Photo by: Maria Bouchard
Young Named To All-Patriot League Preseason Team
1/31/2024 11:10:00 AM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With just over two weeks until Lehigh baseball takes to the field for first pitch, the Patriot League has announced the results of its Baseball Preseason Honors voting. Senior Tyler Young was selected to the All-Patriot League Preseason Team at the shortstop position. In addition, the Mountain Hawks were selected to finish in fourth place, which would qualify them for the Patriot League Tournament.
The Patriot League Baseball Preseason Honors are voted on by coaches and SIDs around the league.
Lehigh's selection comes off the heels of a season that saw them lead the Patriot League in batting average (.298) and finish second in team ERA (5.11). The Mountain Hawks return 31 players from last year's team, including 2023 Second Team All-Patriot League selection Dom Patrizi and four other returners who hit .300 or higher.
One of those returners is Young, a 2022 Second Team All-Patriot League selection. Young has registered back-to-back seasons of batting .300 or higher and is primed for a huge senior season in Bethlehem. The Doylestown, Pennsylvania native batted .314 with 54 hits, 25 RBIs, eight doubles and a home run for the Mountain Hawks last season after hitting .348 in 2022.
The team kicks off their season at the Swig & Swine Classic in Charleston, S.C. on February 16 where they will take on Ball State. The Mountain Hawks will then face Michigan State and D1 Baseball Preseason #20 Iowa in the coming days in the Palmetto state.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
2024 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point (10 first-place votes), 50
2. Bucknell (2), 38
3. Navy, 32
4. Lehigh, 27
5. Lafayette, 23
6. Holy Cross, 10
2024 Patriot League Baseball Major Award Winners
Preseason Player of the Year – Sam Ruta, Army West Point, Sr. 3B
Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Mike Ruggieri, Army West Point, Sr., RHP
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Derek Berg, Army West Point, Sr., C
2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Baseball Team*
SP: Mike Ruggieri, Army West Point, Sr.
SP: Matthew Ronnebaum, Army West Point, Sr.
SP: Matthew Shirah, Navy, Sr.
RP: Landon Kruer, Navy, Sr.
C: Derek Berg, Army West Point, Sr.
1B: Michael Zarrillo, Lafayette, Jr.
2B: Billy Kender, Bucknell, Jr.
SS: Tyler Young, Lehigh, Sr.
SS: Eduardo Diaz, Navy, Sr.
3B: Sean Keys, Bucknell, Jr.
3B: Sam Ruta, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Braden Golinski, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Jacob Corson, Bucknell, Sr.
OF: Grant Voytovich, Bucknell, Sr.
OF: Jack Toomey, Holy Cross, So.
At-Large: Sean Scanlon, Holy Cross, Jr.
*Additional players selected to the preseason team due to ties in voting
The Patriot League Baseball Preseason Honors are voted on by coaches and SIDs around the league.
Lehigh's selection comes off the heels of a season that saw them lead the Patriot League in batting average (.298) and finish second in team ERA (5.11). The Mountain Hawks return 31 players from last year's team, including 2023 Second Team All-Patriot League selection Dom Patrizi and four other returners who hit .300 or higher.
One of those returners is Young, a 2022 Second Team All-Patriot League selection. Young has registered back-to-back seasons of batting .300 or higher and is primed for a huge senior season in Bethlehem. The Doylestown, Pennsylvania native batted .314 with 54 hits, 25 RBIs, eight doubles and a home run for the Mountain Hawks last season after hitting .348 in 2022.
The team kicks off their season at the Swig & Swine Classic in Charleston, S.C. on February 16 where they will take on Ball State. The Mountain Hawks will then face Michigan State and D1 Baseball Preseason #20 Iowa in the coming days in the Palmetto state.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
2024 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point (10 first-place votes), 50
2. Bucknell (2), 38
3. Navy, 32
4. Lehigh, 27
5. Lafayette, 23
6. Holy Cross, 10
2024 Patriot League Baseball Major Award Winners
Preseason Player of the Year – Sam Ruta, Army West Point, Sr. 3B
Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Mike Ruggieri, Army West Point, Sr., RHP
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Derek Berg, Army West Point, Sr., C
2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Baseball Team*
SP: Mike Ruggieri, Army West Point, Sr.
SP: Matthew Ronnebaum, Army West Point, Sr.
SP: Matthew Shirah, Navy, Sr.
RP: Landon Kruer, Navy, Sr.
C: Derek Berg, Army West Point, Sr.
1B: Michael Zarrillo, Lafayette, Jr.
2B: Billy Kender, Bucknell, Jr.
SS: Tyler Young, Lehigh, Sr.
SS: Eduardo Diaz, Navy, Sr.
3B: Sean Keys, Bucknell, Jr.
3B: Sam Ruta, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Braden Golinski, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Jacob Corson, Bucknell, Sr.
OF: Grant Voytovich, Bucknell, Sr.
OF: Jack Toomey, Holy Cross, So.
At-Large: Sean Scanlon, Holy Cross, Jr.
*Additional players selected to the preseason team due to ties in voting
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ 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
