recorded a 6-2 mark and a 2.0 ERA in 56.2 innings pitched in the regular season. The senior fanned 60 while walking just six and conceding only 42 hits, and finished the regular season with nine complete games, most in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. A second-team All-ECAC selection in 2015, Resnik was recently named to the ABCA/Rawlings DIII All-Mideast Region Second Team.
Rookie of the Year
Mike Mittl - Moravian College, Fr., Outfield
Mittl had a great rookie season for the Greyhounds, batting .367 with 50 hits in 149 at-bats. The first-year outfielder clubbed five home runs and seven doubles while driving in 24 runs, and also stole 13 bases on 14 attempts.
Coach of the Year
Frank Leoni - Marymount University
In just the third year of the program, Leoni guided the Saints to a 21-15 regular-season record and the second seed in the CAC tournament, marking the program's first 20-plus win season. Facing one of the tougher schedules in the country, the squad defeated six ranked opponents this season, including sweeping No. 11 Frostburg State University and splitting the series against Salisbury University.
All-ECAC First Team
C: Tom LaBriola - Salisbury University, Jr.
1B: Jake Dmiterchik - Salisbury University, Sr
2B: K.J. Hockaday - Frostburg State University, Sr.
3B: Alex Bull - Moravian College, Sr.
SS: Pete Grasso - Salisbury University, Jr.
DH: Chris Burns - Alvernia University, Sr.
OF: D.J. Navoczynski - Misericordia University, Sr.
OF: Devin Bell - Frostburg State University, Jr.
OF: Jim Shomberg - Penn State-Altoona, Jr.
UTIL: Marshall Kiessling - Lebanon Valley College, So.
P: Trey Hinkle - Centenary College, Fr.
P: Josh Lafferty - Widener University, So.
P: Brian Resnik - Waynesburg University, Sr.
All-ECAC Second Team
C: Jordan Draude - Arcadia University, Jr.
1B: Cameron Coons - Alvernia University, Jr.
2B: Scott Sada - Penn State-Behrend, Fr.
3B: Michael Elfreth - Widener University, Jr.
SS: Eric Speidel - Wesley College, Sr.
DH: Greg Orlando - Lebanon Valley College, Sr.
OF: Ian Eberly - Stevenson University, Sr.
OF: Mike Puglisi - Lebanon Valley College, Jr.
OF: Kyle Goodwin - Salisbury University, Sr.
UTIL: Kye Williams - Neumann University, Sr.
P: Ryan Kahn - Moravian College, So.
P: Greg Schneider - Frostburg State University, So.
P: John Catchmark - Alvernia University, Fr.
ABOUT THE ECAC
In the 76 years since its inception, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has emerged as the nation's largest Conference. The ECAC has grown considerably from its charter membership of 58, boasting over 300 member schools in Divisions I, II and III, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. In the 2015-16 academic year, the ECAC will host nearly 100 championships in 32 men's and women's sports as the sponsors of over 5,800 varsity teams and 111,000 male and female Players. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.
STAY CONNECTED
Stay updated on the latest news, championships and more by connecting with the ECAC on Facebook (ECACSports), Twitter (@ECACSports) and Instagram (@ECACSports).