Baseball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 23, 2013

EAST REGION TEAMS: ABCA | DAKTRONICS | NCBWA

Junior righthander named First Team
All-Region by ABCA, Daktronics, NCBWA

SOUTH EASTON, Mass. - A total of 21 Northeast-10 conference student-athletes have received NCAA Division II Baseball East All-Region recognition, as the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), Daktronics and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) regional selections were all recently released. 

Franklin Pierce University junior righthander Trevor Graham (pictured) was named East Region Pitcher of the Year by both Daktronics and the NBCWA, and was a First Team choice by all three of the aforementioned organizations.

Graham, who was named 2013 Northeast-10 Pitcher of the Year, also earned Most Valuable Player honors at the 2013 NCAA East Regional, where the Ravens went 4-1 to advance to the Division II College World Series in Cary, N.C. He has a 9-2 record and 1.76 ERA this season while striking out 114 in 102.1 innings.

Six others hailing from Northeast-10 schools received First Team regional accolades from all three publications. 

Adelphi University senior closer Dillon McNamara was also lauded, as the reliever allowed just one earned run in 32.0 innings pitched (0.28 ERA) with 13 saves in 23 appearances this season. The hard-throwing righthander also struck out 43 for a 12.09 K/9 rate.

Merrimack College outfielder Casey Cotter, this year's Northeast-10 Player of the Year, was lauded by the three publications after hitting a league-best .390 (.481 OBP) with 49 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. Cotter also led the Warriors to the Northeast-10 title game against the University of New Haven, just narrowly missing out on an NCAA berth. 

Pace University, one of three Northeast-10 programs to receive an NCAA Regional at-large selection, saw junior designated hitter James Pjura named First Team All-Region after he hit .297 with five home runs, 36 RBI and 42 runs scored.

Saint Anselm College first baseman Robert Kelly earned three regional First Team honors after hitting .348 with a .429 on-base percentage, seven homers, 30 RBI and 44 runs scored for the Hawks.

Southern New Hampshire University junior righthander Junior Mendez was also selected, as the Penmen ace struck out 133 in just 97.0 innings this year, compiling a 9-3 record with a 1.67 ERA and two complete games.

So. New Hampshire grad student outfielder, Andrew Pezzuto garnered First-Team honors from all three organizations as well. Pezzuto hit .365 this season with a .471 on-base percentage and 40 stolen bases. He also drove in 31 runs and scored 45 times.

The pair of Mendez and Pezzuto helped lead So. New Hampshire to an NCAA berth.

Merrimack freshman outfielder Frank Crinella was also named East Region Rookie of the Year by the ABCA. Crinella was also named 2013 Northeast-10 Rookie of the Year after hitting .317 with 30 RBI for the Warriors.

For the complete list of All Region selections form the Northeast-10, please see the list below.

The Northeast-10 is an association of 16 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that are committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,000 student-athletes. Each year, 4,000 of those student-athletes compete in Conference championships in 23 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.

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