All Region Teams
Wilkes University catcher Randy Dengler has been named to the Mid-Atlantic All Region first team, while teammates Tom Buckler and Andy Garofoli were slated on the second team for their performances this season.
Wilkes was the only school in the Freedom Conference to have somebody on the first team and was the only institution with more than one player honored by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Dengler was impressive both at the plate and defensively as he hit .348 with 12 doubles, eight home runs and 41 runs batted in. His 12 doubles was second on the team, while his eight round-trippers were tied for the team-lead with Garofoli. Not only was he a premier power hitter, Dengler picked off 11 runners from behind the plate and threw out 31 of 51 potential base stealers. He was named the Freedom Conference Player of the Week one time and was named to the All-Freedom Conference first team which was voted on by coaches across the league. Since he was named to the all-region first team, he is now eligible to make the All-America team.
Buckler finished his junior campaign with a 9-5 record which was the most wins in the Freedom Conference this season. His nine victories ranked in the top-10 nationally and recorded 58 strikeouts in 75 innings pitched. Not only was Buckler impressive on the mound, but he played the outfield for the Colonels as well where he hit .311 with two doubles, a triple and a home run in 45 at bats. Like Dengler, he was named the Freedom Conference Pitcher of the Week one time this season and was named to the All-Freedom Conference first team.
Garofoli made the All-Region squad as a designated hitter after recording a team-best .426 mark which ranked fifth among all players in the Freedom Conference. He finished with seven doubles, three triples, eight homers and 44 RBI which tied for the team lead. He struck out just 18 times in 122 at bats and recorded a slugging percentage of .730, which was tops on the team. Garofoli was the first to be named the Freedom Conference Player of the Week this season and was also named to the All-Freedom Conference first team.
The Colonels finished the 2009 season with a 29-12 mark and shared the regular season Freedom Conference title and eventually garnered the No. 1 seed in the ECAC South Championship. The 29 wins ties the school record for wins in a season.