The San Diego Padres called Lake Bachar's name in the fifth round for the first D-III player taken in 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Nineteen more names were called out with nine position players and eleven pitchers taken overall in the three day event. The twenty players drafted this month is the most drafted since 22 were selected in 2010.
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Lake Bachar, RHP, UW-Whitewater
San Diego Padres, 5th round, No. 144 overall
Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 205.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Wheaton Ill.
The San Diego Padres made Lake Bachar the first D-III Ppayer selected in the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Bachar was taken in the 5th round, No. 144th overall.
Bachar, who is also a member of the Warhawk football team, is the first UW-Whitewater player taken in the MLB Draft since 2010, when Ben Versnik was selected in the 38th round by the Seattle Mariners, and the 13th in program history.
Only two other Warhawks have ever been selected in the fifth round or higher. Pitcher Kris Hanson was taken by the Cleveland Indians in the fifth round in 1993, and pitcher Bob Wickman was picked in the second round by the Chicago White Sox in 1990.
Bachar was named honorable mention All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, first team All-Midwest Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association and second team All-Region by D3baseball.com in 2016. He helped lead UW-Whitewater to the NCAA Central Region title and a berth in the NCAA Championship round, posting an 8-6 record with a 2.53 earned run average, a .223 opponents batting average and a WIAC-best 103 strikeouts in 92 2/3 innings pitched.
In 2015, Bachar was tabbed D3baseball.com Midwest Region Rookie of the Year and first team All-WIAC after tallying a 7-1 record with a 2.24 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings. The Warhawks won the conference regular season championship and reached the NCAA Tournament.
As a two-time all-conference punter/kicker for the football team, Bachar helped UW-Whitewater claim back-to-back WIAC and NCAA Division III national championships in 2013 and 2014. In 2015, he garnered first team All-WIAC accolades as a punter in helping the Warhawks reach the national semifinals for the 10th time in the last 11 years.
Stephen Ridings, RHP, Haverford
Chicago Cubs, 8th round, No. 254 overall
Ht.: 6-8. Wt.: 220.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Commack, N.Y.
Stephen Ridings was the 8th round selection of the Chicago Cubs, 254th overall. This is the second year that a Ford was chosen in the 8th round. Tommy Bergjans was an 8th round pick in 2015 of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ridings is the fourth Haverford player to be taken in the 50 year history of the MLB First-Year Player Draft.
Ridings had a stellar campaign for the Centennial Conference Champions in 2016, earning second-team All-Centennial Conference honors after posting a 6-3 record with a 2.62 ERA. Ridings struck out 87 batters while allowing just seven walks over 68.2 innings pitched. The chemistry major finished second in the Centennial in strikeouts and fourth in wins. His 11.98 strikeouts per nine innings represented the third highest rate in program history for a single season.
The Commack, N.Y. product struck out 11 batters in a one-hit shutout victory over then-No. 21 McDaniel on April 16 and excelled in postseason competition, hurling 7.2 innings with 10 strikeouts in the Centennial Conference tournament against Johns Hopkins before allowing no earned runs in an 11-strikeout start against UMass Boston in NCAA Regional Play in Moosic, Pa.
In 2015, Ridings appeared both as a starter and out of the bullpen, posting a 4.19 ERA in eight appearances, striking out 10 in 19 innings. His freshman campaign in 2014 included a limited run of 11 innings in which he struck out six batters.
The Fords have had six players play minor league baseball, most recently Bergjans, who is currently playing in the Dodgers organization. Haverford has had one player reach the majors with Bill Lindsay playing in 19 games for the Cleveland Naps (precursor to the Cleveland Indians) in 1911.
Cody Dube, RHP, Keene State
Baltimore Orioles, 10th round, No. 301 overall
Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 198.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Windham, Maine
Cody Dube is the first senior to be taken in the MLB First-Year Player Draft. The third pitcher selected in 2016 was the 10th round choice of the Baltimore Orioles (301 overall). 
