All-Time Wagner All-NEC Selections / Major Award Winners
Lakewood, NJ - Junior outfielder
Ian Miller (Downingtown, PA / Bishop Shanahan) and sophomore catcher
Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ / Monroe Township) were each named to All-NEC First Team while junior
Chris Smith (Tampa, FL / Freedom / Ellsworth CC (IA)) was tabbed to the Second Team at the league's annual postseason awards banquet at FirstEnergy Park.
Miller, who was tabbed as a Second Team selection a year ago, had one of the finest seasons in school history, stealing a school and league-record 46 bases while also pacing the circuit with 77 hits and 46 runs en route to posting a .329 average. The Keystone State native also played a sterling center field while regularly roaming one of the biggest outfields in the NEC in Richmond County Bank Ballpark.
During league play, Miller hit .311 while recording team-bests with 28 runs, 42 hits and 25 stolen bases while hitting safely in 24-of-32 conference games.
Dini becomes the first-ever NEC First Team selection at catcher in school history after hitting .312 with a league-best 46 RBI while also ranking among the league leaders in total bases (97) (5th), hits (67) (7th), doubles (14) (t-7th), runs (39) (8th) and home runs (4) (t-9th). The Garden State native also threw out 29.4 percent (10-of-34) of would-be base stealers.
During league play, Dini batted .314 with a team-best nine doubles, three home runs, 29 RBI and a .483 slugging percentage while hitting safely in 22-of-32 conference games.
Miller and Dini also become the 30th and 31st Seahawk players to be named to the All-NEC First Team since the inception of the teams in 1988.
Smith rounds out the all-league performers for Wagner, earning second team honors as a designated hitter after batting .299 while ranking among the league leaders in walks (36) (2nd), OBP (.436) (5th), stolen bases (17) (t-6th), triples (3) (t-6th), home runs (4) (t-9th) and runs (38 (9th).
During league play, Smith hit .284 with seven doubles, three triples and three home runs while batting safely in 21-of-32 conference games.
Smith also becomes the 10th All-NEC designated hitter in school history.
Bryant placed a league-high five players on the All-NEC teams and took home three of the four major awards. Senior third baseman Kevin Brown was voted Player of the Year, freshman AJ Zarozny as the Rookie of the Year and Steve Owens as the Coach of the Year. Monmouth's Andrew McGee rounded out the major award winners, earning Pitcher of the Year honors.
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Photography by Dave Saffran
