Willis Named CCC Rookie of the Year, Three Others Pick Up All-Conference Awards
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (May 10, 2022) – The Western New England baseball team picked up a major award winner and saw three others selected to the CCC All-Conference team following today's announcement by the conference office.
First year CJ Willis was crowned CCC Rookie of the Year for Western New England after breaking the single season home run record for the Golden Bears, launching 11 home runs on the year to this point. Willis has hit .395 this season at the dish, leading the Golden Bears in multiple categories offensively, including games played, at-bats, runs scored, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, stolen bases, and batting average. The Auburn, Massachusetts native has been a staple at the first base position, also earning CCC All-Conference second team at the position.
Joining Willis on the All-CCC Second Team is RHP Kevin Hummer. Hummer has appeared in nine games on the mound this season for the Golden Bears, coming away with eight starts. The graduate student has four wins on the hill in 56 innings pitched, dotting a 2.57 ERA, a team best. In those 56 innings pitched, Hummer has given up 51 hits and 27 runs (16 earned) while walking 16 and striking out a career high 48 batters. Earlier this season, the Shrewsbury, Massachusetts native recorded his 100th career strikeout as a member of the Golden Bears in a win over Westfield State. Over his now five-year career with Western New England, Hummer has collected 14 wins in 34 starts, throwing 160.1 innings in a Golden Bear uniform. The righty has punched out 136 batters while supporting a 3.59 career ERA.
First year Matt Lauria was selected as a starting pitcher to the All-CCC Third Team after making nine starts and picking up five wins for Western New England on the year. Lauria tossed 51 innings in his first season with the Golden Bears, giving up 49 hits, 32 runs (19 earned), while walking 11 and striking out 30. Lauria has collected a 3.35 ERA in his 11 appearances on the year. Lauria's most recent outing turned out to be his best, going eight innings giving up just two hits and one unearned run while walking one and striking out six in an 11-1 win over Framingham State.
Utility man Aaron Cole sees his first all-conference selection of his career, being selected to the All-CCC third team. Cole has been a staple all around the diamond for Western New England this season, making appearances in 33 games, collecting 110 at-bats. The Forestdale, Massachusetts native has scored 23 runs for WNE, while collecting 32 hits, five for extra bases on the year. Cole had a career high 15 RBIs this season while also stealing a career best seven bases. Cole dots a .291 average so far this season and has a career .297 batting average with Western New England in two seasons. Cole saw two appearances on the mound during the regular season, going two innings without giving up any hits, runs, or walks while striking out one.
Western New England received the number five seed in the CCC Tournament and will match with the second seeded Gulls of Endicott College on Wednesday, May 11 at 3:00 pm. The Gulls took both games during the regular season from WNE.
