Bridgeport High School Alum John Koon Ends WVWC Senior Year in Style as MEC Baseball First-Team Pick
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on May 11, 2017 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
The Mountain East Conference today announced its top individual award winners for the 2017 season with Concord's Chad Frazier taking Player of the Year honors, while Shepherd ace Ryan Pansch earned Pitcher of the Year accolades. UVa-Wise's Nate Thompson was tabbed as the MEC Freshman of the Year, and Fairmont State's Phil Caruso was selected as the league's Coach of the Year.
Although not taking home an individual honor, Bridgeport High School Alum John Koon wraps up his career in style. The West Virginia Wesleyan Senior was named first-team all Mountain East as an outfielder.
Frazier, a junior from Roanoke, Va., is the league's Player of the Year after leading the MEC in hits (79), batting average (.425) and runs (72). He had 19 extra-base hits and drove in 43, while also stealing 15 bases. Frazier was also stellar defensively leading starting shortstops in fielding percentage (.949) committing just 11 errors.
Pansch, a junior from Charles Town, W.Va., is the MEC Pitcher of the Year after going a perfect 8-0 with a 2.55 ERA. He tossed three complete games and opponents batted just .228 against him. Pansch struck out 58 and allowed just 11 walks in 60.0 innings of work.
Thompson, a native of Wise, Va., did it all for the Cavs in his freshman season playing first and in the outfield, as well as serving as a relief pitcher and designated hitter. He hit .328 on the year with 22 RBI and 16 runs scored. As a pitcher he made nine appearances with four starts posting a 2-2 record with two saves and a 1.65 ERA. In addition to being the league's Freshman of the Year, Thompson was named to the All-MEC second team as both a utility player and relief pitcher.
Caruso is the MEC Coach of the Year after leading the Fighting Falcons to a 28-22 overall record. FSU went 20-12 in the MEC to earn its first MEC Tournament berth. After inheriting a program that went 9-34, he has led Fairmont State to back-to-back 20-win seasons and its first winning record in over a decade.
The All-MEC teams and awards are selected by a vote of the league's coaches.
Frazier, a junior from Roanoke, Va., is the league's Player of the Year after leading the MEC in hits (79), batting average (.425) and runs (72). He had 19 extra-base hits and drove in 43, while also stealing 15 bases. Frazier was also stellar defensively leading starting shortstops in fielding percentage (.949) committing just 11 errors.
Pansch, a junior from Charles Town, W.Va., is the MEC Pitcher of the Year after going a perfect 8-0 with a 2.55 ERA. He tossed three complete games and opponents batted just .228 against him. Pansch struck out 58 and allowed just 11 walks in 60.0 innings of work.
Thompson, a native of Wise, Va., did it all for the Cavs in his freshman season playing first and in the outfield, as well as serving as a relief pitcher and designated hitter. He hit .328 on the year with 22 RBI and 16 runs scored. As a pitcher he made nine appearances with four starts posting a 2-2 record with two saves and a 1.65 ERA. In addition to being the league's Freshman of the Year, Thompson was named to the All-MEC second team as both a utility player and relief pitcher.
Caruso is the MEC Coach of the Year after leading the Fighting Falcons to a 28-22 overall record. FSU went 20-12 in the MEC to earn its first MEC Tournament berth. After inheriting a program that went 9-34, he has led Fairmont State to back-to-back 20-win seasons and its first winning record in over a decade.
The All-MEC teams and awards are selected by a vote of the league's coaches.
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All-MEC First Team
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Pos.
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Name
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School
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Cl.
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Hometown
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C
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Paul Williams
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Concord
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Jr.
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Vinton,Va.
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1B
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Trevor Wiersma
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Concord
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So.
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Vancouver, British Columbia
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2B
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Vincent Haddox
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West Liberty
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Jr.
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Newell, W.Va.
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SS
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Chad Frazier
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Concord
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Jr.
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Roanoke, Va.
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3B
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Chase Hoffman
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Shepherd
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Jr.
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Middletown, Md.
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Utility
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Jacob Carney
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Shepherd
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Sr.
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Stephens City, Va.
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DH
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Johnny Kesling
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Fairmont State
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Jr.
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Fairmont, W.Va.
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OF
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John Koon
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W.Va. Wesleyan
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Sr.
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Bridgeport, W.Va.
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OF
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Austin Norman
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Fairmont State
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Jr.
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Fairmont, W.Va.
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OF
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J.J. Sarty
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Shepherd
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Sr.
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Purcellville, Va.
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OF
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Evan Webb
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Concord
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So.
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Whitby, Ontario
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SP
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Troy Beckner
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Concord
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So.
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Roanoke, Va.
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SP
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Yale Hughes
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West Liberty
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Sr.
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Cortland, N.Y.
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SP
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Ryan Pansch
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Shepherd
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Jr.
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Charles Town, W.Va.
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SP
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Michael Stout
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Fairmont State
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So.
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St. Mary's, W.Va.
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RP
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Chris Metrick
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W.Va. Wesleyan
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Jr.
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Beckley, W.Va.
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All-MEC Second Team
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Pos.
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Name
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School
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Cl.
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Hometown
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C
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John Peloro
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Glenville State
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So.
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Weeki Wachee, Fla.
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1B
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Brent West
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Urbana
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Sr.
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Mechanicsville, Va.
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2B
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Zach Bacon
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Glenville State
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So.
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Seminole, Fla.
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SS
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Lee Carneal
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Charleston
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Sr.
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Charlottesville, Va.
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3B
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Nathan Neff
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Concord
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Fr.
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Fredericksburg, Va.
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Utility
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Nate Thompson
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UVa-Wise
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Fr.
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Wise, Va.
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DH
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Jordan Clark
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Concord
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So.
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Scott Depot, W.Va.
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OF
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Brenton Doyle
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Shepherd
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Fr.
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Warrenton, Va.
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OF
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Austin Hathaway
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Charleston
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So.
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Fredericktown, Ohio
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OF
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Yale Hughes
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West Liberty
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Sr.
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Cortland, N.Y.
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OF
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Austin Keene
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W.Va. Wesleyan
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Fr.
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Largo, Fla.
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|
SP
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Michael Finch
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Wheeling Jesuit
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Jr.
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Norwalk, Ohio
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SP
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Adam Guay
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Urbana
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Sr.
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Carrollton, Texas
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SP
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Austin Henrich
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Charleston
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Fr.
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Poca, W.Va.
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SP
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Adam Jafine
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Charleston
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Jr.
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Toronto, Ontario
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SP
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Greg Stagani
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West Liberty
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Sr.
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Richmond, Ohio
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RP
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Nate Thompson
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UVa-Wise
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Fr.
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Wise, Va.
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All-MEC Honorable Mention
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C: Tyler Hill (FSU); 1B: Phil Mandt (WVSU); 2B: Austin Barnhart (NDC); SS: Isac Franklin (UU), 3B: Jack Brunetti (UC); Utility: Jacob Whitmore (FSU); DH: Mike Adams (WLU); OF: Danny Beaver (NDC), T.J. Lett (NDC), Ben Myers (FSU)
SP: John Bentley (SU), Colby Gainer (WVSU), Jeff Stover (NDC), Nate Werner (CU); RP: Tori Fuscardo (WLU) |
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Top Honors
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Freshman of the Year: Nate Thompson (WISE)
Player of the Year: Chad Frazier (CU) Pitcher of the Year: Ryan Pansch (SU) Coach of the Year: Phil Caruso (FSU) |
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Editor's Note: Photo from the West Virginia Wesleyan Web site.
