CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Region III Player of the Year to Attend UAlbany Next Year
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has named Hudson Valley Community College sophomore first baseman Steve Sayre (East Greenbush/Columbia High School) a Division III First Team All-American.
Sayre, who was named the NJCAA Region III and Mountain Valley Conference Player of the Year two weeks ago, is the third Hudson Valley baseball player since 1999 to garner First Team All-American accolades. Dan Barbero was recognized last season and Mike DiPiazza was honored in 1999.
Sayre led Region III with a .450 (72-for-160) batting average. He also had 23 doubles, four home runs and 57 RBI. Despite playing in only 10 games in 2003 due to an eye injury, Sayre finished his Hudson Valley career with 84 hits, which ranks fourth on the college's all-time career hits list.
Sayre has accepted a scholarship to play baseball at the University at Albany. He will be the third Hudson Valley player, joining Jason Martin and Justin Meagher, to join the Great Danes' baseball team since 2003.
Hudson Valley set a school and Region III record with 42 wins in 2004. The Vikings finished the year with a 42-10 record, won the Mountain Valley Conference, and finished third at the NJCAA Region III Division III Tournament.