Six Selected To Academic All-District Baseball Team
MAAC Sports
Six student-athletes from Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference institutions were named to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-District 1 Baseball Team, it was announced today. The All-Academic teams are selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their performances in the classroom and athletically.
The All-District teams include student-athletes from eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada.
Canisius College has two members of the District 1 team, junior outfielder Connor Panas and pitcher Rohn Pierce. Panas, a physical education major with a 3.80 GPA, is hitting .321 with 12 doubles and 31 RBI for the Golden Griffins. Pierce, who has an 8-2 record with a 2.29 ERA, is a management major with a 3.51 GPA.
Marist College catcher Mark Brennan, who has started 18 of 21 games for the Red Foxes, is a psychology major with a 3.41 GPA.
Junior third baseman Justin Esquerra of Siena College, who has started all 42 games and is hitting .295, has a 3.41 GPA as an accounting major.
Manhattan College’s Joe McClennan was also recognized. McClennan has played both second and third for the Jaspers throughout the season, and has a .258 average. McClennan is a finance major with a 3.38 GPA.
Outfielder Alex Witkus of Fairfield is a junior who is hitting .260 for the Stags, with 26 runs scored and 33 hits. Witkus, who has stolen 24 bases in 26 attempts this season, is an accounting major with a 3.72 ERA.
First-team Academic All-District honorees advance to the Capital One Academic All-America Team ballot, where first, second and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later in May. District 1 encompasses colleges and universities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.