UTICA — The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League announced its yearly All-League teams on Monday afternoon, honoring the best players in the PGCBL during the 2019 season. The teams were selected by a vote of the league’s head coaches, and were picked from nominations submitted by each team.
Both the first and second teams are made up of one player at each position, as well as a utility player. Four starting pitchers and two relief pitchers were also selected.
Due to ties in the voting, four outfielders were selected to the first team, with two others being named second team.
Additionally, three relief pitchers were named second-team all-PGCBL.
Seven franchises had multiple representatives on the all-PGCBL first team, led by three selections from the Saugerties Stallions.
The Amsterdam Mohawks, which won the PGCBL title last week, had third baseman Max Costes (Maryland) and first baseman JD Mundy (Radford) named to the first team. The Mohawks also had outfielder Mitch Hartigan (Florida Atlantic) and relief pitcher Dylan Smith (Alabama) named to the second team.
The Saugerties pitching staff was well represented, as starter Lane Miller (Indiana State) and closer Henry Funaro (UMass Lowell) were selected among the best in the league. Saugerties other first-team selection was outfielder Tyler Kelder (St. Bonaventure). Albany, Amsterdam, Mohawk Valley, Adirondack, Newark, and Utica all had two players each on the first team.
The Albany Dutchmen, who finished second in the East Division and advanced to the East Division Championship Series, led all PGCBL franchises with six total selections — two on the first team and four on the second team. Albany’s first-team selections were shortstop Justin Bench (Ole Miss) and utility player Mitchell Henshaw (St. John’s), while third baseman Tommy Pellis (Seton Hill) joined pitchers Nick Grabek (Fairfield), Gloversville graduate Aaron Dona (St. Thomas Aquinas) and Blake Bales (Virginia) on the second team.
Following the Dutchmen were the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs, who had five selections. The regular season division champions — the Amsterdam Mohawks and the Utica Blue Sox —each placed four players on the All-PGCBL teams.
The West Division champion Adirondack Trail Blazers were among teams with three selections, joining the Saugerties Stallions and Newark Pilots. Oneonta, Elmira, and Geneva each had one selection.
In total, 10 of the PGCBL’s 12 teams had a representative on the All-PGCBL rosters, including all eight playoff teams.
Two players from last season’s All-PGCBL teams are on the roster for the second year in a row — Newark’s Allen Murphy (St. John Fisher) is a first-team selection for the second year in a row, while Utica’s Luis DeLeon was upgraded from the second team to the first team.
Throughout the next week, the PGCBL will be unveiling its yearly awards, beginning with the announcement of the all-PGCBL teams.
The PGCBL Coach of the Year will be announced today.
On Wednesday, the PGCBL Pitcher of the Year will be named, and on Thursday, the PGCBL Player of the Year will be announced.
2019 Perfect Game Collegiated Baseball League
All-League Team
First Team
Catcher: Nick Cimillo, Mohawk Valley (Manhattan)
First Base: JD Mundy, Amsterdam (Radford)
Second Base: Luis DeLeon, Utica (Central Alabama CC)
Shortstop: Justin Bench, Albany (Ole Miss)
Third Base: Max Costes, Amsterdam (Maryland)
Outfield: Kevin Ferrer, Adirondack (UConn)
Outfield: Tyler Kelder, Saugerties (St. Bonaventure)
Outfield: Allen Murphy, Newark (St. John Fisher)
Outfield: Over Torres, Newark (Bethune-Cookman)
Utility Player: Mitchell Henshaw, Albany (St. John’s)
Starting Pitcher: Cole Miller, Mohawk Valley (Herkimer)
Starting Pitcher: Lane Miller, Saugerties (Indiana State)
Starting Pitcher: Noah Rubino, Elmira (Siena)
Starting Pitcher: Ryan Solimine, Adirondack (Mitchell)
Relief Pitcher: Henry Funaro, Saugerties (UMass Lowell)
Relief Pitcher: Ray Pacella, Utica (Rockland CC)
Second Team
Catcher: Jared Payne, Oneonta (Kentucky)
First Base: Joe Carpenter, Mohawk Valley (Delaware)
Second Base: Justin Guerrera, Mohawk Valley (Fairfield)
Shortstop: Tyler Simon, Utica (Kennesaw State)
Third Base: Tommy Pellis, Albany (Seton Hill)
Outfield: Brandon Cooper, Geneva (Adrian)
Outfield: Mitch Hartigan, Amsterdam (Florida Atlantic)
Utility Player: Dylan Duplechain, Newark (Mississippi College)
Starting Pitcher: Nick Grabek, Albany (Fairfield)
Starting Pitcher: Steven Miller, Adirondack (Penn State)
Starting Pitcher: Dalton O?Boyle, Utica (Davenport)
Starting Pitcher: Roy Robles, Mohawk Valley (Missouri Western)
Relief Pitcher: Blake Bales, Albany (Virginia)
Relief Pitcher: Aaron Dona, Albany (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Relief Pitcher: Dylan Smith, Amsterdam (Alabama)
