McKeesport, PA. – The United States Collegiate Athletic Association released their 2019 Baseball All-Americans on Sunday, and two Penn State Greater Allegheny Baseball players received honors for their work this season. Senior outfielder Dylan Ernst (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport HS) was named a First-Team All-American and junior catcher Brian Koglin (Fox Chapel, PA./Fox Chapel HS) was named a USCAA Honorable Mention.
It was another successful year for PSUGA baseball as they made the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs for the sixth time in the past ten seasons finishing the year 13-13 and 8-7 in PSUAC play. However, they were forced into a quick departure after falling to PSU-Mont Alto in their first-round matchup 9-1 and were eliminated from playoff contention.
Two of the big pieces that powered them to the playoff run were Ernst and Koglin who both had career years for PSUGA. For Ernst, he was able to set new career highs in several offensive categories this season including batting average (.494), RBI (25), and on base percentage (.558), slugging percentage (.699). His .494 batting average was the best in the PSUAC leading by 58 points above the next closest hitter.
More impressive than his season stats was his ability to reach base at a consistent basis for PSUGA throughout the season. Ernst finished the year having reached base in 23 straight games dating all the way back to March 6th setting a program record for the most consecutive games of at least getting on base. Of his 25 games played this season, Ernst reached base at least once in 24 of those games including his impressive streak.
Koglin broke out in a big way in his junior season as his average jumped to .392 after he did not hit over .195 in his previous two seasons. Koglin turned out to be a big bat in the middle of the PSUGA order as he was tied for second on the team with one home run and third in RBI with 18. He also bolstered his defensive ability with a .966 fielding percentage behind the plate. He was also second on the team with 80 put outs this season finishing behind teammate Brett Yuhas.
For both Koglin and Ernst, it is the first time in their careers that they have been named All-Americans. Both are very deserving candidates after having breakout seasons that proved to be crucial to PSUGA’s success. It is also the second consecutive season that PSUGA has had two representatives on the All-American list. Last season, former Lions Josh Arroyo and Zack Pollack received the honors each receiving a second-team All-American bid.
The PSUGA Baseball team continues to have it’s sights set on next season, and they will look to Koglin to be a leader as PSUGA tries to get back to their winning ways. They are trying to bring home their first PSUAC Championship since the 2015 season when they were PSUAC champions and finished in third place in the USCAA National Tournament.