Lebanon Valley College announces Santoro and Fester Earn Major Awards; Dutchmen have Program-Record Nine Selections to All-MAC Commonwealth Baseball Team

From May 15, 2023 post.

ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley College baseball team made headlines on Monday, as the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) announced the 2023 All-MAC Commonwealth Team with LVC having nine selections and two Dutchmen took home major awards. Shortstop Nico Santoro was named Player of the Year and head coach Jonas Fester received Coach of the Year honors. Lebanon Valley had four student-athletes named to the first team, as Tommy Moore Jr., Shane Stossel, Conor Smith and Santoro were each recognized for their impressive seasons. The club also had four second team selections, as Jacob Detwiler, Jace Fetterman, Logan Brewer, and Andrew Miles were presented the honor for their contributions.

Fester has earned his second consecutive Coach of the Year Award for leading the program to its second straight MAC Commonwealth title, as the Flying Dutchmen swept Alvernia University in the conference championship series on Saturday. The two-time Coach of the Year honoree led the club to a 28-15-1 overall record with a dominant 19-5 mark in conference play. Fester also helped guide Lebanon Valley to its second NCAA Tournament appearance in a row, as the team is set to take on the University of Lynchburg in the first round at 11 a.m. on May 19.

Santoro received Player of the Year honors and his second straight first team appearance after a stellar senior campaign. The shortstop was the catalyst for LVC's offense, leading the team and the conference with a .420 batting average. Santoro's highest batting average of his career is the product of 71 hits, which broke his own single-season program record of 70 hits in 2022. He also displayed patience at the plate, drawing 15 walks to post a team-leading .476 on-base percentage. Along with getting on base frequently, he recorded the second-most RBIs on the team by driving in 33 runs.

Moore Jr. was named to the first team for the first time in his career after delivering a dominant 2023 campaign for the Dutchmen. The right-hander registered a team-leading 3.15 ERA in 12 games on the mound, recording 68.2 innings of work. The senior also managed to generate swings and misses, striking out 69 batters during the campaign. Moore Jr. was effective in his last start, striking out six batters in 6.1 innings of work against Alvernia University on May 12 in game one of the MAC Commonwealth Championship Series. This effort along with his start in the semifinal series earned the hurler Most Valuable Player honors for the MAC Commonwealth Tournament. These credentials have helped Moore Jr. post an 8-0 record thus far.

Stossel made an impact on both sides of the ball in his junior season, earning first team honors as both a pitcher and a utility player for the second consecutive year. On the mound, he posted a 3.80 ERA and led LVC with 72 strikeouts. Fester gave the ball to the two-way player in game two of the MAC Commonwealth Championship Series against Alvernia, in which he threw eight innings of one-run ball to help the club win the title. Stossel was also a key contributor at the plate, logging a .341 batting average and leading the Dutchmen with 10 homers. The slugger emerged as one of the top run producers in the league, as he led the team and the MAC Commonwealth with 51 RBIs.

Smith was named to the first team for the first time in his career, after being listed as a second team honoree last spring. The second baseman was a reliable bat in Lebanon Valley's lineup, hitting .319 with five long balls and 27 runs batted in. Smith played a key role in the program's conference title run, delivering a two-homer and five RBI performance against York College of Pennsylvania in LVC's game one victory in the MAC Commonwealth Semifinals on May 6.

Detwiler earned second team honors in his first collegiate season, making a name for himself by recording a 3.79 ERA in 16 appearances out of the bullpen. The reliever was dominant, striking out 26 batters in 19 frames on the mound. These credentials helped Detwiler notch four saves, including a postseason save against the Golden Wolves in game one of the conference championship series on May 12.

Fetterman was presented with second team honors for the second year in a row, after being recognized as a designated hitter in 2022. This season, the sophomore was named an honoree for his excellence both in the batter's box and behind the dish. Fetterman was a key contributor in Lebanon Valley's lineup, logging a .275 batting average five homers, and 19 runs batted in. The catcher also showcased his good eye at the plate, leading the team and the MAC Commonwealth with 41 walks.

Brewer established himself as a force in the batter's box during his sophomore campaign, registering numbers worthy of a second team selection. The first baseman recorded a .324 batting average while leaving the yard eight times and driving in 22 runs. Brewer delivered his signature moment in game two of the conference semifinal series against York, crushing a walk-off three-run home run to send the Dutchmen to the MAC Commonwealth Championship Series.

Miles received All-MAC recognition for the second straight year, being named to the second team after being a first team selection last season. The third baseman was a consistent bat in the Dutchmen order, hitting .311 with 11 doubles and 27 RBIs. Miles was also a force on the base paths, leading the team with 15 stolen bases.

The nine All-MAC Commonwealth selections marks a program record, breaking the 2021 and 2022 team records of seven honorees.

Below is the 2023 All-MAC Commonwealth Baseball Team.

Original source can be found here.