Mendez Headlines Four Bears Receiving All-New York Region Honors From D3Baseball.com

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – In recognition of their outstanding achievements on the field, senior Joe Mendez (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) was named to the D3Baseball.com 2014 All-New York Region First Team, while junior Thomas McKenna (Bellerose, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) was a second team selection and junior Chris Cutrone (Levittown, N.Y./Island Trees HS) along with senior Mike Cundari (Staten Island, N.Y/St. Peter's) were third team honorees after the quartet helped lead the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) baseball team to a school-record 29 wins and the program's first postseason win.

Mendez, a first team selection a year ago, had a monster season for the Bears, setting school records in home runs (11), RBI (50) and slugging percentage (.734) in his final season on campus. The one-time NCBWA Division III Hitter of the Week, D3Baseball.com Team of the Week and USCAA Player of the Week selection also led the team with 12 doubles and had 39 runs scored in 128 at bats.

The USCAA Second Team All-American had a career day at Maritime on March 29th hitting four home runs on the day including a school-record-tying three in game one. The outfielder became the Bears all-time hit leader versus Vaughn on April 18th and finishes his career with a school-record 20 home runs.

McKenna, St. Joseph's shortstop a year ago, made a successful transition to the outfield and produced, hitting .367 with a team-high 46 runs scored along with three home runs and 31 RBI in 139 at bats. The one-time D3Baseball.com Team of the Week and USCAA Player of the Week honoree also finished with a team-high six triples along with nine doubles and stole a team-high 20 bases on the year.

The USCAA All-American honorable mention had his best game of the season in the Bears narrow 8-6 loss to Victory University at the USCAA Small College World Series, hitting a pair of three-run jacks to help keep St. Joseph's in the game.

Cutrone split time between second base and pitching, compiling an impressive 8-2 mark with a 3.01 ERA in 71 2/3 innings. The two-time USCAA Pitcher of the Week tossed six complete games and led the squad with 53 strikeouts. The right-hander saved one of his best performances for the Bears first ever postseason win versus Penn State Greater Allegheny on May 12th, putting together a complete game with two runs allowed to help St. Joseph's advance.

The USCAA Second Team All-American also hit .327 with 29 runs scored and 24 RBI while recording five triples on the year in 113 at bats. The three-time AD3I Player of the Year also had a streak midway through the season of reaching base safely in 29 consecutive games.

Cundari was a steady force for the Bears in the lineup and at first base, starting all 40 games. The senior hit a team-high .375 on the year with 36 runs scored and 34 RBI to his name. The one-time AD3I Player of the Week had ten doubles and ten steals on the year as well. The first baseman was solid defensively committing no errors in 327 chances and became the second Bear in school history to record 100 hits, 100 runs and 100 RBI in a career.

McKenna, Cutrone and Cundari earn postseason accolades from D3Baseball.com for the first time in their careers.