COLONIA, NJ – The Molloy University Lions placed nine student-athletes on the East Coast Conference (ECC) All-Conference Team, including eight First Team selections. The Lions also earned three major awards, as the league announced its honors this afternoon.
 
Molloy, the regular season champion, enters this weekend’s ECC Championship Tournament as the top seed and will host Mercy University, St. Thomas Aquinas, and D’Youville University.
 
Head coach Joe Fucarino was named ECC Coach of the Year. In his 21st season leading the Lions, Fucarino guided the team to 36 wins, including 26 in conference play. The honor marks his seventh Coach of the Year award, and he now boasts over 500 career victories.
 
Senior first baseman Sean Welsh (East Meadow, NY) was named ECC Player of the Year and earned First Team honors. Welsh leads the conference with a .409 batting average, a 1.242 OPS, and a .749 slugging percentage. He has recorded 28 extra-base hits, including 12 home runs, and 48 RBIs. A two-time ECC Player of the Week, Welsh also stole 14 bases and posted a .984 fielding percentage.
 
Junior pitcher James Sill (Levittown, NY) was selected as ECC Pitcher of the Year and named to the First Team. Sill compiled a 6-1 record in 11 starts with a 2.86 ERA. He struck out 76 batters while holding opponents to a .180 batting average and a 0.95 WHIP.
 
Queens College outfielder John Harkins (Babylon, NY) and College of Staten Island’s first baseman Jason Romance (Massapequa, NY) were named Co-Rookies of the Year. Harkins hit .333 with a 1.026 OPS and a .503 on-base percentage, adding five home runs, 20 RBIs, and nine extra-base hits. Romance posted a .306 batting average with 14 extra-base hits and 32 RBIs.
 
The 2026 ECC Championship Tournament begins tomorrow at noon, as Molloy faces No. 4 D’Youville University. No. 2 Mercy will then take on No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas at 3 p.m. The tournament continues Friday with three games, culminating in the championship game on Saturday.
 
All games will be played at Mitchel Field in Uniondale, NY. Fans can follow all the action on FloCollege.
 
All-Conference First Team
C - Jeremy Taggart, Molloy
1B - Sean Welsh, Molloy
2B - Michael Flashner, Staten Island
3B - Brian Sanchez, Molloy
SS - Dylan Koch, Mercy
OF - Vincent Mallon, Queens
OF - Steve Mulqueen, Molloy                                                                                                          
OF - John Nisco, Mercy                                                                                                       
DH - Anthony Dimarco, St. Thomas Aquinas                                                                   
UT - Billy Morris, D'Youville                                                                                             
SP - JC Kiss, Molloy                                                                                                                
SP - Mike Knapp, Molloy                                                                                                    
SP - James Sill, Molloy                                                                                                        
SP - Nevin Scaperotti, Mercy                                                                                                          
RP - Jayden Patel, Molloy
 
All-Conference Second Team
C - Michael Zeis, St. Thomas Aquinas                                                
1B - Colby Wilson, D'Youville                                                                                        
2B - Ryan Hillery, St. Thomas Aquinas                                                                                                     
2B - Blaise Kolbert, D'Youville                                                                                                                          
3B - Vincent Weigele, Staten Island                                                                                                            
SS - Nick Oelcher, St. Thomas Aquinas                                            
OF - CJ Cumbo, St. Thomas Aquinas                                                                                                        
OF - Charlie Imhof, Molloy                                                                                                                
OF - Jack Kehoe, Staten Island                                                                                                                        
DH - Garett Wilson, D'Youville                                                                   
UT - Michael Vilardi, Queens                                                                                                          
SP - Jakob Denall, D'Youville                                                                                                                             
SP - Ty Graczyk, D'Youville  
SP - Andre Jenkins, Mercy                                                                                                                  
SP - Ryan Palm, Staten Island                                                                                                                          
SP - Andrew Schoelles, St. Thomas Aquinas                                                                                     
RP - James Garcia, St. Thomas Aquinas                                                                                                 
 
Player of the Year: Sean Welsh, Molloy
Pitcher of the Year: James Sill, Molloy
Co-Rookie of the Year: John Harkins, Queens
Co-Rookie of the Year: Jason Romance, Staten Island
Coach of the Year: Joe Fucarino, Molloy