CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Navy junior second baseman Zach Biggers and senior right-handed pitcher Noah Song were named the 2019 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively when the League office announced preseason honors on Wednesday. Defending League champion Army West Point was selected to finish atop the preseason poll with the Mids in second place.
The Black Knights had six 2019 Preseason All-Patriot League selections and received 44 points and eight first-place votes in the poll. Navy and its three preseason selections picked up 36 points and two first-place votes while Bucknell had four preseason all-League honorees and finished third in the poll with 34 points. Holy Cross had two preseason all-League selections and finished fourth with 27 points with Lehigh (25 points) and Lafayette (14 points) rounding out the poll.
Biggers, the 2018 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-League second baseman, and Song, a three-time all-League selection, highlight the 15-member Preseason All-Patriot League Team. Overall, 11 of the 15 preseason honorees earned 2018 All-Patriot League Team, including rookie of the year and tournament MVP Anthony Giachin (Army West Point, So., 3B). Seven preseason all-League selections were named to the 2018 first-team while four made the second-team.
Voting for the Patriot League baseball preseason major awards, all-League squad and poll were conducted by League head coaches and sports information directors. Neither group was permitted to vote for their own team or student-athletes.
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2019 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Player of the Year
Zach Biggers, Navy, Jr., 2B, Walhalla, S.C./Walhalla
*Biggers was a 2018 Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American and First Team All-Patriot League selection at second base.
*The Walhalla, S.C. native was named 2018 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year after finishing second in the League with 154 assists while posting a .980 fielding percentage.
*Biggers finished second in the Patriot League in batting (.343) and third in slugging percentage (.479) while leading the League in hits (73), doubles (20), total bases (102) and third in runs (43).
2019 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Noah Song, Navy, Sr., RHP, Claremont, Calif./Claremont
*Song is a three-time All-Patriot League selection, receiving first-team honors in 2018 after being a second-team pick in each of his first two seasons and the 2016 rookie of the year.
*The righty led the Patriot League in strikeouts (121) and possessed the best ERA (1.92) and opponents’ batting average (.178) among all League starting pitchers during the 2018 season.
*Song was second in the League in innings pitched (89.0) while tying for fifth with six wins.
2019 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point, 44 points (8 first-place votes)
2. Navy, 36 points (2 first-place votes)
3. Bucknell, 34 points (2 first-place votes)
4. Holy Cross, 27 points
5. Lehigh, 25 points
6. Lafayette, 14 points
2019 Patriot League Baseball Major Awards
Preseason Player of the Year: Zach Biggers, Navy, Jr., 2B
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Noah Song, Navy, Sr., RHP
2019 Patriot League Baseball Preseason All-League Team*
SP: Tyler Giovinco, Army West Point, Sr., LHP
SP: Daniel Burggraaf, Army West Point, Sr., RHP
SP: Jeff Gottesman, Bucknell, Sr., RHP
SP: Noah Song, Navy, Sr., RHP
RP: Cam Opp, Army West Point, Sr., RHP
C: Evan Klugerman, Bucknell, Sr.
1B: John McKenna, Army West Point, Jr.
1B: Tyler Wincig, Bucknell, Jr.
2B: Zach Biggers, Navy, Jr.
SS: Chris Rinaldi, Holy Cross, Jr.
3B: Anthony Giachin, Army West Point, So.
OF: Jacob Hurtubise, Army West Point, Jr.
OF: JohnPaul Bell, Bucknell, Jr.
OF: Austin Masel, Holy Cross, Jr.
DH: Liam Lowery, Navy, Sr.
*Four starting pitchers and two first basemen are included due to ties in the voting.
2019 Patriot League Baseball Preview
ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS
2018 Record: 37-24 overall, 18-7 Patriot League
(Patriot League Champion; played in NCAA Raleigh Regional)
Head Coach: Jim Foster
Notable: The defending Patriot League Champions return a pair of second-team all-League starting pitchers with senior right-hander Daniel Burggraaf (7-3, 2.90 ERA in ’18) and senior left-hander Tyler Giovinco (9-5, 3.26 ERA in ’18). Senior lefty reliever Cam Opp (5-2, 2.66 ERA, 4 saves in ’18) gives the Black Knights an effective arm out of the bullpen. Sophomore 3B Anthony Giachin (.288, 2 HR, 33 RBI) returns after earning rookie of the year and tournament MVP while all-League junior centerfielder Jacob Hurtubise (.278, 56 R, 42 SB) are back to lead the offense.
