Baseball Major Award, All-Landmark Honorees Announced
TOWSON, Md. – The seven Landmark baseball coaches voted and chose Elizabethtown’s Kyle Fackler as the 2017 Baseball Player of the Year. Drew’s Tommy Broyles was named Pitcher of the Year and Susquehanna’s Bobby Grigas was named the Rookie of the Year. The Rangers Brian Hirschberg and his staff earned Coaching Staff of the year accolades.
Fackler led the conference, hitting .453 during the regular season to go along with 25 RBI. He hit .459 in conference games and helped the Blue Jays to their first Landmark championship over the weekend. The tournament most valuable player went 13 for 21 that included a four-hit game and three three-hit games. He also broke E-town career runs scored record.
Broyles was a versatile player for the Rangers, playing in the field and pitching both as a starter and as a reliever. He finished the regular season with an earned run average of 0.84, including an impressive 0.92 ERA in conference games. In his 16 appearances, he won six games, made five saves, allowed just right runs in 42.2 innings pitched, and fanned 31 hitters.
Grigas had a strong showing in his rookie campaign. Grigas posted a 6-1 record with two complete games. He tallied 66 strikeouts in 64 innings including a season-high 15 in a 3-2 win against Juniata on April 14.
All three players were named First Team selections. Catholic’s Jon Mierzwa and Drew’s Ryan Fitpatrick rounded out the three starting pitchers on First Team. Mierzwa pitched 57.1 innings during the regular season and posted a 7-1 record. He boasts a 2.20 earned run average and had a league-high 88 strikeouts. Fitzpatrick won seven games for the Rangers and struck out 64 batters in his 63.2 innings pitched.
Mike Miraglia was crucial behind the plate for the Rangers. He hit .304 in conference play, and he threw out 11 runners, including six in conference play. Teammate Zach Lipshitz was the Rangers leader as a middle infielder. The sophomore, who was named as the First Team shortstop, hit .369 in conference games with 28 RBI and 10 stolen bases.
Catholic’s Brennan Cotter and Moravian’s Evan Kulig are first-time First Team selections and first and third base respectively. Cotter hit .394 and .421 in conference games. He batted in 37 runs with 10 walks and eight homeruns. Kulig finished the regular season with 27 RBI, 10 doubles, and a batting average of .336.
Scranton’s Tommy Trotter highlights the First Team outfielders, earning his third nod. The junior hit .354 in conference games and finished the regular season with 29 RBI, 11 stolen bases, 13 doubles, and three triples. He is joined by Drew’s Marc Cohen and Moravian’s Anthony Gaetaniello. Cohen hit .392 during the regular season, including an impressive .477 in conference games. He swiped nine bases and had 20 RBI. Gaetaniello batted .404 in 136 at bats. The senior had nine doubles on the season and 15 RBI.
Cory Fallon had a standout senior season for Susquehanna. Having earned First Team honors as a designated hitter, Fallon finished with a .358 average with 36 RBI.
Hirschberg and his staff have earned their second Coaching Staff of the Year honor. The Rangers made the Landmark playoffs for the second straight year and earned the No. 4 seed with an 11-7 conference record. Drew closed its 2017 chapter with a program record 26 wins.
|
|
|
|
| Player of the Year |
Pitcher of the Year |
Rookie of the Year |
Coach of the Year |
Kyle Fackler
Elizabethtown
|
Tommy Broyles
Drew
|
Bobby Grigas
Susquehanna
|
Brian Hirschberg
Drew
|
The 2017 Landmark Baseball All-Conference Teams:
| First Team |
|
Second Team |
| SP |
Jon Mierzwa
|
Catholic
|
So.
|
Laurel, Md.
|
|
SP |
Mason Belcher
|
Catholic
|
So.
|
Charlotte, N.C. |
| SP |
Ryan Fitzpatrick
|
Drew
|
Sr.
|
Cedar Grove, N.J.
|
|
SP |
Kevin Elwell ^
|
Elizabethtown
|
Sr.
|
Clarks Summit, Pa.
|
| SP |
Bobby Grigas
|
Susquehanna |
Fr.
|
Frackville, Pa.
|
|
SP |
Rhett Jacoby ^
|
Moravian
|
So.
|
Orefield, Pa. |
| RP |
Tommy Broyles
|
Drew
|
Sr.
|
Eatontown, N.J.
|
|
RP
|
Joseph Salzano
|
Catholic
|
Sr.
|
South Riding, Va. |
| C |
Mike Miraglia
|
Drew
|
Sr.
|
Toms River, N.J.
|
|
C
|
Zach Leone ^
|
Susquehanna
|
Jr.
|
Pelham, N.Y. |
| 1B |
Brennan Cotter
|
Catholic
|
Jr.
|
Oakland, N.J. |
|
1B
|
Kevin Haag
|
Scranton
|
Fr.
|
Ossining, N.Y. |
| 2B |
Kyle Fackler ^*
|
Elizabethtown
|
Sr.
|
Harrisburg, Pa. |
|
2B
|
Patrick O'Dell
|
Scranton
|
Sr.
|
Phoenixville, Pa. |
| 3B |
Evan Kulig
|
Moravian
|
So.
|
Allentown, Pa. |
|
3B
|
Colby Smith
|
Elizabethtown
|
Jr.
|
Middlesex, N.J. |
| SS |
Zach Lipshitz
|
Drew |
So.
|
Scotch Plains, N.J. |
|
SS
|
Cole Luzins
|
Susquehanna
|
Jr.
|
Phoenixville, Pa. |
| OF |
Marc Cohen
|
Drew
|
Sr.
|
Chestnut Ridge, N.Y. |
|
OF
|
Mike Christy
|
Elizabethtown
|
So.
|
Harleysville, Pa. |
| OF |
Anthony Gaetaniello
|
Moravian
|
Sr.
|
Nazareth, Pa. |
|
OF |
Richy Masciarelli
|
Elizabethtown
|
Sr.
|
Pottstown, Pa. |
| OF |
Tommy Trotter ^*
|
Scranton
|
Jr.
|
Cranford, N.J. |
|
OF |
Chris Schreder
|
Juniata
|
Jr.
|
Lititz, Pa. |
DH
|
Cory Fallon
|
Susquehanna
|
Sr.
|
Garden City, N.Y. |
|
OF |
Taylor Luckenbill
|
Susquehanna
|
Sr.
|
Pottsville, Pa. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
DH |
Paul Burmester
|
Catholic
|
Sr.
|
Columbia, Md. |
^ 2016 First Team All-Landmark
* 2015 First Team All-Landmark
$ 2014 First Team All-Landmark