Photo by: Lisa Stamford
Lehigh picked third, Black named Preseason Pitcher of the Year
2/9/2021 11:00:00 AM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — As the start of the 2021 season inches closer, the Patriot League have officially presented its preseason accolades, as Lehigh baseball junior right-hander Mason Black was named the league's Preseason Pitcher of the Year, voted on by the coaches and SIDs. In addition, the Mountain Hawks were picked third with two first-place votes.
Black, who was recently named a Third Team Preseason All-American by Baseball America, becomes the program's first Preseason Pitcher of the Year in at least two decades.
"Mason has definitely earned the preseason recognition that he is garnering," said head coach Sean Leary. "But I love that his focus remains on the task at hand, which is helping lead our program to a third Patriot League Championship."
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.
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.
He has a chance to become the program's and the league's highest drafted player ever this summer for the 2021 MLB Draft. That distinction is currently held by program legend and Lehigh Hall of Famer Matt McBride '07, who was the 75th overall selection by the Cleveland Indians in the supplemental second round of the 2006 MLB Draft.
Black was named the top draft prospect in the Patriot League by both major publications D1Baseball.com and Baseball America prior to the start of the campaign. By many scouts and media, he has an opportunity to be drafted within the first three rounds.
As a team, the Mountain Hawks were picked third in the Patriot League with 37 points and two first-place votes, trailing just Army West Point (39, 1 first-place vote) and Navy (49, 9). This is Lehigh's highest preseason ranking since being picked third prior to the start of the 2017 season. The Mountain Hawks are looking to qualify for the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2016.
"Our program sees preseason polls as great motivation for the year," said Leary. "We know and respect that the academies have earned being the Patriot League favorites. However, our guys just need to remain focused on working towards playing our best baseball in May."
Under the direction of Leary, who enters his 26th season at the helm, Lehigh may just make a case to have the strongest starting rotation in the Patriot League this season, led by three MLB Draft hopefuls this summer in Black, senior righty Matt Svanson and junior southpaw Luke Rettig. Sophomore right-hander Carlos Torres and freshman righty Lucas Rich also come into the season strong and ready to compete for rotational spots.
Offensively, Lehigh will look for players to step up in roles left by the seniors who graduated in 2020, especially two-time All-Patriot League selection Tony Gallo. The Mountain Hawks are led by junior third baseman Gerard Sweeney (.292/.369/.367) and sophomore catcher Adam Retzbach (.296/.481/.367) along with junior first baseman/right-hander Casey Rother (.278/.500/.322). The Mountain Hawks went 5-10 a season ago and haven't played Patriot League competition since the 2019 season.
Opening Day for Lehigh is set for Feb. 27, a doubleheader with Coppin State in Baltimore.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
2021 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Navy (9 first-place votes), 49 points
2. Army West Point (1), 39
3. Lehigh (2), 37
4. Holy Cross, 27
T5. Bucknell, 14
T5. Lafayette, 14
2021 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Major Awards
Player of the Year: Anthony Giachin, Army West Point, Sr., 3B
Pitcher of the Year: Mason Black, Lehigh, Jr., RHP
2021 Patriot League Preseason All-League Team
SP: Liam Dvorak, Holy Cross, Sr.
SP: Mason Black, Lehigh, Jr.
SP: Charlie Connolly, Navy Sr.
RP: Trey Braithwaite, Navy, Sr.
C: Alex Smith, Navy, So.
1B: Zach Stevens, Navy, Jr.
2B: Tim Simoes, Army West Point, Sr.
SS: Justin Johnson, Lafayette, Jr.
3B: Anthony Giachin, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Andre Walden, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Chris Cannizzaro, Bucknell, Jr.
OF: David Kale, Holy Cross, Sr.
AT-LARGE: Christian Policelli, Navy, Jr.
Black, who was recently named a Third Team Preseason All-American by Baseball America, becomes the program's first Preseason Pitcher of the Year in at least two decades.
"Mason has definitely earned the preseason recognition that he is garnering," said head coach Sean Leary. "But I love that his focus remains on the task at hand, which is helping lead our program to a third Patriot League Championship."
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.
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.
He has a chance to become the program's and the league's highest drafted player ever this summer for the 2021 MLB Draft. That distinction is currently held by program legend and Lehigh Hall of Famer Matt McBride '07, who was the 75th overall selection by the Cleveland Indians in the supplemental second round of the 2006 MLB Draft.
Black was named the top draft prospect in the Patriot League by both major publications D1Baseball.com and Baseball America prior to the start of the campaign. By many scouts and media, he has an opportunity to be drafted within the first three rounds.
As a team, the Mountain Hawks were picked third in the Patriot League with 37 points and two first-place votes, trailing just Army West Point (39, 1 first-place vote) and Navy (49, 9). This is Lehigh's highest preseason ranking since being picked third prior to the start of the 2017 season. The Mountain Hawks are looking to qualify for the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2016.
"Our program sees preseason polls as great motivation for the year," said Leary. "We know and respect that the academies have earned being the Patriot League favorites. However, our guys just need to remain focused on working towards playing our best baseball in May."
Under the direction of Leary, who enters his 26th season at the helm, Lehigh may just make a case to have the strongest starting rotation in the Patriot League this season, led by three MLB Draft hopefuls this summer in Black, senior righty Matt Svanson and junior southpaw Luke Rettig. Sophomore right-hander Carlos Torres and freshman righty Lucas Rich also come into the season strong and ready to compete for rotational spots.
Offensively, Lehigh will look for players to step up in roles left by the seniors who graduated in 2020, especially two-time All-Patriot League selection Tony Gallo. The Mountain Hawks are led by junior third baseman Gerard Sweeney (.292/.369/.367) and sophomore catcher Adam Retzbach (.296/.481/.367) along with junior first baseman/right-hander Casey Rother (.278/.500/.322). The Mountain Hawks went 5-10 a season ago and haven't played Patriot League competition since the 2019 season.
Opening Day for Lehigh is set for Feb. 27, a doubleheader with Coppin State in Baltimore.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
2021 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Navy (9 first-place votes), 49 points
2. Army West Point (1), 39
3. Lehigh (2), 37
4. Holy Cross, 27
T5. Bucknell, 14
T5. Lafayette, 14
2021 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Major Awards
Player of the Year: Anthony Giachin, Army West Point, Sr., 3B
Pitcher of the Year: Mason Black, Lehigh, Jr., RHP
2021 Patriot League Preseason All-League Team
SP: Liam Dvorak, Holy Cross, Sr.
SP: Mason Black, Lehigh, Jr.
SP: Charlie Connolly, Navy Sr.
RP: Trey Braithwaite, Navy, Sr.
C: Alex Smith, Navy, So.
1B: Zach Stevens, Navy, Jr.
2B: Tim Simoes, Army West Point, Sr.
SS: Justin Johnson, Lafayette, Jr.
3B: Anthony Giachin, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Andre Walden, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Chris Cannizzaro, Bucknell, Jr.
OF: David Kale, Holy Cross, Sr.
AT-LARGE: Christian Policelli, Navy, Jr.
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