A trio of New England region players were recognized as D3baseball.com Preseason All-Americans, announced today by D3baseball.com.
Wheaton College senior third baseman Dan Haugh was selected to the first team and Western New England teammates, senior Mike Lawlor and junior Mike Rubino earned second team and honorable mention status, respectively. The honors are the first preseason honors for all three players.
Haugh returns to Norton for his final season with the Lyons and has developed into one of the best players in program history and in New England. Last season, Haugh hit .398 with 22 doubles, four home runs and 61 RBI. His 22 doubles set a school record and ranked fifth in the country. He earned First Team All-New England honors from the NEIBA and Second Team All-American honors from both D3baseball.com and the ABCA.
Lawlor and Rubino enjoyed excellent seasons in 2011, helping the Golden Bears advance to their first Division III National Championship tournament. Lawlor has emerged as one of New England’s premier closers, saving 17 games over the past two seasons. Last spring, he went 3-1 with 10 saves and a 1.58 ERA in 28 appearances. Lawlor threw 40 innings, striking out 54 and walking just six.
In just his second year with Western New England, Rubino put together one of the most impressive seasons in program history. As the Golden Bears starting third baseman in all 53 games, Rubino hit .412 with a school-record 82 hits. He had 11 doubles, drove in 42 runs and scored 45.
2012 D3baseball.com Preseason All-Americans
