CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Defending Patriot League Champion Army West Point finished atop the 2020 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll and senior centerfielder Jacob Hurtubise was named the preseason player of the year when the League office released preseason baseball honors on Tuesday. Holy Cross junior right-handed pitcher Liam Dvorak received the League’s preseason pitcher of the year accolades.
The Black Knights received 43 points and five first-place votes to top the poll for the second consecutive season in addition to placing three on the preseason All-League team, including Hurtubise. Navy, the 2019 runner-up, received 41 points and three first-place votes to finish second. The Mids also had three representatives on the preseason All-League team. Holy Cross finished third with 34 points and two first-place votes to go along with three preseason honorees, including Dvorak.
Lafayette finished fourth in the preseason poll with 24 points and two student-athletes on the preseason All-League team while Bucknell placed fifth with 21 points, including two first-place votes. Lehigh rounds out the preseason poll with 17 points. The Bison and Mountain Hawks both have one representative on the preseason All-League squad.
Eleven of the 13 Preseason All-Patriot League selections were members of the 2019 All-League team. Nine players, including Dvorak and Hurtubise, along with Army West Point junior third baseman Anthony Giachin, Bucknell senior outfielder Tyler Wincig, Lafayette senior outfielder Trey Durrah and sophomore shortstop Justin Johnson, Lehigh senior first baseman Tony Gallo and Navy senior second baseman Zach Biggers and junior reliever Trey Braithwaite were first-team honorees. Army West Point sophomore infielder Jeremiah Adams and Holy Cross senior outfielder Austin Masel were second-team selections.
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.
2020 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Player of the Year
Jacob Hurtubise, Army West Point, Sr., OF, Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville Community
*Hurtubise finished second in NCAA DI in on-base percentage (.541) and third in stolen bases (45) and walks (69) while leading the Patriot League in batting (.375), hits (75), runs (71) and walks (69).
*The Patriot League career leader in stolen bases (105) and walks (141) is a two-time First Team All-Patriot League and Academic All-League selection. He was also awarded the 2019 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.
*The senior centerfielder batted .522 (12-for-23) with eight runs in six tournament games to lead Army West Point to a League title and earn 2019 Patriot League Tournament MVP recognition.
*Hurtubise returned to West Point after being drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 2019 MLB Draft.
2020 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Liam Dvorak, Holy Cross, Jr., RHP, Bayport, N.Y./Chaminade
*Dvorak was a 2019 All-Patriot League First Team and Academic All-League selection after going 6-5 with a 3.58 earned run average (ERA) while holding opponents to a .238 batting average in 14 starts spanning 75.1 innings.
*His 83 strikeouts were second in the Patriot League and the best mark in Holy Cross program history since 1925.
*In League play, the junior right-hander went 4-2 with a 2.89 ERA with 52 strikeouts through 43.2 innings in seven League starts.
*He recorded six-consecutive wins between March 17 and April 22 including a shutout victory at Navy (March 25) and a two-hit, 10-strikeout outing vs. Lafayette (April 22).
2020 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point (5 first-place votes), 43 points
2. Navy (3), 41
3. Holy Cross (2), 34
4. Lafayette, 24
5. Bucknell (2), 21
6. Lehigh, 17
2020 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Major Award Winners
Player of the Year: Jacob Hurtubise, Army West Point, Sr., OF
Pitcher of the Year: Liam Dvorak, Holy Cross, Jr., RHP
2020 Patriot League Preseason All-League Team
SP: Liam Dvorak, Holy Cross, Jr., RHP*
SP: Jared Leins, Navy, Jr., RHP
RP: Trey Braithwaite, Navy, Jr., RHP*
C: Riley Livingston, Holy Cross, Sr.
1B: Tony Gallo, Lehigh, Sr.*
2B: Zach Biggers, Navy, Sr.*
SS: Justin Johnson, Lafayette, So.*
3B: Anthony Giachin, Army West Point, Jr.*
OF: Jacob Hurtubise, Army West Point, Sr.*
OF: Tyler Wincig, Bucknell, Sr.*
OF: Austin Masel, Holy Cross, Sr.^
OF: Trey Durrah, Lafayette, Sr.*
At-Large: Jeremiah Adams, Army West Point, So.^
*2019 First Team All-Patriot League Selection
^2019 Second Team All-Patriot League Selection
All six Patriot League baseball teams open the 2020 campaign on Friday, Feb. 14. Visit the Patriot League baseball composite schedule on the League’s official website – www.patriotleague.org – for up-to-date listing for how to watch or listen to games throughout the season.
