Baseball Lands Six On All-PSAC; McClain And Prachniak Major Winners

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – No. 13 West Chester University had six members of its squad receive a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) all-league nod while also claiming two major awards.

West Chester skipper Jad Prachniak was named as the PSAC Coach of the Year for the third time during his tenure, after leading the Golden Rams to their best conference record in his six years at West Chester (33-9, 22-6 PSAC) and the best home record in school history (15-1). Their impressive season is the best conference mark since 2009, when the squad went 21-3.
 
Meanwhile, senior right-hander Josh McClain (Tunkhannock, Pa./Northampton CC) was recognized as the PSAC Pitcher of the Year for his efforts at the back end of the Golden Ram's bullpen. McClain (7-0) held the second-best ERA on the team (2.39) and was first in wins (7), appearances (20) as well as saves (7).
 
Joining McClain on the PSAC East all-conference first team were designated hitter Shane Dressler (York Haven, Pa./Red Land) and third baseman Anthony Salomone (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York).
 
Dressler currently holds the 12th-best batting average in all of Division II, currently sitting at .426. He also leads the team in hits (63), slugging percentage (.655) and RBIs (37). A year ago, he was a member of the 2016 PSAC East all-conference second team. As for Salomone, this was his first all-conference selection in his senior year for the Golden Rams. He was second on the team with five home runs and played in all 42 games for West Chester this season.
 
Rounding out the list on the PSAC East all-conference second team were outfielder Drew Jarmuz (Kennet Square, Pa./LaSalle), right-hander Mike Cipolla (Newark, Del./Charter School of Wilmington) and first baseman Jared Melone (North Wales, Pa./LaSalle).
 
Jarmuz was third on the team in batting average this season (.336) and second with 13 doubles. Cipolla shined as the leader of a well-rounded Golden Rams rotation, leading the team in ERA (1.68) and tied for the lead with four complete games. His .227 opponents' batting average was the best on the team as well. Melone started all 42 games for West Chester this season, posting a .319 batting average and rapping out 51 hits this season, placing him second on the team.
 
West Chester clinched the PSAC East with a successful weekend against Lock Haven, securing the top seed in the East for the PSAC Tournament. The tournament begins with a matchup against Seton Hill on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Point Stadium in Johnstown, Pa.
 
PSAC BASEBALL EAST ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Pos.                          Name                            Cl.   University                                      Hometown/Previous
Catcher                     Steven Zimmerman^     Jr.    East Stroudsburg                  Pine Grove, Pa/Pine Grove
First Base                 Jake Kennedy                Sr.    Shippensburg                      Thorndale, Pa. / Coatesville
Second Base            Tyler Benson                 Jr.     Bloomsburg                             Montville, N.J. / Montville
Shortstop                  Cash Gladfelter            So.    Shippensburg                                 York, Pa. / West York
Third Base                Ryan McMillen              Sr.    Shippensburg              New Bloomfield, Pa. / West Perry
Outfield                     Chas McCormick**^     Sr.     Millersville                       West Chester, Pa. / Henderson
Outfield                     Austin Edgette*            Jr.      Bloomsburg                     Exton, Pa. / Downingtown East
Outfield                     Dan Neff                      R-Sr.   Millersville                               Lancaster, Pa. / Lampeter
Starting Pitcher         Tyler Eckman               Sr.     East Stroudsburg               Royersford, Pa. / Spring-Ford
Starting Pitcher         Gabe Mosser                Jr.     Shippensburg                    Laurys Station, Pa. / Parkland
Starting Pitcher         Jacob Belinda               Sr.     Lock Haven                             Port Matilda, Pa. / Tyrone
Relief Pitcher          Josh McClain               Sr.    West Chester           Tunkhannock, Pa. / Northampton
Designated Hitter   Shane Dressler^          Jr.    West Chester                     York Haven, Pa. / Red Land
Utility                        Ian Allen^*                     Sr.     East Stroudsburg            East Aurora, N.Y. / East Aurora
Infielder                   Anthony Salomone     Sr.    West Chester                  Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern York
 
PSAC BASEBALL EAST ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM*
Pos.                          Name                            Cl.   University                                       Hometown/Previous
Catcher                     Mitch Stolzfus**             Sr.     Millersville                     Gordonville, Pa. / Pequea Valley
First Base                 Dylan Tamecki               R-Sr.  East Stroudsburg              Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern York
Second Base            Hunter Szaflarski           Sr.      Lock Haven                    Greencastle, Pa. / Hagerstown
Shortstop                 Cayden Stover                Jr.      Lock Haven                  Beech Creek, Pa. / Chesapeake
Third Base               Tanner Klein, Mansfield  Sr.      Mansfield                      Shippenville, Pa./Allegany (Md.)
Outfield                    Nick Stotler                     R-So. Lock Haven                                 Pittsburgh, Pa. / Coker
Outfield                    Dalton Hoiles                  Jr.      Shippensburg              Spring Grove, Pa. / Spring Grove
Outfield                    Drew Jarmuz               So.     West Chester                Kennett Square, Pa. / LaSalle
Starting Pitcher        Eli Nabholz                     So.    Millersville                                 Pottsville, Pa. / Pottsville
Starting Pitcher        Mike Cipolla                Jr.     West Chester                Newark, Del. / Charter School
Starting Pitcher        Tyler Yankosky               Fr.     Millersville                                Larksville, Pa. / Wyoming
Relief Pitcher           Michael Hope                 So.    Shippensburg                         Camp Hill, Pa. / Camp Hill
Designated Hitter    Matt Lahn^                      Sr.     Lock Haven                     Georgetown, Ontario / Erie CC
Utility                       Grant Hoover^                 Jr.     Millersville                                           Dover, Pa. / Dover
Infielder                   Jared Melone               So.    West Chester                      North Wales, Pa. / LaSalle
 
Athlete of the Year: Chas McCormick, Millersville
Pitcher of the Year: Josh McClain, West Chester
Freshman of the Year: Tyler Yankosky, Millersville
Coach of the Year: Jad Prachniak, West Chester