Nalesnik and Donovan Receive All-ECAC Accolades
5/31/2017 10:05:00 AM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh baseball seniors Jacen Nalesnik and Connor Donovan garnered further accolades after their final season in the Brown and White as the Eastern College Athletic Conference tabbed the two Mountain Hawks All-ECAC honorees. Nalesnik earned a spot on the first team and Donovan received a second team honor. The All-ECAC teams honors the top student-athletes in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the country. To be eligible for ECAC All-Star consideration, a student-athlete must have been a first team all-conference honoree in their primary playing conference.
Earning their first All-ECAC selections, Nalesnik and Donovan are now the fourth and fifth All-ECAC honorees in program history and the first honorees since 2005 (Andrew Smith, OF, First Team). Nalesnik was the only Patriot League player named to the first team as the remaining seven Patriot League selections earned spots on the second team.
Nalesnik ranked as the top power hitter in the Patriot League this season and one of the most dangerous offensive threats at the plate and on the base paths. On a national level, he finished the regular season tied for the ninth-most home runs (13), tied for the fifth-most runs (53), tied for the 11th-most total bases (117) and tied for the 17th-most runs per game (1.06) in NCAA Division I. He tied for the home run lead as finished as one of just two players to hit double-digit homers this season among the All-ECAC honorees.
At the end of the regular season, the Lehighton, Pa. native led the Patriot League in home runs (13) and slugging percentage (.606), while ranking second in runs (53). He ranked as the team leader in slugging pct. (.606), runs (53), hits (62), RBI (39), doubles (14), home runs (13), total bases (117) and stolen bases (9). He also led Lehigh in batting average (.321) among players who played in 40+ games.
Donovan earned a spot on the All-ECAC squad for his all-around abilities at the plate and on the mound. The senior played in and started all 50 games for Lehigh as either a first baseman or designated hitter, while also working as a weekend starter on the mound.
He finished third at the end of the Patriot League regular season in home runs (8) and ninth in the league in slugging percentage (.507). He ranked fourth on the team in batting average (.280) among players who played in 40+ games this season and finished second on the team with his eight homers. Donovan also ended the season ranked second on the team in slugging percentage (.507) and on-base percentage (.384).
On the mound, Donovan posted the lowest earned-run average (2.11) on the team and lowest among Patriot League starting pitchers through the end of the regular season and held the top spot through the end of the league postseason. He surrendered the fewest total runs (17) and earned runs (11) by a Patriot League starting pitcher. The righty tied for the Lehigh team lead in wins (4) as he allowed the fewest hits (40), fewest total runs (17) and fewest earned runs (11) out of the team's top-three weekend starters.
ECAC Division I Baseball Awards and All-ECAC Selections
Player of the Year
Mickey Gasper – Bryant University, Jr.
Pitcher of the Year
Nick Gallagher – Binghamton University, So.
Rookie of the Year
Mason Feole – University of Connecticut, Fr.
Coach of the Year
Tim Sinicki – Binghamton University
All-ECAC First Team
Joe Drpich – Siena College, Jr.
Chris Hess – University of Rhode Island, Jr.
Matt O'Neil – University of Rhode Island, Sr.
Mickey Gasper – Bryant University, Jr.
Benny Wanger – Yale University, So.
Jake Lumley – Canisius College, Sr.
Jacen Nalesnik – Lehigh University, Sr.
Tim Graul – University of Pennsylvania, Sr.
Mike Corin – University of Rhode Island, Sr.
Patrick Robinson – Harvard University, So.
Nick Gallagher – Binghamton University, So.
Zach Prendergast – Seton Hall University, Sr.
Danny Marsh – Wagner College, Sr.
All-ECAC Second Team*
Cullen Large – College of William & Mary, Jr.
Justin Drpich – Binghamton University, Fr.
Dean Lockery – Central Connecticut State University, Jr.
Justin Yurchak – Binghamton University, r-So.
Connor Donovan – Lehigh University, Sr.
Travis Blue – United States Naval Academy, Sr.
Brett Smith – Bucknell University, Sr.
Leland Saile – United States Naval Academy, Sr.
Logan Knowles – United States Naval Academy, Jr.
Anthony Godino – Wagner College, Jr.
Nick Angelini – Bryant University, Sr.
Kyle Condry – United States Naval Academy, Sr.
Charlie Jerla – Marist College, Jr.
Connor Van Hoose – Bucknell University, Jr.
