SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) annouces its 2021 Baseball All-Conference teams as well as the Bob Wallace Co-Player of the Year, Don Axtell Pitcher of the Year, Clark V. Whited Rookie of the Year and Walter Nitardy Coach of the Year as voted on by the conference coaches.

Bob Wallace Co-Player of the Year - Tom Kretzler, Brockport

Kretzler, an outfielder for the Golden Eagles, led the league with eight home runs this season. He maintained a .333 batting average in 25 games with 27 runs, 22 RBI and eight doubles. The graduate student, hailing from Albany, N.Y., helped lead his team to an 18-7 overall record this season.

Bob Wallace Co-Player of the Year- Ryan Enos, Oswego

Enos, the senior from Oriskany, N.Y., started all 29 games at second base for the Lakers this season. He leads the league with 18 doubles, he is second with 40 RBI, third with 36 runs and fourth in stolen bases (13). Enos helped lead his team to the SUNYAC championship game where they fell to Cortland, 8-6. He was honored with the SUNYAC Elite 20 award and was named to the All-Tournament team. The Lakers received an at-large bid to make their sixth straight appearance in the NCAA Division III baseball tournament.

Don Axtell Pitcher of the Year - Kieran Finnegan, Oswego

Finnegan, from West Nyack, N.Y., pitched 42.2 innings in 2021 earning six wins and one save. He holds a 3.16 ERA, the third best in the league. His season high of seven strikeouts came in the SUNYAC semifinals against Oneonta. The Lakers advanced to the SUNYAC championship series, but fell to Cortland, 8-6, in game three. Oswego (24-5 overall) received an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament and will compete in the Hartford, Connecticut Regional hosted by Trinity College, May 27-30.

Clark V. Whited Rookie of the Year - Sean Liquori, Oneonta

In 2021 Liquori started in all 24 games for the Red Dragons. The North Rockland, N.Y. native, majoring in business economics, finished the season with a .296 average collecting 21 hits while driving in 11 runs. In the field, Liquori made only one error in 94 total chances for a .989 fielding percentage. On the mound, he was the team's No. 1 starter recording eight starts this spring. Liquori finished with a 4-3 record and a 3.80 ERA. In 42 2/3rds innings, he struck out 35 batters and held opponents to a .248 batting average. Liquori led the staff with a 1.24 WHIP. 

Walter Nitardy Coach of the Year - Justin Beach, Brockport

This season Beach led his team to an 18-7 overall record. Brockport finished 12-4 in divisional conference play to advance to the SUNYAC semifinals. In his 14th year as the head coach of the Golden Eagles, he coached nine All-Conference team selections and the Co-Player of the Year.

2021 Baseball All-Conference Team (PDF)

Bob "Sparky" Wallace graduated from Cortland in 1953 and began coaching the Red Dragons in 1958. In his 24 seasons as head coach, his team compiled a 366-207-3 record, winning 10 SUNYAC titles and making an NCAA appearance in 1981. Wallace was inducted into Cortland's C-Club Hall of Fame in 1979, and Cortland's baseball field is named in his honor. 

Don Axtell was the baseball coach at Oneonta for 30 years, leading the Red Dragons to many successful seasons. His teams won or shared 10 SUNYAC titles, made the school's only visit to the ECAC Championships (1974 and 1975), and was selected as the SUNYAC Coach of the Year four times. His last Coach of the Year Award came in 1989. He also was inducted into the SUNY Oneonta Hall Of Fame in 2001 and the Waverly High School Hall of Fame. 

Clark Whited coached the Brockport Golden Eagles for 22 years (1947-68), amassing a 128-93-1 overall record during his tenure. His 128 wins were the most of any baseball coach at the school until 2003. Whited was inducted into the inaugural class of the SUNY Brockport Sports Hall of Fame in 1985, and the current baseball/softball complex at Brockport is named in his honor. Whited passed away on October 29, 2005.  

Walter Nitardy coached the Oswego baseball team to 503 career wins in his 29 seasons. Along with being named SUNYAC Coach of the Year seven times, Nitardy compiled nine conference titles and was named the 1966 NCAA College Division East Coast Coach of the Year.