Athletes Recognized For On-Field Efforts
Two Hudson Valley Community College baseball players recently earned post-season honors. Freshman Jarrod Kussler (Troy) and second-year player Wes Dedrick (Columbia) were both named to the First Team All-Region III squad. Kussler, a first baseman, was also named to the First Team Mountain Valley Conference All-Star team; Dedrick earned Second Team status.
The Vikings captured a top 20 ranking among all NJCAA Division III teams in the country this season. Hudson Valley posted a 29-14 record and advanced to the semifinals of the NJCAA Division III Region III tournament by upsetting No. 3 seed Schenectady County Community College on May 9.
The right-handed Kussler hit .418 in 2000 and clubbed 12 doubles, five triples and four home runs. Kussler, who played four years of baseball and hockey at Troy High, scored 40 runs. The Business Administration major also knocked in 33 runs.
Dedrick split his time between third base and designated hitter, contributing 46 RBI. The right-handed Individual Studies major batted .320 and had five home runs and four triples. He also scored 32 runs. Dedrick has four home runs in 1999 and helped Columbia High win the Section II title in 1997.
"These kids can hit the ball out of any ballpark," Hudson Valley coach Tom Reinisch said. "Jarrod Kussler is one of the better power hitters in Region III. In fact, he's one of the best hitters in the region period. I'm looking forward to having him back next year. And we're really going to miss having Wes Dedrick's bat in the lineup next season. He'll be hard to replace."