CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The Patriot League Baseball 25th Anniversary Team was announced on Wednesday and the military academies led the way as Army West Point had nine former players selected and Navy notched seven.
The team members are listed below by school, with years listed representing the playing seasons within the Patriot League. Each school that participates in baseball selected 25 players in the voting for the 25th Anniversary Team, and could not vote for its own student-athletes.
Army West Point: Nick Hill (2004-07); Cole White (2005-08); Milan Dinga (2004-07); Schuyler Williamson (2002-05); Chris Rowley (2010-13); Steve Reich (1991-93); Clint Moore (2008-11); Kevin McKague (2008-12); Ben Koenigsfeld (2008-11)
Bucknell: Jason Buursma (2005-08); Kyle Walter (2003-06)
Holy Cross: Jim Sweeney (1998-00); Matt Perry (2007-10); John Colella (2010-13)
Lafayette: Adam Rosenberg (2001-04)
Lehigh: Matt McBride (2004-06); Jesse Novalis (2001-04)
Navy: Marcus Lee (1993-94); Toph Lake (1995-98); Shane Groover (1997-00); Mitch Harris (2005-08); Steve Mauro (1993-95); Brian Bernth (1993-96); Toby Moore (1993-95)
Fordham: Santy Gallone (1991-92)
The group of honorees has combined to win 27 Patriot League Player or Pitcher of the Year awards, with 21 players earning one of the two awards. Nine of the Anniversary Team members were named All-Americans in their career, seven were members of the Patriot League All-Decade Team (1990-00) and 13 were selected in the Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft. Of the 25 Patriot League champions, 13 featured at least one member of the Anniversary Team on the squad.
The Patriot League is releasing 25th Anniversary Teams throughout the month of August for each sport that has been sponsored by the League since it became an all-sport conference beginning in the 1990-91 season. In addition to the 25th Anniversary Teams, coverage throughout the 2015-16 season will focus on former student-athletes and top stories in the history of the Patriot League.
More information on the Patriot League Baseball 25th Anniversary Team members is included below, with the honorees listed alphabetically. All seasons listed designate the player’s years of competition within the Patriot League.
Patriot League Baseball 25th Anniversary Team
Brian Bernth, Navy (1993-96) – Bernth was named the Patriot League Player of the Year as a junior in 1995 and earned three All-League honors in his career, with first-team status in his final two years. He also helped the Mids to great team success as Navy won the Patriot League title in both 1994 and 1995. Bernth was selected to the Patriot League All-Decade Team and is fourth in League history with 16 career triples.
Jason Buursma, Bucknell (2005-08) – Buursma had an impact at the plate and on the mound, and earned five All-Patriot League spots in his career with three first-team nods. He was named the Patriot League Player of the Year and earned multiple All-America honors in 2008, and also had a memorable performance in the Patriot League Tournament that season by earning the win on the mound in all four of Bucknell’s victories to take MVP honors. Buursma is the Patriot League’s career record holder in ERA (2.13) and ranks in the top 10 in home runs (24). He was taken by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 25th round of the 2008 MLB Draft.
John Colella, Holy Cross (2010-13) – Colella became the first reliever to earn the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year award when he claimed the honor as a senior in 2013. He earned first-team All-Patriot League honors in each of his final two seasons, and is the League’s all-time leader in saves (28) and relief appearances (81).
Milan Dinga, Army West Point (2004-07) – Dinga was a standout during an impressive era for the Black Knights, with Army West Point winning the Patriot League title in his first two seasons in 2004 and 2005. He was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year as a freshman, and earned All-Patriot League honors in his first three seasons. Dinga was selected as an NCBWA third-team All-American in 2006. He is second in League history in both hits (257) and saves (27), and was selected in the 10th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels.
Santy Gallone, Fordham (1991-92) – Gallone led Fordham to the Patriot League title in each of his two seasons in the conference in 1991 and 1992, and won the League’s first two Player of the Year awards by taking the honor each year. He led the League in hits both seasons and also in batting average, home runs and RBIs in 1992. Gallone was a member of the Patriot League All-Decade Team.
