Pacchioli named Preseason Patriot League Player of the Year, Lehigh predicted third
2/3/2015 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
Patriot League Release
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh baseball team has been predicted to finish third in the Patriot League and senior outfielder Justin Pacchioli has been tabbed as the Preseason Player of the Year, as announced in the league's preseason poll on Tuesday afternoon. Pacchioli and junior Mike Garzillo were also named to the preseason All-Patriot League team.
Pacchioli has led Lehigh and the Patriot League in batting average for each of the last two seasons. The Easton, Pa. native finished the 2014 campaign with a .362 batting average, including a .382 mark in league play, en route to being named first team All-Patriot League. The outfielder also earned a spot on the All-Patriot League Tournament team after helping the Mountain Hawks to the Patriot League Championship series at Bucknell. He finished the season with 16 stolen bases and a .445 on-base percentage. Pacchioli also recorded 11 multiple hit games, including five three-hit contests.
Pacchioli's preseason Patriot League Player of the Year honor adds to his growing list of preseason awards as the senior was named the Projected Patriot League Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball in January. Pacchioli was also tabbed as the 53rd-best senior in college baseball by Perfect Game, joining the ranks of already drafted players and athletes from traditional power programs such as Texas, Mississippi State, Florida State and Miami.
Garzillo joined Pacchioli as a first team All-League selection a season ago after leading Lehigh in hits (56), extra-base hits (15), RBI (33), slugging percentage (.407) and walks (20). The Wind Gap, Pa. native also recorded the most multiple hit (16) and multiple RBI (11) games and was named to the Academic All-Patriot League squad. The second baseman wrapped up the 2014 campaign with a .308 batting average and .395 on-base percentage.
Defending champion Bucknell (50 points, 10 first-place votes) was predicted to finish first in the league, followed by Army in second (37 points, one first-place vote) and Lehigh in third (30 points, one first-place vote). Navy (29), Holy Cross (19) and Lafayette (15) comprised the bottom portion of the preseason poll. The Mountain Hawks will host Bucknell, Army and Navy in Patriot League weekend series this season on the newly renovated Goodman Campus Baseball Field.
After being picked fifth in the preseason poll last year, the Mountain Hawks finished in third place at 10-10 in the Patriot League and beat Army in the semifinals to make it to the Patriot League Championship for the first time since 2006. Lehigh finished the season with a 25-24 overall record and returns four of last season's five All-Patriot League members in Pacchioli, Garzillo, and seniors Connor Faust and Tim McKay. Junior righty Kevin Long is the top returnee to the rotation.
Lehigh kicks off the 2015 season on Friday, Feb. 20 at Davidson. The Mountain Hawks make their debut on the newly renovated and improved Goodman Campus Baseball Field on Wednesday, March 18 against Muhlenberg.
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates and content.
Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Bucknell, 50 points (10 first-place votes)
2. Army, 37 (1)
3. Lehigh, 30 (1)
4. Navy, 29
5. Holy Cross, 19
6. Lafayette, 15
Patriot League Baseball Preseason Player of the Year: Justin Pacchioli, Lehigh (Sr., OF)
Patriot League Baseball Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Anthony Parenti, Navy (Sr., SP)
Baseball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
SP: Anthony Parenti, Navy (Sr.)
SP: Alex Robinett, Army (Sr.)
RP: Corey Spera, Lafayette (Sr.)
C: Jon Mayer, Bucknell (Jr.)
1B: Anthony Critelli, Holy Cross (So.)
2B: Mike Garzillo, Lehigh (Jr.)
SS: Travis Blue, Navy (So.)
3B: Harold Earls, Army (Sr.)
OF: Anthony Gingerelli, Bucknell (Sr.)
OF: Evan Ocello, Holy Cross (Sr.)
OF: Justin Pacchioli, Lehigh (Sr.)
DH: Alex Woinski, Lafayette (So.)
