Fairman Earns PSAC West Baseball Athlete of the Year Honor; Melone Repeats in the East
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has released its baseball all-conference teams, the league announced Tuesday afternoon.
All-conference teams and major award winners are determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
In the East, West Chester senior Jared Melone was tabbed Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season. He is the first Eastern Division athlete to accomplish the feat since Kutztown’s Shayne Houck (2010 & 11). The senior leads the PSAC and is third in Division II in batting average (.441). Melone boasts a league-high slugging percentage (.776) and on-base percentage (.520). He sits second in hits (63) and total bases (111). Melone has produced 20 multi-hit games and five contests with at least three hits. The Golden Rams enter the PSAC Baseball Championship as the No. 2 seed in the division.
For the second consecutive season, Millersville’s Eli Nabholz was named the Pitcher of the Year. It is the sixth time in the last seven years that a Marauder won the award. Nabholz is one of only two to win the East's pitcher of the year award twice and one of four total to repeat since it started in 2006. Nabholz led the PSAC in wins with a 9-1 record and posted a 3.22 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings. Against PSAC East foes, Nabholz went 6-0 with a 2.29 ERA, .229 batting average against and two complete games.
Shippensburg’s Anthony Vavaroutsos claimed the Freshman of the Year honor. He is the first Raider since 2015 (Gabe Mosser) to accomplish the feat and it marks the sixth time that Shippensburg has boasted the recipient. He hit .336, the best batting average by a Shippensburg freshman since Nick Spangler in 2015, while leading the team with a .439 on-base percentage. Vavaroutsos led the team with 38 RBIs, had 20 extra-base hits (12 doubles, 1 triple, seven home runs), a team-high 23 walks, and scored 31 runs. He had 12 multi-hit games, including five three-hit games, and nine multi-RBI games. Against the PSAC East, Vavaroutsos had a .423 OBP, totaling 25 hits, 17 RBIs and 15 walks. Defensively, Vavaroutsos did not commit an error in 40 defensive chances.
Millersville’s Jon Shehan was voted Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career and first since 2016. He led Millersville to a 23-5 division record and its seventh division title since 2008. Shehan's team led all PSAC teams in wins with 37 and the Marauders achieved a national ranking as high as No. 6 in the NCBWA poll. Under his direction this season, the Marauders sport nine all-conference athletes, including seven on the first team.
In the West, Cal U senior Eric Fairman was named Athlete of the Year and it marks the 11th time a Vulcan has claimed the award and first since 2016 (Mick Fennell). He ranks among the top-five in the league with a .379 batting average, a .682 slugging percentage and a .509 on-base percentage. The senior also sits fifth in NCAA Division II with 39 stolen bases, while averaging 0.85 stolen bases per game. He is tied for the team lead with nine homers and ranks second with 39 RBI and 40 runs scored. Fairman is the third Cal U player in program history to total at least 20 homers, 100 RBI and 80 stolen bases in a career.
Mercyhurst redshirt-senior Matthew Minnick was named Pitcher of the Year. It marks the sixth consecutive season that a Laker has garnered the award and eighth time overall. Minnick has been a dominant force all season while leading the PSAC in strikeouts (106), opponent batting average (.147), earned runs (9) and earned run average (1.50). Minnick is a three-time PSAC West Pitcher of the Week. He struck out 10 or more batters on five occasions this season, including a season-high 16 against Cal U (March 29). In a home contest against Saginaw Valley St. (March 15), he tossed a no-hitter with nine strikeouts.
Cal U’s Patrick Brogan claimed the Freshman of the year accolade and is the fourth Vulcan to win award. It is the first time since 2008 that a Cal U player received recognition. Brogan leads the team with 31 hits in conference play behind a .378 batting average. He ranks among the top-five on the team with 46 hits, 29 RBI and 64 total bases after playing in 43 games as a true freshman.
Cal U’s Mike Conte was named Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career and first time since 2013. At the helm, he has led the Vulcans to a 35-13 record this season, which is the second-most wins in program history and a 19-9 mark in PSAC West play. The 19 conference victories are the most ever by a Cal U baseball team. Conte has now eclipsed over 130 All-PSAC West players, including six on the all-conference team this season. During his 23 seasons as head coach, he has totaled eight PSAC West Athletes of the Year, including this year’s recipient Fairman. The Vulcans will enter the tournament as the No. 3 seed in the West after being selected fifth in the preseason poll.
