LOWELL, Mass. — History was made on Tuesday night as Hartford junior David MacKinnon became the first Hawk ever to be named Player of the Year at the America East Baseball Awards Banquet held at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Mass., on the eve of the conference’s baseball championship. The award winners and all-conference teams were determined by the league’s seven head coaches who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Joining MacKinnon as major award winners were Binghamton senior Mike Bunal (Pitcher of the Year), Stony Brook freshman Bret Clarke (Rookie of the Year) and Binghamton head coach Tim Sinicki (Coach of the Year).
MacKinnon led the conference during league play in batting average (.412), on-base percentage (.495) and runs scored (26), while ranking second in slugging percentage (.647). He also recorded a .995 fielding percentage at first base. The junior was just as effective in all games played, leading the league with 80 hits and 110 total bases. He helped Hartford lead the conference in runs scored and batting average as the Hawks matched their best finish in program history by finishing second in the standings, and set a program record with 36 wins.
Bunal is the fourth Pitcher of the Year in Binghamton program history and first since James Giuletti in 2010. The senior was a perfect 6-0 in conference play with a 2.39 ERA. He led the America East with 45 strikeouts in 49.0 innings. Bunal surrendered just 35 total hits with only five going for extra bases, holding opponents to a league-best .203 batting average.
Clarke continues a tradition of excellent freshmen in the Stony Brook program, becoming the sixth Seawolf in the last seven years to be named Rookie of the Year. The freshman led the conference during league play with a 1.32 ERA, allowing just five earned runs in 34.0 innings of work. He finished the conference season with 33 strikeouts and a 3-1 record in seven appearances.
Sinicki earned his fifth Coach of the Year honor, matching former Delaware head coach Bob Hannah for the most in league history. After being picked fifth in the preseason poll, the Bearcats won their fifth regular-season title in program history. The 19-5 league mark was the best for the team since 2010.
Bunal was one of four unanimous selections to the All-Conference First Team that also included UMBC starting pitcher Conrad Wozniak, Binghamton outfielder CJ Krowiak and UMBC designated hitter Kevin Lachance. Maine senior Logan Fullmer and Stony Brook senior Chad Lee rounded out the four starting pitchers selected to the first team. Binghamton’s Rob Hardy was the pick as a relief pitcher after recording a 1.53 ERA in nine appearances with four saves during America East action. The league’s home run leader, UMBC junior Hunter Dolshun, earned the nod at catcher, while fellow Retriever Anthony Gatto took a spot in the outfield. Joining MacKinnon from the Hawks were shortstop Ben Bengtson, third baseman TJ Ward and outfielder Chris DelDebbio. The Bearcats have five first-team honorees in Bunal, Hardy, Krowiak, second baseman Reed Gamache and utility player Eddie Posavec.
Stony Brook, Hartford and Binghamton each had four selections to the second team. The Seawolves’ Clarke was the lone freshman pitcher to be honored, earning a spot as a starter, while reliever Teddy Rodliff and outfielders Casey Baker and Andruw Gazzola also earned nods. Starting pitcher Jake Cryts, first baseman Brendan Skidmore, catcher Jason Agresti and shortstop Paul Rufo represented the Bearcats. Hartford had a pair of starting pitchers selected in Kyle Gauthier and Brian Murphy, along with second baseman Aaron Wilson and designated hitter Erik Ostberg. UMBC freshman third baseman AJ Wright and Albany outfielder Kyle Sacks rounded out the second team.
Four players were unanimously selected to the All-Rookie team, led by Rookie of the Year selection Clarke. Maine led the league with three All-Rookie Team members in Danny Casals, Jeremy Pena and Colin Ridley. Hartford and UMBC each had a pair of honorees. The Hawks were represented by Ashton Bardzell and Chris Sullivan, while the Retrievers had Jacob Christian and AJ Wright earn honors. Albany reliever Dom Savino, Binghamton pitcher Nick Gallagher, UMass Lowell first baseman Steve Passatempo finished off the selections.
Five of the 10 All-Academic Team selections also were All-Conference honorees including Hartford’s MacKinnon, Gauthier Ostberg and Ward and Maine’s Fullmer. The all-academic team also features Binghamton senior David Schanz, UMBC junior Cory Callahan, UMass Lowell senior Joe Consolmagno and sophomore Nick Kuzia and Stony Brook senior Johnny Caputo.
The 2016 America East Baseball Championship gets underway on Wednesday May 25 at noon at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Mass. The champion of the six-team, double-elimination tournament will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Championship.