BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (May 6, 2010) - The East Coast Conference announced its All-Conference Baseball teams on Thursday, and the Pioneers garnered two major awards in addition to six players named to the All-Conference teams, as freshman centerfielder Zack Graczyk (Carmel, N.Y.) was named the 2010 ECC Player of the Year, and head coach Pete Timmes was named the 2010 ECC Coach of the Year.

Graczyk and senior pitcher Pete Budkevics (Deer Park, N.Y.) were named to the First Team, while senior shortstop Bryan Bonin (Commack, N.Y.), senior rightfielder Mike Callaghan (East Meadow, N.Y.), senior pitcher Brian Saldana (Deer Park, N.Y.) and freshman second baseman Casey McKay (North Massapequa, N.Y.) garnered spots on the Second Team.

Dowling's Gabriel Duran was named the 2010 Pitcher of the Year, and the Golden Lions freshman Sean Craig earned 2010 Rookie of the Year Honors, rounding out the four major awards. 

Graczyk had a stellar freshman campaign in which he amassed a conference leading batting average of .391, in the leadoff spot for the Pioneers. Graczyk also led the conference in on-base percentage (.459) and runs scored (48) while ranking second with 63 hits on the season. The two-time ECC Player of the Week recorded a 2-2 mark on the mound along with three saves while compiling a 1.64 ERA in his 22 innings pitched. In the outfield, Graczyk compiled a perfect fielding percentage.

C.W. Post head coach Pete Timmes was named the 2010 Coach of the Year by his peers. Timmes guided the Pioneers to an overall record of 28-14-1 and the East Coast Conference Regular Season title. This huge turnaround came after a 7^th place finish and overall record of 13-32 in 2009. Currently, the Pioneers are ranked No. 7 in the East Region.

Budkevics is tops on the Pioneers in victories, strikeouts and innings pitched, second in the ECC in strikeouts, hits allowed and walks allowed, and nationally ranked in several other categories. The senior has a 7-1 record on the year with a 2.26 ERA, striking out 78 batters in 63.2 innings. 

McKay is second behind Graczyk with a .349 average, which is also good for third in the conference. The freshman drove in 21 runs, scored 22 and is fielding at a .967 clip at second base. Bonin is batting .256 including a .315 mark in conference, driving in 20 runs and scoring 21, while capping his four-year career at shortstop with his second All-Conference award, as he was named to the third team in 2008. 

Callaghan is batting .268 on the season, tying for the team lead with 29 RBI. The senior has played an outstanding right field with only two errors and 10 outfield assists. Saldana is tops on the team with a 1.54 ERA, good for second in the conference. His 15 appearances lead the Pioneers and he has struck out 44 batters in 52.2 innings this season.

Timmes and the Pioneers enter the East Coast Conference tournament, held this weekend, as the top seed as they look to advance in the tournament and extend their season further. 

C         Brian Benes, Sr., Molloy                     George Wargo, So., STAC

1B        Robert LaRusso, Jr., Molloy             Daniel Pembroke, Sr., Dowling

2B        TJ Greig, Sr., Molloy                           Casey McKay, Fr., C.W. Post

3B        Anthony Luisi, Sr., Molloy

SS        Eddie Squeri, Jr., Dowling                Bryan Bonin, Sr., C.W. Post

DH      Sean Craig, Fr., Dowling                    Jeffrey Gomez, Jr., Queens

OF       Zack Graczyk, Fr., C.W. Post            Luke Abraham, Sr., Bridgeport

OF       Frank Intagliata, Sr., Dowling             Mike Callaghan, Sr., C.W. Post

OF       Matt Marotta, Jr., STAC                        Matt Walsh, Sr., Mercy

SP        Pete Budkevics, Sr., C.W. Post       Brian LaMarr, Sr., STAC

SP        Gabriel Duran, Jr., Dowling               Brian Saldana, Sr. C.W. Post

SP        Chuck Fontana, So., Molloy              Bobby Swann, Sr., Bridgeport

RP       Matt Bartolomei, So., Bridgeport       Pat Brown, Fr., Molloy

Pitcher of the Year:   Gabriel Duran, So., Dowling

Rookie of the Year:   Sean Craig, DH, Dowling

 

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