SUNY Cortland senior pitcher Seth Lamando (Hopewell Junction/Roy C. Ketcham) has been named the 2016 Division III National Pitcher of the Year by the web site D3baseball.com and is one of three Red Dragons to earn All-America honors from the organization. Senior pitcher Turner Parry (Syracuse/West Genesee) was a second-team All-American, while senior Tanner Whiteman (Cazenovia) was an honorable mention selection.
In addition, Lamando earned a spot on the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division III All-America first team. That award was announced Thursday evening during the Opening Ceremonies of the NCAA Division III World Series in Wisconsin.
In all, eight Cortland players earned All-New York Region honors from both D3baseball.com and the ABCA. Lamando was the New York Region Pitcher of the Year from both groups. Parry and senior outfielder Fabio Ricci (Hawthorne/Westlake) were first-team all-region choices on both squads, while Whiteman, senior outfielder Conrad Ziemendorf (Penfield/Webster Schroeder) and junior third baseman Steven Figueroa (Bronx/St. Raymond's) were on the all-region second teams on both lists. Sophomore catcher Justin Teague (North Syracuse/Cicero-North Syracuse) and junior outfielder Nick Hart (Fredonia) both were chosen as second-team all-region by D3baseball.com and on the ABCA all-region third team.
Seth Lamando is Cortland's first national Pitcher of the Year since Jimmy Dougher in 2007.
Cortland (41-6) will open play at the World Series versus Emory University on Friday, May 27 at 10 a.m. (CT). The defending national champion Red Dragons qualified for the Series for the third straight year and the 14th time overall.
Lamando is Cortland's first D3baseball.com National Pitcher of the Year since Jimmy Dougher earned the honor in 2007. Lamando is currently 9-0 with one save and a 0.80 ERA in 13 appearances, 12 as a starter. He's allowed only 54 hits and a .192 opponent batting average in 79 innings with 81 strikeouts and just eight walks. Lamando was named the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Pitcher of the Year in early May.
Parry has been one of the nation's top relief pitchers with a 5-2 record, five saves and a 1.75 ERA in 18 appearances, 17 out of the bullpen. He has struck out 56 batters and has allowed 22 hits with 13 walks in 36 innings pitched. Teams are batting only .171 against him.
Whiteman brings an 8-0 record and a 2.30 ERA into the World Series. In 13 appearances, 11 as a starter, Whiteman has allowed 57 hits and 17 walks and has struck out 57 batters in 70 and a third innings.
Ricci leads the Cortland offense with a .396 batting average in 46 games, 44 as a starter. He's registered 10 doubles, a team-high five triples, one homer, 31 RBI and 39 runs scored along with 23 walks. He's also stolen 12 bases in 15 tries and has committed only one error in 50 fielding chances for a .980 fielding percentage.
Ziemendorf is hitting .327 with three homers, five triples, nine doubles, a team-high 41 RBI, and 36 runs scored in 47 games, 46 as a starter. He's drawn a team-high 32 walks, has stolen four bases, and has a .981 fielding percentage with just two errors in 108 chances in center field.
Figueroa is currently hitting at a .352 clip in 46 games with 44 starts. He leads the Red Dragons with 15 doubles, shares the team lead with four homers, and also has three triples, 40 RBI and 40 runs scored. Figueroa has walked 22 times and has stolen eight bases, and he's committed only six errors in 93 chances.
Teague has started 29 of the 39 games in which he's appeared this spring. He's batting .356 with eight doubles, 22 RBI and 22 runs scored, and he's walked 14 times and has stolen four bases. Teague boasts a .996 fielding percentage and has thrown out seven of 18 potential basestealers.
Hart is second on the Red Dragon squad with a .375 batting average in 46 games, 45 as a starter. He's hit 11 doubles, a triple and two homers with 39 RBI and a team-high 47 runs scored. Hart has also walked 27 times and has been hit by pitches 14 times for a team best .483 on-base percentage, and he's committed only one error in 60 chances for a .983 fielding percentage.
