Baseball

Conte, Boccio headline 2024 PSAC Baseball All-Conference Teams and Major Awards

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference released the 2024 PSAC Baseball All-Conference teams and Major Award winners on Tuesday afternoon.

The All-Conference teams and Major Award winners are determined by a vote of the league's head coaches.

The Eastern Division awards went to West Chester’s Anthony Boccio as Athlete of the Year, East Stroudsburg’s Brent Francisco as Pitcher of the Year, Lock Haven’s Zachary McEllroy as Freshman of the Year, and East Stroudsburg head coach John Kochmansky as Coach of the Year.
 
In the Western Division, major award winners included California’s Payton Conte as Athlete of the Year, Slippery Rock’s Gage Gillott as Pitcher of the Year, Seton Hill’s Owen Mandler as Freshman of the Year, and Seton Hill head coach Marc Marizzaldi as Coach of the Year.
 
EASTERN DIVISION
 
West Chester outfielder Anthony Boccio earns Athlete of the Year honors after hitting .415 in 130 at-bats with 50 runs scored, 40 RBIs, 10 doubles, four triples, and three home runs. He also stole 12 bases and had a league-leading on-base-percentage of .573, thanks in part to his ability to draw walks – with 40 on the season. His OPS was also tops in the conference at 1.197, and his batting average was the highest in the East while his run total, 53, was second only to teammate Joe Kaleck’s 54 for the league-lead.
 
Brent Francisco of East Stroudsburg earns the Pitcher of the Year award after a stellar season that saw him earn a conference-best 10 wins and lose just one game in 2024. He tossed five complete games with three shutouts in 73.1 innings, striking out 71 and allowing hitters to bat just .179 against him, the lowest total in the Eastern Division and second-lowest in the PSAC. His ERA of 2.21 was second-best in the Eastern Division.
 
The East’s Freshman of the Year award went to Lock Haven’s Zachary McEllroy, whose .382 batting average was seventh-best in the PSAC and fourth-highest in the Eastern Division. He added 18 runs scored, four doubles, 14 RBIs, and a triple to his totals with an OBP of .481 (eighth-best in the conference) and an OPS of .917.
 
East Stroudsburg head coach John Kochmansky earns his second-ever Coach of the Year award after a season that saw his team compile an Eastern Division-best conference record of 26-6. The Warriors also rattled off a 25-game win streak from Feb. 18 to April 6, part of ESU’s 38-10 overall record.
 
WESTERN DIVISION
 
The Western Division’s Athlete of the Year honors go to California’s Payton Conte, who led the PSAC in batting average by over 50 points at a .469 clip. His slugging percentage (.663), on-base percentage (.526), and OPS (1.189) were all tops in the West. He totaled 16 runs, 46 hits, six doubles, two triples, and three home runs.

Slippery Rock’s Gage Gillott was voted the Pitcher of the Year in the West. The two-way player totaled a conference-best 1.69 ERA in 69.1 innings with a record of 7-3. He tossed six complete games with batters only hitting .191 against him, the second-lowest BAA in the West. When he wasn’t on the mound, he also hit .341 with 28 runs scored and 19 RBIs while roaming the outfield.  

Seton Hill’s Owen Mandler collects the West’s Freshman of the Year award after batting .319 with 32 run scored, 29 RBIs, 10 doubles, and four home runs. He stole 13 bases and carried an on-base percentage of .443.
 
Seton Hill head coach Marc Marizzaldi earns his second consecutive and fourth career PSAC West Coach of the Year award after leading the Griffins to a 36-13 overall record (20-8 PSAC) and the No. 1 seed from the West in this week’s PSAC Championship. Seton Hill led the conference in doubles with 95, fielding percentage at .979, and batting-average-against at .230 and were top 5 in most other offensive and pitching categories.
 
Find a complete list of the 2024 Baseball All-Conference Teams and Major Awards below.
 
