Sparkill, N.Y. - St. Thomas Aquinas College’s Aaron Dona was named Pitcher of the Year, as the East Coast Conference All-Conference Baseball awards were announced on Wednesday.
The Spartans, who finished second in the ECC standings (23-25 overall, 16-8 ECC) were well represented with seven selections to the all-conference teams. Dona's exceptional work on the mound won him Pitcher of the Year recognition.
On the first team, Dona (pitcher), was joined by fellow graduate student Kyle Lagrutta (designated hitter) and junior Sean Lynch (catcher). Teammates Andrew Jemison (Gr./shortstop), Gregory DiGiaro (Sr./first base), C.J. Cumbo (RSo./second base) and Nick O'Connor (RSo./utility) were all picked to the second team.
Aaron Dona, led the STAC starting rotation in 2023 as the ace of the staff. He posted a 6-3 record with a 3.57 earned run average over 70.2 innings pitched, while striking out the opposition 104 times. The grad-student from Gloversville, N.Y. set a new single-season mark in strikeouts (currently 104), passing former record holder Frankie Moscatiello (94-2017) and sits #2 all-time in career strikeouts (currently 272) for the Spartans.
Lynch (Hudson, Fla.) posted a .286 average in 36 games during the regular season, with five doubles, two home runs, 16 RBIs and 13 runs scored, while providing solid defense behind the plate with his .966 fielding percentage and picking off 13 opposing base runners.
Lagrutta (Commack, N.Y.) was the team's primary designated hitter in 2023, recording 39 hits in 143 at-bats for a .273 batting average, while racking up 10 doubles, a triple and two homers. He also drove in 28 runs and scored 23 times, while drawing 28 walks in 45 games.
Jemison (Monroe, N.Y.) provided steady play at shortstop during the season, with solid defense (.947 fielding percentage), and a strong offensive presence in the batter's box. He put up a .310 average, with 16 doubles, 20 RBIs and 39 runs scored in 45 games. Andrew also swiped 13 of 14 bases for the Spartans and picked up his 200th career hit in early April.
DiGiaro (Staten Island, N.Y.), the team and ECC leader in home runs (11) and runs batted in (51), finished the 2023 Regular Season on a hot streak and pushed his batting average to .297. He also recorded 10 doubles, a triple and 40 runs scored, while drawing 24 walks in 46 games played.
Cumbo (East Meadow, N.Y.) paired with teammate Jemison to be one of the league's best duos up the middle at second base and shortstop, respectively. He was also a hard out at the plate, hitting .291 with seven doubles, five home runs, 27 RBIs and 37 runs scored. C.J. was also the team leader in walks with 32.
O'Connor (Wantagh, N.Y.) rounds out the all-conference parade, with his outstanding play in multiple positions on the field for the maroon and gold. The Spartans Swiss Army Knife saw time in the outfield, at third base and second base. Playing in all 48 games in 2023, he led the team in batting average, hitting .324 with eight doubles, three triples, and four home runs, while driving in 24 runs and scoring 39 times. Nick also stole 13-of-17 bases.
2023 ECC Baseball All-Conference