BASE: Seven Grab All-Conference Honors; Jackson POY
CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, (518) 629-7898 or (518) 416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Thursday, May 16, 2024
The Hudson Valley Community College baseball program had seven student-athletes named to the Mountain Valley All-Conference teams as announced by the Conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Hudson Valley had three individuals, Tyree Jackson (POY), Matthew Carrera and Connor Waiting, named to the first team and four individuals, Brendan Connolly, Jayden Kennedy, Colin Lynch and Ethan Pues, were awarded second team recognition.
The Vikings All-Conference selections were highlighted by the announcement that Tyree Jackson, an outfielder from Medford, NY, was named the 2024 Mountain Valley Conference Player of the Year. Jackson finished the year with a .375 batting average, two home runs, 17 RBIs and 31 runs scored.
Jackson started the year off strong as he posted a nine-game hit streak through the first 12 games of the season and he continued with a strong finish, securing multi-hit games in seven of the final 10 games of the season.
Matthew Carrera was named to the first team after he led the team in nearly every major offensive category this season. He recorded team-highs with a .422 batting average, 46 hits, 28 RBIs, 22 walks, and had a .519 on-base percentage. Carrera, the primary lead-off hitter this year, was also a team-leader in on the bases as he accumulated 27 stolen bases and scored 39 runs over the 39 games played.
Connor Waiting had a successful sophomore campaign at the Valley to garner first team accolades. Waiting led the team with 60 total bases, which he accumulated from a team-high 15 extra-base hits (10 doubles and 5 home runs). Connor hit the ball extremely well as he was slotted in the middle of the lineup. He finished the year with a .365 batting average and slugged .625 while accumulating 35 hits, 22 RBIs in 96 at-bats.
Brendan Connolly and Jayden Hughes joined Carrera as All-Conference infielders after the duo was named to the All-Conference second team. Connolly owned second base and was one of the better defensive infielders on the team, posting a .930 fielding percentage. Brendan was also a force at the plate, hitting .337 with 32 hits, 23 RBIs in 32 games played. Hughes split time at third base and put up strong offensive numbers, hitting .347 with four doubles and a .490 slugging percentage over his 22 games played.
Colin Lynch also garnered second team honors as the team's primary designated hitter and backup first basemen this season. Lynch finished the season with a .341 average and collected 29 hits, 24 RBIs (2nd best) and only struck out 10 times in 85 at-bats. He scored 18 runs with five stolen bases over the course of 32 games played.
Ethan Pues was recognized on the second team as the Vikings primary left fielder. The Plant City, Fla. native, hit .260 at the plate in 73 at-bats and tallied 19 hits, 16 RBIs and 14 walks. His on-base percentage was .419 and slugged .562. Pues scored 24 runs and finished the year tied for the team-lead with 15 extra-base hits which he achieved with 11 doubles, one triple and three home runs.