University of Maine first baseman Hunter St. Denis became the first Black Bear since 2007 to be named the America East Rookie of the Year.
He was one of five Black Bears to receive All-America East honors.
St. Denis was also chosen to the All-America East First Team and All-Rookie Team.
Redshirt junior pitcher Jason Krieger and graduate student-right fielder Juju Stevens also earned spots on the First Team; redshirt junior Albert De La Rosa was selected to the Second Team as a designated hitter; and third baseman Troy Carpenter accompanied St. Denis on the All-Rookie Team.
Senior outfielder Ehi Okojie became the University of Maryland Baltimore County’s first-ever America East Player of the Year, and right-hander Dylan Banner became Albany’s first Pitcher of the Year award recipient.
Binghamton’s Tim Sinicki was the Coach of the Year.
St. Denis is the seventh Black Bear to earn an All-America East/NAC Rookie of the Year Award, but the first since catcher Myckie Lugbauer in 2007.
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St. Denis, a native of Laytonsville, Maryland, finished in the top three on the team in nine offensive categories including second in batting average (.295), hits (56), slugging percentage (.500) and OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) at .872, tied for second in runs scored (36) and runs-batted in (38) and third in homers (10), on-base percentage (.372) and total bases (95).
In addition, he made just one error at first base and handled a league-high 397 chances.
In America East play only, he hit .348 with six homers, 16 RBIs and 22 runs scored in 24 conference games. He had a .607 slugging percentage and a .442 on-base percentage and his 1.049 OPS was third-best in the conference.
Kreiger, who is from Red Lion, Pennsylvania, evolved into the ace of the pitching staff, finishing the regular season with a 3-6 record and a 4.37 ERA. He threw a league-high 82 ⅓ innings and allowed 86 hits and 40 earned runs with 48 strikeouts and 32 walks.
He has a 2.52 ERA over his last eight starts and, over his last three starts, he has allowed only four earned runs over 22 innings with 14 strikeouts and just one walk.
In league play only, he was 2-3 with a 3.42 ERA and allowed 46 hits in 50 innings with 30 strikeouts and 17 walks.
Krieger was chosen to the All-Rookie team two years ago but missed all of last season due to Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm.
Stevens, who is from Durham, North Carolina, and formerly played at Missouri and Georgia Southern, led the Black Bears in batting average (.307), runs scored (50), hits (58), total bases (114), slugging percentage (.603) and OPS (.994) and was tied for first in homers (14) and triples (2).
His 14 homers shared the conference high with Carpenter.
He was second on the team in doubles (10) and on-base percentage (.391) and tied for second in RBIs (38).
De La Rosa, who is from Ayer, Massachusetts, missed a good portion of the early-season schedule due to injury but finished strong, hitting 385 over his last 10 games with 12 runs batted in.
He wound up hitting .290 with three homers and 21 RBIs in 33 games and he also had six doubles.
In conference play, he hit .366 in 11 games with 12 RBIs. He had five multi-hit games and drove in two or more runs in five conference games.
Carpenter, a native of Kathleen, Georgia, led the team in RBIs with 48 and he shared the team and conference lead in homers with Stevens with 14.
His 48 RBIs were third-most in America East.
He was second on the team in total bases with 96 and tied for second in runs scored with 36. His .497 slugging percentage was third-best.
