ERIE, Pa. -- Three members of the 2010 Mercyhurst College baseball squad collected honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association with their placement on the Division II All-Atlantic Region teams.
Sophomore
Ethan Santora was named to the all-Region team for the second time, earning honorable mention. Seniors
Jordan Backes and
Adam Gray were awarded honorable mention at starting pitcher and utility player, respectively. All three had been named to the All-PSAC West First Team this season, while Backes earned Daktronics All-Region.
A sophomore infielder from Gates Mills, Ohio, Santora repeats as a NCBWA All-Region selection, being named to the first team on the way to an Honorable Mention All-American award in 2009. He led the team with a .390 batting average, slugging seven home runs, 14 doubles and two triples this season.
Santora shifted to shortstop following an injury to the starter late in the season. He batted .433 in divisional competition, and was second in the PSAC with 30 walks. He had separate eight-game run-scoring and RBI streaks during the season and also posted a 10-game hitting streak.
Santora moved into second-place all-time in Laker history with his 23rd career home run, hit April 13. He ranks eighth all-time with a .366 average.
Gray, a South Euclid, Ohio product, earns his first all-Region honor after being named All-PSAC West during his junior and senior seasons. He showcased his versatility by starting 27 games at first base, 12 at second, six at designated hitter in addition to seven starts on the mound. Gray batted a career-best .348, leading the team with 38 RBI while hitting five home runs and nine doubles.
Gray went 3-3 as a pitcher, appearing in nine games on the hill with seven starts. His signature performance came in a two-hit shutout of Lock Haven, earning PSAC West Pitcher of the Week honors for his efforts.
Gray homered in each of the first two games of the PSAC Tournament, ending his career on a four-game hitting streak.
Backes, a Mount Zion, Ill. native, became the Lakers’ most dependable starter during his senior season after transferring from Quincy. He earned Daktronics All-Atlantic Region Second Team and All-PSAC West First Team this season. Backes led the team with a 6-3 record, 2.67 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 63 2/3 innings pitched. He ranked highly among PSAC starting pitchers, ranking second in ERA and third in strikeouts.
Backes threw a masterful, two-hit complete-game shutout against eventual PSAC champion Cal March 19, earning PSAC West Pitcher of the Week in the process. He went 4-1 with a 2.37 ERA in PSAC West competition.
His 69 strikeouts are tied for the ninth-best single-season total in program history. He struck out seven or more batters in seven out of his 11 starts, including back-to-back eight-strikeout contests to close the regular season.