Avallone & Gartland Spotlighted by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
Matteo Avallone (Mahopac/Bridgton Academy) and AJ Gartland (Irondequoit) have both been named Players to Watch in the annual Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA DIII preview. Both Alfred State players made the most of the COVID shortened 2020 season.
Avallone, in his first season as a Pioneer, was 25 for 68 in 18 games played in 2020. His .368 batting average was 2nd best on the team. Of his 25 hits, 12 were for extra bases. He finished the season with six doubles, a triple, five homers, and 27 RBI. His power numbers ranked him on the NCAA DIII leaderboards.
Gartland, a senior left handed pitcher, made five appearances in 2020. He was 1-0 in 21.1 inning of work. He struck out 21 batters and walked only five. For his first three years wearing the blue & gold, Gartland has pitched 76.2 innings and has 54 strikeouts. Gartland had a big summer as he was named the ICBL Pitcher of the Year after posting a 5-0 record with a 0.20 earned run average in 35 innings.
Avallone and Gartland along with their teammates will begin preparation for the 2021 season when student-athletes return to action in early February.
