Past Hudson Valley Community College Student-Athletes Recognized For Diamond Efforts
Three former Hudson Valley Community College baseball players recently earned post-season honors. They are: Curtis Nobles (Bishop Maginn) of SUNY Brockport, Todd Brown (Colonie) of SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome and Travis Smith (Sidney, N.Y.) of SUNY Cortland. All three were named to the All-SUNYAC Team. Smith also earned All-Region status.
"That says something about the baseball program at Hudson Valley Community College," said Drew Marrochello, the college's athletic director. "(Fifth-year head coach) Tom Reinisch is helping his players reach their athletic potential, and he's making sure they succeed academically. The success of these three former Vikings shows that Hudson Valley Community College is a good choice for baseball players coming out of high school. We give kids a place to play competitive ball and learn. We help put them on the right track."
Nobles was named Male Athlete of the Year at SUNY Brockport. A 1998 Hudson Valley graduate - where he earned First Team All-Region III status and was the Most Valuable Player of the baseball team - Nobles pitched and played outfield for SUNY Brockport this year. On the mound, he struck out 66 batters in 65 innings and set a school record for career strikeouts (103) despite playing just two years. At the plate, Nobles hit .423 with 22 RBI and three home runs. He also set a school record by drawing 26 walks.
Smith has helped SUNY Cortland (36-9) reach the NCAA Division III World Series for the fourth consecutive season with a 17-game hitting streak. The third baseman hit safely in 28 of SUNY Cortland's last 30 games. A junior now, he was a Second Team All-Region III selection for Hudson Valley in 1997. This year, Smith hit .340 with 27 runs, nine doubles, five triples and four home runs. He has also knocked in 31 runs and stolen eight bases.
Brown posted a 2.22 earned run average in 47.3 innings pitched at SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome this past season. According to Reinisch, Brown, who graduated from the Troy college in 1998, was the best pitcher in Region III during his two years with the Vikings. At SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome this year, he struck out 38 batters and won two games.
"We're very proud of all our student-athletes, past and present," Marrochello said. "They work hard."
Hudson Valley Community College, located in Troy, offers more than 50 degree and certificate programs in four academic divisions; Business; Engineering and Industrial Technologies; Health Sciences; and Liberal Arts and Sciences. One of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, Hudson Valley has an enrollment of more than 9,000 students each year, and is known as a leader in distance learning initiatives and worker retraining. - 30 - CONTACT: Jeff Foley (518) 629-8085 or (518) 373-1262 http://hvcc.edu