Shane Groover, Navy (1997-00) – Groover dominated on the mound and is one of two student-athletes to earn the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year award three times, doing so in consecutive seasons from 1998-00. He earned first-team All-League honors in each of the seasons and led Navy to consecutive League titles in 1998-99 and three straight regular-season crowns from 1998-00. Groover is tied for second in League history in wins (25) and is sixth in strikeouts (237).
Mitch Harris, Navy (2005-08) – Harris had an outstanding career that included the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year award in 2006 and All-America honors in both 2006 and 2007. He earned a total of three All-Patriot League nods in 2006 and 2007, and stands in second place in League history in strikeouts (291) and sixth in ERA (2.51). Harris was a 13th-round selection of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2008 MLB Draft, and made his debut in the major leagues with the team this season.
Nick Hill, Army West Point (2004-07) – Hill won three Patriot League Pitcher of the Year awards, earning the honor consecutively in 2004-05 and again in 2007. He earned first-team All-Patriot League honors in all four of his seasons, and earned All-America status in both 2004 and 2005. Hill was also selected as ECAC Pitcher of the Year in 2007 and received Academic All-America recognition that year. He is the Patriot League’s all-time leader in victories (33) and strikeouts (336) and stands second in career ERA (2.20). Hill led Army West Point to consecutive League titles in 2004-05, with the Black Knights going 34-6 in League action and 76-29 overall in those seasons. He was twice selected in the MLB Draft, going in the seventh round to the Seattle Mariners after his senior season.
Ben Koenigsfeld, Army West Point (2008-11) – Koenigsfeld had a great career on the mound and at the plate. He was named Patriot League Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore in 2009, and also won the League Tournament MVP honor that season in helping the Black Knights to the Patriot League title. Koenigsfeld earned five All-Patriot League selections in his career, with four first-team honors and a pair of those coming in 2009. He also excelled in the classroom as a two-time Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year and two-time Academic All-American in 2010-11.
Toph Lake, Navy (1995-98) – Lake earned All-Patriot League status in each of his four seasons, with first-team honors in both 1996 and 1998. He finished his career by winning the Patriot League Player of the Year award in 1998, and led Navy to the League title that season as well as in his freshman campaign in 1995. He is the Patriot League all-time leader in triples (20) and in the top 10 in hits (226), and is also Navy’s all-time leader in runs scored (153).
Marcus Lee, Navy (1993-94) – Lee had a great two years in the Patriot League, winning the Player of the Year honor in both 1993 and 1994 and helping Navy to the League title in the latter season. Lee is a member of the Patriot League All-Decade Team and remains the all-time leader in batting average (.385) among players who have completed their career. Lee is also the school’s leader in home runs (29) and RBIs (178) and ranks in the Patriot League top 10 in each category.
Steve Mauro, Navy (1993-95) – Mauro earned first-team All-Patriot League honors in each of his three seasons, and led Navy to the League title in both 1994 and 1995 with a Tournament MVP honor in the former year. Mauro also made the Patriot League All-Decade Team. He finished his career with a .355 batting average and 43 doubles.
Matt McBride, Lehigh (2004-06) – McBride had an outstanding three-year career at Lehigh, and finished it up by winning the Patriot League Player of the Year award and leading the Mountain Hawks to their first League title in 2006. McBride earned multiple All-America honors that season, including first-team recognition from Collegiate Baseball. He was a three-time All-Patriot League pick, including first-team honors in both 2005 and 2006. McBride is tied for the Patriot League career lead in doubles (56). He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the second round of the 2006 MLB Draft, becoming the highest-ever pick from the Patriot League. McBride is now in the major leagues with the Colorado Rockies.
Kevin McKague, Army West Point (2008-12) – McKague was a standout player over his career at Army West Point, and helped the Black Knights win League titles in both 2009 and 2012. He was named Patriot League Player of the Year in the latter season and also earned multiple All-America honors. McKague won first-team All-Patriot League honors in all four of his playing seasons (2008-10, 2012). He was a dual threat who was a semifinalist for the Olerud Award as the Nation’s Top Two-Way Player in 2012, and is the Patriot League all-time leader in hits (283) and tied for second in saves (27). He was taken in the 23rd round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves.
