Montpelier, Vt. – After a season that saw their eighth playoff appearance in franchise history, four Vermont Mountaineers received New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) postseason awards on Wednesday.
Pitcher Alex Haines and first baseman Rob Kelly were named All-NECBL First Teamers while shortstop Cole Peragine, and outfielder Johnny Mishu were named to the All-NECBL Second Team. Haines and Mishu also garnered All-League awards winning the Top Pro Prospect, Top Pitcher and the Sportsmanship Award respectively.
Haines (Greensboro, Pa./Seton Hill) dominated the league on the mound from start to finish. The 6’4” southpaw finished the regular season with a 5-2 record but held an NECBL best 0.90 earned run average and league high 54 strikeouts. Haines was also named the leagues Top Pro Prospect after earning the start for the Western Division in the 2012 NECBL All-Star Game. His 54 K’s were made more impressive by allowing just six walks en route to being named the leagues top pitcher as well.
In his second year with Vermont, Kelly (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Saint Anselm) etched his name into Mountaineer and NECBL lore with a record breaking summer. The first baseman/designated hitter set a new league record in runs batted in with 45 while also breaking the franchise mark for single season and career RBI (62). He also tied Kyle Brault’s Vermont record for home runs in one summer with nine. Kelly was also the Mountaineer leader in batting average hitting at a .356 clip.
Peragine (Belle Ewert, Ontario/Stony Brook) continued an impressive first year of college baseball in Montpelier. After winning the America East Rookie of the Year award, and leading the Seawolves to the College World Series in the spring, the shortstop made a mark with his timely hitting and solid fielding. Playing in only 22 games, Peragine hit .354 with 13 RBI for the Mountaineers.
Returning for another summer in the NECBL, Mishu (Nashville, Tenn./Princeton) showcased an improved power swing to earn second team honors. The outfielder finished the year with a .319 batting average and three homers while driving in 19 despite battling injuries. His defensive play also helped keep Vermont in the win columns as he played all three outfield positions. Mishu was also rewarded with the league’s Sportsmanship Award and earned MVP honors at the All-Star game driving in four RBI for the West.
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