NYCBL Sweeps Empire 8's Top Awards, Dominates All-Conference Squad

Rochester Institute of Technology sophomore Geoff Dornes (Webster' 08) has been named the Empire 8 Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Dornes was the league's Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in 2007. Ithaca College junior Bryan Gardner (Roch. '06/Webster '07) was chosen as the league's Pitcher of the Year and Ithaca College freshman David Ahonen (Brockport '08) was selected as the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year.

Additionally, five other New York Collegiate Baseball League players were named to the league's 2008 all-conference team including Ithaca's Drew Ash (Elmira '08), Nick Sottung (Gen. Valley '05), Shane Wolf (Elmira '06-'07) and Eric Ferguson (Brockport '07) and St. John Fisher College's Chad King (Brockport '07).

Geoff Dornes was named first-team all-conference as an outfielder and second-team all-conference as a starting pitcher. Offensively, he led R.I.T. with a .386 batting average, 51 hits, nine doubles, five home runs and 37 runs batted in. Against conference opponents, Dornes hit .456 (26-for-57) with two home runs, 16 runs batted in and 20 runs scored.

On the mound, Dornes went 3-2 with a 2.82 earned run average in nine appearances. He allowed 16 earned runs in 51 innings pitched, walked four and struck out 27. Dornes made seven starts and hurled three complete games. In conference play, he led the Tigers pitching staff with 28 innings pitched and two complete games.

The Landisville, Pa., native will wear the pinstripes of the NYCBL's Webster Yankees this summer.

Bryan Gardner is the first reliever to win the Empire 8 Pitcher of the Year award. He tied a school single-season record at Ithaca this year with seven saves. Gardner was a first-team all-conference pitcher. Through a team-high 21 appearances for the Bombers, Gardner went 2-2 with a 1.64 earned run average. Gardner yielded six earned runs on 18 hits in 33 innings pitched. He led the Ithaca bullpen and finished third on the team with 62 strikeouts.

The Fairport, N.Y., native has spent the last two summers in the NYCBL with the Webster Yankees (named Rochester Royals in 2006) organization. Gardner was a second team NYCBL all-star last summer. He was 0-1 with four saves and a team-low 1.38 earned run average. Gardner allowed four earned runs in 26 innings pitched and struck out 37. He pitched in the NYCBL All-Star Game and struck out the side in the fifth inning.

David Ahonen was a unanimous choice as the league's Rookie of the Year. He was a first team all-conference choice. As a freshman, Ahonen led Ithaca with a .418 batting average, 61 hits and a .466 on-base percentage. His .418 batting average is the highest in school history for a freshman. Ahonen tallied 35 runs scored, 12 doubles, one triple, two home runs, 30 runs batted in, 12 walks and 11 stolen bases. He played in 41 of Ithaca's 43 games and started 40.

The Farmington, N.Y., native will play in the NYCBL this summer for the Brockport Riverbats.

Ithaca junior Drew Ash was tabbed first-team all-conference as a catcher. The Bombers backstop hit .340 with three home runs and 31 runs batted in. After missing most of 2006 due to injury, Ash played in all 43 of Ithaca's games and started 42. He had 48 hits, 28 runs scored, 10 doubles, one triple, 14 walks, six stolen bases and a .489 slugging percentage. Behind the plate, Ash accumulated a .990 fielding percentage with three errors in 291 total chances.

The Denville, N.J., native will play for the defending league champion Elmira Pioneers this summer.

Ithaca senior Nick Sottung was a first team all-conference pitcher. He leaves Ithaca as the school's all-time leader in wins (31) and strikeouts (255). Sottung is a four-time all-conference selection. This spring, Sottung went 8-2 with a 1.88 earned run average in 14 appearances. He allowed 17 earned runs in 81.1 innings pitched and struck out 76. Sottung led the Bombers in innings pitched and strikeouts.

Sottung pitched in the NYCBL for the 2005 Genesee Valley Riverbats. He was 1-1 with a 3.71 earned run average in five starts. He struck out 11 in 26.2 innings pitched. Sottung pitched for the Green Bay Bullfrogs of the Northwoods League last summer.

Ithaca senior Shane Wolf was chosen first-team all-conference and he was Ithaca's Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year. Wolf was a dual threat for the Bombers as a pitcher and first baseman. He was the only player to start all 43 of Ithaca's games this season. He hit .321 with three home runs and 31 runs batted in. Wolf put together 52 hits, 39 runs scored, 10 doubles, 18 walks and seven stolen bases.

The senior went 10-1 on the mound with a 2.80 earned run average. Wolf made 12 starts, pitched 70.2 innings and struck out 75. He threw three complete games and held opposing hitters to a .251 batting average.

The Freeville, N.Y., native was the 2007 NYCBL Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player of the NYCBL Championship Series. Wolf led the Elmira Pioneers to the league championship in the franchise's second year of existence. He paced Elmira in batting average (.367) and earned run average (1.31) and he finished among the league leaders in both categories.

Ithaca senior Eric Ferguson was selected second-team all-conference. Ferguson, a former soccer goalkeeper, hit .319 with one home run and 28 runs batted in. Ferguson started 40 games and recorded 44 hits, 29 runs scored, 12 doubles, one triple, 21 walks and six stolen bases. Defensively, Ferguson had a .978 fielding percentage; he made four errors in 180 chances. Ferguson was an all-conference choice in 2007 as well.

The East Greenbush, N.Y., native played in the NYCBL last summer for the Brockport Riverbats. He led the Riverbats with a .338 batting average and 50 hits. Ferguson added two home runs, 24 runs batted in, 26 runs scored, eight doubles and a .432 slugging percentage. He was a second team NYCBL all-star and also competed in the NYCBL All-Star Game.

St. John Fisher College senior Chad King was twice honored by the Empire 8. He was named second-team all-conference as a shortstop and he received honorable mention as a starting pitcher. This spring, King hit .328 with five home runs and a team-high 36 runs batted in for the St. John Fisher Cardinals. He had 42 hits, 25 runs scored, nine doubles and a .531 on-base percentage. King started 37 of the Cardinals 40 games this season.

The senior led St. John Fisher with a 1.11 earned run average in six appearances. He went 2-2 and pitched one complete game. King threw 32.1 innings, struck out 14 and held opponents to a .226 batting average. King was selected as a first team all-conference shortstop in 2007.

The Plainville, N.Y., native played for the Brockport Riverbats last summer. He batted .261 and drove in 11 runs for the Riverbats in just 88 at-bats. As a pitcher, King was 2-0 with a 2.16 earned run average in four appearances and two starts. He struck out eight in 16.2 innings pitched.