CCAA East 2 All-Stars named
NC’s Zielinski is Co-Player of the Year
Although the 2018 baseball season ended in the Section VI Class D quarterfinals for both North Collins and Pine Valley, both teams were full of players that were named to the CCAA Division II East All-Star team this week.
North Collins not only won the regular season league title, but their senior stud, Brandon Zielinski, will also be taking home some hardware for his individual efforts this season. Zielinski, the NCCC verbal commit, had a perfect record on the mound this season, going 4-0 with a 2.00 ERA, including a 14-strikeout complete-game performance on April 27 over Franklinville. Zielinski displayed dominant performances like that all throughout the season, which led to him being selected as the division’s Co-Player of the Year in 2018.
In addition to Zielinski, two other Eagles were selected to the division’s First Team All-Stars. Senior Anthony Novoa and junior David Gullo were both honored along with Zielinski. Along with them, senior Tanner Loretto and junior David Overhoff were named to the Second Team. The North Collins Eagles also has a pair of juniors in Nick Woronowski and Tyler Mathis selected to the list of the division’s Honorable Mentions.
Pine Valley finished their season with a 5-5 division record, earning them the No. 5 seed come playoff time. When the Panthers found success, it was in large part to the bats of seniors Dakota Loop and Trent Mihalko. Both batters had averages over .400 this season, and were key in driving in runs in important situations. Based on their performances this season both of them were named First team all-star selections.
Pine Valley also saw senior Stephen Crisanti and junior Kevin Hunt named as Second Team players. In addition, the Panthers had three boys named Honorable Mention in sophomore Corey Ellis, senior Ricky Johnston, and senior Zach Mansfield.
Pine Valley also took home some additional hardware as well, as they were given the Team Sportsmanship Award. Mihalko was their team representative for the award.
2018 CCAA East 2
All-Star Selections
Co-Players of the Year
Brandon Zielinski, North Collins (.429 BA, 4-0, 2.00 ERA)
Brock Blecha, Franklinville (.400 BA, 5-0, 1.50 ERA)
First Team All-Stars
Brandon Zielinski, North Collins
Anthony Novoa, North Collins
David Gullo, North Collins
Trent Gray, Frewsburg
Aaron Hair, Frewsburg
Brock Blecha, Franklinville
Jake Peters, Franklinville
Dakota Loop, Pine Valley
Trent Mihalko, Pine Valley
Griffin Chudy, Ellicottville
Steven Rowland, Ellicottville
Sam Grey, Cattaraugus/Little Valley
Second Team All-Stars
Tanner Loretto, North Collins
David Overhoff, North Collins
Tim Wright, Frewsburg
Reid Bjork, Frewsburg
Conner Burrell, Franklinville
Ben Mooney, Franklinville
Stephen Crisanti, Pine Valley
Kevin Hunt, Pine Valley
Austin Grinols, Ellicottville
Hunter O’Stricker, Ellicottville
Andrew Minnekine, Cattaraugus/Little Valley
Honorable Mention
Nick Woronowski, North Collins
Tyler Mathis, North Collins
Mark Mammoser, Frewsburg
Nick Marsh, Frewsburg
Nolan Brink, Frewsburg
Isaac Kopp, Franklinville
Corey Ellis, Pine Valley
Ricky Johnston, Pine Valley
Zach Mansfield, Pine Valley
Frank Neff, Ellicottville
RJ Alvarez, Ellicottville
Austin Baker, Cattaraugus/Little Valley
Shane O’Neill, Cattaraugus/Little Valley
Team Sportsmanship Award
Pine Valley — Trent Mihalko, team representative
Ellicottville — Evan Palmatier, team representative