VESTAL, N.Y. – Highlighted by junior
Nick Grande (Smithtown, N.Y.) being named the 2019 America East Player of the Year, the Stony Brook baseball team secured seven All-Conference bids ahead of the Baseball Championship that begins Wednesday at Binghamton's Bearcats Sports Complex.
The Long Islander leads the league in three statistical categories, currently tops in on-base percentage (.447), runs scored (55) and hits (64). He is fourth in batting average (.339), doubles (17) and stolen bases (19) as he led a Seawolves club to its fifth America East regular season title.
He also ran a streak of 29 consecutive games in which he reached base and had a team-long 13 game hitting streak this season. His 19 multi-hit games are the most on the team.
Grande is joined by juniors
Chris Hamilton (Schenectady, N.Y.) and
Michael Wilson (Colonia, N.J.) on the league's First Team. Wilson led the league in slugging percentage at .619 this season. He was third in batting average (.348) and runs batted in (42) His eight home runs are tied for third as well.
Hamilton sat one behind his teammate on the home run leaderboard, finishing with seven this season and driving in 38 runs on the year. He is one of four Seawolves who finished with an OPS over .900, finishing the 2019 campaign at .903.
After winning all seven of his decisions in 2019, senior
Bret Clarke (Royersford, Pa.) was one of three Seawolves who were named to the league's All-Conference Second Team. Seniors
Brandon Alamo (Artesia, Calif.), who had a team-high 32 game on base streak earlier this season, and
Sean Buckhout (West Nyack, N.Y.) were both named.
Freshman
Ben Fero (Trumbull, Conn.) represented the Seawolves on the All-Rookie team and Grande was also named to the All-Academic squad.
The Seawolves open their America East Championship journey on Thursday morning, playing the winner of No. 4 UMass Lowell and No. 5 Maine at 11 a.m. in Vestal, N.Y.
For an inside look at the Stony Brook baseball program, be sure to follow the team on
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