Four athletes appear on an all-conference team for the third time in their respective careers.
A list of all honorees is below.
PSAC BASEBALL EAST ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
| Pos. |
Name |
Cl. |
University |
Hometown / Previous |
| Catcher |
Ben Snyder |
R-Sr. |
Millersville |
Etters, Pa. / Red Land |
| First Base |
Joe Zirolli |
Sr. |
West Chester |
Kennett, Pa. / Campbell |
| Second Base |
Kaylor Kulina* |
Gr. |
Millersville |
Hummelstown, Pa. / Lower Dauphin |
| Shortstop |
Eric Callahan |
Jr. |
Millersville |
Columbus, Ohio / Bexley |
| Third Base |
Jared Melone** |
Sr. |
West Chester |
North Wales, Pa. / North Penn |
| Outfield |
Cole Friese |
Jr. |
Millersville |
Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg |
| Outfield |
Liam McArthur* |
Sr. |
Lock Haven |
Basking Ridge, N.J. / Seton Hall |
| Outfield |
Kyle Feaster |
Gr. |
West Chester |
Trooper, Pa. / Methaction |
| Starting Pitcher |
Eli Nabholz*^ |
Sr. |
Millersville |
Pottsville, Pa. / Pottsville |
| Starting Pitcher |
Ashton Raines* |
Sr. |
Bloomsburg |
Wallingford, Pa. / Strath Haven |
| Starting Pitcher |
Chad Cooperman^ |
Jr. |
Bloomsburg |
Allentown, Pa. / Salisbury |
| Relief Pitcher |
Tyler Yankosky^ |
Jr. |
Millersville |
Larksville, Pa. / Wyoming Valley West |
| Designated Hitter |
Luke Trainer |
So. |
Millersville |
Leola, Pa. / Conestoga Valley |
| Utility |
Anthony Torreullas |
Jr. |
East Stroudsburg |
Holland, Pa. / Nyack |
| Infielder |
Brock Kauffman^ |
So. |
East Stroudsburg |
Blue Ball, Pa. / Garden Spot |
PSAC BASEBALL EAST ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
| Pos. |
Name |
Cl. |
University |
Hometown / Previous |
| Catcher |
Jack Goertzen |
Sr. |
Shippensburg |
Salisbury, Md. / Parkside |
| First Base |
Ryan Shiffer |
Sr. |
Bloomsburg |
Toms River, N.J. / Toms River South |
| Second Base |
Jon Hansen |
Sr. |
West Chester |
Cherry Hill, N.J. / George Mason |
| Shortstop |
Justin Horn |
So. |
West Chester |
Willow Grove, Pa. / Upper Dublin |
| Outfield |
Andrew Holmes |
Jr. |
Bloomsburg |
Egg Harbor Township, N.J. / Egg Harbor Township |
| Outfield |
Anthony Vavaroutsos |
Fr. |
Shippensburg |
Toronto, Ontario / Mary Ward Catholic |
| Outfield |
Dominic Hardaway |
Sr. |
Millersville |
Philadelphia, Pa. / Devon Prep |
| Starting Pitcher |
Michael Hope^ |
Sr. |
Shippensburg |
Camp Hill, Pa. / Camp Hill |
| Starting Pitcher |
Cordell Shannon^ |
Sr. |
Millersville |
Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg |
| Starting Pitcher# |
Nate Fiala |
R-So. |
East Stroudsburg |
Scranton, Pa. / Scranton Prep |
| Starting Pitcher# |
David Mervis |
Jr. |
West Chester |
Gathersburg, Md. Gonzaga |
| Relief Pitcher |
Zach Newmyer |
Sr. |
Bloomsburg |
New Cumberland, Pa. / Red Land |
| Designated Hitter |
Christian Rishel* |
R-Sr. |
East Stroudsburg |
Jersey Shore, Pa. / Jersey Shore |
| Utility |
Tommy Baggett |
Sr. |
Shippensburg |
Williamsport, Pa. / Loyalsock |
Athlete of the Year: Jared Melone, West Chester