Clint Moore, Army West Point (2008-11) – Moore has some of the best hitting numbers in Patriot League history, standing as the League’s all-time leader in RBIs (185), second in home runs (35) and fifth in both doubles (51) and hits (233). Moore earned first-team All-Patriot League honors in all four of his seasons, and earned multiple All-America honors as a sophomore in 2009 when he helped Army West Point win the Patriot League title. He was also named Patriot League Rookie of the Year as a freshman, and was selected in the 2011 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres.
Toby Moore, Navy (1993-95) – Moore had an impressive career on the mound for the Mids, which included a Patriot League Pitcher of the Year award in 1995. He was named to the first-team All-Patriot League squad in both 1994 and 1995, and helped Navy win the League title each season. Moore was selected to the Patriot League All-Decade Team, and is the League’s all-time leader in complete games (24) while ranking in the top 10 in wins (21).
Jesse Novalis, Lehigh (2001-04) – Novalis captured the Patriot League Player of the Year award as a junior in 2003, and earned All-Patriot League status in his final three seasons with first-team honors in the last two. He holds Lehigh’s career records for home runs (28) and RBIs (148), and is in the Patriot League top 10 in both categories.
Matt Perry, Holy Cross (2007-10) – Perry was named Patriot League Player of the Year as a junior in 2009, and earned first-team All-League status in each of his final two seasons. He stands in the Patriot League single-season top 10 for batting average (.423, 2009) and hits (81, 2010). Perry was selected the Detroit Tigers in the 2010 MLB Draft, and is the school’s all-time leader in hits (220), runs (135) and doubles (52), which is tied for fourth in League history.
Steve Reich, Army West Point (1991-93) – Reich was named the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year as well as a first-team All-League selection as a senior in 1993. He is also a member of the Patriot League All-Decade Team. Reich stands in the top five in Patriot League history with a 2.48 career ERA.
Adam Rosenberg, Lafayette (2001-04) – Rosenberg earned the Patriot League Co-Player of the Year award as a senior in 2004 to cap a career where he also received three All-Patriot League honors, with first-team status in his final two seasons.
Chris Rowley, Army West Point (2010-13) – Rowley had a standout career and was a key part of back-to-back title-winning teams for the Black Knights as a junior and senior. He earned the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year award as a junior in 2012 and the League Tournament MVP honor the following season. Rowley’s junior campaign was among the best for a starting pitcher in League history as he set a single-season record with 11 wins and was named a second-team All-American by three different outlets. Rowley earned first-team All-League honors in both 2012 and 2013.
Jim Sweeney, Holy Cross (1998-00) – Sweeney was named Patriot League Player of the Year in 1999 when he also earned All-America honors. He earned three first-team All-League honors over two seasons from 1999-00, and was selected in the 14th round of the 2000 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox. Sweeney is fourth in League history with a .375 career batting average, and second for a single season with his .448 mark in 1999.
Kyle Walter, Bucknell (2003-06) – Walter earned All-Patriot League status in each of his four seasons, with first-team honors in the final three. He helped Bucknell to the Patriot League title as a freshman in 2003, and was selected in the 18th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Cole White, Army West Point (2005-08) – White earned All-Patriot League honors seven times, receiving both first and second-team honors in his first three seasons from 2005-07 before a first-team spot in 2008. The dual threat was named Patriot League Player of the Year as a senior in 2008 and the League’s Rookie of the Year in 2005, when he helped Army West Point to a League title. White was selected in the 2008 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Schuyler Williamson, Army West Point (2002-05) – Williamson was named Patriot League Co-Player of the Year as a junior in 2004 and helped Army West Point win consecutive titles in his final two seasons in 2004-05. Williamson was a three-time All-Patriot League honoree with first-team selections in 2003-04, and was also named the 2004 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Williamson was selected in the 26th round of the 2005 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers.
