Multiple NECBL graduates received notable honors in the month of April.  Here is a summary of those highlights:

•    On April 7th, Minnesota Twin 1B Chris Colabello won the first American League Player of the Week for 2014, an honor in which he shared with Josh Hamilton.  In MLB’s first week, Colabello hit .391 with four doubles, a home run and 11 RBI.  He posted a six-RBI game on April 3rd against the White Sox, and followed it with a four RBI game two days later against the Indians.

A First Team All-NECBL selection in 2004 for the Mill City All-Americans, Worcester, MA native Colabello hit .340 with eight home runs and 33 RBI.  He ranked second in the NECBL in both categories that summer.

•    Also on April 7th, Nathan Kirby (pictured) and Derrick Sylvester were named as Louisville Slugger National Players of the Week.  Kirby, a 2013 Keene Swamp Bat who was named the NECBL’s Top Pro Prospect last summer, struck out 18 and threw a no-hitter in his 4-0 win over Pitt on April 4th.  Through Easter weekend, southpaw sophomore Kirby was the best pitcher on the #1 team in the country, having a 1.23 ERA and a .151 average against in his first nine starts.

Sylvester, a 2011 Danbury Westerner, combined with Tim Viehoff to strike out 22 batters in Southern New Hampshire’s 8-2 win over Saint Anselm.  It was the highest number of strikeouts in a Division II game in NCAA history.  Sylvester, a 6’6” senior, got the win and struck out 11 batters in his five innings of work.

•    On April 10th, Vanderbilt shortstop Vince Conde was named a Baseball America Mid-Season All American.  Conde was hitting .336 and slugging .473 in the first half of the season.  Conde was a 2012 NECBL All-Star for the Laconia Muskrats.

•    On April 10th, four NECBL alumni were named to USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award Watch List.  The Golden Spikes Award is presented to the best collegiate baseball player in the country.  The honorees were Kirby, junior Virginia OF Mike Papi (2012 Keene Swamp Bats), junior Kennesaw State C Max Pentecost (2012 Holyoke Blue Sox) and senior West Virginia OF Ryan McBroom (2013 Laconia Muskrats)