The greatest season in the history of the SUNY Niagara baseball program might have ended on May 27, but that does not mean award season has come to a close. In fact, the award season is just beginning.
It started on June 17, with the announcement of the NJCAA All-Americans and is continuing with the announcement of national awards. This year, SUNY Niagara has three players who received national awards from the NJCAA — Cam Gravelle, Dalton Harper and Keegan Bazinet.
Harper has received the biggest award of the group, being named the NJCAA Division III Player of the Year. It comes after he hit .621 during the College World Series with three home runs, 23 RBIs and 16 runs scored. Throughout the whole season, Harper hit .556 with 105 hits, 17 home runs, 91 RBIs and 85 runs scored. Harper ranks in the top eight in all of those statistical categories.
Keegan Bazinet has been named the Division III Pitcher of the Year thanks to a season that saw him ranked in the top 10 in multiple categories. Bazinet finished his Thunderwolves career by going 12-0 with a 2.54 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP and 89 strikeouts. He also threw two shutouts this season. His most notable start of the season came when he got the start in the national championship game, helping his team win its first-ever title.
The national championship might not have been possible, though, if not for the defensive prowess of sophomore shortstop Cam Gravelle.
Gravelle finished his final season as a Thunderwolve with a .964 fielding percentage with 105 assists, 58 putouts and six errors. He also turned 20 double plays this season.