University of Albany Pitching Staff Highlights UAlbany's All-America East Conference Baseball Honorees - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Sean Gregory is among four Great Danes who earned All-America East Conference Baseball accolades, as announced by the league office on Wednesday afternoon. Gregory, a senior relief pitcher, and senior catcher Ryan Gugel were named to the all-conference first team, while sophomore Dave Kubiak and freshman Zach Kraham earned all-conference second-team honors. Kraham also earned a spot on the all-rookie squad.

Gregory was chosen as the conference’s top reliever, earning the second all-conference award of his career. The right hander, who will finish his four-year tenure with the Great Danes as the program’s all-time leader in appearances, has posted a 5-2 record this season, with six saves and 47 strikeouts in 59 innings pitched. He was an all-conference second team and rookie team member as a freshman.

Gugel earned his second all-conference award, moving up to the first team after a second-team appearance last season. In his second year with the Great Danes, Gugel is batting .290 with a team-high 44 RBI and nine home runs. He has gone 15-for-15 on stolen base attempts and has recorded a .950 fielding percentage behind the plate, while also seeing action at designated hitter.

Right hander Kubiak earns his first all-conference award with a spot on the second team. Kubiak earned all three of his wins in America East play this season, and has thrown a staff-best two complete games. He is tied with Gregory for the team-lead with 47 strikeouts and has completed a team-high 63.2 innings of work on the mound.

Kraham posted a 5-2 record in his first season with the Great Danes, starting nine games. He becomes UAlbany’s second pitcher in as many seasons to earn all-rookie accolades, following Kubiak last year. Kraham has fanned 37 opposing batters this season in 46 innings, holding opponents to a staff-low .263 average.

The Great Danes, who most recently won the America East championship in 2007, clinched their highest seed entering the tournament since joining the league. UAlbany, as the No. 2 seed, begins with a first-round game against the Stony Brook at 4 p.m. Thursday. The Great Danes are making their third postseason appearance in the last four years. The two teams split their regular season four-game series in Stony Brook on April 25-26.

2009 America East Baseball All-Conference Teams

First Team: Murphy Smith, P, Binghamton; Mike Errigo, P, Stony Brook; Keith Rakus, P, Vermont; Justin Albert, P, Vermont; Sean Gregory, P, UAlbany; Ryan Gugel, C, UAlbany; Rob Dyer, 1B, Stony Brook; Brad Brainer, 2B, UMBC; Matt Duffy, SS, Vermont; Kyle Klee, 3B, Binghamton; Corey Taylor, OF, Binghamton; Kevin McAvoy, OF, Maine; Brian Witkowski, OF, Stony Brook; Nick Thode, DH, Stony Brook.

Second Team: Dave Kubiak, P, UAlbany; Zach Kraham, P, UAlbany; Kevin Scanlan, P, Maine; Tyler Johnson , P, Stony Brook; Greg Lane, P, Binghamton; Myckie Lugbauer, C, Maine; David Ciocchi, 1B, Binghamton; Chad Marshall, 2B, Stony Brook; Tony Patane, SS, Maine; Jarrett Lukas, 3B, Maine; Bill Cather, OF, Maine; Michael Tansey, OF, Stony Brook; Mark Mikcowski, OF, Vermont; Justin Milo, DH, Vermont.

All-Rookie: Zach Kraham, P, UAlbany; David Ciocchi, 1B, Binghamton; Mike Augliera, P, Binghamton; Ian Leisenheimer, DH/OF, Maine; AJ Bazdanes, P, Maine; Pat Cantwell; C, Stony Brook; Tyler Johnson, P, Stony Brook, Nick Topeano, P, Stony Brook; Mike McCarthy, C, Vermont.

Rookie of the Year: David Chiocci, Binghamton
Pitcher of the Year: Murphy Smith, Binghamton
Player of the Year: Matt Duffy, Vermont
Coach of the Year: Tim Sinicki, Binghamton