ERIE, Pa. – The honors keep piling up for members of the Mercyhurst College baseball team as three players have earned accolades from the American Baseball Coaches Association. 

Designated hitter Adam Gray and starting pitcher Jordan Backes each landed a spot on the ABCA All-Atlantic Region First Team while third baseman Ethan Santora earned a place on the Second Team. 

Additionally, Craig Denman was selected as an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove winner for his play at center field. 

Gray and Backes are now eligible for All-America honors, which will be announced on Sunday, May 23 in conjunction with the NCAA II National Championship Tournament in Cary, N.C. 

A senior, this is Gray's third postseason award after being named to the All-PSAC West First Team and earning honorable mention from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. 

Gray, a South Euclid, Ohio product 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 gathers his fourth postseason accolade and third first-team selection this season after also earning the top spot on the All-PSAC West and Daktronics All-Atlantic teams. He also was named honorable mention by the NCBWA. 

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. 

Santora picks up his sixth career honor after his sophomore campaign in which he earned All-PSAC West First Team and an honorable mention nod from the NCBWA. 

An infielder from Gates Mills, Ohio, Santora 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. 

2010 ABCA Rawlings All-Atlantic Region:
First Team
1B Justin Bagney, Chowan
2B Greyson Schram,Concord
SS Paul Bingham, IUP
3B James Quigly,Kutztown
INF Donavan Huffer, Concord
DH Adam Gray, Mercyhurst
C Pat Trettell, Seton Hill
OF Bo Darby, WV State
OF Shayne Houck, Kutztown
OF Sam DiMatteo, California
OF Troy Handza, California
P Randy Sturgill,California
P Fred Breidenbach, West Chester
P Jordan Backes, Mercyhurst
P Brooks Cullen, Concord
RP Bernard Johnson, Mansfield
Player of the Year Shayne Houck, Kutztown
Pitcher of the Year Randy Sturgill,California
Coach of the Year Chris Blum, Kutztown

Second Team
1B Nathan Minnich, Shepherd
2B Joe Wendle, West Chester
SS Caigan O'Callahan, Davis and Elkins
3B Ethan Santora, Mercyhurst
INF Kyle Stryker, IUP
DH Justin Shockey, Chowan
C Bob Stumpo, West Chester
OF Kevin McGrath, West Chester
OF Matt Baer, West Chester
OF Matt Howard, Slippery Rock
OF Shawn McEnhimer, Virginia State
P Mark Warheit, Seton Hill
P Christian Saveri, East Stroudsburg
P Nate Reed, Kutztown
P Noah Mull, Wheeling Jesuit
RP Evan Kendall, West Virginia St 

2010 ABCA/Rawlings Atlantic Region Gold Glove Winners:
First Team 
C Bob Stumpo, West Chester
1B Jared Frey, Kutztown 
2B  Joe Wendle, West Chester
3B Josh Heyne, West Chester 
SS  Josh Bower, West Virginia State 
OF Troy Handza, California 
OF Kevin McGrath, West Chester 
OF Craig Denman, Mercyhurst 
P Jimmy Miller, Shippensburg

Second Team 
C Brendan O'Connor East Stroudsburg 
1B  Mark Henry, Seton Hill 
2B  Dave McCarthy, Seton Hill 
3B  Mike Hartz, Mansfield 
SS Donavan Huffer, Concord 
OF Marcus Weese, Davis and Elkins 
OF Casey Zimmerman, East Stroudsburg 
OF Frank Sirolli, IUP 
P Forrest Mengle, Millersville