GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – Several SUNY Poly players were rewarded on Tuesday for their run to the NEAC's #1 overall seed this season. Below is an excerpt from the NEAC All-Conference press release:
Senior Joseph Redmond (Stone Ridge, N.Y.) was named the NEAC Pitcher of the Year after a terrific season on the hill for the Wildcats. Redmond was ready whenever his number was called, as he was second in the conference in saves with five while also sharing the league lead in complete-game starts with three, with the latter all resulting in conference wins. Those totals left him as the only pitcher in the NEAC to win at least three games and have at least two saves on the year. The right-handed hurler, who also made his second straight appearance on the NEAC All-Conference First Team, posted a 1.55 ERA after giving up just six runs (five earned) on 19 hits in six outings against conference competition, while holding those opponents to a .186 batting average. A NEAC Pitcher of the Week honoree this season, Redmond also had the third-most strikeouts in the conference with 46 and the fourth-best strikeouts per game average at 8.81 through 13 appearances on the mound.
The NEAC Rookie of the Year award went to SUNY Poly freshman Joshua Rodriguez (Syracuse, N.Y.) after he also had a fantastic season for the Wildcats. The shortstop was a force at the plate, leading all rookies with 10 doubles while being sixth in the conference in sacrifice flies with three and seventh in batting average at a .365 clip. Rodriguez slugged .521 on the year, which was the 10th best mark in the conference, while also posting team-leading totals of 35 hits, 22 RBIs, a home run and a triple to go alongside 21 runs scored, six walks and six stolen bases after appearing in all 30 Wildcat contests. An ECAC Upstate Rookie of the Week selection during the season, Rodriguez also landed on the NEAC All-Conference First Team.
SUNY Poly veteran skipper Kevin Edick was chosen by his peers as the NEAC Coach of the Year after another fine season guiding the Wildcats. Edick led the Wildcats to a share of the regular season conference championship with an 11-3 NEAC record, including eight straight conference wins to close the season that helped clinch the top seed in the upcoming NEAC Tournament. Many of those came in tight situations, as Edick successfully managed the team through eight NEAC games won by three runs or less and five won by two runs or less. The Wildcats will now host the four-team conference tournament on its home field, where they will look to return to the championship series for the second straight year.
Redmond and Rodriguez earned selections to the NEAC All-Conference 1st Team, where they were joined by senior pitcher Jeff Albright (New York Mills, N.Y. / New York Mills), who earned his first all-conference selection after a brilliant final year. The lefty finished 5-1 with a 3.00 ERA – his 5 wins were tied for best in the conference, and his ERA was top 5.
Finally, seniors Joe O'Rourke (Camden, N.Y. / Camden) and Dylan Gorski (Whitestown, N.Y. / Whitesboro) were named to the All-NEAC 2nd Team after each had excellent seasons at the plate.