Dube became the second Owl to be chosen in the draft, after Corey Vogt was chosen by the Boston Red Sox in 2011.
"It's just a whole bunch of emotions right now," said Dube. "It was a long day waiting by the phone. The Cubs and Orioles both called in the 10th round, and the Orioles had the earlier pick. It's awesome, and a big relief to move on to the next level."
In the 2016 season, Dube became just the third All-American in the history of Keene State baseball. It's the latest in a string of awards for Dube, who was named as an All-Region player by D3baseball, ABCA, and the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA). He was also selected to the NEIBA All-Star game.
In the Little East Conference, Dube was chosen as the LEC Pitcher of the Year, just the second player in Keene State history to do so, as well as being a First Team All-Conference selection.
Dube finished the season with a 3-3 record in nine starts, striking out 84 batters in 67.2 innings with a 1.20 ERA. He tossed three complete games and had five starts with 10 strikeouts or more, including a career high 15 against UMass Dartmouth on May 6. His 84 strikeouts this year are the second highest single season total in KSC history, while his 166 career strikeouts are the second most in school history. Dube also finished with a career ERA of 2.68, the third best total in school history for anyone with a minimum of 50 innings pitched.
Phillip Morse, RHP, Shenandoah
Washington Nationals, 16th round, No. 488 overall
Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 195.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Vienna, Va.
Phillip Morse was the first D-III player selected on the third and final day of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He was a 16th round selection of the Washington Nationals, 484th overall.
Morse, a first team All-ODAC and second team All-Region selection for the Hornets this past season, becomes the first Hornet player drafted during Kevin Anderson's 13-year tenure as head coach.
Morse was 5-0 this season with eight saves in 22 appearances as he was selected first team All-ODAC and first team All-State as a relief pitcher.
His final outing in an Shenandoah uniform was possibly his finest as he tossed the final 6.1 innings in a 10-8 victory over Birmingham-Southern that pushed Shenandoah into the NCAA South Region championship contest.
The Vienna, Virginia native finished his career with a 12-8 record and nine saves in 140.0 innings pitched over 55 appearances. He also struck out 118 batters.
After being converted to reliever prior to the 2015 season, Morse posted 9.24 strikeouts per nine innings and a 0.74 ERA.
Upon signing with the Nationals, Morse will be assigned to one of their minor league affiliates. The Nats have a short-season Class A team in Auburn, New York and a full-season Class A team in Hagerstown, Maryland.
Lane Hobbs, RHP, Concordia (Texas)
Chicago White Sox, 18th round, No. 536 overall
Ht.: 6-5. Wt.: 235.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Thrall, Texas
Lane Hobbs will have a decision to make. As the 18th round pick of the Chicago White Sox (536th overall), the junior righthander will have the choice to return for his senior year or start on the path as a professional baseball player in Chicago's minor league system.
Hobbs was named to both the ABCA/Rawlings and D3Baseball.com All-America teams this season. Hobbs was also named the West Region Pitcher of the Year by both organizations. He was a first team selection on the ABCA/Rawlings team and a second team honoree on D3Baseball.com.
Hobbs was the only representative from the ASC on the ABCA/Rawlings first team. He was the only ASC hurler recognized.
Hobbs is the fifth-ever Tornado to earn All-America accolades.
Taylor Kohlwey, RF, UW-La Crosse
San Diego Padres, 21st round, No. 624 overall
Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 200.
Bats: Left. Throws: Left.
Hometown: Holmen, Wis.
Taylor Kohlwey was taken in the 2ist round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the San Diego Padres. Kohlwey was the 624th player selected in this year's draft.
"I'm extremely grateful to the Padres organization for giving me this amazing opportunity," said Kohlwey. "I have to say a huge thank you to everyone at UWL for making me a better player and most importantly a better person.
