The Keuka College Baseball team placed five student-athletes on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team this season, recognizing their achievements both on the field and in the classroom.
Senior Derek Novicki (North Haven, Conn. / North Haven) earned Academic All-District honors for the third time in his career, becoming just the second player in program history to achieve the distinction three times.
Alex Evans (Liverpool, N.Y. / Liverpool) and Ian Ruhmel (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads) were each recognized for a second consecutive season, while Evan Cuba (Honeoye, N.Y. / Honeoye) and Hunter Corkran (North Syracuse, N.Y. / Cicero-North Syracuse) earned the honor for the first time.
Novicki concluded his Keuka career with a career-high and team-leading 46 hits, including 11 doubles, two triples, and a grand slam in the Empire 8 Tournament. He ranked second on the team in both RBIs and runs scored. Novicki graduated in May with a degree in Applied Mathematics and Finance and earned multiple Empire 8 President’s List selections during his collegiate career.
Evans led the Wolves with 27 runs scored and ranked third on the team with 30 hits. He also drew a team-high 24 walks, tying for the second-most in a single season in program history. Evans is a Management major and has earned multiple Empire 8 President’s List honors.
Ruhmel started all but one game for Keuka this season. The outfielder posted a perfect fielding percentage with 120 putouts and four assists, becoming just the fifth qualifying player in program history to record a perfect fielding percentage. He also led the team with nine stolen bases. Ruhmel is majoring in Political Science and History.
Cuba made an immediate impact after transferring from Corning Community College. The junior batted .381 with 40 hits, ranking second on the team. He led the Wolves with three triples, three home runs, and 30 RBIs. Two of his home runs came in a single game during the Empire 8 Tournament. Cuba earned Third Team All-Empire 8 honors as an outfielder and is majoring in Adolescent Social Studies Education.
Corkran appeared in 10 games on the mound, making eight starts. The sophomore pitched 35 innings and recorded 17 strikeouts. His season highlights included a victory over Utica University in April, when he allowed just one run over five innings, and a season-high four strikeouts against the Pioneers in the Empire 8 Tournament. A Management major, Corkran has maintained a 3.98 GPA and has earned Empire 8 President’s List recognition every semester.
To qualify for Academic All-District honors, student-athletes must be at least sophomores, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher, and meet specific participation requirements, including playing in at least 90 percent of the team’s games, starting two-thirds of contests, or, for pitchers, logging at least 35 innings or making 17 appearances.
