May 23, 2024

POMONA, N.Y. – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) named the 2024 Baseball Major Award winners and All-MAAC Teams, voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches.

Headlining major award winners in 2024 was MAAC Player of the Year Eric Rataczak of Niagara University. Rataczak, who was also the only unanimous player named to the All-MAAC First Team at the first base position, appeared in 50 games for the Purple Eagles this season, making 48 starts. The red-shirt junior was the league leader in batting average (.400), RBIs (65), RBIs per game (1.30), OPS (1.195) and slugging percentage (.705). Rataczak’s batting average also ranked 16th in the nation.

Fairfield University’s Colin McVeigh was named the unanimous MAAC Pitcher of the Year. A right-handed senior pitcher, McVeigh made 12 starts and 14 total appearances on the mound, earning a 9-2 record in 78.2 innings of work this year. Hailing from Lansdale, PA, he posted an ERA of 3.66, striking out 91 batters while only allowing 18 walks. McVeigh was the MAAC leader in victories, strikeout-to-walk ratio

The MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year selection was Zach Cameron (Hamilton, Ont.) from Niagara. Cameron made 20 appearances out of the bullpen in 2024, earning a MAAC-most 10 saves, a mark that ranked ninth in the nation and two-times more than the next closest pitcher in the MAAC. He pitched a total of 48 2/3 innings, posting an 8-1 record. Cameron’s eight wins were second in the conference, only trailing McVeigh. Additionally, he struck out 48 hitters, had an ERA of 3.14, and a WHIP of 1.19.

Deven Sheerin of Mount St. Mary’s University was honoured as the MAAC Rookie of the Year. Sheerin, a right-handed pitcher from Reading, PA, took the mound 15 times, getting the starting nod twice in his rookie campaign. He recorded a 5-4 record, pitching 61 2/3 innings, with 99 strikeouts, an ERA of 4.82, one complete game, and one save.

Niagara head coach Rob McCoy was voted amongst his peers as the MAAC Coach of the Year. The winningest head coach in Purple Eagles history, McCoy is in his 16th season at the helm of Niagara, leading the Purple Eagles to a 20-4 (.833) MAAC record and 35-15 (.700) overall mark in 2024. Niagara secured a share of the MAAC Regular Season title, the first in program history. The Purple Eagles are the hottest team in the league, riding a MAAC-best five-game winning streak heading into postseason action. At the plate, McCoy’s squad ranked first in scoring, accounting for 8.4 runs per game. On the mound, his unit led the conference in hits allowed per nine innings, giving up 9.15. Niagara’s .700 overall winning, also led the MAAC and was the 23rd best percentage nationally.

The list of major award winners and All-MAAC Teams ...

2024 Baseball Major Awards

Awards Player School

Player of the Year Eric Rataczak Niagara

Pitcher of the Year Colin McVeigh* Fairfield

Relief Pitcher of the Year Zach Cameron Hamilton, Ont. Niagara

Rookie of the Year Deven Sheerin Mount St. Mary’s

Coach of the Year Rob McCoy Niagara

All-MAAC First Team

Player Class Position School

Ethan Hibbard Gr. Catcher Fairfield

Eric Rataczak* R-Jr. First Base Niagara

Zach Selinger Gr. Second Base Fairfield

Daniel Perez R-So. Second Base Manhattan

Dean Ferrara Jr. Third Base Fairfield

Chase Swain So. Shortstop Manhattan

Jackson Strong Jr. Outfield Canisius

Matt Bucciero So. Outfield Fairfield

Josiah Ragsdale So. Outfield Iona

Colin McVeigh Sr. Pitcher Fairfield

Deven Sheerin Fr. Pitcher Mount St. Mary’s

PJ Craig So. Pitcher Rider

Scott Seeker Sr. DH Mount St. Mary’s

Ethan Conrad So. Utility Marist

All-MAAC Second Team

Player Class Position School

Ashby Vining Jr. Catcher Saint Peter’s

Matt Bergevin Sr. First Base Fairfield

Joe Tiroly Fr. Second Base Rider

Drew Wyers So. Third Base Manhattan

Luke Nomura So. Shortstop Fairfield

Nick Groves London, Ont. So. Outfield Niagara

Nick Monile Fr. Outfield Niagara

Jared Zimbardo Sr. Outfield Quinnipiac

Brendan Yagesh So. Pitcher Mount St. Mary’s

Zach Cameron Hamilton, Ont. Gr. Pitcher Niagara

Ryan Minckler R-So. Pitcher Niagara

Trevor Hansen So. Designated Hitter Manhattan

Carlin Dick Abbotsford, BC Sr. Utility Canisius

MAAC All-Rookie Team

Player Class Position School

Ben Alekson Fr. Pitcher Fairfield

Carter Groen Fr. Outfield Iona

Vincent Davis Fr. Infield Manhattan

Michael Staiano Fr. Pitcher Manhattan

Deven Sheerin Fr. Pitcher Mount St. Mary’s

Rees Kozar Amherstburg, Ont. Fr. Catcher/Outfield Niagara

Nick Monile Fr. Outfield Niagara

Kyle Neri R-Fr. Outfield Rider

Joe Tiroly Fr. Infield Rider

Tyler Figueroa Fr. Infield Siena

*Denotes Unanimous Selection