America East Conference baseball awards
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At the end of each regular season, the America East Conference names major award winners in baseball. Currently, it names a Coach, Pitcher, Player, and Rookie of the Year. With the exception of Rookie of the Year, which was added in 1996, the awards date to the 1990 season, the conference's first season of baseball. Through the 1996 season, the awards were known as the major awards of the North Atlantic Conference, the America East's former name.
Through the end of the 2019 season, Stony Brook has won 21 major awards, the most of any school in the conference. Maine has the second highest total, with 20. Three other schools have at least ten: Binghamton (19), Delaware (17), and Vermont (10).[1]
In the conference's 25–year history, a single team has swept the awards six times. Three instances came before 1996 (when the conference Rookie of the Year was added as the fourth award): Central Connecticut in 1990 and Delaware in 1992 and 1995. Since 1996, Stony Brook swept the awards in 2011 and 2012, and Hartford did so in 2018.[1][2]
Coach of the Year
The conference's Coach of the Year award is presented annually to its most outstanding baseball coach, as chosen by a vote of the conference's coaches at the end of the regular season. The award was first presented in 1990 and was known as the North Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year award through the 1996 season, after which the conference adopted its current name.
In 2014, Stony Brook's Matt Senk won the award for the third time, after the Seawolves went 33–16 in the regular season and won the America East's regular season title. Senk won four awards in five years from 2011 to 2015.[3] 2014 was the sixth consecutive season in which the award was presented to the coach whose team won the conference's regular season title.[1]
Binghamton head coach Tim Sinicki has won the most Coach of the Year awards, with seven.[1]
Maine is the only school to have multiple coaches win the award. Paul Kostacopoulos won it in 1997 and 2001, Steve Trimper won it in 2013, and Nick Derba won it in 2022 and 2023.[1]
Winners by season
The following is a table of the award's winners in each season since it was inaugurated in 1990. The table also includes the winner's school, conference record and rank in the standings, and overall record.
| Season | Coach | School | Conf. (Rk.) | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990[1][4] | George Redman | Central Connecticut | 9–5 (2nd) | 25–14 |
| 1991[1][5] | Neil McPhee | Northeastern | 12–3 (2nd) | 35–15 |
| 1992[1][6] | Bob Hannah | Delaware | 14–13 (3rd) | 28–21 |
| 1993[1][7] | Dave Bettencourt | New Hampshire | 15–10 (2nd) | 23–20 |
| 1994[1][5] | Neil McPhee (2) | Northeastern | 18–6 (2nd) | 35–16 |
| 1995[1][6] | Bob Hannah (2) | Delaware | 19–3 (1st) | 45–14 |
| 1996[1][6] | Bob Hannah (3) | Delaware | 19–5 (1st) | 44–12 |
| 1997[1][8] | Paul Kostacopoulos | Maine | 16–8 (2nd) | 24–27 |
| 1998[1][6] | Bob Hannah (4) | Delaware | 22–2 (1st) | 43–10 |
| 1999[1][9] | Mike Gottlieb | Towson | 20–7 (1st) | 33–19 |
| 2000[1][6] | Bob Hannah (5) | Delaware | 19–5 (1st) | 37–20 |
| 2001[1][8] | Paul Kostacopoulos (2) | Maine | 20–8 (2nd) | 36–15 |
| 2002[1][10] | Bill Currier | Vermont | 14–8 (2nd) | 27–22 |
| 2003[1][10] | Bill Currier (2) | Vermont | 17–5 (1st) | 32–14 |
| 2004[1][11] | Jon Mueller | Albany | 14–7 (T–2nd) | 37–14 |