A starter in all 49 games in 2016, Kohlwey finished second in NCAA D-III with a .485 batting average (96-of-198) this season. He led the country in hits (96), runs (76), and total bases (163) this season while finishing fourth in triples (9), fifth in on-base percentage (.549), sixth in slugging percentage (.823), seventh in doubles (22) and eighth in RBI (57).
Kohlwey recorded a 51-game hitting streak dating back to the 2015 season, the second-longest streak in NCAA Division III history. He had at least one hit in 74 of his last 77 games and in 139 of 155 career contests with an official at-bat. Kohlwey had a team-high 32 multiple-hit contests in 2016 and finished with 88 career multiple-hit games. He was second for UWL with 15 multiple-RBI games in 2016.
He was selected the 2016 D3baseball.com Player of the Year, the first player in WIAC history to earn the honor. Kohlwey earned 2014 and 2016 D3baseball.com First Team All-America and D3baseball.com All-Midwest Region First Team accolades while being a D3baseball.com Second Team All-America choice in 2015. He was selected the 2016 D3baseball.com All-Midwest Region Position Player of the Year, the second player in school history to earn honor, joining Jay Fanta in 2012.
Earning the 2016 America Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Gold Bat Award for NCAA Division III Player of the Year, Kohlwey was a three-time ABCA All-America First Team selection (2014-16). He was the first player in UWL history to earn the ABCA Gold Bat Award. Kohlwey earned three ABCA/Rawlings All-Midwest Region First Team honors (2014-16) and was named the ABCA/Rawlings Midwest Region Position Player of the Year twice (2015, 2016).
Named the 2016 WIAC Position Player of the Year, Kohlwey became the third player in league history to earn the honor twice in his career. He was named the 2014 WIAC Co-Position Player of the Year. Kohlwey was a three-time All-WIAC First Team selection (2014-16), the eighth player in school history to earn three first team all-conference honors.
Kohlwey is the 10th player in UWL history and sixth-highest to be drafted and the first since pitcher Joel Effertz was taken in the 28th Round in 2013 by the Miami Marlins.
Sam Dexter, SS, Southern Maine
Chicago White Sox, 23rd round, No. 686 overall
Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 185.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Oakland, Maine
For Southern Maine standout shortstop Sam Dexter, the waiting game to see if he would be drafted ended as the Chicago White Sox selected the two-time NCAA Division III All-American in the 23rd round (868th overall) of the annual Major League Baseball draft.
Dexter is the first USM player to be drafted since the Cincinnati Reds picked Chris Burleson in the 36th round in 2009, and the 12th USM player to be drafted since 1987.
The 2015 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Bat Award winner as the Division III Player of the Year, Dexter batted .404 (72 for 178) with 53 runs scored, a single-season record-tying 23 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 44 RBI and 19 stolen bases this season. He also had a .474 on-base percentage, a .652 slugging percentage and a sparkling .971 fielding percentage. He was named to the ABCA/Rawlings Division III and the D3baseball.com All-America first teams for the second straight year.
The two-time Little East Conference Player of the Year, and 2013 LEC Rookie of the Year, Dexter led the conference this season in runs scored, hits, doubles and total bases, and was among the top five in batting average, triples, RBI and stolen bases.
The four-time all-region shortstop finished his collegiate career batting .387 (312 for 806) with 81 doubles, nine triples, 19 homers, 48 stolen bases and 157 RBI. He became the second player in NCAA Division III history to reach 300 career hits achieving that milestone against Framingham State University on May 1.
Tyler Kent, CF, Otterbein
Philadelphia Phillies, 26th round, No. 767 overall
Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 205.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Grove City, Ohio
Tyler Kent is the first D-III player from the Mideast region to have his name announced in the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft. The Philadelphia Phillies made the centerfielder their 26th round pick, 767th overall.
"I wasn't even sure this was possible, said Kent, who received the news from a scout while playing whiffleball in his back yard. "I couldn't even believe it. This is one of those things that you hope and wish for since you pick up a bat and glove at a young age. It's a dream come true."
