NESCAC Baseball All-Conference Teams Released

Trinity’s Piantek named 2003 Player of the Year

HARTFORD, Conn. - Trinity College second baseman Kurt Piantek was named the 2003 NESCAC Baseball Player of the Year in a vote by the conference coaches. Piantek, a two-time first-team selection, led the league in several offensive categories including hitting (.523) runs scored (44), RBI (53) and home runs (14). In the final day of the NESCAC Championship, the senior was 5-for-8 with three home runs, six RBI and four runs scored and as Trinity took two games from host Amherst to win the league title and a berth in the NCAA Championship.

After posting a 2.20 ERA with 55 strikeouts, Jon Lee of Tufts University was honored as the 2003 NESCAC Pitcher of the Year. Lee also won the honor as a sophomore in 2001. Lee ended his career with a 9-3 record this year and finished as Tufts’ all-time leader in wins with 29. Tufts’ senior outfielder Evan Zupancic makes his second consecutive appearance on the first team. Zupancic, the Jumbos all time leading home run king, finished with five round-trippers while ending the year among the league leaders in stolen bases with 12.

Trinity’s Piantek was one of four Bantams honored on the all-conference first team. Senior first baseman Robert Dolliver posted a .403 batting average with 42 RBI. Sophomore outfielder Jeff Natale was the only underclassman honored on the first team. Natale had a .520 on base percentage with 40 runs scored. Junior pitcher Kevin Tidmarsh led the Bantams on the hill with a perfect 9-0 record and a 2.59 ERA and 53 strikeouts. Trinity head coach Bill Decker was honored by his peers as NESCAC Coach of the Year. Decker and the Bantams won the NESCAC Championship and entered the NCAA Division III Championship with a 24-9 overall record and a national ranking in the top 20.

Jabe Bergeron and Austin Lehn of Williams were each repeat selections. Bergeron, a junior first baseman, was the 2001 NESCAC Rookie of the Year and a first team selection in both 2001 and 2002. Bergeron hit .413 with 44 RBI and 13 home runs leading Williams to a 27-10 mark. Lehn, a senior third baseman, posted a .434 batting average with 43 RBI. Bergeron and Lehn tied for the conference lead with 59 hits apiece. Williams Junior Matt Dahlman, who hit .368 with 36 runs scored, was also a first-team selection.

Wesleyan senior Bill Robinson, a second team selection in both 2001 and 2002, was honored on the first team this season. Robinson, who both pitched and played shortstop for the Cardinals, led his team in several offensive categories including runs scored (38) and runs batted in (35) while starting five games on the mound.

Colby junior catcher Eric Roy rounds out the all-conference first team selections. Roy hit .380 for the Mules and was perfect in 84 fielding chances from his position at the plate.

Bowdoin freshman Jared Lemieux was named conference Rookie of the Year. Lemieux, a second team all-conference selection, hit .325 with 35 runs scored and did not make an error in 84 chances in centerfield.

2003 NESCAC Baseball All-Conference Teams