| 2005[1][12] | Tim Sinicki | Binghamton | 12–8 (4th) | 23–26 |
| 2006[1][10] | Bill Currier (3) | Vermont | 16–8 (1st) | 19–32 |
| 2007[1][12] | Tim Sinicki (2) | Binghamton | 17–5 (1st) | 28–19 |
| 2008[1][13] | John Jancuska | UMBC | 13–11 (3rd) | 21–29 |
| 2009[1][12] | Tim Sinicki (3) | Binghamton | 13–7 (1st) | 30–22 |
| 2010[1][12] | Tim Sinicki (4) | Binghamton | 21–3 (1st) | 31–20 |
| 2011[1][14] | Matt Senk | Stony Brook | 22–2 (1st) | 42–12 |
| 2012[1][14] | Matt Senk (2) | Stony Brook | 21–3 (1st) | 52–15 |
| 2013[1][15] | Steve Trimper | Maine | 20–9 (1st) | 37–22 |
| 2014[3][16] | Matt Senk (3) | Stony Brook | 18–5 (1st) | 35–18 |
| 2015 | Matt Senk (4) | Stony Brook | 18–4–1 (1st) | 35–16–1 |
| 2016 | Tim Sinicki (5) | Binghamton | 19–5 (1st) | 30–25 |
| 2017 | Tim Sinicki (6) | Binghamton | 15–4 (1st) | 30–13 |
| 2018 | Justin Blood | Hartford | 16–8 (1st) | 26–31 |
| 2019 | Jon Mueller (2) | Albany | 14–9 (2nd) | 28–21 |
| 2021 | Jon Mueller (3) | Albany | 20–18 (1st) | 22–25 |
| 2022 | Nick Derba | Maine | 21–9 (1st) | 27–22 |
| 2023 | Nick Derba (2) | Maine | 19–5 (1st) | 32–21 |
| 2024 | Ryan Klosterman | Bryant | 17–7 (1st) | 36–21 |
| 2025 | Ryan Klosterman (2) | Bryant | 18–6 (1st) | 36–19–1 |
| 2026[17] | Tim Sinicki (7) | Binghamton | 17–7 (1st) | 28–20 |
| Liam Bowen | UMBC | 15–9 (2nd) | 28–22 |
Winners by school
The following is a table of the schools whose coaches have won the award, along with the year each school joined the conference, the number of times it has won the award, and the years in which it has done so.
| School (year joined) | Awards | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Binghamton (2002) | 7 | 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2026 |
| Delaware (1992)[a] | 5 | 1992, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000 |
| Maine (1990) | 5 | 1997, 2001, 2013, 2022, 2023 |
| Stony Brook (2002)[b] | 4 | 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 |
| Albany (2002) | 3 | 2004, 2019, 2021 |
| Vermont (1990)[c] | 3 | 2002, 2003, 2006 |
| Bryant (2023) | 2 | 2024, 2025 |
| Northeastern (1990)[d] | 2 | 1991, 1994 |
| UMBC (2004) | 2 | 2008, 2026 |
| Central Connecticut (1990)[e] | 1 | 1990 |
| Hartford (1990)[f] | 1 | 2018 |
| New Hampshire (1990)[g] | 1 | 1993 |
| Towson (1996)[h] | 1 | 1999 |
- Following the 2001 season, Delaware left the America East to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
- Following the 2022 season, Stony Brook left the America East to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
- Vermont cut its baseball program following the 2009 season.
- Following the 2005 season, Northeastern left the America East to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
- Following the 1990 season, Central Connecticut left the NAC to join the East Coast Conference.
- Hartford left the America East following the 2022 season.
- New Hampshire cut its baseball program following the 1997 season.
- Following the 2001 season, Towson left the America East to re-join the Colonial Athletic Association.
Pitcher of the Year
The conference's Pitcher of the Year award is given annually to the best pitcher in the America East, as chosen by a vote of the conference's coaches at the end of the regular season. The award was first presented in 1990 and was known as the North Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Year award through the 1996 season, after which the conference adopted its current name.
