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The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has named four members of the nationally-ranked Oswego State baseball team to one its two All-Conference teams.
Mike Dellicarri earned a first team nod along with Bob Wallace Player of the Year honors. Robert Donnelly and Myles Kutscher joined Dellicarri on the first team while John Barnes made the league's second team for his efforts during the 2018 campaign.
Dellicarri continues an impressive streak for the Lakers, as Oswego claims the Player of the Year award for the third-straight season. The junior wins the award following back-to-back wins for alumnus Eric Hamilton. Dellicarri was a dominant force at the plate throughout the year, leading the SUNYAC in runs (49), triples (5) and runs batted in (47). He also placed in the top five of hits (55), home runs (6), batting average (.372) and slugging percentage (.626). Not only does the outfielder rank well in the conference, he ranks among the best nationally. Dellicarri is in the top 50 for runs, runs per game, triples, RBI per game and total RBI in the county. The right fielder is solid defensively as well, committing just one error on the year in 87 total chances with three outfield assists.
Donnelly is the Lakers' ace on the mound while also playing significant time at shortstop. The senior was named to the first team for his pitching prowess, holding the best earned-run average in the league at 1.39. That ERA is also the 20th-lowest for all qualified pitchers in Division III. Donnelly's seven complete games in 2018 is the fourth-most in the nation while his sub-1.00 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) is the 25th-best in the country.
Kutscher was a menace at the dish down the stretch in league play. Overall, the senior has batted .371 in all games, the fourth-best in the SUNYAC. In just league games, however, Kutscher is one of just three players in the conference to bat over .400, collecting 17 hits in just 42 at-bats (.405). He also reached base in nearly 50-percent of his plate appearances during the SUNYAC slate, with his .490 on-base percentage ranking fourth in the league. Kutscher's league slugging-percentage of .548 was also good for a spot in the top 10.
Barnes racked up 46 hits on the year, tying for the fourth-most in the SUNYAC. The senior also ranked in the top five for runs (32), home runs (4) and runs batted in (35) while his slugging percentage was sixth-highest at .540. Barnes appeared and started in 37 of the Lakers' 38 contests so far, putting out 65 opposing batters as the starting center fielder.
Dellicarri, Donnelly, Kutscher, Barnes and the rest of the SUNYAC Champion Lakers await to see where they will play the regional round of the NCAA Championship after earning the conference's automatic bid. The NCAA will put out a press release late Sunday night or early morning Monday announcing the bracket. Regionals are scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 17.
