Metro Atlantic Conference's best: Cameron, Groves, Kozar
Former FieldHouse Pirates Zach Cameron (Hamilton, Ont.) was the Metro Atlantic Conference’s reliever of the year.
May 23, 2024
POMONA, N.Y. – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) named the 2024 Baseball Major Award winners and All-MAAC Teams, voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches.
Headlining major award winners in 2024 was MAAC Player of the Year Eric Rataczak of Niagara University. Rataczak, who was also the only unanimous player named to the All-MAAC First Team at the first base position, appeared in 50 games for the Purple Eagles this season, making 48 starts. The red-shirt junior was the league leader in batting average (.400), RBIs (65), RBIs per game (1.30), OPS (1.195) and slugging percentage (.705). Rataczak’s batting average also ranked 16th in the nation.
Fairfield University’s Colin McVeigh was named the unanimous MAAC Pitcher of the Year. A right-handed senior pitcher, McVeigh made 12 starts and 14 total appearances on the mound, earning a 9-2 record in 78.2 innings of work this year. Hailing from Lansdale, PA, he posted an ERA of 3.66, striking out 91 batters while only allowing 18 walks. McVeigh was the MAAC leader in victories, strikeout-to-walk ratio
The MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year selection was Zach Cameron (Hamilton, Ont.) from Niagara. Cameron made 20 appearances out of the bullpen in 2024, earning a MAAC-most 10 saves, a mark that ranked ninth in the nation and two-times more than the next closest pitcher in the MAAC. He pitched a total of 48 2/3 innings, posting an 8-1 record. Cameron’s eight wins were second in the conference, only trailing McVeigh. Additionally, he struck out 48 hitters, had an ERA of 3.14, and a WHIP of 1.19.
Deven Sheerin of Mount St. Mary’s University was honoured as the MAAC Rookie of the Year. Sheerin, a right-handed pitcher from Reading, PA, took the mound 15 times, getting the starting nod twice in his rookie campaign. He recorded a 5-4 record, pitching 61 2/3 innings, with 99 strikeouts, an ERA of 4.82, one complete game, and one save.
Niagara head coach Rob McCoy was voted amongst his peers as the MAAC Coach of the Year. The winningest head coach in Purple Eagles history, McCoy is in his 16th season at the helm of Niagara, leading the Purple Eagles to a 20-4 (.833) MAAC record and 35-15 (.700) overall mark in 2024. Niagara secured a share of the MAAC Regular Season title, the first in program history. The Purple Eagles are the hottest team in the league, riding a MAAC-best five-game winning streak heading into postseason action. At the plate, McCoy’s squad ranked first in scoring, accounting for 8.4 runs per game. On the mound, his unit led the conference in hits allowed per nine innings, giving up 9.15. Niagara’s .700 overall winning, also led the MAAC and was the 23rd best percentage nationally.
The list of major award winners and All-MAAC Teams ...
2024 Baseball Major Awards
Awards Player School
Player of the Year Eric Rataczak Niagara
Pitcher of the Year Colin McVeigh* Fairfield
Relief Pitcher of the Year Zach Cameron Hamilton, Ont. Niagara
Rookie of the Year Deven Sheerin Mount St. Mary’s
Coach of the Year Rob McCoy Niagara
All-MAAC First Team
Player Class Position School
Ethan Hibbard Gr. Catcher Fairfield
Eric Rataczak* R-Jr. First Base Niagara
Zach Selinger Gr. Second Base Fairfield
Daniel Perez R-So. Second Base Manhattan
Dean Ferrara Jr. Third Base Fairfield
Chase Swain So. Shortstop Manhattan
Jackson Strong Jr. Outfield Canisius
Matt Bucciero So. Outfield Fairfield
Josiah Ragsdale So. Outfield Iona
Colin McVeigh Sr. Pitcher Fairfield
Deven Sheerin Fr. Pitcher Mount St. Mary’s
PJ Craig So. Pitcher Rider
Scott Seeker Sr. DH Mount St. Mary’s
Ethan Conrad So. Utility Marist
All-MAAC Second Team
Player Class Position School
Ashby Vining Jr. Catcher Saint Peter’s
Matt Bergevin Sr. First Base Fairfield
Joe Tiroly Fr. Second Base Rider
Drew Wyers So. Third Base Manhattan
Luke Nomura So. Shortstop Fairfield
Nick Groves London, Ont. So. Outfield Niagara
Nick Monile Fr. Outfield Niagara
Jared Zimbardo Sr. Outfield Quinnipiac
Brendan Yagesh So. Pitcher Mount St. Mary’s
Zach Cameron Hamilton, Ont. Gr. Pitcher Niagara
Ryan Minckler R-So. Pitcher Niagara
Trevor Hansen So. Designated Hitter Manhattan
Carlin Dick Abbotsford, BC Sr. Utility Canisius
MAAC All-Rookie Team
Player Class Position School
Ben Alekson Fr. Pitcher Fairfield
Carter Groen Fr. Outfield Iona
Vincent Davis Fr. Infield Manhattan
Michael Staiano Fr. Pitcher Manhattan
Deven Sheerin Fr. Pitcher Mount St. Mary’s
Rees Kozar Amherstburg, Ont. Fr. Catcher/Outfield Niagara
Nick Monile Fr. Outfield Niagara
Kyle Neri R-Fr. Outfield Rider
Joe Tiroly Fr. Infield Rider
Tyler Figueroa Fr. Infield Siena
*Denotes Unanimous Selection