7 Hounds Named to Landmark All-Conference Teams; Hanson Tabbed as Player of the Year
TOWSON, Md. --- Moravian College junior right fielder Matt Hanson has been selected as the 2014 Landmark Conference Baseball Player of the Year, and he highlights a total of seven Greyhounds named to the Landmark All-Conference Teams Wednesday.
TOWSON, Md. --- Moravian College junior right fielder Matt Hanson has been selected as the 2014 Landmark Conference Baseball Player of the Year, and he highlights a total of seven Greyhounds named to the Landmark All-Conference Teams Wednesday.
Hanson earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team along with senior relief pitcher Chris Soltys, junior third baseman Ryan Luke, sophomore first baseman Charles Savite and sophomore catcher Mike Roethke. Senior center fielder Joseph Connell and senior starting pitcher Robert Solano were named to the All-Conference Second Team.
The group, under the leadership of eighth-year Head Coach Paul Engelhardt, has helped Moravian earn its first national ranking in school history, currently No. 22 in the D3baseball.com/National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Top 25 and No. 25 in the American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball Top 30. The Greyhounds have tied the school record with 31 victories this spring, and the squad is 31-10 and has been ranked first in the NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional Rankings the last two weeks. Moravian was 14-4 in the Landmark regular season and earned the top seed to host the Landmark Tournament where the Greyhounds fell to second seed Susquehanna University in championship round on Monday.
Hanson, who was named to the Landmark All-Conference First Team for a second straight year, is hitting .401 this season with 57 hits, nine doubles, four triples, a team-leading three home runs and 46 RBIs. He leads the Greyhounds with 52 runs scored, 24 walks and 12 hit-by-pitch, and Hanson has added 12 stolen bases this season. Earlier this season, Hanson became the first of five players to reach the 100-hit milestone this spring and this past Sunday, he became the seventh player in school history to reach 150 career hits. Hanson has started 40 games this season with 63 putouts and an assist.
"Matt had a tremendous year for us," Engelhardt said. "He was our leading hitter from the start to the end. His work ethic is second to none, and for that reason, he stands out among his peers. He is very deserving of this award, and I know that he would want to recognize all of his teammates for helping him achieve it. Matt is very deserving of this award as he has maintained each and every game a very high level of excellence."
Soltys has had a dominant year on the mound with a 5-1 record, four saves, a 0.95 ERA, 45 strikeouts and just 12 walks win 38 innings over 17 appearances. Soltys has also allowed just four runs and 22 hits this spring. In his career, Soltys has made 59 appearances with a 10-3 record, nine saves, 114 strikeouts and just 43 walks in 116.1 innings. His 2.40 career ERA is ranked fourth in school history, and Soltys is just one of 13 pitchers in school history with 100 career strikeouts, and one of three on the current staff.
"Chris was by far, the best pitcher in the league," commented Engelhardt. "He is more than deserving of the First Team honor, and anchored a staff by pitching however many innings we needed. He wasn't just a closer, but was a pitcher we could rely on to pitch five innings if needed. The fact he had only given up one run in 35 innings before the championship, proves he was the best pitcher in our conference."
Luke, who was on the All-Conference Second Team a year ago, has a .390 average with a team-leading 62 hits, just the third player in school history to reach the 60-hit plateau in a single season. Luke also leads the team with 16 doubles and 86 total bases to go with 38 runs, four triples, 38 RBIs, 19 walks and 13 stolen bases. He also reached the 100-career hit plateau this year and has 120 career hits. In the field, Luke has 27 putouts and 85 assists while starting all 41 games at third base.
"Ryan has established himself as one of the best players not only in our conference, but in the country," Engelhardt said. "As a coach, you get to see the other kid's playing third base, and Ryan was the best we saw all year. He works extremely hard to be the best team mate and leader on a good team. He meets those challenges, and continues to lead the way on the field. We are fortunate to have him, and I believe he has great things to come."
Savite, who was the 2013 Landmark Rookie of the Year, became just the second sophomore in school history to reach 100 career hits, and he has 105 hits in just 83 games in a Greyhound uniform. This spring, Savite is hitting .348 with 57 hits, 31 runs, eight doubles, three triples and a team leading 47 RBIs. He also has nine stolen bases and nine walks while starting all 41 games at first base. Savite has made a single season school record 353 putouts this spring, and he has 26 assists. In two seasons, Savite is already third in school history with 695 putouts.
"Charles has been phenomenal," explained Engelhardt. "He was placed in the four-hole as a freshman, and hasn't come out. The other teams recognize his ability, and he has earned the right to be considered the best in our conference. Charles has achieved some very good things in only his sophomore year. His future with this team has yet to be realized, and know he will lead the way in upcoming years."
Roethke has started 26 games behind the plate including all four in the Landmark Tournament for the Greyhounds this season while seeing action in 30 games. He has thrown out 18 of 53 stolen base attempts this spring and recorded 157 putouts and 34 assists. Roethke has added 21 hits, 19 runs, four doubles and 10 RBIs with his bat, and he also has a team-high seven sacrifice bunts.
"Mike has proven to be an outstanding college catcher," stated Engelhardt. "His ability to receive, block and throw the baseball is more than apparent. Although his hitting numbers weren't as high as last year, he continued to give us positive at bats, while leading the pitching staff, and anchoring the most important position on a college baseball team."
Solano made the All-Conference Second Team for a second consecutive year. He has a 5-0 record this spring to go with a 3.36 ERA, 36 strikeouts and 12 walks in a team high 59 innings. Solano also has a pair of complete games and a shutout this season. In his career, Solano is 15-5 with a 3.77 ERA, 121 strikeouts and 65 walks in 203 innings to go with four complete games, two shutouts and a save in 43 appearances. He is third in school history innings pitched, tied for sixth in victories and tied for seventh in strikeouts.
"Rob is a true ace of a staff," commented Engelhardt. "He has earned the right to be our front line guy, and did everything he could to compete every game. Rob has achieved many school records and has been a part of a good team all four years. He is very deserving of this award, and one that he will enjoy knowing he is recognized for his efforts. Rob will go down as one of the best pitcher's in Moravian baseball history."
Connell has put his name all over the Moravian record book in his four-year career. He is second in games played at 152, second in at-bats with 534, third in hits with 173, seventh in runs at 103, third in RBIs with 99, needing just one more to become the second player school history to reach 100 hits, 100 runs and 100 RBIs in a career, tied for third in doubles with 34, fourth in total bases with 229 and third with 44 stolen bases. This season, Connell is hitting .307 with 51 hits, 25 runs, eight doubles, a pair of triples, 36 RBIs and a team-leading 18 stolen bases. Connell has started all 41 games in 2014 in center field, and he has 81 putouts and two assists.
"Joey is our team leader," Engelhardt stated. "He is an All-Region guy that had to endure the whole season with a wrist injury. Through it all, he played with pain, and was able to still have a huge year offensively for us. He is by far the best center fielder that we have seen over the last couple of years. His personality on the field is second to none, and we have been blessed to have such a gifted athlete and kid lead our team."
Moravian will complete its regular season on Friday, May 9 when the Greyhounds welcome No. 6 Rowan (N.J.) University to Gillespie Field for a non-conference game between the top two teams in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Rankings. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.
