ITHACA, N.Y. – On Wednesday evening, June 19, the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings Sporting Goods released their annual Gold Glove winners and Jake Binder of the Ithaca College baseball program was selected as the lone pitcher in NCAA Division III to earn this prestigious honor.

Binder, who recently completed his career with the Bombers, becomes the first-ever player at IC to be named to the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Team, which dates back to 2007. He is also the only player in the New York Region to earn a Gold Glover this season.

Binder finished his senior season with a 7-4 record and a 3.36 ERA in 72.1 innings pitched. He struck out 37 batters and tossed five complete games, including two shutouts. Binder spun seven no-hit innings against SUNY Canton this season, which resulted in a combined no-hitter – the first in 20 seasons for the Bombers. In his first outing of the season against Cal Lutheran, he carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning and finished off a one-hit gem.

Defensively, Binder had 30 total chances as a pitcher. He recorded 23 assists and six putouts to just one error on the year. Against Susquehanna on April 27, he notched six assists. He then posted six assists and a putout as part of a complete game shutout against St. John Fisher on May 10 in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament.

Despite only having 30 defensive chances on the season, Binder ranked fifth on the team in assists.

The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Awards are selected by ABCA coaches committees at each level: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and High School.

The ABCA/Rawlings Award Program is one of the most comprehensive in all of sports, awarding All-America Teams and Gold Glove Teams in nine divisions of amateur baseball as well as All-Region Teams in five divisions.

The ABCA/Rawlings All-America teams date back to 1949 starting with one collegiate All-America Team. Other divisions subsequently added until the current total of nine was reached. The first ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were recognized in 2007, making this the 13th year the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards have been presented in the collegiate and high school ranks.

The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 11,000 members represent all 50 states and 23 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth. The 76th annual ABCA Convention will be held Jan. 2-5, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee.

About Rawlings
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings' unparalleled quality and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and an approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.