Nine AMCC baseball players earned spots on the 2016 D3baseball.com All-Mideast Region Team, along with La Roche head coach Chase Rowe being named the Mideast Region Coach of the Year, announced on Monday.
La Roche first basemen Ben Herstine, outfielder Luis Navedo, and starting pitcher Tanner Wilt, along with Mount Aloysius designated hitter Ben Legath, were name to the First Team. Pitt-Greensburg catcher Anthony Bozzuto, Penn State Altoona outfielder Jim Shomberg, and La Roche outfielder Corey Lazor to Second Team. Rounding out the group on the Third Team are La Roche starting pitcher Regis Sauer and Penn State Behrend freshman Scott Sada.
Herstine adds to his list of personal accolades that includes AMCC Player of the Year and Mideast Regional MVP. Herstine led the AMCC in runs, RBIs, total bases, and triples. He ranked second in the league in home runs, slugging percentage and hits, fifth in batting average and eighth in on base percentage. Herstine also broke the school's single season RBI record and was an excellent defensive first baseman leading the AMCC in putouts and double plays.
Navedo pairs his Mideast First Team nomination with his AMCC All-Conference First Team. Navedo had one of the best days in school history hitting four home runs and eight RBIs in a double-header at Pitt-Greensburg. That week he made D3Baseball's Team of the Week, was a National Player of the Week Honorable Mention, and also was the AMCC Player of the Week.
Wilt combines his Mideast First team nomination with the 2016 AMCC Pitcher of the Year. Wilt was one of the best pitchers in the country making D3Baseball's Team of the Week twice and earning AMCC Player of the Week honors twice. Wilt ranked fourth in the nation in WHIP, seventh in the nation in strikeouts and ERA, and eighth in hits allowed.
Legath, an AMCC All-Conference First Team selection, was named to the All-Mideast Region First Team at the designated hitter position. He had an outstanding season at the plate for the Mounties as he led the conference with 57 RBI's and tied for the conference lead with nine home runs. The slugger ranked second in the conference with 18 doubles and a .706 slugging percentage for the Mounties. Legath was also named to the D3Baseball Team of the Week on April 5th. This is the second regional honor for Legath as he also was named to the All-Mideast Region Second Team at the utility position following his sophomore season in 2014.
Bozzuto caps a stellar senior year earning the All-Region accolade after an AMCC All-Conference First Team selection. Bozzuto led the 2016 Bobcats in batting average (.391), on base percentage (.491), and tied for the lead in doubles with 15. In the AMCC, he'd place seventh in batting average, third in on base percentage, tied for fifth in doubles and ninth in RBI (47). From the defensive side of the plate, Bozzuto carried a .971 fielding percentage while ranking third in the AMCC in runner's caught stealing (9) and fifth in putouts (220). Bozzuto finished his career as Pitt-Greensburg's career leader in runners caught stealing (45), pick-offs (15), and putouts (796) after starting 140 games behind the plate, the most by any Bobcat catcher.
Shomberg's regional recognition follows his selection as an AMCC All-Conference First Team selection last week. The sophomore enjoyed a breakout season at the plate this spring, leading Penn State Altoona in most offensive statistical categories. The left-handed batter ranked seventh nationally among all NCAA Division III baseball players in batting average (.463) while also leading the AMCC in that category. Shomberg also led the AMCC this past season in on-base percentage (.527) while ranking fourth in slugging percentage (.661), fifth in triples (4) and sacrifice flies (4), ninth in hits (56), 13th in total bases (80), 15th in doubles (10), and 16th in runs scored (33). The sophomore recorded a team-best 18 multi-hit games and ended the season on an 18-game hitting streak. Shomberg also tied for second on the Lions in home runs (2) and runs batted in (24), and he stole a team-high five bases. He earned one AMCC Player of the Week award during the season.
Lazor adds his Second Team nomination with an AMCC All-Conference Second Team. On the season, Lazor led the AMCC in hits, triples, total bases and at bats. He was second in runs, third in slugging percentage, fourth in batting average and RBIS, sixth in home runs, seventh in doubles, and ninth in stolen bases. Lazor also broke the school's single season record in RBIs and hits.
Sauer's Third Team Nomination culminates a terrific sophomore season. Sauer led the AMCC with eight wins while ranking third in ERA, third in starts and fourth in innings pitched.
Sada had an outstanding breakout campaign in his first year at Behrend, receiving AMCC All-Conference First Team honors. This season, he hit at a .357 mark led the team in slugging percentage (.555), at bats (182), hits (65), doubles (25) and slugging percentage (.588). Sada set a new program record for doubles in a season with 25, breaking the previous record of 23. He also posted a .977 fielding percentage in 176 total chances and was a perfect 12-for-12 stealing bases. Not only did Sada lead the team at the plate, he was a pivotal closer on the season as well. In six appearances, he picked up two wins and a team-leading four saves. Sada tossed 12.0 innings and posted a 1.50 earned run average.
Chase Rowe is the back to back Mideast Region Coach of the Year. Rowe guided the Redhawks to their third straight AMCC Conference Championship and the program's first Mideast Regional Championship. His La Roche squad is ranked 11th in the country in the final D3Baseball Top 25 poll and in the top 15 in two other national polls. Coach Rowe has won the AMCC Coach of the year in five of the past six seasons.