ECAC Announces 2016 DI Baseball All-Stars
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2016 Division I Baseball All-ECAC Selections and major award winners.
Deon Stafford, Jr., of Saint Joseph’s University was voted as the ECAC DI Baseball Player of the Year, and Northeastern University’s Aaron Civale took home the accolade for top pitcher. Fabian Pena, Manhattan College’s hard-hitting catcher, bookended his freshman season with the ECAC DI Rookie of the Year honor, while Bryant University Head Coach Steve Owens capped off the major awards with the award for coach of the year.
Player of the Year
Deon Stafford, Jr. – Saint Joseph’s University, So., Catcher
Stafford proved to be an offensive force for SJU, batting .388 during the regular-season with 43 RBI. The sophomore led the Atlantic 10 Conference in home runs (17), batting average, runs (52), on-base and slugging percentage, and was the only player in Division I to have multiple games in which he hit three home runs. Stafford was a semifinalist for the 2016 Johnny Bench Award presented by BaseballSavings.com, given annually to college baseball’s top catcher, and was also recently named a Louisville Slugger Third Team All-American, as announced by
Collegiate Baseball.
Pitcher of the Year
Aaron Civale – Northeastern University, Jr.
Civale established himself as the ace of the Northeastern staff in 2016. The junior went 8-3 during the regular season, posting a 1.84 ERA in 107.1 innings pitched to lead the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in ERA. Civale exhibited consistent control throughout the season, fanning a league-best 111 batters while walking just 14, and limited opponents to a .224 batting average. In addition to his ECAC accolades, Civale recently earned a third-team nod in the 2016 Louisville Slugger All-American selections, announced by
Collegiate Baseball.
Rookie of the Year
Fabian Pena – Manhattan College, Fr., Catcher
Pena’s recognition as the ECAC’s top rookie comes following a breakout rookie campaign for the Jaspers. The freshman batted .344 during the regular season, roping 67 hits including 30 for extra bases, and led the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in total bases with 113. Pena drove in 47 runs and scored 32 of his own, all while playing sound defense behind the plate; the catcher closed the regular season with just five errors, good for a fielding percentage of .984.
Coach of the Year
Steve Owens – Bryant University
Owens led Bryant to a historic season in 2016. In his sixth season at the helm, the Bulldogs posted a 44-10 (26-4 Northeast Conference) mark during the regular season, setting a new NEC record for wins. Bryant spent most of the year ranked in multiple national polls, including the Baseball America Top-25 and USA Today Coaches Poll, and finished the regular season with the nation’s best run differential (+4.7). In addition to his ECAC recognition, Owens was recently named New England Coach of the Year by the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA).
All-ECAC First Team
C: Deon Stafford, Jr., - Saint Joseph’s University, So.
1B: Robby Rinn – Bryant University, Sr.
2B: Reed Gamache – Binghamton University, Sr.
3B: Willy Yahn – University of Connecticut, So.
SS: Charles Leblanc – University of Pittsburgh, So.
DH: Tim Graul – University of Pennsylvania, Jr.
OF: Christian Santisteban – Manhattan College, Sr.
OF: Matt Albanese – Bryant University, Jr.
OF: Joe DaRoche-Duffin – University of Connecticut, Sr.
UTIL: Nick Zammarelli – Elon University, Jr.
P: Tyler Wilson – University of Rhode Island, So.
P: Aaron Civale – Northeastern University, Jr.
P: James Karinchak – Bryant University, So.
All-ECAC Second Team
C: Hunter Dolshun – University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Jr.
1B: Bobby Melley – University of Connecticut, Sr.
2B: Richie Palacios – Towson University, Fr.
3B: Zach Wood – Bryant University, Sr.
SS: Brady Policelli – Towson University, Jr.
DH: Kevin Lachance – University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Sr.
OF: D.J. Artis – Liberty University, Fr.
OF: John Brue – Saint Joseph’s University, Sr.
OF: Jordan Glover – University of Delaware, Jr.
UTIL: Nick Yarnall – University of Pittsburgh, r-Jr.
P: Luke Gillingham – United States Naval Academy, Sr.
P: Thomas Hackimer – St. John’s University, Sr.
P: Andrew Hinckley – Central Connecticut State University, Jr.
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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.
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