Hartford pitcher Sean Newcomb won the award in 2014. Newcomb went 8–2 with a 1.25 ERA on the year. He was the first Hawk to receive the award and was selected in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft by the Los Angeles Angels.[18] Newcomb became the first pitcher in the America East to be selected in the first round.[19]
Stony Brook's Nick Tropeano is the only pitcher to win the award twice. He won the award in both 2010 (when he shared it with Binghamton's James Guglietti) and 2011.[20]
Four of the award's winners – Maine's Larry Thomas, Northeastern's Adam Ottavino, Stony Brook's Nick Tropeano, and Hartford's Sean Newcomb – have gone on to pitch in the MLB.
Winners by season
The following is a table of the award's winners in each season since it was inaugurated in 1990.
| Season | Pitcher | School |
|---|---|---|
| 1990[1] | David Adam | Central Connecticut |
| 1991[1] | Larry Thomas | Maine |
| 1992[1][21] | Jason Pierson | Delaware |
| 1993[1][22] | Mark Ballard | Maine |
| 1994[1] | Jeremy Benson | Delaware |
| 1995[1][23] | Jamie Wilson | |
| 1996[1][24] | Justin Romano | Hofstra |
| 1997[1][25] | Garrett Quinn | Maine |
| 1998[1][26] | Matt Phillips | Delaware |
| 1999[1][27] | Greg Montalbano | Northeastern |
| 2000[1][28] | Rich McGuire | Delaware |
| 2001[1][29] | Rusty Tucker | Maine |
| 2002[1][30] | Mike MacDonald | |
| 2003[1][31] | Jamie Merchant | Vermont |
| 2004[1][32] | Jordan Thomson | Northeastern |
| 2005[1][33] | Adam Ottavino | |
| 2006[1][34] | Zach Groh | Binghamton |
| 2007[1][35] | Gary Novakowski | Stony Brook |
| 2008[1][36] | Joe Serafin | Vermont |
| 2009[1][37] | Murphy Smith | Binghamton |
| 2010[1][38] | James Giulietti | |
| Nick Tropeano | Stony Brook | |
| 2011[1][20] | ||
| 2012[1][39] | Tyler Johnson | |
| 2013[1][40] | Tommy Lawrence | Maine |
| 2014[18] | Sean Newcomb | Hartford |
| 2015 | Conrad Wozniak | UMBC |
| 2016[1][41] | Mike Bunal | Binghamton |
| 2017[1][42] | Nick Gallagher | |
| 2018[43] | Nicholas Dombkoski | Hartford |
| 2019[43] | Ben Anderson | Binghamton |
| 2021[43] | Nicholas Sinacola | Maine |
| 2022[43] | Ryan Fischer | NJIT |
| 2023[43] | Luke Johnson | UMBC |
| 2024[43] | ||
| 2025[44] | Caleb Leys | Maine |
| 2026[17] | Dylan Banner | Albany |
Winners by school
The following is a table of the schools whose pitchers have won the award, along with the year each school joined the conference, the number of times it has won the award, and the years in which it has done so.
| School (year joined) | Awards | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Maine (1990) | 8 | 1991, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2013, 2021, 2025 |
| Binghamton (2002) | 6 | 2006, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2019 |
| Delaware (1992)[a] | 5 | 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000 |
| Stony Brook (2002)[b] | 4 | 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| Northeastern (1990)[c] | 3 | 1999, 2004, 2005 |
| UMBC (2004) | 3 | 2015, 2023, 2024 |
| Hartford (1990)[d] | 2 | 2014, 2018 |
| Vermont (1990)[e] | 2 | 2003, 2008 |
| Albany (2002) | 1 | 2026 |
| Central Connecticut (1990)[f] | 1 | 1990 |
| Hofstra (1995)[g] | 1 | 1996 |
| NJIT (2021) | 1 | 2022 |
- Delaware left following the 2001 season to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
- Stony Brook left following the 2022 season to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
- Northeastern left following the 2005 season to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
- Hartford left the America East following the 2022 season.
- Vermont cut its baseball program after the 2009 season.
