BENNINGTON, Vt. – Four Southern Vermont College players have been named to the 2014 All-New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) baseball squads as announced by the league on Monday.

Junior first baseman Cody LaBadia (Howes Cave, N.Y.) and sophomore second baseman RJ Pingitore (Amsterdam, N.Y.) were both selected to the All-NECC First Team, becoming the sixth and seventh players in program history to do so. Additionally, sophomore Richard Rios (Pico Rivera, Calif.) was named to the All-NECC Second Team as an outfielder, and junior shortstop Chris Nicastro Jr. (Kenilworth, N.J.) collected an All-NECC honorable mention.

LaBadia was dominant at the plate for the Mountaineers in 2014, recording a .438 batting average that was the best in the NECC and second-best in SVC single season history. The one-time NECC Player of the Week also tallied 31 RBIs, the third-most in the conference, and 49 hits which ties for fourth-most in program single season history. The junior scored 25 runs on the season and cranked nine doubles, two triples and two home runs. He also stole nine bases and walked 13 times on the year. LaBadia's 68 total bases was 16 more than any other player on the team, and he committed only seven errors in 271 chances in the field for a .974 fielding percentage. This is the second time he has been honored on an all-NECC team, being named to the 2012 All-NECC Second Team following his freshman season.

Pingitore did his part in making the right side of the SVC infield strong all year, totaling just four errors in 157 changes for a .975 fielding percentage. The sophomore had a breakout year at the plate, tallying a batting average of .371 that was 90 points higher than his freshman season and second-best in 2014 amongst Mountaineers with at least 60 at bats. He roped nine doubles and knocked in 24 runs while stealing 16 bases (fourth-most in single season program history) and scoring 24 runs. He also picked up a win from the bump, recording seven strikeouts in 5.2 innings on the hill. During the season, he was named the NECC Player of the Week once.

Rios grabs an All-NECC Second Team honor in just his first year at Southern Vt. The sophomore was versatile in the SVC lineup, batting anywhere from first to ninth while also flexing between left field and third base on the defensive end. 12 of his 32 hits went for doubles, and he scored 21 runs on the season. His 17 stolen bases ranks third in Mountaineer single season history and tied for fourth-most in the NECC this year. He supported a .328 on base percentage and recorded 44 total bases, a mark that tied for third-best on the team in 2014.

Nicastro is collecting his first all-conference honor, leading the Mountaineers in 2014 as a first-year captain. He registered a .396 on base percentage while scoring 26 runs and knocking in 15 more. Through games of April 27, he was the 15th hardest player to strikeout in NCAA Division III; he finished the year with just four strikeouts in 139 total plate appearances. Nicastro collected six doubles and two home runs on the season while swiping 13 bases and working 15 walks. He tied Rios with 44 total bases and helped turn 22 double plays up the middle of the SVC defense.

"I am very proud of these four guys for achieving all-conference accolades," commented SVC second-year head coach Dave Gage. "They are all very deserving, and show what extra work will do for you. Receiving four awards for our program is a sign that it is headed in the right direction going forward," continued Gage. "It is great to know that all four of these guys will be back in a Mountaineer uniform next year."

For the second straight year, Daniel Webster College's Kyle Brigham (Hudson, N.H.) was selected by league coaches as the conference Player of the Year while Mitchell College sophomore Tyler Shamas (Westbrook, Conn.) collected the Pitcher of the Year honor. Newbury College freshman Ethan Forrest (East Bridgewater, Mass.) took home the 2014 NECC Rookie of the Year accolade, and NC was also selected for the Team Sportsmanship Award. Becker College head skipper Robert McLaughlin was honored by his peers as the NECC Coach of the Year, leading the Hawks to the NECC title game over the weekend.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kyle Brigham, Daniel Webster (Jr., 3B - Hudson, N.H.)

PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Tyler Shamas, Mitchell (So, P - Westbrook, Conn.)

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Ethan Forrest, Newbury (Fr, P - East Bridgewater, Mass.)

COACH OF THE YEAR
Robert McLaughlin, Becker

TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Newbury College

FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

Neftali Arroyo, Mitchell (So, RF - New Haven, Conn.)
Kyle Brigham, Daniel Webster (Jr, 3B - Hudson, N.H.)
Matt Consigli, Becker (Jr, OF/2B - Whitinsville, Mass.)
Marc Dorsi, Mitchell (Sr, SS - West Haven, Conn.)
David Dubay, Newbury (Sr, C/OF - Farmington, Conn.)
Cody LaBadia, Southern Vt. (Jr, 1B - Howes Cave, N.Y.) 
RJ Pingitore, Southern Vt. (So, 2B/RHP - Amsterdam, N.Y.)
Tom Natoli, Becker (Sr, DH - Suffern, N.Y.)
Kenneth Olszewski, Mitchell (Sr, LF - Canterbury, Conn.)
Tyler Shamas, Mitchell (So, P - Westbrook, Conn.)
Tom Weldon, Elms (So, P - Springfield, Mass.)

SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

Erick Bourdeau, Daniel Webster (Sr, 1B/OF - Alton Bay, N.H.)
Steven Broy, Newbury (Jr, 3B - Gorham, Maine)
Brady Forrest, Elms (Jr, OF - Hampden, Mass.)
Ethan Forrest, Newbury (Fr, P - East Bridgewater, Mass.)
Tim Gelzinis, Elms (Fr, OF - North Dighton, Mass.)
David Hersey, Lesley (Jr, C - Wolfeboro, N.H.)
Nick Lemay, Becker (So, P - Oxford, Mass.)
Nolan Medeiros, Elms (So, SS - Taunton, Mass.)
Tyler Plourd, Lesley (Sr, OF - Canton, Conn.)
Richard Rios, Southern Vt. (So, OF - Pico Rivera, Calif.)

HONORABLE MENTION

Axel De Jesus, Mitchell (Fr, P - Stratford, Conn.)
Zach Dreher, Elms (Sr, C - Naugatuck, Conn.)
Ryan Genua, Lesley (Sr, P/OF - Prospect, Conn.)
Mike Marcello, Becker (Sr, 3B - West Haven, Conn.) 
Chris Nicastro Jr., Southern Vt. (Jr, SS - Kenilworth, N.J.)