Somerset Patriots earn honors

Seven Somerset Patriots players earned post-season Atlantic League baseball recognition.
Corey Smith (third base), Adam Donachie (catcher), Matt Zielinski (left-handed starter), Jason Lowey (reliever) and Jon Hunton (closer) were all named to the league’s first team.
Luis Montanez (outfielder) and Matt Maloney (left-handed starter) were named to the second team.
Smith led the team in hitting and ranked fourth in the league with a .305 average. In addition, the third-year Patriot who announced his retirement after the season, finished third in the league in doubles (37) and fifth in walks (65) and on-base percentage (.386). It marks the second consecutive year that Smith has taken home first-team league honors.
Donachie finished the season third on the Patriots in hitting (.277) and fourth in home runs (9) and RBI (45). That included a three-game stretch of games in mid-June (15-17) where the third-year Patriot recorded eight RBI. Donachie also recorded hits in all five playoff games, going 7-for-19 (.368) with a home run and two RBI.
The Patriots’ strong pitching was also highlighted in the postseason awards with three of a potential four spots on the first team. Zielinski earned the top left-handed starter honor after he posted a 10-8 record along with a 3.27 earned run average (sixth lowest in the league) in 151.1 innings pitched.
Lowey and Hunton round up the Patriots’ first team representation. Lowey, who was named to the 2013 league second team as a reliever, went 5-1 with a 1.90 ERA over a team-high 59 appearances, striking out 59 batters against 15 walks over 56.2 innings pitched.
Hunton was named the top closer of the year after setting an Atlantic League single-season record with 49 saves, shattering the mark of 40 set in 2003. The third-year Patriot also set the franchise record in saves, breaking his own record of 38 set last year. Hunton, who was named to the 2013 first team as a reliever, overall posted a 2.07 ERA over 56.1 innings of work.
Montanez led the Patriots in home runs (17), while finishing second on the team in RBI (74) and batting (.289). Maloney’s 3.40 ERA ranked ninth in the league, while his 10 wins were tied with Zielinski for second-most on the team.
For information about the Patriots 2015 season, stop by the ticket office at TD Bank Ballpark, call 908-252-0700, or visit the Patriots on-line at www.somersetpatriots.com.