Kent is the seventh Cardinal all-time to be drafted and just the second position player, joining outfielder Jim Allen (1989) and then pitchers Adam Brandt (2004), Kirk McDonald (1985), O.B. Hartman (1985), Andy Swope (1981) and Jim McKee (1969). New York Yankee Paul O'Neill briefly attended Otterbein after being drafted out of high school and former All-American pitcher Dan Remenowsky joined an independent league team prior to being scooped up by the Chicago White Sox.
"This is just an unbelievable feeling," Kent added. "It's hard to describe the emotions of feeling like I played my last competitive baseball game a few weeks ago, and now learn that my career isn't over just yet. I'm excited for the opportunity ahead."
Kent turned in a standout senior season this past spring, becoming the 12th student-athlete in school history to earn All-American honors for both academics and athletics in the same year. An early childhood education major, he was a second team All-American on the diamond before also garnering first team CoSIDA Academic All-America for his work in the classroom.
Kent was first team All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and All-Mideast Region as a senior, leading the entire league with 71 hits, 48 RBI, 53 runs scored, 20 doubles, 11 home runs, 130 total bases and a .739 slugging percentage. He set new Otterbein single-season records in hits, runs scored and total bases while also tying the mark for most doubles.
The rangy outfielder, who committed just one error all season and only 12 throughout his four-year stretch from 2013-16, departed as Otterbein's career leader in runs scored (170) and on the top-10 list in almost every offensive category; including second for most at-bats (599), doubles (47) and total bases (338), and third for most hits (208) and triples (13). He came up just four hits and two triples shy of breaking the program's all-time records.
Kent travels to Clearwater, Fla. on Tuesday for a physical with the Phillies organization before heading to finish summer with the Single-A Williamsport Crosscutters. He will be playing to get placed in either Single-A, Double-A or Triple-A for spring training in March.
Austin Jones, RHP, UW-Whitewater
Chicago Cubs, 26th round, No. 794 overall
Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 195.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Wauwatosa, Wis.
Austin Jones joins teammate Lake Bachar as players with the opportunity to advance to the professional ranks. Jones was a 26th round pick of the Chicago Cubs.
Jones, who is the 794th pick overall, is the second Warhawk taken in this year's draft and the 14th in program history.
In 10 appearances on the mound this season, Jones posted an 0-1 record with a 4.97 earned run average in 12.2 innings with 16 strikeouts. He also finished with a .263 batting average, tying for the team lead with 11 doubles and adding four home runs and 33 runs batted in to help UW-Whitewater reach the NCAA Championship round.
As a freshman in 2014, Jones was named second team American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Midwest Region after posting a 6-1 record and three saves with a 2.27 ERA in 19 appearances. He helped lead the Warhawks to the NCAA Division III national title.
Mark Iseneker, RHP, St. John Fisher
Texas Rangers, 28th round, No. 849 overall
Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 200.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Sherrill, N.Y.
Mark Iseneker became the second St. John Fisher player t be drafted when the Texas Rangers made him their 28th round pick, 849th overall. The last Cardinal drafted was Dan Jurik, a selection of the Atlanta Braves in the 25th round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
Iseneker, an Empire 8 All-Conference Second Team selection in 2016, led the team in strikeouts with 80 and innings pitched with 81.1. The righty threw the program's third no-hitter back on March 26 against Elmira College and against Kean University in the NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional, he threw a complete game three hit shutout.
In 2015 he started 11 games for the Cardinals as a sophomore, going 4-4 with a 2.78 ERA, earning All-Conference Second Team honors. 2014 saw Iseneker going 7-1 in his freshman campaign, going 7-1, leading the nation in hits allowed per nine innings (4.36). He was named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year along with Second Team All-Conference recognition and Second Team All-Region by ABCA/Rawlings.
Jake Perkins, RHP, Ferrum
Los Angeles Dodgers, 28th round, No. 851 overall
Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 175.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Appomattox, Va.