PSAC EAST
 
Athlete of the Year – Anthony Boccio, West Chester
Pitcher of the Year – Brent Francisco, East Stroudsburg
Freshman of the Year – Zachary McEllroy, Lock Haven
Coach of the Year – John Kochmansky, East Stroudsburg

FIRST TEAM
POS. NAME INSTITUTION CLASS
Catcher John DeMucci* West Chester Sr.
First Base Austin Baal Shippensburg Sr.
Second Base Mark McNelly Millersville Gr.
Shortstop Sean Szestowicki West Chester R-Sr.
Third Base Jack Rothenhausler East Stroudsburg Jr.
Infielder Avery Spencer West Chester Jr.
Outfielder Anthony Boccio West Chester Gr.
Outfielder Jeff Sabater Millersville Jr.
Outfielder Shanley Wall East Stroudsburg So.
Starting Pitcher Brent Francisco* East Stroudsburg R-Sr.
Starting Pitcher Carson Kulina* Millersville Gr.
Starting Pitcher Alex Mykut Millersville Gr.
Relief Pitcher Caden Parker East Stroudsburg Jr.
Utility Keegan Soltis Millersville R-Jr.
Designated Hitter Cole Houser Millersville Sr.
 
 
SECOND TEAM
POS. NAME INSTITUTION CLASS
Catcher Cole Serfass Mansfield Fr.
First Base - - -
Second Base Zach Miles West Chester R-Sr.
Shortstop Carter Hinds Shippensburg Jr.
Third Base Jimmy Kerley Kutztown Jr.
Outfielder Jacob Houtz Mansfield Jr.
Outfielder Zachary McEllroy Lock Haven Fr.
Outfielder Sam Morris Millersville Jr.
Starting Pitcher Julian Costa West Chester R-So.
Starting Pitcher Jaxon Dalena Shippensburg Jr.
Starting Pitcher Ryan Dewees East Stroudsburg So.
Relief Pitcher Ethan Miller Shippensburg Sr.
Utility Drew Simpson West Chester Fr.
Designated Hitter Cameron Hubbard* East Stroudsburg R-Jr.
 

PSAC WEST
 
Athlete of the Year – Payton Conte, California
Pitcher of the Year – Gage Gillott, Slippery Rock
Freshman of the Year – Owen Mandler, Seton Hill
Coach of the Year – Marc Marizzaldi, Seton Hill


FIRST TEAM
POS. NAME INSTITUTION CLASS
Catcher John Susnik Mercyhurst Sr.
First Base Joey Purcell Slippery Rock Jr.
Second Base Koby Bubash Slippery Rock Sr.
Shortstop Josh Ulery Pitt-Johnstown Jr.
Third Base Jack Oberdorf^* Seton Hill Gr.
Infielder Scott McManamon** Clarion Sr.
Outfielder Ryan Callahan^ California Jr.
Outfielder Chris Juchno Mercyhurst Jr.
Outfielder Max Mandler Seton Hill Jr.
Starting Pitcher Gage Gillott Slippery Rock R-So.
Starting Pitcher Aidan Layton Seton Hill Sr.
Starting Pitcher Rodney Shultz Pitt-Johnstown Jr.
Relief Pitcher Jake Kramer^ California So.
Utility Griffin Snyder Clarion R-Jr.
Designated Hitter Payton Conte California Jr.
 
SECOND TEAM
POS. NAME INSTITUTION CLASS
Catcher Robby Barrientos Slippery Rock Sr.
First Base Devon Boyles Pitt-Johnstown So.
Second Base Harrison Pontoli^* IUP Fifth Year
Shortstop - - -
Third Base Zach Kourous^ Mercyhurst So.
Outfielder Ricardo Aponte IUP So.
Outfielder Gage Gillott Slippery Rock R-So.
Outfielder Justin Turcovski Pitt-Johnstown R-So.
Starting Pitcher Brandon Bergert* Seton Hill Sr.
Starting Pitcher Corbin Foy Mercyhurst Sr.
Starting Pitcher Ryan Rafalski Mercyhurst Sr.
Relief Pitcher Jacob Bazala Mercyhurst Jr.
Utility - - -
Designated Hitter Mitch Grosch Mercyhurst Sr.
 
*Indicates previous first-team selection
^Indicates previous second-team selection