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh baseball team has been predicted to finish third in the Patriot League and senior outfielder Justin Pacchioli has been tabbed as the Preseason Player of the Year, as announced in the league's preseason poll on Tuesday afternoon. Pacchioli and junior Mike Garzillo were also named to the preseason All-Patriot League team.
Pacchioli has led Lehigh and the Patriot League in batting average for each of the last two seasons. The Easton, Pa. native finished the 2014 campaign with a .362 batting average, including a .382 mark in league play, en route to being named first team All-Patriot League. The outfielder also earned a spot on the All-Patriot League Tournament team after helping the Mountain Hawks to the Patriot League Championship series at Bucknell. He finished the season with 16 stolen bases and a .445 on-base percentage. Pacchioli also recorded 11 multiple hit games, including five three-hit contests.
Pacchioli's preseason Patriot League Player of the Year honor adds to his growing list of preseason awards as the senior was named the Projected Patriot League Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball in January. Pacchioli was also tabbed as the 53rd-best senior in college baseball by Perfect Game, joining the ranks of already drafted players and athletes from traditional power programs such as Texas, Mississippi State, Florida State and Miami.
Garzillo joined Pacchioli as a first team All-League selection a season ago after leading Lehigh in hits (56), extra-base hits (15), RBI (33), slugging percentage (.407) and walks (20). The Wind Gap, Pa. native also recorded the most multiple hit (16) and multiple RBI (11) games and was named to the Academic All-Patriot League squad. The second baseman wrapped up the 2014 campaign with a .308 batting average and .395 on-base percentage.
Defending champion Bucknell (50 points, 10 first-place votes) was predicted to finish first in the league, followed by Army in second (37 points, one first-place vote) and Lehigh in third (30 points, one first-place vote). Navy (29), Holy Cross (19) and Lafayette (15) comprised the bottom portion of the preseason poll. The Mountain Hawks will host Bucknell, Army and Navy in Patriot League weekend series this season on the newly renovated Goodman Campus Baseball Field.
After being picked fifth in the preseason poll last year, the Mountain Hawks finished in third place at 10-10 in the Patriot League and beat Army in the semifinals to make it to the Patriot League Championship for the first time since 2006. Lehigh finished the season with a 25-24 overall record and returns four of last season's five All-Patriot League members in Pacchioli, Garzillo, and seniors Connor Faust and Tim McKay. Junior righty Kevin Long is the top returnee to the rotation.
Lehigh kicks off the 2015 season on Friday, Feb. 20 at Davidson. The Mountain Hawks make their debut on the newly renovated and improved Goodman Campus Baseball Field on Wednesday, March 18 against Muhlenberg.
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates and content.
Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Bucknell, 50 points (10 first-place votes)
2. Army, 37 (1)
3. Lehigh, 30 (1)
4. Navy, 29
5. Holy Cross, 19
6. Lafayette, 15
Patriot League Baseball Preseason Player of the Year: Justin Pacchioli, Lehigh (Sr., OF)
Patriot League Baseball Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Anthony Parenti, Navy (Sr., SP)
Baseball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
SP: Anthony Parenti, Navy (Sr.)
SP: Alex Robinett, Army (Sr.)
RP: Corey Spera, Lafayette (Sr.)
C: Jon Mayer, Bucknell (Jr.)
1B: Anthony Critelli, Holy Cross (So.)
2B: Mike Garzillo, Lehigh (Jr.)
SS: Travis Blue, Navy (So.)
3B: Harold Earls, Army (Sr.)
OF: Anthony Gingerelli, Bucknell (Sr.)
OF: Evan Ocello, Holy Cross (Sr.)
OF: Justin Pacchioli, Lehigh (Sr.)
DH: Alex Woinski, Lafayette (So.)
Players Mentioned
1B
/ Baseball
2B
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballBaseball vs. Coppin State
Tuesday, April 29
Baseball vs. Penn
Wednesday, March 19
Baseball vs. UAlbany
Sunday, March 16
Season Preview Baseball
Thursday, February 13
