Gazette All-Stars: Baseball: Leaders on the field
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The Daily Hampshire Gazette Spring All-Star series continues with baseball.
The team is highlighted by three of the area's top seniors who helped their squads to strong seasons.
Garrison Banas of Hopkins Academy and Matt Robinson of Easthampton led their teams onto the field against each other three times this season, with the squads splitting the regular season and the Franklin League regular season title, followed by the Eagles taking the Western Massachusetts Division 3 Tournament semifinal contest in an all-time classic.
Banas, arguably the best pitcher in WMass, posted 415 career strikeouts and went 10-1 on the season with a 0.48 earned run average.
Robinson, a terrific two-way catcher, batted .377 with 23 RBIs for the Eagles.
Meanwhile, Steffen Herter of Amherst Regional bounced back from shoulder surgery to help the Hurricanes overcome injuries and a massive graduation to return to the postseason one year after winning the state title. Herter batted .476 with 24 runs scored and 26 stolen bases.
First team
STEFFEN HERTER (Amherst Regional): The senior played catcher and outfield for the Hurricanes and was one of the top players in all of Western Massachusetts. ... Leadoff hitter for most of the season, led the team in batting average (.476), slugging (.683), hits (30), runs (24), triples (three), total bases (43) and stolen bases (26). ... Posted a .667 on-base percentage and also saw time as the No. 3 hitter. ... One of the fastest players in the region and a standout defensive player at both positions. ... A two-time Gazette first-team selection. ... Will attend at Salisbury (Conn.) School next year.
JAY LINCOLN (Amherst Regional): The senior infielder was an on-base machine for the Hurricanes, reaching base at a .706 clip to go along with a .373 batting average and a .549 slugging. ... Led the team in RBIs with 16 and doubles with five. ... Was second on the team in runs scored (15), hits (19), triples (two) and total bases (28). ... Will attend Colgate University next year.
MIKE WALKOWICZ (Amherst Regional): The junior pitcher emerged as a legitimate No. 1 pitcher for the Hurricanes after the program graduated a slew of arms from the 2010 state title team. ... Southpaw posted a 5-3 record and one save with a 1.33 earned run average. ... Struck out 57 batters and walked 15 in 47-2/3 innings pitched. ... First baseman batted .268 with a .341 on-base percentage, five runs scored and five RBIs. ... Was a first-team selection as a freshman at Smith Vocational. ... An all-state selection.
MATT LATTANZI (Belchertown): The senior hurler anchored the pitching staff that went through the gauntlet of Division 1 teams during the regular season, but still earned a spot in the WMass Division 2 Tournament. ... Posted a 5-2 record and struck out 56 batters in 54 innings pitched. ... Tossed a complete-game one-hitter to defeat South Hadley and clinch postseason berth in regular season finale. ... Will attend Union next year.
MATT ANZIANO (Belchertown): The senior catcher was a two-year captain for the Orioles. ... A strong player both at the plate and behind it. ... Honored as an Under Armour Preseason All-American and selected to the ESPN Rise Preseason All-State Team. ... Played four varsity seasons. ... Will attend Stonehill College next year.
KYLE DUSSAULT (Easthampton): The senior pitcher was the staff ace for the Eagles, who reached the WMass Division 3 Tournament finals. ... Compiled an 8-1 record, including a pair of postseason wins, including a brilliant nine-inning effort in semifinal victory over Garrison Banas and Hopkins Academy. ... Posted a 2.57 earned run average duringthe regular season. ... Was third on the team in batting average (.309), and tied for first in on-base (.513). ... Scored 19 runs and drove in 12. ... Will attend Holyoke Community College next year.
MATT ROBINSON (Easthampton): The senior catcher was a strong player both behind the plate and at it for the WMass Division 3 tourney runner-up Eagles. ... A strong and vocal leader. ... Posted a team-best .377 batting averge, .580 slugging and .513 on-base to go with two home runs, 17 runs and 23 RBIs. ... Terrific at blocking pitches in the dirt. ... Will join battermate Kyle Dussault at Holyoke Community College next year.
JEREMY TANGUAY (Gateway Regional): The senior pitcher and catcher posted another terrific season both on the mound and at the plate. ... A four-year starter, batted .526 on the season and finished his career at .471. ... As a senior, had 40 hits, six doubles, six triples, three home runs, 28 RBIs and 22 runs scored at the plate. ... On the mound, he posted a 5-4 record with a 1.90 ERA and struck out 68 batters in 59 innings pitched. ... A two-time Gazette first-team selection. ... Will attend Westfield State next year.
ADAM MAJKA (Granby): The senior pitcher and outfielder wrapped up a terrific career for the Rams with a Tri-County League title. ... Southpaw posted a 6-2 record with a 1.82 ERA and struck out 87 batters in 51 innings. ... At the plate, batted .437 with 31 runs scored and 18 batted in. Also had 30 hits. ... A three-time Gazette first-team selection. ... Will attend Springfield College next year.
