LA ROCHE ONCE AGAIN TOPS BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL

After missing the entire 2020 AMCC conference baseball season due to the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, AMCC baseball players and coaches are ready more than ever to take the field this spring. La Roche University, winners of the past six league titles, are once again expected by AMCC coaches to finish at the top of conference standings. Penn State Behrend is expected to take the number two spot, with Penn State Altoona finishing in third.

Penn State Altoona senior shortstop Hunter Breon and Penn State Behrend senior infielder Josh Wagner have been named 2021 AMCC Preseason Co-Players of the Year.

Breon finished the 2019 season ranking second in the conference in stolen bases (19), sixth in hits (54), eighth in runs scored (42) and walks (25), 13th in RBI (35), 14th in total bases (72), 17th in batting average (.344), 18th in home runs (3), and 20th in doubles (9).

Wagner, who was also named the 2020 Preseason Player of the Year, was a 2019 AMCC first team all-conference selection. In 2019, Wagner hit .355 and concluded the season ranked third in NCAA DIII statistics in doubles (23) and third in doubles per game (.56). He was first in the league in RBIs (32), doubles (18), and total chances (153), while ranking third in hits (32) and at-bats (75). Wagner led Behrend and the AMCC in RBIs (51) and was second in doubles (23). 

For the second year in a row, Behrend junior pitcher Thomas Zbezinski has been tabbed as the AMCC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Zbezinski was a 2019 AMCC second team all-conference selection. He finished the season tied for first in AMCC games with wins at 5-1 on the mound. He also tied for first in games started, while ranking third in ERA (3.07) and was fifth in innings pitched (35.2). Zbezinski tied for first in wins at 7-2 and was sixth in strikeouts (51). He made 13 appearances while pitching 61.1 innings and holding opponents to a .256 batting average.

The AMCC tournament will begin with a play-in game on Tuesday, May 4, with first round games taking place on Saturday, May 8. The AMCC Championship series is slated for Wednesday, May 19 at the site of the highest remaining seed.  The winner will earn the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Click here for complete preseason rankings and players to watch.