Ferrum's Jake Perkins, a right-hand pitcher, has been selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2016 Major League Baseball June Draft. Perkins was selected in the 28th round, as the 881st overall pick.
Perkins closed out his senior year this spring with a 7-3 record, 1.99 ERA and 91 strikeouts. For his career, Perkins was 22-8 with a 2.66 ERA and 301 strikeouts. He earned USA South Pitcher of the Year and first team All-Conference honors in 2014 and 2016. He was named first team All-Region this season by the American Baseball Coaches Association and second team All-Region by D3baseball.com, both repeat honors from 2014. Perkins was also a second team All-Conference selection in 2015.
"It is just such a blessing that the Dodgers organization has given me the chance to pursue my career further," said Perkins.
Perkins' father Ray Perkins played at Ferrum two years from 1979-80 before transferring to Virginia Tech and playing two years with the Hokies. He would eventually be drafted by the Houston Astros in the 1982 MLB Draft, and played professionally for five seasons with the Astros' and Milwaukee Brewers' minor league teams.
Ferrum's highest draft pick was in 1993, when left-handed pitcher Billy Wagner was selected by the Houston Astros in the first round as the 12th overall pick. Wagner went on to earn seven All-Star nods, closing his career with 1,196 career strikeouts and 422 career saves.
Ferrum's most recent draft pick was Brian Strong, who was taken by the Atlanta Braves in the 23rd round of the 2001 MLB Draft.
"We're so excited for Jake to have this incredible opportunity," said Ferrum head coach Ryan Brittle. "The Dodgers have a quality baseball player and person in Jake. All of us here at Ferrum wish him well as he starts on this journey."
Walker Olis, RF, Pacific (Ore.)
Miami Marlins, 29th round, No. 863 overall
Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 190.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Burlington, Wash.
Accomplishing about everything possible as a Pacific University student and baseball player, it's on to the next thing for Boxer graduate Walker Olis.
That next thing was set in place today when the outfielder was selected in the 29th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Miami Marlins.
The last Boxer of record to be selected in the MLB draft was Jason Atwood (Colorado Rockies) in 1991.
Olis' list of accomplishments this year and during his sparkling four-year career are numerous. He set Pacific single season records in hits (66), runs scored (57), walks (44) and stolen bases (28). He finished the season with a .415 batting average, had 12 doubles and 11 home runs. He ranked first in all of NCAA Division III in runs scored and walks, and was in the top ten in stolen bases, on base percentage (.565) and home runs.
The Burlington, Wash. native was a First Team D3baseball.com All-American and was the Northwest Conference Player of the Year.
Olis was a Oregon Sports Small College Athlete of the Year finalist and was also a First Team Co-SIDA NCAA Division III Academic All-American.
Steven Ridings, RHP, Messiah
Seattle Mariners, 29th round, No. 867 overall
Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 210.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Harwood, Md.
For the third time in 12 years Messiah College had a player selected in the Major League Baseball draft, as pitcher Steven Ridings was chosen this afternoon by the Seattle Mariners in the 29th round with the 867th pick.
Ridings joins fellow right handed pitcher David Henninger (21st round) and outfielder Chris Heisey (17th) as the only Falcons to ever hear their name called in the annual MLB event. Chris Regan the batterymate of Henninger, was also signed during the 2005 draft weekend, though his deal came as a free agent after he went unselected.
Of the Messiah players drafted thus far only Heisey made it to The Big Show, doing so first with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010. He has played in every season since then and holds a career line of .244/.302/.421 with 56 home runs, 161 RBI, and 199 runs scored. He is currently playing with the Washington Nationals.
Ridings now begins the journey to the Big Leagues after putting together a tremendous season for Messiah in 2016. He went 7-4 overall in 14 starts with a 1.72 ERA, and across 83.2 innings pitched Ridings allowed just 65 hits and 21 walks against 99 strikeouts. As the season wore on Ridings was even better as he allowd just a single earned run over his last 34 innings pitched (0.26 ERA) to help the Falcons advance to the MAC Commonwealth Championship against Widener. In his only posteason start Ridings threw one of the biggest gems in program history: a complete-game (nine innings) with just a single earned run and two walks against 14 strikeouts in a 4-1 win over No. 1 seed Alvernia.