Scott Politz – Yale University, So.
Jacob Wloczewski – Binghamton University, Jr.
Tim Cate – University of Connecticut, So.
Austin Goeke – Wagner College, Sr.
Steve Theetge – Bryant University, Sr.
*Additional players added due to ties
Earning their first All-ECAC selections, Nalesnik and Donovan are now the fourth and fifth All-ECAC honorees in program history and the first honorees since 2005 (Andrew Smith, OF, First Team). Nalesnik was the only Patriot League player named to the first team as the remaining seven Patriot League selections earned spots on the second team.
Nalesnik ranked as the top power hitter in the Patriot League this season and one of the most dangerous offensive threats at the plate and on the base paths. On a national level, he finished the regular season tied for the ninth-most home runs (13), tied for the fifth-most runs (53), tied for the 11th-most total bases (117) and tied for the 17th-most runs per game (1.06) in NCAA Division I. He tied for the home run lead as finished as one of just two players to hit double-digit homers this season among the All-ECAC honorees.
At the end of the regular season, the Lehighton, Pa. native led the Patriot League in home runs (13) and slugging percentage (.606), while ranking second in runs (53). He ranked as the team leader in slugging pct. (.606), runs (53), hits (62), RBI (39), doubles (14), home runs (13), total bases (117) and stolen bases (9). He also led Lehigh in batting average (.321) among players who played in 40+ games.
Donovan earned a spot on the All-ECAC squad for his all-around abilities at the plate and on the mound. The senior played in and started all 50 games for Lehigh as either a first baseman or designated hitter, while also working as a weekend starter on the mound.
He finished third at the end of the Patriot League regular season in home runs (8) and ninth in the league in slugging percentage (.507). He ranked fourth on the team in batting average (.280) among players who played in 40+ games this season and finished second on the team with his eight homers. Donovan also ended the season ranked second on the team in slugging percentage (.507) and on-base percentage (.384).
On the mound, Donovan posted the lowest earned-run average (2.11) on the team and lowest among Patriot League starting pitchers through the end of the regular season and held the top spot through the end of the league postseason. He surrendered the fewest total runs (17) and earned runs (11) by a Patriot League starting pitcher. The righty tied for the Lehigh team lead in wins (4) as he allowed the fewest hits (40), fewest total runs (17) and fewest earned runs (11) out of the team's top-three weekend starters.
ECAC Division I Baseball Awards and All-ECAC Selections
Player of the Year
Mickey Gasper – Bryant University, Jr.
Pitcher of the Year
Nick Gallagher – Binghamton University, So.
Rookie of the Year
Mason Feole – University of Connecticut, Fr.
Coach of the Year
Tim Sinicki – Binghamton University
All-ECAC First Team
Joe Drpich – Siena College, Jr.
Chris Hess – University of Rhode Island, Jr.
Matt O'Neil – University of Rhode Island, Sr.
Mickey Gasper – Bryant University, Jr.
Benny Wanger – Yale University, So.
Jake Lumley – Canisius College, Sr.
Jacen Nalesnik – Lehigh University, Sr.
Tim Graul – University of Pennsylvania, Sr.
Mike Corin – University of Rhode Island, Sr.
Patrick Robinson – Harvard University, So.
Nick Gallagher – Binghamton University, So.
Zach Prendergast – Seton Hall University, Sr.
Danny Marsh – Wagner College, Sr.
All-ECAC Second Team*
Cullen Large – College of William & Mary, Jr.
Justin Drpich – Binghamton University, Fr.
Dean Lockery – Central Connecticut State University, Jr.
Justin Yurchak – Binghamton University, r-So.
Connor Donovan – Lehigh University, Sr.
Travis Blue – United States Naval Academy, Sr.
Brett Smith – Bucknell University, Sr.
Leland Saile – United States Naval Academy, Sr.
Logan Knowles – United States Naval Academy, Jr.
Anthony Godino – Wagner College, Jr.
Nick Angelini – Bryant University, Sr.
Kyle Condry – United States Naval Academy, Sr.
Charlie Jerla – Marist College, Jr.
Connor Van Hoose – Bucknell University, Jr.
Scott Politz – Yale University, So.
Jacob Wloczewski – Binghamton University, Jr.
Tim Cate – University of Connecticut, So.
Austin Goeke – Wagner College, Sr.
Steve Theetge – Bryant University, Sr.
*Additional players added due to ties
Players Mentioned
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