Rising UMBC senior pitcher
Luke Johnson (Lewes, Delaware) and 2023 graduate catcher
Tony Krueger (Appleton, Wisconsin) were selected to the 2023 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I East All-Region Second Team, it was announced on Tuesday. The teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the
ABCA NCAA Div. I All-America Committee.
Johnson was named the 2023 America East Pitcher of the Year and is just the second Retriever to ever earn the award (Conrad Wozniak, 2015). In conference play, Johnson went 4-0 and led the league with a 2.65 ERA and 58 strikeouts. In 51.0 innings pitched, he allowed just 15 earned runs, while opponents batted a paltry .196 against him. He also pitched a pair of complete games.
Krueger batted .371 with 15 RBI and walked more than he struck out (12/11) in America East play. He was also the best defensive backstop in the league, throwing out eight of 21 attempted base stealers, while making no errors and having 16 assists. Overall, Krueger finished second in the conference with a .367 batting average and paced the circuit with 19 doubles.
The finalists for the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. I Gold Glove team will be announced via Twitter by Rawlings Sporting Goods (
@RawlingsSports) on Tuesday, June 20. The Gold Glove winners in all divisions will be announced on Wednesday, June 21. In all divisions, the ABCA/Rawlings National Pitchers and Position Players of the Year will be announced on Monday, June 26.
The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now includes nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and high school. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007.
Founded in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 15,000 members represent all 50 states and 40 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School, Youth and Travel.
About Rawlings
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings' unparalleled quality and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and an approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit
Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.
SEE ALSO: 2023 ABCA/Rawlings All-Region, All-America & Gold Glove Teams - All Divisions
| 2023 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. I All-Region Teams – East |
| NCAA Div. I East All-Region First Team |
| Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
| C |
Luke Shliger |
Jr. |
Maryland |
MD |
| 1B |
Aidan Longwell |
Jr. |
Kent State |
OH |
| 2B |
JJ Wetherholt |
So. |
West Virginia |
WV |
| 3B |
Nick Lorusso |
Sr. |
Maryland |
MD |
| SS |
Matt Shaw |
Jr. |
Maryland |
MD |
| SS |
Jeron Williams |
Jr. |
Toledo |
OH |
| OF |
Ubaldo Lopez |
Gr. |
Georgetown |
DC |
| OF |
Casey Rother |
Sr. |
Lehigh |
PA |
| OF |
Ryan Lasko |
Jr. |
Rutgers |
NJ |
| OF |
Andrew Patrick |
So. |
Wright State |
OH |
| DH |
Ryan Cesarini |
So. |
Saint Joseph's |
PA |
| P |
Jake Bloss |
Gr. |
Georgetown |
DC |
| P |
Joe Whitman |
Jr. |
Kent State |
OH |
| P |
Sebastian Gongora |
So. |
Wright State |
OH |
| P |
Brant Alazaus |
Gr. |
Xavier |
OH |
| RP |
Mitchell Scott |
Gr. |
Kent State |
OH |
| RP |
Danny Kirwin |
Gr. |
Rider |
NJ |
|
| NCAA Div. I East All-Region Second Team |
| Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
| C |
Owen Carapellotti |
So. |
Georgetown |
DC |
| C |
Tony Krueger |
Sr. |
Maryland-Baltimore County |
MD |
| 1B |
Marcos Pujols |
Sr. |
Dayton |
OH |
| 2B |
Trey Paige |
Jr. |
Delaware State |
DE |
| 3B |
Joey Loynd |
Jr. |
Delaware |
DE |
| SS |
Trey Law |
Jr. |
Youngstown State |
OH |
| OF |
Collin Mathews |
Gr. |
Kent State |
OH |
| OF |
Scott Bandura |
Jr. |
Princeton |
NJ |
| OF |
Brett Callahan |
Jr. |
Saint Joseph's |
PA |
| DH |
Scott Seeker |
Jr. |
Mount St. Mary's |
MD |
| P |
Ryan Dromboski |
So. |
Pennsylvania |
PA |
| P |
Luke Johnson |
Jr. |
Maryland-Baltimore County |
MD |
| P |
Blaine Traxel |
Gr. |
West Virginia |
WV |
| RP |
Carlson Reed |
Jr. |
West Virginia |
WV |
| RP |
Justin Loer |
So. |
Xavier |
OH |
