ABCA honors five Devils
Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136
CONTACT: Matt Palisin,
Sports Information Dept.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Baseball
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The recognition keeps rolling in for the Blue Devils following their record-setting 26-12 season. A record three Devils received American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All New York Region recognition. In addition, a pair of Devils were recognized as ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove recipients.
Lefthanded pitcher Ricky Carlson (Frewsburg) was named to the Second Team. The senior captian went 7-1 with 6 complete games. He defeated four SUNYAC teams -- Cortland, Oneonta, Oswego and Plattsburgh -- and left with a three run lead in his seven-inning outing at Brockport. He also tossed six scoreless innings in the Devils' 12-0 ECAC victory over Cazenovia.
He threw a total of 74 1/3 innings, and walked only 12. His 2.42 ERA was also tops on the Devils. Carlson was also selected First Team All SUNYAC.
Named to the Third Team were fellow senior captain Jordan Basile (Jamestown) and sophomore Josh Greco (Lockport).
Basile, also a SUNYAC First Teamer, re-wrote the season and career record books in 2009. He batted .420 and set Blue Devil records with 63 hits, 47 runs and 20 stolen bases. He also set career records with 158 hits, 106 runs and ranks fifth on the all-time doubles list with 25. As the leadoff hitter, he recorded a hit in 33 of the 37 games in which he played, including a 14 game hit steak.
Basile's .377 career average ranks third in Blue Devil history.
Greco had a breakout season in 2009. He finished with a .394 average while setting the school record with 14 doubles. His 56 hits this season rank second all time behind Basile, as do his 33 runs. He led the Devils with 34 RBI, two home runs, a 15-game hit streak and also had 11 stolen bases. Greco was also named to the SUNYAC Second Team.
Firstbaseman Taylor Gahagen (Amherst/Williamsville North) and leftfielder Jeremy Borst (Clarendon, Pa./Sheffield) earned ABCA/Rawlings Gold Gloves. Only nine players were selected to the Upstate New York squad.
The 6'3'' sophomore Gahagen saved his teammates many potential errors with his glovework around the bag. He also showed great range on fly balls, making many spectacular catches while patrolling the vast foul ground at Ludwig Field. Gahagen made only one error all season (.993 fielding percentage), and put up a .292 batting average.
Borst was a steady outfielder, but is best known for his precision throws with his rocket arm. The senior leftfielder had seven outfield assists without committing an error all season. For good measure, he batted .337 on the season.
In addition to Gahagen and Borst, Donnie Kirsh (Attica), who won a Gold Glove in 2008 at third base, is the only other Blue Devil to receive Gold Glove recognition.
The complete teams:
ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove click here