Four Mountain Hawks honored by Perfect Game prior to 2021 campaign
2/9/2021 4:28:00 PM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh baseball received more preseason accolades as Perfect Game released its 2021 Patriot League preview on Tuesday afternoon. Three Mountain Hawks, sophomore catcher Adam Retzbach, junior third baseman Gerard Sweeney and junior right-handed pitcher Mason Black, were added to the publication's All-Patriot League Team ahead of the 2021 campaign.
In addition, Black was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year and freshman right-hander Lucas Rich was named Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Black, who was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year by D1Baseball, Baseball America and the Patriot League itself, gets another honor by Perfect Game ahead of his junior season, which precedes what he hopes will be a very eventful season and summer prior to the 2021 MLB Draft.
Entering his third season with the Mountain Hawks, Black went 1-2 with a 3.68 ERA in four starts last season but struck out 29 batters and walked just eight in 22 innings. He punched out nine batters in each of his final three starts of the season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. In his rookie season back in 2019, Black went 3-0 in five starts, appearing in 10 games after missing majority of the year due to injury.
This past summer, Black went 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA and was named Pitcher of the Year in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League, allowing just 10 hits in 28 innings with 42 strikeouts, also starting the league's All-Star Game.
The Archbald, Pa. native has an opportunity to be the highest-drafted player in Patriot League history, currently the No. 53 draft prospect in 2021 by MLB Pipeline.
Retzbach had a very strong rookie season with the Mountain Hawks in 2020 and was named to J. Daniel Nolan Award Spring Watch List for outstanding freshmen at Lehigh. Speaking of Perfect Game, Retzbach was the publication's Preseason Rookie of the Year heading into last season and lived up to that billing before the season came to a halt before league play.
In 13 starts behind the plate, he had a slashline of .296 AVG/.481 SLG/.367 OBP with two home runs and six RBIs, walking five times. Retzbach led the Mountain Hawks in battling, runs scored (10) and was tied for the team lead in homers. He also had a productive year in the field at catcher, throwing out five batters trying to steal on six attempts. Retzbach enters the 2021 season on a 10-game reached base streak dating back to the conclusion of last season.
Despite 15 appearances a season ago, Sweeney continued to tear defenses apart, building upon his impressive rookie numbers in 2019. The Havertown, Pa. native slashed .292/.369/.343 with 19 hits, two doubles, a home run and seven runs scored in 2020, leading his teammates in hits and was third in on-base percentage. At third base, Sweeney finished the season with 25 fielding assists and five putouts and ended the year on a six game on-base streak.
Rich enters his first season wearing the brown and white with a ton of potential and upside, looking to make a quick impact in the starting rotation to begin his collegiate career. He has already been named Preseason Freshman of the Year by D1Baseball and was named the top newcomer in the Patriot League by Perfect Game back in September.
The Florham Park, N.J. native and Newark Academy product had a standout high school career and was named an All-Northeast Region First Team selection by Perfect Game heading into the 2020 season. Rich was the seventh ranked right-handed pitcher in the state of New Jersey and 14th overall for his class.
The Mountain Hawks officially get the 2021 season underway on Feb. 27 in a doubleheader at Coppin State in Baltimore.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
2021 Perfect Game Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Adam Retzbach, Lehigh, C
Zach Stevens, Navy, 1B
Cam Meyer, Holy Cross, MIF
Justin Johnson, Lafayette, MIF
Anthony Giachin, Army, 3B
Chris Cannizzaro, Bucknell, OF
Andre Walden, Army, OF
David Kale, Holy Cross, OF
Alex Smith, Navy, DH
Gerard Sweeney, Lehigh, UT
Mason Black, Lehigh, SP
Charlie Connolly, Navy, SP
Anthony Loricco, Army, SP
Luke Dawson, Holy Cross, SP
Trey Braithwaite, Navy, RP
Player of the Year: Anthony Giachin, Army
Pitcher of the Year: Mason Black, Lehigh
Freshman of the Year: Lucas Rich, Lehigh
In addition, Black was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year and freshman right-hander Lucas Rich was named Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Black, who was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year by D1Baseball, Baseball America and the Patriot League itself, gets another honor by Perfect Game ahead of his junior season, which precedes what he hopes will be a very eventful season and summer prior to the 2021 MLB Draft.
Entering his third season with the Mountain Hawks, Black went 1-2 with a 3.68 ERA in four starts last season but struck out 29 batters and walked just eight in 22 innings. He punched out nine batters in each of his final three starts of the season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. In his rookie season back in 2019, Black went 3-0 in five starts, appearing in 10 games after missing majority of the year due to injury.
This past summer, Black went 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA and was named Pitcher of the Year in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League, allowing just 10 hits in 28 innings with 42 strikeouts, also starting the league's All-Star Game.
The Archbald, Pa. native has an opportunity to be the highest-drafted player in Patriot League history, currently the No. 53 draft prospect in 2021 by MLB Pipeline.
Retzbach had a very strong rookie season with the Mountain Hawks in 2020 and was named to J. Daniel Nolan Award Spring Watch List for outstanding freshmen at Lehigh. Speaking of Perfect Game, Retzbach was the publication's Preseason Rookie of the Year heading into last season and lived up to that billing before the season came to a halt before league play.
In 13 starts behind the plate, he had a slashline of .296 AVG/.481 SLG/.367 OBP with two home runs and six RBIs, walking five times. Retzbach led the Mountain Hawks in battling, runs scored (10) and was tied for the team lead in homers. He also had a productive year in the field at catcher, throwing out five batters trying to steal on six attempts. Retzbach enters the 2021 season on a 10-game reached base streak dating back to the conclusion of last season.
Despite 15 appearances a season ago, Sweeney continued to tear defenses apart, building upon his impressive rookie numbers in 2019. The Havertown, Pa. native slashed .292/.369/.343 with 19 hits, two doubles, a home run and seven runs scored in 2020, leading his teammates in hits and was third in on-base percentage. At third base, Sweeney finished the season with 25 fielding assists and five putouts and ended the year on a six game on-base streak.
Rich enters his first season wearing the brown and white with a ton of potential and upside, looking to make a quick impact in the starting rotation to begin his collegiate career. He has already been named Preseason Freshman of the Year by D1Baseball and was named the top newcomer in the Patriot League by Perfect Game back in September.
The Florham Park, N.J. native and Newark Academy product had a standout high school career and was named an All-Northeast Region First Team selection by Perfect Game heading into the 2020 season. Rich was the seventh ranked right-handed pitcher in the state of New Jersey and 14th overall for his class.
The Mountain Hawks officially get the 2021 season underway on Feb. 27 in a doubleheader at Coppin State in Baltimore.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
2021 Perfect Game Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Adam Retzbach, Lehigh, C
Zach Stevens, Navy, 1B
Cam Meyer, Holy Cross, MIF
Justin Johnson, Lafayette, MIF
Anthony Giachin, Army, 3B
Chris Cannizzaro, Bucknell, OF
Andre Walden, Army, OF
David Kale, Holy Cross, OF
Alex Smith, Navy, DH
Gerard Sweeney, Lehigh, UT
Mason Black, Lehigh, SP
Charlie Connolly, Navy, SP
Anthony Loricco, Army, SP
Luke Dawson, Holy Cross, SP
Trey Braithwaite, Navy, RP
Player of the Year: Anthony Giachin, Army
Pitcher of the Year: Mason Black, Lehigh
Freshman of the Year: Lucas Rich, Lehigh
Players Mentioned
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