The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Bridgewater, N.J. – The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball announced today the league’s Postseason Awards for the 2014 campaign, with seven Somerset Patriots players earning recognition.
Corey Smith (third base), Adam Donachie (catcher), Matt Zielinksi (left-handed starter), Jason Lowey (reliever) and Jon Hunton (closer) were all named to the 2014 Atlantic League First-Team. Luis Montanez (outfielder) and Matt Maloney (left-handed starter) were named to the Atlantic League Second-Team.
Smith led the team in hitting and ranked fourth in the league with a .305 average. In addition, the third-year Patriot who announced his retirement after the season, finished third in the league in doubles (37) and fifth in walks (65) and on-base percentage (.386). It marks the second consecutive year that Smith has taken home First-Team Atlantic League honors.
Donachie finished the season third on the Patriots in hitting (.277) and fourth in home runs (9) and RBI (45). That included a three-game stretch of games in mid-June (15-17) where the third-year Patriot recorded eight RBI. Donachie also recorded hits in all five playoff games, going 7-for-19 (.368) with a home run and two RBI.
The Patriots strong pitching was also highlighted in the Postseason Awards, taking home three of a potential four spots on the First-Team. Zielinski earned the top left-handed starter honor after he posted a 10-8 record along with a 3.27 earned run average (sixth lowest in the league) in over 151.1 innings pitched.
Lowey and Hunton round up the Patriots First-Team representation. Lowey, who was named to the 2013 Atlantic League Second-Team as a reliever, went 5-1 with a 1.90 ERA over a team-high 59 appearances, striking out 59 batters against 15 walks over 56.2 innings pitched.
Hunton was named the top closer of the year after setting a new Atlantic League single-season record with 49 saves, shattering the previous mark of 40 set back in 2003. The third-year Patriot also set the new franchise record in saves, breaking his own previous record of 38 set last year. Hunton, who was named to the 2013 First-Team as a reliever, overall posted a 2.07 ERA over 56.1 innings of work.
Montanez and Maloney were both named to the Atlantic League Second-Team. Montanez led the Patriots in home runs (17), while finishing second on the team in RBI (74) and batting (.289). Maloney’s 3.40 ERA ranked ninth in the league, while his 10 wins were tied with Zielinksi for second-most on the team.
For information about the Somerset Patriots 2015 Season, stop by the Ticket Office located at TD Bank Ballpark, call (908) 252-0700, or visit the Patriots on-line at www.somersetpatriots.com.
