The American Baseball Coaches Association released the 2016 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-America teams and ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove team on Monday afternoon. Senior first baseman Alex Wojciechowski of Minnesota-Duluth won the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Bat Award as National Player of the Year.
Wojciechowski finished his season as the NCAA Div. II leader in runs scored (86), runs batted in (101), home runs (33), slugging percentage (.973), and total bases (218). He led Minnesota-Duluth to a 39-16 record and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Eight All-America selections are playing in this year’s NCAA Div. II College World Series in Cary, N.C., including three each from Millersville and Franklin Pierce. Millersville catcher Mitch Stolzfus was named third-team All-American and to the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Team.
The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now features nine divisions. The first ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America team was recognized in 1969 and is voted on by the ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America Committee, which is led by coach Rudy Garbalosa of Lynn University.
The first ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were recognized in 2007, making this the 10th year the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards have been presented in the collegiate and high school ranks.
The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 8,200 members represent all 50 states and 23 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth. The 73rd annual ABCA Convention will be held Jan. 5-8, 2017 in Anaheim, California.
SEE ALSO: 2016 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-Region Teams
About Rawlings
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings’ unparalleled quality, innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and the approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.
2016 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Bat Award – Player of the Year
Alex Wojciechowski, Sr., 1B, Minnesota-Duluth
2016-ABCA/Rawlings All-America Teams
NCAA Div. II All-America First Team
Pos. Player Cl. School State
C John Silviano So. Lynn FL
1B Alex Wojciechowski Sr. Minnesota-Duluth MN
2B Dylan Cook Sr. Georgia College GA
3B Stephen Lohr Jr. California Baptist CA
SS Evan Rogers Sr. Mars Hill NC
INF J.D. Arrowood Sr. St. Edward’s TX
OF Patrick O’Donnell Jr. Augustana SD
OF Luke Ortel Sr. Hillsdale MI
OF Ryan Snyder Sr. Quincy IL
OF Corey Wood Sr. Arkansas-Monticello AR
DH Reese Gregory Sr. St. Cloud State MN
P Placido Torres Sr. Tusculum TN
P Brandon Miller Jr. Millersville PA
P Guillaume Blanchette Sr. Lubbock Christian TX
P Colin McKee Jr. Mercyhurst PA
RP Matt Williams Jr. Grand Valley State MI
NCAA Div. II All-America Second Team
Pos. Player Cl. School State
C Will Albertson Sr. Catawba NC
1B Troy Sieber Jr. Saint Leo FL
2B Fernando Garza Sr. Philadelphia PA
3B Kyle Comer Sr. Minnesota-Duluth MN
SS Alexander DeGoti Sr. Barry FL
INF Mike McClellan Sr. Columbus State GA
OF Jordan Godman Sr. Colorado State Pueblo CO
OF Shane Billings Jr. Wingate NC
OF Robert Bennie Jr. East Stroudsburg PA
OF Will Robertson Sr. Delta State MS
DH Tyler Walters So. Slippery Rock PA
P Matt Kostalos Sr. St. Thomas Aquinas NY
P Dylan Stowell Jr. California Baptist CA
P Matt Festa Sr. East Stroudsburg PA
P Brandyn Sittinger Jr. Ashland OH
RP Devin Raftery Sr. Nova Southeastern FL
NCAA Div. II All-America Third Team
Pos. Player Cl. School State
C Mitch Stolzfus Jr. Millersville PA
1B Zac Heide Sr. Seton Hill PA
2B Jimmy Heck Sr. Minnesota-Duluth MN
2B Hunter McFall Sr. Lubbock Christian TX
3B Jay Jabs Jr. Franklin Pierce NH
SS Tanner Morache Sr. Dixie State UT
SS Tre Porter Sr. Shepherd WV
INF Ben Holland Sr. Lee TN
OF Tyler Bugner Jr. Newman KS
OF Lucas Raley Jr. Lake Erie OH
OF Chas McCormick Jr. Millersville PA
OF Landon Eason Jr. Central Oklahoma OK
DH Brandon Gomez Jr. Nova Southeastern FL
P Michael Koval Jr. Cal Poly Pomona CA
P Paul Covelle Sr. Franklin Pierce NH
P Sheldon Miks So. St. Cloud State MN
P Bryce Zak Sr. Angelo State TX
P Dalton Moats Jr. Delta State MS
P Tre Hobbs Jr. Delta State MS
RP Tanner Bird Sr. Franklin Pierce NH
Player of the Year: Alex Wojciechowski, Sr., 1B, Minnesota-Duluth
Position Player of the Year: Alex Wojciechowski, Sr., 1B, Minnesota-Duluth
Pitcher of the Year: Placido Torres, Sr., Tusculum
2016-ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Team
NCAA Div. II Gold Glove Team
Pos. Player Cl. School State
1B Angelo Navetta So. Molloy NY
2B Trent Giambrone Sr. Delta State MS
3B Devin Gearhart Jr. North Georgia GA
SS Brett Marr Jr. Rockhurst MO
OF Tadarious Hawkins Sr. Henderson State AR
OF Pat Mulry Sr. Stanislaus State CA
OF Tyler Hutch Sr. West Georgia GA
C Mitch Stoltzfus Jr. Millersville PA
P Daniel Nations Sr. Newberry SC
Defensive Player of the Year: Trent Giambrone, Sr., 2B, Delta State
