Soltis headlines trio of All-NEC selections
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior shortstop David Soltis (Plainville, Conn.) was selected to the 2011 All-Northeast Conference First Team, while senior Mark Andrews (Hillsborough, N.J.) and sophomore Kevin Brown (Northborough, Mass.) picked up second-team honors, as the Bryant University baseball team earned a trio of all-conference nods announced by the league Thursday night at the annual pre-tournament banquet in Somerset, N.J.
Following the program's fifth-straight year with 30 or more wins and a fourth-place finish in the NEC regular season standings, Bryant was rewarded with NEC postseason accolades for the second-straight year. The Bulldogs finished 30-23 overall and 19-12 in league play under first-year head coach Steve Owens, picking up seven wins in their last eight outings. Bryant either split or won six out of its eight conference series, and posted an 8-2 mark in the month of May.
Soltis, a starter in all of the Bulldogs' 53 games in 2011, led the squad with a .348 batting average and 33 RBIs. The slugger posted a .392 average in league play, good enough for fifth in the conference, and picked up 40 of his 62 hits in conference play, en route to leading the lineup in runs (34) and on-base percentage (.447). The Connecticut native was walked an astounding 26 times in 2011 and generated 18 multi-hit games. Soltis produced 16 doubles but was even more impressive in the field, posting a .911 fielding percentage, accounting for 157 assists and provided assistance on 35 double plays.
Statistically, the shortstop was ranked in the league's top 10 in seven different categories, including fourth in on-base percentage, tied for eighth overall in total walks, 10th in slugging percentage (.466), eighth in hits (62), tied for fourth in doubles (16) and ninth in RBIs.
Representing the Bulldogs on the second-team was Brown and Andrews. Brown, the 2010 NEC Rookie of the Year, came back strong in 2011 with a .330 batting average in league play and a .294 clip on the season. With a team-high 201 at bats, Brown led the lineup in triples, total bases and home runs and was one of three Bulldogs to start all 53 games. With 15 multi-hit outings under his belt this past season, Brown finished eighth in the NEC in slugging percentage (.488), tied for first in triples (4), tied for second in total bases (98), tied for sixth in home runs (5) and tied for fourth in doubles (16).
On the mound, Andrews wrapped up an illustrious career with eight saves in 40.1 innings pitched. Posting a 5-4 record in 2011, the dominant southpaw set the new standard for career appearances, after playing in 23 games this past season. The New Jersey native generated a 4.02 ERA in his relief role and held opposing batters to a .201 batting average. The lefty registered a remarkable 3.04 ERA in league outings and will go down in the record books as the all-time leader in saves (33), and appearances (100).