America East Release 

ORONO, Maine- The University of Hartford baseball team swept each of the four major awards and placed nine student-athletes on America East All-Conference Teams at the America East Baseball Banquet held in Orono, Maine, on Tuesday evening. Freshman Nicholas Dombkowski highlighted the impressive list of honorees, earning America East Rookie of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, All-Conference First Team and All-Rookie Team honors.
 
A unanimous selection for Rookie of the Year, Dombkowski became the first Hartford baseball player to take home a pair of major awards in the same season from the America East. In addition, he also became the first student-athlete in league history to be named Rookie of the Year and Pitcher of the Year in the same season. Joining Domkowski in winning America East major awards was head coach Justin Blood, who was unanimously voted the America East Coach of the Year, and senior Nick Campana, who was named the America East Player of the Year in addition to earning All-Conference First Team honors.
 
In addition to the major award winners, nine other Hawks were placed on America East All-Conference teams. Dombkowski and Campana were joined on the All-Conference First Team by senior TJ Ward, junior Ashton Bardzell and junior Chris Sullivan. All-Conference Second Team selections included sophomore Nathan Florence, sophomore Bryce Walker and sophomore Zachary Ardito, while freshman John Thrasher joined Dombkowski on the All-Rookie Team. Rounding out the All-Conference honorees were sophomore Jackson Olson, Florence, and Ward, who each earned All-Academic Team distinction.
 
Prior to this season, David MacKinnon (2016 Player of the Year) and Sean Newcomb (2014 Pitcher of the Year) were the only Hawks to earn major awards from the league. This also marks the first time since 2012 that any America East school has swept each of the major awards. Prior to this season's awards, Hartford garnered 17 First Team and 24 Second Team honorees from 1991-2017.
 
A native of West Springfield, Mass., Dombkowski posted a stellar season on the hill for the Hawks, leading the America East with six conference victories while landing in the top-10 in innings pitched (50) and strikeouts (37) during the conference slate. His six victories on the season are the most since Brian Murphy collected six in 2016.
 
Blood became the first America East Coach of the Year this season after becoming the program's all-time winningest coach in March. In America East action, he piloted the Hawks to twice as many  wins as last season (16) and the fewest conference defeats in Hartford history (8). Blood led Hartford to its first America East Regular-Season crown and the number one seed in the America East Tournament this week after his team was picked to finish last in a preseason poll of the league's head coaches.
 
One of the top hitters in the country, Campana finished the regular season ranked No. 10 in the nation with a .403 batting average, including an impressive .427 average in conference play. The Eastchester, N.Y., native carried a 20-game hit streak through the bulk of America East slate, marking the longest rally since David MacKinnon hit in 20 straight games last season. Along with leading the conference in batting average, Campana led the league in slugging percentage (.787), on-base percentage (.523), runs scored (29), runs batted in (26) and hits (38).
 
An All-Conference First Team and All-Academic Team selection in 2016, Ward is coming off a big week, having earned America East Player of the Week honors on Monday. A native of Jersey City, N.J., he drove in 24 runs in America East play, which ranked second behind Campana. In addition, the first basemen recorded 146 putouts, which ranks No. 4 in the league. In the classroom, Ward, who boasts a 3.57 GPA, graduated with a degree in math and secondary education this past Sunday. 
 
Bardzell, who earned All-Rookie Team laurels in 2016, collected All-Conference First Team recognition for the second consecutive season in 2018. He launched a career-high 10 home runs and drove in 38 RBI to tie Campana for the team lead in both categories. The Ramsey, N.J., native had a solid season in the field as well, leading Hartford's outfielders with 109 putouts.
 
An outfielder who transitioned to the designated hitter role this season, Sullivan earned his second career America East All-Conference honor after earning All-Rookie Team accolades in 2016. Hitting .299 during the conference slate, the Westfield, Mass., native launched a two home runs, four doubles and one triple to finish with the second-best slugging percentage (.455) on the team. 
 
Leading the America East with 83 strikeouts, Florence racked up the third most single-season strikeouts in program behind only Newcomb in 2013 and 2014. His 75 innings pitched ranks him fourth in the conference. A native of Wilbraham, Mass., Florence earned America East Pitcher of the Week honors on April 3 for his seven innings, 12 strikeout performance in the Hawks' 2-1 victory against CCSU on March 31. A business major, Florence boasts an impressive 3.89 GPA.  
 
Part of the Hawks' shut down infield, Walker was also a force at the plate this season. The Milford, N.H., native launched four home runs — third-most on the team — and drove in 14 runs during his sophomore campaign.
 
After splitting time between second and third base last season, Ardito found a home at third, where he started 50 of the Hawks' 52 games. A native of Ansonia, Conn, he tallied 97 assists manning the hot corner while his .295 batting average ranked him third on the team.
 
Seeing action in 34 games for the Hawks in his freshman campaign, Thrasher became a staple in the outfield during conference play. Hitting .298 during America East play, the Ridgefield, Conn., native drove in six runs behind a pair of triples and a home run. A speedster on the base paths, Thrasher went a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen bases during conference play.
 
Olson was a key contributor for the Hawks during conference play as well, hitting an impressive .344 while lacing a team-high nine doubles during that time. A native of New Milford, Conn., the shortstop also posted a team-high 54 assists in America East play. In the classroom, he boasts a 3.87 GPA in the Barney School of Business.

The Hawks will look to continue their historic season this weekend at the America East Tournament in Orono, Maine, this weekend. Hartford's first game in the America East Tournament will be on Thursday, with first pitch slated for 11 a.m. against the winner of the 4/5 game. CLICK HERE for more information about the tournament.