Four Mountain Hawks gain national exposure in preseason previews
1/29/2019 10:00:00 AM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Lehigh baseball season is right around the corner with the season opener taking place on Feb. 15 against Duke in Durham and publications are already recognizing talent across the board and in the Patriot League.
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Lehigh was heavily featured in D1Baseball.com (subscription required) and College Baseball Daily's preseason Patriot League preview in the last couple weeks, as multiple players were recognized as being impact players on the Mountain Hawks for the upcoming season.
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Seniors Jeff Shanfeldt and Ethan Frohman, along with junior Levi Stoudt were Lehigh's three representatives on College Baseball Daily's All-Patriot League team.
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Shanfeldt has been a force behind the plate and at bat for Lehigh in the first three years of his career and will be an impact player heading into his fourth and final year as catcher. He had 42 hits, five doubles and two home runs with 20 RBIs and slashed .280/.367/.376 last season, earning him Second Team All-Patriot League honors. In his 47 appearances in 2018, Shanfeldt made 46 starts. D1Baseball.com said that Shanfeldt "is strong defensively and also the cleanup hitter."
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Frohman led the pitching staff in appearances (17) and saves (5) last season and will enter 2019 as one of the biggest staples of the Mountain Hawks' bullpen with a chance to also find time in the rotation as well. His five saves were a Patriot League-high mark. He posted a season-high five strikeouts on two separate occasions. Frohman held his league opponents to a .143 batting average and had an overall opponent batting average of .208.
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Finally, Levi Stoudt is about to embark on what could be considered one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory. Stoudt enters 2019 as a highly-touted major league prospect and his success on the mound did not go unnoticed. Stoudt started the 2018 season slowly, but his production picked up in the later months and the Mountain Hawks looked to clinch a spot in the Patriot League Tournament at season's end. He led all Lehigh pitchers in innings pitched (65.1) last season, along with a team-high four complete games. He had three double-digit strikeout games, including a season-high 12 against Holy Cross (3/31/18). He finished the year with a 3.03 ERA and 67 strikeouts.
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Of Stoudt and Frohman as a part of the Lehigh pitching staff, D1baseball.com had high praise for the pair.
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D1Baseball.com also recognized Lehigh right-hand pitcher Mason Black, who was named Preseason Patriot League Freshman of the Year by the publication. Black was the 2018 Lackawanna League Player of the Year and helped lead Valley View to the 2018 PIAA 4A State Championship Game. He posted a career-low 1.19 ERA with 123 strikeouts. Black will play for the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod Baseball League this upcoming June.
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Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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Lehigh was heavily featured in D1Baseball.com (subscription required) and College Baseball Daily's preseason Patriot League preview in the last couple weeks, as multiple players were recognized as being impact players on the Mountain Hawks for the upcoming season.
Â
Seniors Jeff Shanfeldt and Ethan Frohman, along with junior Levi Stoudt were Lehigh's three representatives on College Baseball Daily's All-Patriot League team.
Â
Shanfeldt has been a force behind the plate and at bat for Lehigh in the first three years of his career and will be an impact player heading into his fourth and final year as catcher. He had 42 hits, five doubles and two home runs with 20 RBIs and slashed .280/.367/.376 last season, earning him Second Team All-Patriot League honors. In his 47 appearances in 2018, Shanfeldt made 46 starts. D1Baseball.com said that Shanfeldt "is strong defensively and also the cleanup hitter."
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Frohman led the pitching staff in appearances (17) and saves (5) last season and will enter 2019 as one of the biggest staples of the Mountain Hawks' bullpen with a chance to also find time in the rotation as well. His five saves were a Patriot League-high mark. He posted a season-high five strikeouts on two separate occasions. Frohman held his league opponents to a .143 batting average and had an overall opponent batting average of .208.
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Finally, Levi Stoudt is about to embark on what could be considered one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory. Stoudt enters 2019 as a highly-touted major league prospect and his success on the mound did not go unnoticed. Stoudt started the 2018 season slowly, but his production picked up in the later months and the Mountain Hawks looked to clinch a spot in the Patriot League Tournament at season's end. He led all Lehigh pitchers in innings pitched (65.1) last season, along with a team-high four complete games. He had three double-digit strikeout games, including a season-high 12 against Holy Cross (3/31/18). He finished the year with a 3.03 ERA and 67 strikeouts.
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Of Stoudt and Frohman as a part of the Lehigh pitching staff, D1baseball.com had high praise for the pair.
In addition to his Preseason All-Patriot League nod, Stoudt was also ranked No. 79 on College Baseball Daily's Top 100 players countdown."Stoudt is a potential top-five-rounds prospect thanks to a 91-94 fastball that can touch 96, a quality changeup and emerging slider...Pitchability lefty Ethan Frohman gives Lehigh a reliable senior option for the No. 3 starter role."
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D1Baseball.com also recognized Lehigh right-hand pitcher Mason Black, who was named Preseason Patriot League Freshman of the Year by the publication. Black was the 2018 Lackawanna League Player of the Year and helped lead Valley View to the 2018 PIAA 4A State Championship Game. He posted a career-low 1.19 ERA with 123 strikeouts. Black will play for the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod Baseball League this upcoming June.
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Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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