• NCBWA All-Atlantic Region Teams (.pdf)

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (May 23) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team recently featured three players on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-Atlantic Region First-Team and head coach Mike Conte was named the NCBWA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.

The standout trio of senior outfielder Sam DiMatteo (Center, Pa./Center), sophomore outfielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) and redshirt sophomore Randy Sturgill (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg) earned all-region first-team laurels. The trio is now eligible for NCBWA All-America honors. Junior first baseman Adam Links (New Hope, Pa./Central Bucks East) and freshman Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) each received all-region honorable mention.

In his 14th season as head coach, Conte guided the Vulcans to a 34-18 overall record and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship. Cal U also made its fifth all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament, posting a 2-2 record including a win against eventual-regional champion and host Kutztown. Conte directed the Vulcans to the second-most wins in school history while in the process of setting several single-season team records, including hits (520), runs (384) and RBI (342).

DiMatteo led the team with a .400 average (72-for-180) and tied the single-season school record with 27 doubles. He also tied Handza for the team lead with 11 homers and totaled a team-best .756 slugging percentage. DiMatteo broke his school record set last season after stealing 43 bases in 2010. The three-time, All-PSAC West First-Team selection finished his career as the school's all-time leader with 223 hits, 175 runs scored and 115 stolen bases. DiMatteo is also one of only three players in school history to hit .400 in back-to-back seasons.

Handza developed into one of the premier outfielders in the region, setting school records with 61 RBI and 61 runs scored this season. He posted a .388 average (71-for-183) with 18 doubles, two triples, 11 homers and 32 stolen bases after starting all 52 games. Handza has also earned Daktronics All-Atlantic Region and All-PSAC West First-Team honors this season.

Sturgill led the pitching staff and was among the conference leaders in almost every category. The 6-1 left-hander tied the single-season school record nine wins in 12 starts this year. He also led the PSAC with 94 strikeouts, which ranks as the third-highest total in program history, and posted a 3.19 ERA in 79.0 innings of work. During the post-season, Sturgill earned a pair of complete-game victories against nationally-ranked West Chester and Kutztown.

In his third season as a starter, Links finished with a .339 average (59-for-174), three homers and 37 RBI while serving as the team's primary clean-up hitter. He ranked fourth on the team in average and also totaled a .466 slugging percentage behind 16 extra-base hits.

Petty, also a catcher for the Vulcans, earned all-region honorable mention as a relief pitcher from the NCBWA. As a pitcher, he posted a 1-2 record and three saves in 12 appearances with a 4.84 ERA over 22.1 innings. In his 10 relief appearances this season, he registered three saves with 18 strikeouts in 14.1 innings of work.