All-Conference Teams
The Wilkes University baseball team was well represented on the All-Freedom Conference Baseball Team as three were named to the first team, while two were named to the second. Freshman Matt Ruch, who held one of the nation’s longest hitting streaks, was named the Rookie of the Year in the league.
Catcher Randy Dengler, pitcher Tom Buckler and designated hitter Andy Garofoli were named to the All-Freedom Conference First team, while relief pitcher Sean Flecknoe and Ruch were named to the second team.
Dengler was a mainstay behind the plate for the Colonels where he hit .363 with 11 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 39 RBI. His eight round-trippers tied the team lead and was second in doubles, triples and third in runs batted in. Defensively, he threw out 20 attempted base stealers and picked off 11 runners. He had a seven-game hitting streak at one time and tallied multiple hits in 13 different games. He also had multiple RBI in 12 different contests including three games where he drove in four runs.
On the mound, Buckler was the team’s ace where tallied a 9-4 record with a 5.07 ERA. His nine victories not only led the Freedom Conference, but was tied for fifth nationally. His 56 strikeouts on the year ranked second in the league and was third in the league in innings pitched with 71.0.
Garofoli led the team in hitting with a .431 primarily as a designated hitter and was fourth in the Freedom Conference at the plate. He had seven doubles, three triples and was tied for the team lead in home runs with eight. He was named the Freedom Conference Player of the Week once this season and had a 10-game hitting streak earlier in the year.
Flecknoe was outstanding in the bullpen for the Colonels as he finished with six of the team’s 10 saves on the year. He was the league-leader in saves and was tied for 19th nationally after pitching 21 innings and gave up just one earned run. He went 12.2 straight innings before giving up a run of any kind.
Ruch had one of the most successful first season’s in school history, finishing with a .379 batting average that included 10 doubles, 10 triples, seven home runs, a team-high 43 RBI as well as 93 total bases which was tops on the team. Not only did he hit in 20-straight games, which is the longest by a freshman in Wilkes history, but also reached base safely in all but one game this season. He had 17 multiple hit games including eight where he collected three-or-more hits. He also led the team with 13 multi-RBI games and even had two games where he drove in five-or-more runs.
The Colonels currently have a 28-11 record and are awaiting a bid to play in the ECAC Championship. They finished as co-champion of the Freedom Conference with an 11-5 mark and held the league’s longest win streak at 11 games and won 18-of-19 games earlier this season.