Seven From Baseball Honored by NECC
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Mitchell College junior Al Jordan Johnson was selected as New England Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Year and joined five of his teammates on the all-conference first team, as announced by the league on Monday. Travis Beausoleil was also selected as NECC Coach of the Year.
Joining Johnson on the all-conference first team were senior left fielder Kenneth Olszewski, senior third baseman Rafael Garcia, senior catcher Ryan Goodwin, junior right fielder Neftali Arroyo and junior pitcher Tyler Shamas. All awards were determined by a vote of the conference's head coaches.
Johnson earned first team status for the first time in his career and becomes the fourth Mitchell player to earn the top pitching prize. He went 6-0 in league play and ranked second in the NECC with a 1.27 ERA. This past weekend he went 2-0 in the NECC Championship to improve to 10-0 on the season, breaking the school record for single season wins in the process. In 56.2 innings he has recorded 56 strikeouts and issued only 16 walks, and his 1.11 ERA ranks among the lowest in the nation.
Beausoleil becomes the first Mitchell baseball coach be selected as Coach of the Year. He led the Mariners to a 16-2 record in conference play and secured the program's second consecutive and fourth overall NECC Championship. Mitchell (32-5 overall) also set a school record for single season victories in Beausoleil's fourth season and has been consistently ranked in the NEIBA's weekly regional poll.
Olszewski was a repeat first team selection after batting .507 with 20 RBI and 24 runs scored in league play. His 35 hits were the most in the NECC and he ranked among the top-five leaders in runs, RBI, total bases (47), sacrifice flies (3), on-base percentage (.519) and slugging (.681). Over 37 games he is hitting a team-best .403 and has tied the school record for single season hits (56).
Garcia earned all-conference status for the first time in his career. He batted .448 in league play and led the NECC in RBI (25), doubles (12) and triples (2) while ranking among the top five in batting average, slugging (.731), on-base percentage (.506), runs (23), hits (30), total bases (49) and sacrifice flies (2). In 37 games he is batting a career-high .312 with 19 extra-base hits and 33 RBI.
Goodwin also picked up the first all-conference accolades of his career. He batted .348 in NECC play and ranked second in the league in both doubles (10) and RBI (23). He has started all 37 games behind the plate and is batting a career-high .374 with a team-high 42 RBI.
Arroyo landed on the first team for the third straight season. He hit .392 and led the NECC in walks (14) and runs scored (25) while ranking among the top-five leaders in doubles (7), homers (3), RBI (16), total bases (38), on-base percentage (.551) and slugging (.745). He has played in 36 games and is batting .327 with team highs of five homers and 46 runs scored.
Shamas also garnered first team distinction for the third time of his career. The right-hander went 6-0 in league play for the third straight season and led the NECC with a 1.22 ERA. In 37.0 league innings he struck out 26 batters and issued only 11 walks. In nine appearances he has posted a 7-1 record to go along with a 1.51 ERA and 38 total strikeouts. Earlier in the season he became Mitchell's all-time winningest pitcher with 23 career victories on his resume.
The Mariners will be making their third appearance in the NCAA Championship as the NECC's automatic qualifier. Mitchell is the fifth seed in the Mid-Atlantic Regional and will face fourth-seeded Salisbury University (29-4-1 overall) in the opening round of the double-elimination tournament, which begins on Wednesday, May 13. Game time is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at Santander Stadium in York, Pa.
2015 NECC Baseball Awards
Player of the Year – Niko Bedell, Becker, So., DH, Manorville, N.Y.
Pitcher of the Year – Al Jordan Johnson, Mitchell, Jr., Groton, Conn.
Rookie of the Year – Tom Muratore, Lesley, Fr., P, Mamaroneck, N.Y.
Coach of the Year – Travis Beausoleil, Mitchell College
Team Sportsmanship Award – Daniel Webster College
All-Conference First Team
Catcher – Ryan Goodwin, Mitchell, Sr., Tunkhannock, Pa.
1st Base – Jordan Zima, Elms, So., Berlin, Conn.
2nd Base – Matt Consigli, Becker, Sr., Whitinsville, Mass.
3rd Base – Rafael Garcia, Mitchell, Sr., New Britain, Conn.
Shortstop – TJ Sempkowski, Becker, So., Oceanport, N.J.
Outfield – Neftali Arroyo, Mitchell, Jr., New Haven, Conn.
Outfield – Brady Forrest, Elms, Sr., Hampden, Mass.
Outfield – Kenneth Olszewski, Mitchell, Sr., Canterbury, Conn.
Designated Hitter - Niko Bedell, Becker, So., Manorville, N.Y.
Pitcher – Al Jordan Johnson, Mitchell, Jr., Groton, Conn.
Pitcher – Tyler Shamas, Mitchell, Jr., Westbrook, Conn.
All-Conference Second Team
Catcher – Craig Barnett, Newbury, Jr., Narre Warren, Victoria, Australia
1st Base – Colby LaBadia, Southern Vermont, Sr., Howes Cavern, N.Y.
1st Base – Dakota Williams, Daniel Webster, So., Hudson, N.H.
2nd Base – Gustavo Polidor, Lesley, Jr., Caracas, Venezuela
3rd Base – Kyle Brigham, Daniel Webster, Jr., Hudson, N.H.
Shortstop – Billy Stephen, Newbury, Fr., Windermere, Fla.
Outfield – Michael Bombard, Elms, Fr., Chicopee, Mass.
Outfield – Steven Broy, Newbury, Sr., Gorham,. Maine
Outfield – Robert Parson, Lesley, Sr., Comack, N.Y.
Designated Hitter – Robert Parson, Lesley, Sr., Comack, N.Y.,
Pitcher – Ethan Forrest, Newbury, So., East Bridgewater, Mass.
Pitcher – Tom Muratore, Lesley, Fr., Mamaroneck, N.Y.
Pitcher – Tyler Wagar, Becker, So., Uxbridge, Mass.
All-Conference Honorable Mention
Francis Baldino, Becker, Fr, OF, East Brookfield, Mass.
Dan Ierardi, Daniel Webster, 2B, Dunstable, Mass.
Richard Rios, Southern Vermont, Jr., Pico Rivera, Calif.