Ridings also earned a save in his only other postseason showing this season, doing so by inducing a flyout with the bases loaded against Stevenson to seal a 3-1 win.
This year Ridings set career-best marks in ERA (1.72), wins (7), appearances (14), starts (12), innings pitched (83.2), HR allowed (0), batting average against (.207), and strikeouts (99).
He will now await his minor league assignment from the Mariners who, at the Major League level, are 34-27 and three games back of the Texas Rangers in the American League West.
Jake Fishman, LHP, Union
Toronto Blue Jays, 30th round, No. 912 overall
Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 195.
Bats: Left. Throws: Left.
Hometown: Sharon, Mass.
Union junior pitcher Jake Fishman was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft. Fishman was selected in the 30th round, 912th overall.
Fishman made his Cape Cod League debut Friday, as the starting pitcher for the Wareham Gatemen in Yarmouth. He allowed one run in five innings and earned the victory, 5-3 over defending champion Yarmouth-Dennis. He allowed five hits and struck out three.
"It's just an unbelievable feeling. This makes me incredibly happy. It doesn't matter what the size of the school is; if you put in the work, you get noticed. I believe this puts Union baseball on the map and draws attention to our college and program. This attention could make our program even stronger then it is now."
Fishman is the first Union player to receive D3baseball.com All-American honors at pitcher. He was also selected as an American Baseball Coaches Association Second-Team All-American at utility.
"I am very proud of Jake's accomplishments at Union, including yesterday as the opening day starter for Wareham," said Union head coach Paul Mound. "He is deserving of his selection by the Toronto Blue Jays. He is a special player, a special person and the entire Union College community is proud to call him our own."
The Sharon, Mass. native was a perfect 7-0 on the mound this season, leading all of college baseball with a 0.41 ERA. He finished the season ranked eighth in Division III in strikeouts per nine innings (11.59) and WHIP (0.89). Fishman allowed just three earned runs in 66 innings of work all season and he struck out a Division III-high 18 batters in a complete-game win against Rochester. He was named the Liberty League Pitcher of the Year and Player of the Year, also batting .361 and contributing 14 RBIs, leading the team in hits with 48 and runs scored with 29. He was also selected as the Liberty League Tournament's Most Outstanding Player and was named to the NCAA iv. III New York Regional Tournament Team.
CJ Picerni, C, New York University
Washington Nationals, 31th round, No. 934 overall
Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 165.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Calabasas, Calif.
New York University catcher CJ Picerni was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 31st round of the MLB First-Year Players Draft. Picerni was the 934th overall pick in the draft and the 14th Division III player selected.
"This is truly a blessing and a dream come true," said Picerni. "This is what every kid who grows up playing the game dreams of."
Picerni is the first NYU baseball player drafted since the University brought back its baseball program in 2015 after a 41-year hiatus. The catcher recorded 80 hits, 54 RBIs and three home runs in his two-year career as a Violet.
"I'm so excited for CJ," exclaimed NYU Head Coach Doug Kimbler. "Years and years of hard work contributed to this, and I think his game acquaints to the professional level."
Picerni, who was named to the University Athletic Association Second Team in 2015, served as a captain for the past two years and helped lead NYU to a pair of 20-win seasons.
Jeremy Wolf, LF, Trinity (Texas)
New York Mets, 31st round, No. 940 overall
Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 220.
Bats: Left. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Trinity (Texas) outfielder Jeremy Wolf was drafted Saturday by the New York Mets in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.
Wolf was drafted in the 31st round, and was the 940th overall pick. He is the eighth Tiger player to be drafted by a team in the MLB, and is poised to be the 23rd player in the 18-year head coaching career of Trinity skipper Tim Scannell to play professionally.