- Central Connecticut left after the 1990 season to join the East Coast Conference.
- Hofstra left after the 2001 season to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
Player of the Year
The conference's Len Harlow Player of the Year award is given annually to the best pitcher in the America East, as chosen by a vote of the conference's coaches at the end of the regular season. The award was first presented in 1990 and was known as the North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year award through the 1996 season, after which the conference adopted its current name. It is named for Len Harlow, who worked in athletic communications for Maine and the conference.[45]
In 2012, Stony Brook outfielder Travis Jankowski became the first America East Player of the Year award winner to be drafted in the first round of the MLB Draft, and the second America East player overall after Northeastern's Carlos Peña.[46]
Delaware's Kevin Mench is the only player to win the award twice. He did so in 1998 and 1999.[1]
Five recipients – Maine's Mark Sweeney, Delaware's Cliff Brumbaugh, Mench, Vermont's Matt Duffy, and Stony Brook's Travis Jankowski – have appeared in the MLB.
Winners by season
The following is a table of the award's winners in each season since it was inaugurated in 1990.
| Season | Pitcher | School | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Mike Sciortino | Central Connecticut | [1] |
| 1991 | Mark Sweeney | Maine | [47] |
| 1992 | Brian Wallace | Delaware | [1] |
| 1993 | Chad White | Maine | [1] |
| 1994 | Derek Gauthier | Northeastern | [48] |
| 1995[23] | Cliff Brumbaugh | Delaware | |
| 1996[49] | James Vallillo | Towson | |
| 1997[50] | Brian August | Delaware | |
| 1998[51] | Kevin Mench | ||
| 1999[51] | |||
| 2000[52] | Andrew Salvo | ||
| 2001[53] | Gregg Davies | Towson | |
| 2002[54] | Jeff Barry | Vermont | |
| 2003[55] | Bobby Tewksbury | ||
| 2004[56] | Dan Schoonmaker | Albany | |
| 2005[57] | Mathieu Bergeron | Binghamton | |
| 2006[58] | Kyle Brault | Vermont | |
| 2007[35] | Brendon Hitchcock | Binghamton | |
| 2008[59] | Curt Smith | Maine | |
| 2009[60] | Matt Duffy | Vermont | |
| 2010[61] | Corey Taylor | Binghamton | |
| 2011[62] | Willie Carmona | Stony Brook | |
| 2012[63] | Travis Jankowski | ||
| 2013[59] | Michael Fransoso | Maine | |
| 2014 | Kevin Krause | Stony Brook | [64] |
| 2015 | Jack Parenty | [65] | |
| 2016 | David MacKinnon | Hartford | [66] |
| 2017 | Toby Handley | Stony Brook | |
| 2018 | Nick Campana Sr. | Hartford | |
| 2019 | Nick Grande | Stony Brook | |
| 2021 | John Thrasher | Hartford | |
| 2022 | Evan Giordano | Stony Brook | |
| 2023 | Jeremiah Jenkins | Maine | |
| 2024 | Gavin Noriega | Bryant | |
| 2025 | Drew Wyers | Bryant | |
| 2026 | Ehi Okojie | UMBC | [17] |
Winners by school
The following is a table of the schools whose players have won the award, along with the year each school joined the conference, the number of times it has won the award, and the years in which it has done so.
| School (year joined) | Awards | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Stony Brook (2002)[a] | 7 | 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022 |
| Delaware (1992)[b] | 6 | 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Maine (1990) | 5 | 1991, 1993, 2008, 2013, 2023 |
| Vermont (1990)[c] | 4 | 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009 |
| Binghamton (2002) | 3 | 2005, 2007, 2010 |
| Hartford (1990)[d] | 3 | 2016, 2018, 2021 |
| Bryant (2023) | 2 | 2024, 2025 |
| Towson (1996)[e] | 2 | 1996, 2001 |
| Albany (2002) | 1 | 2004 |
| Central Connecticut (1990)[f] | 1 | 1990 |
| Northeastern (1990)[g] | 1 | 1994 |
| UMBC (2004) | 1 | 2026 |
- Stony Brook left following the 2022 season to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
- Delaware left after the 2001 season to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
- Vermont cut its baseball program following the 2009 season.