EDDIE HAGELSTEIN (Hampshire Regional): The sophomore pitcher and outfielder built on a strong freshman year to lead Red Raiders into WMass Division 2 Tournament for the first time since 2008. ... Missed the postseason due to injury. ... Went 4-3 with a 2.51 earned run average and struck out 39 battes in 47-1/3 innings. Also had one save. ... At the plate, batted .400 after hitting .388 as a freshman. ... An honorable mention selection as a freshman.
GARRISON BANAS (Hopkins Academy): The senior left-hander was arguably the best pitcher in western Massachusetts and an absolute workhorse for the Golden Hawks. ... Finished with an astonishing 415 career strikeouts. ... Posted a 10-1 record with two saves and threw 87-2/3 innings pitched, striking out 173 batters, walking 39, allowing 28 hits - none of which were for extra bases. ... Had a 0.48 earned run average. ... Tossed no-hitters against Pioneer Regional and had a combined no-no against Greenfield. ... Also Hopkins' best batter with a .404 average, .547 on-base and .561 slugging. Scored 19 runs. ... A four-time Gazette first-team selection. ... Will attend Salisbury (Conn.) School next year.
DAN KANE (Northampton): The senior outfielder and captain kept the Blue Devils afloat during some tough early times and helped Hamp to a strong finish, including its first postseason victory since 1997 when it knocked off Holyoke 12-1 in the WMass Division 1 first round. ... Finished second on the team with a .381 batting average and a squad-best 14 RBIs. Scored 16 runs and posted four doubles. ... A two-time Gazette first-team selection. ... Will attend Tufts University next year.
SAM GOODWIN-BOYD (Northampton): The senior pitcher missed two weeks during the regular season due to a torn PCL, but rebounded for a strong finish, including picking up in the win on the mound against Holyoke in the WMass Division 1 first round. ... Staff ace faced all the top programs and posted a 3-4 record with a 3.03 earned run average. Struck out 36 batters in 34-2/3 innings pitched. ... Batted .293 with a home run and 11 RBIs. Led the team in walks with 11. ... A second-team selection as a junior. ... Will attend Wesleyan next year.
JAKE LAGA (Northampton): The senior first baseman was a hitting matching for the Blue Devils with 26 hits and a .413 batting average. ... Scored 15 runs and had eight RBIs. ... Had two RBIs in tourney win over Holyoke. ... Also a first-team selection in basketball. ... Will attend UMass-Dartmouth next year.
NATE BERGERON (South Hadley): The senior second baseman helped the defending Division 2 champion Tigers get back into the postseason despite a brutal Division 1 schedule. ... Led the team in batting (.412), runs scored (17), hits (28), doubles (five) and slugging (.559). ... Also had 13 RBIs and struck out just four times in 68 at-bats. ... Enlisted in U.S. Air Force.
MIKE CROKE (South Hadley): The junior established himself as a standout backstop for the Tigers. ... Helped the defending Division 2 champion Tigers get back into the postseason despite a brutal Division 1 schedule. ... Was second on the team with a .371 batting average and .500 slugging percentage. ... Had 12 runs scored and 10 RBIs.
Second team
Tim Nagy, senior, Amherst Regional
Bobby Carkhuff, senior, Amherst Regional
Mike Foley, senior, Belchertown
Thomas Lucia, senior, Easthampton
Chris Starcun, sophomore, Easthampton
Brad Bean, senior, Frontier Regional
Keith Spencer, junior, Frontier Regional
Ray Bressette, senior, Gateway Regional
Gabe Craig, senior Gateway Regional
Sean Sheridan, senior, Granby
Jason Labrie, senior Granby
Keith Cotnoir, junior, Hampshire Regional
Nate Thompson, senior, Holyoke Catholic
Jamie Garand, senior, Hopkins Academy
Aiden Barrett, junior, Hopkins Academy
Enwil Berrios Maldonado, senior, Northampton
Andrew Sadowski, junior, Northampton
Nick Behrens, senior, Northampton
Sam Pouliot, senior, South Hadley
Connor Abert, senior, South Hadley
Honorable Mention
Asher Young, sophomore, Amherst Regional
Jared Freedman, senior, Amherst Regional
Jeff VanOudenhove, junior, Easthampton
Matt Gilbert, senior, Easthampton
Kyle Bryant, senior, Frontier Regional
Dan White, senior, Frontier Regional
Zach Cloutier, junior, Granby
Dalton Remy, sophomore, Granby
Billy Os, junior, Granby
Evan Klich, senior, Hampshire Regional
Ben Fisher, junior, Hampshire Regional
Mike Hagelstein, senior, Holyoke Catholic
Nick Limoges, freshman, Holyoke Catholic
Evan Delaney, eighth-grader, Hopkins Academy
Mack Hale, sophomore, Northampton
David Longstreeth, eighth-grader, Smith Academy
Alex Dizek, senior, South Hadley
Derek Heady, senior, South Hadley
Eric Pouliot, junior, South Hadley
Connor Sheridon, junior, South Hadley
