CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-- Five America East baseball student-athletes were recognized over the last week at both the regional and national levels, and three of them will play in the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association's All-Star Game tonight at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Mass.
University of Vermont's Matt Duffy (Milton, Mass.) and Mark Micowski (Haddam, Conn.) were named to the first and second New England All-Star Teams, respectively, while University of Maine's Kevin McAvoy (Brewer, Maine) joined Duffy on the first team. All three will compete for the University Team who will take on the College Team in tonight's All-Star Game beginning at 7 p.m. A trophy ceremony will precede first pitch.
Maine freshman designated hitter Ian Leisenheimer (Middle Village, N.Y.) and Binghamton rookie first baseman David Ciocchi (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) earned spots on the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Team as announced by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Wednesday.
Duffy, a sophomore shortstop, and McAvoy, a senior outfielder, were both named to the America East First Team last month, while Micowski, a sophomore outfielder, was a second-team selection. Leisenheimer was tabbed an America East All-Rookie pick.
The 2009 America East Player of the Year, Duffy led the conference and ranked among the leaders in
several offensive categories. He was UVM's first America East batting
champion since 2002 with a .388 average while also leading the league in
runs batted in (57), runs scored (57), slugging percentage (.713) and on
base percentage (.495). He tied the UVM single-season record with 13
homers while setting new school marks for RBI and runs scored. A good
fielder with an excellent arm, Duffy was also a finalist for the 2009
Brooks Wallace National Shortstop of the Year Award.
McAvoy, who was recently named to the America East First Team, had an
outstanding senior season for the Black Bears. He led Maine and was
third in America East with a .379 batting average. McAvoy scored 41
runs and drove in 39. He had 15 doubles, 10 home runs and one triple.
McAvoy had a .649 slugging percentage and finished with a .988 fielding
percentage. He recorded his 200th career hit on the season and finishes
his career with 228 hits. McAvoy was named the America East Player of
the Week on March 23. He also had a 19-game hitting streak midway
through the season.
Micowski had an excellent season as Vermont's centerfielder and leadoff
hitter. His
.365 batting average was second on the Catamounts and fifth in the
conference. He led the America East with a school-record 80 hits, tied for
second in runs scored (55) and triples (4), and was second in stolen bases
(28). He also equaled the UVM program-record with a 16-game hitting streak
during the month of March.
Leisenheimer saw action in 47 games for the Black Bears, starting 43.
He finished second on the team in batting with a .356 average. He
scored 28 runs and drove in a team-high 41 RBI. Leisenheimer had two
triples, four doubles and five home runs. He had a .500 slugging
percentage and a .414 on-base percentage.
Leisenheimer was a four-time America East Rookie of the Week selection this season.
Ciocchi, the 2009 America East Rookie of the Year, was especially productive in conference play, helping the Bearcats
win their third straight regular season title with a 13-3 record.
He hit .455 with 27 RBI in 20 games against America East opponents
and was the lone freshman position player named all-conference. Ciocchi had 56 hits and 41
RBI in 44 games and only committed eight errors in 363 chances
in the field.