First Game: vs. Air Force (Baton Rouge, La.) | Friday, Feb. 15 | Noon
Army West Point Schedule
NAVY MIDSHIPMEN
2018 Record: 38-16 overall, 18-7 Patriot League
Head Coach: Paul Kostacopoulos
Notable: Navy and 2018 Patriot League Gene Depew Coach of the Year honoree Paul Kostacopoulos earned a share of their fourth straight regular-season championship, but were eliminated in the championship series by rival Army West Point. Preseason major award winners Biggers and Song along with preseason all-League senior designated hitter Liam Lowery (.312, 3 HR, 21 RBI, .484 SLG) all return to a Navy squad looking to make its 11th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2016. So. RHP Jared Leins (5-2, 3.21 ERA) returns after tying for the League lead with five saves last season.
First Game: at Gardner-Webb | Friday, Feb. 15 | 4 p.m.
Navy Schedule
BUCKNELL BISON
2018 Record: 17-27 overall, 13-11 Patriot League
Head Coach: Scott Heather
Notable: Senior RHP Jeff Gottesman (5-4, 2.85 ERA in ’18) makes the preseason all-League squad after ranking among the best pitchers in League play last season. Gottesman and the Bison pitching staff will need to make up for the graduation of 2018 Pitcher of the Year Connor Van Hoose, an eighth-round selection by the New York Yankees. On offense, preseason all-League selections senior catcher Evan Klugerman (.235, 2 HR, 26 RBI), junior first baseman Tyler Wincig (.277, .431 OBP) and junior outfielder JohnPaul Bell (.250, 5 HR, 23 RBI, .445 SLG) return for a team that took Army West Poin to three games in the 2018 League semifinals.
First Game: at NC State | Friday, Feb. 15 | 3 p.m.
Bucknell Schedule
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS
2018 Record: 18-27 overall, 11-14 Patriot League
Head Coach: Greg DiCenzo
Notable: The Crusaders’ top two hitters return from last season with junior centerfielder Austin Masel (.322, .477 SLG, .408 OBP) and junior shortstop Chris Rinaldi (.320, .453 SLG, .398 OBP), both 2018 first-team all-League honorees and preseason all-League selections. Holy Cross also returns a pair of senior right-handed hurlers with Pat McGowan (2-6, 3.22 ERA, .192 opp. avg.) and Declan Cronin (4-5, 4.16 ERA).
First Game: at Baylor | Friday, Feb. 15 | 7:35 p.m.
Holy Cross Schedule
LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS
2018 Record: 22-27 overall, 10-15 Patriot League
Head Coach: Sean Leary
Notable: The Mountain Hawks return a pair of junior pitchers with Levi Stoudt (3-8, 3.03 ERA) and Jason Reynolds (4-5, 3.60 ERA). All-League senior catcher Jeff Shanfeldt (.280, 2 HR, 20 RBI) and junior 1B Tony Gallo (.314, .405 OBP, 19 RBI) are Lehigh’s leading returning bats. Senior LHP Ethan Frohman tied for the Patriot League lead with five saves last season.
First Game: at Duke | Friday, Feb. 15 | 4 p.m.
Lehigh Schedule
LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS
2018 Record: 16-34 overall, 4-20 Patriot League
Head Coach: Joe Kinney
Notable: Junior outfielder Trey Durrah (.306, .463 SLG, .395 OBP) returns after hitting four home runs and tying for a team-high 27 RBI’s last season. Senior outfielder Dan Leckie after hitting .280 with two home runs and two RBIs in six of the team’s first eight games, before missing the rest of the season. Junior LHP Brett Kreyer (2-7, 5.04 ERA) pitched a team-high 64.1 innings in 12 starts last season.
First Game: at Elon | Friday, Feb. 15 | 4 p.m.
Lafayette Schedule