Wolf played a major role in the Trinity's championship season. The Tigers captured the NCAA Division III Championship by defeating Keystone (Pa.) College 2-0 in the best-of-three games finals series, and went 3-0 in pool play. Wolf snagged the final out in the championship series. When it was all said and done, Trinity finished the season with a 44-7 record, and set a school mark for victories in a season.
The postseason accolades were plentiful for Wolf, who graduated from Trinity last month. He was elected to the All-America First Teams of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), and D3baseball.com. Wolf was named the West Region Player of the Year by the ABCA and D3baseball.com, and also took the nod as the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
Wolf batted .408 in the season, and scored 60 runs. His 28 doubles not only led the NCAA this season, but also established new Trinity and SCAC single season records in the process. He was third nationally in total bases (149), and was fourth in RBI (70). Wolf also led the Tigers with 11 home runs.
His career batting average was .365, which also included another Tiger record with a total of 72 doubles. He drove in 172 runs, good for sixth place in the Trinity record books. Wolf crossed the plate 146 times in his career, and racked up 391 total bases.
Wolf honed his skills during summer collegiate leagues, in each of his first three years as a Trinity Tiger. He played in the Mountain Collegiate League, the Coastal Plains League, and the New England Collegiate League.
Head Coach Tim Scannell had plenty to stay about his star outfielder being selected to play professionally: "Wolf is the 23rd player to have an opportunity to play professional baseball. He had not only a stellar career at Trinity, but he excelled in collegiate summer leagues the past three summers. It's really where he proved his worth as potential MiLB player. Wolf's strength is that he is a professional hitter. He has tremendous bat speed, and can hit balls to all fields. He is the prototypical line-drive hitter. As good an offensive player we've had in my 20 years at Trinity."
Mark Zimmerman, RHP, Baldwin Wallace
San Diego Padres, 33rd round, No. 984 overall
Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 195.
Bats: Left. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Akron, Ohio
Mark Zimmerman was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 33rd round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft. This is a career highlight for arguably one of the best baseball student-athletes to ever step on the Berea-based campus.
Zimmerman is the third Yellow Jacket to be drafted since 1983. The other two were Scott Medvin in 1983 by the Pittsburgh Pirates and Erik Young in 1989 by the Cleveland Indians. Medvin reached the big leagues in 1989 with the Pirates and in 1990 by the Seattle Mariners. He had a 3-2 career record.
"We are so pleased for Mark and his family," said BW sixth-year Head Coach Brian Harrison. "When we recruited him four years ago, we knew this would be a possibility. We talked about it when he came to campus. Mark worked extremely hard to reach his highest potential in all areas. Now he has an opportunity to reach his dream.
"Mark is an immensely talented young man," continued Harrison. "He is an outstanding student, an excellent baseball player and a leader. Mark has a live arm with a fastball that can reach into the 90s. He has a strong breaking ball and a change of speed. Combined with his knowledge of of the game, he is a fine pitcher.
In May, Zimmerman was selected as a first-team d3baseball.com Division III All-American as both a pitcher and as a utility player and as a third-team ABCA/ Rawlings Division III All-American and as a utility player.
Zimmerman also was selected as the Ohio Athletic Conference, D3baseball.com and the ABCA/Rawlings Mideast Region Player of the Year. He is a three-time D3baseball.com and ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region selection, including earning first-team honors for last two seasons. Zimmerman became just the third OAC and first-ever BW baseball player to earn first-team All-OAC honors for four straight years.
This season, Zimmerman led the team both at the plate as its top hitter and on the mound as its staff ace. He batted .368 (60-for-163) with team-highs of 60 base hits, 15 doubles, 30 walks, a perfect 17-for-17 in stolen bases, a 472 on-base average and a .540 slugging average. Zimmerman also was second with 40 runs scored and three home runs and tied for the most triples with two and tied for second with 33 runs batted-in (RBI).
