Empire 8 Release

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Two members of the Elmira College baseball team were elected to the 2019 Empire 8 All-Conference Team, as pitcher Nick Cottone '19 garnered a spot on the E8 All-Conference Second Team and outfielder Jansen Crossley '20 was named Honorable Mention.

One of the top arms in the conference throughout the spring, Cottone not only turned in his finest season on the mound, but one of the best performances by a pitcher in Elmira's five-year varsity history. The 6-foot-5-inch hurler tied a team record by making 10 starts in 2019, going 3-3 with a career-low 3.96 ERA in 61.1 innings of work. Cottone ranked second in the E8 in both strikeouts (70) and opposing batting average (.223), establishing a pair of new program records in both categories.

Originally from Toms River, New Jersey, Cottone began his senior season with his first win at Greensboro College in February, before striking out a single-game record 11 batters in a no-decision against No. 20-ranked Johns Hopkins University. A two-time E8 Pitcher of the Week, he earned his second weekly accolade following a 10-strikeout performance in a 10-4 win over Utica College the regular-season finale at Dunn Field on Sunday, May 5.

Crossley transitioned from the keystone to right field during offseason in order to give his bat more opportunities in the lineup. The move paid immediate dividends, as the Vancouver, British Columbia, native recorded a team-leading .312 batting average with career highs in hits (39), RBIs (21), runs (14), and stolen bases (5). The third-year slugger paced the Purple and Gold with 11 multi-hit games and pieced together EC's longest hit streak at nine consecutive games. Crossley ended the year by reaching base in 12 consecutive contests. During that span, he boosted his batting average by 41 percentage points.

Joining Cottone and Crossley on the Empire 8's year-end awards list was catcher Jack Donnelly '19. Donnelly was chosen to represent the Soaring Eagles on the E8 Sportsman of the Year Team, which recognizes one student-athlete from each institution for competing with honor and integrity. The Cooperstown, New York, native persevered through an injury that cost him his entire sophomore season and most of his junior campaign to appear in 19 games this spring. Donnelly amassed eight hits, including his first career home run, with four RBIs in 34 at-bats as a senior.

Empire 8 All-Conference & Major Award Winners
Player of the Year – Allen Murphy, St. John Fisher
Pitcher of the Year – Emmett Dunn, Ithaca
Rookie of the Year – Kenneth Westbrook, St. John Fisher
Coaching Staff of the Year – Ithaca
 
All-Conference First Team
C – Adam Gallagher, Ithaca
1B – Allen Murphy, St. John Fisher
2B – Webb Little, Ithaca
3B – Thomas Pasquale, St. John Fisher
SS – Justin Graham, St. John Fisher
OF – David Wessells, Houghton
OF – Sam Little, Ithaca
OF – Antony Mantova, St. John Fisher
Utility – Caleb Philips, Houghton
DH – Garrett Snyder, Ithaca
Starting Pitcher – Jake Binder, Ithaca
Starting Pitcher – Emmett Dunn, Ithaca
Relief Pitcher – Tim Geissel, St. John Fisher
Relief Pitcher – Alex Smith, Stevens

All-Conference Second Team
C – Michael Beimel, St. John Fisher
C – Matt Branco, Stevens
1B – Buzz Shirley, Ithaca
2B – Ryan Simmons, St. John Fisher
3B – Cam Fuoti, Ithaca
SS – Christian Tiffin, Utica
OF – Garrett Callaghan, Ithaca
OF – Ryan Brown, St. John Fisher
OF – A.J. Falconite, Stevens
Utility – Ben Miller, SUNY Canton
DH – Wayne Rode, Houghton
Starting Pitcher – Nick Cottone, Elmira
Starting Pitcher – Kenneth Westbrook, St. John Fisher
Relief Pitcher – Matt Eiel, Ithaca
Relief Pitcher – Brandon Roberts, St. John Fisher
Relief Pitcher – Joe Palmieri, Utica

Honorable Mention
Jansen Crossley, Elmira
Matt Carey, Ithaca
Tom Cosentino, Ithaca
Tyler Hill, Ithaca
Brandon Joslin, Houghton
Stephen Edgett, St. John Fisher
Tommy Baronner, Stevens
Tim Quinlan, Utica

Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year Team
Fernando Santana, SUNY Canton
Jack Donnelly, Elmira
Ronald Lott, Houghton
Jackson Smith, Ithaca
Timothy Geisel, St. John Fisher
Danny Poidomani, Stevens
Matt Fitzgerald, Utica