Awards, Awards, and More Awards
NEWPORT, RI – Thirteen Newport Gulls players garnered post-season awards based on their contributions to their respective teams this past year. It was a very successful season for these players as their hard work and dedication paid off in a big way on the baseball field and culminated in being recognized as top players in their conferences. Below are the players who received these awards.
Sam Kulasingam (Second Team All-American, All-Central First Team) - Kulasingam, who was named a Third Team All-American only a year ago, reached the 100-hit plateau for the second consecutive season and is a two-time Mountain West Player of the Year award winner. The Holly Springs native led all Mountain West players this past season with a .426 batting average, 28 doubles, 50 walks, and an on-base percentage of .537.
Trent Farquhar (All-Big 10 Second Team, All-Midwest Second Team) - A two-time recipient of the Danny Litwhiler award which goes to the best defensive player, Farquhar’s offensive numbers also ranked amongst the best in the conference. Farquhar had an impressive 17-game hit streak this season that stretched from February 19th to March 24th. During that stretch, he racked up 32 hits. Farquhar finished the regular season with an average of .343 to go along with 2 home runs and 25 runs batted in. Farquhar was top 10 in the conference in many offensive categories including doubles, batting average, on-base percentage, and runs scored.
Dakota Jordan (Freshman All-SEC Team, Perfect Game Freshman All-American) Jordan is one of seven SEC freshmen to earn All-American honors by Perfect Game and it marks the eighth straight season a Mississippi State freshman has earned All-American accolades. Jordan made an immediate impact in the SEC by ranking near the top of the team in batting average and was a mainstay in the starting lineup as a true freshman. Jordan garnered SEC Freshman of the Week honors in April and hit 3 HRs and drove in 9 runs during that stretch. In his freshman season for the Dawgs, Jordan finished the season hitting .307, the second-best mark on the team. He had 47 hits, with 20 going for extra bases, ten home runs, nine doubles, and a triple. He drove in the third most runs on the team with 40.
Kevin Seitter (All-MAAC First-Team, All-New England Second Team) – Seitter will return to the Gulls this summer after a breakout season for the Quinnipiac Bobcats where he made 15 starts and was the ace of the staff. The Ridgewood, NJ native led the team in all pitching categories with eight wins, an ERA of 3.58, 79 strikeouts in 88 innings pitched. Seitter’s numbers also placed him among the conference’s best as ranked second in the MAAC in ERA, third in wins, first in complete games, fifth in innings pitched, and sixth in strikeouts.
Anthony Donofrio (All-MAAC First Team, All-New England First Team, All-Northeast First Team) – Donofrio is fresh off his best season as a D-1 collegiate player as he registered career highs with 56 games played, a .364 batting average, 16 home runs and 64 runs batted in. Donofrio garnered First Team decoration on Tuesday as he ranked within the top six in the conference in nearly every offensive category. Donofrio’s batting average ranked sixth in the MAAC, while his 85 hits were second in the conference. He ranked second in the conference with 17 doubles, sixth with four triples, fourth with 16 home runs, and second with 65 runs batted in.
Aiven Cabral (All-CAA First-Team, All-CAA Rookie Team, All-Northeast First Team, All-Northeast Freshman Team) – Cabral didn’t waste any time showing the Huskies he could be a go-to on the mound in his freshman campaign as it was highlighted by a complete game four-hitter vs Delaware. Cabral finished the regular season with an ERA of 2.26 with 68 strikeouts and 12 walks across 79.2 innings pitched. In addition to making the All-CAA First-Team, Cabral also was one of the ten best freshmen in the conference, as he was recognized as a member of the All-CAA Rookie Team.
Ryan Andrade (All-A10 Second Team) - Andrade served as the team’s primary closer this year as he racked up the second-most saves of any arm in the conference with seven. His seven saves are the 10th most for a URI pitcher in a single season. Andrade finished this year with a record of 1-1 with 37 strikeouts in 31.1 innings of work and an ERA of 3.16.
Billy Butler (All-A10 First Team) – The rising senior led the URI offense in almost every offensive category this past season. He led the team with a .349 batting average, a 1.032 OPS, 44 RBIs, 124 total bases, and a .636 slugging percentage. His offensive ranks were also good enough to finish among the leaders throughout the conference. Butler finished 11th in batting average, top five in home runs, and top ten in OPS.
Michael Anderson (All-A10 Second Team, All-A10 Rookie Team, Freshman All American) – As a true freshman, Anderson established himself as one of the best hitters in the A10. Anderson was able to receive three A-10 Rookie of the Week honors and was also one of only three players on the team to start all 51 of his teams games. The Havertown, PA native finished the season with a .316 batting average to go along with 10 home runs, 43 RBIs and led the team with 18 doubles. His 18 doubles were third most in the nation for a freshman.
Kolby Branch (All BIG 12 Freshman Team, Freshman All-American) – Branch was unanimously selected to the All-Freshman team after leading the Bears in almost every offensive category. The Lucas, TX native finished the season with a .325 batting average, 69 hits, 17 doubles, 6 home runs, and 41 RBIs which all led the team. His 17 doubles were one shy of the program's freshman record and ranked tied for fourth nationally among Power 5 freshmen. Branch finished his first season of collegiate baseball with more walks than strikeouts, 39 to 38, and was the only Bear to start and play in every game this year.
Bryan Broecker (All-Big 10 Second Team) - A rising senior, Broecker anchored the catching position for the Spartans, ranking near the top of the team in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in this past season. This was the second straight season that the Chicago native was the primary catcher for Sparty. He topped the B1G in caught stealing by gunning down 19 players, seven more than the No. 2 spot. At the plate, Broecker was also just outside the top 10 in the league in several offensive categories, including tied for 14th in on-base percentage and tied for 23rd with a .527 slugging percentage.
Adam Maher (All Little East Conference Second Team) Maher built upon a strong freshman season for UMass Dartmouth and was the anchor in the rotation this past year. Maher led the team in nearly all pitching categories and was one of the most dominant pitchers in the Little East this season. Maher finished the season with a record of 4-3 with a 3.43 ERA, holding opposing batters to a .215 average. Maher allowed just 44 hits and 26 runs while striking out 61 batters over 57.2 innings of action. The Plymouth, Mass. native was a two-time LEC Pitcher of the Week award recipient this season. Maher had a career performance in a no-hitter against Western Connecticut on March 24. He also helped the Corsairs nab a win over the defending National Champions of Eastern Connecticut on April 8, throwing for all nine innings and allowing just one run on five hits in a 150+ pitch game.
Matthew Schark (All Missouri Valley Conference Honorable Mention Team) Starting 45 of the 52 games this season, Schark hit .277 with Southern Illinois. He also added 11 home runs and 32 RBIs. He shined on 3/26 against UIC where he drove in 6 runs and scored 2 of his own. Schark came to play against MVC opponents hitting .289 in conference with 8 home runs and 21 RBIS. On the defensive side of things, he had just 3 errors on the season getting it done not only at the plate but in the field as well.