On the mound, he started a single-season school-record 12 games, had a 7-4 record with a 2.50 earned run average (ERA), two complete games and a pair of shutouts (one individual and one combined) and struck out a single-season school-record-tying 91 batters and walked just 15 in 75 and two-third innings pitched. That is 10.82 strikeouts and just 1.78 walks per nine innings pitched.For his career, Zimmerman played in 171 games and had a .368 batting average with a school-record 242 hits in 662 at-bats with 157 runs scored, 52 doubles, 11 triples, 11 homers, 142 RBI and 40 stolen bases in 45 attempts.
Joe Venturino, 2B, Ramapo
Seattle Mariners, 36th round, No. 1077 overall
Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 185.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Barnegat Light, N.J.
Joe Venturino was made the 36th pick in the MLB First-Year Player Draft of the Seattle Mariners. He was thr 1077th overall selection.
Venturino earned his second career D3baseball.com All-Region First Team honor at second base in 2016. He played in and started all 48 games leading the Roadrunners this season in batting average (.382), slugging percentage (.466), on base percentage (.479), hits (68), doubles (13), total bases (83), stolen bases (21), at bats (178), sac flies (4) and tied for first in walks (32). He was second on the team in runs scored (40) and RBI (34), total plate appearances (220). He was named NJAC Player of The Year and NJAC First Team All-Conference. He set new school records for hits in a career (247) and career-stolen bases (59).
Tyler Bates, CF, East Texas Baptist
Los Angeles Angels, 38th round, No. 1146 overall
Ht.: 5-8. Wt.: 165.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Joshua, Texas
After four years of hard work at East Texas Baptist, Tyler Bates name has been called. In the 38th round, Bates was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and becomes ETBU’s second ever draft pick. ETBU’s last pick was Tim Brown in 1980 by the New York Mets.
Bates is the 1,146th pick in the 38th round as an outfielder and is the second ASC player to be chosen this year behind Concordia-Texas’ Lane Hobbs.
This year he was an ABCA All-American on the second team while also being on the All-West Region first-team. He was also an D3baseball.com All-West Region second-team. It was his third time in his career to be on the ABCA All-Region team. He was also an All-ASC first-team selection which was also the third time to be All-ASC. He finishes his career as the all-time hits leader at ETBU with 206 breaking the record in the ASC Tournament held by ABCA All-American Trey Luster. He led the ASC in runs scored (58) and total bases (133) and was second in hits (72), home runs (14) and RBI (55).
Richard Fecteau, 2B, Salem State
Los Angeles Angels, 39th round, No. 1176 overall
Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 190.
Bats: Left. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Newbury, Mass.
Richard Fecteau was the final D-III baseball player picked in the MLB First Year Player Draft. The Newbury native was the second to last selection of the Los Angeles Angels, as they took him in the 39th round with the 1176th overall pick.
Fecteau, a two-time d3baseball.com preseason All-American, was just one of three Division III players from New England to be drafted. He is the first Salem State player to be selected since Scott Kimball (10th round - Milwaukee Brewers) in 1987.
"Today marks an important milestone in the history of our baseball program", said Salem State director of athletics Peggy Carl. For the first time in almost 30 years, one of our own has been selected in the Major League Baseball draft. Congratulations go to Richard, his family, and the Vikings' baseball coaching staff for their great work in developing Richard into a first-class player. Salem State, the department of athletics and recreation, and I are so proud of this great accomplishment. We know he will make the university proud."
Fecteau enjoyed an outstanding career at Salem State, helping the Vikings to their most successful four-year period in school history, culminating in three MASCAC championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances. A three-time All-New England selection, and the conference player of the year in 2014, the second baseman finished with a .369 career batting average, and tied the school mark for most hits in a season with 66, while setting new Salem State career records for hits (227) and doubles (64).Fecteau earned D3baseball.com All-New England first team honors. This is the third straight year Fecteau has been recognized, and the second time he was named first team.