UNCW baseball trio earns first team All-CAA

UNCW baseball standouts Mason Berne, Ryan Jeffers and Clark Cota earned a spot on the All-CAA first team, headlining a group of seven Seahawks to be recognized by the league’s coaches.

Berne started all 53 games for UNCW at first base. The senior led the CAA in batting average (.353) and total bases (120), while finishing second in home runs (12), second in RBIs (51), third in total hits (71) and third in slugging percentage (.597).

Jeffers finished the year batting .324, the league's 10th best average. The Seahawks' regular catcher led the CAA in slugging percentage (.654), on base percentage (.481), doubles (18) and home runs (14). He was also second in total bases (119), second in walks (47), third in hits (71), third in runs scored (48) and fourth in RBIs (46). It’s the second straight season the junior has been on the All-CAA first team.

After finishing the regular season tied for the 13th nationally in saves, Cota earned the nod as the first team All-CAA relief pitcher after garnering third team honors last year. Cota led the league in saves with 13. In 25 appearances, the junior has a 1.59 ERA over 28.1 innings of work. He’s allowed just 13 hits and five earned runs with 42 strikeouts with just 16 walks.

Third baseman Cole Weiss also earned All-CAA honors as the second team’s third baseman. Joining Jeffers and Berne as the only three Seahawks to start every game this year, Weiss has a .236 batting average with 23 RBIs and a .923 fielding percentage.

Three other UNCW players earned a spot on the CAA All-Rookie team as pitchers Gage Herring and Landen Roupp joined shortstop Greg Jones on the list. Herring took over a weekend starting role in late March, finishing the year with a 2-1 record in 14 appearances and eight starts. He’s fashioned a 2.76 ERA in 42.1 innings of work, allowing 31 hits and 13 earned runs while striking out 35. Roupp also became a weekend starter by necessity because of injuries. He’s started 12 games, working 45.2 innings and allowing 15 earned runs on 41 hits with 45 strikeouts. The highly touted Jones is fourth on the team with .260 batting average and leads the CAA with 17 hit-by-pitch. He’s also tied for fourth in the league with 15 stolen bases.

It’s the fourth straight year seven or more UNCW players have earn all-conference recognition. Unfortunately, it’s the first time 2016 that the Seahawks haven’t earned CAA Player or Pitcher of the Year honors. The program swept the awards in 2016 and 2017.

Northeastern outfielder Charlie McConnell earned CAA Player of the Year after finishing with a .353 average. He led the CAA in hits (73) and stolen bases (34).

Hofstra ace John Rooney was tabbed as the CAA Pitcher of the Year after posting a 1.01 ERA in 89 innings of work with 99 strikeouts and an 8-1 record.

Charleston’s Dupree Hart was selected as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, while Northeastern outfielder Ian Fair and Delaware pitcher Billy Sullivan shared Rookie of the Year honors. Northeastern’s Mike Glavine was named CAA Coach of the Year after guiding the Huskies to their second straight regular season title.

-- Reporter Alex Riley can be reached at 910-343-2034 or Alex.Riley@StarNewsOnline.com.

2018 ALL-CAA BASEBALL

Player of the Year: Charlie McConnell, Northeastern

Pitcher of the Year: John Rooney, Hofstra

Defensive Player of the Year: Dupree Hart, Charleston

Co-Rookies of the Year: Ian Fair, Northeastern; Billy Sullivan, Delaware

Coach of the Year: Mike Glavine, Northeastern

First team

C: Ryan Jeffers, UNCW. 1B: Mason Berne, UNCW. 2B: Dupree Hart, Charleston. SS: Ryne Ogren, Elon. 3B: Ryan Solomon, Northeastern. OF: Kyler Baker, Delaware; Charlie McConnell, Northeastern; Luke Morgan, Charleston. UT: Teddy Cilis, Hofstra. DH: Vito Friscia, Hofstra. SP: Kyle Brnovich, Elon; Sean Mellen, Northeastern; John Rooney, Hofstra. RP: Clark Cota, UNCW.

Second team

C: Danny Wondrack, Charleston, 1B: Jake Farrell, Northeastern. 2B: Cam Devanney, Elon. SS: Richie Palacios, Towson. 3B: Cole Weiss, UNCW. OF: Bradley Dixon, Charleston; Zach Evers, Elon; Mason Koppens, Northeastern. UT: Ian Fair, Northeastern. DH: Garrett Stonehouse, Elon. SP: George Kirb, Elon; Evan Sisk, Charleston. RP: Carter Love, Charleston.

Third team

C: Hunter Smith, William & Mary. 1B: Nick Patten, Delaware. 2B: Fox Semones, James Madison. SS: Max Burt, Northeastern. 3B: Joe Satterfield, Elon. OF: Kevin Mohollen, Delaware; Calvin Scott, Delaware; Adam Sisk, James Madison. UT: Logan McRae, Charleston. SP: Tyler Brown, Northeastern; Billy Sullivan, Delaware. RP: Andrew Misiaszek, Northeastern.

All-Rookie Team

UT: Ian Fiar, Northeastern. P: Gage Herring, UNCW; Landen Roupp, UNCW; Nick Stewart, James Madison; Billy Sullivan, Delaware; Jared Wetherbee, Elon. IF: Jordan Hutchins, Delaware; Greg Jones, UNCW; Josh Jones, James Madison; Michael Morgan, James Madison.