MCC’s Kevin Madera Named First Team All-American

MCC’s Kevin Madera Named First Team All-American
Sutherland Named to Second Team; Seven Cougars Named All-Region

MANCHESTER – (June 13, 2011) Manchester CC pitcher Kevin Madera was named a first team All-American for the second consecutive year by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

The lefty from Newington, CT was 5-1 with a 1.50 ERA for the NJCAA Region 21 (New England) Division III champions as a sophomore. Madera, who will pitch for Southern Connecticut State in 2012, struck out 97 batters in 64 innings including a start at the NJCAA Division III World Series in Tyler, TX where the Cougars finished third in the eight team field.

Madera, who also played first base and hit .412 (7 for 17) in his second World Series, is head coach Chris Strahowski’s first two-time, first team selection in twelve seasons (217-172-3) at Manchester.
“Madera was a horse on the mound for us all season,” Strahowski said. “Every top team we played, he had the ball.”

Madera compiled a 13-1 record in 23 starts over two seasons with a 1.45 ERA and struck out 165 batters over 122 innings. He hit .369 with a pair of homers, seven doubles and 27 RBI as a sophomore as MCC won its fourth consecutive Region 21 title on Mother’ Day (May 8).

“If we played the first 20 games like the last 20, he may have had some consideration for player of the year,” Strahowski added. “He could’ve easily been 9-0 or 10-0. Offensively, he really held us together. He didn’t mind hitting fourth, which can be a strain psychologically on a lot of hitters. He never let it bother him and just produced for us.”

Strahowski has now coached ten All-Americans after freshman shortstop Jesse Sutherland (Montville) was named to the second team after hitting .410 with five homeruns and 45 RBI this past season.

Sutherland led MCC in virtually all offensive categories and was 1-0 with a save and 12 strikeouts over 6.1 innings in seven relief appearances. The save came in the Region 21 championship game as MCC beat Northern Essex CC 1-0 in Manchester. Sutherland struck out the final batter of the game with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning and the tying run on third base. Sutherland was also named to the All-Tournament team at the World Series.

“Sutherland is a tremendous player on both offense and defense,” Strahowski said. “He can run, hit for some power and he can make next-level plays on defense. If he works hard toward next season, I can see him getting serious consideration for the 2012 draft.”

Madera and Sutherland were also Region 21 first team selections, along with teammates Patrick McMahon (South Windsor), Kyle Holland (Montville), AJ Silberman (Meriden). Holland was also named Region 21’s Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-Tournament team in Texas. Alec Brown (Montville) and Mat Niedzwiecki (Bristol) were Region 21 second team selections.

McMahon won the starting second base job early in the season and hit .341 with 19 RBI while handling 155 chances with just five errors. Holland, who hit .529 at the World Series (9 for 17, 6 RBI) had a 1.000 fielding percentage through the Region 21 tournament, handling all 277 chances flawlessly while hitting .347 in 50 games. Silberman, who was first team selection as a freshman as well, played third base most of the season before moving to left field for the tournaments. He hit .361 and left MCC with 88 hits in 80 games.

Brown had 109 hits, including nine homers, 22 doubles and 71 RBI over two seasons at MCC. Niedzwiecki, who transferred from Alleghany after the 2010 season, was 5-3, including a World Series victory, with a 2.66 ERA, 43 strikeouts and just 12 walks over 61 innings.