SUNYAC releases award winners for 2017 baseball season
CORTLAND, N.Y.- The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) proudly announces the recipients for this year's baseball awards. These awards include Player, Pitcher, Rookie, and Coach of the year as well as all-conference selections that are voted on by the coaches.
Bob Wallace Player of the Year: Eric Hamilton, Oswego
Hamilton, a Liverpool native, had a monster season for the Lakers. The senior led the SUNYAC in several offensive categories, including average (.442), hits (61), and doubles (17) and was second in RBI (34) and runs (36). In conference play, he terrorized SUNYAC pitching, batting .435 with thirty hits in eighteen games. Hamilton's offensive firepower propelled Oswego to a 15-3 mark in-conference. The Lakers finished first in the SUNYAC and were thus awarded the SUNYAC title after the championship tournament was cancelled due to weather. This is Hamilton's second straight player of the year award. He was additionally honored with first team all-conference at third base.
Don Axtell Co-Pitcher of the Year: Alex Weingarten, Cortland
Weingarten, hailing from East Rockaway, had a dominant year on the hill. The senior hurler compiled a 6-1 record over forty-five innings pitched. His fifty strikeouts were tied for the SUNYAC lead and his 10.00 K/9 placed him at the top of the conference. Weingarten was second in the SUNYAC with a 2.20 ERA. His key starts included a complete game, two-hitter against Brockport (4/2) and a complete game, eight-strikeout performance against Plattsburgh (4/14), both victories. Weingarten's prescence on the mound helped Cortland to a 33-7 overall record, including 14-4 in conference. Weingarten also earned a spot on the first team for SUNYAC all-conference.
Don Axtell Co-Pitcher of the Year: Tim Cronin, Oswego
The Oswego Lakers enjoyed an outstanding season and were powered by Cronin's dominance on the mound. The senior ace, originally from Walden, led the conference in overall wins (9), complete games (6), and ERA (1.82). His outstanding season was highlighted with a complete-game performance against Plattsburgh where he allowed only three hits and a complete-game victory against Cortland (4/22) that secured first place in the conference standings. Cronin was one of four Oswego players selected to the first team all-conference.
Clark V. White Rookie of the Year: Colin BeVard, Cortland
Bevard, a freshman from Syracuse, put together an excellent rookie campaign for the Red Dragons. He posted a .347 batting average with twenty-five hits and twelve RBI in thirty-one games played. The outfielder had a perfect fielding percentage and added three outfield assists. BeVard's two-hit games against Oneonta (4/9) and Oswego (4/23) helped pick up key victories for the Red Dragons and propelled them to a second place finish in the SUNYAC.
Walt Nitardy Coach of the Year: Scott Landers, Oswego
Landers had an outstanding 2017 campaign. He was able to guide the Lakers to a 28-8 overall record, including a 15-3 in-conference mark. Oswego was able to capture the regular season SUNYAC crown and an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III baseball tournament. Landers' leadership produced four first-team and one second-team all-conference selections, as well as the Player (Eric Hamilton) and Co-Pitcher (Tim Cronin) of the Year.
2017 SUNYAC Baseball All-Conference (PDF)
| First Team | ||||
| Name | Position | School | Year | Hometown |
| Patrick Schetter | 1B | Cortland | Jr. | Beacon |
| Steven Figueroa | 2B | Cortland | Sr. | Bronx |
| Paul Dondero | SS | Cortland | So. | East Islip |
| Eric Hamilton | 3B | Oswego | Sr. | Liverpool |
| Dane Cala | OF | Brockport | Sr. | Derby |
| Nate Budge | OF | Cortland | Jr. | Central Square |
| Mike Dellicarri | OF | Oswego | So. | Congers |
| Justin Teague | C | Cortland | Jr. | North Syracuse |
| Alex Weingarten | P | Cortland | Sr. | East Rockaway |
| Mitchell Cavanagh | P | Oswego | Jr. | Oneida |
| Tim Cronin | P | Oswego | Sr. | Walden |
| Nick Jerolimov | RP | Brockport | Sr. | Massapequa |
| Ryan Votypka | RP | New Paltz | Jr. | Kings Park |
| Jack Massa | DH | Cortland | Jr. | Shoreham |
| Mike D'Eletto | U | Brockport | Sr. | Walworth |
| Second Team | ||||
| Name | Position | School | Year | Hometown |
| Justin Ganca | 1B | New Paltz | So. | Merrick |
| Avery Brooks | 2B | Brockport | Jr. | Syracuse |
| Michael Grudzinski | SS | Oneonta | Sr. | Islip |
| Brandon Torres | 3B | Oneonta | Jr. | Highland Mills |
| Alexio Medinia | OF | Fredonia | Sr. | West Seneca |
| Dalton Beatty | OF | Oneonta | Jr. | Atwater |
| John Barnes | OF | Oswego | Jr. | Greenwich |
| Paul Ludden | C | Brockport | Sr. | Cicero |
| Jeff Cooke | P | Cortland | Sr. | Rome |
| Thomas Bond | P | Oneonta | Jr. | Somers |
| Patrick Bryant | P | Plattsburgh | Fr. | Center Moriches |
| Chris Moran | DH | New Paltz | Jr. | Wading River |
| Steve Zaprowski | U | Fredonia | Jr. | Williamsville |
