2011 ECAC Division III Baseball South All-Stars Unveiled

CENTERVILLE, Mass.—The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) on Thursday announced its Division III Baseball South All-Star Team. Receiving individual awards, pictured left to right, Pete Egbert of Misericordia University is the ECAC Coach of the Year, Fairleigh Dickinson - Florham senior outfielder Matt Oliveto is the ECAC Player of the Year, Moravian College junior Brendan Close is the ECAC Pitcher of the Year and freshman second baseman Michael Pascarella of Pitt-Bradford is the ECAC Rookie of the Year.

A third-team All-America selection by D3baseball.com, Oliveto assembled one of the finest statistical seasons in FDU history as he led the team in batting average (.434), runs batted in (48), slugging percentage (.654), walks (33), on-base percentage (.543), stolen bases (19) and fielding percentage (1.000).  He was also second in runs (47), hits (59), doubles (8), home runs (6) and total bases (89).  

At season’s end, Close ranked in six NCAA categories including being first in the nation in walks allowed per nine innings at 0.56.  The first player in school history to be named an American Baseball Coaches Association First Team All-American also tied for ninth in victories with ten (against zero losses), was second in earned run average at 1.00, ninth in strikeouts with 100, 13th in strikeouts per nine innings at 11.15 and 14th in hits allowed per nine innings at 5.80. He helped the Greyhounds to a 31-9 overall mark, including going 17-1 in the Landmark Conference.

Named both the player and newcomer of the year by his primary conference, Pascarella led the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in seven statistical categories: batting average (.467), slugging percentage (.791), on-base percentage (.558), runs scored (45), home runs (6), total bases (87) and hits (51). He also drove in 32 runs and paced the Panthers with six triples. Pascarella ranked in the NCAA top-10 for batting average, slugging and on-base percentage.

Coach Egbert piloted the Cougars to their best season during its NCAA history, finishing with a 30-16 record and breaking the program benchmark of 22 victories by the 2009 squad. Misericordia made an NCAA Championship appearance at the Mid-Atlantic Regional in just his fourth season at the helm. The coach of the year in his primary conference also mentored eight honorees that were all-league or all-region.

The head coaches, or his designee, within the ECAC membership voted on the teams and individual awards.

2011 ECAC Division III Baseball South All-Stars

Player of the Year
Matt Oliveto, Sr., OF, FDU-Florham (Middle Atlantic Conference-Freedom)

Pitcher of the Year
Brendan Close, Jr., Moravian (Landmark Conference)

Rookie of the Year
Michael Pascarella, Fr., 2B, Pitt-Bradford (Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference)

Coach of the Year
Pete Egbert, Misericordia (Middle Atlantic Conference-Freedom)

First Team

First Base: Johnny Martinez, Sr., Juniata (Landmark Conference)

Second Base: Michael Pascarella, Fr., Pitt-Bradford (Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conf.)

Shortstop: Rob Benedict, Jr., Wesley (Capital Athletic Conference)

Third Base: Chris Ray, So., Alvernia (Middle Atlantic Conference-Commonwealth)

Catcher: Joe Borrelli, Gr., Johns Hopkins (Centennial Conference)

Designated Hitter: Victor Nunez, So., Centenary (Colonial States Athletic Conference)

Outfield: William Bissell, Fr., Gallaudet (North Eastern Athletic Conference)

Outfield: Kenny Durling, So., Misericordia (Middle Atlantic Conference-Freedom)

Outfield: Matt Oliveto, Sr., FDU-Florham (Middle Atlantic Conference-Freedom)

Utility: Bill Pace, So., Neumann (Colonial States Athletic Conference)

Pitcher: Andrew Kirk, Jr., Alvernia (Middle Atlantic Conference-Commonwealth)

Pitcher: Brendan Close, Jr., Moravian (Landmark Conference)

Second Team

First Base: Grady Luzier, Sr., Penn State-Altoona (Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conf.)

Second Base: Matt Greene, Sr., Frostburg State (Capital Athletic Conference)

Shortstop: Steve Seminerio, Jr., FDU-Florham (Middle Atlantic Conference-Freedom)

Third Base: Brian Green, Sr., Salisbury (Capital Athletic Conference)

Catcher: Enrique Meletichem Sr., Penn State-Abington (North Eastern Athletic Conference)

Designated Hitter: Will Benenson, Fr., Franklin & Marshall (Centennial Conference)

Outfield: Jesse Sikorski, Sr., Johns Hopkins (Centennial Conference)

Outfield: Cord Heine, Jr., Penn State-Altoona (Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference)

Outfield: Bill Root, Fr., Salisbury (Capital Athletic Conference)

Utility: Sean Saverio, Sr., Widener (Middle Atlantic Conference-Commonwealth)

Pitcher: Greg Ross, Sr., Frostburg State (Capital Athletic Conference)

Pitcher:  Chris Greiner, Sr., Salisbury (Capital Athletic Conference)