LOCK HAVEN, Pa.- On the eve of the PSAC Tournament getting underway in Millersville, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has released its PSAC Baseball Major Awards and All-Conference selections.
Caleb Strawhecker (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove) earned Freshman of the Year honors and three more Golden Rams earned All-League citations as
Sean Szestowicki (Mount Royal, N.J./Kingsway) was named to the First Team while
Kyle Lazer (Havertown, Pa./Msgr. Bonner & Prendie) and
Austin Stalker (Wycombe, Pa./Council Rock North) earned Second Team honors.
Strawhecker, who turned in an excellent rookie season behind the plate for head coach
Mike LaRosa and the Golden Rams, became just the fourth Golden Ram to earn PSAC East Freshman of the Year honors and the first to do so since
Julian Costa in 2023. Prior to Costa's honor in 2023, one would have to go back to 2010 (Fred Breidenbach) and 2007 (Nick Spisak) to find the other Golden Rams honored in this manner. Strawhecker enters the PSAC Tournament third on the team in batting average at .324 (33-for-10) with 14 extra-base hits, including eight doubles, one triple, and five home runs. The freshman catcher has driven in 30 runs and scored 29 more and owns a .569 slugging percentage and a .421 on-base percentage in 40 games with 35 starts. Defensively, Strawhecker was charged with just one error and four passed balls this season, while throwing 10 would-be base stealers to lead the team in runners caught stealing. Strawhecker ended the regular season tied for third in the PSAC in runners caught stealing, trailing only Michael Burns of Kutztown, Drew Stangelo of Gannon, and Mason Morris of Shippensburg.
Szestowicki was named to the First Team All-League squad for the second time in his Golden Ram career after making his first appearance on this team a season ago. The veteran infielder was an All-Conference selection at shortstop a season ago and earned this honor as a second baseman this year after spending much of the season on the right side of second base for the Golden Rams. Szestowicki leads the team in batting average, batting a blistering .361 on the season with 61 hits, including 17 extra-base hits (11 doubles, two triples, four home runs) with 39 RBI and 41 runs scored. The veteran infielder is tied for fourth in the PSAC in hits. He has a .974 OPS (.521 slugging/.453 on base), which is third best on the team, trailing only Strawhecker and Stalker entering the PSAC Tournament. He has also stolen 18 bases on 22 attempts, which leads the team. Defensively, Szestowicki has a .966 fielding percentage with 45 putouts and 96 assists with just five errors. He has also helped turn 21 double plays, which is tied for second best on the team. The only player who has been a part of more double plays this season is Stalker, who has started at first base throughout the season.
Lazer also earned All-League honors for the second time in his career after earning a spot on the First Team All-League squad in 2022 as a reliever. In 2025, Lazer collects Second Team recognition as a starting pitcher for West Chester after posting a record of 8-2 with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 64.1 innings of work over the course of 12 starts. Lazer has a staff-best four complete games to his name this year, including two in each of his last two outings, and has struck out 71 while allowing just nine extra base hits (nine doubles) and holding opponents to a .233 batting average against. Lazer's ERA is fifth best in the PSAC, while his batting average against is seventh best, and his 71 strikeouts are tied for third best.
Stalker joined the Golden Rams ahead of the 2025 season and made an immediate impact in his first season wearing the Purple and Gold, earning Second Team All-League honors as the starting first baseman. Stalker enters the postseason with a .322 batting average with 49 hits, including nine doubles, two triples, and a team-best seven home runs. Stalker leads the squad in RBI with 43 and has also scored 34 runs while posting a .978 OPS (.546 slugging/.432 on base), which is second best on the team. Stalker is also 7-for-9 on stolen base attempts this season and has a .987 fielding percentage with 300 putouts and eight assists against just four errors. He has also been a part of 28 double plays for the Golden Rams this season.
West Chester will be back in action on Wednesday afternoon at Millersville, beginning at 4:30, as the Golden Rams take on California (Pa.) in an elimination game on the first day of the Tournament. Should West Chester advance past Wednesday, the Golden Rams will become one of just four teams remaining on Thursday, and the Tournament will become double elimination for the remainder of the week.