- Hartford left the America East following the 2022 season.
- Towson left after the 2001 season to re-join the Colonial Athletic Association.
- Central Connecticut left after the 1990 season to join the East Coast Conference.
- Northeastern left after the 2005 season to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
Rookie of the Year
The conference's Rookie of the Year award is given annually to the best freshman in the America East, as chosen by a vote of the conference's coaches at the end of the regular season. The award was added in 1996.[1]
In 2014, Stony Brook closer Cameron Stone won the award. In the regular season, he had a 1.48 ERA and eight saves. He was the fifth consecutive Seawolf to win the award.[67]
Two of the award's recipients – Delaware's Kevin Mench and Binghamton's Scott Diamond – later played in the MLB.
Winners by season
The following is a table of the award's winners in each season since it was inaugurated in 1990. The table also includes the winner's school, conference record and rank in the standings, and overall record.
| Season | Pitcher | School |
|---|---|---|
| 1996[1][68] | Lou Marchetti | Drexel |
| 1997[1][69] | Kevin Mench | Delaware |
| 1998[1][26] | Bruce Boehm | Drexel |
| 1999[1][70] | Mike Ross | Maine |
| 2000[1][71] | Joe Drapeau | |
| 2001[1][71] | Mike Collar | |
| 2002[1][72] | Jon Lewis | Stony Brook |
| 2003[1][71] | Greg Norton | Maine |
| 2004[1][56] | Miguel Magrass | Vermont |
| 2005[1][73] | Scott Diamond | Binghamton |
| 2006[1][74] | Kevin McAvoy | Maine |
| 2007[1][75] | Myckie Lugbauer | |
| 2008[1][76] | Peter Bregartner | Binghamton |
| 2009[1] | David Ciocchi | |
| 2010[1][67] | Willie Carmona | Stony Brook |
| 2011[1][67] | Brandon McNitt | |
| 2012[1][67] | Cole Peragine | |
| 2013[1][67] | Jack Parenty | |
| 2014[1][67] | Cameron Stone | |
| 2015 | Justin Courtney | Maine |
| 2016 | Bret Clarke | Stony Brook |
| 2017 | Christian Torres | UMBC |
| 2018 | Nicholas Dombkoski | Hartford |
| 2019 | Thomas Babalis | Binghamton |
| 2021 | Albert Choi | NJIT |
| 2022 | Evin Sullivan | Binghamton |
| 2023 | Leewood Molessa | UMBC |
| 2024 | Cade Ladehoff | NJIT |
| 2025 | Michael Belcher | Bryant |
| 2026[17] | Hunter St. Denis | Maine |
Winners by school
The following is a table of the schools whose players have won the award, along with the year each school joined the conference, the number of times it has won the award, and the years in which it has done so.
| School (year joined) | Awards | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Maine (1990) | 8 | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2015, 2026 |
| Stony Brook (2002)[a] | 7 | 2002, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 |
| Binghamton (2002) | 5 | 2005, 2008, 2009, 2019, 2022 |
| Drexel (1992)[b] | 2 | 1996, 1998 |
| NJIT (2021) | 2 | 2021, 2024 |
| UMBC (2004) | 2 | 2017, 2023 |
| Bryant (2023) | 1 | 2025 |
| Delaware (1992)[c] | 1 | 1997 |
| Hartford (1990)[d] | 1 | 2018 |
| Vermont (1990)[e] | 1 | 2004 |
- Stony Brook left following the 2022 season to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
- Drexel left after the 2001 season to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
- Delaware left after the 2001 season to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
- Hartford left the America East following the 2022 season.
- Vermont cut its baseball program after the 2009 season.