CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - After having such a stellar rookie campaign, Lesley University first year second basement/pitcher Raymond Morales (Naugatuck, Conn.) was named the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Rookie of the Year. Morales was not the only Lynx to garner postseason attention from the conference as the squad saw Caden Shott (Richmond, Calif.) named All-Conference First Team third base. Meanwhile on the All-Conference Second Team, Lesley saw five student-athletes earn a spot on the list including: Colin McCarthy (Rehoboth, Mass.)-Catcher, James Brandon (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)-first base, Morales-second base, Christian McElroy (Toms River, N.J.)-outfield, and Andrew Gryniewicz (Hollis, N.H.)-pitcher. Colby Jacobs (Charlton, Mass.) was also named to the NAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
Morales had a great first year for the Lynx as one of six hitters to finish with an average above .250 (.304) and was third on the team in hits with 38. From April 14-May1, Morales had an 11-game hit streak going which was highlighted by a three-hit performance in a 20-13 win at Thomas (April 18) where he also drove in three RBIs. He recorded a career-high four RBIs in a 24-20 win over FDU Florham (March 11) in which he helped Lesley complete its largest comeback in program history. In conference play, Morales was also just as effective by hitting .333 which was fourth best on the team and drove in nine RBIs. During the NAC Playoffs, Morales was one of the Lynx's top hitters finishing the tournament third overall with a batting average of .467 and notching seven hits. Offensively his strongest game in the playoffs came in a 12-3 against SUNY Cobleskill where he went 3-6 from the plate and drove in two RBIs.
Defensively and on the mound, Morales shined for Lesley all year. In the field he finished with a .991 fielding percentage while assisting on 67 plays and recording 41 putouts. On the mound, Morales finished with a 4-2 record and one save in 20.2 IP. He allowed just 19 hits and nine runs (six earned) while striking out 26 and earning a 2.61 ERA which was the lowest on the team. Morales saved his best start for last when he took the mound in a NAC Playoff matchup against SUNY Cobleskill and was lights out. The first year pitcher went 7.0 IP allowing just six hits and three runs while striking out a career-high eight batters. Thanks to his strong pitching, Lesley was able to take the win or go home game versus the Fighting Tigers. All year Morales was one of the top rookies in the entire conference after earning NAC Rookie of the Week honors twice throughout the year.
Shott had a great second year with Lesley as the junior third basemen posted career-highs in batting average (.377), hits (26), RBIs (12), on-base percentage (.531), and slugging (.420). In terms of where he ranked on the team in hitting categories, Shott was top five in batting average (second) and on-base percentage. Shott had eight multi-hit games including two times this year where he tied his career-high for hits in-game with three (March 11 vs. FDU Florham and May 1 at UMaine Farmington). His strongest offensive performance of the year came in a 15-0 demolishing of UMaine Farmington (May 1) where he went 3-6 and drove in two RBIs that day. In terms of conference play, Shott was one of Lesley's better hitters posting a team-high .423 average to go along with 11 hits and seven RBIs. He also posted an outstanding .605 on-base percentage which led the entire NAC. Defensively, Shott posted a career-high .973 fielding percentage along with 28 putouts while assisting on 44 plays.
Lesley's best power-hitter this year was McCarthy who finished with a career-high four home runs this year. He also drove in a career-high 43 RBIs which also led the Lynx offense and ranked third in the conference. McCarthy also set other career bests on the year including hits (34), doubles (nine), walks drawn (31), batting average (.291), on-base percentage (.460), and slugging (.487). The power-hitting catcher finished with 10 multi-hit games this season and had 10 multi-RBI games as well. His most notable offensive performance came at Fisher on March 16 where he went 2-3 while driving in three RBIs. In conference action, McCarthy was one of six hitters to bat over .300 (.306) and was tied for fourth in the NAC in RBIs with 18. Defensively, he finished with 94 putouts and posted a fielding percentage of .990 and also caught one runner stealing this year too.
It was another solid year Brandon as the graduate student tied his career-high in hits with 50 and finished with eight doubles, four homers, 38 RBIs (career-high), 28 walks (tied career-high), an on-base percentage of .533 (career-high), and a slugging percentage of .560. Brandon was one of Lesley's more consistent hitters this season posting two hitting streaks of five or more games and 16 multi-hit games as well. His most notable offensive performance came in a 15-0 win at UMaine Farmington (May 1) where he tied his career-high for in-game hits of four by finishing 4-6 on the day while driving in two RBIs. He also had a game this year where he tied his career-high in RBIs (four) during a 13-0 victory versus Dean on April 16. Brandon also set numerous program records as well including doubles (34), hits (177), and RBIs (126). In conference play, Brandon posted a .404 batting average and belted a homer as well. He also was one of six Lynx to have 10-plus RBIs in NAC play too and he also ranked in the top five of the conference in on-base percentage at .536 (fifth place). Defensively, Brandon set new career-highs in fielding percentage (.990) and putouts (276). Brandon was also recognized as the NAC Co-Player of the week early on this season too.
McElroy finished the year as one of Lesley's top hitters finishing second on the team with a career-high .361 batting average. The senior outfielder also posted career-highs in hits (44), doubles (seven), RBIs (25), on-base percentage (.414), and slugging percentage (.443). During the NAC Playoffs, McElroy was second in the entire conference with a .500 batting average throughout the tournament which earned him All-Tournament Team honors. McElroy had 15 multi-hit games on the year highlighted by his strongest hitting performance on April 5 versus VTSU Lyndon where he 3-4 while driving in three RBIs. The Senior outfielder finished with eight multi-RBI games as well and five of those contests were three-RBI games where the Lynx were 4-1. In conference play, he batted an impressive .367 while recording 18 hits, one homer, 12 RBIs, an on-base percentage of .415 and slugging percentage of .449. In the field, he finished with a career-high .970 fielding percentage and recorded 53 putouts while assisting on 11 plays.
Gryniewicz proved to be Lesley's most durable arm as the Senior tossed a career-high 51.0 IP this season. He allowed just 66 hits and 49 runs (41 earned) while leading the team in strikeouts with 36 and averaging 6.35 K/9. His most notable performance came in a 13-0 win versus Dean (April 16) when he tossed a complete game going 7.0 IP and allowed only three hits while striking out a career-high seven batters. In that game after the fourth inning, Gryniewicz would not allow another Dean hit the rest of the way while also tacking on three strikeouts as well. At one point this season, Gryniewicz notched a three-game win streak against eventual NAC Champion, Husson (March 30), VTSU Lyndon (April 6), and Dean (April 16). During his dominant stretch, he had two complete games and recorded at least five strikeouts in all three contests. In conference play, he threw 17.0 IP and allowed 30 hits and 18 runs (16 earned) while striking out 10 and averaging 5.29 K/9. Defensively, he posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage while assisting on nine plays too.
Jacobs was a solid contributor to the Lynx after he finished the season with 25 hits, four doubles, three home runs, 19 stolen bases (career-high), .217 batting average, .363 on-base percentage, and .330 slugging percentage too. He finished the year with five multi-hit games highlighted by a season-high three hits in a 20-13 win at Thomas (April 18). In that same game, he drove in a career-high tying four RBIs and also drove in four RBIs earlier this year as well in a 6-3 win at VTSU Lynon (April 5) where he also had an inside the park home run. In conference play, Jacobs was one of six hitters to post a batting average above .300 at .306. He also had 14 hits, three doubles, three homers, 14 RBIs, eight stolen bases, an on-base percentage of .475 and slugging percentage of .565. Defensively, he finished with a .966 fielding percentage along with a career-high 85 putouts.