Pitcher of the Year: Eli Nabholz, Millersville
Freshman of the Year: Anthony Vavaroutsos, Shippensburg
Coach of the Year: Jon Shehan, Millersville
PSAC BASEBALL WEST ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
| Pos. |
Name |
Cl. |
University |
Hometown / Previous |
| Catcher |
Elijah Quiceno |
Jr. |
Gannon |
Berryville, Va. / Stonebridge |
| First Base |
Eric Fairman* |
Sr. |
Cal U |
Pittsburgh, Pa. / Thomas Jefferson |
| Second Base |
Chris Law |
R-Jr. |
Seton Hill |
Saxonburg, Pa. / Knoch |
| Shortstop |
Alex O’Donnell |
Sr. |
Mercyhurst |
Lockport, N.Y. / Canisius College |
| Third Base |
Tommy Pellis |
Jr. |
Seton Hill |
Greensburg, Pa. / Penn |
| Outfield |
Jared Beach |
Sr. |
Gannon |
McDonald, Pa. / Canon-McMillan |
| Outfield |
Frankie Jezioro |
Sr. |
Slippery Rock |
Macmurray, Pa. / Peters Township |
| Outfield |
Ben Maudie |
Sr. |
Cal U |
Jackson, Mo. / Jackson |
| Starting Pitcher |
Matthew Minnick |
R-Sr. |
Mercyhurst |
Collins, N.Y. / Saint Francis |
| Starting Pitcher |
Tyler Garbee^ |
Sr. |
Mercyhurst |
Sewickley, Pa. / Pittsburgh |
| Starting Pitcher |
Deven Judy |
So. |
Gannon |
Belle Vernon, Pa. / Belle Vernon Area |
| Relief Pitcher |
Wyatt Daugherty** |
Sr. |
Slippery Rock |
Butler, Pa. / Butler |
| Designated Hitter |
Andrew Chuba |
R-Sr. |
Seton Hill |
W. Homestead, Pa. / Calhoun CC |
| Utility |
NONE |
|
|
|
| Infielder |
Joe Campagna* |
Sr. |
Slippery Rock |
Beaver Falls, Pa. / Blackhawk |
PSAC BASEBALL WEST ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
| Pos. |
Name |
Cl. |
University |
Hometown / Previous |
| Catcher |
Kristian Webb^ |
Sr. |
Cal U |
Whitby, Ontario / Sinclair |
| First Base |
Colin Cain |
Fr. |
Slippery Rock |
Franklin Park, Pa. / North Allegheny |
| Second Base |
Nico Marchetti |
Sr. |
Cal U |
Laurel, Md. / St. Vincent Pallotti |
| Third Base |
Alex Ficorilli |
So. |
Clarion |
Pittsburgh, Pa. / Shaler |
| Outfield |
Patrick Brogan |
Fr. |
Cal U |
Pittsburgh, Pa. / Our Lady of The Sacred Heart |
| Outfield |
Chris Eisel* |
Jr. |
IUP |
Pittsburgh, Pa. / Baldwin |
| Outfield |
Chandler Palyas |
R-Jr. |
Clarion |
Venetia, Pa. / Marietta |
| Starting Pitcher |
Jeff Allen |
Sr. |
IUP |
Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg Area |
| Starting Pitcher |
Nick Riggle |
Jr. |
Cal U |
Pittsburgh, Pa. / Keystone Oaks |
| Starting Pitcher |
Brady Walker |
Jr. |
Pitt-Johnstown |
Stoystown, Pa. / North Star |
| Relief Pitcher |
Ben Foose |
Sr. |
Pitt-Johnstown |
Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area |
| Designated Hitter |
Nate Cardy*^ |
R-Sr. |
Gannon |
Franklin, Pa. / Franklin |
| Utility |
NONE |
|
|
|
Athlete of the Year: Eric Fairman, Cal U
Pitcher of the Year: Matthew Minnick, Mercyhurst
Freshman of the Year: Patrick Brogan, Cal U
Coach of the Year: Mike Conte, Cal U
*Indicates previous PSAC All-Conference First Team selection
^Indicates previous PSAC All-Conference Second Team selection
#Number of honorees altered due to tie