DuBois, Pa. – The United States Collegiate Athletic Association announced their 2018 All-American list at the 2018 USCAA Small College World Series Banquet on Monday and two PSUGA players were among those honored. Josh Arroyo (Toa Alta, Puerto Rico/Levittown Baptist Academy) and Zack Pollack (Cecil, Pa./Canon-McMillan) were named to the USCAA 2nd Team All-American list.
Both players played a big part in their team’s success this season helping lead them to the 2018 Penn State University Athletic Conference Playoffs. With a team led by five seniors, Pollack and Arroyo served as leaders not only on the field but off the field as well helping to mentor the younger players and fold them into the system.
Pollack had a career year in his senior season setting career highs in all major offensive categories. He hit .387 with 17 RBI while reaching base at a .468 clip. Pollack said his goal coming into the season was to hit over .400 and he achieved that with a .404 average in the regular season before dipping below the mark in the post season.
Pollack started all 28 games at the short stop position this season sporting a .910 fielding percentage committing eight errors in 89 total chances. He was also the vocal leader of the group calling out the signs and making sure the defenders knew where to be at all times during play.
Arroyo had a milestone year with PSUGA when he picked up his 100th career RBI against PSU-Fayette on April 15th. He came up with the bases loaded and got hit by a pitch allowing a run to come in and score. He would finish that day driving in four runs including a two RBI double that helped insure the 10-run rule would go into effect.
Arroyo finished second on the team behind Pollack hitting .360 while leading the team in home runs, 2, and RBI, 26. Serving as both a DH and first basemen for his team, Arroyo was the most productive hitter in the PSUGA lineup this season leading them to their 11-3 record against the PSUAC.
While PSUGA did not go as far as they would have liked in the PSUAC tournament, it was still a very successful year for the program as they made the playoffs for the fifth time in the last eight seasons. These seniors have been a big part of the success over the years going to the playoffs in three of their four years with Arroyo and Pollack leading the charge.